I Will Return Again Chapter 13

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Club introductions are held in the gym this afternoon. Ritsuka and I went to the gym early to avoid the crowds. After we enter, we see very few people; most seem to be seniors, and are milling around on the stage in confusion. The stage order had already been decided last year, yet this situation had turned out like this. Moving off to the side, I watch the scene.

Moving over to where our homeroom teacher is standing, I sit beside Ritsuka. Looking at the stage, I see a familiar face in the wings. Akane is shouting at a boy in the middle of the stage while pointing at him, and then she tries to throw what appears to be chalk at him. While she tries, a girl comes up from behind to grab and drag Akane back into the wing of the stage.

…What are you guys doing?

“They’re really loud on stage. Are they fighting?” (Tsukasa)

“Wh-what about it?” (Ritsuka)

Excuse me. I’m their junior, so it’s not as if I’ve been told. I’m just a new student who has no relations.h.i.+p with Akane. We are total strangers.

“Hey! The beautiful silver-haired girl there! We met yesterday!” (Akane)

Akane, who came out from the wing of the stage again, turns to look in my direction and waves at me with both hands with a huge grin.

Ask yourself, does many people turning to look at something at the same time make a sound? It does, in fact - a snapping sound like when you shake out the laundry echoes in the gym when they do. More than a hundred people turn to look at me. I somehow manage to swallow the scream I want to let out. This is scary!

“Tsukasa, do you know that senior?” (Ritsuka)

“Uh, we talked a little yesterday.” (Tsukasa)

This is the second time we’ve met.

Ritsuka laughs. “Tsukasa, she has her eye on you, doesn’t she?” (Ritsuka)

Ritsuka’s observation makes me laugh and I vaguely reply, “Maybe so,” with a wry grin.

“I’m about 27th… Gah!?” (Akane)

Akane shouts when a crowbar flies out from the wing of the stage and hits her with a dull sound. She disappears into the wing of the stage holding her neck with her head down and muttering, “I’m sorry.”

The gym becomes quiet after the scene. A few seconds later everyone who was there breathed a sigh of relief while I quietly click my tongue.

After that, the a.s.sembly carried on without issue, and since almost all of the first years are in the gym now, the club introduction began. Handmade brochures are distributed amongst the first years by the athletic and cultural clubs. Each club has their own page and each section has their own layout. Normally, the club name is printed in large type at the top of the page; below that is a list of information including meeting dates, activities, number of members and so on.

While looking back and forth, I listen to  the speeches from the representative for each club on the stage. Most representatives are subtle, directing our attention to the brochure, while some club representatives are more active, wearing their uniforms and performing demonstrations. The Rakugo club (Comedic storytelling) literally began an impromptu story with a very half-hearted ending. The Bowling club ended up being scolded by a teacher for rolling a bowling ball across the stage. By the way, the baseball club was doing a tire pull for some reason. I have no idea why.

Finally, the 27th club takes the stage.

“Next, we have the introduction from the Entertainment Club.” (MC)

Flipping to their page in the brochure, I see the Entertainment department. Activity dates and times, indefinite; activity content, none in particular; and club room, special cla.s.sroom 7 at the end of the 4th floor of the second school building. 2 members.

What a dubious club. The listing simply encourages suspicion.

“It’s a strange club. Why is it listed as a department instead of a club?” (Tsukasa)

“Who knows.” (Teacher)

The reason seems to be because their advisor was a teacher who was simply free to do so.

When I look up at the stage, Akane comes out from the wing of the stage and stops in front of the mic located in the center of the stage with an annoyed expression.

“Er, I thought that I would do a flashy speech using lighting and stage effects, but that isn’t happening because I was refused by the student council. Even though I asked for the last minute, I didn’t get the okay. I'm sorry for those who expected such, but the real villain here is the president of the student council, so please treat me well.” (Akane)

Oh, I see. That was the student council chairman up on the stage a little while ago. Well Akane, be relieved, no one expects all that from you.

"Uh, my entertainment department is all about the freedom to go into the club and be lazy without doing anything in particular. Mr. Kawabe, a professor of mathematics, who never has any motivation, is our advisor. His hobby is collecting the socks I take off and leave under my desk.” (Akane)

Hey, that story is inappropriate for the new students.

"So, there’s nothing new. So please say yes to the relaxing part, since it’s troubling if we try to do something…  I’m looking for people who don’t have any motivation but are looking to be part of a club. Two more people if possible. We’ll be downgraded to a club if two people don’t join, that's all I want to stop, so please, I give my best regards to the two who join.” (Akane)

…I wonder who would want to join after that speech. I doubt anyone will. Yes, this includes me.

“I’ll give you this huge 2-to-1 scale Murasaki sea urchin toy that I won in an arcade crane game yesterday.” (Akane)

“Okay, I’ll join the club.” (Tsukasa)

“Tsukasa?” (Ritsuka)

Ritsuka calls my name and looks at me with a strange expression. Hmm? Oh my! That was dangerous! I just about put myself in a dangerous position! Akane, you horrible girl!

“Oh, that’s right. After all, the request is simply for people to join. There’s one girl I want to join.” (Akane)

I feel Akane's eyes flash like a fierce beast aiming for its prey. Although, since I haven’t seen anything, please stop hunting already.

Akane headed to the stage wing, leaving with glistening eyes. I suddenly thought about it while take breath and patting my chest. Am I doomed to enter the entertainment department? No way… I have to fix this.

After that, the introductions continued without a hitch and then moved on to our experience club reception. 2nd and 3rd years are lined up along the walls holding cardboard signs with the names of their clubs. By going to the club that you want to check out, you can temporarily join the club for a week just by signing up. If you’re active, you might be invited to join by them, but aggressive invitations aren’t allowed. The area is safe because the teachers are watching.

Ritsuka had decided her club ahead of time and headed over to the women's track and field department. After a while, a loud voice comes from a girl in that area. The girl, who seems to be track club member, gathers around Ritsuka. Maybe Ritsuka’s a celebrity?

I can't keep up with the high tension of that girl's strangely excited ‘kyaa kyaa.’ Even now that I’m a woman, I feel that a man is easier to deal with as a friend. If I were to make one, would that make him a male friend or a boyfriend? No, it is likely for me to get me criticized by the girls. Let’s stop talking about that.

Now that I think about it, I’m really lucky I met a girl like Ritsuka and we became friends. She’s not like your normal girl, or rather, there are places she’s like a man. She’s never tiring to be around.

While I was mulling over all of this, the battle for new members had begun. There are times it seems to be heated enough that a teacher notices and intervenes. I’ve still yet to be invited by anyone. There are a lot of people that look at me, but no one approaches me. Thanks to that, there's an open s.p.a.ce of around a meter centered on me.

I guess it's hard to talk to me. I'm simply standing here and I’m going to get in the way, so let's get out of here. Before that, I look for the placard of entertainment department. I wonder if they are properly soliciting people?

A sign is attached to frog doll, which I’ve occasionally seen in front of the pharmacy. Written on the forehead of the frog is, ‘sacred, hot-tempered animal.’ The sign hangs around its neck and written in red letters is, ‘Don’t even think about saying ‘that’s cute’ or temporarily joining.’ The admission applications lay scattered at its feet.

…They're not motivated at all.