"I'm home!"
As night slowly fell, a familiar voice came from the doorway. Lin Zhi looked up just as he heard the sound of low conversation in the hallway.
"Honey, you're back. Lin Zhi's already here."
"Oh? Lin Zhi's here already?"
A moment later, with a few quick footsteps, a face full of pleasant surprise appeared before Lin Zhi.
"Lin Zhi!"
"Second Brother."
Hiroshi Nohara stepped forward and gave Lin Zhi a quick hug before patting him on the shoulder with a laugh. He looked him up and down for a moment, then said with genuine amazement, "Haven't seen you in a few days, but it feels like you've grown again!"
"Well, I'm still at that age where I'm growing."
Lin Zhi smiled at the man in front of him.
Hiroshi Nohara—the Nohara family's second son, a Waseda University graduate, and now a mid-level manager at a mid-sized company. He'd inherited their father's mischievous streak, but he was also a good man and a loving husband.
"Feels like ages since you last came home. Now that you're studying nearby, we can see each other much more often."
Hiroshi sat cross-legged across from Lin Zhi, grinning with obvious delight.
"Are you getting used to living on your own? If it's uncomfortable, you can always move in here. The commute to your school wouldn't be bad at all."
"That's right," said his sister-in-law, Misae, as she brought another dish to the table, her tone full of concern. "If it's not convenient living there, just come stay with us."
Lin Zhi smiled and shook his head. "It's fine, really. The neighbors are all kind to me, and I'm doing pretty well there. But you should bring Shin-chan over to visit sometime."
"Oh, that'd be wonderful!"
Hiroshi let out a relieved laugh. "If I get the chance, I'll definitely drop by."
"Where do you live, Uncle Lin Zhi?" Shin-chan asked, peering curiously over the table.
"It's 'Uncle,' remember!" Misae scolded, gently pinching her son's cheek. Then she turned to her husband. "Honey, go take a bath already. Dinner's almost ready."
"Shin-chan! No sneaking bites!"
"Eh?"
"Ha ha, Lin Zhi, tonight we brothers have to share a good drink!"
"Honey! Lin Zhi's still in high school—no alcohol!"
"Oh—right, right! My bad. Guess we'll have juice then…"
Hiroshi grabbed some juice from the fridge and poured it for Lin Zhi himself.
"I can do it, really."
"Sit down, I've got it."
Watching the scene, Lin Zhi could only give a helpless smile.
The next day, after saying goodbye to his brother's family, Lin Zhi returned to Aoyama Apartments.
On the way, he ran into his upstairs neighbor, Mr. Saitama. After some enthusiastic persuasion, Lin Zhi ended up spending the afternoon in Saitama's room playing video games with him and Kobayashi, another resident from the fourth floor.
That evening, Lin Zhi stopped by Yukihira's Diner for a quick meal, then spent the rest of the night handling some website work. Time passed in a blur.
The following morning, Lin Zhi walked to school with the same group of friends from the Aoyama Apartments. This time, however, their little group had gained a new member—the resident chuunibyou.
"Gabriel, did you not get enough sleep last night?" Lin Zhi asked, eyeing the blonde girl who kept yawning.
The world really was strange, he thought—an angel who could still get sleepy?
Gabriel's small frame and delicate golden hair made her look like a doll, though right now her purple eyes were half-lidded and weary, her hair a bit mussed.
"Ah, that…" Gabriel hesitated, her eyes lighting up slightly as she said with an awkward smile, "I was studying late last night, so I didn't get much sleep."
"What? You studied late?!" Umaru looked shocked. "It was the weekend! You were studying even then? You're so hardworking!"
Her eyes were full of admiration. Even if she didn't know how good Gabriel's grades were, that kind of diligence alone was impressive.
Shouko Nishimiya and Rikka Takanashi didn't say anything, but the way they looked at Gabriel carried the same quiet respect.
Gabriel gave a dry laugh, silently praying in her heart.
Oh, great Lord… please forgive your untruthful follower.
Down the hall, the school's bulletin board was covered with club recruitment posters.
Lin Zhi and his two friends stopped in front of it, scanning the colorful sheets.
"There's so many," one of them murmured.
"Well, it is a famous high school," Lin Zhi replied, genuinely surprised.
He'd never paid much attention to the number of clubs at this private academy, but judging from the posters alone, there had to be over fifty.
Kendo Club, Archery Club, Tea Ceremony, Flower Arrangement…
Track and Field, Volleyball, Basketball, Tennis…
Literature, Art, Programming, Math…
There were all kinds of clubs—some elegant, some ordinary—and even a few downright strange ones.
Alien Observation Society.
Camping Club.
Cooking Club.
Hot Pot Research Club.
"Huh? There's a Hot Pot Research Club?"
Lin Zhi blinked in surprise at the poster decorated with drawings of a copper pot and an array of ingredients. Who would've thought even something like that existed?
They already had a Cooking Club, and yet someone had still gone and founded this slightly redundant—but somehow appealing—club.
He couldn't help but feel a spark of admiration.
Still, as interesting as it sounded, he wasn't keen on smelling like hot pot every day.
"Lin Zhi, have you decided which one you're joining?"
Both Kirito and Kusuo Saiki already had clubs in mind, so their eyes turned to him in expectation.
Lin Zhi scanned the bulletin board one last time, his gaze finally landing on a certain poster.
"I think I'll check this one out first."
They followed his line of sight—and saw a poster featuring a guitar.
It belonged to a club called Light Music Club.
----------
T/N:
Joining is completely free. Come check it out!
You'll also get 5 extra chapters just for being a free member!
Access 35 chapters in advance on my Patreon:
[email protected]//animetraveler