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>>5015811
“I think I’ll head out too.” You stand, voicing your decision to join Yukari’s friends in their withdrawal. Sure, you don’t have much to hide, but your last run in with the disciplinary council left quite a sour taste in your mouth. Sakura has a point, you’re better off relocating elsewhere than risking the possibility of being swirled into another debacle, however slim the chances may be.

“Huh?” She raises an eyebrow while eyeing the three of you puzzlingly. “What’s wrong?“
“Eh, I just don’t want to run into the disciplinary council again…you know. ”
Realization strikes a moment later when she connects your words with the incident that landed you in the infirmary yesterday. She gives you a soft, acknowledging “hm’ and a nod, before shifting her sharp, steely gaze towards Mifuyu behind her, who’s not exactly doing a fine job at her escape attempt.

“Eh, fine.” Yukari shrugs at the pitiful sight of a messy and desperate senior. “Go, I’ll cover for her.”
She says in a surprisingly magnanimous offer, before putting her full attention onto your troubled senpai. “Mifuyu! Just get out of here normally, could you?”
“I love you, Yukari-chan~” Mifuyu blows Yukari a kiss while the recipient waves her hand before her face like swatting away a fly.

“Are you sure about this, Yukari? You must be aware that Fukuhara isn’t too…” Sakura asks, only to be cut off by a nonchalant “I’ll be fine” from her friend. Standing up, she takes her position at the stairs leading into the pavilion, blocking any direct line of sight into it from the incoming inquisitor of the diciplinary council.
“He’s got no reason to give me a hard time.”
“If you insist.” Sakura answers with a shrug
“L-let’s go! Quickly!” Michiru, already worked up over the perceived threat, eagerly tugs the both of you by the elbow, urging you to hightail out of here.

“Laters then, Yukari.”
As the three of you leave the spot, you spare one last look at your childhood friend, who stands tall and defiant, arms crossed over her chest. Confident and composed, Yukari wears an assuring smirk as she faces the hardline disciplinarian chairman alone.
Sometimes you wonder if she’s braving troubles out of genuine care for her friends, or that she secretly relishes in challenging authority...

>>5015818
Following the lead of your two eccentric schoolmates, you find yourself back at the main academy complex, where all the non-homeroom classrooms are located.
More specifically, you are standing before the classroom at the end of the corridor on the third floor, at the position directly above the library. With no signs of specialized equipment such as the emergency shower of a chemistry lab or server room lights of a computer lab, this room appears no different to any other empty classroom used as storage space… Had it not been for the plaque hanging to the side of the entrance.
“Literature club”, the neatly calligraphed characters on the little wooden plaque read.

Sakura gives the door a gentle knock, and upon not receiving any response pulls out a key from her chest pocket to unlock the door.
With the door swinging open, you are greeted by a sparsely decorated but neatly organized room. The interior consists of little more than a long table, some chairs, a few bookshelves and a few cardboard boxes staffed to each of the corners. The distinct scent of mothball and paper fills the rarely ventilated room, similar to the underground dungeon you visited on the day prior.
The general lack of any ornament on the walls and furniture make this space bear less resemblance to an active clubroom than a mere extension of the school library’s storage.

“Welcome to the Literature Club.” Sakura turns around and proclaims with mild enthusiasm, a soft smirk forming at the corner of her snow white cheeks.
“Now, shall we have lunch? I’ll brew some tea.”
With her right hand your host directs her guests towards a lone table in the middle of the room, next to the rows of shelves. Setting your belongings aside next to the shelves, you take out your bento box onto the table while the two ladies do the same.

*Itadakimasu!*

Your lunch menu of the day is a hearty stew of beef and root vegetables in onions sauce alongside some greens- not your favorite dish, but still moderately enjoyable given your mother’s culinary acumen.
As for your two companions, Michiru nibbles on a sandwich similar to the one she packed last time, while sakura enjoys a salad roll purchased from the school canteen.

“How do you find our humble little sanctum, Hasome-san?” Sakura strikes up a conversation with you while the three of you enjoy your lunches.
“It’s...charming.” You remark softly, but truth to be told, there’s really not much for you to comment on in this room.
”Aw, I’m glad you find it pleasant, Hasome-san.” Sakura’s lips curl to form a content grin. “It’s quite a homely little spot, only lacking a few more... active members.”
You’ve figured as much, given the minimalistic state of this room in general.

>>5015819
“Is Michiru-san an active member?”
“N-not officially…” Michiru lets out a subdued murmur, skittering beside her physically smaller friend.

”Officially?”

”Unfortunately, she’s got her hands tied from attending the art club and the swimming team.” Sakura shrugs with a soft exhale. ”But she does come here to help out, as our most esteemed honorary member.”
Michiru lowers her head and gazes at the floor, her cheeks slightly pinkish from the compliment.
The fact that Michiru could be occupied with two other extracurricular activities while still helping out appears to imply the lack of intensity in the club’s activities.

”So… what do you do in the literature club?”
You only realize how self explanatory your question is after the words escaped your lips.

”Oh, we function like any other book club.” Nevertheless, Sakura attentively answers your question. “We pick a book of the month, then write reports on them.”

That does not sound too different from the routine of the movie club last year, minus the hassle of mandatory participation in student film projects.
Perhaps the literature club could serve as an even more relaxing hideaway?
As you ponder farther, you notice Sakura giving you a gentle and deliberately suggestive smile.
”Would Hasome san be interested in bolstering our numbers?”

”I’ll think about it-”
Before you finish your reply, the distinct, high-pitched screech of a boiling kettle blasts out from the corner, cutting your conversation short.
“Ah, the water is ready.” Sakura stands up from her seat, “Pardon me, Hasome san, I must attend to the kettle.”

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>>5015821
You watch Sakura move towards the kettle, noticing the bookshelf to its left and a large cardboard box sealed with duct tape sitting right next to the appliance. Your questions on such a strange arrangement of items dissipates when she fetches various items from the lower cupboard of the bookshelf and places them onto the box’s top surface: a round metallic can, a palm sized hourglass, and a small porcelain teapot alongside three yunomis of matching color and material.

With her tools ready, Sakura kneels beside her workstation to assume proper seiza, tucking the front of her skirt under her knees and keeping her back straight as she leans in to begin the meticulous ceremony of making tea.
She twists open the metallic canister, and from it produces a wooden spoon which she uses to scoop two spoonfuls of loose, dark green tea leaves into the small teapot.

Steam fills the air above the workstation as Sakura lifts the lid on the kettle, allowing the water within to cool down to the appropriate temperature before starting the brewing process. With the assistance of her little hourglass, your host soon produces a pot of freshly brewed tea and begins pouring the finished product into the three yunomis.
She pours each of the yunomis to half full on her first round, then fills each of the yunomi in reverse sequence to her initial pour.
The undeniable professionalism in her posture and skill is all the more impressive when you realize that she has not left a single droplet stain on the box’s paper surface, despite its most definite frequent use for tea making.

Soonafter, Sakura returns to the long table and presents both Michiru and you with the yunomis filled with freshly made sencha.
”Please enjoy, Hasome-san.”
She serves you the beverage as gracefully as she is professional in making it, setting the porcelain cups onto the table next to you.
“Thank you, Konishi-san”
You take a moment to appreciate the hot beverage served to you- while you’re no expert in the art of making tea, your taste buds tell you that Sakura’s handiwork is nothing short of proper chaya material.
Sakura watches you react to her tea with a soft smile, before turning her attention towards the stack of boxes on the opposite corner of the room.
“Now if you’d excuse us, some preparations for the club fair demands our attention.”
”Maybe I can help?” After the hospitality you’ve been treated to, you feel the need to volunteer yourself.

>>5015828
”H-Hasome san, are you familiar with drawing?” Michiru asks, holding her yunomi in the palm of both hands after having taken a soft sip.

“Umm,” A short introspection made you realize the last time you’re into art was during finger painting in kindergarten. “Not exactly...”

“What about handicraft?” Sakura interjects, “Origami, perhaps?”

“...Do paper airplanes count?”

Judging by the awkward silence which soon ensues, you can reasonably assume that the answer is a resounding ‘no’.

”So…” Michiru slowly breaks the silence. “What could you help with, exactly…?”
While you sense no animosity in her delivery, that puzzled gaze of her innocent violet eyes is nevertheless a cold, effective stab to your confidence.

“Ah, I’m certain Hasome-san’s assistance would be invaluable, in whatever form it may be.” Sensing your hesitation, Sakura graciously offers you a way out of an embarrassing moment.
“Now, should we start working?”

=====


With delicate hands Sakura works quietly yet efficiently with washi, transforming thin pieces of colored paper into an assortment of lively origami animals. Sitting beside the craftswoman is the equally skillful Michiru, her ballpoint pen flying across blank A5 pages turning them into various flier designs for the literature club’s recruitment drive.
As for your role, well…

“Hasome san, could you fetch some more paper? They’re in the box above the shelves, second row to the left.”
“Sure!”
You spring into action from your sideline bench the moment you hear your name called.
Turns out the ‘invaluable assistance’ Sakura refers to being the two’s errand boy, fetching whatever extra material the two girls may need to work on their project.

>>5015832
“Ech!”
With a careless slip, your footing fumbled and you accidentally bump into a cardboard box filled with books. The contents spill from its resting place, raining down onto the floor with a series of low ‘thump’
You quickly kneel to pick up the mess you made, noticing an oddly familiar piece of literature among the pile.

The novel, written in English, has a hardback cover pitch black on both sides, save for a sliver of grey on the front of what appears to be a tie. You’ve seen this exact book on your mother’s bookshelf at home.
You assume it’s some sort of supernatural fiction based on how the cover is presented, even though you never really bothered to check if your intuition rings true.
Paying it no extra attention, you return the novel back to the box it dropped out of and return to your schoolmates with the utensils and supplies they demand.

You spent the rest of your lunch break helping out in the literature club. You’re not sure if you’ve done anything substantial, but hopefully your deeds have help made progress to their project

”Thank you for today, Hasome-san, Michiru san.”

True to her prim and proper demeanor, Sakura lowers her head and gives both of you an appreciative bow as your current session in the club comes to a wrap.

“Please feel free to drop by anytime, if you’d like - we always appreciate more members, including honorary ones.”

>>5015836
Michiru and you manage to return to the proximity of your homeroom before the bell rings, but that alone cannot put you at ease.


Following your previous scuffle with Chihaya, both of you enter high alert mode right before entering the classroom, checking for any signs of a booby trap at the door, under your desk, inside your locker and over your chair before afternoon classes begin. Once the initial check is done, Michiru gives you a nod and a ‘ok’ signal, before settling back to her seat.

All clear…You think to yourself as you take your seat, though that definitely isn’t what your subconscious is telling you.
With the ominous cloud of doubt lingering over your head, you can’t really “settle down” in peace. Throughout the afternoon classes, instinct drives you to rear your head up every now and then to check on Chihaya, while also surveying the rest of the classroom for any peculiar anomalies.

Michiru, as usual, is fully drenched in her own little universe, jolting some notes onto her notepad every once in a while.
Karin is spacing out throughout most of the classes- surely something is on her mind.
Chihaya shows little interest in the lectures as per usual, lazing on the desk as if he’s preparing for a nap at any moment. Unfortunately, from this angle you can’t tell exactly what he is doing, though he does not seem to be looking your way. As a matter of fact, the troubling classmate in question had not even spared you a single look throughout the entirety of the afternoon.
Has he finally lost interest in this petty feud?
Wouldn’t that just be wonderful.
In any case, this may free up your attention onto other matters. Perhaps you can go check how Yukari’s doing after you’ve left for the literature club, or maybe resume your discussion with Karin before being cut short by the bell…

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>>5015840
”Hayo~~~Kaarin!”
The classroom door slams open with an energetic, high pitched voice that calls for your friend’s attention before you could. You barely catch a glimpse of the intruder, save for a bright yellow bolt whizzing past your bewildered classmates at the door preparing to leave the classroom.

In an impressive display of extraordinary swiftness, said intruder not only avoided collision with any person or object along the way, but even jumped through chairs and desks like an olympic obstacle runner before finally landing onto the desk right before Karin’s seat.

Only when the flash comes to rest can you finally identify the intruder as none other than Uzuki Makino, the younger Makino twin that pounced on you the first time you met.

“Wanna play ball?” The young Makino sways from side to side with a ball in her hands. Her green, emerald eyes shimmered in excitement as the little golden ahoge on the top of her head wags left to the rhythm of her sways, much like the tail of an overly puppy eagerly anticipating a day of fun.

“Now? I, um…”
Your friend appears just as taken aback by the radiating heat of Uzuki’s excitement as the surprised crowd watching, though you can tell from your friend’s response that she’s not in the mood for it.
“Maybe some other time?” She squirms a bit away from the younger Makino, only to be met by the hyperactive girl launching herself off the table and into the chair before her.


“Come on! It’ll be fun!”
Uzuki stands at least a head taller than everyone in the class, she eagerly urges your friend to join while spinning the ball on her fingertips, alongside sporadic mid-air juggles of progressively higher tosses almost hitting the ceiling lights above.

“Stop it.”
Your attention, alongside those from the rest of the class, are swiftly taken away by the only onlooker that stands up against the disturbance.
“If you’re gonna break shit, do it elsewhere!”
Uzuki ceases her dribbling, catching the ball into her hands with an audible snap, her eyes fixed on the steadfast display by someone you never thought would be the one to stand up against barbarism.

Chihaya?

>>5015846
Despite his steadfast attitude aside, you also take notice of the lack of any sort of intervention from the rest of your class, as if none of them are willing to do anything other than watching in silence.
“Fuuu…”
Uzuki sets the ball onto the chair and steps back onto the floor, slowly circling your classmate with swift, silent steps. Her gaze shifts from that of a playful laughter to one of a ferocious predator, observing the little guy who dares challenge her.

In an instant, Uzuki makes her move- in two thunderous steps she shuffles right behind him, hooking her left arm around his collarbone, putting Chihaya into a hold. Her right hand, meanwhile, clamps down on the top of his head as firm as the talon of a raptor.

”You’re sooooo floof!” Uzuki’s expression shifts back to that of her earlier playful self as she starts combing through Chihaya's curly hair in the same fashion one would pet a particularly fluffy puppy, albeit… Her actions do seem to be rather rough.
“How did you get so fluf~fy?”

”Aaargh! Let go of me you psycho bitch!”

“FL-UF-FY~”
The joyous, high pitched humming combined with aggravated headrubbing does resemble some sort of a long lost ancient Chinese torture technique...

>Attempt to intervene
>Move out of the premises and take Karin with you.
>Turn to Michiru and ask what she knows about Uzuki

>>5015859
>Move out of the premises and take Karin with you.

Welcome back QM(s)

>>5015859
Attempt to intervene

>>5015859
>Move out of the premises and take Karin with you.

>>5015859
>Move out of the premises and take Karin with you
Not really our business now eh?

>>5015859
>Move out of the premises and take Karin with you
Unequivocal best girl. Yukari and the Makinos be damned
And welcome back, QM

>>5015859
Chihaya struggles to break free from Uzuki’s hold, flailing his arms wildly with the sporadic attempts at elbowing the hyperactive girl ‘assaulting’ his head, and more importantly, his dignity.

Unfortunately for Chihaya, Uzuki maintains her firm grip around his neck and tanks the strikes as if they were nothing. As a matter of fact, Chihaya’s resistance only makes her double down on her patting effort, in both interest and intensity.
“Whoooa, easy! Eaaaasy there, floof boaaaah!”
You can’t really tell if her words are meant to be a taunt, or a weirdly genuine attempt at calming Chihaya down so she can pet him better.

However, you do know this is the perfect opportunity to bow out of the scene.
You toss your books and the rest of your belongings into your bag, then slowly skirt yourself out of your seat. This isn’t your war to fight, and with Uzuki occupying Chihaya’s attention, now is the perfect chance to leave unobstructed.

With your hand on the handle of the exit sliding door, you look over your shoulder to survey the classroom one last time before you leave… when you are struck by the realization that your friend Karin is still trapped in the front row of this debacle.

No, this isn’t right. You can’t leave your friend behind and bail by yourself.

Your moral conscience drags you back to assess the best route to reach Karin.
With the collective attention of the room fixated on the Uzuku-Chihaya scuffle, you manage to silently shuffle your way to Karin’s desk without garnering much attention.
Coming behind Karin’s seat to her right, you kneel down and tap her gently on the shoulder.
“Minami.”
Your whisper followed by the soft tap is enough to drain her attention towards you.
“Huh?”
“Take your bag, let’s go.”
“W--what do you mean-”
She falters for a second, then-

“ENOUGH OF THIS SHIT!”
In a thunderous roar that echoes throughout the room, Chihaya musters his strength for one desperate breakout by pushing Uzuki towards the wall...
“Ha! That won’t work, floof boi- hwa?”
However, his roar is but a feign. Instead, Chihaya seizes the moment where Uzuki steadies her step to execute a well-timed duck, slipping out of his jacket to break free from Uzuki’s grip.
“Catch me if you can, FUCKHEAD!”
Successfully outwitting his opponent brings Chihaya back to his usual cocky self, spitting out his tongue as he flips off his rival.
“Uuuuu…”
On the other hand, Uzuki puffs up her cheeks and lets out a displeased low grunt. She’s not planning on ending with a truce today, if the glowing ferocity in her green eyes are anything to go by.


You know very well where this escalation is leading to. Sooner or later, there’d be way more eyes rushing into this room for this little gladiator match.

>>5025952
Without a second thought, you grab Karin by her wrist and beelines for the exit, stopping only momentarily to check your surroundings once you reach the hallway. Just as you predicted, the little scuffle has started attracting commotion from other students as well. It won’t take long for the hallways to be packed with traffic.

In turn, you take a detour with Karin in tow, avoiding the route that leads straight downstairs and away from the ever gathering crowd. Finally, the two of you reach the junction between the homeroom building and the classroom complex, the exact spot sensei and you had a talk a few days prior

You halt in your tracks then immediately collapse yourself against the wall, barely able to catch a breath as the blowback of such sudden, intense physical exertion sets in.
Times like these really make you wish you’ve paid more attention to your own physical fitness.

”Um… H-Hasome?”
“Yea--Oh!”
It takes Karin’s call for your attention for you to notice the utterly compromising position you are in. While in your much needed respite from the run, you’ve unintentionally boxed her tightly into a corner, back to the wall, all while your hand still grips tightly onto her wrist.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to--agh!?” You swiftly let go of your hand and launch yourself backwards to give her some space.
Yet in this worn out state, you found yourself losing your footing and soon your balance too. The world seems to spin before your eyes, with your face on a straight trajectory to the floor had it not been Karin’s sharp reflexes

“Got you!”
As if she’s to return the favor, Karin grabs you by the wrist and pulls you back on your feet. This just brings you back to your starting position, standing beside her shoulder to shoulder.
“...Thanks.”
“No worries.”
As casual as she may sound, you didn’t fail to notice a slight flush on her cheeks. Soon enough, a dense, awkward atmosphere fills the space between the two of you as you both stand there spacing out.

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>>5025953
“So… what’s gotten into you today?”
Karin is the one to break the awkward silence.
“What do you mean?”
“The whole ‘grabbing someone and dashing off’ thing.” Karin mutters, demonstrating the gesture by pulling her own arm by the wrist. “It’s...strangely bold of you.”
“Makino seems to be forcing you against your will” You respond truthfully. “So I thought I ought to intervene.”

“I don’t think Uzu- Makino means any harm.” Karin chuckles at the thought, waving her hands as to dispel your concerns. “We play ball during lunch often, and she kinda gets hyper like that when excited.”
As it turns out their relationship was more cordial than that of yours with Chihaya, and you just acted on an impulse from an ill founded assumption.

Great, now you’ve just made an absolute fool out of yourself

“Wait, you mean… you did that for me?”
For a moment, her eyes seem to light up in astonishment, so does the flush on her cheeks turning to a much more noticeable shade of pink.
“I-I think I overreacted a bit.” Answering her, you turn to face the other direction to hide your own embarrassment. Things do sound silly once you realize it’s just a mere invitation...

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>>5025957
”Ah, hi there! Karin chan and- Hasome kun?”
Your heart almost jumps out of your chest from the sudden, unforeseen intrusion to what would be a very personal moment. You turn around, just in time to meet eye to eye with Momiji, the female senior you met in the library yesterday.
“Am I intruding on something?” Momiji looks puzzlingly back and forth between the two of you “Please continue!”


“W-wait, Momij-senpai!”
Despite Karin’s call for her to stay the senior takes off regardless, going further and further down corner. “Hasome, thanks for today!” Karin turns to you with a rather sudden farewell. “I--um, there’s something I want to talk with senpai about, so…”

Frankly, you have no idea what Karin needs from Momiji, though that does remind you... didn’t Karin seem to be holding up something earlier today?


>Follow Momiji with Karin, perhaps bring up the topic along the way
>Something about Karin feels a bit off. Perhaps Shinichi and Akira may have some ideas?
>Perhaps Karin needs some privacy. Leave and go find Yukari

>>5025960
>Something about Karin feels a bit off. Perhaps Shinichi and Akira may have some ideas?

>>5025960
>Perhaps Karin needs some privacy. Leave and go find Yukari

>>5025960
>Something about Karin feels a bit off. Perhaps Shinichi and Akira may have some ideas?
If anything its likely Shinichi who would have an idea

>>5025960
>Something about Karin feels a bit off. Perhaps Shinichi and Akira may have some ideas?

>>5025960
>Something about Karin feels a bit off. Perhaps Shinichi and Akira may have some ideas?
>>5026521
Nah it's most likely himself that's the problem.

>>5025960
“See you tomorrow then, Minami.”
You bid your friend farewell as she does some simple leg stretches in preparation to catch up behind her senpai.

“Seeya!”
Karin waves back with an energetic smile, before speeding off down the corridor and disappearing around a distant corner.


While you remain curious about Karin’s predicament, you figure she will be better off without you butting your head excessively into her personal issues.
Besides, you have other sources you can look to for more answers.

Akira has always been sharper in picking up and deciphering cues than you are, be it in day to day socialization or matters about romance.
And then there’s Shinichi- if anyone knows what may rile up or dismay Karin, it has to be her childhood friend.
Before anything can be done, you need to know where they are.

Pulling out your phone, you send a message to both of your guy friends, hoping to meet up later for a discussion.
Akira replied rather quickly, directing you towards Class 2C- and according to him, Shinichi is there too. Curiously, Shinichi neither replied nor read the message for the matter, despite being in his homeroom.
Maybe he’s busy at the moment?

Regardless, you now have a clear set destination.
To avoid the potential crowd of onlookers near your own homeroom and the traffic of students leaving school at the front gate, you decide to take a detour.
Instead of backtracking, you head upstairs first before returning to the homeroom building, passing through the senior classrooms before taking the staircase on the far end to go back down.

As you pass by class 3A, the memories of your brother showing you around the campus for the first time suddenly floods back to you.
”...And here’s where I hide my stash! Don’t tell anyone, lil brudda~”
You hear his jovial voice echo in your head. He even showed you some of the spots where he hid cookie boxes filled with little treasures, like a chipmunk preparing for winter.


Which makes you wonder, did he manage to clear out all those hiding spots before graduating? Perhaps you could go on a little scavenger hunt if you got time to spare.

Upon returning to the second floor, you notice the crowd congregating around your homeroom’s entrances not only persists, but has also expanded considerably. You reckon some disciplinarian or sensei would show up soon enough, should the two brutes maintain their brawl.

That’s none of your business, however.
Turning to the door closest to the staircase, you enter class 2C.

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>>5034343
Thanks to the gladiator fights next door, most of the students in Class C have been siphoned away. The now relatively empty and sparsely populated classroom makes identifying familiar faces all the more convenient, with you spotting Shinichi the moment you step into the room.

Your lanky, bob cut friend sits at one of the tables near the back of the classroom, alongside Satsuki and Nanase, the tanned, bespectacled girl he played dice with the other day.
Judging by the pool poker cards on the tabletop and the way the three are taking turns drawing cards from each other’s hand, you assume they’re playing old maid… or at least some form of variant of that.

“Hey Hojo” You walk up to the table for a casual greeting.
“How’s it going, Hasome?” He returns your greeting without sparing a look at your direction, fully engrossed in the game that he once complained of being ‘too childish’ during last year’s field trip.

“Ah, hello! Senki-kun!”
On the contrary, Satsuki pauses her attempt to pick a card out of his hand, and instead turns to wave her hand of cards at you with a friendly smile.


“Would you like to join our game? We’re playing-”
“Makino san, we’re not done with this round yet!!” Shinichi interrupts, urging her to resume as he raises his cards to her eye level. “Hasome, you wouldn’t mind, would you?”
“Yeah, no, it’s fine.”

You can tell he isn’t all that happy with you interrupting the flow of the game, but you're not here to interfere anyway- all you’re looking for are a handful of answers, after which you can be on your merry way.
“Say, do you know what’s going on with Minami-”
In response Shinichi raises his free hand, gesturing you to pause before he draws a card from Nanase’s hand.

“Sorry, can we talk later? I’m kind of… in a bind here.”
As perturbed as you are by Shinichi’s attitude, you’ll probably be better off questioning him after he’s done.

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>>5034345
“Senki!”
Akira’s voice diverts your attention from Shinichi’s card group to the empty desks to the other side where he takes seat. Ever the exemplary student, he has already begun working on his homework prior to you even setting foot in this classroom.
”Akira, you know what’s going on with Minami?”
Pulling over a chair you take a seat beside him, you start the topic as soon as the two of you are done exchanging greetings.

”Hmmm…” Your friend pokes his chin with the eraser cap of his mechanical pencil. “I feel It might be tied to Hojo’s recent… infatuation with Satsuki Makino.”
He makes sure to keep his tone soft and volume low, shooting a glance towards the subject matter while keeping your discussion as private as he can. ”I believe you’ve noticed as well”

Dull as you may be, even you did pick up the way Shinichi reacted when Satsuki embraced him from behind.

”Did something else happen yesterday?” You ask, watching the three continue on with the game at a distance.
“Aye. We happened to run into the Makinos during our visit to the new Hawaiian burger shop yesterday.” He recounts with a soft nod. “Minami was not too pleased about Hojo being excessively magnanimous towards them, particularly about his insistence to pay the girls’ tabs.”
“Huh.”


No wonder Karin was noticeably troubled. If anything, it sounds like Shinichi was going overboard with his hospitality.
It’s one thing that Shinichi is experiencing his major crush on Satsuki, but making his friend worried about him is an entirely different matter. Perhaps something should be done...

>Join the game. Someone’s ought to school Shinichi
>Leave with Akira. It’s hardly your place to tell Shinichi what to do
>Wait around for Shinichi to finish and have a proper talk with him by then
>Write in

>>5034349
>Leave with Akira. It’s hardly your place to tell Shinichi what to do

>>5034349
>Leave with Akira. It’s hardly your place to tell Shinichi what to do
Pretty much QM telling us that the Karin route is open

>>5034349
>Wait around for Shinichi to finish and have a proper talk with him by then

>>5034349
>Leave with Akira. It’s hardly your place to tell Shinichi what to do
>Wish him good luck

>>5034349
>Leave with Akira. It’s hardly your place to tell Shinichi what to do

His money his choice.

On second thought, who are you to judge Shinichi’s methods of wooing a girl?
Sure, his approach may not be the most ideal, but you don’t have a position to stand on either. He’s entitled to making his own choices, as long as he’s doing it out of his own pocket.
Besides, it’s not like you’ve got any experience on picking up girls to lecture him anyway.

While you’re here waiting, you might as well join forces with Akira to tackle your homework before heading home.
You take a brief look at your friend to check on his progress, only to be hit by a stunning revelation.
A single glimpse at Akira’s homework makes you realize how fundamentally different they are compared to the ones you’ve been given. The symbols on the textbook page alone are complicated enough to make your head spin.

“Akira? What’s that you’re working on?”

“Oh, this? Calculus.” He pauses his work and flips to the front cover of his textbook to give you a better look. “I’m taking advanced courses this year.”

“Uh...huh.”


Studying with Shinichi and Akira might have been the sole reason you managed to keep your grades high enough to have your gaming privileges last year. The disparity in your courses means you likely won’t be able to receive help from him this year. With Shinichi in a different class as well, it’s going to be much harder to stay on the same page should all three of you study together like you used to.
You can only hope your study pact with Yayoi can be just as helpful...

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With getting your homework done here not being an option, there’s not much else you can do staying around. You might as well just call it a day.

“Akira, I think Hojo’s gonna be playing for a long while” You pick up your bag, making your intentions clear. “I think I’ll head out and, um... leave you to work in peace.”
He stares at you for a second with mild surprise, perhaps fully expecting you to wait around with a nap as usual. Akira shares one last glance at the card table before turning back to give you a nod.

“No, it’s fine. Let’s go together.”

Closing his notebook, he starts piling the rest of his study into his shoulder bag in orderly fashion while you return the chair you pulled to its original place.

“Best of luck, Hojo.” You address Shinichi as the two of you pass by him when taking your leave. He simply raises his hand and waves half-heartedly in response, too engrossed in the card game to spare you any extra attention.
He must be really enjoying himself with the company of the girls, but that’s really none of your business.

Just as you predicted, the disciplinary council has come to vacate the premises around your homeroom, accompanied by one or two senseis that are here to investigate the commotion.
Thanks to their presence the traffic along the corridor has begun to flow once more, with Akira and you joining the stream of students leaving the building for the main gate.

A short walk across the courtyard brings the two of you to the last station before leaving campus - the shoeboxes.


You take a brief moment to check around your shoebox, lest a certain someone has tampered with it before your arrival. Once you’ve made sure that there are no thumb tacks in your outdoor sneakers, you finally feel ready to put them on and head home with-
Akira?

Normally you’d expect your spectacled friend to already be waiting for you near the exit, but such is not the case today.
You peek over towards Akira standing before his shoebox slightly to your left.
A single glimpse reveals the reason behind his delay: a neatly folded envelope in his right hand with the words “To Uchida-kun” written on its forefront. As your friend inspects the letter while putting on his shoes, you notice the small pink heart sticker on the letter’s backside acting as its seal.

Did he just receive a love letter on the third day of school? That must be some kind of a record.

“Hasome! Uchida!”
“Aargh!”
Hotaru’s thunderous holler makes your shoulders instinctively tense up, as if to prevent your spine from jumping out of your body. With the events of yesterday morning still fresh in your head, you have subconsciously registered Little Miss Oni’s voice as a siren for impending trouble.
You immediately plan to dive and duck from danger, but unfortunately you are a step too late.

Standing imposingly before the exit with her arms crossed before her chest, Hotaru displays a demeanor fitting of the ‘disciplinary’ armband which she wears with pride.

“W-What do you want, Fukuhara?”
Your attempt at standing up to her unwelcome presence ends up sounding slightly less brave than you had hoped.

“You two weren’t involved in the trouble going down in class 2B, were you!?”
Hotaru’s characteristically booming voice makes it difficult to discern whether she’s trying to intimidate Akira and you, or merely asking a question. Her sharp, heterochromic glare and deliberate blocking of the exit certainly does not help ease the situation at all.
Thankfully, you are not alone in dealing with her.

“Most certainly not. We went to Class 2C to meet our friend.”
Akira takes up the mantle and answers on both of your behalf.

“Is that so?”


She steps up beside Akira and scans him from head to toe with her yellow-and-dark orange eyes, no doubt taking notice of the letter in Akira’s hand in the process.

“Why yes, of course.” Akira smiles amicably at his interrogator, even sliding one strap of his shoulder bag lower to offer a full inventory check. “I was doing homework there, would you like to check my notes?”

Yet from your view point, you can clearly see that Akira’s offer was a mere distraction to his real goal: to lower his right hand which holds the letter. In a motion no different from turning his wrist and snapping his finger, Akira manages to pull a masterful sleight of hand the moment his hand comes under the cover of his bag, shoving the envelope into his back pocket in a split second.

“No, you’re clear.”

Fortunately for him, she does not take special interest in either him or the letter, saving him from the possible accusation of ‘having impure relations with a fellow student’.

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"What about you, Hasome?”
Unfortunately, it’s your turn to be the target of her attention.

“I was with Akira in class C to meet Hojo! We didn’t do anything!”
Even if she won’t take your word for it, you’re sure Shinichi’s group can support you with a solid alibi.


“Hmm.”
Hotaru grunts and, similar to her exchange with Akira, steps right next to you for a better look.
However, unlike the brief exchange she had with your friend, she closely inspects your uniform from collar to hem, eventually moving on to physical contact in the form of a full upper body patdown.
To avoid repeating your impulsive mistake last time, you demonstrate full compliance by maintaining a neutral T pose while staring blankly into the distance throughout the process.

Thankfully, her approach to the pat down is considerably more gentle and methodical than a surprise heimlich, if not a tid bit ticklish.
For some reason she keeps peeking at your reaction while she conducts her search around your waist and abdomen, as if expecting to find some contraband strapped around your belt.
Needless to say, she finds nothing of note on you.

“You’re okay.”
She concludes after her airport security search, even putting in the effort of fixing your collar before disengaging to give you two a clear passage to the exit.
“Take care on your way home.”


Though you don’t enjoy being picked and questioned for something you have no part in, at least this

“Oh, and Hasome?”
You stop dead in your tracks, cautiously turning your head in response to Hotaru addressing you specifically.

“I’m sorry for yesterday.”
In one of the most unexpected twists you’ve seen this week, Hotaru lowers her head and gives you a proper apology. She quickly sets off to resume her disciplinary duties while you find yourself dumbfounded, unsure of what to make of her wildly fluctuating attitudes towards you.

At least you’re free to go now, and you got a brand new can of Kaiju out of the ordeal.

Your way home with Akira is considerably calm, with the two of you merely chatting about the mundane going-ons in your respective classes.
It is a welcoming change in pace nonetheless, given the sheer volume of happenings around you in the past few days.

Come to think of it, it’s been quite a while since you two had the opportunity to talk privately like this.
Perhaps there’s some topics you’d like to have his input on?

>Open up about your deal with Yayoi
>Ask him about the advance courses he’s taking
>Ask about the letter
>Write in

>>5043213
>Open up about your deal with Yayoi
IIRC he seems to know something about the Makinos in general

>>5043213
>Ask about the letter

>>5043213
>Open up about your deal with Yayoi

>>5043213
>Open up about your deal with Yayoi
+ Ask tips on what to watch out for

>>5043213
>Open up about your deal with Yayoi

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As the two of you walk home side by side, the thought about the letter he received earlier flashes past your mind.
Curious as you may be about its contents, you know all too well that he won’t divulge into any details unless he voluntarily brings them up first.
The man’s more clam than human when it comes to keeping things private, whether it be his preferred type of girls or the movies he watched last night.

Speaking of which, you do have another topic you wish to have his input on.

“Hey Akira, you remember that time Makino-san… Yayoi Makino gave me her number?”
“Why, most certainly.” Your friend nods, no doubt recalling the events in class C two days ago. “She made quite a dramatic scene.”
“Well… Turns out she wanted to invite me to her study group.”

“Study group?” Akira slows down his steps and looks at you with raised brows. “I’ve never heard of her studying with fellow classmates outside of school.”

Given how Akira is your go-to person for all social matters in school, his lack of any information isn’t particularly reassuring. His shocked response in particular makes his assessment extra worrying.

“Ehh...Is there anything you think I should look out for?”

“Hmm...” Rubbing the bottom of his chin, he takes a moment of deliberation before giving you an answer. “Her sisters, perhaps. I’m sure you’re well aware of how the Makino siblings are.”

You are all too aware, if your last encounter with Uzuki is anything to go by. The implications that you will also be study partners with her particularly makes you question the wisdom of your decision.

“I’ll have to make do then, I suppose.” Regardless of the circumstances, you’ve already given Yayoi your word. Even if you want to back out, it’d only be appropriate after your first session together.
“Oh and, can you not tell anyone about it? Makino-san says she wishes to keep this arrangement private.”

Akira places his right index finger on his lips and gives you a resolute nod, his little way of oathing to keep a secret.

Soon the two of you arrive at the front porch of your home, and it’s time to part ways with your friend.


“Wish you the best of luck, Senki.” Akira gives you two pats on the back before bidding you farewell with a thumbs up, his words sounding like equal parts encouragement and condolences.

“Yeah… I wish the same.”

Without the usual help of your friends, your math homework is certainly quite a grind. The thought of asking Yukari for help flashes past your mind, but the memories of the last time you studied math together quickly dissuades the idea.
Let’s just say the frequency of her exclaiming ‘how the hell did you not get it yet’ is too high for the study session to be constructive.

Deciding against contacting Yukari unless absolutely desperate, you go on with your assignment with all the knowledge you managed to muster from staying awake in class. You may not be certain about all your answers, but you’ve made good progress on your work throughout the session. At this rate, you’ll definitely have time for Antpires afterwards-

”Senki~ Dinner’s ready!”

But dinner comes first.
You close your notebook and head downstairs to join your parents at the dining table.

Your meal of grilled mackerel and assorted oden is accompanied by your mother’s enthusiastic talk about the history of mothman sightings. Your father does not share the same enthusiasm, however, as he coolly states that mothmen are probably just misidentified horned owls.

Once finished with the meal to the backdrop of your parents debating on the topic of cryptozoology, you pick up all the used tableware and head into the kitchen,

With rubber gloves, dishwashing liquid and your trusty scrubby sponge ready, you begin working through the plates, bowls and chopsticks you brought to the kitchen sink.
Dishwashing used to be a task shared between Eiki and you, but now he’s off to university, you have involuntarily become your family’s designated dishwasher.

“Mom, I’m done with the dishes.”

You step out of the kitchen to notify your mother of the finished chore. She occupies her usual spot at the dining table to set up her laptop, while your father is nowhere to be seen. Based on the fact that he’s not here giving a lecture, you assume that your parents’ debate ended in some bickering impasse.

“Good job Senki! Could you help take out the laundry from the dryer as well?” Your mother gives you a smile and a thumbs up. “And could you be a dear and fold them up as well?”

Oh right, there’s that too. She surely isn’t cutting you any slack tonight.

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“Ugh, god damnit…” You mumble under your breath, lest either of your parents hears you and roast your ass for talking smack. You pick up the empty laundry basket sitting in the kitchen corner and walk out the backdoor, towards the washing machine on the back balcony. Laundry duty used to be shared with your brother on intermittent days, but now you’ll be carrying over all of his chores. Which does make you think...

“May I get a raise for my allowance then?” You ask, stopping by your mother while carrying the basket of warm, freshly dried clothes. “I mean, I’m covering Nii-san’s chores too…”

“Hmm, let’s ask you pa-” Pondering with her left palm on her cheek, your mother’s glance drifts toward your father’s study… when she suddenly remembers that she was angry at him. “After he apologized for dismissing folklore cryptids as ‘superstitious folly’, hmph.”

Pouting, she turns her head towards the opposite direction in a rather childish display of anger, failing to notice the shadow looming from behind.

“Kya!?” Your mother shudders with sharp shriek as two arms wrap around her shoulders- an ambush embrace from behind by none other than your deadpan, no-nonsense father.
“W-what are you-”
Your mother reflexively turns her head around in utter confusion, where she is met with a surprisingly tender kiss on the forehead from her husband.
“I’m sorry, Izumi.”
His gentle words are followed up by a bold and forceful tug, snuggling her more tightly into his embrace.

“W-well, it’s nice of you to admit your faults…”

Having secured a good position, he lowers his head and whispers a few words into her right ear.

“N-nonsense!”
Whatever he said made your mother flail her arms in astonishment while her cheeks glow red as a ripe tomato.
Perhaps it would be wise to take the cue and give them some space.

You dump the clean laundry onto the living room sofa and immediately retreat up the stairs to your room. For the rest of the night, you boot up your Antpires campaign to try to distract yourself from all the squeaking noises coming from outside your door.

You wake up the next morning to the ringing of your phone’s alarm. With sleepy eyes you check your phone for the current time, noticing an unread message from Yukari in the process.

“I’m heading straight to school early today. Try not to be late.
-Sent 10 minutes ago”

Huh, she only does this when there’s a test she wants to prepare for- Wait, there's a test!?
The sudden thought of an examination in one of the morning classes incites enough panic to instantly wipe away any lingering drowsiness. You hop out of your bed in a blinded panic, tossing every piece of school material into your backpack while you try and recall which subject the test is supposed to be of.
As soon as you reach for your student ID, however, a realization washes over you like a gentle spring breeze---

Oh right, she’s in class A and you’re not.
You have heard of the heavier than usual workload given to Class A from Akira, but tests on the first week of school? That to you sounds like borderline torture...but that’s none of your business.

Without Yukari spurring you on, you find yourself preparing for school at your own pace. Eventually, you find yourself leaving home a full five minutes later than usual- sparing you a mere 15 minutes to get to school.

You bite your lower lip in slight annoyance watching these numbers flashing on your phone screen. It’ll be wise to hurry, lest you end up in mini-detention on the very first week for tardiness.
Sorry, convenience store, looks like there’s no time to pay you a visit today.

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You pick up the pace and reach the major crossroad in a light jog, which thankfully doesn’t make you pant like a dog this time. Yet in your haste, you overlooked the other contestant racing against time, who happened to be on a collision course with you. By the time either of you take notice, your faces are barely a few centimeters away from each other.

”Fya!”
”Whoa!”

“Henphi-foon?” You could roughly decipher Mifuyu exclaiming your name through that mouthful of bread still in her mouth. A jut of pain radiates from the plane of collision on your right torso, while the collision knocks your senior off her foot.
“Mifuyu-nee, are you okay?” You reach out and grab her hand, helping her off the ground. Unfortunately for her, the melonpan she was biting onto has broken off during the collision, and has become a lonely, tarnished loaf collecting dust on the ground drainage.

“A-aaagh!”
Mifuyu drops to her knees, staring devastatingly at what remains of her breakfast. She clasps her hands together tearfully, mourning the loss of her beloved baked goods.
“That wasn’t very cash money of you, young man!”
On a drastic shift, she rockets back on her feet and pokes you accusingly in the chest.

“It was an accident-”
“And it was horrible! Look at how you massacred my boy!” She puffs up her cheeks and protests loudly, pointing to the dirty, detritus embedded loaf and back at you.
“I’m sor--”
“Sorry isn’t gonna cut it, Senki-kun!”

You can tell from that disappointed scowl, folded arms, and wide stance that Mifuyu is quite downtrodden by the event. Knowing your senior, she will most definitely continue to make a fuss unless you do something to placate her… right now.

>Fuck the bell, go get something nice for her
>Offer to share whatever your mother have packed with her
>There’s no time now. Can’t we settle this later?

>>5058801
>Offer to share whatever your mother have packed with her
Best of both worlds option here

>>5058801
>Offer to share whatever your mother have packed with her

>>5058801
>Offer to share whatever your mother have packed with her

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>For the rest of the night, you boot up your Antpires campaign to try to distract yourself from all the squeaking noises coming from outside your door.

So Senki probably hears this every other day yet he's still acting like a dense LN MC huh

>>5058801
>Fuck the bell, go get something nice for her