Although at the beginning they had all planned it well, not wanting newcomers who joined later to seize control of their small group and only choosing equally socially anxious and introverted beautiful girls, when actually facing girls with the same shy and withdrawn personalities, they themselves couldn't act forcefully. They couldn't pull people in as aggressively as others did.
After thinking it over, it seemed like arranging another club commission like before might be more suitable.
"Got it settled. The volleyball club captain is also very interested in the president's temporary guidance and will find a chance to come to the Service Club to make a request."
With her whole body submerged in the hot bathwater, Narahashi Miki, whose tall figure was even more striking than Hayase Saki's, had her cheeks flushed red from the heat. She lightly bit her lip and nodded.
The seeded members of the girls' swimming team had all joined the Service Club and could get their share every night now, so there was no longer any need for special after-school guidance.
Although there were still other girls playing in the indoor swimming pool who didn't participate in competitions, that was a different matter. Or it could already be considered the territory of the swimming club captain, Shionatsu Sayuri, waiting for her to recruit and expand her faction.
However, the girls' volleyball club she belonged to also needed the president's "guidance," so they could have the volleyball captain come to request help from Vice President Yukinoshita.
Mm, Vice President Yukinoshita definitely wouldn't be able to handle it, so in the end it would still require the president to step in personally.
Letting the president see that they were also working hard behind the scenes, so he would specially reward them, and then they could think of ways to bring Sasaki Kotone and Tsukimi Chifuyu into the club as well.
Actually, it wasn't just the swimming club or volleyball club. If the president wanted, they could keep having other clubs submit requests to the Service Club. Besides sports clubs, there were also many beautiful girls in arts clubs.
In the past couple of days, many demi-humans and noble ladies had joined Sobu High, but among ordinary people there were still plenty of beautiful girls waiting to be developed by the president. All of them could become magical girls.
Thinking about how Hachiman might reward them specially for their efforts, a strange expression flashed across Narahashi Miki's face as she wore the bell collar that prevented her from turning off the shared sensation.
The nightly service activities were far more stimulating now, and the club benefits were plentiful. If she didn't have to wake up at home every morning to go to school, she could even have breakfast here.
But compared to before, when she and Saki wore maid outfits and served the president together at Saki's house, she still preferred the times when the president held just her and Saki while they played together.
She wondered if, after offering up the volleyball club, the president would spend time with just them… or maybe they needed to offer a few more clubs.
"Good, as long as it's settled. With so many new noble ladies and demi-humans joining the club these past few days, the president is almost overwhelmed. I suddenly kind of miss the days when we faced Vice President Yukinoshita together in the Service Club…"
Seeing her best friend Narahashi Miki once again immersed in thoughts of the president's pleasures, Hayase Saki looked at the ever-silent Sakurase Shino and sighed helplessly, feeling a bit nostalgic as well.
As a succubus and also an introverted girl, Sakurase Shino, whether she was with Ulusula and the others or with Hayase Saki's group, was only responsible for assisting, while everything else had nothing to do with her. No one assigned her any responsibilities either.
But that was also why Hayase Saki felt comfortable letting a succubus like Sakurase Shino join their small group. It strengthened their group without the risk of being overshadowed.
Although the president had never left them out, if they didn't want others to take more from them while also wanting more themselves, they really needed to work harder. They didn't understand many things, but they could learn from others.
Forming cliques and building small groups, anyone could do that. It was just harder for people like them, who were socially anxious and introverted, to find allies.
Aside from classmates and school friends, there were also relatives and family connections.
While thinking about so-called sister groups like Tsukishiro Sayo, Liye, Lumaria, and Leticia, and at the same time feeling the shared sensation from Hayasaka Ai, which was comfortable but far less intense than experiencing it personally, Hayase Saki suddenly had a bold idea.
Actually, she had a younger sister, Chinatsu, who studied at Komachi's school. There was also an even younger sister, Haruka, but unlike her own figure, Chinatsu, Haruka, and even their mother Hayase Kinue all had slim, petite builds.
Even Hayase Saki, Narahashi Miki, and the others, who were socially anxious and introverted, were thinking of ways to bring in outside help. Naturally, the newly joined daughters of major financial conglomerates also understood how intense the competition in the Service Club was.
However, the difference between those who had "tasted" and those who hadn't was significant. Especially when facing such a large-scale situation for the first time.
Seeing that everyone in the Service Club ignored them and went off to find hiding spots, Shinomiya Kaguya, Charlotte, La Folia, and the other princesses hesitated, struggling over whether to withdraw immediately or join in.
Everyone sitting here knew what they were supposed to do. But actually facing it themselves was another matter.
Acting intimately with Hachiman in private might allow them to convince themselves they liked him. But playing together in such a large group, whether they liked him or not, meant their purpose for being here was laid bare.
Seeing everyone looking at each other in silence, hands clenched tightly, legs pressed together, trying their best to ignore the sound of the bell collars, Fujiwara Chika, whose energetic personality contrasted sharply with her petite figure and full chest, couldn't help but speak up to break the heavy atmosphere.
"Um… are we really going to participate in this game too? If not, we should just… just leave quickly, right?"
She knew why everyone was hesitating. Even her younger sister Moeha had been sent to Hikigaya Komachi's school as a transfer student from Shuchiin Academy, along with her good friend Shirogane Kei. She, Kaguya, Iino Miko, and Shijo Maki had all come to Sobu High.
So even someone as carefree and airheaded as Fujiwara Chika couldn't possibly not understand the purpose of their presence here.
But now there was no time left to hesitate or feel shy.
If they kept delaying, they'd be the first to be eliminated.
As soon as she finished speaking, Fujiwara Chika covered her mouth, her face flushing red as she looked into the distance at Hachiman, who seemed to be slowly approaching while holding Hayasaka Ai.
"Miss Fujiwara is right. If you can't accept it, this is the time to withdraw."
With slightly wavy black hair and a slender but elegant figure, Saegusa Mayumi gently placed one hand on her chest and the other on her personal CAD device. She cast a cooling ice spell on herself to stay calm, maintaining steady breathing as she smiled at everyone.
"Though personally, I'd prefer to participate tonight. We're already here. If we don't compete now, we'll have to compete later anyway."
"And when more people arrive, the competition will only get harder."
"I came to Sobu High to move forward. You don't want to remain ordinary and eventually be forced into political marriages by your families, do you?"
Even a maid like Hayasaka Ai could sense the unusual atmosphere of the Service Club. How could they, who had already placed their bets on Hachiman, not notice?
The demi-humans showed him even more respect than they had expected. One or two races might not prove anything, but after seeing tonight's gathering, it was clear.
Although the elf princess faction held an important position, there were also neutral and opposing factions.
In the Service Club, the highest authority and most important person was Hachiman alone.
At present, information about awakening magic essence was only circulating within a small circle. Saegusa Mayumi and the others still didn't know about it.
If they did, they would realize the situation wasn't even at its peak yet, it would become even more intense.
But even without that knowledge, just the ability to unlock magical girl potential and rapidly increase strength was already astonishing.
They represented their respective conglomerates and had certain advantages over ordinary people. Whether it was recruiting or resources, they had convenience. But there were too many outstanding and beautiful girls in the Service Club, including other heiresses like them.
Without the ability to freely recruit people into the school, their family background advantage was effectively meaningless.
"If we leave directly, President Hikigaya won't get angry, right?"
Also enduring the stimulation from the bell collar, Shijo Maki quickly glanced at Shinomiya Kaguya, who had fainted earlier due to shared sensation and now sat silently on the sofa.
Although her family was doing well overseas and her status wasn't as awkward as Kaguya's,
the situation left little room for choice. If other families gained power first by becoming magical girls, it would become a serious problem.
If their family lost, then the issue wouldn't just be about arranged marriage anymore.
At that point, young and beautiful women from defeated families could be offered up as spoils to Hachiman. And among major conglomerates, such ruthlessness was entirely possible.
Compared to that, it was better to offer herself voluntarily. That was why she came, even forming a temporary alliance with Charlotte and La Folia.
"He probably won't be angry. President Hikigaya doesn't lack one or two people. If we withdraw early, others might even thank us. Just don't try to leave at the last moment to avoid being marked."
Saegusa Mayumi's face flushed red as she looked at Shijo Maki and the two silver-haired princesses beside her. She blinked playfully, then left with a smile.
"If you do that, you'll definitely be targeted. Next time, we might not even be allowed into the Service Club."
Shinomiya Kaguya and the others didn't need to worry much, they had stricter upbringing. But the foreign princesses might act too freely and accidentally offend Hachiman.
Even if they weren't from the same faction, they had come together. If one made a mistake, it could affect the others.
"Uh…"
Hearing that, Fujiwara Chika looked awkward.
She had actually been thinking of playing for a while, then teleporting away when she was about to be caught.
Hachiman seemed easygoing. Maybe if she begged him privately, he wouldn't mind.
But now that Saegusa Mayumi had pointed it out, deliberately doing it might get her reported.
"Chika, if you want to leave, go ahead. I'll stay."
Shinomiya Kaguya stared at Hayasaka Ai in Hachiman's arms, took a deep breath, and stood up with a flushed face to find a hiding place.
If Hayasaka was still trying, how could she run away?
If she did, she'd have no right to ask others to join her.
Even if she fainted, she would try to last longer and earn more rewards to strengthen herself.
The girls from Lycoris had only trained briefly to become magical girls. If she received dozens of rewards… she could become quite strong too.
"If you're not leaving, how can I run away alone."
Fujiwara Chika grimaced and hurried after her, the bells on her collar jingling.
She really wanted to run. Just watching from afar was already terrifying. Even powerful demi-humans couldn't endure it, how could she?
But if Kaguya stayed, she couldn't leave. And where could she even go?
As a political family's daughter, she could act carefree at school, but she still had to understand the broader situation.
Even foreign powers were paying attention.
Not just domestic factions, foreign princesses like La Folia and Charlotte, dragon-blooded nobles like Miime, and transfer students from USNA had all arrived.
If she ran now, she'd just be brought back later.
Seeing that no one left and instead scattered to find hiding spots, Charlotte and La Folia exchanged glances and looked at their ally, Shijo Maki.
They had come voluntarily after learning about Hachiman. Their families hadn't forced them.
As princesses, they would normally either inherit the throne or be married off politically.
But this situation was different.
If possible, they only needed Hachiman to give them a child to secure succession. They didn't need him to marry into their families.
However, not everyone was as optimistic as them.
For girls like Shinomiya Kaguya, Shijo Maki, and Fujiwara Chika, this was not entirely voluntary.
Only by seizing this opportunity could they change their fate.
As true elites, they understood the consequences of weakness.
With magical girls and righteous factions, they might not fear evil forces. But against other powerful conglomerates?
They had no such confidence.
Whether they had magical girls, and how many, would determine victory or defeat.
"Sigh… Charlotte, La Folia, let's find a quieter place to talk. If we're going to play, we should at least do it somewhere private. Being watched by so many people is too embarrassing…"
Facing their gazes, Shijo Maki hesitated. As the bell sounds in the distance grew more frequent, her body trembled involuntarily. She leaned back against the sofa, took a while to recover, then stared at the ceiling with a flushed face and sighed.
What else could she do? She felt completely helpless.
She hadn't even experienced a normal romance yet, and now she had to face this with a stranger.
Even if Hachiman was handsome, thinking about his strength made her nervous.
At least she wasn't alone.
The top VIPs of Shuchiin Academy had all come. If something happened, they'd all face it together.
"Looks like they understand things well enough. Then we won't have them play this game during class time for now~"
In the distance, the elf princess Ailith watched them and blinked. She neither forced them to stay nor leave, simply smiling as she pulled Lala and Aigis toward another stage.
As organizers, they didn't care about rankings or rewards.
If they wanted something, the president wouldn't refuse. But others had to work for it. They also wanted to observe the newcomers.
Hide-and-seek didn't have to be limited to the Service Club. Once improved, it could even be played across the school.
"Isn't it better if they don't want to play? Lots of people want to bring their sisters too. I wonder when Momo and Nana will come to Earth. I should ask them if they want to play with Hachiman."
Lala didn't care much about Shinomiya Kaguya's group. Seeing so many sisters together reminded her of her own.
"Lala, take a look at these files."
Seeing her concern, Ailith smiled and handed over two documents.
"Momo Belia Deviluke? Nana Astar Deviluke? When did Momo and Nana come?"
Seeing the names, Lala was momentarily confused. But when she saw the familiar photos, she lit up with surprise.
Her full name was Lala Satalin Deviluke. "Lala" was just for convenience.
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.