Part 1
Hina was still muttering to herself about Shizuki's unwanted presence when the clubroom door opened again.
—Hmph, that homewrecker cat comes in here and does nothing… she should at least help organize the books…
—Hina, what are you doing here? —a calm female voice echoed from the entrance.
A girl with long pink hair and a serene gaze stood in the doorway, observing the scene with quiet curiosity.
—Oh, it's you, Mirai! —Hina exclaimed, immediately walking over—. Nothing much, just organizing the club…
Mirai looked around at the old TV, the dust-covered couch, and the people scattered across the room.
—A club…? What kind of club is this, exactly?
Touma, still sitting with a broom in hand, answered with little enthusiasm:
—"Literature and Film," though right now it's more like "cleaning and survival."
Shizuki, not lifting her eyes from her book, added with her usual refined tone:
—And personal relaxation space.
Hina crossed her arms and sighed.
—Well, I guess it's...
—I want to join —Mirai said quietly, cutting her off.
Hina blinked.
—What!?
Mirai simply nodded.
—It seems interesting.
—But you don't even know what we do here!
—Literature and film. Touma already said it.
Hina felt a small tic twitch at the corner of her eye, while Touma smiled, clearly amused.
Just then, Jake and Akari walked in carrying bags of food.
—Hey guys, we brought a feast! —Jake shouted.
—Time to celebrate! —Akari added cheerfully.
Ellie, speaking through the Astra Lens, analyzed the situation and concluded:
—Touma-sama, it seems your club is growing faster than expected.
—Yeah… not sure if that's good or bad —Touma murmured as he watched Hina's defeated expression.
From her couch, still not looking up from her book, Shizuki spoke in her calm, refined voice:
—Are you always this loud?
Jake burst out laughing and elbowed Akari playfully.
—Oh, come on! Youth is meant to be enjoyed, right Akari?
—Yeah! Life's way more fun with friends, yay! —Akari shouted, pumping her fist in the air.
Jake looked over at the two newest additions to the club and grinned mischievously.
—I see we've got two new members. We already know the Ice Princess —he said, pointing at Shizuki—. But who's the "pink bunny"?
Hina facepalmed while Mirai slightly furrowed her brow.
—Jake… —Touma muttered in resignation.
—Well, now that you mention it... —Touma looked at Mirai more closely, noticing her clothes and calm aura—. You've got a unique style. Are you a student at Seisen?
Mirai walked over to Hina with a light sigh.
—Why are they like this...?
Hina sighed, realizing there was no escape.
—She's my roommate, Mirai Hoshizora. She's in the same research course as us...
Touma looked thoughtful, brow slightly furrowed, as if trying to recall something.
—Mirai... Mirai... that name rings a bell...
At that moment, Ellie interrupted his thoughts with her usual teasing tone.
—What a distracted guy. Touma-sama, Mirai Hoshizora sits to your left in class. You probably didn't notice because Hina always hogs your attention… and because Mirai tends to blend in.
—Ah, right! The girl who sits next to me and goes unnoticed —Touma exclaimed, clapping his fist into his palm like he'd just solved a great mystery.
Hina gave a smug smile.
—See? Told you! She's just super shy.
Touma, now feeling a little guilty, looked over at Mirai with a slight smile.
—Ah… well, I guess that explains why I never noticed before.
Mirai stared at him blankly for a moment, then simply shrugged and sat down calmly in one of the chairs.
—I don't mind. It's not the first time I've been ignored like that.
Jake grinned again, folding his arms.
—Well, now you're in our club. Like it or not, you can't go unnoticed anymore.
Mirai sighed, but a tiny smile tugged at her lips.
—I guess not.
—Anyway… here's the loot! —Jake announced with a triumphant grin.
—And there's so much tasty stuff! —Akari added excitedly, placing the bags on the table.
Everyone leaned in curiously.
—I don't trust this… —Hina muttered, narrowing her eyes as she opened one of the bags.
Touma peeked inside and, after a few seconds of silence, let out a long sigh.
—Jake… what the hell is this?
With complete confidence, Jake pulled out a neon-colored sushi box, wasabi-flavored fries, and a bottle of something glowing that didn't look entirely human-safe.
—Check it out, Touma! Rainbow sushi, wasabi fries, and "Overclock" energy soda!
—That sounds… dangerous —Mirai commented in her usual flat tone.
Hina picked up the soda bottle and held it up to Jake, staring at it in disbelief.
—Jake… this thing says "High caffeine content, not for regular human consumption."
—That just means it's gotta be amazing! —he replied without hesitation.
Akari pulled another bag out with a beaming expression.
—I brought extra spicy jerky and curry-flavored popcorn!
—Of course you did… —Hina muttered, rubbing her forehead.
Touma picked up a package of pink bunny-shaped cookies and raised an eyebrow.
—And what's this?
Jake looked at the package, tilting his head.
—Oh, I didn't buy those. Akari said they were "adorable."
—And they are! —Akari said, hugging an extra box of them—. They're too cute to eat!
Touma sighed while Hina crossed her arms in frustration.
—Jake, we asked for snacks, not a culinary deathmatch.
Shizuki, who had been watching silently from the couch, closed her book and picked up the rainbow sushi box.
—Interesting color combination… —she said, examining it with curiosity.
—Don't do it, Shizuki —Hina warned in a serious tone—. Don't fall into his trap.
—I'm curious —the British girl replied coolly—. It could be a unique gastronomic experience.
Touma sighed, already knowing things were spiraling out of control. Ellie chimed in from the Astra Lens.
—Touma-sama, I've analyzed the ingredients in "Overclock" soda. There's a 47% chance it will cause extreme hyperactivity.
—And the other 53%...? —Touma asked with quiet resignation.
—…Digestive system collapse.
Touma closed his eyes for a moment before replying:
—Jake, how are you still alive after eating this stuff?
Jake shrugged.
—Iron stomach, my friend. You should see Professor Valverde. I wanna be like him when I grow up.
Hina let out a long sigh and stared at the table.
—Well… since you brought all this, I guess we have no choice.
Jake grinned widely.
—That's the spirit, Hina!
Shizuki, her elegance intact, picked up a piece of rainbow sushi and calmly took a bite.
Everyone watched in silence as she chewed slowly.
After a moment, she closed her eyes and gave a slight nod.
—It's… acceptable.
Jake raised his fist into the air.
—HA! I knew it was a good choice!
Hina stared at the sushi suspiciously, but seeing that Shizuki hadn't keeled over, she reluctantly picked one up and took a bite.
—If I die because of this, I'll haunt you all from the afterlife…
Jake lifted a bottle of apple juice and shook it enthusiastically.
—Alright, team! Our club might not be the most normal, but that's what makes it better. Let's toast to our official beginning!
—Yes! To youth! —added Akari, raising her glass with excitement.
Touma looked at his own cup with resignation.
—Well… I don't think this will last long if we keep this up.
—Oh, shut up and toast already, Touma —Hina said, clinking her cup against his.
Shizuki, as calm as ever, lifted her juice with elegance.
—To an… interesting year.
Mirai, who had been quietly observing, simply nodded and timidly raised her cup.
Everyone clinked their glasses together with energy, sealing the official birth of the Literature and Film Club.