NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8: Club Activities Observation
On Monday, my high school life begins in earnest. Emily Parker didn't come to school, perhaps because she had work.
That's why I continued to cast magic that increased my favorability towards Jessica White in the seat in front of me. Considering the time it was used on Isla, it should take effect by the end of the semester.
Then the class ended and it was already after school. Today, I decided to visit the old building to search for potential slaves.
If there were any beautiful seniors, it would be worth trying to join their club. Thinking about this, I was on my way to the old building.
A female student was walking about 10 meters in front of me. We were walking in the same direction, so I couldn't make out her face, but I could see from her back that she was well-proportioned.
Naturally, I followed her attractive backside with my eyes. In order to know her destination, I stayed in the main building.
After a while, I saw her go into the old building, and then a figure appeared in the corridor of the third floor. As I continued to watch her, I saw her open a certain door and enter.
"Over there, huh... Okay, I remember the location."
I started walking towards the old building, too. I started from the first floor, deciding to go to the room she entered last.
***
I went up to the 3rd floor while struggling to refuse strong recruitment invitations and receiving the feeling that I was not very welcomed. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a female student who I wanted to enslave.
I stood in front of the room in question, thinking that it wouldn't be easy to find beautiful women to enslave. There was a plate on it that said.
"Fortune-telling club, huh..."
I'm not interested in Fortune-telling, but I'm interested in that girl's body. I knocked on the door, wishing she was beautiful.
"...Yes."
A small voice answered and the door was opened slightly. The face that peeked out was a gloomy, glasses-wearing face with bangs that hung down over the face.
"...I'm sorry. I'm a new student, can I observe the club?"
"A-Ah... Yes, come in..."
"Then pardon my intrusion..."
Through the open door, I entered the Fortune-telling clubroom. Inside, four desks for students in the classroom were gathered together to form a big table, and there were also four chairs.
There was a simple shelf on the wall with some items that looked like Fortune-telling tools. Except for the female student who let me in, there was no one else in the room.
"I see... A boy huh?"
"Yes?"
"Ah, I'm sorry. I'm a second-year student, Margaret Evans. I'm the head of the Fortune-telling club."
"Ah, yes."
"I said that, but the senpais have graduated and I'm the only current member of the club."
"Is that so?... I'm Ethan Carter."
"Yes, nice to meet you. By the way...do you know about the club system?"
"No, I don't know."
"Then let me explain."
According to the senior with straight black hair about mid-back length, a club at this high school must have at least three members. The Fortune-telling club, which currently has only one member, is on the verge of extinction and is on the verge of losing its club room.
"There's this other club called Divination Research Club, and that's the original, so the new students go over there..."
"Oh..."
"The Fortune-telling Club was founded by a group of senpais who had a falling out within the Divination Research Club, so it's difficult for members to join up with this club now."
"I see..."
"For now, I've got one new member in name only, so if we can get one more, the club can remain..."
"A boy, huh?"
At first, I had a gloomy impression of her, but she's a surprisingly talkative senpai. Her face is also difficult to see due to her bangs, but upon closer inspection, one can see that she's one of the most beautiful girls in the school.
Listening to senior Margaret's story, I find myself speaking as if I'm interested in joining this club. Honestly, I want to establish a connection with her, but I haven't been able to make up my mind about joining the club.
"Umm."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"I haven't decided to join, but..."
"Eh!? Is that so!?"
"Y-Yes..."
"...Hah see... Hah..."
"...Um, Senior? If you can't secure a member..."
"If I can't...?"
"Then, I'll be a ghost member, but I'm open to joining."
"Eh... A-Are you sure!?"
"If no one else enters, that is."
"T-Thank you!"
At the end of this week, after school on Friday, the continuation of club activities for this academic year will be decided based on the number of members. I'll get senior Margaret's contact information before then. Even if someone else joins the club and there's no longer a need for me to be a 'ghost member' I plan to occasionally hang out with the club to maintain the relationship.
***
Three days later, on Thursday night, I got a call from senior Margaret. It seemed that she had not yet secured any new members, so she asked me to come to the club room after school on Friday in the meantime.
That's why I'm currently in the Fortune-telling club room. It seems that the new student who Ichikawa-senpai recruited will also show their face.
"I'm sorry junior Ethan."
"No, it's fine."
"There was a student who was about to join, but he was taken away by the Divination Research Club..."
"Haa..."
While filling out the admission form with my name and class, I listened to senior Margaret's complaint. After handing in the completed admission form, all that remained was to wait for the other new student to come in.
"Junior, you're in class 4, right?"
Just as Senpai finished her words, there was a knock on the door. Apparently, the other member had finally arrived.
"Yes, come in."
"Excuse me."
I was surprised when I saw the female student who opened the door and entered. Because it was a face I saw in the same class.
"Jessica..."
"...Ethan?"
Jessica White, who entered the room, whispered my name. As expected, she seems to recognize my face and name, perhaps because I'm seated behind her.
"Welcome junior Jessica."
"Senior Margaret."
"I thought I'd introduce you two, but you seem to know each other because you're in the same class."
"Yes."
"Then, this year's Fortune-telling club members will be the three of us."
"I'm just lending you my name."
"Me too, I'm a ghost club member."
"For the usual activities it's fine, but could you help out during the cultural festival?"
"What will you do for the cultural festival?"
"Of course, it's a fortune-telling. If possible, I'd like the two of you to do it, but in the worst case, it's fine if you just stay there."
"...Then let's discuss when the time comes."
"Since it's half a year away, there's not much I can say about it at the moment."
"If possible, please try to be positive."
"I understand... Well, since our meeting is over, I'll be going now."
"...Ah, best regards from now on senior."
"Thank you for coming junior Jessica."
After bowing her head with a small bow, Jessica quickly left the club room. Remaining behind, I asked Senpai about Jessica.
"Senpai, what kind of relationship do you have with Jessica?"
"Fufu, you want to know? Should I tell you~?"
"...Can I go home?"
"Sorry, sorry. Jessica and I are relatives. We're cousins."
"So you're cousins..."
"She's cute, isn't she? Have you fallen in love?"
"She's cute, but her personality is..."
"Ah...because she can be a bit tsundere....By the way, did Emily Parker come to school today?"
"She hasn't been to school at all this week. Unfortunately."
"That's too bad, the boys seem to be feeling down. It's a shame because they finally got assigned to a good class."
"Yes....I'll get going now."
"Okay... Ethan thank you for coming to this club."
"Yes."
"I would be even happier if you could join us at the time of the cultural festival."
"Let's see when the time comes... Well then, excuse me."
"How unfortunate... Thank you for today."
After finishing the conversation with senior Margaret, I left the Fortune-telling club room. Unexpectedly, I have more connections with Jessica White, and I would like to make the most of them somehow.