"Alright, let's continue analyzing the poem's imagery." Ms. Aoi stated as she wrote down a passage on the board.
"Pay attention to how the author uses perspective in the following stanza." She exclaimed, pointing to the book in her hand.
Despite her enthusiasm for analyzing 17 syllable poems, one glance around the classroom made it clear that nobody else shared that same interest.
Some students like Nakai were fighting for their lives to stay awake against the lullaby of her boring lectures.
I myself, wasn't doing much better.
Whenever Ms. Aoi began to explain something, her words began to blur into the background of my mind, so inevitably, I kept thinking about the previous day with Kido.
All things considered, I'm surprised it went as well as it did. Considering my track record of these situations blowing up in my face, I was prepared for the worst.
But I suppose even the universe recognizes when enough is enough.
If I were to go by visual novel terms, then I guess you could say I managed to avoid the so-called 'bad ending' and managed to save my game file from a restart.
As a result, not only am I Kido's friend but she gave me her word she would convince her father to drop the blackmail material he had threatened me with. So my reputation remains intact from social exile for now.
There is one downside that came from this though…
'Will you be my friend!'
Ugh… I should just drop dead.
The secondhand embarrassment that ambushes me at night when I remember my actions is sometimes a bit too overbearing.
Like I said, this is expected from typical main characters, but I'm not sure how they are able to do this without feeling a sense of shame…
It's definitely another dark memory of things I'd like to forget added to the mix.
Regardless, it was an overall good outcome.
However I know what you're probably thinking dear viewer!
'I thought you wanted to avoid cliches! Why are you reconciling with the heroines instead of distancing yourself?! Fraud! Scammer!"
I'm giving it my best shot alright!?
Besides, if I want a peaceful life, I need peace of mind too!
As Saigyō Hoshi once said, when the heart is clear, the moon is clear as well.
Sure I get it, its way more fun and entertaining to choose the worst options in a visual novel and watch as the heroines slowly become more and more disappointed in you before losing complete and total interest in you.
After all I've done it too.
Unfortunately I can't do that in real life!
In visual novels the only consequence of making those decisions is getting a black screen that says, 'Game Over' and that's it.
You can simply reload a game file from any point back in time and problem fixed.
But in real life?
I'd just end up as the school's creepy outcast who doesn't get along with anyone. If that was the case, I doubt I'd get the peaceful high school career I'm looking for.
Heck, I'm not sure I'd be able to tolerate the stares of disgust or hatred I'd get until I graduate…
Regardless, my point is that as much as I want to be cold and indifferent to the people in my life, if I tried to do that God or the universe would probably make an example out of me…
So for the time being, I gotta help Kido make new friends.
The only issue is… aside from Nakai and Issei, I barely know anyone here, which is quite concerning in its own right.
Eh, I'm sure it'll work out somehow.
"Naoki! Pay attention!"
Ms. Aoi yelled as she proceeded to hurl an eraser with sniper-level precision at me, landing a critical blow on my forehead.
Are you kidding? There are plenty of other people dozing off, so why target me!
A quiet snicker came from behind.
"Hehe, dummy." Nakai whispered in a mockful tone.
Yeah… I definitely deserve some type of break…
Ms. Aoi's class ended not long after, and we were free to go on our break. Although before she left the classroom, she made sure to give me a nasty glare.
Great. I'm on her radar now. Another exciting development.
I turned to Nakai who was readying to go to our spot on the rooftop.
"You want to hit up the arcade today afterschool or something?" I asked.
It's pretty unusual for me to make a suggestion like that. After all, my gaming skills are… quite subpar compared to Nakai or Issei. But I felt my efforts warranted some kind of reward.
However, Nakai frowned and gave a puzzled look.
"Today?" He asked with a tone I wasn't expecting.
"Yeah? Are you busy or something?"
"Um, Naoki in case you forgot today is-"
"Hey there, you two. What are you guys talking about?" a cheerful and friendly feminine voice exclaimed from behind.
Upon turning, Kousaka was looking down on me with an uncanny smile.
Fu… Not this girl again.
Nakai perched up and greeted her easily.
"Oh hey Kousaka,"
"Yeah… hi Kousaka."
I wasn't so keen on the greeting.
"Me and Naoki were just discussing after school plans." Nakai resumed.
"Oh is that so?" She replied surprised. Or pretending to be.
She then took out a small sheet of paper from a folder she was holding and placed it gently on my desk.
"I hope I'm not the bearer of bad news," She said in a disheartened tone, putting the palm of her hand up to her cheek, "but I'm afraid the teacher wants to see you after school Naoki."
After school? How come?
As if having read my mind, Kousaka answered instantly.
"I believe the paper I just handed you out will suffice as an explanation."
I took the small sheet and written on it was an office summons with the motive reading 'Club orientation'
A club summons…
But I haven't even joined one yet.
Nakai peeked over my shoulder and after managing to read the paper, he let out a sigh.
"So I guess you really did forget." He said while shrugging his shoulders.
"What are you talking about?" I asked with my eyebrows furrowed.
"Naoki, did you ever sign up for a club?" Kousaka asked, looking at me with unimpressed eyes.
"Not yet, I thought the deadline for club applications was next week?"
"You're partially right." Nakai replied. "The deadline is next week… for first year students."
What.
"Second year students are given a shorter time window, since they expect us to already be acquainted with the clubs in the school." He continued.
"So the deadline for second year students…"
"It already passed." Kousaka finished off.
Who designed this stupid club system!
"Well I suppose it's not your fault; you did just transfer after all." Kousaka said, turning to Nakai, "And you did have somebody who should've reminded you about this."
Nakai immediately turned away and feigned ignorance.
This guy…
"So… what happens now? Am I like in club limbo or something?"
"Well I suppose that's why the teacher asked to see you after school."
Are you serious? Just when I was trying to relax in the arcade?
This can't be good…
"Well, that was all I had to say, so I'll excuse myself now." Kousaka said with a polite tone.
Nakai replied with a cheerful smile, "Yeah, thanks Kousaka."
She began to walk away, but suddenly turned around, as if remembering something.
"Oh and Naoki," she directed at me with that unnerving fake smile yet again, "thank you for helping me out with those printouts."
You mean the ones you coerced me into doing?
"As for the little conversation we had, please keep it a secret."
She said while putting her finger to her lips, doing the motion to keep quiet.
Why would she mention that now…
And just like that Kousaka exited the classroom.
"Oi."
Nakai called out looking at me with a serious expression.
Here it comes…
"Secret conversation?! With the class pres?! Just the two of you!?"
Cliché number #12, the envious best friend trope.
Can't have a romcom without your friend giving you death glares for even the smallest occurrence involving a girl. Even in my last school, that guy did it too.
Nakai's chair screeched as he jumped forward.
"Spill it. Now."
I also couldn't tell if this was some sort of calculated plan by Nino to see if I would tell Nakai anything or if she was simply a careless person.
Whatever the case, I couldn't be less interested.
"I can't. It's called a secret for a reason." I replied mildly annoyed.
Nakai seemed tempted to pry about the subject more but restrained himself from doing so.
"Damn it, why can't this sort of situation happen to me!" He complained while clenching his fist dramatically and a single tear rolling down his cheek.
"It's nothing interesting anyways, so you're not missing out on much."
"That's for me to determine once a cute girl asks me to keep a secret!"
Well I suppose a guy like Nakai would get a kick out of my situation.
"Suit yourself I suppose. But I guarantee you it's just a hassle more than anything."
"Says the guy drowning while the rest of us die from thirst!" Nakai exclaimed and promptly sat back down in his seat.
More like I'm being waterboarded constantly.
"Ha~ Guess the arcade will have to wait."
"Seems so."
"Also, thanks for tellingme about the club deadline." I remarked sarcastically.
A smug smile formed on Nakai's face.
"You're welcome."
"Tch."
This guy seems to jump at any opportunity just rage bait me at this point.
"Anyways, what club did you even join?"
The smugness from before slowly warped into a perverted smile and he leaned in as if sharing a secret.
"You want to know?" He whispered. "Only the greatest club in existence of course. A paradise where a man's dream can become reality and I even dare say, heaven on earth."
He can't be speaking of…
Combined with his perverted attitude and the description of his club, I had an idea of what he had chosen.
"You, don't me to tell me… you joined the swimming club…?"
"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk."
Nakai wiggled his finger side to side.
"How naïve of you Naoki. Though I suppose you're still just a rookie at this, so I guess it cant be helped."
"Please don't act like you're superior when talking about perverted stuff" I retorted.
"Think about it. If I joined the swim club, I'd simply be stuck in the boys' division, not to mention there's already plenty competition there.
Right I guess there's a lot of other guys thinking the same thing as Nakai.
"I'm not like the rest of those simple-minded fools."
"You aren't?"
Nakai gave me an annoyed glare but continued regardless.
"A club with a disproportionate ratio of girls to boy! A club full of cute girls! A place where I along reign king! That is of course-"
He paused proudly.
"The cheerleading club!"
A silence followed his bold declaration.
If he wasn't using his brains for dumb stuff like this, then I'd wager Nakai would come off as an impressive guy, but alas… he's an idiot.
"Let me know how that works out." I replied coldly and he seemed slightly irked by my indifference.
"I bet you're looking down on me right now, but just you wait, soon I'll be a new man, and you will be jealous of me in no time."
"Or you will end up regretting your decision after realizing that cheerleading requires a lot of hard work and effort and you're unable to quit."
A confident grin formed on his face.
"You're taking me a bit too lightly." He said while letting out a small laugh, "If it means that I get to be surrounded by beautiful girls, then it's a small sacrifice I'm willing to pay."
If Nakai had glasses, then this probably would've been the moment where he pushed his glasses up with one finger and gets a mysterious white glare.
At least he also has an idea of what he's getting himself into, unlike me.
That queasy feeling is starting again.
My cliché alarm is starting to go off.
…..
That same afternoon, I found myself waiting outside the teachers' lounge.
Nakai had already gone off to the cheerleading club in pursuit of finding his 'true love', while Issei had, surprisingly, joined a sports club.
Apparently, some girl recruited him on the spot after seeing his height. Though, what more likely happened is that he probably just didn't have the courage to say no and got dragged along against his will.
Which left me.
The only one yet to discover what disas- I mean what fun awaited.
And more importantly, what cliches to expect.
Welp no point in delaying the inevitable.
"Please excuse my intrusion…" I spoke softly and slid the door open.
Inside, Ms. Aoi sat at a desk near the back, already facing the entrance as if she'd been expecting trouble.
Her eyes met mine immediately.
"Oh. Naoki. You actually came."
She muttered that last part, while looking sideways unimpressed.
Is a teacher allowed to sound that openly hostile?
I mean there's gotta be bigger troublemakers than me…
Hah~ I just hope she didn't put me in an annoying club to mess with me.
I stepped inside cautiously.
There are a couple of ways this could pan out.
In the best-case scenario, I end up in some boring club like the library committee or something similar and end up organizing dusty old books that no one reads anymore.
In the worst-case scenario… I end up in a trope club, like being back in the literature club.
I approached Ms. Aoi's desk as she flipped through a stack of documents before pulling out a single sheet.
"I assume you're aware," she began, "that you failed to submit your club application within the allotted time."
"Yes, ma'am."
"And the reason?"
"I was unaware that second years had a shorter deadline…"
Ms. Aoi let out a resigned sigh that carried disappointment.
"Well," she said, "since you missed the deadline, you've been automatically assigned to a club that was in desperate need of new members."
A club in the brink of shutting down… fuck… a red flag already.
"And which club would that be?" I asked carefully.
She then handed me the paper she had taken out. A registration sheet with very few names written on it.
"The tea ceremony club." She replied.
"I see…"
Not quite what I was expecting.
But also quite concerning.
Any club described as "in desperate need of members" is not a good sign at all.
There's already plenty of stories with that sort of trope, like an occult club with their eccentric president who scares off newcomers, or a certain light music club where all the members do anything but play actual music.
So yeah, this is beginning to look really bad.
"And before you ask," she added, "you cannot switch clubs. Consider it a penalty."
Naturally.
The world's way to mess with me yet again.
"Regardless," she continued, her tone softening just slightly, "I'd like you to give it a proper try. Though the club is on the verge of being disbanded, the president of this club in particular is a very dedicated person. As such I want you on your best behavior."
Emphasis on dedicated, huh?
Yeah, by this point that could mean practically anything but it's actual definition.
From just "obsessed" to full on "unhinged", I'll place my bets on the latter.
"…Understood," I replied with a small sigh. "I'll give it a try."
For a brief moment, Ms. Aoi smiled.
A rare and frankly unsettling sight.
"How exciting," she said. "I'm sure she'll be pleased."
She straightened the papers on her desk.
"You've already missed their initial meeting, so you will have to make sure to make it up on Monday alright? And don't be late"
"Yes, ma'am."
With that, I left the teachers' lounge and made my way toward the shoe lockers.
The tea ceremony club…
Not exactly what I had in mind.
But still, it's not every day you get the chance to experience something that traditional. It might actually be pretty cool.
Yeah! Don't knock it till you try it!
…
Who am I kidding, we all know this is going to be a problem.