---
The Compass Club room was silent. Kinan Ayatsuki glanced around, spotting an empty chair. He sighed and walked over, taking a seat at the far end of the room.
He couldn't help but glance at the black-haired girl sitting at the other side of the room.
"Kinan," he muttered to himself, "what book are you reading?"
Yuzuki Arashiro didn't reply. She just flipped her page. Kinan's eyebrows knitted. Annoying… he thought. He looked away. Fine. I don't care.
The quiet stretched on. The orange sunlight spilled through the windows. Kinan dozed off lightly while Yuzuki continued reading, completely absorbed in her book.
A sudden knock on the door made Yuzuki lift her head.
"Who is it?" she asked calmly.
The door opened, and a girl with pink hair stepped in.
"Hi! I heard this club helps people, right?" she asked brightly.
Yuzuki nodded.
Kinan blinked. Oh, so this is what the club does…
The girl's eyes sparkled. "Can I join? I want to help people—like a hero! That's been my dream since I was a kid: to make people happy."
Kinan opened his eyes fully, curious.
Yuzuki finally spoke. "Sure. What's your name?"
"I'm Miyara Kousen," the girl said with a bow.
Without a word, Yuzuki took out a notebook and wrote her name down.
Kinan muttered, impressed. She really joined…
He signed his name into the notebook. "Kinan Ayatsuki."
Yuzuki wrote down hers as well: "Yuzuki Arashiro."
She closed her notebook. "Tomorrow, the club will officially start. Our first lesson. Be ready." With that, she took her bag and left.
Miyara jumped in excitement. "I can't wait for tomorrow!" she exclaimed before running out.
Kinan sighed. Every time, I'm always left behind… He grabbed his bag, locked the clubroom door, and headed home.
---
At home, his sister waved as he entered.
"Big brother!" she called.
Kinan glanced around and sighed. "Dad's working again?"
She nodded. "Yeah, but I made dinner."
Kinan sat down at the table. "So… how was your first day at school? Did you make any friends?"
"No," Kinan replied flatly.
"Why not?" she asked, curious.
"What's the point?" he snapped, clenching his fist. "Friends just leave you and forget you." He got up and stormed off to his room.
His sister simply watched quietly.
---
Time passed. That night, Kinan lay on his bed when a knock at the door startled him.
"Big brother! Go see who it is!" his sister whispered.
Kinan opened the door to find his father stumbling in, clearly drunk. He pushed his daughter aside on accident, sending her to the floor with a thud.
Kinan rushed downstairs. "Are you okay, sister?"
She smiled weakly. "I'm fine. How about Dad?"
"Why do you care about him?" Kinan muttered. "He put himself in this state."
"Still… he works for us, to put food on the table," she said gently. "Even though you didn't buy groceries, he went all the way to get them. You should be grateful."
Kinan just looked at her and walked back to his room, leaving her alone.
---
The next day, the sun rose again. Birds chirped, and dogs barked outside. Kinan's eyes fluttered open. He stretched, dressed, and left the apartment. First time my sister didn't wake me up, he thought.
He walked into school, took his seat in Class D, and glanced at Yuzuki, who was already reading. Kinan napped lightly while the class chattered around them.
---
When the bell rang, the students bolted from the classroom. Kinan got up, following Yuzuki to the Compass Club.
Miyara was already there, bouncing in excitement. "Wow! You're early!"
"I couldn't wait," she laughed.
Yuzuki sat down, placing a folder on the desk.
"What's that?" Kinan asked, curious.
"Those are all the books I've finished reading," Yuzuki explained.
Kinan flipped through the folder. 52 books…? No way…
Miyara leaned over. "Wow! You finished all these? That's amazing!"
Yuzuki just nodded and returned to her book.
The room fell silent again. Kinan napped, Miyara paced, and only the sound of Yuzuki turning pages filled the air.
---
Suddenly, the door swung open. Hinari Nozumi, smiling as always, walked in.
"Hello!" she said cheerfully, startling Miyara. "Wow, another member already? What's your name, pretty lady?" She lightly touched Miyara's jaw, making the girl blush.
"My name is Miyara Kousen," Miyara said, looking away.
Hinari turned to Yuzuki. "Oh, I almost forgot. You've got your first mission."
Miyara smiled eagerly.
Hinari then tapped Kinan on the head. "And you! Napping again, huh?"
"Ow!" Kinan muttered.
Hinari continued. "Your mission is to help decide who gets to use the field: the soccer club or the baseball club."
Kinan groaned. Really now…
---
At the field, chaos had erupted. Both clubs were shouting over who could use the space. Miyara slammed her fist on the table. "Quiet!" she shouted, and the room fell silent.
Yuzuki closed her eyes, then reopened them, speaking calmly. "The baseball team will need the field the most. Their tournament is starting soon."
The soccer team protested, but one girl stood up beside the captain and reasoned clearly. "It's fair. When the tournament happens, the baseball team must get priority. We agree."
Kinan muttered under his breath, "I just want to sleep…"
The decision was made. The baseball team smiled in relief. Hinari glanced at Kinan and thought silently, He really was right.
---
As the sun set, Kinan walked home, exhausted. He opened the apartment door and saw his father passed out on the floor, drunk again. Kinan sighed and went to his room.
Lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling, he whispered, Please… let me die.
---
Next time: The Compass Club's real activities begin, and Kinan starts to see what it means to actually help people.
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