The reason why this genius little girl who doesn't get along with anyone, wants to be only spoiled by me - Episode 23

Episode 23: A Bad Image of the Newspaper Club

After school, just as I was about to head home, an underclassmen girl from the newspaper club—Kumori-san—called out to me.

“Are you really okay with it!? I’m so happy that you’re willing to share your stories about Hoshimiya-san with me! Thank you so much!”

“Well, if you’re fine with just an ordinary story.”

“Ordinary are the best! For now, please come to our clubroom. I am the only one acting in the club, so no need to feel shy!”

And so, I ended up moving from the classroom to the newspaper club’s room.

That said, the place she brought me to was an unused classroom on the top floor. It’s a room which was more used as a storage room than a classroom, really. There was still packed items which is used only during events like the cultural festival or sports day. In far one corner, there was a desk and a chair, almost as if placed as an afterthought.

“I’m sorry about this. Our club just started this year, so all we could gather was this storage room.”

“It started this year… so that’s why you’re the only member?”

“That’s how it is!”

She was unusually cheerful for someone running a one-person club.

Her speech was kind of odd-formal, or maybe just awkward? But her tone was so energetic that she felt more like a sports club enthusiast than a member of the newspaper club, making it was kind of amusing.

“Please, please, have a seat!”

“Thanks… but Kumori-san, aren’t you going to sit down?”

“I’ll stand! I could never sit while a senior is present—that would be unthinkable!”

“I don’t mind, though.”

“Umm well… I used to be in a strict sports club during middle school, so I still haven’t shaken off the habit got from there.”

So she really did have a sports background. Well, a “former one”, though.

It must’ve been quite a pretty intense club. Since Kumori-san had a look on her face—like she’d rather not recall it—so, I didn’t press any further on that topic.

“Now then, about Hoshimiya-san… is it okay if I ask you a few questions?”

“…Before I say anything, can you tell me what you plan to do with the information?”

Now then, let’s keep the introductions to minimal.

Kumori-san seemed eager to dive into the main topic as well, but I decided to lay down some ground rules first.

“If you’re planning to do anything that might cause Hime trouble, I’ll have to stop you.”

She claimed to be in the newspaper club.

But when it comes to newspaper club characters normally, the stereotype is that they chase scoops, often trying to add unnecessary exaggeration or embellishments to the original. That was the kind of bad image I had gathered up my mind.

So naturally, I was a bit cautious. But…

“Hueh? Oh, no way! I would *never* do something to cause her trouble! Wait… is that what you think of me? That’s… kind of shocking…”

…Eh? Arre?

Kumori-san had a face of getting genuinely hurt.

Hmm? Could it be… that I’m the one who’s kept an unfairly pre-judgment here?

[TL: I don’t think so.]

Maybe I’ve been a bit too poisoned by manga and anime stereotypes.

“Just the other day, Hoshimiya-san made a groundbreaking discovery that made the news, didn’t she? I wrote an article about it after interviewing her directly. And as I was working on that, I heard rumors that you’re close friends with her, and so I thought, wouldn’t it be great to include some life stories about her from a friend’s perspective as well!”

…Un. I guess it’s true,

Kumori-san, she’s definitely a good person!

I felt embarrassed for assuming that the newspaper club would only be interested in sensationalist scoops.

From what she said, it sounds like she already got Hime’s input beforehand, so all my worrying was completely unnecessary it seems.

“I am sorry… maybe I was prying in a bit too much, wasn’t I…”

“N-no! I think I was just being a bit too overly paranoid instead!”

Seeing Kumori-san droop her shoulders and look downcast filled my heart with guilt.

Turns out, not every newspaper club deserves to be written off as tabloid/garbage press.