Of the three conditions, the simplest was naturally achieving results in official competitions.
With the abilities of Rin Seino and Watanabe Tetsu, all that was really missing was a competition happening at just the right time.
However, perhaps many had already forgotten, so it was worth restating the purpose of the Human Observation Club:
As the name suggests, the Human Observation Club—founded single-handedly by Rin Seino—focused its activities on observing how humans changed or reacted under certain circumstances.
So far, the club had carried out three activities:
Deliberately provoking the Literature Club;
Helping students needing make-up exams, temporarily raising their deviation scores by 40 points;
Watanabe Tetsu, under Rin's various tactical schemes, resisting falling in love with her.
The purpose of these activities? Completely unknown.
Though unclear-purpose organizations were common, and clubs with flashy names that did something entirely different were even more so.
For instance, the Light Music Club, always sipping tea; the Classical Literature Club, obsessed with puzzles; the Modern Culture Research Club, which actually only read manga and light novels; and the Service Club, dedicated to seeking "real objects."
Those clubs, however, either coincidentally engaged in activities aligned with the school spirit or indirectly held influence over the student council.
The Human Observation Club, in any regard, didn't meet the requirements.
Which left only one solution: increase membership.
"How about recruiting two more members?" Watanabe Tetsu suggested.
"If they're of observational value, I have no objections," Rin replied.
Therein lay the difficulty.
"Anyway, let's just put up recruitment flyers first. With the Human Observation Club's reputation, plenty of people will want to join, right? We can pick slowly from there."
"I've been recruiting new members to satisfy the school's club-formation requirements, but the only qualified person is you," Rin sighed, clearly disappointed in Shinagawa Academy.
She continued, "What's worse, there used to be occasional interviews, but after the recent exams, no one has come at all."
"Did you do anything… perverse to them?"
"Watanabe-kun, think before you speak. It makes you look less ignorant, and it's better for your life too."
"Well, that's strange."
Third day of Rin Seino's period. Fine. No investigation, no right to speak—this timing method would end here.
Wednesday.
After fourth period, Osamu Kunii and Keisuke Saito moved their desks over and joined Watanabe Tetsu's, and the three of them ate lunch together—either homemade bentos or milk bread from the convenience store.
They had already been banned from the corridor windows.
Not just them: ever since Kunii had mentioned the three of them watching the girls' collars in the courtyard from the window, the disciplinary committee member with the surname Kurosawa forbade any male from leaning against the corridor windows during lunch.
Even though there was nothing to see.
While eating, Tetsu brought up the matter of club recruitment.
"I saw some discussion about this on the campus forum," Keisuke said.
"Tell me," Tetsu perked up. If he could find the cause, there was always a solution.
"Your three-person Human Observation Club… acting alone is fine, but when you're together, outsiders feel it's hard to fit in."
"Why?" Tetsu asked, puzzled.
They weren't such a tightly-knit group that a fourth person couldn't join—they weren't close at all. In fact, their dynamics could be described as… harsh.
"Tetsu, at least be self-aware," Kunii said, taking a big bite of fried pork cutlet.
"Hm?"
Keisuke explained, "You three are standard handsome and beautiful students, top three in academics, with a 40-point gap from fourth place."
"Just because of that?"
"Just? Isn't that enough?!"
"Is this… a clash of values?" Tetsu muttered. "I just can't understand people who aren't good-looking or who don't have good grades."
"Die, handsome guy!"
Faced with the two glaring at him, Tetsu felt completely innocent.
He had good grades and looked good, but when interacting with people, he never factored that in.
Personally, he didn't care if his friends were smart or attractive—what mattered was getting along.
He didn't understand how women chose friends, but from his perspective, male friendships worked like that, mostly.
After school, Tetsu relayed their conversation to Rin Seino in the activity room. She didn't look surprised at all.
Sipping her own brewed tea, she said, "It's natural for people to feel inferior when facing me. Not everyone is loved by the majority like I am, and no one else will ever be more honest than I am."
"Ah… that makes sense," Tetsu realized.
"What?"
"That you're too honest."
"You guys lie too much," Rin shot back.
"Doesn't matter," Tetsu said. "Because you're honest like a mirror, reflecting everyone and everything as they truly are. But everyone has parts they don't want discovered, so naturally, they don't want to stare at your mirror for too long."
"I don't dislike that mirror analogy," Rin smiled faintly.
"I'm not complimenting you—don't misunderstand," Tetsu said.
Rin glared at him in disapproval.
"Let's say that's one reason no one's interviewing. We should prepare for the second and third conditions too," she said, chin resting on her hand, thinking.
"Honestly, Human Observation activities can only be done in comedy variety shows. There's no way we can achieve official competition results."
"This is social research," Rin corrected.
"Depends how you look at it," Tetsu said casually, pulling the unprocessed student council notice from the drawer.
Rin's expression stiffened. "I may need to reassess your academic ability."
"Yes, yes," Tetsu said, still half-distracted, pointing to the third condition on the notice:
"Activities must be made tangible and visible, and approved by the supervising teacher."
"For instance, helping Aoi Ichiki with her love life?"
"Club activities aren't meant for that," Tetsu said.
"Or participating in the Literature Club's essay contest again?"
"Can't keep bothering them," Tetsu replied. Especially since they colluded with the News Club, and he couldn't resort to force.
"Then help a club that can't achieve results in official competitions win the championship."
The championship… If possible, Tetsu hoped Rin could teach him how to remain humble even when extremely capable.
"First of all, before even trying to win, are you sure helping another club achieve results in an official competition will prevent the Human Observation Club from being dissolved?"
"Better than waiting in the activity room for new members to show up," Tetsu shrugged.
"Fair enough," Rin agreed. "Then… which club to help?"
A knock interrupted them.
"Come in," Rin called.
"Sorry to bother you," Aoi Ichiki and Asako Hanada entered, one after the other.