“Izumi is really shy, you know.”
“……”
It seemed that Izumi wanted to refute Kaoru’s words, but in the end, she couldn’t say anything at all.
Everyone here had seen Izumi’s shy demeanor.
“Anyway.”
Clearing her throat, Kaoru said,
“So, you want to join the Literature Club?”
“Yes.”
Before they knew it, the group had occupied the Literature Club room and each had taken a seat.
The number of chairs was just enough. Originally, there were only enough chairs for seven people, but with the folding chair leaning against the wall unfolded, they easily made space for eight.
By the way, when they asked Sasaki and Nakahara once, Sasaki showed reluctance at the fact that there were only girls in the Literature Club.
Considering that he was already being pursued by two girls, it wasn’t because he wanted to add a harem member or anything—he just seemed purely uncomfortable about it.
Still, it was indeed awkward being the only boy in a place filled with girls even during summer. Moreover, there were three girls who were openly pursuing him.
…If only he could make a same-sex friend that matched his vibe this year. While romantic squabbles could be considered one of the joys of school life, wouldn’t having fun with friends be even better?
“How much do you know about the Literature Club?”
“Isn’t it a place where you just sit and read books?”
In response to Kaoru’s question, Fukuda provided a very accurate critique.
“W-we also make club newsletters.”
Of course, the newsletter-making had only been hurriedly done right before the deadline.
Although Izumi said this in a rebuttal, she couldn’t openly deny that 90% of their club activities consisted of eating and chatting to avoid the heat and cold.
“And we have campouts too. That’s important.”
Kaoru was nodding, “Uh-huh, uh-huh!”
Was it really important?
Ah, right, the campout was where she taught Koko, so it was important, I guess? Yet, it wasn’t really relevant to the literary activities.
“So… are we allowed to join?”
At that, Kaoru looked at Izumi.
We all looked at Izumi.
Izumi flinched and shrugged her shoulders.
Even though she was a year older than me, she somehow felt younger at times like this. Perhaps there was a reason Kaoru followed Izumi around so much.
“Yeah, well, you can join… but…”
“Is that okay?”
Kaoru tilted her head.
“It seems we’ll need to bring in more club supplies then.”
Right, supplies shouldn’t just exactly match the number of members; it needs to have some leeway.
Since there might be an increase in new members during the semester, or suddenly new individuals might join.
“Oh, I see.”
At Izumi’s remark, Kaoru looked up at the ceiling and spoke.
“Do we have to go talk to the Student Council about it?”
“Yeah.”
In their conversation, we briefly exchanged glances.
And then we looked back at the two of them again.
“Why do we have to talk to the Student Council?”
“Oh, that’s because—”
Instead of Izumi, it was Kaoru who replied.
“While we need to consider the surplus for supplies, the Student Council won’t just easily hand over the budget.”
“Yeah. It seems they’re conservative about budgeting.”
“Conservative?”
When I tilted my head in confusion, Izumi added an explanation.
“The club budget is set to sustain the club. In other words, even if the current club members are secure, if there’s no future, it would be hard to get new budget allocations.”
Ah, I see.
In other words, they’re trying to prevent clubs from just becoming social gatherings that squander money while doing nothing.
As long as a club maintains at least three members, it typically won’t be dissolved. Especially a club like the Literature Club, which wasn’t formed by students’ requests but was established with the understanding that something like it should exist since the school’s founding.
The reason why this somewhat unpopular club can still have such snacks available is because of that.
Even though it’s been a long time, there are still a few other unpopular clubs at this school. So if students want, they can pick one of those clubs, just achieve minimal results, and utilize the budget.
Thus, they won’t increase the budget just because the size has grown. The members on the list might be ghost members, or there could be groups trying to privatize the club room while not actually participating in club activities.
“……”
And at Izumi’s explanation, we all shifted our gazes.
The reason why the Mako trio had come to this club in the first place was to ‘make juniors,’ after all.
“Is it really necessary to increase the budget?”
Yuka asked.
“It seems sufficient as it is now.”
“Oh, that’s because—”
Izumi rolled her eyes as she spoke.
“I actually intended to say something today, but various circumstances piled up, and I wasn’t able to until now.”
Taking a deep breath like she was about to make an important announcement, she then exhaled and continued,
“Actually, the snack budget is about to run out.”
“Whaaa?”
Thud!
A one-ton stone fell over the heads of me and Koko.
I lowered my gaze.
Does that mean I can’t get free dorayaki anymore?
Well, I mean, now that I’m not in need of money, I wouldn’t come here just to fill my stomach, but still, it’s quite a blow to think about something that was once there disappearing.
“Isn’t the budget just going to stay the same?”
“Well… that’s because—”
Kaoru scratched her cheek with a finger.
“It seems the rules will be changing from this year. Many clubs have been hearing complaints that they were wasting too much, so…”
“……”
Given the way we treated snacks like emergency rations last year, there was no way I could say anything.
“Well, we wouldn’t mind if there were no dorayaki.”
Fukuda tilted his head as he spoke.
“Still, the more budget we have, the better. Could you let us know what we can do to help?”
The usually calm Mako chimed in.
“You guys…”
Izumi looked a bit touched as she looked at the two and then nodded.
“First of all, the best way is to clearly demonstrate club activities. We need to prove why we need more budget here.”
That’s honestly a little tough.
We made a club newsletter last year. Naturally, if we put in the effort, we could create something even better, but given that we are a somewhat unpopular club, the interest level tends to drop.
If the interest is low, the copies of those pamphlets will also likely be fewer, and no matter how many we print, it wouldn’t likely yield many positive evaluations.
“What about other ways?”
When I asked, Izumi gave a wry smile.
“Other ways… would be to accept a lot of new members.”
“Ah.”
That makes sense.
Even if the second years smoothly manage the club, they’ll eventually become exam takers next year. Even if there are some who regularly use the club room, around the end of the year, they’ll inevitably become a bit negligent due to studying and looking for schools.
But first-year students are different.
Once they join, they could stick around for at least two years. And as long as those kinds of students keep coming in, it could be said the club is functioning beautifully.
But how to recruit members for the club?
I pondered briefly.
It’s not really my place to talk about having joined in first year, but if we took in new members here, it would be hard to gauge their character.
Once they’re in, even if they’re from different grades, they’ll inevitably be spending time in the same building every day. Of course, just kicking them out isn’t so simple. Worst case, they could potentially come every day just to pester.
Also, this school is co-ed.
While it feels a bit off to say, the girls sitting in this Literature Club, including me, all seem like lovely girls. Even the somewhat modest Izumi doesn’t seem menacing; it wouldn’t be strange if she had a crush on at least one boy.
A club with eight lovely girls and not a single guy.
…Even I think I might want to join. I mean, I’m already in, but still.
If it were a decent guy like Sasaki, it wouldn’t matter, but if on the off chance someone who merely looked decent but was a troublemaker joined, it would become bothersome.
I didn’t want to ruin Izumi and Kaoru’s last year.
“I think I understand what worries you.”
As I was seriously contemplating, Kaoru spoke with a smile.
“You don’t need to worry too much. Izumi has even brought in a ghost male student before.”
“Kaoru!”
At Kaoru’s bombshell remark, Izumi shot up from her seat, yelling.
“A ghost?!”
Fukuda’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Izumi glared at Kaoru, while Kaoru evaded her gaze and started recalling the story, and the original Literature Club members began diving into their snack routine.
Thinking I might not get to see this dorayaki anymore, I felt I should eat more right now. I wonder if I should ask Izumi where it’s from.
The three who were trying to join looked at Kaoru and Izumi with expressions that were somewhat confused and somewhat amused.
For the record, Yuuki was still calmly fiddling with his phone until then.
*
A few days later.
“I’ve been thinking.”
Right after lunchtime began, Fukuda suddenly said that.
“Isn’t it best to have Yuuki and Mako handle the club promotions?”
At that, Yuuki shot Fukuda a disgruntled look, raising his head.
“No, no. Just listen.”
Fukuda spread his hands as if to calm him down.
“You both totally fit the image of ‘literary girls.’ Honestly, even if I sit here as a member of the Literature Club, no one would believe it.”
I don’t think appearances alone determine such things, but still, I couldn’t really deny it.
While it seems that he likes romance novels, judging purely from appearances, he seems more likely to send another message instead of reading a book.
“…Didn’t you just think of something very rude just now?”
Somehow reading my expression, Fukuda narrowed his eyes and asked.
“Not really.”
“Well, fine.”
Fukuda shrugged and continued to lay out his thoughts.
“First of all, President Izumi is really shy. I thought it was just that I look too energetic, but after seeing her for a few days, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Izumi is simply like this in front of anyone she meets for the first time.”
Well, I’d say her appearance had quite an influence too.
I really don’t know how she got so close with Kaoru, but at least when I met Izumi, she didn’t seem particularly scared. Koko was the same, and Yuka seemed to be alright too.
Mako probably wasn’t very frightening either. Izumi was the only one who had such a response to Yuuki and Fukuda.
But I decided to bravely push those thoughts down.
“On the contrary, Kaoru seems overly energetic, and honestly, doesn’t seem too interested in the Literature Club.”
…That point was well made.
She seems to be here more because Izumi is here than because she’s interested in the Literature Club.
“Yuka is reliable, but she doesn’t quite fit the ‘literary girl’ image. She could get accepted as a member of the Literature Club, but not quite at the level of Mako or Izumi.”
“Well, I can acknowledge that.”
At Fukuda’s remark, Yuka, who had been sitting next to me and turned towards us, nodded.
“Yeah. So, Mako and Yuuki.”
“Uh, really?”
Mako blushed slightly as she spoke.
“Yeah, Mako. That’s the vibe you give off. A bit shy but you have this senior-like quality, that kind of feeling.”
“……”
After finishing the compliment, Fukuda noticed Yuuki glaring at him and quickly raised his palms again.
“Yuuki, you’re the same. Right now, you seem to have this cold beauty vibe, but considering your fair skin and calm demeanor, it suits you perfectly. Just a little bit of styling will work great!”
“……How?”
It was obvious, but Yuuki still asked as if he’d listen anyway.
“Can I play around with your hair a bit?”
“……Do as you please.”
Fukuda looked like his fingertips were tingling with excitement as he stood up from his seat while Yuuki sighed heavily.
With a bit of a pep in her step, Fukuda rounded behind Yuuki.
Then she braided Yuuki’s hair.
“People’s impressions are generally determined by their hairstyles, right? Just changing up your bangs a bit can drastically change the vibe! So like this!”
Fukuda pulled Yuuki’s hair into a thick braid and swung it over his shoulder.
“Ah.”
Then she snatched Mako’s glasses off her face and plopped them onto Yuuki’s.
“Dizzy.”
“Just hold on for a second.”
Saying that, Fukuda pulled out an old paperback from her bag and handed it to Yuuki, laying it open at just the right angle.
“Now, sit with your back against the window and look down at the book.”
“……”
In a show of ‘I’ll endure this because we’re friends,’ Yuuki turned, leaning against the window, and slouched a bit as he pretended to read.
“……”
“……What is it?”
As all of us, including Fukuda, sat dumbfounded watching him, Yuuki spoke as if slightly annoyed.
“You look great.”
Mako said that very honestly.
And that was indeed the case.
There was a reason Fukuda had told him to sit with his back against the window.
Yuuki’s skin is quite fair. Although he had a ‘gal’ vibe, he didn’t seem to enjoy tanning; he didn’t go around doing outdoor activities.
Because of that, the clear warm light of the spring sky sat beautifully reflected off his fair neck.
Gathering it into a thick braid and moving it over one shoulder was a fantastic choice. His pure white skin, combined with the glasses, completed the image of a literary girl who loves books and rarely goes outside.
Yet Yuuki does put some makeup on his face. It’s not overdone and is thus natural, helping greatly in achieving the ‘unremarkable beauty’ impression.
“How is it? It’s a bit different from Mako’s ‘kind’ image, right?”
Warm and kind Mako. And somewhat cold and taciturn Yuuki.
It was a scene that could pique one’s curiosity as to why the two of them are like this.
It was truly ‘storytelling.’
…But isn’t this the reverse effect? Since earlier, the boys sitting by the window have been stealing glances at Yuuki’s neck.
I heard there’s a school rule against ponytails because ‘they make you lewd’, and now I see there’s actually reason behind it.
By the way.
Fukuda, surprisingly passionate about club activities!
As those thoughts crossed my mind while I was looking at Fukuda,
“This guy, what rude thoughts are you having!?”
Fukuda said that, gleefully ruffling my hair and turning it into a mess.
She combed back her own hair afterward, but still, I could only hope Kagami wouldn’t notice when I got home.
*
‘Literary Girl Yamashita Yuuki’ was also presented in front of Izumi and Kaoru.
“Wow, amazing. If you had looked like this from the start, Izumi wouldn’t have been frightened for sure.”
“Who said I was frightened!?”
While she hid behind Kaoru.
Noticing my gaze, Izumi cleared her throat awkwardly.
“…Well, fine.”
With a slight calm down, Izumi spoke.
“If you’re okay with it, then I allow it.”
Our eyes turned towards Yuuki and Mako.
Mako’s gaze directed at Yuuki.
Yuuki let out a long sigh and said,
“I’ll just sit still.”
“Just sitting still is the main point.”
Fukuda raised her thumb cheerfully.
“Oh, and if there’s anyone too weird, I’d like you to cut them off. Mako definitely wouldn’t be able to handle such things.”
It seems there was indeed a reason for attaching Yuuki here.
Hearing Fukuda’s words, Yuuki let out a different, more drained sigh than before and nodded.
“Got it. I’ll take responsibility.”
“Responsibility…”
Mako puffed her cheeks slightly, but honestly, due to that expression, she seemed somewhat untrustworthy. She’d surely do well when it’s time, but due to that impression, some people might see her as easy to push around. Actually, she had also taken on the role of Class Representative somewhat reluctantly.
“The club promotion is next week, right? We need to start preparing. Actually, I’ve already bought some supplies in advance to make the picket signs.”
Confirming that the conversation had reached a close, Kaoru pointed towards the corner of the Literature Club room. There were hardboard sheets and various types of colored papers stacked neatly.
“I want to promote it properly this year since it’s our last; I ended up buying it with my own money. Now, let’s give applause to our President who sacrificed her pocket money for the club snack fund!”
As we clapped, Izumi’s face turned bright red.
“T-the part about me paying half is not true!”
In reality, Kaoru was getting high on the clapping directed at her.
“We don’t have much time, so let’s make this quickly. A day should be enough.”
“Yes!”
With Kaoru’s words, we all rushed towards the materials.
And after several hours of cutting and pasting, we managed to create a pretty decent picket sign.
Honestly, though, I didn’t think a picket alone would attract much attention.
As expected, Fukuda’s point ringed true. For the Literature Club to gain fame, a cheat code is necessary.
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