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Chapter 6 - Club Royale: A Week in the Life of Jay Markov

Being class rep sounded simple on paper.

You take attendance. You pass on messages. You don't burn down the classroom.

But somehow, within three days, I was:

Flirting with upperclassmen by accident.

Simultaneously breaking three club recruitment records.

Getting called "President" by someone from Class 1-D who didn't even go here.

I never planned to be the center of attention. Yet somehow, by not choosing a single club, I'd made every club want me even more.

Monday – The Drama Club (Noah's Stage Kingdom)

It started with a flyer.

Well, Noah waving a flyer in my face and declaring, "You were born for tragedy, Jay!"

"Is that a compliment?"

"I wrote a script with you in mind," he said. "And three alternate endings where your shirt rips off during the emotional climax."

"…That's not better."

Somehow, I was on stage an hour later.

The Drama Club room was packed. Not just with members—Sofia had "accidentally" live-streamed me entering the rehearsal room, and half the school tuned in.

"I will never forget you," I declared dramatically, hand outstretched. "Even if fate—curses our souls to opposite sides of a magic war!"

Applause. Cheers. Someone cried. I'm not even kidding.

Noah wiped a tear. "We've found our lead."

I left that room with a bouquet of fake roses, five new fan edits on social media, and a whispered promise from a second-year that she'd write a fanfic based on me.

Emma found me afterward.

"You're wasting valuable leadership time on fake sword fights."

I smiled. "You're just jealous I got roses."

"…Shut up."

Tuesday – The Cooking Club (Amaya's Home Turf)

Amaya asked if I'd visit the Cooking Club.

"Only if I get to wear the ridiculous apron," I said.

She handed me one that said 'Whisk Taker'.

The kitchen was warm, cozy, and full of sugar. Literally. I think I inhaled a kilo just from being in the room.

We were supposed to make cookies. I somehow ended up covered in flour with a piping bag in each hand, teaching a girl from Class 1-B how to write names in cursive frosting.

"You're like... good at everything," she said, watching me spell out "sweets before regrets."

Amaya didn't say anything. She just handed me a tray and made me try her cookies.

"They're perfect," I said without thinking.

Her ears turned a little red.

That night, the Cooking Club posted a photo of me holding a tray of heart-shaped cookies. Sofia reposted it with the caption:

"Class Rep. Club Savior. Sugar Daddy?"

I'm never going to live that one down.

Wednesday – Sports Club Frenzy

I just wanted to watch Tyler at practice.

But I made the mistake of standing too close to the track.

"Jay! Try a sprint!"

"Kick a ball for us!"

"Shoot one hoop! Just one!"

I did. I didn't miss. Anything.

I scored a long-distance soccer goal without looking.

Nailed a half-court basketball shot while talking.

And broke a personal record in the 100m sprint. A record that wasn't mine.

Suddenly, I was on three club recruitment posters by the end of the day.

Miles watched from the sidelines, jaw clenched.

"Show off," he muttered as I walked by.

"I tripped into talent," I replied.

"Trip harder."

Tyler fist-bumped me later. "I knew it. You're a legend, man."

I wasn't so sure.

Thursday – Cultural Festival Club Day

This one got out of hand fast.

One girl from the Photography Club asked if she could take "a few shots."

By lunch, there were posters of me smiling beside a fake cherry blossom tree on every hallway bulletin board.

"The theme is beauty in motion," she explained. "And you… you move."

Meanwhile, the Art Club asked me to pose for a promotional sketch.

Luna gave me one long, thoughtful glance, then nodded.

"Your good bone structure," she said flatly.

I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or an insult.

Later, I walked past the Literature Club booth and accidentally got roped into reading aloud from a tragic romance. Three girls cried. One gave me her number in the form of a haiku.

"You are like warm tea

Sweet but burns if you sip wrong

Text me sometime, please."

I didn't know whether to laugh or run.

Friday – Peak Club Madness

By Friday, I had collected:

Two drama scripts with me as the lead.

Three club badges from clubs I wasn't in.

A mysterious handwritten letter signed only "L."

Four phone numbers. Maybe five. I stopped checking.

Tyler kept count like it was a leaderboard.

"You're undefeated this week," he said at lunch.

"I haven't done anything."

"That's what makes it so powerful."

Even Emma, while handing me a schedule draft, said, "People actually listen to you. That's useful."

"That's flirty coming from you."

She blinked. "Don't get used to it."

At the End of the Week...

Every club president approached me during cleanup period.

"You don't have to join," the Volleyball captain said. "Just… show up when we need you."

"Exactly," added the Music Club girl. "You're like a super-sub."

"Or our golden mascot," the Art Club rep chimed in.

I stood in the middle of them all, backpack slung over one shoulder, feeling like some kind of magical NPC in a dating sim.

I smiled.

"Alright," I said. "I'm yours. When you need me."

The clubs cheered.

Noah literally threw glitter.

Emma sighed and muttered, "What have you done?"

Tyler laughed. "He became legend."

And I?

I just smiled again.

Because somehow, I was right where I wanted to be. In the middle of everything. Everyone's favorite chaos.

And I wasn't even trying.

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