It was the second day of Rin Seino's period—at least, that's what Watanabe Tetsu assumed—when a letter appeared on the old Zelkova wood table in the Human Observation Club's activity room.
Something about it felt suspicious.
Of course, this wasn't a time when everyone had a phone in hand. So why would someone write a letter? That alone was strange.
Perhaps for many people nowadays, they might never see a handwritten letter in their life. Yet for Rin Seino and Watanabe Tetsu, no matter how modest they were, they each received at least one a day on average.
What was really suspicious was that only two people had the keys to the activity room: Aona Koizumi and Rin Seino.
And neither of them had any reason to write a letter.
"Did someone climb in through the window?"
Rin Seino gave him a look that said he was an idiot. "This is the fifth floor."
"That's true," Tetsu nodded noncommittally.
Technically, he could have done it.
With the agility from his freestyle combat training, steadily increasing strength, and the courage gained from haunted houses and roller coasters (to be verified), moving along rooftops like Jackie Chan was no problem at all.
But if he admitted it—or, worse, demonstrated it—his attempt to sneak into the girls' changing room would be completely confirmed.
For now, silence was golden.
"Doesn't look like a love letter either," Tetsu said, looking at the plain white envelope.
"Why?"
"Experience."
Even after he had declared his love to Yuki Miki in the school courtyard, facing all the teachers and students, letters shoved into his shoe locker were still part of daily life.
Tetsu occasionally wondered—if he published the names of those who sent letters, Shinagawa Academy would probably collapse.
After all, sending letters to boys with girlfriends would surely earn scorn from peers and society, maybe even force a transfer.
Of course, he would never do that.
If he were that kind of malicious person, by now he'd have enough girlfriends to fill a whole class—and endless points to spend. But that was just a fantasy.
The real Watanabe Tetsu had already been "sunk" into Tokyo Bay by Yuki Miki.
Sure, he was training seriously—ten laps back and forth in a fifty-meter pool every day—hoping it would be useful someday. But in his imagination, at most he could jump in to save someone.
Surviving in Tokyo Bay alone? Not part of his plan.
Still, considering Yuki Miki's personality, he figured he should aim for being able to swim back from the Pacific—Tokyo Bay being just the bay's mouth.
"Seems like men and women have very different aesthetics for envelopes," Rin Seino remarked.
"You mean… a boy has sent you a letter in one of these?"
"Not sure. I didn't read it. Could've been a death threat, for all I know."
Tetsu once again felt that Rin Seino was truly honest. Most people would instinctively assume it was a love letter.
It probably wasn't a death threat anyway.
"Then this letter must be for you," Tetsu concluded hastily, preparing to return to his seat and continue studying Spanish.
Learning a foreign language, understanding the rules, and gradually mastering them felt increasingly smooth—it was like leveling up in a game, gaining experience points every day.
He was a little addicted to the feeling.
"Come back," Rin said curtly.
"My minister, it's just a letter. Isn't it fine to handle it however I want?"
"This isn't about the recipient. Watanabe-kun, as a recognized official member of the Human Observation Club, you are responsible for the security of this activity room."
"Then I quit."
Tetsu considered joining the Calligraphy Club or Keisuke Saito's Computer Research Club instead.
Practicing calligraphy or learning computer skills—either would be fine.
Rin Seino gave her signature faint smile, utterly devoid of humor.
"Whether you quit or not is your choice. But if you are not a member of the Human Observation Club, I will no longer be responsible for keeping secrets or protecting you from being deceived."
Surrender.
Tetsu picked up the letter and tore it open.
Rin stepped back two paces, as if the paper were poisoned. "Be careful."
The paper inside was just as plain as the envelope, like custom stationery from some company.
After reading it, Tetsu handed it toward Rin. "As expected, it's for you."
Rin didn't take it, just looked at it in place.
After a moment, she said, "It's for you."
"No, no, no, it's definitely for you."
"Watanabe-kun, as a club member, this kind of thing should be easy for you to handle, right?"
"Rin-san… that expression of yours—you're basically saying 'I believe in you, work hard, and I'll promote you to club president next year,' aren't you?"
"President? Hah," Rin scoffed, coldly amused. "From now on, you are vice president. I authorize you to handle this entirely."
"…."
In real life, vice president is indeed above a section chief, but in this club… there were only three members, and the other one was Yuki Miki—not someone to provoke lightly.
Tetsu sighed. "Rin-san, you're not joking, right?"
"I only joke without lying," Rin said, flashing a smile that could conquer every boy in the school.
Whenever she smiled genuinely, Tetsu felt even more certain he could never smile casually around her. Nine out of ten points on charm at nine o'clock in the morning… could he be a succubus by ten? Male succubus, perhaps? Just in case, put an elf in second place.
Snapping out of his daydream, Tetsu read the letter again:
Student Council Notice:
The club must have five or more members;
The club must achieve results in official competitions;
Club activities must be made tangible and visible, and approved by the supervising teacher.
Clubs that fail to meet any of the above criteria must improve within the designated period. Failure to show improvement will result in immediate dissolution.
Only one of the three conditions needed to be met for the club to survive.
Clearly, this notice was targeted at the Human Observation Club!
According to the school rules, one of the conditions for establishing a club is having at least five members.
"Easy for you, right?" Tetsu said. "You started this club before—just handle it like that."
"Starting the Human Observation Club was the school's idea. I didn't do anything."
The gap was too big.
Tetsu nearly cried. Why, when he didn't join a club, did the school worry about how to fix things for him, but when it was Rin Seino, they thought about creating a club she liked?
It had to be her grades. Surely.
Tetsu decided to continue believing the world was fair and prepared to study even harder.
"Why don't you just talk to the principal?" he suggested, trusting in fairness.
"Watanabe-kun, there's something I must state."
"Hm?"
Rin straightened her subtly rising chest. "All my life, I have never used my status as the Seino heiress. Everything I have achieved, I earned myself."
"But you could use it."
"I won't."
"You could use it."
"I won't."
"Now is a matter of life and death for the club, Chief Rin!"
Rin lifted her long hair and flashed Watanabe Tetsu an angelic smile. "Time to test your abilities, Vice President Watanabe."