Vol 2.2 Chapter 0 – Prologue【True Route】

The summer season has arrived!

“It’s sooo hot, Kajiwara-kun.”

“It really is, Takahashi-buchou.”

Bzzzz, bzzzz, the cicadas chirped.

Spring had long passed, and summer had arrived. Three months had passed since I joined the club in April, and summer vacation was just around the corner.

Even so, what we do remains the same. Finish classes, go to the clubroom, and practice drawing there. And as a club, we all work desperately to prepare our books for distribution at the convention.

That’s right, the massive summer doujinshi convention is coming up soon. We have to get our manuscripts ready by the event date in mid-August — at the very latest, we have to submit them to the printers two weeks prior, at the beginning of August.

All the club members are still clinging to their drawing tablets with desperate expressions, but I wonder if they’ll make it in time.

“Kajiwara-kun, want something to drink from the vending machine? My treat.”

“Ah—”

Today, just before summer vacation, I was on my way to the clubroom with Takahashi-buchou.

Should I let her treat me, or should I decline? As for me, I thought that as a man, I should be the one offering to treat her. However, this is a world with a 1-to-20 male-to-female ratio, filled with crazy, carnivorous women. As a matter of etiquette, rather—

“Thank you. I’ll have an iced coffee, then.”

Since a woman went out of her way to offer, accepting her treat — and politely expressing my gratitude — was the correct move.

“Aye, aye, sir~”

More than anything, we aren’t in a relationship where we need to hold back anyway.

Between spring and summer, the relationship between Takahashi-buchou and me had progressed somewhat. Or so I’d like to think.

In reality, while we had reached a point where we held hands and went shopping once a week — let alone a kiss, we weren’t even officially boyfriend and girlfriend yet.

Well, as it stands now, whether it’s buying things, having tea at a cafe, or challenging a tournament at a card game shop — I consider all of these to be a type of date.

But I wonder what Takahashi-buchou thinks about it?

“Here you go, Kajiwara-kun.”

“Thank you very much.”

The short Takahashi-buchou reached up and handed me the can.

It’s not like I’m trying to rush things. I mean, I’m a guy, too. It’s not like I lack physical desires, but what would I do if I let that side show and ended up being hated?

I haven’t even confessed to her yet.

Gripping the cold can of iced coffee, I pressed it against my forehead.

Let’s cool my head.

“Hey, Kajiwara-kun. I have a favor to ask.”

“Anything.”

“Want to go to the beach?”

The beach, huh.

That sounds nice.

“That sounds great, very summery.”

“Right? It feels kinda like youth.”

The two of us walked along the sidewalk.

If we’re talking about youth, isn’t walking together like this already a form of youth? I pondered such things.

“You see, I want to do something memorable with all the club members. To be more specific, I want to make some good memories during our high school days.”

“Right.”

“Participating in summer card game tournaments is fine and all. Well, a day trip is perfectly fine. Is it a no?”

I had no reason to refuse.

In fact, going to play at the beach with everyone was a type of youth I hadn’t even experienced with my guy friends in my previous life. It was exactly what I wanted.

“That sounds fine. Let’s go. Where was the closest swimming beach around here again?”

I answered enthusiastically.

The beach, huh. It might be a good opportunity to deepen my relationship with Takahashi-buchou and to strengthen my bonds with all the club members. Going to the beach seemed like a very good idea.

“Hmm, Segawa-chan should be researching it frantically right about now.”

Takahashi-buchou was typing something into the “Modern Culture Research Club” group chat on her smartphone. The contents were a cute cat sticker and a simple text that said, “Kajiwara-kun says he’ll join us.”

It seemed the matter had already been discussed behind the scenes. There’s probably a girls-only group chat that I’m not allowed in.

Well, I don’t really mind. It would be rude to force my way into something like that anyway. There is a rift between men and women, and there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed.

“Here we go!”

For some reason, a text message imitating the battle cry of a certain mustachioed plumber. While replying with that, Segawa-san sent over a massive amount of PDF files.

That was all well and good, but if she wanted to go this badly, she could have just talked to me directly.

“She’s raring to go. Well, anyway, it’s the beach.”

“The beach, indeed.”

I need to buy a swimsuit. Would it be a good idea to use looking for a swimsuit as an excuse to invite Takahashi-buchou on a date?

No, no — there’s also the joy of seeing it for the first time on location. Let’s hold off on that.

“Be that as it may, we have a bit of a problem.”

“Yes?”

“Segawa-chan’s head has kinda turned into a party animal’s right now. But that aside, we can’t forget our duties as otaku. We are otaku, and we have to progress our lead-colored youth at the same time.”

Meaning, what exactly?

“Everyone’s manuscripts are delayed. At this rate, the doujinshi we’re putting out for summer won’t be finished. We need to figure out what to do.”

“I’m aware.”

Even though it was right before the summer doujinshi convention, the “Modern Culture Research Club” had plunged into crunch-time mode. Takahashi-buchou alone is exceptionally fast at drawing, so she’s already finished. Since I only started drawing three months ago, I’m still not eligible to participate in the doujinshi.

“Is it looking doubtful whether everyone will make the deadline?”

“Doubtful, indeed. Incredibly doubtful.”

The expressions on everyone’s faces as they faced their drawing tablets were practically ghastly.

“Can we really go to the beach in this state?”

I questioned the situation.

However, Takahashi-buchou snorted with a hmph and gave her opinion.

“The opposite, the opposite. We use this to light a fire under them, telling them to hurry up and finish their manuscripts if they want to go to the beach. It’s a quota. A quota.”

“I see.”

That’s a good idea. So if you want to enjoy your youth, you have to work diligently first.

“Only those who have completely overcome forced labor shall become the foundation for rebuilding through difficulties and achieve final victory.”

“Buchou, the Soviet Union that spouted that nonsense has already collapsed.”

For now, I threw in a dutiful retort.

And so, I opened the door to the “Modern Culture Research Club” room set up in the old school building.

“It’s so hooot, jeez!”

Seeing Toudou-san in her summer uniform with her tie removed, fanning air into her heavily exposed cleavage with a fan — I thought, She’s poison for the eyes, as usual.

A lifestyle with four girls and one guy is quite troubling. I have a sex drive, too. Depending on the situation, how long could I stop myself from losing control?

I was a little lacking in confidence.