Starting golf to get famous!

The morning light streamed through the large glass windows of Sakura Dormitory, casting long shadows along the polished wooden floors.

Calling it a dormitory was a severe understatement. This place was more than just a student residence—it was a luxurious multi-floor mansion, blending the elegance of traditional Japanese architecture with the grandeur of a modern Western estate.

The main building stretched three stories high, its pristine white walls adorned with dark wooden accents. Sliding shoji doors opened into private rooms, each more spacious than what any normal dormitory should have. The floors were smooth, lacquered wood, reflecting the soft golden glow of overhead lanterns.

Long hallways extended into different wings, lined with intricate carvings on the wooden pillars. Some areas even had indoor gardens, complete with small ponds and cherry blossom trees swaying gently under artificial breezes.

The living area on the first floor was massive, decorated with elegant sofas, a grand piano, and shelves lined with books, all neatly arranged as if no one actually lived here. And yet, despite its sheer size, the dormitory was eerily quiet—too large for the few residents that actually stayed here.

Ryouta barely spared a glance at the grandeur. After a quick shower and a change into a casual black hoodie and joggers, he stepped out into the open air, stretching his limbs.

Stepping outside, the elite nature of the district was immediately apparent.

Wide, clean sidewalks stretched under perfectly aligned cherry blossom trees, their petals fluttering down like soft pink snow. Luxury cars occasionally passed by the main road, their engines barely making a sound.

Unlike the crowded, noisy streets of the city centre, this area had an elegant silence, with well-maintained parks, high-end cafés, and boutique shops catering to a wealthier clientele.

Even the air felt different—fresh, crisp, and just slightly scented with flowers.

Ryouta exhaled, checking the map on his phone. The golf practice centre was about a 10-minute walk from here, located near the city's sports district, where other training facilities were built.

He adjusted his hoodie and began walking, taking in his surroundings.

The smooth paved roads led him past modern glass buildings with sleek designs, while the occasional luxury watch advertisement played softly on digital billboards. The atmosphere felt almost too perfect—like something straight out of a high-end anime setting.

As he walked further, the streets became noticeably more open, and soon he spotted his destination:

A golf practice centre with a modern yet elegant design, standing amidst well-maintained greenery.

The entrance had a tall iron gate, flanked by neatly trimmed hedges. Through the open path, he could see vast open fields, tall protective netting, and several people practicing their swings in designated areas.

A large signboard above the entrance displayed the name:

[Seiryo Elite Golf Practice Center]

"…Tch. Figures it'd have 'elite' in the name."

He wasn't sure if he was ready for this, but he had already come this far.

Ryouta stepped through the gates of the Seiryo Elite Golf Practice Centre, taking in the vast training area before him.

The practice range stretched out in neat, green fields, divided into multiple sections—from driving ranges to putting greens, each occupied by golfers of various skill levels. The entire place had a sense of elegance, from the pristine grass to the high-tech ball dispensers and neatly placed markers indicating distances.

He was still debating how to approach this whole golf thing when—

"Ah! You're here to play too?"

A bright, energetic voice called out from the side.

Ryouta turned his head and immediately frozen.

A tall girl with golden-blonde hair stood beside him, her confident stance making her presence impossible to ignore. She wore a stylish white and blue golf outfit, her skirt flowing slightly as she shifted her weight. Despite her casual smile, she had an athletic build, her toned arms suggesting years of training.

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, completely focused on him.

Before he could respond, she grabbed his wrist.

"Come on, I'll show you the basics! You're new, right?" she said, grinning.

"…Wait, what?"

"You don't have to be shy! Golf is fun once you get into it."

Ryouta opened his mouth to protest, but she was already dragging him forward—her grip firm yet effortless, as if handling someone much smaller than herself.

Does she think I'm a beginner... Well, she wasn't wrong.

Still, something felt off.

Other golfers—particularly the male players—were watching them with amused expressions. Some even whispered among themselves, stifling laughs.

It was only when he got pulled deeper into the facility that he realised where they were heading.

A separate practice section.

A section filled with girls.

—Wait.

His eyes darted around, taking in the surroundings. Nearly a dozen girls, all around his age, dressed in stylish golf attire, were chatting and practicing their swings.

Some had long, flowing hair; others sported ponytails tied with ribbons. Their outfits ranged from casual skirts to sporty leggings, each one carrying an air of elegance, beauty, and athletic charm.

And he was now standing in the middle of them.

The blonde girl clapped his shoulder, completely unaware of his growing panic. "Alright! I'll introduce you to everyone—"

"…I'm a boy."

The words escaped his mouth before he could stop himself.

A long silence followed.

The blonde girl blinked. "Huh?"

"I'm a boy," Ryouta repeated, yanking his hand free. "Not a girl."

The surrounding girls, who had been casually chatting, turned their heads toward him in unison. Some had wide eyes; others were mid-swing, frozen in place as realisation dawned.

Another long silence.

Then—

"…EEEEH!?"

The collective reaction was instant chaos.

The air was thick with awkwardness.

Dozens of eyes were glued to Ryouta, the once-chatting girls now frozen mid-conversation, their golf clubs half-raised. Some had their mouths slightly open, while others whispered among themselves.

"…He's a boy?"

"I thought she—uh, he—was just a quiet girl."

"No way, he's kinda… cute?"

Ryouta resisted the urge to groan. Great. Exactly the kind of attention he didn't want.

The blonde girl, the one who had dragged him here, rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. "Aha… Sorry about that. I kinda just assumed…"

Ryouta sighed. "Yeah. I figured."

Clearing her throat, she clapped her hands together. "Alright, my bad! I'll make it up to you—how about I take you to the actual practice section for guys?"

"Sounds good."

She grabbed his wrist again—this time less forcefully—and led him out of the all-girls practice section. Some of the girls waved him off, while others simply stared, clearly still processing the revelation.

After a short walk through the facility, the blonde girl stopped in front of a spacious practice range, where both male and female golfers were shooting.

Unlike the enclosed practice rooms, this one had an open-air design, allowing natural wind to affect the ball's flight. High fences surrounded the area, keeping the golf balls within the range. The ground was marked with different distances, and at the far end, a few target circles were set up.

The soft thunk of clubs hitting balls filled the air, along with the occasional cheer or groan from players.

"Here we are! The mixed practice section," the blonde girl said, gesturing to the field. "This area's for everyone—beginners, casual players, and even some serious competitors."

Ryouta nodded, glancing around. It looked… manageable.

The girl placed a hand on her hip. "So? You actually planning to try, or was that just an excuse to get out of there?"

Ryouta reached into his bag and pulled out a golf club.

It wasn't anything fancy—just a simple iron club, the one given to him in his Starter Gift Package from the system.

The blonde girl raised a brow. "Huh. You actually came prepared?"

"I figured I'd give it a try," Ryouta admitted, adjusting his grip. "Not every day you get dragged into a sport by a total stranger."

She grinned. "Fair. Since this was technically my fault, I'll help you out for today."

Ryouta tilted his head. "You're gonna coach me?"

"Yup!" She tapped her club against her shoulder. "You look kinda young, and I've got some free time, so why not?"

He wasn't sure if "you look young" was supposed to be an insult or a compliment, but whatever. If she was willing to help him learn, he wasn't about to refuse free training.

"…Alright. I'll take you up on that."

The girl smirked. "Good! Now, let's see how bad you are."

Ryouta exhaled sharply. Here goes nothing.