After leaving the literature club room, I said goodbye to Ayaka. She told me she'd look for Kaori after class to invite her to join. Knowing Ren was around, I headed to the library.
Ren wasn't the type to hang out or join club activities. He lived a quiet life, only interested in mystery novels and things that couldn't be easily explained. Honestly, I remembered clearly from the game,Ren never joined any club unless it was part of a special event that led to a unique storyline.
And maybe, I was about to trigger that storyline.
I found Ren in the library, tucked away behind the back row of bookshelves. He was flipping through a thick novel, his eyes focused like he was trying to uncover clues in a fictional case.
I didn't interrupt right away. Instead, I quietly sat down on the seat beside him.
"What are you reading?"
Ren glanced at me, then held up the book cover. "The Black Chamber."
"Your favorite author?"
"Yeah. His style is cold and precise. Not wordy, but haunting."
I nodded.
"Sounds like a style that suits you."
Ren didn't reply, just turned to the next page.
I waited a few seconds, then asked directly:
"Interested in joining the literature club?"
Ren paused, eyes still on the page.
"I thought you weren't the type for that."
"Well… I wasn't before. But Ayaka just restarted the club, and we need more members. You read novels, write mystery stories,what could be a better fit?"
Ren looked up again, this time holding my gaze a little longer.
"I'm not good at working in groups."
"The literature club doesn't require teamwork. Just people who like reading, talking about books, maybe writing something now and then. That's it."
"…Why invite me?"
"Because I think you'd fit in. And because… the club could use a little mystery."
Ren let out a quiet laugh—for the first time today. After a few seconds of silence, he closed the book.
"Alright. I'll give it a try."
I smirked.
"Welcome to the literature club, detective."
Then I returned to class and took my seat, quietly observing the room.
Mizuki—lively as ever—was happily chatting with a group of both boys and girls. However, something about it bothered me. A few boys in the group kept glancing at her with eyes that… didn't feel right. Even as an outsider, it made me uncomfortable.
I guessed Mizuki was probably used to that kind of attention by now.
At that moment, Ayaka and Kaori entered the classroom and returned to their seats together.
Ayaka turned to me, giving me a thumbs-up with excitement.
"Kaori agreed to join. What about your side?"
"Ren said yes too."
"That's great! Just one more to go!"
When the bell rang, the afternoon lesson began.
Everything went as usual,teacher lecturing, students taking notes, and I, as always, listening while my mind drifted back to the literature club.
When class ended, Ayaka quickly walked over to Kaori and Ren, who were packing up with their usual gentle smiles.
"Come with me to the club room for a bit?" she asked, eyes full of hope.
I stood nearby, slung my bag over my shoulder, and left the room with the group.
The four of us made our way to the building behind the library, where the literature club room was located. The afternoon sunlight cast long, warm beams across the hallway. As we passed an open window, a breeze blew through, gently lifting Ayaka's hair,it looked like a perfect scene from a visual novel.
When we arrived, Kaori was the first to speak.
"This room's nice," she said softly, her voice even as her eyes swept across the space—from the bookshelves to the potted plants near the windows.
Ren folded his arms and leaned against the wall, nodding.
"Not bad."
I smiled quietly. The atmosphere felt truly peaceful. Maybe… this club would become something special for all of us.
Just one more member to go.
The four of us sat around the large table in the center of the room, each choosing a seat. The room was quiet but comfortable.
Ayaka spoke first, her voice filled with gentle determination.
"Our club still needs one more person. Do any of you have someone in mind?"
I shook my head. "Not me…"
Ren gave a slight shake of his head too, eyes gazing out the window. "Same here."
That's when Kaori looked up from her book and spoke softly.
"Is it okay to invite someone from Class B? I have a close friend who also really loves books."
Ayaka nodded immediately, her eyes lighting up.
"Of course! That's totally fine, as long as we share the same passion."
The conversation gradually shifted to lighter topics. We started discussing what kinds of books to stock on the shelves. Then decorating ideas,should we add curtains, swap out the cushions, maybe hang some abstract paintings to fill the blank walls?
Everyone had different ideas, but the mood was joyful. It felt like something small, yet precious, was beginning to form.
As the day drew to a close, we cleaned up and left the club room one by one.
While I was changing shoes at the lockers with Ayaka, she suddenly turned to me with a soft, casual voice.
"Wanna walk home together?"
I glanced at her for a moment and nodded. There was no reason to say no and to be honest… I didn't want to.
So the two of us walked side by side out of the school, bathed in the warm light of the setting sun. The walk home wasn't long, but it was quiet and peaceful.
After a while, Ayaka turned to me with a bright smile.
"Hey Hiro, should we exchange contacts?"
I gave a small nod.
"Sure."
I took out my phone. So did she. The screen lit up, and our names were saved into each other's contact lists. Just a small thing, but somehow… it made me happy.