Komari Chika, Hands Up

The excitement on Tsukinoki Koto’s face still hadn’t faded when she naturally turned toward a low cabinet.

She smoothly opened its doors and took out a wooden tray holding a tea set, along with a tin of tea leaves.

“Wait a moment, I’ll brew some tea for you all.

The Literature Club may not have any impressive activities, but at least we never run out of tea.”

Yanaimi Anna watched curiously as Tsukinoki used a small spoon to scoop tea leaves from the tin, set them into the pot, and pour in the hot water.

A fresh, soothing aroma quickly spread through the room.

Before long, three steaming cups of green tea were placed on the table before Imai Keita, Yanaimi Anna, and Komari Chika.

“Please, have some.”

“Thank you, senpai.”

Yanaimi Anna picked up her cup with both hands and flashed a sweet smile.

Imai Keita also nodded politely.

He held the cup between his hands, feeling the warmth spread into his palms without drinking right away.

“Tsukinoki-senpai,”

He looked up with a puzzled expression at the club’s vice-president.

“You called all the members here today—was something important happening?”

“Oh dear, don’t be so serious.”

Tsukinoki Koto blinked, then skillfully dodged the question.

“Tell me, Imai-kun—do you read light novels?”

“…Sometimes.”

“Perfect, that makes it simple.”

She let out a relieved breath and pointed toward the massive bookshelf covering the wall.

“All of these books—especially the light novels—you can read them freely.”

Just as she finished saying that, she seemed to remember something important, and her expression turned slightly more serious.

“To tell you the truth, lately the Student Council seems to have us in their sights.

So to pass inspections, it would be best if you could stay in the clubroom often… and read.”

“Just read?”

Imai Keita raised an eyebrow.

“That’s enough to convince the Student Council?”

“Well… doing other things would be even better, of course.”

Tsukinoki’s gaze shifted nervously and she scratched her cheek.

“But reading at least proves we’re conducting normal club activities…”

“I see.”

Keita didn’t press further.

Instead, he changed the subject.

“Then for today’s ‘reading activity,’ how many people are participating?

Is the whole club coming?”

“Mm… they should be?”

Tsukinoki replied, but not very confidently.

“All of them?”

Keita was surprised.

“That’s a really high attendance rate. Pretty rare.”

From his experience, most high school clubs were doing well if half their members showed up regularly.

“So, how many people are in the Literature Club?”

That question finally hit the heart of the matter.

A strange mix of pride and awkwardness appeared on Tsukinoki Koto’s face.

She cleared her throat, raised her hand, and began counting seriously on her fingers.

“First, we have our club president, Tamaki Shintarou, a third-year.

Then there’s me, the vice-president.”

She paused and pointed to the corner of the room.

“And we have one first-year member—Komari Chika.”

Next her finger shifted toward Keita.

“And another new first-year member— you, Imai Keita-kun.”

At that point, she stopped talking.

Silence settled naturally over the clubroom.

Keita waited calmly for the rest.

Komari Chika’s hands trembled slightly around her book again.

Yanaimi Anna’s curious expression slowly transformed into confusion.

Time ticked on…

Under Keita’s patient stare, Tsukinoki finally gave up resisting and awkwardly scratched her cheek as she added the last missing words:

“…That’s all.”

Keita lifted his hand and covered his face helplessly.

Now he understood why the vice-president had reacted so enthusiastically earlier when Anna said she might join.

Including him—who had barely shown up until now—the Literature Club had a grand total of four members.

This wasn’t a matter of being short-staffed…

The club was on the verge of being shut down.

“A-ahaha…”

Tsukinoki Koto sensed the awkward atmosphere and let out a few dry laughs.

Then she stood up abruptly, clapped her hands, and bowed with surprising formality.

“Ah, right! I suddenly remembered—I should be going!”

As she spoke, she swiftly packed her bag—far too quickly for someone who had “just remembered” something.

“That Shintarou guy—today’s his turn for classroom duty.

I think a teacher kept him behind to help.

I’d better go check before he gets overwhelmed.”

The explanation sounded almost too convenient, making Keita wonder if she had prepared it beforehand just to escape this situation.

“So, um…”

Tsukinoki’s gaze flickered between Keita and Anna before landing on Komari, who had somehow resumed reading in the corner.

“Komari, I’ll leave it to you to explain the club’s details to them, okay?”

“W-What!?”

A short, terrified cry burst from behind the book.

But Tsukinoki completely ignored her protest.

She just waved to the two newcomers.

“Well then, you two, I’ll excuse myself! Feel free to drop by anytime!”

And with that, she left the clubroom at a brisk pace without looking back.

The wooden door closed softly behind her, leaving only Keita, Anna, and the partially petrified Komari behind.

Anna glanced at Komari in the corner, then at Keita, her expression saying clearly: Good luck, I can’t help you.

Keita sighed and turned toward his last available source of information.

“Komari-san…”

“E-Eh…?”

Komari Chika slowly lowered her book until only her eyes peeked over the top, meeting Keita’s gaze in terrified silence.

The clubroom became painfully quiet…

Seconds passed, then minutes…

Under Keita’s wordless gaze, Komari finally reached her limit.

The pressure of being stared at broke her entirely.

She slowly lowered her paperback—her final shield—revealing a face full of despairing resignation.

Then, silently, she raised both hands in the air—

A perfect gesture of surrender.