Episode 8

Now, all of the recommended students are gathered, and AWU is officially safe from disbanding. All of the members have taken their respective seats. Shin, Eru, Ze, Shion, and Veena are on the left side, and Lucas, Angi, Ayumi, and Bleex are on the right side.

The first years somehow escaped Ayumi’s wrath for their tardiness, and yes, it’s mostly Veena’s fault. Luckily, Veena’s achievement, which is recruiting Lucas, improved Ayumi’s mood. Ze is still busy looking at the cat pictures on his phone. He successfully received the pictures from Ayumi. Ayumi wouldn’t be surprised if Ze made the cat pictures as a lock screen. Eru is also interested in Ayumi’s cats, so she takes a peek at Ze’s phone now and then.

Shin is busy stuffing his face with the food Shion and Angi gave him. Both girls took pity on him when his stomach was growling loudly when they arrived, so it’s fortunate, they had snacks left from their recess and gave them to Shin. Shin thanked them, which caught the girls by surprise, not only the girls but also Ze, they wouldn’t think Shin knows how to say thank you, but he did.

Finally, Bleex just watches all of the members in the club from his seat. He’s delighted that there are more girls in the club and there’s something he noticed when the first years arrived, especially Lucas. Bleex shook his head and pushed the thought out of his mind. ’It’s better to keep quiet about this and not pry.’ Bleex thought.

“How did you even manage to recruit Lucas?” Ayumi asked Veena with a serious look. She already thought Lucas was a first-year student, but she didn’t expect the first-year members to be all classmates. Ayumi was going to ask Shion and Angi to handle the recruiting since Veena seems like a lost cause, but surprisingly enough, Veena managed to pull it off.

“How? It’s all thanks to my irresistible charm.” Veena said with a smug look on her face as she flipped her hair, all so proud of what she had done. Angi and Shion snorted at the same time.

“Hello? What part in scaring the poor guy to the point he shrieks and trembles in fear is an irresistible charm?” Angi raised one eyebrow as she pointed her finger at Veena. Angi is still feeling guilty that she’s partly responsible for Lucas' reaction since she blocked Lucas’ way of escape. She also thinks Shion is feeling guilty too since Angi can see Shion looking at Lucas with a worried look.

“Yes, Veena. I admit your approach could have been done more gently.” Shion said, rubbing her temples. She’s still tired from their way to the clubroom. To be more precise, she’s tired of pointing the right direction to Veena. Shion swears she almost tied a rope to Veena, connecting to her because every time they take a turn, Veena miraculously disappears and gets lost. The whole way from their classroom to the clubroom felt really long because they had to find Veena every time she got lost.

Shion and Angi’s words were like a stab to Veena because they were right. Now, she feels bad.

“U-uhmm…guys? It’s really a-alright. I don’t mind. Ms. Harley already i-informed me about this c-club. It just took a while to a-approach you guys so thanks for r-reaching o-out.” Lucas nervously said when he raised his hand, stumbling on his words.

“See? All is well, ends well. Let’s start with the club acti-Ow!” Veena cried in pain when she felt someone stepped into her foot. She immediately looked at Shion.

“What was that for, Shion?”

“What? Wait! It isn’t me!” Shion quickly waves her hand in denial

“Hm? What is it, Eru?” Ze asked Eru when he felt someone tapped his shoulder. Eru looked at Ze in confusion.

“What? I didn’t do anything.” Eru said and tilted her head to the side.

Ayumi clapped her hands, trying to get everyone’s attention. “Okay, that’s enough. Let’s start the club activity, shall we?” then she stood up, making her way to the blackboard and wrote the club activity they will do for today.

‘Introductions!’

“Introductions! Since this club aims for socializing and social interaction. The very first step is to know each other, right? All the members needed are already gathered so let’s introduce ourselves to each other. Say your name, age, year and section, dreams and any detail you want us to know. Let’s go by the order of who joined first. Starting with me!” Ayumi excitedly said, eyes shimmering with delight. Her smile might even rival the sun’s radiance.

“Nice! That sounds fun!” Veena chirpily agrees with the idea, raising her one hand. Then when realization hits her, her smile vanishes

Then the club activity of AWU Alliance starts now.

“Wait! That means I’m next after you!” Veena groaned and slowly put down her hand.

“No sh*t, genius.” Ze mumbled but Veena clearly heard him and shot him a glare. Ze innocently ignored her.

“Greetings, members! I’m Ayumi Di Cadis. I’m eighteen years old. Third year student in Class One. About my dream, I haven’t thought anything yet but I want to live peacefully with my two lovely cats. Their names are Lili and Kulet. I’m a big fan of horror and thriller and if you have any recommendations, let me know.”

Everyone applauded after Ayumi gave her introduction and she proceeded to her seat. She noticed the chair was moved slightly backward for her to take her seat. She figured Bleex moved it for her so she thanked him. Bleex gave her a puzzled look and thought ‘Did the chair just move on its own?’

“Oh! So that’s why the two of you took too long in the H-hmph!” Shion didn’t get to finish her sentence when Ze quickly shut her up, putting his hand on Shion’s mouth. Ayumi and Bleex only looked at them in confusion while Eru, Angi, Veena and Shin nervously gulped in silence.

“Shhh! Shush your mouth unless you want us to get busted. We don’t want another strike two from Ayumi, do we?” Veena whispered to Shion. Shion immediately realized her blunder but she’s annoyed that Ze’s hand is still on her mouth, so she pinched his hand.

Ze yelped and quickly let go. “Woman! Either shut up or don’t cause trouble. It hurts like hell.” Ze rubbed his hand, which Shion pinched, and Shion just stuck her tongue out in response.

‘Serves you right, Mad Satan.’ Shion thought to herself

“Oi! Lost Girl! It’s your turn.” Ze stated as he was making a gesture as if he’s shooing Veena away.

“Rude! I was about to start, okay?” Veena responded as she quickly stood up

‘She didn’t deny she’s the Lost Girl.’ The remaining members had the same thought.

“Hello! Nice to meet you all and welcome to AWU Alliance. I’m Veena Bisha Mon. I’ll be seventeen by this month. I’m a freshman in Class One. If it’s about my dream, then it definitely must be a job that helps my favorite streamer! As long as I can help him, that’s enough for me. His streamer name is Papillon. Check him out on ULive.” After Veena was done and took her seat, everyone else gave their applause

‘An A, huh.’ Bleex observed and kept his thoughts to himself

“Isn’t that streamer the one with a butterfly mask?” Angi asked, and this immediately lifted Veena’s mood.

“You know him? I mean, he’s popular but I didn’t think anyone would recognize his streamer name here.”

“He is famous. His followers are almost in millions, and he just started out.” Shion joined the conversation. She and Angi often see Papillion’s videos in the recommendation section on ULive.

“Papillon. So, that explains the butterfly mask. Papillon is a butterfly in French.” Shin blurted out as he yawned with his mouth wide open. Everyone looked at him, the very first thing he said in the room, and it surprised them that Shin knew this. Well, except for Eru.

“What?” Shin furrowed his eyebrows

“Shin IS the smartest student in our year. He even gave the opening welcoming speech when we were first years.” Eru beamed in delight, very proud of Shin’s achievement. The person who had the highest score on the entrance exam will be the one who will give the speech.

“Wait…that brat who did the welcoming speech last year was you? Hell must have frozen over.” Ze was utterly bewildered by this fact, pointing his finger at Shin, and Shin swatted it away.

“Oi! Mad Satan. It’s your turn. Make a move on, we don’t have all day.” Shin mimicked the gesture Ze made to Veena earlier. A vein is clearly visible in Ze’s temples.

“Veena, will you please stop tugging at my skirt?” Shion said to Veena and Veena just stared at her, dumbfounded at what Shion was talking about.

“It wasn’t me.”

“Then who-“

Ze quickly stood up and loudly said

“Bow down, commoners! I’m Ze Rov. I turned seventeen last March. I’m a second-year student in Class One. I don’t really have any dreams since everything is planned out from the start. Sh*t happens and I’m stuck with you all. My whole name is literally only five letters, so remember that.”

“Wait.” Veena raised her hand again

“Didn’t you just say you’re seventeen? And you had the gall to serve us beer in our very first meeting?!”

Veena stated in exasperation

“You little! I already told you the reason. Did you forget you literally spat the beer on my face?!”

“Now, now. No fighting, guys.” Ayumi calmed the two down, and she remembered Ze’s last name. ‘Rov, where did I hear that from?’ She gasped in realization

“Isn’t Rov the name of the family who owns the biggest conglomerate in the country?” Ayumi said her thoughts out loud.

Ze gave a long sigh and curtly replied “Yes.”

“WHAT?”