"If I join, I might not be able to attend club activities very often."
Murakami Kouki raised his hand and explained, "After all, I still have to go home and accompany my sister."
"Murakami is such a siscon!" Morita laughed as he commented.
The atmosphere among the four of them seemed to have changed.
Kashiwagi Shiki interjected, "But Murakami's sister is really very likable."
Morita, who was beside him, nodded. Murakami's sister was indeed very cute, and the siblings had a very good relationship.
"Thank you. Most of the club activities I can complete by myself, then."
Akira spoke indifferently.
"Eh, Akira, you actually made such a promise?" Kashiwagi Shiki said in surprise.
It wasn't a good thing to always make promises beyond one's ability.
How could anyone rely solely on belief to complete tasks beyond their limits?
That would be irresponsible to others.
"I do have a lot of skills, otherwise I wouldn't have thought of creating this club," Akira said with a bit of helplessness. After all, they had only just met.
He was already very satisfied that newly met friends could trust him so much.
He absolutely could not betray that trust.
"Seeing Akira's confidence, then count me in. If it doesn't work out, I'll withdraw from the club."
"Then there's no way I'll let you have a chance to withdraw from the club," Akira answered decisively, full of confidence.
"Then we'll see."
"We'll see."
A university club needed four people to be established, so Akira now had enough members.
Himself, Wakana, Kashiwagi Shiki, and Murakami Kouki.
His skills included learning, socializing, exercising, cooking, and more, all of which could be taught to others.
Wakana could help people make clothes.
If Akira remembered correctly, Kashiwagi Shiki had once mentioned, in the manga's plot, that he had an older brother who was good at makeup.
At that time, he was also the one who actively spoke up for Wakana.
The classmates he knew were all kind people.
Akira sighed with emotion, thinking that he really couldn't let down others' trust now.
But speaking of which, he seemed to have never encountered classmates who were like villains, which was a pity.
He had a wealth of talents but no way to display them, unable to create those show-off moments.
He sighed. What a pity.
After school, he went to work at the family restaurant as usual, but he didn't see Sajuna, who usually came to visit.
Presumably, she had other things to be busy with.
But it wasn't a big problem. After all, they met every morning, so there was no need to meet specifically during work.
Otherwise, his own life would become a mess.
He wanted to have a good date on Sunday, to eat, drink, and have fun with Sajuna.
After finishing work at the family restaurant, Akira took out his phone and checked the time.
He felt that there was no particular need to go to Sajuna's house today.
After all, the ingredients in the refrigerator had already been replenished, and he would be making bento with Sajuna tomorrow morning.
But his heart was still a little eager, like a strong desire that couldn't be suppressed.
He knocked on the door of Sajuna's house. Sajuna opened the door in a daze, not looking like she had been cooking.
"Aki-kun."
"Sajuna."
"What's wrong?" Sajuna asked. Then she felt it was impolite to let her boyfriend stay outside, so she quickly urged him, "Come in first." She turned to get slippers from the shoe cabinet.
Akira stopped Sajuna's movement. "No need."
"…?"
Sajuna was a little confused.
"I just finished work and wanted to come see you." Akira stared at Sajuna for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
Then he stretched out his arms toward her.
Sajuna was stunned for a second. Then her feet, clad in white socks, thumped across the floor.
Her petite body crashed into Akira's embrace at considerable speed. He tightly held her soft body, inhaling the faint fragrance coming from her.
Sajuna also hugged Akira tightly, as if she wanted to cling to him.
After holding her for a while, Akira felt the timing was right and gently released her.
Sajuna also let go, her face red.
"Is Aki-kun alright now?" Sajuna asked worriedly.
"I'm fine now," Akira replied, breathing a sigh of relief and smiling.
"See you tomorrow, Sajuna."
"Mm. See you tomorrow, Aki-kun."
Akira slowly turned and left Sajuna's house.
Sajuna didn't stand at the doorway like a "waiting-for-her-husband" stone.
Although such meaningless actions felt very touching, in a relationship of mutual affection, there was no need to spend time doing such things.
Back home, Akira put down his schoolbag and took a breath.
He always felt that this empty room made him feel lonely.
He had never felt this way before.
Recently, this feeling had grown stronger and stronger.
He always needed a bit of human presence.
After taking a shower, Akira sat down in front of the computer again and began preparing his light novel submission plan.
His upcoming happy life depended on the success of this light novel, so he couldn't mess it up.
This book would definitely be a huge hit.
Akira thought confidently.
After all, it was a work that, even after writing it, he could still reread several times with great enjoyment.
In the past, when he read his own works, Akira found them as hard to swallow as eating dirt.
---
June 1st, Friday, Children's Day.
Akira prepared gifts for Sajuna and Shinju early in the morning.
After all, both of them were lovely and beautiful girls, so of course they should celebrate this festival.
Even if they were adults, girls were still girls.
Arriving at Sajuna's house, Akira rang the doorbell. When Shinju opened the door, he revealed the prepared bear plushie.
"Ah! Thank you, Akira-ge!"
Shinju hugged the plushie, a satisfied smile on her face.
"I didn't expect to receive a Children's Day gift either."
"Shinju will always be a child in my eyes."
Akira gently stroked Shinju's head, making her smile even brighter.
He always felt that, given their heights, such actions were a little awkward.
After all, Shinju was nearly the same height as him. At 178 cm, there was almost no difference from his 180 cm.
He felt that if he patted her head while she stood straight, the scene would become very strange.
After finishing his internal complaints, Akira walked into the living room.
Shinju was happily hugging her bear plushie, and Sajuna beside her also looked happy.
There was a hint of expectation in her eyes. "Aki-kun, good morning."
"Sajuna, do you want a gift?"
"I do." Sajuna hugged him without any shyness.
Over the past few days, they had hugged many times, so she was clearly no longer as shy.
Akira pulled out a Flower Princess Flame plushie from behind his back and waved it at her.
"Do you like it?"
Sajuna pounced and grabbed the plushie.
"It's Shion's contracted spirit," she said in surprise.
Although she already had several in her room, she still sincerely thanked Aki-kun.
After all, he had put thought into it.
"Thank you, Aki-kun. I love it so much."