Aoba, Kendo Club.
Takashi, with a "thud," removed his heavy kendo uniform along with the clothes underneath, revealing his muscular upper body.
"Senpai, when can we get an air conditioner in the kendo club? It's so hot!" one of the younger members complained.
"Stay calm and cool your heart! And how many times do I have to say it? In the club, you need to call me 'President!'"
Toji Taku, also sweating heavily, didn't want to lose face in front of his juniors, so he hadn't mentioned the heat.
"Senpai, just tell us honestly. Can we actually apply for an air conditioner?"
Takashi wiped the sweat from his body with a towel soaked in cold water, complaining.
"Trust me once more, this time for sure we can make it happen."
Toji Taku spoke with determination.
"Alright then."
"By the way, Kitahara, you've got a good physique."
"I think so too."
Takashi looked up at the mirror.
In the mirror, the young man had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, a well-built torso, long, strong legs, perfectly showcasing the charm of youth.
He was satisfied with his current body and planned to continue exercising to maintain it.
"You're really solid."
Toji Taku reached out and pinched Takashi's shoulder, admiring his physique.
The other kendo club members had been itching to do the same. Seeing their club president take the lead, they all reached out, touching Takashi's body in various places.
"Hey, I won't say anything if you touch me a couple of times, but why can't you stop?" Takashi complained.
"Wait a minute, why are you all massaging me now? I work out to attract the attention of the opposite sex, not for the same sex!"
"Don't touch me, get away from me!"
…
In Shinjuku, Tokyo.
As the busiest commercial street in all of Tokyo and even Japan, it is always packed with people, both day and night.
Students like to come here after school to check out the food or take pictures.
"Kei, there's a new dessert shop here. Let's go try it after this."
Walking out of a trendy clothing store, Fujiwara Chika happily linked her arm with Shirogane Kei's.
Shirogane Kei was a little tempted by the suggestion, but when she glanced down at the shopping bag in her hand, her poverty quickly brought her back to her senses.
She had already gone way over her budget for the day.
With a sway of her flowing silver hair, she politely declined, "No thanks, Chika-nee. It's getting late, I need to head home."
"Eh, why so suddenly?"
Fujiwara Chika looked reluctant.
She hadn't even had enough fun shopping yet.
"Kei, we're out, so let's shop a bit longer."
Shirogane Kei gave an awkward smile, "Well..."
Just like her brother, she appeared aloof, but in reality, she was kind-hearted and not very good at rejecting people.
"Alright, Chika, don't push Kei too hard."
At that moment, a girl with a short ponytail, looking about 70% similar to Fujiwara Chika, spoke up and stepped in to help.
"If you want to keep shopping, I'll go with you."
She pulled Fujiwara Chika away from Shirogane Kei, pushing her forward.
Fujiwara Chika pouted, "What's the point of shopping with you?"
They lived together, so when would they not be able to go shopping?
"You're going to hurt your sister's feelings if you say that."
Fujihara Moeha winked at Shirogane Kei.
Shirogane Kei returned the wink, showing her gratitude.
Watching the Fujihara sisters walk away, Shirogane Kei turned and walked in the opposite direction towards the subway station.
Just as she was about to reach the subway tunnel, she suddenly spotted a group of about ten boys walking towards her, chatting and laughing together.
Shirogane Kei immediately spotted the young man at the center of the group.
"Senpai?"
Takashi turned his head to speak with the kendo club members, and just as he did, he saw her.
He quickly blinked and waved his hand, greeting her, "Hey?"
…
At Shinjuku Gyoen, located at 2-2-8 Shinjuku, there is an all-you-can-eat BBQ place for 1280 yen with no time limit.
Here, you can enjoy fried food and ice cream as much as you want.
"Senpai, is it really okay for me to join you? I won't be bothering you, will I?"
Shirogane Kei asked, holding a tray and following closely behind Takashi, making sure not to be left behind.
After meeting Takashi at the subway entrance, Toji Taku, seeing that the two knew each other, invited her along.
Unable to refuse the warm invitation of the group, Shirogane Kei reluctantly agreed and was pulled along.
Takashi put a crepe on his plate and spoke, "It's fine. A gathering is supposed to be lively, right? By the way, how's the translation work going?"
"I've finished all the translation work you gave me! I was just about to contact you."
"Then after the gathering, I'll come by your place to pick it up."
"Sorry for the trouble, Senpai."
"Are you free this weekend? Let's go fishing. I just got a new fishing rod, and it feels amazing."
"Senpai, have you ever thought that maybe the reason you don't catch any fish has nothing to do with the rod?"
"Are you saying the problem is with the bait? Hmm, that's possible."
Takashi began to ponder.
Shirogane Kei glanced at him with a look of hesitation, as if thinking, "Isn't the problem with you?"
As they finished grabbing food, the gathering officially began.
"Cheers to the first gathering of the Aoba Kendo Club! (゜-゜)つロ～"
As the president, Toji Taku took the lead and raised his drink.
"Cheers (゜-゜)つロ～"
This was Shirogane Kei's first time attending a club gathering, and everything felt new to her.
The others were also very curious about her.
The next president of the kendo club, Tsuzuki Kotarou, was the first to ask, "Kei-chan, did you say your last name is Shirogane?"
Shirogane Kei put down her chopsticks and replied, "Yes."
"Then, what is your relationship with Shirogane Miyuki?"
Shirogane Kei hesitated for a moment but decided to tell the truth, "He's my brother."
"So you're Shirogane Miyuki's sister."
The crowd gasped in surprise.
Tsumugi Torao's eyes twinkled as he turned to Takashi, tapping him on the chest, lowering his voice and saying, "Not bad, Takashi."
"Surpass Shirogane Miyuki? Just go for his sister directly."
Takashi gave Tsumugi Torao a glare.
This senior had once been a pure love warrior, but after being dumped by his girlfriend, his personality changed drastically.
He became a jerk who swapped girlfriends as frequently as changing clothes, not caring about height or body type, always chasing after girls.
His peak achievement was once dating a 300-pound girl.
For some reason, he really liked chatting with Takashi. According to him, "I smell the scent of a kindred spirit in you."
This made Takashi furious.
Wasn't he just calling him a jerk?
"I'm just friends with her," Takashi retorted.
Tsumugi Torao smirked and said, "I get it. Today's friend, tomorrow's sister, and the day after that, holding hands and calling each other babe."
Takashi wanted to refute him but suddenly heard the sound of glass being knocked on with a "bang bang!"
He turned around and saw a large dog face pressed against the glass.
It wasn't an insult; it was genuinely a dog's face.
Takashi's first thought was, "Damn it, where did this stupid dog come from?"
"Kitahara-kun, hello!"
The dog raised one of its paws and greeted him, speaking human words.
Takashi looked at the green "rabbit ears" that popped up from behind the dog. First, he recognized Yotsuba, and then he realized it was his own dog, Kuro.
It had been so long since he had seen him that he almost forgot he even had a dog.
"Yotsuba, stop running around!"
Just then, four girls who looked exactly the same walked over from a distance.
As soon as they saw Takashi, their expressions changed.
'It's him.'
Ichika's almond eyes curved into a crescent.
'He's so handsome, my type!'
Nino's eyes sparkled brightly.
'Why him?'
Miku awkwardly shifted her gaze.
'I'm so hungry, I want to eat!'
Itsuki stared at the food on Takashi's table, trying hard to swallow her saliva.
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