After stuffing themselves with lunch, the three girls took on the task of washing Bai Mo's bento box. It was only fair—they'd eaten most of his food, after all. A quick scrub was the least they could do.
With that done, there was still plenty of time left in the lunch break. The four of them gathered around, chatting happily. Most of the conversation was driven by Yui Hirasawa peppering Bai Mo with questions, while he patiently answered. Yui, ever the food enthusiast, seemed determined to pry some "secret recipes" out of him to share with her little sister. That way, she could enjoy delicious meals at home forever.
When Yui let her plan slip, Bai Mo didn't hold back. He shared the cooking techniques for a few dishes, urging her to take notes. But instead of focusing on the recipes, Yui's eyes sparkled at the mention of other gourmet dishes.
"Don't worry, don't worry! Even if I forget, Hona will remember!" Yui chirped.
Hotaru Manabe sighed helplessly but diligently memorized Bai Mo's cooking tips anyway.
Beyond food, the girls were curious about Bai Mo's homeland, Donghuang. In this world, Donghuang had long surpassed the chaotic United States to become the world's leading superpower. Neon, always quick to align with strength, had shifted its allegiance back to Donghuang years ago. For Neon locals who'd never visited, Donghuang was a land of fascination.
"Donghuang's huge," Bai Mo said. "But it's pretty open now. There's a 144-hour visa-free transit policy for foreigners. If you guys want to visit, I could show you around next time!"
"Really? Really?!" Yui's excitement was uncontainable. "I want to eat Peking duck, crab roe soup dumplings, mapo tofu, red-braised lion's head meatballs, and Dongpo pork!" Her mouth practically watered as she listed off the dishes, barely able to contain her anticipation.
Hotaru gently reined Yui in before turning to Bai Mo with her own questions. She was more interested in Donghuang's historical landmarks and cultural heritage, asking about places like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. Meanwhile, Megumi Kato sat quietly, listening without much comment, as if none of it particularly piqued her interest.
"Oh, oh!" Yui piped up suddenly. "By the way, what clubs are you and Kato planning to join, Bai Mo? Don't we have to pick one? I want to hear your choices for inspiration!"
"What about you, Hotaru?" Bai Mo asked.
"Oh, I've already been recruited by President Amakusa for the student council," Hotaru replied. "But with the school merger, they're still reorganizing. The official announcement's a few days away."
"Hehe!" Yui grinned mischievously. "Once Hona's in the student council, no one's gonna mess with me!"
Bai Mo glanced at Hotaru, who was adjusting her glasses with a calm, confident air. Is this the future power broker Hotaru? he thought, amused. And wasn't there someone called Little Sawa with big ambitions too?
"So, Bai Mo, what club are you joining?" Yui pressed. "You're so tall and buff—definitely a sports club, right?"
"Nah," Bai Mo said with a smirk. "No offense to them, but if I joined, it'd probably suck the fun out of it. Fighting for second place isn't exactly thrilling."
His words sounded cocky, but none of the girls argued. A few classmates nearby, however, rolled their eyes, clearly thinking he was all talk.
"So what club do you want to join?" Yui asked.
Bai Mo's gaze flicked to Megumi, remembering their earlier talk about the "Go-Home Club." Megumi, catching his look, shifted her eyes away, a rare hint of guilt on her face.
He didn't tease her about it. Instead, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I'd love a club where we just sit in a cozy room, sip tea, chat, eat desserts, listen to music, and enjoy the air conditioning."
"What?! A club like that exists?" Yui's eyes lit up. "I want in!"
Hotaru sighed, exasperated. "Yui, that's just a fantasy. I checked out most of the clubs yesterday. The tea ceremony club's got a ton of rules, the cooking club isn't always making sweets, and the music clubs—jazz research and wind ensemble—are way too serious for that vibe."
"Aw, none of them fit?" Yui pouted, clearly disappointed. "I really wanted to join a club like that!"
"Well, don't get your hopes up," Hotaru said.
"Maybe it's not impossible," Bai Mo said with a knowing smile, memories of his past life stirring. "Who knows? You might just get to join a club like that someday."
A light music club, huh? That could be fun.
After their lunchtime chat, the afternoon brought a PE class. Since it was the start of the school year, a burly gym teacher decided to kick things off with a surprise fitness test to gauge everyone's abilities. The tests included standing long jump, pull-ups, grip strength, lung capacity, a 50-meter sprint, and a 400-meter run.
Due to limited facilities, Neon schools typically combined two classes for PE. In the neighboring class, Bai Mo spotted two familiar faces—those loud, energetic girls, Mio Akiyama and Ritsu Tainaka, if he remembered right.
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T/N:
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