The Literature Club wasn't just about reading books—it also meant doing actual work.
And Reiji found himself getting dragged into it.
"As you all know, our club helps with the school's monthly bulletin," Ayaka announced, her tone matter-of-fact. "This time, we need volunteers to assist with writing and organizing the articles."
Reiji kept his expression neutral, but he was already regretting being here.
"We'll be working in pairs," Ayaka continued. "That way, we can split the workload efficiently."
Reiji wasn't the only one who sensed trouble. Sena, sitting across from him, already looked irritated—as if she knew where this was going.
"Tsukishima and Sena," Ayaka said, confirming their worst expectations.
Reiji exhaled through his nose.
Sena didn't even try to hide her annoyance. "Of course," she muttered under her breath.
Ayaka ignored her reaction. "You two will be handling the article on the upcoming cultural festival. It's a straightforward task—gather details, write a summary, and make sure it's formatted correctly."
Reiji nodded. "Understood."
Sena, however, crossed her arms. "I don't see why I have to work with *him.*"
Ayaka adjusted her glasses. "Because you're both in this club, and I don't have time for complaints."
Sena clicked her tongue but didn't argue further.
Reiji simply accepted his fate.
—
After the meeting, the two of them sat at a desk near the window. Papers were spread out in front of them—past festival reports, schedule drafts, and guidelines for formatting.
Sena flipped through the pages with a look of pure disinterest. "This is a waste of time."
Reiji, who was already skimming through the documents, didn't bother responding.
Sena sighed. "Fine. Let's just get this done quickly."
They split the work—Sena would collect the relevant information, while Reiji would handle structuring the article.
For a while, they worked in silence.
Reiji focused on his part, occasionally glancing at Sena, who was surprisingly thorough. She wasn't just skimming the documents—she was carefully selecting details, making sure every piece of information was accurate.
She was meticulous.
It was almost amusing, considering how she acted as if she didn't care.
Finally, after what felt like an hour, she put down her pen. "There. That's everything."
Reiji glanced at the notes she had compiled. "Not bad."
She shot him a look. "Obviously."
He smirked slightly. "You're actually reliable."
Sena rolled her eyes. "And you're actually tolerable when you shut up and work."
Reiji leaned back in his chair, watching as she gathered her things.
As much as they disliked each other, they had managed to get through this without a fight.
That was progress.
Maybe.