The days following the school festival drifted by in a soft, golden calm. The excitement that had once filled every hallway of Sakura High slowly quieted, replaced by the usual rhythm of classes, laughter, and late autumn afternoons that carried the faint scent of fallen leaves. Yet for the Cosmic S.T.A.R Club, something had shifted — their name was no longer whispered in curiosity, but in admiration.
The trophy gleamed on their shelf like a captured piece of the universe, and every time Beru passed by it, she couldn't help but smile. It wasn't just a symbol of victory. It was a memory — of teamwork, of sleepless nights, of laughter under the stars.
That morning, Beru unlocked the clubroom early, sunlight spilling through the windows and glinting off the telescope lenses. She hummed softly, placing her bag down, her thoughts still light from the past week. Soon, the familiar voices filled the air — Souta's energetic chatter, Luna's calm greetings, and Tadao's quiet footsteps. Haruto entered last, as usual, with a lazy stretch and a soft grin.
But there were two new presences today.
"Good morning!" chirped Aira Minazuki, the silver-haired girl, her voice bright enough to rival the sun itself. She wore her enthusiasm like a badge of honor, her short bob of hair bouncing as she hurried inside.
Behind her came Ren Ito, the auburn-haired boy, balancing a heavy-looking box in his arms. "Morning, everyone! Uh… I brought something!"
Souta raised an eyebrow. "You're not trying to bribe us already, are you?"
Ren grinned sheepishly. "Maybe just a little." He set the box down on the table and opened it to reveal an assortment of homemade cookies, each shaped like stars, moons, and planets — some expertly made, others questionably uneven.
Beru gasped. "Oh wow! You made these?"
"Yeah," Ren said proudly. "My mom's a baker. I asked her to teach me a few things before I joined the club. I thought I'd share it as a 'thank you for letting us join' gift."
Aira nudged him teasingly. "He's trying to win hearts through snacks."
Souta grabbed one immediately. "Well, it's working!"
Luna, ever the elegant critic, bit into one delicately and smiled. "They're wonderful, Ren. You've officially raised the bar for club snacks."
Beru clapped her hands together. "I think this deserves a celebration tea! I'll make coffee and tea for everyone."
Tadao stood, already moving toward the kettle. "I'll help. It'll be faster if we both do it."
As the room filled with chatter, Haruto leaned against the windowsill, arms crossed, watching quietly. There was something refreshing about seeing new faces blend into their rhythm — like fresh constellations appearing in a familiar sky.
Once everyone had their drinks, Luna took her usual seat at the head of the table. "Alright, everyone. Since our new members are officially here, we should start by deciding what they'll be working on."
Ren straightened up. "I'm interested in building things. I don't have advanced robotics skills like the science club, but I love creating simple mechanical models — like miniature solar systems or projection displays."
Beru's eyes sparkled. "That's perfect! You can help us design new star models for the classroom display!"
Aira raised her hand eagerly. "I like drawing! I'm not super experienced, but I do digital art — I can design posters, banners, maybe even help decorate the room!"
Souta leaned forward, grinning. "Aira, you just became my favorite person. You have no idea how long it takes me to draw a halfway-decent planet."
Luna chuckled softly. "Then it's decided. Ren, you'll assist with astronomy tools and mechanical projects. Aira, you'll help Beru with design and displays."
Ren and Aira exchanged an excited glance. "Yes, ma'am!" they said in unison.
The day rolled forward in bursts of energy.
Ren spent the morning examining the telescope, chatting with Haruto about lens alignment and stability. Haruto was surprised at how quickly Ren grasped things — though he tried not to show it too obviously.
"You've got good instincts," Haruto said at one point, adjusting a focus ring. "Most people take weeks to figure out this much."
Ren grinned, wiping his hands on a cloth. "Guess I just like understanding how things work. I used to build little machines when I was a kid — though half of them exploded."
Haruto smirked. "Remind me to stand back next time you start experimenting."
Meanwhile, across the room, Beru and Aira were surrounded by color palettes, sketchbooks, and a glowing tablet.
"What if we redesign the club's banner?" Aira suggested, tapping her stylus thoughtfully. "Something that represents all of us — like constellations connected by threads of light."
Beru's eyes softened. "That's beautiful. It's like… how we're all different stars, but we shine brighter together."
Luna looked up from her notebook, smiling. "A poetic thought, Beru. I like it."
By afternoon, the room was filled with laughter, paint, and bits of paper — their teamwork messy but alive. Souta accidentally spilled paint on his sleeve, and Aira tried to help him clean it, only to smear it worse. Tadao joked about turning it into "artistic cosmic camouflage," which sent everyone into a fit of laughter.
For the first time, the new members felt completely at home.
Later that day, when the sun had dipped low and the golden light filled the clubroom, Luna called everyone together again. "Before we end for today," she said, "I'd like to hear what everyone thinks our next step should be. We've won the festival — but what's next for the Cosmic S.T.A.R Club?"
A hush settled.
Souta raised his hand. "Can we maybe host an open stargazing night for the school? Something simple, but meaningful?"
Beru's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea! We could invite families too — and maybe have a small exhibition of the projects we've made!"
Tadao nodded thoughtfully. "We'd need permission from the school board, but it's doable. It'd also attract new members next year."
Luna smiled. "Then it's settled. Our next event — the first-ever Cosmic Night at Sakura High."
The room filled with cheers and clapping.
Aira nearly jumped with excitement. "I'll design the invitations!"
Ren grinned. "And I'll start working on the light projectors. I've been wanting to build something that can simulate the movement of the stars in real-time."
Haruto looked intrigued. "You're ambitious. I like it."
"Ambition's what got us first place," Souta added, raising his cup dramatically.
As they packed up, the day's soft glow lingered. Beru helped Aira gather the sketches, humming quietly to herself. Haruto watched her for a moment before speaking, "She's a good addition to the team, isn't she?"
Beru looked up, smiling. "They both are. I think… they make us feel more alive."
"Yeah," Haruto said softly, eyes drifting toward the trophy shelf. "The club's growing — and maybe, so are we."
---
Evening fell, painting the classroom windows with streaks of violet and amber. The club had finished for the day, but no one seemed in a hurry to leave. The laughter, the warmth, the new energy — it all made the room feel like a second home.
Ren stood by the telescope, gazing through it. "You know," he murmured, "when I look at the stars now, I don't just see light. I see stories — yours, ours. It's kind of amazing."
Beru turned toward him, touched by his words. "That's what this club does," she said. "It helps us see the sky differently."
Aira added softly, "Then let's make sure others see it that way too."
The last light of the sun faded, and Luna locked the door behind them. The group walked together down the quiet hallway, the sound of their steps echoing gently.
As they reached the school gate, Beru looked back once more. The windows of their clubroom glowed faintly, the trophy inside catching the moonlight.
"Do you think the stars ever watch us the way we watch them?" she asked softly.
Haruto glanced at her, his voice low but certain. "If they do, they'd be smiling tonight."
And with that, they walked home beneath a sea of shimmering constellations — the Cosmic S.T.A.R Club, now shining brighter than ever, with two new stars joining their endless sky.
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To be continued...