"Ah~ I haven't slept this well in a long time~"
Looking at the grand entrance of GB in the distance, Shiro stretched his body with satisfaction.
Yesterday, he had finally tidied up his room into what a proper college student's room should look like. Although most of the bookshelf was filled with light novels and game discs, and the desk still had unfinished manga on it…
But!
It was still a college student's room!
After all, Shiro was also a bestselling light novel author, so having a room with a bit of an otaku vibe wasn't an issue, right?
Lately, he had been planning to start a new book. He wanted to turn Scum's Wish into a light novel (Hanabi is just too cute!).
Though, while he personally saw no issue with this work, he wasn't sure if his editor would approve.
Thinking of his beautiful editor who had just graduated from college, Shiro felt reassured; since they were both adults, Scum's Wish shouldn't be shocking for her at all~
Today was the day for new members to gather at the club, so Shiro had deliberately gotten up early and dressed up a little.
Now, his appearance was more like that of a harmless little puppy.
Thinking about it, with Iori and Kōhei as contrasts, wouldn't Shiro stand out and rise above them all?
His goal was to win over all the new female members this year!
—
Ding-dong~
Shiro pushed open the door leading to a brand-new world.
"Good morning, Shiro~ You're looking even more handsome today~"
Greeting him was a cute big sister!
Shiro instantly felt like today was going to be a great day.
"Good morning, Nanaka-nee, Chisa."
He greeted them warmly while scanning for other new members like himself.
Hmm… Found one, Kōhei. Alright, excluded! And then… no one else?!
Shiro froze in place.
He checked the time, it was almost 10 AM. Could it be that the others hadn't arrived yet?
Yes! That must be it!
"Good morning, Iori-kun. You actually dressed properly today, how impressive~"
Nanaka's voice pulled Shiro back to reality. He turned around and saw Kitahara walking out of his room with the two upperclassmen.
So… what exactly had happened while he was gone?
"That's a really unacceptable way to give a compliment."
Kitahara didn't look happy at all at Nanaka's remark. Though, was that even a compliment in the first place?!
"Club activities?"
The store manager glanced at the group and asked.
"Yeah, we're planning to do some exercise with the new members."
"How many new members do you have this year?"
Nanaka looked curious. Last year, their club hadn't managed to recruit anyone. With a smile, she raised four fingers. "So far, four!"
Crack!
Shiro's body gradually turned to stone, and without warning, cracks began to form.
Four people!!!
Didn't that mean it was just himself, Kitahara, Kōhei, and Chisa?!
Had he gotten up early and dressed up… for nothing?!
These people… were they really worth waking up early for?!
No, they weren't worth it at all!!!
Ignoring Shiro's existential crisis, the two senior members were very pleased with the four juniors they had recruited.
A playboy, a natural airhead, an idiot, and an otaku!
PaB's future looked promising!
"Wait… hold on. Weren't there a lot of new students at the drinking party?"
Shiro desperately clung to the last hope that maybe this was all a joke.
"Oh, you mean them? Yeah, I thought that was strange too. After the drinking party, it seems like they all chose to decline joining. I really don't get why…"
Tokito scratched his head in confusion. He thought that drinking party had been a huge success.
Shiro fell silent.
After witnessing that horrifying scene, any normal person would have declined, right?
So why the hell had he stayed behind?!
(??????ω??????)
Tears welled up in Shiro's eyes. He felt like he had just made a decision that would affect his entire youth.
"Hahahaha, Kamishiro, just accept your fate and stay here. We're family, after all!"
Iori patted Shiro's shoulder in an infuriatingly smug way. He had already come to terms with it—since he was boarding at the diving shop, leaving wouldn't help him escape the drinking parties anyway.
Since he couldn't avoid it, he might as well enjoy it! Plus, he could watch others suffer while he sat back and laughed. Bwahahahahahahaha!
"Speaking of which, Kōhei, it's pretty rare to see you seriously participating in club activities."
After messing with Shiro, Iori turned his gaze toward Kōhei, who looked unusually excited.
"That's because I got an urgent recruitment message from my senior!"
Kōhei excitedly pulled out his phone and showed it to everyone.
"At noon today, voice actress Mizuki Kaya will be visiting our shop. Meet at the store by 10 AM!"
"That's obviously a scam."
Shiro, who had somehow returned to normal, leaned over to Kōhei and immediately shattered his fantasy.
"Really?!"
Kōhei looked at the seniors in disbelief.
"Yeah, we totally tricked you."
Tokita was refreshingly honest about it. Since their goal had already been achieved, exposing the lie wasn't a big deal anymore.
Crack!
At that moment, Kōhei turned into a carbon copy of Shiro from a few minutes ago. That feeling of having your dream shattered was truly fascinating.
"I remember Mizuki Kaya is a big name who even performed at the Red and White Song Festival. Why would she come to our shop?"
Iori tried to console Kōhei, this was the kind of lie that should be obvious at first glance.
"Kaya-chan is probably super busy right now, so she won't be able to come for a while."
However, the store manager's words interrupted Iori.
Iori turned back in confusion. "Uncle, the way you're talking… it sounds like she used to come here often?"
"Yeah, she came here pretty often~"
Nanaka confirmed it with a nod.
"Really?!"
Kōhei, who had been eavesdropping, was instantly revived!
Even Shiro looked at Uncle Kotegawa in surprise. Was this shop really that famous?
"Wait! You guys aren't fooling me again, right? You're definitely trying to toy with my emotions again!"
Having been tricked once, Kōhei had learned his lesson and wasn't going to fall for it so easily this time!
"Hahaha, we wouldn't lie to you…"
"If you don't have proof, I'm not believing a word of it!"
"Proof, huh… I think her diving suit is still hanging over there."
The store manager thought for a moment before responding. But then again, something like that wasn't exactly solid proof.
"Diving suit, huh…"
Kōhei placed a hand on his forehead. "Then… can I have a taste of it first?"
"..."
Kōhei's words stunned everyone into silence.
Even Shiro and the others, who had been enjoying the spectacle, had to take a moment to process his sheer level of depravity.
"Amazing. He didn't even hesitate…"
"Saying something like that so casually is just beyond imagination…"
"This year's freshmen are truly remarkable."
"Hey, police? I think I've found a pervert here…"
"..."
"Hahaha, let's put aside the whole 'tasting' thing for now. As long as you stick with diving, you'll definitely get to meet her someday."
The store manager, ever the businessman, smoothly redirected the conversation while also securing himself a new customer.
Bang!
"I suddenly feel incredibly motivated! I want to learn diving!"
Kōhei was suddenly bursting with energy like he had been injected with pure adrenaline. As expected… a pervert's potential was limitless!
"Leave it to me!"
"This is exactly why we gathered today!"
Seeing Kōhei's enthusiasm, the seniors were just as fired up!
"Wait a minute!"
Shiro looked at them in shock. "You're telling me club activities are related to diving?"
"(′｀;)? Of course! We're a diving club, after all."
"The oxygen tanks contain actual oxygen, not alcohol?"
"…Of course, it's oxygen."
"We're going into the ocean, not into a vat of alcohol, right?"
"…There's not that much alcohol."
"…"
Upon receiving a definitive answer, Shiro shed tears of joy. Finally… these people finally remembered what kind of club they were in!!!