Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Club (3)
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"Here you go, these are the membership applications. Just fill in your department and name, nice and simple."
Aren and Lydia quickly filled out the Book Club membership forms Sarah handed them and passed them back.
Sarah, receiving the forms, flashed a bright smile at the two.
"Welcome to the club, underclassmen."
"Looking forward to working with you..."
"Please take care of us, senior."
"Hehe. Looking forward to it from my end too?"
Sarah smiled at the pair, especially at Aren.
She couldn't help but be thrilled about the new members. It had been quite a while since she'd seen any freshmen join.
At least since she'd joined as a first-year and taken over as club president upon advancing to second-year, right up until this moment, there hadn't been a single new recruit.
"It's really been ages since we've had new members..."
Aren caught Sarah's quiet mutter.
"Hm? Ages?"
"Oh, you heard that?"
"Yeah."
"How embarrassing..."
Sarah scratched at her cheek self-consciously.
"What happened? Now that you mention it, it feels like there aren't any other members around for a club."
"Well... the truth is, the Book Club was on the verge of being disbanded...?"
Disbanded?
"Hm?"
"Sadly, the Book Club isn't all that popular. The few names on the roster are all ghost members, so we've barely been hanging on by keeping the club name alive."
"Why's that?"
She pondered his question for a moment before smiling brightly.
"I don't know what you new members think about this, but we don't really do much in the way of activities?"
Eh?
"We just occasionally gather to read books, that's it. So people passionate about literature head to the Literary Creation Club, and those into specific novels or genres join the Genre Fiction Club. There are all sorts of other clubs that could replace us. For freshmen who have to join something, the Book Club just doesn't have much appeal."
...
Sarah's explanation made sense in his head, but not in his heart.
I mean.
'Isn't that the best part?'
Just show up now and then to read? That sounded like pure bliss. He couldn't fathom why it wasn't popular.
Especially since...
"You get to see a beautiful senior like you when you come to the club. No idea why anyone wouldn't."
"Oh my, Aren, you say the most embarrassing things so casually."
Her cheeks flushed a light pink.
"It's not embarrassing if it's true."
"Hehe. No special rewards even for all that flattery?"
"Wasn't saying it for any reward."
"Hmm... that's the kind of talk that really brightens my mood."
Sarah let out a light chuckle at Aren’s cheeky words, then turned her gaze to the lavender-haired woman sitting quietly in the corner.
Her hair was a pale shade bordering on white, compared to her deep purple roots.
It was a rare trait among high nobles, and no one in this club room was unaware of who its owner was.
"So, Veronica, you joining or not?"
"......I will."
They'd bumped into each other at the Book Club door earlier and come in together, but it seemed she'd finally made up her mind.
Veronica hesitated a bit before filling out the form with her department and name, handing it to Sarah.
Aren glanced between Sarah and Veronica.
"You two know each other? You seem really close."
"Yep."
Sarah nodded with a small smile.
She lightly patted the head of the now-silent Veronica.
Veronica's expression turned a touch sullen, but she accepted Sarah's touch without resistance.
'That's interesting.'
It was a far cry from how she'd bristled at him, desperate to escape his grasp.
Sarah's touch seemed perfectly natural to her, like a cat that clawed at him but purred for others.
"Veronica and I have been like sisters since we met in high society as kids."
"As kids...?"
"About... ten years ago? She's turning twenty now, so I was eleven and she was ten when we met."
"Childhood friends, then."
"Childhood friends... yeah, that fits."
Her gaze toward Veronica brimmed with affection.
Like an older sister looking after a tsundere little sibling.
He'd only just met Sarah today, so he didn't know her personality in depth yet, but at a glance, she and Veronica seemed to match well.
The relaxed big sister and the aloof, dishonest little sister.
'Perfect combo.'
"She was so cute back then. This chubby-cheeked little girl who followed me around calling 'Sis, Sis' whenever she saw me."
"Eut..."
Veronica's shoulders twitched.
"Ten-year-old Veronica... I'd love to see that sometime."
"Oh, I have pictures. Want to see them next time, underclassman?"
"Really?"
"Of course. If that's what you want."
Veronica, who'd been staying quiet, suddenly bristled at the prospect of her childhood photos being exposed.
"Wh-what are you talking about? Don't go prying into someone else's childhood."
"Not allowed?"
"No."
Very firm.
"But I'm curious about little Veronica."
"No means no. Why are you even curious about someone else's childhood?"
"Because it'd be cute?"
Chubby-cheeked Veronica.
How could anyone not be curious?
"Lydia thinks so too, right?"
"Y-yes?"
Lydia jumped in surprise.
"Chubby-cheeked ten-year-old Veronica must've been adorable, yeah?"
"Uh... th-that is..."
"......"
Veronica's body twitched.
A subtle movement others might miss, but Aren caught it easily.
Soon, Veronica fixed him with a cold stare.
"...Just drop it."
"Too bad."
He shrugged.
Sarah, watching the exchange, let out a soft laugh.
"By the way... Aren, you call Veronica by her first name."
It might seem like an innocent question at first glance, but everyone present knew better.
"I don't let status get in the way. If you want to win someone's heart, you start by getting close. So I decided to use her name."
"...I never gave you permission for that."
He ignored Veronica's pout(?).
Sarah clapped lightly, paying no mind to Veronica either.
"Oh, how romantic. I wish I had a guy pursuing me as passionately as you do, Aren."
As she spoke, Sarah stroked Aren's arm. Her touch felt oddly ticklish.
Lydia and Veronica flinched at the sight.
For Veronica especially, it looked like she might bolt over and wedge herself between them any second.
She didn't know why herself, but she felt compelled to. Only a thread of rationality held her back.
"A guy with a great body, handsome looks, and top-student talent pursuing you... Kinda jealous of Veronica."
For some reason, her breath felt hot against him. Amid the sudden sultry vibe, Aren quietly looked down at Sarah.
Still stroking his arm, licking her lips with her tongue.
"Huu... Aren. What kind of woman is your type? Someone like our Veronica?"
"Hm... type..."
Big breasts, utterly devoted to him, pretty, talented?
Of course, he couldn't say that outright, so he softened it.
"Hmmm...? Sounds like Veronica."
"Right?"
"Eut..."
"Hehe... What about a wise wife and loving mother type like me, underclassman...?"
"...I'd like that."
What was there to say?
Of course he liked the wise wife type.
Especially one as pretty as Sarah.
"........."
"........."
As the mood between Sarah and Aren grew thick and sticky, Veronica's sharp voice cut through.
"...Sis. You have a fiancé. Is this okay?"
A cold silence instantly filled the Book Club room, as if nothing had happened.
"...Oh my, what are you saying, Veronica?"
"You have a fiancé, Sis. Is it okay to get that close... to him?"
"Get close? I was just talking to Aren."
"...Was that all?"
"Yep. That's it."
Sparks flew fiercely between the two women.
Veronica glared at Sarah with a chilliness that belied their sisterly bond, and Sarah's earlier warmth had vanished, replaced by icy detachment.
Her lips smiled, but her eyes didn't— a masked expression.
In that moment, Lydia, who'd been gauging the mood, let out a hiccup.
"Hic!"
Aren seized the brief disruption in their cold war to step in and defuse things.
'Nice hiccup.'
He'd pat Lydia's head wildly later.
Aren met Sarah's eyes directly.
"...Sarah-senpai. Do you have a fiancé?"
"......"
Only then did Sarah's gaze turn to him.
And.
"......I do have one."
She gave an ambiguous reply.