The next morning, Irisa had already made her decision. Joining the social club seemed… interesting.
Humans were fascinating creatures, and observing their daily problems might prove entertaining or at the very least educational.
After school began, Irisa calmly filled out the club registration form and walked to the teachers office.
She knocked lightly before entering. “Excuse me.”
Her homeroom teacher looked up from the desk. “Ah, Irisa. Did you decide already?”
Irisa nodded politely and handed over the form.
The teacher adjusted her gsses and read it.
“Social Club?” She looked up again. “Oh, the one Asa mentioned yesterday.”
Irisa smiled and nodded.
“Yes. It sounded both interesting and helpful.”
The teacher tapped the paper thoughtfully.
“It does sound nice,” she admitted. “But…”
Irisa tilted her head slightly.
“Remember,” the teacher continued, “a club needs at least three members to be officially established.”
She pointed at the form. “You and Asa still need one more person.”
Irisa nodded calmly. “Understood. We will find at least one more member.”
The teacher chuckled.
“With the two of you? I doubt that will be difficult. You’re both quite popur already.”
Irisa wasn’t sure if she agreed with that statement, but she bowed politely anyway.
“Thank you.”
Then she left the office. What Irisa did not realize… Was that someone had followed her.
---
“Irisa!”
As soon as she entered the small empty room at the end of the hallway, Asa Nakamura greeted her enthusiastically.
The room was modest—just a few desks, some stacked chairs, and a dusty window letting in the afternoon sunlight.
For now, it would serve as their temporary clubroom.
Irisa smiled faintly. “Good afternoon, Asa.”
Asa walked toward her with clear excitement.
“So? Did you submit the form?”
“I did.”
“That’s great! We just need one more person and—” Asa suddenly stopped speaking.
Her brows furrowed slightly. “Excuse me,” she said slowly. “But who is she?”
She pointed behind Irisa.
Irisa blinked, then she turned around.
Standing there… Smiling brightly… Akari.
Irisa sighed. “Why are you here?”
Akari waved cheerfully. “Akari Minamoto. Nice to meet you, Asa.”
Then she added with exaggerated emphasis, “I’m your cssmate too, by the way.”
Asa stared at her for a moment, then shrugged slightly. “Oh. Right. Akari.”
Akari’s smile twitched. Why did that sound like she barely remembered?!
“Why are you here?” Asa asked ftly.
Akari csped her hands behind her back and leaned forward slightly. “I want to join the Social Club too.”
Silence.
Irisa blinked. “Huh?”
Asa’s expression turned unimpressed.
“Why?”
Akari puffed her cheeks slightly. “Why not?”
She leaned closer to Asa.
“Are you limiting which students can join? That sounds a little suspicious.” She whispered the st word dramatically.
Irisa raised an eyebrow.v“Why so sudden?” she asked calmly. “Yesterday you said you were not invested—”
She didn’t finish, because Akari suddenly spped a hand over Irisa’s mouth.
“Don’t!”
Irisa blinked slowly behind her hand.
Akari’s face was slightly red.
Asa looked at the two of them. Her eyes narrowed slightly. Why did they look… so close?
Akari quickly removed her hand and cleared her throat.
“A-anyway!” She pointed proudly at the empty room. “You need one more member to form the club, right?”
She smirked. “Perfect timing.”
“I refuse.”
Akari blinked. “What?”
“I refuse,” Asa crossed her arms.
“Why?!” Akari demanded.
Irisa simply watched them silently.
“You don’t suit the club,” Asa said calmly.
Akari’s jaw dropped.
“How can you decide that so quickly?!”
“I’m the club leader.”
“The club doesn’t even exist yet!”
“It exists with me and Irisa.”
“Just the two of you?!” Akari squinted suspiciously. “Why...?”
Asa frowned. “What do you mean why?”
“That’s suspicious,” Akari said immediately.
Irisa sighed softly. These two were exhausting.
“Also,” Akari continued dramatically, “a club with just two beautiful girls secretly meeting in an empty room?”
She pointed accusingly. “That sounds like the beginning of a scandal.”
Asa stared at her. “What kind of imagination do you have?”
“The realistic kind.”
Irisa rubbed her temple. Before this argument could escate further, “then I suppose,” she said calmly, “I should quit the club.”
Both girls froze. “What?!"
Asa immediately grabbed Irisa’s wrist.
“No! I need you!” She pulled too suddenly and lost her bance. “Ah—”
Asa stumbled forward. Her face ended up extremely close to Irisa’s.
Irisa rarely lost composure, but even she blinked in surprise. Asa’s face was right there. Close enough that Irisa could clearly see her soft eyeshes… the faint pink tint on her cheeks… the subtle floral scent she carried.
Asa was… pretty. Irisa realized that and she looked slightly embarrassed.
Asa noticed too. Her face turned red immediately.
Neither of them moved. For one very awkward second.
Then...
“AAAAAHHHHH!” Akari screamed.
Both girls jumped apart.
Akari stood there pointing at them dramatically. “What was THAT?!”
Irisa blinked.
Asa coughed awkwardly. “That was an accident.”
“That didn’t look like an accident!” Akari crossed her arms angrily. “Five seconds and you’re already having a romantic scene!”
“There was no romantic scene,” Asa said firmly.
Irisa nodded calmly. “It was a loss of bance.”
Akari narrowed her eyes. “Suspicious.”
Asa sighed heavily. “This is exactly why you don’t suit the club.”
Akari gasped in betrayal. “You can’t discriminate like that!”
Irisa looked between the two of them, then spoke quietly, “the solution seems simple.”
Both girls turned toward her.
“If Akari joins,” Irisa said, “the club will meet the minimum requirement.”
Akari immediately raised her hand. “Yes! I volunteer.”
“I still refuse,” Asa said instantly.
Akari pointed dramatically again. “You literally just needed one more person!”
“Yes,” Asa replied calmly. “But not you.”
“Why?!”
“You’re noisy.”
“You’re judgmental!”
Irisa sighed again.
This social club… Was already more chaotic than she expected.
