[Vol.2] Chapter 60: Let's join a club!

Last week has really been hectic. Ever since deciding to become a side character, as part of this double identity to my shadow hero roleplay, everything seems to be falling into place. My high school life as it's progressing right now, seems like it's actually developing some sort of plot points.

On the first day since coming back to school, I successfully made my debut as a normal classmate character. No one even suspected a thing, kukuku... This was also the same day I made my first encounter with the student council president, Shiori Hikaruno-senpai. My natural enemy.

In terms of character settings go, the student council president should be equivalent to a knights captain of the round table. In contrast to her who delivers justice in accordance with the law, I, "Phantom" have my own set of justice.

A clash of belief whether one must be restrained by a greater power, and the other abide by his own rules and values in delivering retribution.

On the second day, I had a run in with a girl named Mocha Tsukiyo-san, that I later find out was a transfer student of our class. Discovering her passion for roleplays on the third, I made her my disciple as overseers of the shadows.

The third day was also my first encounter with Hidetoshi Fumidai-kun, a guy who challenged me to a duel out of nowhere.

He revealed that he wanted to challenge me to see if I was worthy of standing beside Haruka-san, the first person I tried recruiting from my side character training during summer break.

Maybe that's why she declined my first proposal? Assuming her character setting, she should be set as the pinnacle of the power scaling, and a wall that must be conquered by everyone as we know currently.

I'm not sure how strong she really is, but all is make believe so I don't particularly mind.

Nothing much happened on Thursday, however, on the fifth, there's someone I did not expect to be reuniting with... A childhood friend I knew from kindergarten, "Aria Tamami-san".

I'm not sure why she transferred to our school, but thanks to her I elegantly executed that "I am always watching" scene, hehe...

Hm... Now it makes me curious why she did, but I'll ask her when she's comfortable enough to talk about it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At school. Students crowd the back as students who stand out the most are seated there.

They approached Aria Tamami-san, trying to make conversations with her, yet Aria just sat there seemingly ignoring everyone's bickering.

One particular question stood out to her.

"Hey, Aria-san. What's your relationship with Yukiya Saito-kun?"

A classmate curiously asked a question.

Aria-san simply diverted her gaze away, openly giving them the cold shoulders, thinking how annoying everyone was being.

Meanwhile, moving over to my spot. I was also put on in a hot seat, giving me a barrage of questions.

"Yukiya-kun, how do you know Aria Tamami-san. What's your relationship with her?"

I simply answered them with a perfect smile and replied,

"We're just childhood friends. I knew her from kinder garten."

Meanwhile Mocha-san, sitting alone at her desk.

'I completely became invisible, huh...'

She thought as everyone's attention was drawn to the newer transfer student, Aria Tamami the ojou-sama.

Class Rep Hitomi-san approached her.

"Yukiya-kun and Aria-san are so popular this early in the morning, huh."

Hitomi-san innocently said as a conversation starter with Mocha-san.

Mocha wanted to say 'The same goes for you.' as everyone unconsciously greeted Hitomi-san on her way here this morning, but she refrained from doing so because she's afraid her level isn't high enough to be cracking such jokes.

...

[Later at recess.]

"I know it's kinda late, but why don't you guys try joining a club?"

Class Rep Hitomi-san casually suggested with a friendly smile.

"Eh?"

Mocha-san gave a puzzled look. The suggestion was directed towards me, Mocha-san, and Aria-san.

"Ah, but I'm not pressuring you guys to join one. I just thought you guys would like to."

Unlike in the past, the curriculum doesn't require students to join clubs. However, mostly everyone belongs in one to get that full high school youth experience.

Not like I'm interested in those things tho as it cuts my time for training, but it seems to peak Mocha-san's curiosity, and sparked slight interest from Aria-san.

As for why Class Rep Hitomi-san suggested us to join a club.

Earlier this morning, as everyone crowds the back of our classroom. Hitomi-san noticed that,

'Aria-san is giving this indiferent attitude towards everyone. Though she's staying silent, she seemed to be annoyed by people constantly approaching her.'

'While Mocha-san... she practically became invisible after getting overshadowed by the newer transfer student, which is Aria Tamami-san.'

'As for Yukiya-kun... he's just fine I guess, but seemed a little tired entertaining people's questions.'

Is what Class Rep Hitomi-san assessed looking at the three of us's situation at the back of the classroom.

'Hm... Let's try helping them a little.'

And so here we are currently.

With her suggestion of joining a club, we could have an excuse to escape during free time, at the same time having space for ourselves and discover our interests.

"M, master. What do you think?" Mocha-san looked at me with enthusiasm in her eyes.

"Hm, I'm not particularly interested." I nonchalantly replied.

Mocha-san's puppy dog eyes dimmed in disappointment. She was actually looking forward to joining one, as it was one of her bucket list in her goal of having a fullfiling highschool life.

"Oh, wait-" I suddenly recollected something, my grin widened remembering 'There's that.'

I then changed my statement.

"Actually, there's one I was particularly curious about about joining." I casually revealed.

"W, what is it?" Mocha-san curiously inquired, with Aria-san subtly listening in to our conversation.

I pressed my index finger to my lips and told her.

"It's a secret."

Class Rep Hitomi-san clapped her hand once and said,

"Alright then. Let's try looking into clubs and find what you're interested in this coming lunch."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lunch arrived and we took out our lunchboxes.

Hitomi-san went to the vending machine to get a drink, and she inquired if there's anything we wanted to get along with her errand.

Mocha-san was hesitant but when I casually requested what I want she proceeded to do the same.

Aria-san's maid "Mei" entered our classroom to deliver her her master's lunchbox.

"Here's your lunchbox, Aria-sama."

After witnessing what the cafeteria has to offer, Mei thought that it wasn't up to her master's standards. So she made their meal instead with high class ingredients and her harnessed top class cooking skills.

"It's sweet and sour pork, made just the way you like it."

"Thanks, Mei."

Finishing her business, Mei left the classroom and bumped into Class Rep Hitomi by the door.

Mei glared at Hitomi-san, staring deeply at her face.

"W, what is it...?"

Hitomi-san tilted her head, giving Mei this dumbfounded look. Mei realized she was staring too deeply and retracted her gaze as she excused herself out of the classroom.

Mei continues to go back to her classroom, which is just next door, and switch off her work mode to this outgoing cheerful personality.

"I'm back!"

She free-spiritedly announced to the classmates she's eating with, putting on this cheerful attitude and smile on her face.

Hitomi-san handed the drinks we requested and proceeded eating our lunches.

...

Fifteen or so minutes passed by,

After eating our lunches, Class Rep Hitomi-san handed us a list of existing clubs established in our school.

There are a total of thirty-four clubs listed on the paper, nine of them are sports clubs, while the rest of them are just for the heck of it.

Along with Mocha-san and Aria-san, Class Rep Hitomi-san guided us to the clubs listed on the sheet that she inquired from the faculty.

First up was the basketball club.

Some members tried recruiting me, but I politely declined their offer.

Next up was the volleyball team, as they were closest at the moment as they were literally just next to the basketball court.

Mocha-san being reminded of the incident told herself, "Yeah, no thanks." as she hid behind me.

Noticing our presence, the female volleyball team approach us and tried recutting me. Taking a closer look at their faces, they were one of the girls I carried to the infirmary last week.

I politely declined their offer. Though, they noticed Mocha-san hiding behind my back. They recalled her as "that" girl who got hit by the volleyball last week. They took the chance to apologize and Mocha-san flusteredly accepted their apologies.

We passed by other clubs as well, like the swimming club, game creation club, baseball club, home economics club, etc. but nothing seemed to peak our interests.

While venturing the clubs, Class Rep Hitomi-san noticed something.

From time to time, Mocha-san would lean towards me, talking to me with a small, timid, and anxious voice.

"M-Master, what do you think of this club?"

"H, how about this one. Master?"

"Master. Why did you decline?"

"Master..."

"Master..."

"Master..."

Hitomi-san tilted her head, realizing that,

'Why is she calling him Master?'

She thought with a worried look, as she heard Mocha-san subtly calling me master throughout the day.

She shook her head and thought to herself,

'No, this might actually be useful.'

Mocha-san is just waiting for my advice, while Aria-san just tag along to see my interest.

They're kinda quiet as we venture to other clubs, but maybe it's because they're transfer students still trying to get a feel of their foreign environment.

Before we knew it, the day had already ended and we haven't even managed to check half of the clubs listed on the list.

But, to be fair, we could only check the clubs during our limited free time. It's not like classes stop because we're the main character of an anime or something.

Hearing the last bell rang, we packed our belongings, ready to leave the classroom.

"W, where are you going?"

Mocha-san inquired, seeing my figure leave with my bag slung over my shoulder.

She thought, 'Are we done checking the clubs for today?'

I sigh in tiredness, because I looked cool doing so. I replied to her question,

"I'm gonna apply for a part-time job."

Mocha-san, hearing my answer thought.

"Eh, but why?"

She said aloud while giving me this puzzled look on her face.

'Why does he want to apply for a part-time job? He's a person who could casually give away 10,000 yen like it was nothing. So why?'

I simply replied with a cunning yet mysterious grin,

"Think for yourself."

I purposely said in a way that it's vague, as though I was working for a greater purpose secretively. But the truth is, I just need money because right now, 'I'm flat broke!'

Assuming if what she saw last week was true, giving away 10,000 yen nonchalantly just to make that revelation scene possible, Mocha-san concluded I probably came from a rich household capable of casually doing so.

'If he was that rich, why does he want a part time job?'

Mocha-san then came to an epiphany.

'Was it, for my training?' she concluded.

Remembering our promise to help her get along with everyone, she assumed it was for the sake of training her by throwing her in a new environment.

As for the real reason as to why I wanted to find a part-time job was simply because I'm flat broke.

But she doesn't need to know that because it would look less cool of me as her master.

"I, p-please allow me to join!"

She assertively requested, taking the initiative while holding her convictions tightly, wanting to get over her social anxiety.

I just stood there, taken aback, thinking,

'For her to desperately ask me like this... Could it be that Mocha-san, is poor?'

I looked at her with pity in my eyes, at the same time, proud of her bravery and willingness to work for her own sake.

"Sure."

I accepted her sincere request of wanting to join me in my gig.