Chapter 5 - Club Recruitment Period
Day 3 (Tuesday)
I commuted from home to [Mitsumori University Affiliated High School] by train.
It’s a 10-minute walk to the nearest station, a 15-minute train ride, and a 5-minute walk to school. A little over 30 minutes total.
I’ve considered commuting by bicycle, but it’s tough when it rains.
The train arrived at the usual time, and as the doors opened, people lined up to board, flowing in from the front.
Watching the stream of people in front of me… Is that [Izumo-san]? I didn't realize we used the same station.
When I, the last in line, boarded, the train wasn't exactly packed, but it was fairly crowded.
A quick glance revealed a salaryman-type old man, seemingly nearing retirement, standing unusually close behind [Izumo-san].
[Izumo-san] seems rather timid, and seeing things like this really annoys me…
“Morning.”
I smoothly navigated through the crowd and cut in between [Izumo-san] and the man.
“Ah, mo-morning…”
[Izumo-san] turned around, clearly relieved, so it seems I arrived just in time. And that old man behind me stinks…
After enduring the 15-minute wait, I got off the train.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah… that person was… sniffing around…”
What kind of perversion does that old man have?
Before sniffing people, he should deal with his own smell.
“Good. Well, if you’re on that train at that time, you’ll be on mine, so if things look bad, just call out.”
“Thank you…”
If my older sister were here, she’d take care of it, but she graduated right when I entered.
*
“Morning.”
“You traitor…”
[Nat] suddenly said to me as I sat down in the classroom. At least return my greeting.
“What are you talking about?”
“You walked to school with [Izumo-san], didn’t you?”
“I just helped her because there was a pervert on the same train.”
“How do you set up flags so easily?!”
No, no, there are no flags.
Besides, if my older sister found out I ignored something like that… a shiver ran down my spine.
“Listen, [Nat]. If a girl is in trouble, I have to help her, or my sister will kill me.”
“I know that. By the way, how’s your beautiful older sister doing?”
“Isn’t she? I can’t contact her since she’s in a women’s dormitory at a women’s university…”
Only women are allowed to call. A women’s university dormitory where even fathers can’t make contact. I’m seriously worried if my rough older sister should even be there. I heard it was a miracle she passed the interview, too.
“Starting homeroom now~”
The bell rang, and [Kumano-sensei], our homeroom teacher, entered, ending our chat.
“Good morning, everyone~ Starting today, the [club recruitment period] begins, so everyone, please join a club that interests you~”
Troublingly, at our high school, [Mitsumori University Affiliated High School], simply going home after school is not allowed.
So, for my part, I plan to choose a club that aligns with my hobbies. Actually, I’ve already decided.
After homeroom ended and the teacher left, [Nat] turned around and asked.
“Have you already decided which club to join?”
“The [Cybernetics Club], for now.”
The school guide said it was a club for cultural activities using [PC (Personal Core)].
If I could play [IRO], that would be best, but other games would be fine too. Even if games aren't allowed, I could probably watch streams.
“What about you? Still track and field?”
“That’s the plan, but I’m still thinking about it.”
“That’s not like you.”
“Shut up. Well, I want to play, but I also like running. I plan to do it without getting too invested in competitions or records.”
“Sports clubs can be tough if you get too serious.”
As we were talking, the bell rang, and our chatter ended.
………
……
…
“Alright, I’m off to the track and field club.”
[Nat] quickly gathered his belongings and darted out.
What, he's totally into it, isn't he?
I also gathered my things and left the classroom.
Apparently, sports clubs recruit in the courtyard, and cultural clubs in the gym. As I slowly made my way to the gym…
“Ugh, it’s super crowded.”
The gym was already packed with people.
Well, it’s a large school, so if all students are in some kind of club, it would be like this.
Moreover, there are quite a number of cultural clubs, making the booths, each with a long desk and two folding chairs, look like something out of Comiket.
Ah, the major clubs like the art club and band club are along the walls.
“Now, where is the [Cybernetics Club]…?”
There was a large layout map posted on the wall, and I looked at it… It’s in the corner, huh?
I smoothly navigated through the crowd as I had that morning, arriving at the [Cybernetics Club]’s designated spot, but…
“Hey, there’s no one here.”
There was, at least, a paper that said ‘[Cybernetics Club]’ on the long desk—and it looked like the back of a homework printout—and next to it was an [application form].
I was surprised that it was such an unenthusiastic club, but does that mean I won't get yelled at for being an inactive member?
Hmm, the deadline for deciding on clubs is the end of this week, but it’s a pain to come here multiple times. For now, I'll just fill it out and go to the club room…
*
The corridor of the cultural [club building]. There were quite a few first-year students who had already decided to join, and second and third-year students giving tours.
Well, they probably couldn’t chat in that gym.
“This is it.”
The [Cybernetics Club] room seemed to be at the very end of the second floor of the three-story [club building]. It didn’t look like a very large club room, but can they even fit [PC (Personal Core)]s? Maybe I was expecting too much, hoping to play IRO…
Just as I raised my hand to knock, the door suddenly swung open, startling me.
What appeared before me was… her chest is huge. And a beautiful woman with straight black hime cut hair that didn’t quite match her. Is she a second-year senior? Judging by the color of her tie.
Women taller than me always make me think of my older sister, and I tend to feel a bit intimidated…
“Oh? Could you be here to join the club?”
“Uhm, well, I went to listen to an explanation of the club, but no one was there, so I just came to the club room…”
At my words, she smiled… no, she smirked, and a chill ran down my spine.
Maybe I should run away…
“Eh, no, wait!”
The next moment, my arm was firmly grabbed, and I was dragged into the club room.
“Welcome to the [Cybernetics Club]. Now, behold the facilities our club boasts!”
Looking around the club room as she said that, I saw…
The first thing that caught my eye was [Izumo-san]’s figure…