Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: First Club Meeting and Shopping
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"Uh...?"
"Huh...?"
It was a small classroom—or more accurately, a plain room that felt closer to an ordinary space than a typical one equipped with desks and a blackboard.
Still, it was one of the academy's classrooms. More precisely, one of the club rooms.
We had all gathered together in that cramped little club room.
Business Planning Club... it was the first meeting of the club I had created. Of course, I hadn't really done much myself?
"Everyone probably already knows each other roughly, but how about we do some self-introductions and greetings just this once?"
To ease the awkwardness, confusion, and surprise among the club members, I decided to take the lead.
I didn't usually handle this kind of thing... but they all still seemed too dazed to get started...
"I'm Camellia Leonhardt, the club leader here. Um... Sister, would you like to go next?"
"Y-Yes...! Um... I'm... Karen Rosaki...!"
"Yep~"
I clapped and responded enthusiastically to Karen's short, curt, and shy introduction.
For an introvert like her, even that much was a real effort.
"I'm Ella Niesista. This club came about because of this person somehow... but anyway, nice to meet everyone."
Ella introduced herself plainly and smoothly.
"Grace Rosaki. Karen's little sister."
Grace did it with an obvious air of displeasure.
"I'm Ivana Nordal. Looking forward to a good semester with you all."
Ivana Nordal's introduction was straightforward and sharp.
Though she delivered it with a completely blank expression?
Anyway, it was our first club meeting and first round of introductions. Of course, most of us already knew each other without needing them, and nearly everyone here was somewhat famous at the academy.
It felt awkward, but this was a necessary step to get things moving.
"The name sounds grand, but it's really nothing special. After classes end at the academy, we hang out, have fun together, and just write up a casual report. That's it."
I jumped straight into the main topic.
"You can do whatever you want... eat desserts at a dessert cafe, study some cool magic, practice fancy swordsmanship—anything goes. As long as you tie it to a 'business plan,' you can submit pretty much whatever."
It was exactly the kind of club where if it hung from your nose, it was a nose ring; if from your ear, an earring.
If you played around with anything remotely related to swordsmanship, just come up with a business plan tied to a swordsmanship tournament and submit that.
Lounge around on a nice bed—sit, lie down, roll about—then organize its pros and cons into a plan for an even better bed.
You could really do whatever.
"Basically, we'll meet up after academy classes to do activities. Participation isn't mandatory at all. Some of you are only here because I asked, after all?"
I said this while looking at Grace and Ivana.
No matter the process, I hoped they'd join in, but I wasn't about to force anyone who didn't want to.
"What do you think?"
"Hmph... who said I wasn't going to?"
"I've joined, so I plan to participate actively."
"Ooh..."
How nice of them?
Hm.
The way I'd roped them in made me think they'd refuse or get mad, but they stated their intentions so normally that I was a bit surprised.
Were they living up to their pretty, cute faces after all?
Though... saying that, both Grace and Ivana seemed a little odd.
"Anyway, how about we do our first activity right now, since we're all here?"
"What are we doing? You."
"Hm... I've been thinking. Doesn't the club room feel too drab, boring... and just empty?"
I said this while looking around at everyone.
All the club room had were... several chairs and one long table, unlike the ones used in academy classes. That was it.
No blackboard, no clock yet... it was lacking in every way.
"How about we go shopping to decorate? I'll cover the costs for sprucing up the club room."
I said this with a smile.
I'm the club leader, so decisions like this should be fine, right?
Besides, no one seemed ready to throw out ideas on the first day anyway.
With nothing but pretty, cute girls around, I thought the club might proceed in a warm, lively atmosphere... but it looks like we'll need a bit more time.
*
It felt like the first time I'd come to a furniture store since buying stuff to decorate my dormitory room way back when.
Even then, the room was too small to go all out, but I'd made some decent purchases.
"Sister, what are you thinking of buying?"
"The club room's so drab... I was thinking of getting some stuffed animals and stuff...!"
"That sounds cute. Should we grab a sofa or bed while we're at it?"
"Is that okay...?"
"Sure."
Decorating the club room was entirely up to us.
I'd heard that the magic club turned theirs into pitch-black darkness like some cult of darkness, and the swordsmanship club stored dozens of swords inside theirs.
So judging that cute decorations would be no issue at all. I hated the stiff table and chairs as they were anyway.
"Besides, the club room's basically... half—no, almost entirely—just a place to hang out and relax, right?"
"Ah."
"So we can really decorate however we want. That's why I've been looking around for beds, blankets, duvets, pillows, and all that."
"That sounds great...!"
"You think so?"
"Yeah, the chairs in our academy classes are pretty hard... sitting for long hurts!"
"Hehe, true. And pairing it with your cute stuffed animals for decoration would be perfect, right?"
"It'd look amazing...!"
After chatting with Karen like that, I turned toward Grace, who was lurking a bit away, peeking over at us.
I'd planned to go rest with Ella, but teasing Grace sounded too fun.
"Hm...?"
"...What. Again. Why. What are you looking at?"
"Hm... pfft..."
"Why are you laughing...!"
"Just 'cause you're funny, Grace?"
The second I approached Grace, she bared her teeth like an angry cat. It was pretty amusing.
I hadn't even done anything, so why was she like this?
All I'd done earlier was talk with Karen—nothing else.
"You seem to really like Older Sister Karen, Grace?"
"So?"
"Hm..."
"Hmph."
Did she like my reaction?
Grace's expression softened into a slight smile.
"Hm... Do you know what Older Sister Karen's planning to buy, Grace?"
"...What?"
"I just chatted back and forth with her, so I know. Were you wondering too?"
"So... what."
"Hmm...? You don't know? For real?"
She didn't have to dodge the question so obviously, but her evasion made it clear she had no idea.
So I closed right in on Grace and asked.
I bent at the waist a bit, looking up at her face from below, teasingly.
"No way... Grace, Karen's own little sister? You have no idea what Karen's going to buy...? No, it can't be that, right? Hehe, surely not?"
I kept up the sly smile and kept provoking her right in front of her face.
It wasn't because I disliked Grace... it's just that she gave such delicious reactions to stuff like this?
I really had no choice.
Honestly... if she wanted to shut me down, she should've given a boring response.
"Hm... Want me to tell you?"
"...What?"
"Should I?"
"........."
I felt a little bad for teasing her too much, and in the end, she'd be a friend to enjoy the club with?
For some reason, Grace really disliked me, but I wanted us to get along a bit better than this constant bickering.
Even if we squabbled, I wanted to be at least a little closer.
"...What is it."
"Should I tell you?"
"...Tell me."
"She said she's just getting stuffed animals? Cute ones."
"Th-That so...?"
"Yeah."
"I see... then I'll..."
She was even easier to handle than I'd thought, which was kinda funny.
Up until moments ago, she'd been hissing like crazy, but the second I brought up Karen... she changed completely.
The way her mouth corners twitched up, trying to form a silly smile—it was kinda like Karen in that moment.
"Hehe..."
"...What."
"I told you something you'd like, Grace, but your reaction's so cold. Kinda sad..."
"So what. I already knew that much? That my sister likes cute stuff...!"
"Really?"
It'd been like this before, and today too... dealing with Grace seemed simpler than expected.
Getting closer would probably be way easier too.
"Anyway, go ahead and pick carefully?"
"I'd do that without you telling me?!"
"Yess~"
After that exchange, I set off to find the next person.
We could pick sofas and beds together at the end anyway—and I was especially curious what Nordal was up to right now.
I wandered the store looking for Nordal, and eventually reached a quiet corner with hardly any customers.
She wasn't anywhere else, so she had to be here.
Though I doubted she'd be into...
"...Um, Lady Nordal?"
"Yes."
"Uh... um... th-that..."
I was flustered.
Maybe even more than during Grace's sniping earlier or Nordal's sudden duel challenge.
No, I really hadn't expected this...
"Bear skin rug, stuffed deer head decoration... you're getting all this for the club room?"
"Yes."
"Uh... what else are you planning to buy? You've been hovering around this area for a bit."
"For now, I'm thinking of that wolf fang necklace up there."
"...Ah, I see."
Hm.
Is this just how northerners' tastes run?
When I'd once asked Nordal if all northerners were fast and strong... she'd said yes.
But this particular taste—pretty far from what most girls like—I had no clue about...