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After messing around with the second young lady, Andrew strolled back into the classroom feeling refreshed.
The moment he stepped inside, Mahiru Shiina and Nibutani Shinka both instinctively glanced his way.
As for Kato Megumi—well, her presence was so faint that even if someone looked straight at her, they'd hardly notice.
Seriously, this girl was born to be an assassin.
Mahiru's attention was only natural; after all, she was Andrew's girl.Morika, though, was watching him for another reason—yesterday he'd casually dropped that old, embarrassing alias from her chuunibyou days: "MoriSummer."
The thought that Andrew might know about her humiliating middle school past made Shinka's heart race with anxiety. She bit her lip and clenched her tiny fists.
That's it.No more hesitating.She had to make progress with her "investigation" today—or else, there'd be no peace left in her school life.
So, after the first history class in the afternoon, Nibutani Shinka walked up to Andrew with a bright smile.
"Um, Andrew, I heard you started a club about light novels, manga, and games. Sounds really fun. Could I maybe join?"
As she spoke, she clasped her hands behind her back and leaned forward just slightly. A lock of hair slipped down onto his desk, carrying with it a soft, tempting fragrance.
Her uniform pulled tight across her chest with the motion, making her curves stand out even more. Her slender waist arched gracefully, and with those long white legs wrapped in short black socks peeking out from under her skirt… yeah, she was basically maxed out on charm points.
Andrew's eyes flicked down toward her chest before he caught himself. Instantly, he thought that Miss Yukinoshita really needed to hurry up and grow a little faster.
Still, he kept a bright smile on his face and nodded gently.
"Of course you can. My club's always happy to welcome Shinka. But… aren't you already in the dance club? I heard the cheer squad trains every day. Would you even have the time to join another club?"
In response, Shinka tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, showing off her delicate profile. She flashed him a sweet smile.
"No problem at all. The dance club only needs one short practice each day, and the moves aren't hard. I've already memorized them. I can definitely make time for your club's activities."
"Alright then," Andrew chuckled. "In that case, just hand me your club application after class."
"Mm-hmm, it's a promise. I'm really looking forward to joining your activities, Andrew."
Her big, dewy eyes lingered on him for just a second before she spun gracefully on her heel, leaving behind only a faint trace of perfume as she returned to her seat.
Most boys would've fallen head over heels for that smile.
But Andrew already knew she was only cozying up to him to make sure her dark past stayed buried. She wanted into his club just to snoop.
So instead of being charmed, he actually felt like laughing.
Morika was adorable.Putting on such an alluring act… well, if she was going to pretend, he wasn't about to play along.
Back at her desk, Shinka silently congratulated herself.
Nice! First step of infiltration: successful!
Now she just had to figure out if this guy actually knew that "MoriSummer" was her old cringey chuunibyou self.
As she flitted back like a happy little butterfly, Kato Megumi gave Andrew a sidelong glance, her expression oddly wry.
"So… looks like our ghost club's getting another member?"
"Ghost club?" Andrew tilted his head. "Why do you call it that?"
Megumi's face was as calm as ever, her tone flat as she teased him.
"Because ever since it was founded, our club hasn't done much of anything. If you're not dragging me and Shiina to play games, then it's just us going to work part-time together. Honestly, I'm not even sure this club has a real reason to exist."
She was working at Youko Saionji's café now, usually paired up with Mahiru Shiina.
If Shinka joined too… wouldn't that just turn into private time for her and Andrew?
Andrew, however, leaned in and said seriously, "Kato, that's where you're wrong. Our club absolutely has meaning—and it's important meaning, too!"
"Even though you and Mahiru are busy with part-time jobs right now, club activities don't have to be limited to school. Working is still real-world practice, and it helps fuel creativity for our club projects. So yeah, I count that as club activity too."
"Oh, I see," Megumi said lightly. "So does that mean Shinka will be joining us for work today as well?"
"Of course," Andrew replied without hesitation. "She said she was interested, so she must've already prepared herself for that."
Megumi tilted her head. "Is that so?"
"Obviously! I can already feel her enthusiasm for our club. So this afternoon, I'll give her the full hands-on experience."
At that very moment, Nibutani Shinka had no idea she was about to be roped into a part-time shift. She was still busy scheming how best to show off her charm and coax Andrew into spilling the secrets she wanted.
Afternoon came, and with it, club activity time.
Nibutani Shinka stood behind the counter in a shop uniform, her eyes dull but her lips fixed in a polite smile.
Whenever a customer entered, she would automatically bow slightly and recite the usual line: "Welcome."
…Wait. Hold on.Wasn't she supposed to be gathering intel on that kinda-handsome guy, Hayashi Andrew, under the pretext of asking about "HoriSummer"?Why the hell was she working part-time here instead?
His club was supposed to be the kind where people just hang out, read manga, play games, and waste time. Since when did it turn into some "real-world training" job placement program?
She was still a high schooler! Why was she already being thrown into society like this?
Moriya grumbled inwardly, but her body told another story—she slipped into the role of a shop clerk with surprising ease.
The only odd thing was… besides Andrew, every other staff member here was a cute girl.
At first, Shinka felt a little bitter about that. But before long, her expression had shifted into something closer to excitement.
Social practice like this was rare. Normally, she wouldn't get a chance until her second or even third year. Being introduced to this part-time gig early wasn't so bad—good prep for the future, and a way to build experience.
Thinking about it that way, maybe Andrew's club was useful after all.Even if it did feel a bit like false advertising.
Who would expect a fun-looking otaku culture club to suddenly herd its members off to go work shifts?
Shinka adjusted quickly, thanks in part to Mahiru Shiina and the others helping her out. With familiar faces guiding her, she relaxed and fit right in.
Before long, she'd slipped naturally into Mahiru, Kato, and Asada Shino's little circle—chatting and laughing with them while working side by side.
Meanwhile, Andrew had once again been dragged into the break room by Youko Saionji. Not that he'd gone willingly.
It was just… she had those.That perfect figure, the deep valley of cleavage, the flash of pale skin—hard for his eyes not to wander.
And most dangerous of all, Yōuko had practically tackled him into her room, pressing close.
Now lying in Youko Saionji's break room, Andrew could faintly smell her gentle fragrance. His eyelids grew heavy almost at once, and before he knew it, he had drifted into sleep.
There was something about her—something strangely familiar.Yōuko felt it too.
Watching Andrew sleep peacefully, she couldn't help but smile softly. She reached out and brushed her hand through his hair with gentle affection.
"Andrew, if you keep letting your guard down around me like this… onee-san might not be able to hold back, you know?"
The best hunters often appear in the form of prey.So really—who was tempting who?
Her face flushed as she stared at his handsome features. Her heartbeat quickened.
Ever since her daughter Sekai was born, this was the first time she'd felt her heart race for a man like this.
So this was what it felt like… falling for someone.
But then a thought hit her. Wait—who was Sekai's father again?
Her brows furrowed. For some reason, Andrew's face flickered across her mind.
No way…Was she just so desperate for him that her brain was playing tricks?
But oddly enough, even little Neiru Aonuma couldn't remember who her father was.
It wasn't that they had forgotten—it was more like not remembering him felt… natural. As if it was the way things were always supposed to be.
Weird. Really weird.
"Forget it," Yōuko muttered, shaking the thought away.
She gazed at Andrew's sleeping face again, her expression softening.
"If Neiru saw him… she'd definitely fight me for him. That'd be a problem."
She and Neiru Aonuma shared a lot of similarities—especially when it came to their taste in men.
That was why both of them understood perfectly well that Setsuna and Sekai were half-sisters.
Still… whose daughters were they, exactly?
Her thoughts spiraled again as she stared at Andrew's face. Slowly, unknowingly, her heart sank deeper.
The father of my child…?
The idea popped unbidden into her head. Her cheeks went scarlet.
God, she really had marriage on the brain. She needed to rein herself in before she scared the poor boy off.
"..."
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