Upon entering Building C and doing a few quick rounds, they actually found a club suitable for Amaori Renako.
— The Game Club.
Walking into the activity room, they found all sorts of gaming equipment, and the walls were covered with various game cartridges and merchandise.
"Oi, you should have told me there was a place like this!" Renako's eyes sparkled like a kid discovering a hidden treasure chest, and she immediately felt that nostalgic sense of belonging, like a protagonist returning to their hometown.
At this moment, the room echoed with the clatter of controllers and the excited shouts unique to otaku in the heat of battle.
Kazama Haru looked up and saw four people—three guys and one girl—playing the fighting game Tekken in two groups, split-screen.
The battles were so intense that Kazama Haru and Renako had been standing in the classroom for a while, but no one had come forward to greet them.
"KO!"
As a round ended, the female club president, wearing glasses, finally noticed the two "visitors." She put down her controller, pushed up her glasses with one finger, and walked towards them.
"You two, you've come to check out the Game Club, haven't you? Welcome, welcome!"
After a brief exchange and getting a general feel for the Game Club's atmosphere, Renako looked at Kazama Haru inquiringly.
Kazama Haru nodded silently. From his brief observation, this place didn't have the strict senpai-kouhai hierarchy of some sports clubs, nor did it have complicated interpersonal drama.
Everyone's energy was basically focused on games; they were pure gamers through and through.
This laid-back atmosphere was perfect as an initial setting for Renako to develop her communication and social skills.
…
After signing the membership application form handed to her by the president, Amaori Renako officially became the fifth member of the Game Club.
"Haru-kun, aren't you joining with me?"
Seeing that Kazama Haru didn't seem to intend to join the Game Club, both Renako and the female president showed disappointed expressions.
Kazama Haru stood up with an apologetic look: "As for me, I prefer sports clubs, so I want to go look around there some more."
"Alright then. You go ahead, Haru-kun. I want to stay here a bit longer."
Although reluctance flickered across her face, to put Kazama Haru at ease, Renako forced a smile and waved goodbye to him.
The only clubs left to visit were a few large sports clubs located on the academy's back hill.
Having almost seen every club but still not having found his target girls, Kazama Haru decided to try his luck there.
"You must be Kazama-san! Please, you absolutely must join our Kendo Club!"
As soon as he stepped into the dojo on the back hill, a group of people in kendo uniforms surrounded Kazama Haru.
"Uh, what's going on here?" Kazama Haru recoiled, his shoulders tensing up. After yesterday's violent incident, he had developed a trauma response to being surrounded by men.
Seeming to notice his discomfort, a burly third-year senpai walked to the front with a grin:
"Kazama-kun, I personally witnessed your heroic display yesterday. Such terrifying kendo skill couldn't have been achieved overnight, am I right?"
It was the Kendo Club president who had been among the onlookers that day.
"Ahaha, yesterday was purely a desperate gamble, just luck, pure luck," Kazama Haru waved his hand dismissively.
"Maa, maa, you can only fool amateurs with that kind of modesty."
The Kendo Club president smiled and put a hand on his shoulder: "Kazama-kun, our academy's Kendo Club has made it into the top eight at nationals. If you join us, perhaps we really can aim for—"
"I'm sorry, but I must refuse," Kazama Haru's rejection was exceptionally swift and decisive.
The Kendo National Competition, while sounding glorious and enticing, had nothing to do with his plans whatsoever.
His current kendo level was undoubtedly master-class. Forget some student national competition—even if he participated in the All Japan Kendo Championship, he would absolutely claim victory without breaking a sweat.
From this perspective, joining the Kendo Club would not only yield zero benefits and waste his precious time, but it would also make him as sweaty and smelly as them.
He decided firmly against it.
He only wanted to become a soft, pampered good-for-nothing—surrounded by sweet, adorable beauties all day while also helping them achieve their dreams.
Walking the path of hot-blooded youth with this group of muscle-heads who only shouted about fighting spirit was completely unsuitable for him.
Seeing his firm refusal, the Kendo Club president's brow furrowed slightly. As he said, the Kendo Club was already a prestigious club at the academy—not only well-funded but also never lacking in members.
If he hadn't personally witnessed Kazama Haru's monstrous performance yesterday and developed a keen eye for his talent, he wouldn't have been so persistent about recruiting a kouhai.
"Are you really not going to reconsider?" the Kendo Club president asked one last time, unwilling to give up.
Kazama Haru bowed: "Thank you for your generous regard, senpai-tachi, but my aspirations truly do not lie here. If I have time later, I will definitely come visit."
Seeing his persistence, the Kendo Club members found it difficult to force him to stay, and with expressions of regret, they all made way for him.
…
"Phew."
Exhaling, Kazama Haru bid farewell to the Kendo Club's enthusiastic siege. Further inside, only the Archery Club remained.
Due to the nature of Archery, where "cramped quarters prevent proper form," the Archery Club dojo occupied a remarkably generous area.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door, the first thing that caught his eye was a vast gravel courtyard spanning the entire space.
The main body of the dojo was a raised wooden platform, with neatly marked shooting positions, each corresponding to a set of resting bows and arrows.
Near the inner wall was a row of zashiki seating areas covered with dark blue tatami mats, for members to sit, observe, and rest. On the wall hung four elegantly brushed kanji: "正射必中" — Seisha Hicchū. True aim, certain strike.
At the far end of the dojo, a large paper target hung quietly before a straw backing. According to Archery regulations, the shooting distance for standing shots was twenty-eight meters.
In the center of the dojo, a figure exuding a cool aura firmly captured Kazama Haru's attention.
The girl wore a pristine white dōgi, her raven-black hair cascading naturally on both sides of her face. Her skin was porcelain-fair and flawless, her figure slender yet gracefully proportioned.
In stark contrast to her exquisite beauty, her blood-red pupils were filled with an aloofness that warned others to keep their distance, making the surrounding air feel several degrees colder.
She was the very definition of an ice beauty.
Kazama Haru's heart quietly quickened. He had only intended to try his luck, but he hadn't expected to actually encounter an important target at the Archery Club.
Shinomiya Kaguya.
The ojou-sama of the Shinomiya Zaibatsu, an all-rounder genius who excelled at whatever she put her mind to.
She was actually at this school!
….
Shinomiya Kaguya, however, seemed completely oblivious to Kazama Haru's arrival and his watchful gaze, not even sparing him a single glance.
At this moment, all her focus was concentrated on the bow and arrow in her hands.
Taking a deep breath, she spread her feet slightly to stabilize her stance, raised the bow to her brow line, steadied the grip with her left arm, and with her right, drew a bamboo arrow from the quiver on her back, gently nocking it onto the string.
A strength completely inconsistent with her petite frame quietly erupted from her right arm, and her fluid, graceful figure tensed in response.
The ice maiden's shooting form was so standard and precise that it appeared as harmonious as a classical painting in Kazama Haru's eyes.
Seemingly affected by her intense concentration, he couldn't help but hold his breath.
At the moment the bow was drawn to its fullest, Shinomiya Kaguya's breathing stilled, and in her crimson pupils, only the plain target in the distance remained.
She had her own unique insight into striking the bullseye.
At this moment, in her eyes, everything surrounding that small dot at the center became void—emptiness itself.
Next was to find a moment that transcended conscious will.
"Hyun—!"
Accompanied by a clear snap of the bowstring, the arrow in Shinomiya Kaguya's hand sliced through the air, streaking irresistibly toward the bullseye.
Then came a solid thwack.
As if it were the most natural outcome in the world, the arrow buried itself deep in the bullseye.
After releasing that fluid shot, Shinomiya Kaguya slowly exhaled, gently smoothing her long hair behind her head, her movements imbued with the composed elegance unique to an ojou-sama from a distinguished family.
"A magnificent shot!" Kazama Haru applauded spontaneously.
"Who's there?"
Hearing the unfamiliar voice, Shinomiya Kaguya finally noticed someone had been watching her from nearby. She turned her head warily, narrowing her eyes as she scrutinized Kazama Haru:
"You're an unfamiliar face. What business do you have at the Archery Club?"