"Club President."
"Yes! Seo Ijin!"
"...Just call me comfortably."
"I couldn't possibly! How could I with Seo Ijin!!"
I'm in the clubroom right now.
...Sitting in the president's chair, with the club president waiting on me hand and foot with drinks by my side.
"I told you I'm not joining the club. You don't have to do this."
"But..."
"If you're too persistent, it might make me uncomfortable enough to leave..."
The club president gulped in surprise.
"Ah, I won't! I won't do it anymore!"
She scurried over to the opposite seat.
"So. What kind of activities does the club do?"
I set down the cute mug the president had handed me and asked.
"Right. Basically, Dawn High School clubs have to submit performance reports once in the first semester and once in the second."
"Performance reports?"
"Yes. Each club needs to submit them to get activity funding. And based on those reports, the year-end club performance review decides if the club continues."
I see. With so many clubs, they must have adopted that system.
"So. Let me show you our club's report from last year."
The president stood up and pulled a binder from the cabinet.
"This is a copy of the performance report we submitted last year."
She handed me the binder.
Subculture Club Second Semester Performance Report
Below the boldly written title was a single photo.
It was a group photo of five boys and girls.
...With the notable detail that the president—clearly a senior— was cosplaying.
"What do you think, junior? Am I pretty?"
It was an undeniable fact.
"...Yes. You look pretty."
"Oh my. How embarrassing."
She wasn't embarrassed at all. I averted my gaze from the president and turned back to the report.
"Oh."
For a club with so few members, the activities were surprisingly active.
They set up booths at various events to sell goods, participated in cosplay events, and so on.
The records were packed with photos from all those events.
"It's more serious than I thought."
"Right? That's why with Seo Ijin... ahem, junior Ijin joining the club, I'm really happy."
She checked my reaction and changed her wording before continuing.
"You have proven drawing skills! And you can do cosplay events with me!"
"No."
"Eh?"
I finished the last page, closed the report, stood up, and returned it to where she got it.
"So, when there are no events, it's usually free time?"
"Yes. Except during event prep periods, pretty much. If you have any activities you want to do, feel free to suggest them anytime."
"I'll mention it if something comes up."
Fortunately, it seems like a pretty laid-back club.
The activities looked like fun hobbies too.
"Here then!"
Before I knew it, she was holding out a piece of paper and a pen from somewhere.
It was a club membership application form.
"Looking forward to working with you."
I scribbled my name in the signature field.
"You don't have to be so formal."
But she's the one using formal speech with me, even though she's two years older.
Well, the formal character suits her.
She clutched the application I'd signed—like it was treasure no one could take away—and beamed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A peaceful morning one day.
That day, as usual, I went to school with Yoon Jiu and the others.
As I dragged my drowsy body into the classroom, Hong Yeonseo lit up and flew over.
Literally. She practically flew from her seat right in front of us.
"Hi! Guys! I'm going to the national tournament next week— you'll come cheer me on, right?"
"Whoa! You scared me!"
This girl. Is she getting some rom-com world buff or something? Her physical abilities are insane.
She's not actually superhuman or anything, right?
I'd prefer no supernatural drift in this everyday world.
My dream is to chill at home and live off that.
...By the way. How long has she been in the club to already be competing nationally?
We headed to our seats while continuing the conversation.
"Already competing?"
"Yeah. The coach gave me the chance."
Fair enough. I haven't seen her skills with my own eyes, but.
I've watched game footage she showed, and hearing her morning bragging, it made sense.
Her grand nickname "Prodigy of Women's Handball" wasn't for nothing.
"At your level, you're basically a nuke. I'd use you as coach too."
"Eumhat! Finally, you recognize this body's true value. Seo Ijin!"
I already knew.
"Whatever. Send me the schedule later. I'll go if I have time."
"Okay!"
I left Hong Yeonseo, Lee Sea, and Lee Soyun chattering and checked the timetable before grabbing my textbooks from the locker and stashing them in my desk drawer.
Getting used to this really makes me feel like a real student now.
Especially since back in elementary and middle school, I slept through most classes.
I pulled out the pencil case from my desk drawer and took out the squishy-handled gel pen, rolling it over my hand.
This was from the stationery set Lee Sea gave me in middle school.
...Come to think of it, Sea's birthday is coming up soon.
April 1st. Right when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.
Checking the date, it's a weekend, so maybe suggest going flower viewing.
Or instead of me saying it, maybe tip off Yoon Jiu subtly.
She'd probably be happier that way.
This time, maybe all six of us could go out.
Seong Yurin and Hong Yeonseo. I'd gotten close to them surprisingly fast. I'd even added them to our group chat that was just the four of us.
Sure, you can't ignore the rom-com world influence.
But the protagonist and heroines don't neglect their other classmates either.
That's just me. Damn.
Honestly, I still haven't memorized my classmates' faces and names.
...Doesn't it usually take about a month?
"Seo Ijin..."
Lost in thought, a familiar voice snapped me out.
I turned to see Seong Yurin.
This is rare. She hadn't initiated a conversation with me since orientation.
"What?"
"Over here for a sec."
Seong Yurin glanced at the other girls nearby and pulled me to the corner of the classroom.
"What's up, suddenly."
I lowered my voice too, for some reason.
"Th-that. Um. Sea's birthday is soon, right."
What a coincidence.
Seong Yurin had been thinking about Lee Sea's birthday too.
"Y-yeah. It is."
"That day. It's a weekend, so... um, w-would you... want to come over to m-my house...?"
"...Why tell me so secretly?"
"Eut. You tell her for me... please."
Excuse me, Seong Yurin...
This girl speaks fine normally, but she always struggles with this kind of talk.
Real introvert, huh.
"Just tell Sea yourself."
"You're. The closest to me... friend."
Me?
Her expression begged me to agree, so I nodded helplessly.
"Alright. I got it. I'll post in the group chat or whatever. But they'll ask you about it anyway."
"I can handle the questions."
Seong Yurin regained her poker face and replied.
Ah, I see.
I get it a bit. I'm confident in passive responses too.
"Hm. I was gonna suggest flower viewing on her birthday anyway."
"Th-then. Morning flower viewing, then come to my house after...?"
"Yeah, not bad. But won't riding the bus everywhere be tiring?"
"...Bus?"
For a moment, our wavelengths didn't match.
"Gotta go somewhere with lots of cherry blossoms for viewing."
"Right."
"Yeah."
"...?"
What's wrong with Seong Yurin?
"...Ah. Right. I guess I haven't mentioned it yet."
"Mentioned what?"
Seong Yurin hesitated, then shook her head.
"Mm. I'll tell you later. No need for buses. Someone I know can drive us."
"Got it."
I was curious, but she'll tell me later.
Guess I'll wait.
Someone she knows... Family usually isn't phrased that way.
Leaving those small doubts behind.
We finished talking and returned to our seats.
Right on time—the homeroom bell rang, and the teacher walked in.
"...Ijin."
During homeroom, Lee Soyun whispered secretly from the teacher.
"What."
I whispered back softly.
"With Yurin. What... did you talk about?"
"Ah. Nothing much."
Everyone will see it in the group chat later anyway—no need for a long explanation.
"Ah, okay..."
She seemed a bit down.
Should I just tell her? But homeroom ended, and the timing slipped away.
It's nothing, probably.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
'Ugh. I don't wanna go to the academy.'
After school ended, the girl walking to her immediate next academy class stopped at the playground.
The empty playground with no one around—she sat on the swing and rocked gently.
The girl hated studying.
Studying had no stories.
The girl loved stories.
In storybooks, she could be a king, a soldier, a merchant.
And sometimes, a princess in passionate love.
But.
Stories always end.
Close the book, and her world returns to reality.
She was still young, which made the gap feel even sharper.
She didn't expect fairy-tale adventures. Just a small change.
Wishing for that small change, that day, she delayed her steps to the academy.
How much time passed?
Creeeak, creeeak.
The rusty swing's sound woke her.
'Can't stay too long. Mom and Dad will worry.'
She checked the time on her small phone, stood from the swing, and reached for her bag on the ground—that moment.
"Look at this cutie."
"Lee Soyun? Pretty name too. Wanna play with big brothers?"
Two dark shadows approached the girl.
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