As the bell that signalled the start of the homeroom period sounded, I just made it to the door of my classroom,1-B.

“Alright get to your own seats everyone, homerooms’ starting now.”

Many a few students were shifting back to their original seats, some were rushing their work while others were preoccupied with their own stuff. As for me, I began to take out the latest hit-selling mystery novel, “The Casket”.

If one were to ask what my favourite genre of any novels were, it would definitely be the Mystery genre. Why is that you ask? Simple, of all the genres out there, mystery is the only one I will be able to fully grasp and without the need for any feelings. Romance flicks would require one to understand the characters feelings, action would involve bonds, friendship and the like. But mystery? It simply allows readers to read and find out about all the tricks and reasons behind each and all mystery.

“Kanjouu.”

“Here…”

I replied to our homeroom teacher Kouda-Sensei instinctively while still being occupied with the book. It took awhile before the he finished marking the attendance and moved on to teach literature.

Throughout the classroom, I could see various students taking notes, some were sleeping, and a few were sneakily eating their lunch. I wasn’t exactly a good student as well so I was pretending to pay attention while thinking about after school. Now that I think about it, what do I actually need to do to start a club.

Going by procedures, I need at least 3 members and an advisor. I am pretty sure Kouda-Sensei isn’t in charge of any clubs so he could be my advisor. The main problem is … members. Who would actually want to join a random club with no goals and most importantly, with the school reject.

“Should I just give it up?”

As I said that, a thought ran through my mind.

“Wait a second, why did I want to start a club in the first place?”

A whim? But that’s also not feasible, I would not have been feeling curious enough to start a club. Unless… I was feeling curious about starting it? In any case, this is the first time since then that I had felt something resembling an emotion. No, I can’t just give up the club now, I will not stop trying to find members….

“Tak!”

A pure white chalk flew across the classroom and had hit me straight in the forehead.

“Kanjouu… Even if you are pretending, your eyes give it away.”

Kouda-Sensei said as he mercilessly threw the chalk at me. The classroom was followed by little giggles and some loud laughter.

“That goes for the rest of you who are eating or sleeping. The chalk’s next target will be you.”

After that sentence, the class went silent once again. I guess I will think about the rest after school, for now I better pay attention before my forehead gets any more red.

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“Ring!!”

The bell of lunch break started, and a single girl walked out of classroom 1-A.

“Psst, hey look at her!”

“Woah Red hair, that’s rare”

“So slender…”

“I’m so jealous”

“Is she the rumoured transfer student?”

Various voices and murmurs echoed the hallways as a mesmerizing figure strolled pass.

“What a worst first day it is, getting mugged and now having rumours.”

“Where is that guy from this morning… According to his tie, I’m pretty sure he is a first year like me.”

The scarlet headed girl roamed throughout the first-year floor before stopping abruptly outside the window.

“This is…1-B. So, he’s there huh?”

As I was reading my book while having my earphones on, I could subtly see the various eyes of the classroom looking outside. Not that I will have any interest, nor will it concern me. I avoided looking at continued my book. That is until I see all their eyes focus on me. And then my shoulders were lightly tapped by a slender hand.

“Hey you.”

“….? …Me?”

“Who else would I be talking to you?”

I was taken back by the sudden conversation and the stranger that was in front of me.

“Come with me, I have something to talk to you about.”

“No thanks. I don’t even know you.”

A straight reply. Although I may sound harsh, but that might be what anybody would do if a random stranger would talk to them.

“D-Don’t know me? You already forgot I see. Anyways I still need you to come with me.”

With that sentence, she dragged me by the collar and began to pull me out as her scarlet red hair was swaying and smacked me face first.

All eyes of the students both inside and outside were staring straight at us. What did I get myself into this time, I don’t like where this is going.

“What, What? Is this…a confession?”

“No way, the school reject?”

“Curse you!”

“Why him of all people???”

“…you sure seem hated.”

She said softly to me as she dragged me away.

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I found myself at the rooftop of the science building on the other side not before long. I am still thinking of the aftermath of this with the various glares of the guys and the new rumors popping up. But first, I need to find out what this girl wants.

“Umm, do I know you from somewhere?”

“Sigh… you really didn’t remember. The girl from this morning.”

“The girl from…Ah!”

I exclaimed out as I recalled the spectacle this morning in the alleyway near school. I knew I should not have taken that shortcut even if it meant being late. That just brought more trouble.

“Anyways, I called you out here for one and one reason only.”

“And that would be? I don’t think I did anything that would require you to hunt me down.”

“I want to thank you. That’s all.”

“W-what?”

What was this girl talking about? You mean, she searched for me without knowing my name, found me, made a huge scene and dragged me out all the way here just to thank me?

“I’m sorry to say this, but for what purpose?”

Anyone who hears this would react just like I did, feel a little surprised and ask what did I do to deserve her thanks.

“You got me out of a bind, I was going towards school through this alleyway as it seems like I would be late and I got cornered by the 3 of them.”

Ah she was just like me, taking that alleyway to avoid being late and getting into trouble. Perhaps that particular alleyway is cursed.

“But why thank me? I didn’t really do anything.”

“Don’t get me wrong. I just can’t leave a debt unpaid for, no matter how minor or insignificant it was and truth be told you did help prevent me from being late. So, I guess my thanks was for that?”

This girl, she was just thanking me due to her own sense of righteousness, I guess people like her do appear in this world. Come to think of it, a girl that stands out as much as her, I don’t think I ever seen her before.

“Hey, what’s your name? I don’t think I heard it or even seen you before.”

“Sigh. You can’t possibly have seen me before, after all I just transferred today.”

Transferring just 4 months into the first year of school, what in the world made her do that?

“The names’ Honoka Miyano. Nice to meet you.”

“Kanjouu Yuusuke… the same to you.”

“But seriously though, just by dragging you out, you sure attracted a lot of attention, is it because of what people were calling you, what was it…the school reject?”

“Ahhhh, that is true too but it isn’t why they were staring.”

“Hm? Then why did they stare.”

“Well, if one sees the beautiful transfer student suddenly dragging the school’s lowest student out, they would stare”

“W-wha...”

Her cheeks dyed a slight flush of red as she spoke.

“Ahem, anyways why did they call you the reject?”

“Ah, that is because…”

I began to tell her about how I was treated how I am due to me being unsocial and the mood killer.

“Hm I see. But you don’t seem so bad now do you?”

“Maybe to you, but that might be because today’s the first day you know me”

Lunch break was almost over and I would really like to get back to my class now. That is to hopefully solve all the people that would approach me before class start. More importantly, after school I will have to think of what my club does.

Wait a minute. My club needed members didn’t I, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to ask her.

“Hey Honoka-san.”

“Just Honoka is fine.”

“Alright, Honoka. Are you interested in any of the clubs now by chance?”

“I got to see the clubs on the school webpage, but I didn’t see anything I wanted. Why do you ask?”

“Well… the thing is, I’m trying to start my own club and I need members, 3 to be exact.”

“Heeehh. What kind of club is it about? If it seems interesting I might join.”

“That… I didn’t get that far yet…”

“Pfhh…Hahahaha! You invited me to your non-existent club that you didn’t think about yet. What is it with you? Hahahah!”

She burst into laughter towards my sentence and began to look like she might choke on her own laughter.

“T-that is…I have no words…”

“Hahaha! Sorry sorry. I got carried away.”

She tried her best to stop laughing while wiping away a few tears in her eyes.

“You are interesting! I’m down for your ‘club’ that you want to create…Pfh!”

She burst into another fit of laughter after she accepted my invite.

Wait…accepted my invite?

“Y-you really will be in my club?”

“Yeah sure!”

“Without knowing even what its’ about?”

“That’s the fun part!”

“Really?”

“Really”

She gave off a bright smile towards my exclamation of surprised at her acceptance to my club.

With that, the current ‘Unnamed’ club has currently 2 members. That went exceptionally better than I expected it to be. I already got 2 out of 3 members before school even ended.’

Today sure was a fulfilling day. With the sudden dragging out of the classroom by Honoka and the various surprises I got.

Yeah, surprises…Surprises?

I felt…surprised? Now that I think of it, this is the second time since then that I felt yet another emotion again. Maybe I am on the right track. Maybe I could regain what was lost if I continue what I’m doing.

I better thank Kouda-Sensei for his suggestion and ask him to be our advisor.

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