[Monday, April 8]
"Wow, so pretty! Are these flowers from Miki-san's place?" In the living room, Sakura leaned in close to the vase, her nose twitching as she took a deep breath.
"Yeah, I brought them back yesterday. You were already asleep by then," Kyousuke replied from the kitchen.
He had returned home around 8 PM the previous night, but Sakura was already sound asleep.
On the way back, he had been pondering how to convince her to cut back on late-night snacks—but it turned out to be a needless worry.
"I spent the whole day playing games with Eriri, then went shopping with Shouko... I was completely wiped out."
Sakura wandered over to the kitchen counter and slumped into a seat, resting her head on her arms with a massive yawn.
Apparently, even nearly twelve hours of sleep wasn't enough for her.
After yawning, she tilted her head and gazed at Kyousuke, who was standing in the kitchen with a spatula in hand.
He wore a black T-shirt, gray shorts, and a red apron.
Each person in the house had their own apron, all neatly hung in a row next to the fridge.
She knew that after preparing breakfast, he would immediately go upstairs to shower and change into clothes untouched by cooking smells.
Although he could've made something less greasy, he always said, "Sure, the smell of oil can be annoying sometimes, but it's part of what makes a house feel like home."
No idea where he picked up that odd philosophy.
The sound of the exhaust fan hummed in the background, the scent of sizzling meat filled the air, and in her view stood the man who looked like a domestic husband.
Morning sunlight poured in from the garden, wrapping the girl in golden light like a luxurious feathered robe.
Sakura squinted and murmured in a voice so sweet it could melt butter,
"I feel so happy right now~~"
"Idiot. Say stuff like that too often, and the god will stop handing out happiness."
Kyousuke answered without turning around and handed her a small plate.
It held crispy bits left over from the fried meat sauce, mixed with salted radish leaves—a simple but tasty appetizer.
"But my chest feels so full, like I'm gonna burst if I don't say it out loud."
Sakura cupped the little plate painted with blue floral patterns in both hands, her eyes sparkling with joy at the vibrant greens inside.
"In that case…" Kyousuke took off his apron, stepped out of the kitchen, and opened his arms.
With a small cheer, Sakura quickly set the plate down and threw herself into his embrace.
"Now you smell like food too, you know."
"Mm~~ But that's the smell of home," Sakura said softly, eyes closed, hugging his solid waist, basking in the warmth of morning.
Kyousuke said nothing, simply wrapping his arms around her and savoring the quiet moment shared between just the two of them.
They finally pulled apart after a long while.
Sakura returned to the counter, pressed her hands together in thanks—"Itadakimasu"—and began stuffing salad into her mouth, chewing slowly like a contented Totoro.
"So good." It was just a simple mix of vegetables with a bit of salt, but Sakura still raised her left hand to cradle her cheek and let out a blissful sigh.
Kyousuke smiled slightly as he returned to the kitchen.
The other had woken up early from oversleeping the day before—Shouko, who usually studied in the morning, hadn't even gotten up yet.
"Ah, crap. Eating this much so early in the morning… I'm definitely gonna gain weight."
Despite the complaint, Sakura happily slurped down the noodles.
"Kyousuke, you really don't understand girls. Food with such a strong smell—now Eriri's going to have to spend an extra ten minutes brushing her teeth."
"But I bet Kasumigaoka-senpai will love it. She hasn't had your food yet, right?"
"Hmm... Weird. Why isn't Yukari-sensei up yet? Doesn't she have class this morning?"
Sakura kept chattering, listing off everyone in the house—even Momotarou the puppy got roped into her rambling.
"Boss lady, I get it. I promise I won't try to climb the stairs again today. I got wrecked yesterday."
"But being home alone is so boring. Marumaru doesn't even talk—just zooms around like a maniac."
Momotarou whimpered softly in response to the scolding from the house's number one girl.
While other dogs his age could already bark, he still could only go "whimper, whimper." Marumaru was the name she gave the robot vacuum.
Pretty great name, right? Just like Kyousuke, she had a talent for naming things.
Kyousuke brought over his own bowl of noodles and sat beside Sakura, eating while listening to her endless monologue.
Shouko and Naoka gradually woke up as well.
As for Yukari—just as Sakura had guessed, she had no classes that morning and had decided to enjoy a long, peaceful sleep.
'Knock knock knock knock—'
A loud banging echoed through the house, but no one even looked up.
They were used to it.
It was Eriri waking up Kasumigaoka.
Ever since she caught Kyousuke almost getting dragged back under the covers by that temptress for a "second sleep," she had sworn to personally ensure Kasumigaoka got up on time.
As Sakura predicted, though she loved the Kyousuke food, the said temptress still shouted from upstairs:
"Can't you invent a version of this that doesn't leave such a strong aftertaste?"
"What kind of lady walks around reeking of noodles every time she opens her mouth? Kyousuke, stop slacking!"
"I expect smell-free food on my plate tomorrow!"
"Alright, alright~" Kyousuke replied casually.
Compared to finding lily petals of identical size or writing names on the most visible scale of a koi fish, this was child's play.
If he couldn't manage this, how could he call himself a top-tier chef?
At school, a new week brought even fiercer club recruitment campaigns.
On the twin staircases of the multimedia building at the main gate, the left side was occupied by the a cappella club, the right by the chorus club, and in the center stood the brass band.
Normally, the a cappella club seemed like the weirdest bunch, but today, they were surprisingly the most impressive.
Neither the chorus club's accompaniment nor the brass band's booming performances fazed them—probably because they were used to following only the music in their own minds.
Amid the clamor of instruments and voices, their calm, unaccompanied rendition of "Dear Traveler" stood out.
Thanks to the signboard next to the brass band, Kyousuke recognized their song as "Burn the Floor."
Unfortunately, the chorus club didn't bother labeling their piece—perhaps assuming everyone would know it already.
Though the a cappella group didn't sing loudly, their serene harmony carried a unique strength in the noisy environment.
At least, it was enough to make Sakura and Shouko stop in their tracks and listen.
"I thought they were kind of a weird club yesterday, but now I think they're actually pretty amazing," Sakura said with admiration.
Kyousuke nodded in agreement.
As long as there was no accompaniment, Sakura was unbeatable—no one could say she was off-key.
She'd singlehandedly throw the whole choir off.
The three of them listened for a while before continuing on their way, weaving through the crowd from the side.
After passing the multimedia building, they reached the vast atrium—this was clearly the real battleground.
No doubt, the reason those three clubs by the entrance were forced into that awkward alliance, barely on speaking terms and throwing passive-aggressive jabs, was because the clubs stationed here had joined forces to drive them out.
But since they had breakfast at home and strolled leisurely to school, it was already late.
Most of the clubs were starting to pack up, wrapping up their morning promotions.
The next round wouldn't start until after school—in about six hours.
"There's even a Go-Home Club, so why isn't there a Sleeping-During-Class Club?" Sakura remarked casually as they walked toward the classroom building.
"Maybe there is," Kyousuke replied playfully. "But they hide in secrecy to avoid being shut down by the school."
"Operating as an underground society, they live by the motto: 'If you sleep during class, you're automatically a member.' As long as students keep dozing off, their legend will continue."
Kyousuke never missed a chance to humor Sakura's whims.
"What about you, Shou-chan? Didn't Yui from last week ask you to hang out?" Sakura asked.
"Umm…" Shouko puffed out her cheeks, hesitating. "I think… I still have more fun being with you and everyone else."
"That won't do, Shouko. High school is the time to—" Sakura looped her arm around Shouko's and started giving her a full-blown crash course in friendship and social life.
When it came to making friends, Sakura was an undisputed expert.
She'd been adored by everyone since elementary school and had even managed to connect with Eriri back in middle school.
Sure, Eriri was a total shut-in at home—so lazy she needed a swift kick just to move while sweeping—but at school, she was a certified social icon.
Kyousuke walked beside them, smiling at the scene.
Personally, he thought having one or two real friends was enough—any more, and you were just classmates with a good rapport.
Still, he agreed with Sakura: Shouko should make more friends.
Even though she could hold a part-time job, get along with senior coworkers at the agency, and come back from group dinners with fun stories, and even act like an older sister around Eriri—she was still far too shy.
That wouldn't cut it if she really wanted to be a voice actress.
She'd clam up the moment she saw certain lines in a script.
As they chatted, they reached their classroom.
Not long after they sat down, homeroom teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka walked in to start the class meeting.
She talked about the weekly morning quizzes starting next week and encouraged everyone to join a club.
"Clubs are an essential part of high school life," she said. "I hope everyone participates actively."
"Gaming clubs are fine too—as long as you're with friends who share your interests, you'll find something meaningful to do."
"And those of you with athletic talent should definitely join a sports club. It'll help with college applications and even job hunting later…"
On the podium, she sounded exactly like a recruiter sent by the club association.
She even started sharing stories from her own high school and college club experiences—which, unsurprisingly, were all martial arts related.
Her fun anecdotes? Tales of how she used those skills to fight crime on the train.
At first, the class was hyped, blood pumping from her passionate speech.
But soon they just stared blankly as she began demonstrating basic self-defense techniques for women.
The boys squirmed in their seats, while the girls became intrigued.
The most excited, of course, was Sakura.
"We don't have a martial arts club at our school, but…" Hiratsuka hesitated.
For a moment, she seriously considered passing her skills on to these adorable students. But she snapped out of it quickly—absolutely not!
Sure, taking down perverts made her feel like a hero.
But back at the office, her colleagues always gave her weird looks—like she was Ultraman in disguise.
"Whoa, you're amazing, Hiratsuka-sensei. Whoever marries you is gonna feel super safe."
She was a literature teacher, for crying out loud! She knew exactly what they meant.
It was code for "no man will marry you."
Bastards.
Next time there's a school dinner, I'm teaching your wives some moves.
Let's see if you don't end up on your knees begging for mercy.
If she actually started a martial arts club, she'd obviously be the advisor.
That meant the terrifying truth—"Hiratsuka Shizuka is a violent monster"—would spread beyond the faculty room and go viral among students across the region.
Pure nightmare.
"Ahem. Anyway, if you're ever in real danger, it's best to scream for help or run. Okay, time for class," she said, gathering her things and hurrying out.
The first class of the day was math.
The teacher claimed that first period was when the brain was most alert and ideal for math, but Kyousuke could clearly see Sakura's head almost crashing into her desk.
Time passed quickly, and before long, it was time for club activities.
Kyousuke sent Kisaki and Goro ahead to the kendo club to start warm-ups with the members.
As for the baseball club, he still hadn't agreed to be captain.
He'd planned to take it easy from the start.
Sure, he'd play in matches, but leading the team? No way.
One mistake and the club could be gone in three years—that kind of responsibility wasn't worth it.
Instead, he walked out with Sakura and Shouko, helping them explore other club options.
"Hey… are they dating?" Watching the trio from behind, one girl whispered to her friend.
"Probably not. I mean, who hangs out with their girlfriend and another girl every day?"
"But isn't there a rumor that Yamauchi and Nishimiya transferred here with Hojou-kun?"
The girls started gossiping, seemingly thrilled just to speculate.
A great team needs doers, coordinators, perfectionists, and supervisors.
But a functional high school girl clique?
That needs a queen—the nucleus of the group.
Then a rebel—usually the queen's loyal second-in-command, there to flatter and cheer.
Then there are the "servants," who join just to feel included. And lastly, the intel gatherers, who dig up juicy gossip to keep the queen entertained.
Though the school year had only just begun, these skilled social tacticians had already formed a circle around Miura Yumiko.
Initially, the most likely candidate for queen was Yamauchi Sakura.
She had close ties with one of the most popular boys in school, a cute friend in Nishimiya Shouko, and a cheerful, charming personality.
She seemed perfect.
But she clearly had no interest in playing that role. It wasn't out of pride or arrogance—she was just genuinely friendly to anyone who talked to her.
There was something infectious about Yamauchi Sakura. She made people smile just by being herself.
"They're not a couple," said Yuigahama Yui, finally stepping in before the rumors got out of hand.
"Yamauchi and Hojo are childhood friends. Nishimiya went to elementary school with them. They promised to go to high school together a long time ago."
"Oh? You sure know a lot, Yui," Miura Yumiko said with interest.
Normally, she wasn't the type to gossip about others, but those three clearly weren't her friends.
"Yeah, yeah! Yui seems to be on pretty good terms with Nishimiya-san."
"It's not like we're that close," Yuigahama, the queen of reading the room, quickly denied. "It's just that we talked a bit because of our seating arrangement."
"Speaking of which, did you guys hear about that club Hojou-kun started?"
"Isn't it called the 'Happy Life Club' or something?"
"No, no, it's the 'Club for Creating a Happy Life.' And guess who their advisor is—none other than the super gorgeous Yukari-sensei."
"Lucky them. I kinda want to join too."
"Oh, looking to join Hojou-kun's harem squad, are we?"
"Whaaat?! You're the one who kept sneaking glances at him during class!"
Meanwhile, Hayama Hayato listened silently to the girls' conversation, his expression subtly shifting.
He had been the ace of the middle school soccer team, and of course, he had joined the high school soccer club on the very first day.
A senior who was also on the student council had mentioned that Yukino had started her own club too.
The name was just as ridiculous as Hojou Kyousuke's.
"Service Club."
He had no idea what was coming next. And once Haruno found out, who knew what she'd do.
Though his friendship with Yukinoshita Yukino had broken off back in elementary school, whether as a former friend or a loyal retainer.
He sincerely wished for her to live a normal high school life—not isolated and alone like before.
Of course, he only dared to call her "Yukino" in his thoughts.
If they actually met, he didn't even feel qualified to call her "Yukinoshita-san."
———————————————————————
Courtyard
Possibly because the special building full of club rooms was right behind it, the courtyard was packed with clubs putting on elaborate displays to attract members.
Sakura and Shouko walked arm-in-arm ahead, while Kyousuke silently followed behind.
The festive atmosphere made him feel like he'd stumbled into a cultural festival.
Without thinking, he began scanning the area for food stalls—things like takoyaki were a staple.
Back in middle school, his class had run one.
Under a massive cherry blossom tree, taken over by the Literature Club, pink petals floated down while a girl passionately read an unknown literary passage.
She was using that dramatic, archaic tone people online joked sounded like the descendants of noble families reciting The Tale of Genji.
If you really listened, it did sound kind of beautiful.
Kyousuke noticed something odd—the petals weren't falling from the cherry tree behind her.
Two boys were standing off to the side, flinging handfuls of petals from huge bags.
Who knew where they'd collected them from? Very dedicated to beautifying the campus… hopefully they'd clean up with just as much enthusiasm.
When the reciting girl spotted someone, her face lit up, and her tone grew more dramatic:
"Oh, Creator of the Stone God, Master of the Blade, Hojou Kyousuke of Class 1-F—come, join the Literature Club and let us write tales of youth together~!"
The aria-like pitch echoed dramatically. A chorus of girls behind her immediately chimed in with sweet, high-pitched cheers.
Sakura waved cheerfully in response, while Shouko tightened her grip on Kyousuke's arm and looked away.
'Do they all write fantasy novels about demon kings and heroes or something? If so, I should send that samurai general from my class to mentor them.'
The Art Club had set up a small gallery of past works and were also offering quick portraits for anyone interested.
Sakura excitedly dragged the two over for a sketch.
Sure, she had two art prodigies at home, but that wasn't the point.
They posed with Kyousuke sitting in the center, Sakura and Shouko standing to his left and right.
If they'd been in traditional kimonos, this could've passed as a wedding photo.
Even in their sharp, suit-style school uniforms, the aesthetic still looked stylish.
Maybe to show off the Art Club's skills, their president took on the drawing himself.
In the end, Kyousuke asked someone from the Kendo Club's recruitment booth to snap a few pictures of the three of them together.
It's not like a quick sketch could capture much detail anyway—they didn't exactly have "artistic genius" or "drawing talent" written on their foreheads.
———————————————————————
"Kyousuke, go check out some clubs. Shouko and I are gonna explore the special building," Sakura said after they finished their lap around the courtyard.
"There's nothing going on with my club today, so I'll pass. Let them handle their usual training." Ignoring the pleading eyes of two nearby members, Kyousuke dismissed the idea.
If anyone accused him of abandoning his eager club members just to go on a stroll with some cute girls, that would be a complete misunderstanding.
Truth is, even without club obligations, this was his usual routine.
Honestly, club activities were more of a disruption to his peaceful life.
If anyone wanted guidance from him, they could schedule an appointment with his secretary.
He'd only be available when Sakura and the others had plans.
"No way, that's not fair. With you around, the clubs don't show their real selves!" Sakura pouted.
And she had a point—just Kyousuke standing near a booth was enough to make clubs pull out all the stops, like peacocks trying to attract a mate.
"Yeah, Kyousuke-kun! You told me to check out more clubs, but now you're not even going?" Shouko pouted too, her voice soft and gentle as always.
That was as forceful as she ever got.
Kyousuke looked at her and briefly considered recruiting her into the Kendo Club—just to have someone to wipe his sweat.
But the yelling in the dojo might bother her.
Maybe he could get them to train in silence.
"Winning without a sound"—that was an actual legendary kendo technique.
"Fine, fine. I'll go find an interesting one," Kyousuke said to Sakura, and she immediately understood what kind of "interesting" he meant.
When it came to Shouko's struggles with voice acting, the biggest problem was her shyness.
Like he'd said before, even a total airhead can turn into a passionate goofball in the right sports club.
The right club might help Shouko break out of her shell.
It had to be one where she'd meet new people. His own "Happy Life Club" wasn't going to cut it.
"Okay! Leave it to me~!" Sakura gave an energetic nod.
"See you later, Kyousuke-kun," Shouko said softly, waving.
The black school uniform of Soubu High gave her a more subdued look, but the moment she spoke, that gentle, fluffy vibe returned in full.
———————————————————————
After parting ways, Sakura led Shouko into the special building.
Not all clubs did their recruiting outside.
Some, like the Karuta Club—focused on the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu card game—weren't suited to outdoor recruiting.
Others, like the Gaming Club, didn't bother because people who wanted in would find them anyway.
And then there were clubs that didn't want new members at all.
Like the one they'd just found—on the fourth floor of the special building, in a classroom overlooking the courtyard and the cherry blossoms.
"The Service Club?" Sakura read the handwritten sign on the door with a curious expression.
"Sakura… l-let's go back downstairs," Shouko said, clinging tightly to her arm and trembling.
The last club on the third floor had been the Paranormal Investigation Society.
The entire room had been crammed with huge bookshelves, leaving no space to sit.
Every shelf was filled with files documenting supernatural events at Soubu High—dating back to its founding.
And the latest entry? "Special Building Fourth Floor XXX…"
"XXX" wasn't a secret code—it was just three red Xs drawn in marker.
According to the rumors, the fourth floor had been cursed for the past five years by a club called the "Horror Story Society."
Anyone assigned there would suffer misfortune.
The luckiest just quit the club.
The less fortunate saw their club disbanded. And the worst...
The final fate was clumsily scribbled over in black ink, as if someone had used the last of their strength to conceal it.
"It's fine, really. I bet that club used to be the Horror Story Society, and all those scary stories are made up," Sakura said casually, patting Shouko on the arm.
"Look at their bookshelf. Soubu High hasn't even been around that long—if they've got that many records, the school might as well be a funeral home."
Shouko decided to treat it like a courage test.
She followed as Sakura tiptoed to the classroom door and peeked through the small window.
"Hey, hey! There's someone in there—seriously, there's a person!" Sakura whispered excitedly, like she'd just spotted the Nautilus in a classroom.
Shouko's eyes widened in terror. Her legs trembled, and she instinctively backed away.
"Ahh, Sakura, let's just go already," she pleaded.
"I'm telling you, it's a real person. A really pretty girl—not a ghost, not a spirit. And don't forget, we've been blessed by the shrine maiden herself!" Sakura pulled a small charm from her pocket—the one Mitsuha had given them before the school year started.
Clutching her own white cloth charm tightly, Shouko hesitantly leaned closer and peered through the glass as well.
Inside, she saw a mostly empty classroom.
Unused desks and chairs were stacked in the back. By the window sat a lone desk and chair, where a girl with long black hair sat silently reading.
"But Sakura… we've been talking outside for ages, and she hasn't reacted at all," Shouko said, voice trembling.
"Hmm… maybe she's just really into her book?" Sakura mused, stepping closer like she was at an aquarium watching fish.
'Click—'
The unlocked door swung open with a soft push.
Before they could apologize, the sight before them left them speechless.
The spring breeze carried the damp scent of Tokyo Bay.
Petals from the beloved cherry blossom tree in the courtyard drifted past the open window.
The girl sitting there wore the same school uniform as them.
Two red ribbons tied her long black hair into twin butterflies.
As she lifted a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, neither the fluttering curtains nor the dancing petals could disturb her focus.
The scene was like a painting—so serene, so ethereal.
It gave the impression that even if the world ended, this girl would remain, quietly reading.
Sakura and Shouko finally understood why she hadn't reacted to their whispers at the door.
If even the apocalypse couldn't break her concentration, what chance did a couple of nosy girls have?
That's when Yamauchi Sakura came to a conclusion: A girl with a presence so calm and unwavering would never act on a fleeting impulse to do something wrong.
As if finally sensing their presence, the black-haired girl placed a bookmark in her book and slowly looked up.
"Before entering a closed classroom, isn't it basic courtesy to knock?" she said.
Her voice was cool and clear, soft like a whisper in your ear, yet unmistakably audible—like the sound of snow falling silently, piling up.
Seeing the faint irritation in her eyes, Sakura quickly swallowed the cheeky remark she had prepared—something about them not having actually entered yet—and instead offered a sincere apology.
"Sorry about that!"
Shouko bowed deeply beside her.
"I see…"
The girl closed her book and set it down, studying the two of them as if trying to decide whether they were lying.
Staring into her pale blue eyes, Nishimiya Shouko felt a chill, like the girl could read every thought in her head.
Sakura, meanwhile, was digging through her memory for info.
A girl this striking had to be well-known. Of course—she remembered now.
Yukinoshita Yukino. A student in Class 1-J, also known as the International Studies class.
Most students there were returnees from abroad or planning to study overseas. The class was 90% female.
But why was someone like her sitting alone in a room that looked more like a storage closet than a classroom?
The Service Club? Was that her club?
"Come in," Yukinoshita said at last, either convinced they weren't lying or simply unwilling to argue over such a small matter.
"Excuse us~" the two girls murmured as they stepped inside and gently shut the door behind them.