Forming the Club (1)
The weekend had passed, and weekdays returned once again. Yes, it was Monday. The day every office worker and student dreaded. Even in this fantasy world, Mondays were just as exhausting. I wanted nothing more than to stay in bed, but I couldn't afford to slack off.
I rose at the crack of dawn as usual and loosened up my body with some light exercises. Only then could I begin the day feeling refreshed. If nothing else, I had to stay consistent with my mana manipulation. Residual stats came from repeatedly performing certain actions to gain experience or clearing events. Stats were important, of course, but in a world where mana was everything, the ability to handle it properly mattered even more.
Last time I had relied on Mana Amplification to produce that level of power, but I needed to reach that same level of magic without depending on my trait. That was why the fundamentals were crucial. A solid foundation was necessary before tackling advanced techniques. In any case, the more you used mana, the larger its vessel grew—even if the increase was minuscule. "The beginning may be small, but the end will be great." Something like that, right?
Anyway, I circulated my mana while following the same route as always. By the time I finished the course, it was just before six. I returned to the dormitory, took a quick shower, and stepped back out. After roughly drying my wet hair with a towel, I used the new hair dryer I'd recently bought to thoroughly dry every strand. Then I put on my usual white dress shirt, black pants, and leather belt. Finally, I threw on my uniform jacket, slung my bag over my shoulder, and I was done.
Having finished all my preparations, I left the dormitory. The morning breeze no longer felt cold—it was refreshingly cool. The pink cherry blossom petals were gradually disappearing, replaced by fresh green leaves beginning to sprout. The bitter spring had ended, and a warm one had arrived. Well, none of that really changed anything for me.
I still only had a handful of friends: Elin, Ron, Lloyd, and Lucy. Though calling Lucy a friend felt somewhat ambiguous. In any case, there weren't many people on the streets yet. The shopkeepers were all outside preparing for the day, but few students were visible. It was Monday, after all. Everyone was probably tired from all the assignments and tests. They had every right to be exhausted.
After some time passed, I arrived at the classroom. "Looks like I'm first again today." Since I'd arrived early, I figured I might as well look for Silia. She's not here. No matter how much I searched, Silia was nowhere to be found. So I headed up to the rooftop. From there, you could see the students really well.
Looking down with that thought in mind, I saw students trudging toward the school building. They all had hair of every color imaginable—like a living rainbow. Anyway, I needed to find Silia. Her usual appearance featured the same black hair as mine. It should be easy to spot her from above. I scanned the area back and forth until I finally found her—a girl with black hair. Even from a distance, I could tell it was her.
Honestly, I'd called her my favorite character, but there wasn't a single character in the game I hadn't liked. As long as they weren't complete trash villains, every one of them had their own unique charm. There was no way I wouldn't recognize her. I hurried down from the rooftop.
Running into Silia a few days ago had been an extremely rare occurrence. She was like a legendary Pokémon—normally impossible to find. If I was going to seize this chance, it had to be now. I'd recruit her into the club and protect her from the sidelines. There was something awkward about saying I'd protect Silia when she was stronger than me, but still. Even I had to admit it was a perfect plan.
Elin was already in the club, and though she was technically a ghost member, Lucy was too. They were all good kids, so they'd definitely become close friends with Silia. Since she had trouble opening her heart to others, having good friends around her might help her smile again. Yes, it all started with making friends.
Normality wasn't such a big deal when you thought about it. Just having someone to talk to and someone to share meals with—that was what being normal meant. Of course, I knew it wouldn't be easy. Her trauma wouldn't wash away so simply. A nail driven into the heart couldn't be pulled out by someone else. Blood that stained your hands didn't come off easily. In the end, she would have to overcome it herself. My role was simply to stand by her side and help. To help her overcome her painful wounds, stand tall with pride, and smile like everyone else. Yes, that would be enough.
So, Silia—
"Join the club."
"Wow, I really don't want to."
She was a half-vampire hybrid. A skilled dark mage with exceptional talent and an enormous mana pool. As expected of someone like her, she attended Class B, which placed her in the middle ranks of the academy. Even within Class B there were distinctions, and she was in the mid-tier Class 2, but that didn't change the fact that she was a capable individual. That's why I'd been leaning against the hallway wall, waiting for her to arrive.
As I waited with my back against the wall, I could hear the passing students murmuring.
Hm. Scary-looking, huh? Do I really look that intimidating? That one actually hurt a bit. Anyway, when Silia came trudging along, I immediately invited her to join the club the moment I saw her.
"Just because of what happened on the weekend, do you think we're friends or something? Get lost while I'm asking nicely. Don't even pretend you know me."
Silia furrowed her left eyebrow and spoke to me in a grumbling tone. When she put it like that, I had nothing to say. Should I give up for today? No, I couldn't give up. If I couldn't get her to join the club, I had to think of some way—any way—to make it happen.
"Ha, I can't kill you because of the oath... damn it..."
"Don't bother me from the morning. Just hurry up and explain what this club thing is," she said with a sigh.
Was she giving me an opening?
"It's that kind of club."
"What kind of half-assed club is that? You're seriously asking me to join?"
The reaction was exactly the same. Both Lucy and Silia. Was it really that bad?
"Club? What are you talking about?"
Someone interrupted our conversation. A girl with brilliant silver hair and sea-blue eyes. Vern's former fiancée and the youngest daughter of the Isis family—Elisha Isis. She had suddenly popped out from behind us.
"Elisha?"
"Vern? A club? What are you talking about?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. I'm recruiting members to create a club."
"Who is this? Hey, who's this girl?"
Elisha completely ignored Silia's question and stubbornly continued speaking her mind.
"Vern, you're making a club? Why didn't you tell me?"
What the—? She suddenly appears and that's what she says? Elisha, you're already in a club, and we're supposed to be broken up. Things are awkward between us. After the practical training, it seemed like you were avoiding me, so I didn't mention it.
"Elisha, didn't you already join the Magic Club?"
"T-that's..."
"Besides, Elisha. Why are you even here? Aren't you in Class A?"
"I-I just got called by the teacher and was on my way back from the staff room when I happened—completely by chance, totally by co~incidence!—to spot you standing here, so I came over?"
"I see."
"...."
"In any case, since we've already broken off our engagement, inviting you to join my club would be uncomfortable for both of us."
"E-even so...! Ugh...!! Vern, why! Why are you only like this to me!"
W-what? Elisha suddenly started getting angry. What was going on?
....
The more I thought about it, the more furious I became. To me, who had grown up with him like a sibling, he immediately suggested breaking our engagement the moment we reunited. He kept meeting all these other girls. And now who was this?
"Ha..."
I pulled my head back and hid my body behind the wall again.
"...Vern."
Actually, I know. I know it all too well. That we're broken up. That we're strangers now. I recently found out. That you're no longer causing trouble, that you're studying hard, working part-time, and living diligently. Good. It's all good. I like that you're trying to change back to how you used to be.
But why do you speak so warmly to all those other girls while being so curt with me?
That's what I want to say, but I know. When you were struggling, I couldn't do anything for you and turned away. Even after entering the academy, I only thought about my family. Saying I was too busy to pay attention would just sound like an excuse... You were always there to comfort me whenever I was hurting, but I abandoned you just because I was having a hard time.
I know I have no right to say anything to you. But still... still. Seeing you talking so comfortably with other girls... it makes my chest feel... so tight....
Yes. This is all Vern's fault. Why are you only so cold to me and avoiding me? To think I'd be having these thoughts now... I really am pathetic. Last year I didn't care at all, but the moment you try to change a little, here I am thinking like this.
"Even if you can't cheer me on..."
As I tried to leave, Vern's voice reached my ears.
"Join the club."
What? A club? A cluuub? Wow, I'm so dumbfounded I can't even speak. Ha, seriously... Why didn't you tell me? Are we really just strangers now? I know I'm just finding fault, but... I need to go settle this.