Amakusa Shino sighed and looked at the two of them.
"What are your thoughts?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka threw up her hands, indicating she wouldn't get involved. So, the success of this matter depended on the will of this second daughter of the Yukinoshita family.
[System has detected a capturable target]
[Capturable Target's Name: Yukinoshita Yukino]
[Current Yukinoshita Yukino Affinity: -1]
"???" The smile that had just appeared on Uchiha Ryo's face stiffened. He remembered this was his first time meeting Yukinoshita. Why was her affinity a negative number instead of 0!
"This Classic Literature Club, what does it do?"
Yukinoshita asked. It seemed she wasn't opposed to the student council president's suggestion.
Just as Amakusa Shino was about to speak, Uchiha Ryo forcefully interrupted her. In order for Yukino to join smoothly, he didn't want any unfortunate words to come out of Amakusa Shino's mouth.
"Our club's requirements are very relaxed. It's fine to just read books in the classroom during normal times. The only activity is being responsible for a section of the school's journal that belongs to the Classic Literature Club."
Staring at Yukinoshita's criminally cute face, Uchiha Ryo simply stated the current situation of their club.
Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded from the side. "Yukino, didn't you just want to find a quiet place to read? I think this place is pretty good."
Uchiha Ryo's gaze shifted. So this is Class A's homeroom teacher, Hiratsuka-sensei? She's huge...
He thought about the Ice Princess Kaguya from the new student orientation, and Shijo Maki from his class. Then he looked at Yukinoshita Yukino, and at Amakusa Shino beside him, who excelled academically in the second year.
The visible difference was truly enormous...
[System has detected a capturable target]
[Capturable Target's Name: Hiratsuka Shizuka]
[Current Hiratsuka Shizuka Affinity: 10]
What! Is this allowed too? But Hiratsuka-sensei is almost thirty this year, right? And he, Uchiha Ryo, was still a handsome young man in his prime.
But on second thought, for female characters, there's a reward for every major stage of affinity increase. It doesn't say I have to max it out.
"Then, I'll be in your care, President Amakusa."
After a long pause, Yukinoshita Yukino chose to join. Naturally, Hiratsuka Shizuka would then become the faculty advisor for the Classic Literature Club.
The task of informing the president was left to Hiratsuka-sensei. Yukinoshita Yukino quietly found a place to sit, then looked at Amakusa Shino with curiosity.
"President, does our club really have no other activities?"
Amakusa Shino gave an awkward smile. "Um... well, I really haven't thought about what to do. Do you have any suggestions, Yukinoshita-san?"
Yukinoshita Yukino's eyes lit up. Although she couldn't establish the club she had in mind, it seemed like a good idea to change this do-nothing club.
"President Amakusa, I hope the club can lend a helping hand to those in trouble, and accept various requests from the school and students. Of course, it's just lending a hand. It's better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. We won't solve problems for them, but rather let them find a way to solve the problems themselves."
Chitanda Eru nodded. "Oh, Yukinoshita-san is very kind."
Shirogane Miyuki thought for a moment. "This sounds like what a volunteer group would do."
Uchiha Ryo said nothing. As expected of Yukinoshita Yukino. Since she couldn't establish a Service Club at Shuchiin, she wants to turn this do-nothing Classic Literature Club into her own.
Amakusa Shino stroked her chin. "Yukinoshita-san's idea is great. Not only can this build up the reputation of the Classic Literature Club, but we can also find something to do."
Finally, someone who can propose a club activity has arrived. Amakusa Shino had been either reading in the classroom or doing her homework here for the past two days, and she was bored to death.
Hearing Amakusa Shino's affirmation, Yukinoshita Yukino smiled. "Then I'll explain it to Hiratsuka-sensei and ask her to help promote it."
"Lend a helping hand to those in trouble..."
Chitanda Eru, who had been sitting to the side, was silent for a moment, then looked seriously at Amakusa Shino and Yukinoshita.
"President Amakusa, Yukinoshita-san, um... can people within the club make a request?"
Amakusa Shino met Chitanda's lively eyes and nodded casually. "Of course. Do you want to be the Classic Literature Club's first client, Chitanda-san~"
Uchiha Ryo, who hadn't spoken, chuckled softly. "Chitanda-san, even without this club activity, if you encounter difficulties as a classmate, you can still tell us."
Chitanda Eru smiled. "Thank you."
[Chitanda Eru's affinity has increased—G-Points +10]
[Detected that Chitanda Eru's affinity has reached friend level. Reward: 100 G-Points]
"I do have something I'd like to ask for your help with. It's a personal matter, so I really shouldn't be asking you... Um, anyway, could you please just listen to me first?"
No one spoke, but quietly looked at Chitanda.
"...I have an uncle named Sekitani Jun. He went to Malaysia ten years ago, and his whereabouts have been unknown for the past seven years."
"I remember, when I was very little, about ten years ago, my uncle and I were very close. In my memory, no matter what I asked, my uncle would always answer me."
Chitanda Eru seemed to be lost in her memories, the corners of her mouth naturally curling up, likely thinking of something happy.
"I was young back then, and I spoke without thinking. I don't remember what I asked him, only that my uncle seemed to know everything about heaven and earth, and always gave me an answer."
Yukinoshita Yukino looked at Chitanda. "It sounds like you and your uncle were very close. But this request, is it to find someone? If he went missing in Malaysia..."
Chitanda Eru quickly shook her head. "No, that's not it!"
"I remember I was still in kindergarten at the time. I heard from somewhere that my uncle was a member of Shuchiin's [Classic Literature Club], so I was very interested in his club."
"I heard a lot about the club from my uncle. One day, I asked a question about the Classic Literature Club. Usually, no matter what I asked, my uncle would answer immediately! But that time, he was a little reluctant to answer me."
Chitanda pouted, seeming to show all her emotions.
"I was unhappy and made a fuss for a long time. Only then did my uncle reluctantly tell me. And after I heard the answer..."
Amakusa Shino and Yukinoshita listened intently. "And then?"
"And then I cried. I cried a lot. I don't really remember this part, only that my uncle didn't come over to comfort me."
"At that time... what exactly did my uncle say? Why did I cry? That's why I came to Shuchiin, to the Classic Literature Club. I want to know! What my uncle told me back then."
Amakusa Shino looked at Chitanda seriously. "Investigating the reason you cried back then, huh? Sounds interesting!"
Yukinoshita Yukino nodded. "Since this is the Classic Literature Club's first request, we promise you, we will definitely find a way to solve it."