"Komari, get up quickly!"
Yanami Anna snapped back to reality and hurriedly stepped forward to help Komari Chika up.
"We are also members of the Literature Club, we definitely won't just stand by and watch. Komari, you don't need to mind it so much."
It was Elf's first time being pleaded with via a dogeza. Finding it quite novel, she commented from the side:
"That's right, the highest sincerity of an apology isn't a dogeza, but revealing your..."
Before she could finish, Elf suddenly widened her eyes and frantically raised her hands to cover her mouth.
"What's wrong, Elf?"
Yanami looked over in confusion.
"It feels like someone is watching me, I suddenly got a bone-chilling feeling..." Elf's voice was tense. "It feels like the cen..."
"Stop talking." Yanami hurriedly covered Elf's mouth. "Skip this topic."
"..."
Izumi Sora didn't speak rashly, nor did he rashly step forward to help her up. He merely closed the door silently behind his back to prevent anyone from seeing.
If someone happened to pass by the door and saw the current scene... they would definitely suspect it was a bullying scene, right?
"I-I'm sorry..."
Under Yanami's comforting, Komari Chika finally stood up, her small face flushed red, apologizing shyly.
Performing a dogeza on an impulse was originally meant to express apology and gratitude, but looking at it now, it seemed to have somewhat backfired.
"Don't worry, Komari. Leave it to us."
Yanami Anna gave a thumbs-up, her voice crisp and bright, her tone firm:
"We are locked into this favor. We definitely won't let Komari fight this battle alone."
'Inmate Eight' naturally had a warmhearted personality. Encountering a girl like Komari who did a dogeza at the drop of a hat, she was even less able to stand idly by.
Elf crossed her arms over her chest, proudly lifting her chin:
"Next time you need our help with something, you can just say it directly. No need to hover around for so long."
Izumi Sora stepped over, sat down at the table, and took out a pen and paper:
"There's still over half a month until the School Festival. Time is relatively ample, but it's better to do this sooner rather than later. We can discuss the club activity content right now."
To put Komari Chika's mind at ease, the effect of verbal promises was far inferior to actual actions.
"T-Thank you, Izumi-kun..."
Komari Chika couldn't help but cast a grateful look.
The girls all sat down, kicking off the first club meeting.
"How about running a BBQ stall?" Yamada Elf raised her hand to propose, her voice crisp. "The food Sora makes is very delicious."
"Veto."
Yanami Anna interlaced her fingers, propping up her chin, adopting the standard posture of a commander:
"Based on past experience, the club activity must have a certain degree of compatibility with the club itself. We are the Literature Club. If we go sell BBQ, we definitely won't pass the student council's review."
"That's not necessarily true." Yamada Elf's gaze shifted, looking towards Izumi Sora. "We have a very good relationship with Tiara. If we ask nicely, Tiara might be flexible."
"You're overthinking it." Hearing this, Izumi Sora looked at Elf and stated his view. "Tiara-san strictly separates public and private matters. She won't refuse small private requests, but wanting her to provide a backdoor—she definitely won't agree to that."
"Well, I'm entering meditation mode..."
Yanami switched postures, extending two fingers, imitating Ikkyu-san's action, pressing her fingers against her temples:
"An activity that must be compatible with the Literature Club... Ah, I thought of it!"
After thinking seriously for a moment, 'Inmate Eight's' eyes lit up, and she said in a crisp voice:
"We can hold a small science popularization class!"
Hearing this, Izumi Sora looked over:
"Give us the details."
"The goal of the activity is to shorten the distance between ordinary people and literary figures." Yanami Anna's eyes sparkled brightly, her voice excited. "The public figures in literary history are all glamorous, but it always feels like they're too far away from us, not real enough."
"But if we can know some of their little hobbies, they will suddenly feel much closer to us."
"For example, Murakami-sensei has a collecting addiction, likes jazz, is a standard cat slave, and so on, and only then is he a novelist."
"Also, also, ordinary people all like to snoop on other people's little quirks, it gives a special sense of satisfaction, it will definitely be very popular... What does Sora think?"
Izumi Sora feigned shock, looking over:
"Yanami is simply a genius beautiful girl."
"Ehehe~"
Hearing the praise, the ahoge on top of 'Inmate Eight's' head instantly wagged happily.
Izumi Sora interlaced his fingers, adding:
"Just simple popularization isn't very effective at closing the distance. We can collect some old items from famous literary figures, and shorten the distance through actual physical contact with these old items."
Hearing this, Yanami Anna pursed her pink lips, somewhat hesitant:
"That kind of thing must be very expensive, right?"
Izumi Sora shook his head:
"Old items aren't cultural relics, they should be available on secondhand websites. If we request sincerely, perhaps we won't need to buy them, renting them would be enough."
"Leave it to me." Yamada Elf crossed her arms over her chest, lifting her pretty chin, her voice proud. "I'll solve the old items issue."
Yanami Anna continued to analyze:
"Although we have real objects, the interactivity is still low... How about a Gacha Q&A?"
"On the day of the School Festival, students participating in the activity can draw from a gacha machine for free. Inside the gacha are Q&A slips. As for the content... hmm, we'll think about that slowly later. As long as someone answers the question correctly, they can receive a free gift."
Elf nodded gently: "The gifts don't need to be too expensive, cookies or small cakes will do."
"I have a very good relationship with the cooking club." Yanami Anna raised her right hand, her voice crisp. "I can borrow the kitchen to make cookies."
"..."
With everyone chipping in, they quickly finalized the format and content of the club activity.
However, Komari Chika ultimately had to give the final say, as she was the club's true leader.
"Komari, what do you think of the activity? Are there any places that need modification, or any new ideas?"
Yanami Anna turned to look over, asking for Komari's opinion.
"I..."
Komari Chika parted her pink lips, her eyes misty, feeling incredibly fortunate that she had mustered the courage to find Izumi Sora.
If she were by herself, it would have been completely impossible for her to come up with such a good activity plan.
Even if she could think of it, she wouldn't have the means to execute it alone, right?
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Komari Chika reached out to push back her chair, deciding to properly express her thanks.
A dogeza easily scares people, so she could only do a deep ninety-degree bow.
"...Thank you, everyone!"
Komari Chika closed her eyes, clenched her fists tightly against her chest, and raised her volume as much as possible:
"T-The activity plan is very good!"
Yanami Anna coughed lightly twice, her voice urgent:
"Komari, stop talking, hurry up and stand straight."
"Eh?"
Yamada Elf blurted out the truth from the side: "Komari, you're exposing yourself!"
"Ehhhhh?"
Komari Chika blankly tilted her small face up, only then realizing what was going on. She frantically covered her chest, her entire person practically emitting steam.
It was already the sweltering summer, and everyone had changed into the lightweight summer uniforms. A deep ninety-degree bow inevitably resulted in exposure.
"Sora, hurry up and say something."
Yanami reached out her right hand and poked Izumi Sora's waist.
Izumi Sora silently averted his gaze, his expression composed, his tone calm:
"Don't worry, I didn't see anything."
This was a lie.
But even though he saw it, it was as if he hadn't.
Komari, whose 'banquet' size meant she could only sit at the elementary schoolers' table, was completely incapable of making a gaze linger.
"Shoo, shoo, shoo~"
Seeing that Komari Chika was already too embarrassed to speak, Yanami Anna quickly waved her hand to chase him away:
"Sora, go out first. We'll stay behind to discuss the details of the club activity with Komari. You just need to be responsible for doing the work."
Izumi Sora waved his hand:
"Then I'll head out first."
Yamada Elf, on the other hand, put her hands on her hips:
"Idiot Sora, you're not allowed to sneak off. We're going home together later."
"Got it."
"..."
Stepping out of the club activity room, a refreshing summer breeze blew by, making Izumi Sora narrow his eyes slightly.
"I'll go to the restroom..."
Izumi Sora checked the time on his phone, turned, and walked towards the end of the hallway.
After taking care of his hygienic needs and conveniently buying a can of chilled oolong tea, Izumi Sora was just about to go back and wait for Elf and Yanami when his ears suddenly twitched. He heard two familiar voices coming from the stairs above.
"Finally found a chance to vent. Locking those two in the sports storeroom is just an appetizer. There will be plenty of ways to make them regret it in the future."
"Um... the weather is so hot, locking them in the sports storeroom won't cause any problems, right?"
"What are you afraid of? Even if something really does go wrong, no one knows we were the ones who secretly closed the door."
"That's true. Also, that Misaki girl, and that first-year boy, none of them will get away! Making us lose so much face, this grudge must be avenged!"
"That boy is very famous right now. I heard he's unclearly involved with several girls in the school. We can target the girls around him."
"..."
The two girls spoke in low voices as they passed by Izumi Sora.
Watching the two leave, Izumi Sora quietly ended his invisibility, frowning slightly.
"It's the two delinquent girls who bullied Misaki-senpai..."
"Who is locked in the sports storeroom?"
"The so-called first-year boy... are they actually talking about me?"
"As expected, the school's punishment was completely painless for them and had no educational effect at all. It will only make them harbor resentment..."
Izumi Sora remained expressionless, turning and walking towards the sports field.
He hadn't taken the previous punishment results to heart, because before the Sports Festival, he didn't even know Misaki-senpai, so naturally, he had no emotional attachment.
But now, those two delinquent girls not only started to resent him, but even wanted to bully Yanami and the others...
A flash of piercing coldness crossed Izumi Sora's eyes.
Possessing a lethal weapon naturally gives rise to murderous intent.
For an instant just now, Izumi Sora even had the impulse to sink them to the bottom of Tokyo Bay.
"Phew..."
Izumi Sora took a deep breath, calming himself down.
Cannot be impulsive.
Although he currently mastered several abilities, he was still a long way from 'not eating beef' (being untouchable/all-powerful).
So he should use milder methods and make those two delinquent girls 'voluntarily' drop out of school.
A moment later.
Izumi Sora had already arrived outside the door of the sports storeroom.
On the doors, a broom happened to be wedged between the handles of the two double doors, clearly the revenge handiwork of the delinquent girls.
Izumi Sora reached out, pulled out the broom, and pushed the door open to enter the storeroom. He instantly felt a wave of heat hit his face.
The sports storeroom was located at the sports field, mainly used to store various sports equipment. Naturally, it wouldn't have air conditioning, so the temperature inside could be imagined.
Before long, Izumi Sora quickly spotted two girls sitting in the corner.
"Tiara... and Yumeko-senpai?"
Izumi Sora instantly recognized their identities.
Back then in the teacher's office, the teacher had originally intended to smooth things over, but Tiara had argued strongly, resulting in the two delinquent girls receiving the punishment of writing reflection letters and paying compensation.
Very clearly.
Because of this matter, Tiara was targeted and hated.
As for why Yumeko-senpai was there, it could be a case of 'hating the house and its crow' (guilt by association), or she might just be collateral damage.
"S-Sora...?"
Shikiya Yumeko looked up, half-open eyes, expressionless, and feebly raised her right hand towards Izumi Sora:
"Hurry... come over..."
Go over for what?
Both of you are completely disheveled, how can you have the nerve to ask a boy to approach!
That's right.
Shikiya Yumeko and Tiara were both currently in a disheveled state.
Presumably because the sports storeroom was too hot, the two girls had already unbuttoned their outer shirts.
Shikiya Yumeko was a bit better, only unbuttoning her shirt, revealing a pale pink bra. The girl's snow-white skin was completely exposed.
Tiara was even more exaggerated. Her outer shirt was completely taken off, leaving only a bra. Although her skin wasn't dazzlingly white like Yumeko-senpai's, it was full of healthy vitality...
"Wait, something's not right."
Izumi Sora swiftly raised his eyebrows.
Yumeko-senpai had a weak sense of shame; taking off her clothes in the heat was normal. But Tiara clearly had a conservative and shy personality. Why would she take her shirt completely off?
"Tiara... her forehead is very hot..." Shikiya Yumeko's voice was weak, though her speech was noticeably faster than usual, clearly worried about her friend's health. "Seems like... heatstroke..."
"Heatstroke?"
Hearing this, Izumi Sora's expression turned serious, and he decisively stepped forward.
So that's how it is.
Yumeko-senpai was a 'cold-blooded animal', very afraid of the cold and quite tolerant of heat. Tiara, however, couldn't handle it. Unable to withstand the heat of the sports storeroom, coupled with suspected heatstroke, that was why she took off her shirt.
Quickly walking up to the two girls, Izumi Sora half-crouched and reached out to touch Tiara's forehead:
"Forehead is very hot, face flushed red... these are indeed symptoms of heatstroke."
After saying this, Izumi Sora looked down at the chilled oolong tea in his hand, decisively using the bottle to touch Tiara's forehead.
"Mmm..."
Tiara jolted, groggily opening her eyes, and happened to see the chilled oolong tea in Izumi Sora's hand:
"Water, water..."
Hearing this, Izumi Sora hesitated slightly:
"I've drunk from this bottle. How about we leave the storeroom first, and then I'll buy you guys some drinks?"
Just as his voice fell, a snow-white, slender hand reached over and took the drink from Izumi Sora's hand.
Shikiya Yumeko twisted open the cap, tilted her head back, took a sip, and said expressionlessly:
"Lost... traveler... in the desert... let alone drinks... even urine is fine..."
Hey, hey, what on earth are you talking about!
Tiara just has heatstroke, she hasn't reached that point, alright!
After drinking a mouthful, Shikiya Yumeko tilted her head towards her friend:
"Tiara... a drink Sora has drunk from... do you want it?"
Tiara's consciousness was already blurred by this point. She subconsciously murmured in reply:
"I-I want it..."
"Here."
Shikiya Yumeko brought the drink in her hand to Tiara's lips.
The cool scent of the drink wafted into her nose, helping Tiara recover a bit of strength. She hurriedly grabbed the bottle with both hands and drank impatiently.
Gulp gulp~
The remaining oolong tea was downed by Tiara in one breath.
The ice-cold drink quickly took away a massive amount of heat. Tiara's eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes. Her consciousness was no longer as blurred as before:
"I-Izumi-kun...?"
"Don't speak yet." Izumi Sora reminded her softly. "The storeroom doors are open. You girls put your clothes on properly first, and then leave the storeroom as quickly as possible."
"Eh?"
Tiara blinked blankly, looked down, and only then realized she was only wearing her underwear. She hurriedly raised her hands to cover her chest in shame.
(I-I've been seen completely naked...!)
(Right, what did Yumeko-senpai say just now?)
(The oolong tea just now seems to be a drink Izumi-kun drank from...)
At this thought, the girl's sense of shame instantly overflowed.
(Ahhhhh! I just drank the rest of it. Doesn't that mean... doesn't that mean I indirectly kissed Izumi-kun?)
(Wait... Yumeko-senpai drank from it too, so does that mean the three of us indirectly kissed?)
(The relationship is so messy... so terrible!)
"Sora... hold..."
Shikiya Yumeko opened her arms. Her sense of shame was weak, completely uncaring about the distance between boys and girls:
"Put on clothes..."
Izumi Sora was quite speechless: "Put on your own clothes yourself."
"Yumeko-senpai, don't trouble Izumi-kun for everything. We'll put on our own clothes."
Tiara snapped back to reality and hurriedly began to shyly put on her clothes.
After a burst of rustling, Tiara's shy voice quickly rang out:
"Izumi-kun... Y-Yumeko-senpai and I have properly dressed."
Izumi Sora turned his head to look. Seeing that the two girls were indeed properly dressed, he asked:
"Can you walk out of the sports storeroom yourselves?"
"I..."
Tiara parted her pink lips, wanting to get up, but quickly realized her body was soft and limp without an ounce of strength. Furthermore, her body felt super uncomfortable; let alone walking, she couldn't even stand up.
"Yumeko-senpai, what about you?"
Izumi Sora understood the situation and turned to look at the gyaru senpai.
"No... strength left..." Shikiya Yumeko was very self-aware. Without even attempting to try, she directly opened her arms towards Izumi Sora. "Hold..."
Izumi Sora hesitated for two seconds, his gaze quickly becoming firm:
"I will carry you guys out."
Friends who often suffer from heatstroke all know that after getting heatstroke, you need to quickly move to a well-ventilated and cool environment, and then rapidly lower the body temperature through drinking water, wiping the body, etc.
The current sports storeroom was like a giant steamer. Every extra minute spent inside doubled the danger. He had to move the gyaru senpai and Tiara out as soon as possible.
"U-Um... I can walk myself..."
Tiara stammered, her voice super shy, but she couldn't hide the weakness in it.
"If you can't even stand up, don't force yourself."
While Izumi Sora complained, he grabbed the wrists of the two girls. With a slight pull, he directly hauled the two girls up from the floor mats.
"..."
Tiara bit her lower lip, shyly averting her pretty face, too embarrassed to say anything more.
The next second.
She saw Izumi Sora half-crouch down, slide his hand under the back of her knees, and then directly scoop her up with one arm.
"Ehhhhh?"
Tiara let out a nervous, soft cry, instinctively opening her arms to hug Izumi Sora's neck.
(This posture... i-is so shameful!!!)