The Case When I Attempted To Break The Heroine's Chastity But It Seems To Have an Opposite Effect - 3 - An Unexpected Opportunity

After parting ways with Keitaro, I made my way back to the cafeteria once again. The buzz of chatter and clinking utensils filled the air as students laughed and shared stories. I stepped into the line to grab lunch, keeping my eyes peeled for any sign of Miyuki or Haruto.

And sure enough, I’ve spotted the two of them, seated by the window. Haruto gestured animatedly, his hands waving around as he spoke. Miyuki, as always, was the picture of elegance, listening with a small, polite smile.

“Time to make my move,” I muttered under my breath.

I grabbed a tray, hastily piling it with food, and approached their table.

“Yo, mind if I join?” I asked, my tone casual as I plopped my tray onto the table without waiting for a response.

Haruto blinked, clearly surprised. “Oh, Ishibara-san… uh, sure, go ahead.”

Miyuki, on the other hand, gave me a sharp look, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Is this going to become a habit of yours?” she asked dryly.

“Hey, I just thought it’d be nice to chat with some familiar faces.”

As I settled into my seat, I turned my attention to Miyuki. “By the way, did you get home safely yesterday?”

Her eyes flicked toward me, and she hesitated for a moment before replying. “I did. Thanks for asking.”

Before I could say more, Haruto suddenly bowed his head slightly toward her. “I’m sorry, Miyuki,” he said, his voice soft but earnest.

Miyuki blinked, caught off guard. “Haruto-kun, what are you apologizing for?”

“For not walking home with you yesterday,” he said, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. “I should’ve been there. It’s just… I was busy trying to recruit people for the club, you know?”

“Haruto-kun, it’s fine. I told you I don’t need you to walk me home.”

I paid close attention to their conversation, taking notes on every aspect. Haruto’s guilt, Miyuki’s reaction—it all provided a clearer picture of their interaction.

“Club recruitment, huh?” I said, feigning curiosity. “What kind of club are you talking about?”

Haruto perked up at the question, his expression brightening. “It’s the Art Club! But… well uhm, right now it’s just me and Miyuki.”

“Just the two of you?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow.

Haruto nodded, his enthusiasm dimming slightly. “Yeah, it’s been hard to get new members. Most people are already part of other clubs, and, well, we’re not exactly the most popular club around.”

“An Art Club, huh?” I leaned back in my chair, pretending to mull it over. “Sounds interesting. What do you guys do?”

“We work on different types of art—painting, sketching, even photography sometimes. It’s really fun, and it gives us a chance to express ourselves. But… if we don’t get more members soon, the school might disband the club.”

The opportunity was too perfect to pass up.

“Well,” I said, leaning forward with a grin, “if you don’t mind, why don’t I join?”

Both Haruto and Miyuki froze, their eyes widening in unison.

“Huh? You? Join the Art Club?” Miyuki repeated, her tone laced with disbelief.

“Why not?” I said with a shrug. “I’ve been looking for something to do after school anyway. And who knows? Maybe I’ll discover a hidden talent for art.”

Haruto’s face lit up with hope. “Really, Ishibara-kun? You’d do that?”

“Sure,” I said, flashing him a grin. “Anything to help out a friend.”

“Since when do you care about art?”

“Oh, I’ve always been interested in it,” I lied smoothly. “I just never had the chance to explore it before. This seems like the perfect opportunity.”

Haruto looked between us, clearly torn. “Well… I mean, we could really use another member…”

Miyuki sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Fine. But if you’re going to join, you’d better take it seriously. I don’t have time for people who aren’t committed.”

“Don’t worry, Kishimoto-san,” I said, my smile widening. “I’ll give it my all.”

As the conversation shifted to other topics, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of satisfaction. By joining the Art Club, I’d positioned myself even closer to both Haruto and Miyuki. It was the perfect setup to gather information, exploit their trust, and execute my plan.

“Alright,” Haruto said finally, a cautious smile forming on his lips. “If you’re really serious about joining, then me and Miyuki will welcome you with open arms Ishibara-kun!”

Miyuki let out a quiet sigh and crossed her arms. “Just don’t treat it like a joke. Haruto-kun and I have worked hard to keep the club going. We don’t need distractions like you.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t dream of it.”

As much as her icy tone could have been a deterrent, it only made the game more interesting. The more she resisted, the more rewarding it would be when those walls finally came down.

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The rest of lunch passed without incident, though I could feel Miyuki’s eyes on me whenever she thought I wasn’t paying attention. Haruto, on the other hand, seemed thrilled, rambling about the upcoming projects they’d planned for the club. I nodded along, occasionally throwing in a comment to keep the conversation flowing. The more I listened, the more I realized how deeply invested Haruto was in this club. His passion was almost admirable.

Well, almost.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, Haruto stood up, grabbing his tray. “And here goes the bell. We’ve got a club meeting after school today. If you’re serious about joining, you should come by. Oh and, here,” Haruto hands out on what seems to be a Club Registration form.

“You should submit this to our club adviser. Looking forward to seeing you after class!”

“Of course.” I said smoothly, standing as well. “Can’t be a club member if I don’t pass my registration form. Wouldn’t wanna miss it.”

Miyuki gave me one last wary glance before walking away, her blonde hair swaying with each step. Haruto trailed after her, leaving me alone at the table with my thoughts.

A few hours later

The hours dragged on until the final bell rang. As students filtered out of their classrooms, I made my way to the far side of the school where the Art Club’s designated room was located. It was tucked away in an older wing of the building, a place most students rarely ventured. The air grew quieter as I walked, the noise of the bustling school fading into a distant hum.

And here I thought it’s been already abandoned. I thought, thinking on the information Keitaro mentioned. Sure enough, it looks deserted, and barely any people would visit here, that’s for sure. But why here of all places?

The entrance to the club room was slightly open, and I could hear Haruto’s voice within, as lively as always. I pulled the door open and stepped inside, welcomed by the faint odor of paint and the sight of numerous art supplies spread across the room. Canvas stands, paintbrushes, and stacks of paper filled the room, creating an unexpectedly pleasant atmosphere.

“Ishibara-kun!” Haruto exclaimed, looking up from a canvas he was setting up. “I’m glad you’re here!”

“Told you I’d come,” I said, closing the door behind me. My eyes scanned the room until they landed on Miyuki, who was seated by the window, sketching in a notebook. She barely acknowledged my arrival, her focus seemingly fixed on whatever she was working on.

“So, have you sent your registration form to the teacher?” Haruto asks.

“Yeah, but he wasn’t there, so I just left it in his table.”

Haruto beams. “That’s great! Oh, and we are just getting started here. Have a seat and make yourself at home.”

I walked over to an empty desk and sat down, glancing at the supplies in front of me. A sketchpad, a few pencils, and an eraser. Simple enough. Haruto began explaining the basics of their current project—something about creating pieces that represented “self-expression.”

“It’s not about being perfect,” Haruto explained passionately. “It’s about showing who you are through your art.”

“Sounds deep.”

“It’s not only deep. It’s important. If you’re going to join this club, you better take it seriously.” Miyuki suddenly looked up from her sketchpad, her expression neutral.

“Don’t worry,” I said, meeting her gaze. “I’ll do my best.”

She looked at me for a while more before returning to her sketch. Haruto, oblivious to the tension, continued to set up his equipment. I took out a pencil and a rather unused sketchpad and began scribbling randomly, all the while eyeing the two of them from the corner of my eye. Their interactions were casual and unreserved, infused with the trust that comes from years of friendship. But trust can be brittle, and I planned to exploit every flaw.

As the time went on, I made an attempt to draw something decent. Haruto frequently stopped by to offer advice, and his enthusiasm was unwavering. Miyuki, on the other hand, maintained her distance and focused only on her own work. I couldn’t help but glance at her sketchpad while she wasn’t looking. Her lines were accurate but fluid, conveying a depth of emotion that was difficult to overlook.

“You’re really talented,” I said casually, nodding toward her sketch.

She didn’t look up. “Thanks.”

“Did you always like art, or is it something you picked up recently?”

She hesitated for a moment before replying. “I’ve liked it for as long as I can remember. It’s a way to clear my mind.”

“Makes sense,” I said. “Must be nice to have something like that. Especially with how busy you are as an idol.”

Her hand paused mid-stroke, and she glanced at me, her expression unreadable. “Why are you so interested?”

“Just making conversation,” I answered with a shrug. “It’s not every day that you meet someone who can do so many things and still perform at all of them. And I commend you for that.”

She didn’t respond, but I noticed the faintest hint of pink on her ears before she turned back to her sketchpad.

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As our supposedly first club activity ended, Haruto clapped his hands together. “Great job, everyone! Now then, it’s getting dark so we’ll resume our club activities tomorrow. ”

As Haruto says it, I look outside, and the surroundings are gradually dimming as the sun approaches the horizon, indicating that the day is almost gone and night will follow.

“Sure,” I said, standing and stretching. “This was actually pretty fun.”

Miyuki gathered her things, slinging her bag over her shoulder. She paused by the door, looking back at me. “Just don’t forget why you’re here, Ishibara-san.”

I smiled. “How could I? See you tomorrow, Kishimoto-san.”

She left without another word, and I followed Haruto out of the room. As we walked down the hall, he turned to me with a grin. “Thanks for joining, Ishibara-kun. It really means a lot.”

“No problem,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder. “I’m looking forward to seeing what this club is all about.”

As we parted ways, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of satisfaction. I was in. Step by step, I was getting closer to Miyuki—closer to uncovering the secrets that would bring this game to its climax.

This is the beginning of the first step.