Chapter 22
Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: I Hate Clubs (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"...Feeling better now?"
After patting her on the back for a good long while, Raysha finally nodded, her mood seemingly eased a bit. I glanced at Zenon to figure out just why she was crying, but he just shook his head like he had no clue either. Yeah, as if you'd know.
"Haa, seriously... How could this happen?"
"What happened?"
"It's about the club. Oh yeah, Aisha, I asked you before what you thought about joining a club. Have you decided yet?"
"Well... not really. Honestly, I haven't given clubs much thought."
"You just have to show up..."
"Ahaha..."
Truth be told, the whole club thing had come up so suddenly that I needed time to mull it over. I hadn't even settled on whether to join or not, and I had no idea what clubs were even available. Did I really need to dive in blindly?
Right now, though, my attention was hooked on the 'club issue' Raysha had grumbled about like a complaint. No way—were they still short on members? Sure enough, she griped that no one wanted to join. Magic was a kind of occult thing, pretty niche, so it made sense that interest was low, but...
"I can't accept it. Come on, they automatically log it in your student record if you just show up. We've got a full curriculum planned out, and it's not like we force activities on you like other clubs. Why...!"
"Magic's the problem, obviously..."
In a society full of superpowers, a club pursuing actual magic was niche even in the world I came from. Here, where superpowers were everywhere, chasing magic was basically pointless.
Even as a clueless student, I wouldn't pick the 'Magic' club. Professor Veronica's club was super famous, too. It was probably inevitable, but Raysha wouldn't accept it easily.
"What if you guys joined?"
"...I still need time to think."
"Tomorrow's the deadline...! What am I supposed to do?!"
...Haa. No real conversation happening here. Club formation deadline was tomorrow, apparently. Raysha seemed really attached to her club and was stressing over the lack of recruits. I got the situation, but I wasn't about to join out of pity alone.
"We'll talk later."
"Later when...?"
"I'll come find you tomorrow morning for sure. Okay?"
"...Yeah."
Only then did Raysha nod reluctantly. She was a grown adult—did I really have to coddle her like a kid?
"You joining a club?"
While I was soothing Raysha, Zenon—who'd stayed quiet—asked if I was joining a club. Nothing set in stone yet, so I shook my head. He nodded once and looked away. Would he join? He did in the original story, but things had derailed completely now—who knew.
"You?"
The guy tilted his head at my question, then stared right at me for a moment.
"...Why?"
"If you do, I will too."
"Gotta? What if I don't?"
"...Then I won't."
What was with him? He didn't seem to get clubs much, so maybe that explained it.
"Still... I should think about it. Got a bunch of invites."
"...But I'm not into the one Professor Veronica recommended."
"Me neither. Too intense—not my thing."
"...Good."
"Huh?"
"N-nothing."
I had no idea why he'd be relieved about skipping hers, but that wasn't the point right now. Since I'd gotten invites anyway, maybe I should check out the options. Frey probably knew all about it—she was clued in on that stuff. Just as I was about to head her way, a rumble in my stomach reminded me it was lunchtime. Hadn't I used lunch as an excuse earlier?
"Let's grab food. I'm starving."
"Lunchtime already."
"Yeah... we've been stuck here almost four hours."
What started as a quick chat dragged on for one hour, two, then four. Plus Raysha's venting. Classes skipped, lunchtime minutes away, Zenon and I trudged to the cafeteria with heavy steps.
"What's on the menu today?"
"Probably... spicy chicken stew."
"Ugh."
I didn't hate spicy chicken stew usually, but school versions? Different story. Chewy like sponge, barely seasoned slop—something to avoid.
...That's how it was back in my school days. This academy was a prestigious one, so maybe better?
"...Bland."
Even at a top school, cafeteria food was still meh. Diet tuned for student growth meant under-seasoned dishes. Not chewy, but so bland I couldn't taste much. Clack. I dropped my chopsticks mid-bite. Zenon glanced at me and spoke.
"Not eating?"
"Tastes bad."
"...Aisha, got a question."
"What?"
"Back with the professor—why didn't you mention Hera?"
Zenon looked puzzled, his face turning serious as he eyed me. Of course—if we'd told Professor Veronica that Hera Carmen was involved with those villains breaking in, she'd alert the media. Top Hero Edwin Carmen's reputation would tank, and Hera would face punishment.
But that assumed everything went perfectly—best-case scenario.
Hera's involvement was a fact only we two knew. No evidence. Media just called them mystery villains, no specifics. She'd used her powers totally differently from usual, so pinning it on her ability was tough. Millions used water-related powers—how to single her out?
Above all, Edwin Carmen's position was rock-solid. His daughter, symbol of justice against villains, teaming up for terrorism? Shocking, sure—but the shock might undermine credibility. No proof? Just rumors, and backlash could hit us instead.
We were just students. Needed to be thorough, airtight.
"...Something like that."
"Got it..."
Zenon nodded like he understood. Was that why he'd been quiet? I wanted to dump it on the professor and wash my hands, but too risky.
"Huu..."
Man, he ate a ton. I'd set my spoon down midway, but Zenon kept refilling and chowing down. How many? One, two... After counting past ten fingers, I just stared blankly.
"That all fits?"
"I eat a lot."
A lot was an understatement. Waiting longer would make us late, so I stood to go ahead. Mid-bite, Zenon urgently spoke up.
"Where?"
"Heading out first. Class in five."
"...I'll hurry. Go together."
His expression looked so earnest I sat back down. He scarfed the rest.
"Done."
The food mountain vanished. He stood casually. I gawked stupidly as he scratched his head and mumbled.
"...That was light eating for me."
"Sigh."
Couldn't nag about eating, so I sighed. He scooted closer with a sorry look. Been sticking close lately... Testing, I pulled ahead. Moments later, he was beside me again.
"...Zenon."
"Yeah?"
"You keep sticking to my side?"
"...Nah, you're imagining it."
Even matching my stride while saying that—I gave up. No clue why, but obsessing would just give me a headache. Ignoring it and looking ahead, Zenon spoke cautiously.
"...Stick with me from now on."
"What outta nowhere?"
"You got hurt. Because of me."
He glanced at my neck. Yesterday's wound from the villain fight... Bandaged, barely visible, but he fixated, continuing.
"...Scary."
His red lips trembled briefly. Blue eyes shook like the last leaf on a dry branch. They held my full reflection. When his gaze hit the wound, the shaking intensified.
"Worried someone else'll get hurt because of me. That you'll get hurt when I'm not there."
Zenon was anxious. Probably flashing back to his childhood—countless people hurt or dead because of him, projecting onto me.
...I get it.
That feeling of losing someone precious, chained to the memory, desperate not to lose more. I'd lived it endlessly, grown numb. Honestly, I didn't buy that he was protecting me.
I was way stronger than him still. If anyone's protecting, it'd be me. Didn't want him guarding me. But I knew that heart. Even if someone said they didn't need protecting. Watching someone hurt because of you—pure horror.
I reached out, tilting his face to meet my eyes squarely.
"Zenon, trust me."
"...But."
"Zenon."
What to call our bond? From my old view: protagonist and main heroine. Now? Just crossed paths, stopped a fight, got dragged in. No label—maybe add one?
Heroine? No way. Side character? Worse. Friend? That works.
"We're friends. So trust me."
That should be fine.
Wiping the tears streaming from his flushed eyes, I thought so.