Yesterday, Kizhashi wanted to talk to me after school, which was odd because she absolutely hated me. She was quite restless about the whole Uyeno ordeal and she was curious too about what I did. Judging by the way she acts around me, I can tell that doesn't trust me much.

She wasn't delighted about Uyeno apologising to her, and it seemed like she was embarrassed because of the entire scene. But I only did it to make Uyeno and Isobe realise that the consequences of their actions can be worse than this. Kizhashi was concerned, but it doesn't matter if she liked it, because I just kept my part of the deal.

When I was waiting for her outside the school gates, Uyeno texted again on that account and asked if I was satisfied or not. So I was talking to her but then Kizhashi came so I quickly closed the chat and later that night, I deleted the account too. It's better to be careful with this.

Though as of now, I was actually heading towards the Kendo club because I just wanted to talk with senpai and also check some things.

Over the past week, I have become friends with the others and also got to know some things about the club itself from Yuna senpai.

I have been talking with her over text too and she has been giving me updates on how things are going so far. Yesterday I didn't have time to check in with the club activities, so I decided to pop by the club today.

I remember last night, Yuna sent a voice note telling how they were actually able to gather 9 of the participants. Ryuhan was still pissed, but he just agreed to do this for the club.

I reached the club and slid the wooden door with a rusty noise. I could hear the faint voices of people talking inside as the sound was reverberating through the walls.

I stepped forward slowly, and walked up to the big room and the view of students in their keigoki could be seen, but they weren't training, rather they were talking among themselves.

My eyes scanned across the room and the sight of Vivian and Ryuhan talking with the other members caught my eyes. I looked around, and it seemed like they were the participants Yuna was talking about.

Since they were immersed among themselves, I decided not to interrupt them with my presence.

As I was about to turn around and walk back, I came face to face with Naoto.

She was startled too, as I can tell by her wide eyes as she stepped back immediately. I bowed my head down to apologise. I noticed Yuna standing next to her, looking at me.

"Yo! Kouhai-kun," Yuna said with her usual cheerful voice. It was after three days we were meeting.

"Yo Senpai." I greeted both of them, but Naoto didn't react much, instead just looked at me with her cold eyes. She always had a resting bitch face on herself.

"Did you want something?" Naoto asked me.

Now I was indeed here to check up on how things were going, but I can't tell that to her since it'll mess up my actual plan to some extent.

"Nah, I was here to talk, but it seems like they're busy so I'll be going now." I shook my shoulders slightly and replied casually.

Looking over my shoulder into the room filled with the voices of the boys, she said, "Yeah… it's odd, you know?"

"What?" Yuna narrowed her eyes at Naoto in confusion and then shifted her gaze towards me.

"The club has been strangely active since this week started." Naoto also looked at me and said in an indifferent tone, empty of any emotion.

Also, the fact that she thinks her club is acting weird for being active and doing their training is concerning. Did she have loose screws, or some wires got fused in her brain?

I gave her a casual shrug and replied, "Maybe because, the day after tomorrow is the sports festival. That's why…?"

"Could be the reason." She gave me a plausible nod. But then her eyes slanted as she turned towards Yuna, who had this awkward smile on her face and commented, "I don't know… this seems out of the place."

Yuna patted Naoto on the shoulder aggressively and with a loud chuckle, "Naoto, you're thinking too much… should you be happy that everyone is taking this seriously again?"

Well, what she said made sense. As the club president, she should be happy. Maybe she is, but isn't showing it. Or it could be outright that she doesn't give a damn about this.

She again looked over my shoulders, and with suspicion in her voice, she pointed out, "That's the thing… only the participants are here."

"Well, no shit… they would be the one needed in the sports festival." Yuna rolled her eyes. If face palming yourself had a face, then Yuna's face at that moment explained it the best.

"Hummu…" She nodded, her right hand pressing against her boobs as her chin rested between the thumb and index finger. Now that she wasn't in her keikogi, she actually had pretty decent sized boobs.

I heard Yuna's voice asking for affirmation from me, "Isn't it right, Kouhai-kun?"

I was way too immersed with my calculations about something, that I didn't listen to what they were talking about as I asked dumbfounded, "Wha… what?"

Looking at my confused expression, she playfully hit herself on the head and showed her tongue, "My bad… how would you know…"

"Silly me…"

"Yes… you silly." I nodded and called her outright stupid because I was feeling like it.

"Eh!?" She tilted her head because she wasn't expecting that and Naoto chuckled a bit.

To keep the conversation flowing, I asked them something that I already knew, "You guys are taking part in the event too?"

As I asked, Yuna gave a subtle glance and shifted her eyes almost instantly. Naoto, with an agreeable nod, answered, "Yes, I participate every year."

Since I told Yuna to not talk about my plan with anyone, I decided to drop subtle hints about my involvement in the sudden change that occurred. Naoto is quite perceptive, so I'm sure somewhere in her mind, she'll pick these subtle indications.