Chapter 23: Transfer Student Club Activity Orientation

‘Huh… did I do something wrong?’

Maybe she was bothered by me being with Reina senpai?

After all, Aya and Reina senpai still have an uncomfortable sibling relationship.

I just happened to meet Reina senpai in the schoolyard and talked quietly…

If Aya saw that scene from afar, she might have been quite bothered.

Reina senpai has platinum blonde hair that can be recognized at a glance from afar… so Aya must have noticed as well.

‘Ugh… I feel unnecessarily sorry…’

Maybe it’s better to reconcile the two first?

Sitting in my seat next to Aya, it felt like the chair had thorns pricking me.

But… Aya seems to have something she wants to say, but she keeps hesitating.

“Rina.”

Aya, who finished hesitating, finally spoke.

“Uh, yeah?”

“The club activity briefing… you’re coming, right?”

“Uh-huh! Of course!”

When I quickly answered the question, Aya’s eyes softened slightly.

‘Ah, what, was it just because of this?’

I felt relieved as I unfolded the paper Aya handed me.

Fortunately, it was my misunderstanding that Aya was upset because I talked to her sister.

I think I’ve gotten a little better at reading Aya’s small facial expressions these days.

The paper was filled with a list of clubs participating in the transfer student club activity briefing.

‘Phew, there are more than I thought… Which one should I choose?’

Takamari Academy is incredibly vast.

That goes for the club rooms as well.

I remember reading in the novel that spaces that were previously used as classrooms are now being used as club rooms.

Thanks to that, the club rooms are as spacious as classrooms, and many of them are decorated like hideouts, so student participation is high.

In the novel, were there about 40-50 small and large clubs in total?

Of course, the clubs participating in today’s briefing are not small clubs run by individuals or friends, but large, official clubs.

From sports clubs like soccer, baseball, and basketball to music and art-related departments, to the drama club that Rina wanted to join.

And, of course, as befits a noble school, there were also clubs like the tea ceremony club and the equestrian club.

“Which one do you like, Rina?”

Aya looked at me carefully and asked.

I hesitated for a long time and tilted my head.

“I’m not sure yet… I’ve never done anything like a club in middle school… If I participate, I think something that’s not too burdensome would be good.”

To be precise, it was me in my past life as a middle schooler…

This body, I mean, Rina in middle school was the student council president.

So I probably participated in something like the student council.

“A place that’s not too burdensome…”

Aya seemed to be lost in thought after hearing my words.

Seeing that, I became a little curious.

“By the way, what club activities did you do, Aya?”

“I’ve been in the student council since middle school.”

Ah, right.

I was wrong to ask.

“That’s obvious, Aya would do anything perfectly.”

At my words, Aya momentarily hid her expression and looked away.

It was only for a moment, but I felt a slight flicker in her eyes.

‘Huh… was that a slip of the tongue?’

I just complimented her, but Aya’s reaction was strange.

Aya must have lived thinking that compliments were natural, but she avoided my compliment.

But Aya soon regained her composure and said with a small smile.

“I hope Rina can find something she wants to do without overdoing it.”

That one sentence, which didn’t mention the student council, was strangely warm.

I smiled lightly and nodded.

***

Before I knew it, the bell rang, signaling the last class.

From now on, it’s after-school time.

Time for students in the going-home club to pack their bags and leave the school gates, and for students participating in club activities to head to their respective club rooms.

And today, specially, was the day for transfer students to move around to listen to the club activity briefing.

“Well then~ Shall we go? Aya, Rina, let’s go~”

“Uh… yeah! Let’s go.”

At Mizuki’s bright voice, I smiled awkwardly and picked up my bag.

Aya also quietly finished tidying up and headed out to the hallway.

The place where we gathered before the briefing is called the ‘front yard of the old school building’.

When I arrived at that place, several transfer students were already gathered, looking very nervous.

Also, a 2nd-year student council senior, whose name I don’t remember, was diligently organizing the line.

“Okay, okay, the new transfer students over there, please line up here~ Uh? Yukikawasan and Asakurasan? Help me out!”
“Yes, I understand.”

I can feel the anticipation in the murmurs heard among the transfer students.

The excitement of the transfer students who are experiencing Takamari Academy’s club activities for the first time was intersecting.

I also tried to blend into this atmosphere, but I could feel the subtle gazes around me.

‘…As expected, it’s because they know who I’m with.’

Aya and Mizuki.

Just the names of those two make everyone want to distance themselves from me.

Among them, there was even a look close to hostility, like ‘Why aren’t you going to the student council?’.

Why am I getting used to these gazes…

‘By the way, it feels a little different from the development in the novel.’

In the novel, club members rushed out from the entrance and were busy promoting desperately.

But now, it’s much quieter and more organized.

Perhaps, it’s because my opinion of ‘How about a trial format?’ was reflected during the student council meeting.

“Now, we’ll divide into teams and move!”

The voice of the male senior rang out, and the students quickly lined up.

“Team 1 will follow me, Team 2 will be guided by Yukikawasan, Team 3 by Asakurasan, and Team 4 by Tachibanasan.”

I somehow ended up following Tachibanasenpai, the 2nd-year treasurer.

I could see her calm and cool-headed personality during the student council meeting.

Unlike Shiraizukasenpai, who has an unexpected side in the novel, she is portrayed as a truly cool-headed, analytical, and calculating person.

“Hello. I’m Tachibana Kaho, in charge of the club activity introduction guide. Team 4, please follow me.”

Click-clack.

I didn’t know those kind of sounds could come from shoes included in a school uniform.

With an orderly gait and a clear voice, senpai had a chilly atmosphere just from her name.

Our group had four people.

Among the unfamiliar faces, I smiled awkwardly and looked only at my toes.

‘Phew… It’s only been a short while since Mizuki’s absence, but I’m already getting awkward with this quietness…’

I wanted to be quiet just a few days ago, but now I’m feeling sad because it’s quiet.

‘Have I, have I gotten too used to it?’

Other groups have already entered the club rooms, and I can already hear the noisy sounds.

I think it’s probably a sports club.

Our team’s first destination was the drama club.

That’s right. It was the drama club.

The club that Rina wanted to go to in middle school, according to her diary.

It was strange that it was randomly chosen as the first trial club.

‘It was the place Rina really wanted to join.’

This was the dream that this body originally had.

I quietly followed the guide and entered the drama club room where the trial was taking place.

The inside of the drama club room was surprisingly warm and quiet.

Unlike other departments where the heat could already be felt, here, the members were guiding the trial in a calm atmosphere.

Various costumes and props were arranged here and there, and there was also a small stage with subtle stage lighting.

As expected of Takamari Academy, the stage was comparable to an actual performance hall.

“Welcome. Are you interested in the drama club?”

At the greeting of the drama club senior who smiled brightly, I nodded slightly.

“Yes, I’d like to try it out.”

Looking at the script on the table, it was prepared for a simple monologue practice.

The feel of the script in my hand was unfamiliar.

‘Phew… Rina inside me isn’t popping out.’

I thought at least some excitement or strange emotion would boil up.

But, there was no expected throbbing, no passion rising from within… nothing was felt.

Rather, only awkwardness like ‘Is this how I should do it?’ remained.

“Would you like to read the lines once?”

At the soft voice of the drama club senior, I hesitated and unfolded the script.

The stage direction said (with emotion), but I recited it flatly, as if reading someone else’s lines.

‘Was this what Rina really wanted…?’

At the same time as I thought that, the contents of the diary came to mind.

‘When I go to Takamari Academy, I’ll definitely join the drama club, I’ll create my own stage.’

What kind of mindset did Rina have when she wrote that?

After finishing the monologue, I received a question from the drama club senior.

“How is it? Is it fun?”

I smiled vaguely and answered.

“Yes… I think it’s fun.”

I said that with my mouth, but my heart was still stuffy.

I unconsciously fiddled with the script with my fingertips and thought to myself.

‘…Something’s different.’

This is what Rina in middle school wanted to experience… but it’s strange that I don’t feel any emotion.

If I had to say, it was closer to the emotionlessness of my past life.

As expected… this is not my path.

What path would Rina in the novel have chosen?

Unfortunately, Rina is a mob character who doesn’t even have a name in the novel, so I couldn’t know her actions in the novel.

Did Rina in the novel really join the drama club as she wanted?

I put down the script and looked up at the stage.

I saw the members practicing on the stage, matching their acting with each other, and the transfer student who was interested.

Their appearances looked enjoyable.

But… I couldn’t easily imagine myself standing among them.

Perhaps, the drama club senior who kindly explained to me also lowered her head, maybe my inner thoughts were revealed on the outside.