Hearing the commotion outside, Eriri froze before catching the sound of running footsteps and more exclamations.
"No way, someone's actually streaking across the sports field?!"
"Who is it? Move aside, let me see!"
"Looks like Senior Hosoya and Senior Tsubaki from third year... wow, they're quite pale..."
"You're still calling them seniors? They're just perverts now!"
"Oh my god, a guy and girl streaking together! I need to take photos!!"
Curious about the situation outside, Eriri longed to peek into the corridor but didn't dare move past Luo Shu, who was standing by the door.
Instead, she turned to Utaha with dawning horror:
"Kasumigaoka... did you do this?"
"I merely executed orders." Utaha calmly admitted, though she considered herself an accomplice rather than the mastermind.
Hearing this, Eriri's gaze shifted to Luo Shu.
The young man stood there with an amused smile, remarking casually:
"The best way to cover up a big scandal is to expose even bigger ones, don't you agree?"
Hearing this, Eriri suddenly realised and exclaimed:
"I remember now! The third-years Hosoya and Tsubaki were the ones who tried to bully you but got counterattacked instead..."
"Hiss!!"
It suddenly occurred to Eriri that Luo Shu hadn't dealt with these people earlier... could it be because he was keeping them around as potential scapegoats in case something happened at school?
At this thought, Eriri couldn't help but glance at Luo Shu, only to find him still discussing with Utaha Kasumigaoka:
"Tomorrow, have that Shibuya guy run to the broadcasting room and play his love letter to Hosoya for the whole school to hear."
"The day after, expose Tsubaki's two-timing between Hosoya and Shibuya. Also, get the teachers to cooperate and confirm that what happened between us was just a misunderstanding. Hmm, that should be enough to divert attention."
"Understood. But afterwards, Hosoya and the others might transfer schools."
"Then deal with their parents to keep them in line. Have the school cooperate, too - give them two weeks off afterwards. As for Eriri, fabricate an art competition as an excuse for her to take two weeks off."
"Roger that."
Watching this man and woman collude so... no, cooperate so seamlessly, Eriri felt both envious and exasperated:
"You two, shouldn't you at least be mindful of your surroundings when talking about such things?"
"Look who's talking - you're no better yourselves."
At this, both Luo Shu and Utaha Kasumigaoka turned their gazes towards Megumi Kato.
"Sawamura-kun..."
Although Megumi's expression remained calm, she couldn't help but mentally complain about Eriri.
'I shielded you just moments ago, and this is how you repay me?'
Moreover... just what was going on with Senior Luo Shu and Senior Utaha Kasumigaoka?
Ordering teachers around? Threatening students and their parents? Fabricating scandals? Oh, and apparently, they could even fake an art competition through the school?
Were these things that students could actually do?
Had she stumbled into something far more serious than she imagined?
Right then, Luo Shu glanced at Megumi and remarked:
"Eriri does have a point - Kato-san seems to know too much..."
At this moment, Megumi timidly raised her hand and said weakly:
"Um... I can keep my mouth shut!"
Luo Shu looked surprised: "Oh? So Kato-san also knows that dead people keep the tightest lips?"
Megumi blinked, then said with a troubled expression:
"Senior, suddenly making jokes like that is actually quite frightening."
Whether Luo Shu was joking or not, Megumi believed she could tell.
Her impression of Luo Shu now was of a mischievous senior who liked teasing people.
As for those persecuted third-year seniors... Megumi wasn't some champion of justice. She'd heard about how those seniors had bullied underclassmen.
She didn't have any twisted sympathy for bullies now getting bullied themselves.
But after today's series of events, Megumi suddenly had this feeling...
Had Senior Luo Shu had his eyes on her for a while now?
Such premonitions began rising in Megumi's heart.
At that moment, Utaha glanced at Megumi Kato with some surprise, then gave her a meaningful look and said:
"Luo Shu, disposing of her like this would be somewhat wasteful, don't you think?"
Hearing this, though unsure why Utaha suddenly spoke up, Luo Shu played along:
"Oh? What do you suggest then, Utaha?"
Utaha smiled and said:
"How about having this girl join our club?"
Luo Shu gave Utaha a surprised look. The approach made sense, but wasn't she showing her hand a bit too early?
Just as Luo Shu was taken aback, Utaha continued cheerfully:
"I believe Kato-san understands her current situation, right?"
"Ah... If it's just joining a club, I don't have any problems with that."
Megumi's tone showed no emotional fluctuation, as if she were completely indifferent.
But in reality, she was somewhat surprised.
The seniors targeting her just wanted her to join a school club?
She'd thought they were planning to bully her, but it turned out to be just club recruitment?
At this moment, Megumi suddenly felt the absurdity of a great villain going through immense trouble to collect dragon balls, not to conquer the universe, but just to grow three centimetres taller.
Seeing Megumi agree so readily, Luo Shu was curious but didn't press further. He turned to Kisara, who had been silent behind him:
"In that case, Kisara, after school today, you'll take Megumi to the garrison."
"...Understood." Kisara, who seemed to have been lost in thought, quickly nodded upon realising she was being addressed.
Noticing this, Luo Shu glanced at Kisara, then at Utaha, wondering what conversation could have left Kisara so distracted.
But curiosity aside, Luo Shu had no intention of prying. Shaking his head, he dismissed the matter:
"That settles things then. Natsuki's class is next, so I'll head to the classroom first to avoid her nitpicking. Utaha, you handle the rest."
With that, Luo Shu turned and left the classroom.
"Understood."
Utaha responded, then turned to look at Megumi and Eriri before saying:
"We'll explain the details after school. Of course, Megumi, if you have any questions, you can ask Yukinoshita directly. After all, you've probably already guessed, haven't you?"
Hearing this, Megumi looked at Utaha in surprise. Could this person really read minds?
Utaha smiled:
"You guessed correctly."
"Your expression is calm, but your inner thoughts are quite lively, Kato-san."
Megumi froze.
"Before we discuss matters, we should deal with some minor characters too."
Just then, Utaha suddenly turned to look at Tomoya Aki, who had been foolishly standing by the back door.
Seeing the group that had completely ignored him until now turn his way, Tomoya stammered:
"Um... does this mean I'm joining your club too?"
Eriri burst out laughing at this.
Utaha smiled slightly:
"Quite the imagination there, first-year Aki-kun."
"Too bad, you guessed wrong."
"You... are not needed."
Utaha raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
Snap!
The sound was crisp.
Tomoya Aki felt his mind go blank for a moment, then stared dumbfounded at the retreating backs of the group of girls.
"What... just happened?"
Tomoya Aki thought in a daze.
Immediately after, he recalled what had just happened.
Apparently, Eriri, Megumi Kato, Utaha Kasumigaoka, and that pink-haired, super beautiful transfer student had surrounded Luo Shu, the third-year senior, in the art room discussing club activities when he accidentally stumbled upon them.
Then, upon noticing his unexpected presence, they finished their discussion and left together.
'Oh, so that's how it was...' Tomoya suddenly realised.
But then came the emptiness and confusion.
After all... the liveliness was theirs, the loneliness was mine.
'Should I start a club too? Preferably one with beautiful girls like Luo Shu's?'
At this thought, an ambitious idea surged within Tomoya.
However, he then considered the school's current situation.
Seems impossible...
Since all the beautiful girls in school seem to have been taken already...
Damn.