Chapter 23: Transfer Student Club Activity Orientation (2)

I walked down the hallway after the drama club experience, lost in thought.

‘Did the middle school Rina like being the center of attention?’

Judging by her graduation album, she seemed to prefer blending in. The picture of her smiling shyly in the corner was the epitome of ordinariness.

But the sight of her closet, filled with eye-catching, frilly clothes, suggested otherwise. Perhaps Rina, despite her outward appearance, craved attention?

‘Was that really the case?’

I knew now that Rina’s actions and habits, even if just muscle memory, were influencing me. The initial discomfort I’d felt looking in the mirror had faded. I was acting and feeling like Rina, even though my thoughts and memories were still my own.

‘So, I am…’

My past self had been just another repeat student, someone who preferred to blend in. Standing on a stage, bathed in the spotlight, was a distant dream. But even so, I wasn’t the type to feel this awkward just from holding a script.

The awkwardness I’d felt during the drama club experience, the lack of the expected excitement, perhaps those were Rina’s feelings as well.

Her diary never mentioned the drama club.

I left the drama club room without filling out an application form.

“…This isn’t it, I guess,” I muttered, placing the blank form on the table. My fingers trembled slightly, and I felt a pang of disappointment. But I needed to reconsider.

‘Is the going home club really… the best option?’

I followed the group to other club rooms, but none of them appealed to me.

The soccer club? They’d begged me to be their cheerleader, but I couldn’t even bring myself to join the drama club.

The kendo club? It seemed too physically demanding, and frankly, swords were scary.

The literary club? I enjoyed reading, but writing was a chore.

The photography club? That required artistic talent, which I lacked.

I wandered aimlessly, unable to make a decision.

‘I guess… I’m destined for the going home club…’ A self-deprecating sigh escaped my lips.

Stepping outside, the cool evening air brushed against my cheeks, a stark contrast to the hollowness in my chest. The sky was painted in hues of orange and pink, and cherry blossom petals swirled around my feet.

It was a picturesque scene, so typically Japanese, so different from the high schools in Korea. I kicked at the petals, muttering to myself, ‘The going home club isn’t so bad. I can live a quiet life as a background character…’

But this was Takamari Academy. A quiet life was impossible here. And I was no longer a background character. I was entangled with the central figures of this school.

And… without Aya and Mizuki, the loneliness was almost unbearable.

When had their company become so essential? I knew, deep down, that spending lunch break alone, wandering the school grounds, no longer suited me.

‘So this is how it is…’

I lowered my head and walked slowly, the soft rustling of falling cherry blossom petals filling the silence. Then, I remembered Reina-senpai’s words from lunch.

‘You’re a special person too, Kurosawa-san. Asakura-san and Aya know that.’

“Me, special…” Her words made my heart ache.

If I truly was “special,” what choice should I make?

I looked up at the sky, the vibrant colors of the sunset painting the school buildings in a warm glow. The distant chime of a bell signaled the end of the day.

Time to go home. As I turned to leave, a familiar silhouette caught my eye.

“Rina.”

A calm voice called out. I slowly turned my head. It was Aya.

She stood there, her uniform impeccable as always, as if she’d just stepped out of a student council meeting. Her composed demeanor, her cool, serene gaze…

“Did you see everything?” she asked, walking towards me. Her tone was polite, as always, but I sensed an underlying concern.

I hesitated. Normally, I would have just smiled and said, “Yeah, I’m still thinking about it.”

But looking at Aya, my heart knew the answer.

‘The student council…’

Why not? It wouldn’t hurt to try. If living as a background character was impossible, and I didn’t want to spend my lunch breaks wandering the school grounds alone… maybe joining the student council was the best option.

I took a deep breath and looked at Aya, a smile forming on my lips.

“I’ll join the student council.”

Aya’s eyes widened slightly, her lips parting in surprise before quickly closing again. “Really? You don’t have to force yourself.”

“It’s okay. I thought about it, and I think the student council would be a good fit for me.”

Aya stared at me, her calm expression momentarily replaced by a flicker of… something I couldn’t quite decipher. Then, a small, genuine smile spread across her lips.

“I’m glad you decided to join, Rina. Welcome.”

I scratched my head, smiling sheepishly. “It’s not that big of a deal…!”

But Aya continued to smile at me, her gaze warm and gentle. I blushed and looked away.

‘Aya is so… composed…’

A gentle breeze rustled the cherry blossom trees, sending petals swirling around us. I walked beside Aya, my steps lighter than before.

And so, I decided to join the student council.

****

Hiiragi Haruto walked down the hallway of the old school building, his gaze drifting towards the window. He’d just witnessed Rina telling Aya she’d join the student council. He narrowed his eyes slightly.

“…So that’s how it is,” he murmured.

Tachibana Kaho, walking beside him, nodded quietly. “Indeed.”

She crossed her arms, her gaze sweeping across the hallway. “Three girls in the first-year student council. That’ll make things difficult.”

Hiiragi remained silent, his gaze fixed ahead. The student council’s main responsibilities involved event planning and logistical tasks, many of which had traditionally been handled by male students due to the physical demands.

But things might change now. Tachibana glanced at Rina, a wry smile on her lips. “But… they’re candidates for the ‘Third Trinity,’ after all.”

“Trinity…” Hiiragi repeated the word softly.

The legendary Trinity of Takamari Academy. While not an official title, it was customary to group the four most beautiful girls in the school as the Four Beauties. And when three of them came together, they were known as the Trinity.

In the academy’s century-long history, there had only been two Trinities. They weren’t just admired for their beauty, but for their all-around excellence in academics, arts, and social skills. One such individual was remarkable enough, but three together possessed an immense influence, capable of shifting the entire atmosphere of the academy.

“It’s quite remarkable,” Hiiragi murmured, leaning against the windowsill and looking out at the school grounds.

When Rina had arrived, everyone had assumed she was just an ordinary transfer student. But Hiiragi had sensed something special about her from the start. She wouldn’t have captivated his attention otherwise.

Knowing this better than anyone, he tapped his fingers against the windowsill, as if trying to suppress the lingering feelings in his heart. He’d fallen for Kurosawa Rina at first sight. He tried to deny it, but the emotions, etched deep within his heart, wouldn’t fade. He wasn’t one to give up easily.

“They’re just candidates. They’re not the Trinity yet,” Tachibana said quietly, interrupting his thoughts.

“That’s right, Yukikawa-senpai is still here.”

Hiiragi’s jaw tightened. As long as Yukikawa Reina, the Angel of the Masses, was still at the academy, Rina wouldn’t be officially recognized as part of the Trinity.

But whether or not Rina became part of the Trinity didn’t matter to Hiiragi. He looked at Rina again, a small sigh escaping his lips.

“…Why are you looking at Kurosawa-san like that?” Tachibana’s sharp question startled him. Had he been staring that intensely?

“It’s nothing… nothing at all,” he replied, feigning indifference.

But Tachibana just smiled knowingly. “Really? I hope so, for the sake of all the girls who’ve fallen victim to the black-haired prince.” There was a hint of bitterness in her voice.

Hiiragi coughed awkwardly and turned away. “The past is the past.”

“Are you sure it won’t repeat itself?” Her words, though spoken lightly, struck a chord within him. He remained silent, his gaze fixed on Rina’s retreating figure.

“…It really is nothing,” he repeated, his voice low.

His words echoed softly in the hallway. Tachibana smiled faintly, walking beside him. “We’ll see about that.”

Hiiragi’s gaze, fixed on Rina, wavered.