Looks like the club’s official now…

The classroom buzzed with low chatter as the homeroom teacher flipped through his clipboard. Eiji tapped his pen against the desk, eyes on the window, but his ears twitched at the word “clubs.”

– I heard some people in our class want to start a club. I’m happy to hear that, if you have any questions you can ask me after school. – the teacher said in a kind tone while looking at Eiji.

Eiji took a mental note and nodded, the teacher had a satisfied expression, then moved on to other topics.

When the bell rings Masato goes over to Eiji’s desk.

– So, what about the teacher thing? We still haven’t gotten anyone to sponsor the club.

– We’ll figure something out, let’s just get to PE first. – Eiji stood up from his desk.

– What? You’re telling me that we don’t have a teacher to sponsor our club already? So I lost a fight in front of the whole school for a club that doesn’t even exist? – Dai walked over to Eiji and Masato, overhearing their conversation.

– Calm down, it does exist, it’s in our hearts. – Masato put his hand on Dai’s shoulder.

– But Dai’s right nonetheless, you should do something about it. – Tamotsu stood beside Dai.

– Yeah, we’re working on it, do you have a suggestion? – Eiji asked.

– Maybe our homeroom teacher? He seemed to like the idea of students starting clubs. – Masato was voicing his thoughts.

– He’s already sponsored another club. – Shiori suddenly entered the conversation.

– You might have more luck with Takashi-sensei. – Yuuka added with a friendly smile. – She’s our PE teacher and I heard she’s been looking to sponsor a club.

– Perfect! And since you’re already helping, I’ll just put you two down as members. We need girls too, otherwise it’ll be a sausage fest. – Masato’s eyes lit up.
– That’s your sales pitch? No wonder you don’t have members. – Shiori’s eyes narrowed at Masato.

– No, our sales pitch is this guy right here, our proud national champion! – Masato pointed at Eiji.

– Is it actually true, Takemura-kun? – Yuuka looked at Eiji curiously.

– I did win a few competitions, but it’s not that big of a deal… – Eiji scratched the back of his head.

– Wait so it’s actually true? – Dai said with eyes wide open.

– Of course, you thought I lied?! – Masato slightly raised his voice.

– That’s really cool, Takemura-kun, why do you say it’s not that big of a deal? – Yuuka leaned closer to Eiji, her hair touching his arm.

– Because it’s not, now let’s just get to PE before we’re late. – Eiji’s face got slightly red at Yuuka’s closeness.

He walked out of class and got to the gym locker rooms.

– I mean, he is right, see you in PE! – Masato said as he went after Eiji.

Dai and Tamotsu also took their leave, leaving the two girls alone in class.

– We should leave too, Yuuka-chan. – Shiori said to her.

– I just don’t understand why he’s always running from me… – Yuuka was looking at the ground.

– Maybe just… give him some time… – Shiori had a complicated look.

𐲂𐲀𐲢𐲀𐲙𐲦𐲀

Gym class just started, Eiji and Masato were still talking while they were standing in line.

– I’m telling you that I can find a teacher to sponsor the club today. – Masato tried to convince Eiji.

– Do you have a plan at least? Because I don’t think a teacher will just come up to us and ask to sponsor our club. – Eiji sighed.

– Hello class! – Takashi Keiko, their PE teacher said in a loud, firm voice, but her eyes still held a spark of curiosity. – Which one of you is Takemura Eiji?

The class suddenly started murmuring.

– Takemura-kun? What did he do?

– First PE class and he already got into trouble.

Eiji’s brows furrowed.

– How does she even know his name? – he thought.

He then stepped forward.

– It’s me, teacher.

– Great, could you come here for a moment. The rest of you, start warming up! – the teacher called Eiji to her and instructed the class.

Eiji walked to her while the class started the warm-up with hesitant gazes.
– This is our chance! – Masato mouthed to Eiji when he looked back.

Eiji shook his head and arrived beside Keiko.

– You called, teacher? – he asked in a neutral tone.

– Yes, I heard you want to start a club, do you have a sponsor?

– No way. – Eiji thought as his eyes became wide open.

– Is there something wrong, Takemura-kun? – Keiko asked with a concerned gaze.

Eiji shook his head and regained his composure.

– No, teacher, I am fine. Our club doesn’t have a sponsor, however. – he returned to his neutral tone.

– Oh, then I got good news for you! I would like to sponsor your club, if possible. – Keiko said with a smile.
Eiji bowed.

– Thank you for sponsoring our club, teacher. May I ask why?

– You know what my problem was for years, Takemura-kun? – Keiko asked, like she was looking into the distance.

– No, teacher, I do not… – Eiji tilted his head.

– It was that no one wanted to join any martial arts club because the delinquents of the school always went in and beat up every kid. It was bad. But yesterday, I saw you fight and convince Furuya-kun to join your club, so I thought that maybe you could reform every delinquent in our school. – She now looked at Eiji.
Eiji scratched the back of his head.
– Uhh, that is not the purpose of the Baranta club, but maybe that could also happen as a result…

– Of course it will be, I believe in you Takemura-kun, and I will support your club in fighting for justice. – Keiko had a determined expression.

Eiji scratched his head again, uneasy. Justice? Reforming delinquents? That wasn’t why he came here… but refusing her would have been weird.
– I… Thank you for your help, teacher… – Eiji turned around and walked to the other people in class.
𐲂𐲀𐲢𐲀𐲙𐲦𐲀

Gym class ended and people started flowing out of the gym and into the locker rooms.

– See, I told you? – Masato grinned confidently.

– Just shut up, alright? – Eiji shook his head. – It would have been a hundred times easier if she just said no, but now she was talking about some justice. I don’t give a shit about that! I didn’t even think we would get enough members to start it! – Eiji ran his fingers through his hair, grabbing a few strands.

– It seems like you don’t even want to be our president, Eiji. – Masato was shaking his head in disapproval.

– Why start a club if you don’t even want to? – Dai came up from behind them.

– You wouldn’t understand… – Eiji sighed.

– Then tell me, god damnit! – Dai said in an annoyed tone, but Eiji quickly pulled a distance between them and got to class fast. – How can he just disappear like this? – he then mumbled to himself.

– He walks really fast. – Masato responded like he was used to this.

When they got to class, they saw Eiji talking to Yuuka.

– Shh, let him cook now. – Masato said as he stopped at the door.

– Why are we watching him? – Tamotsu also stopped at the door.

– I don’t give a shit about all this, I’m going to just sit down… – Dai entered, not even looking in Eiji’s direction.
– Just live a little. – Tamotsu grabbed Dai by the collar and dragged him back.

– Hey! What are you doing? – he said as he was dragged back. – Let me go!

– Just shut up and watch! – Tamotsu covered Dai’s mouth with his hand.

Eiji was scratching the back of his head awkwardly while slightly leaning back.
– Why is she always so damn close?! – he thought. – So are you saying you want to join the club?

– Yes, I heard you don’t have enough members. – Yuuka was smiling kindly at him.

– Mi a fasz? – he mumbled to himself. – Where did you hear that? – Eiji frowned.

– Ishida-kun told me about it in PE while you were talking to the teacher. – Yuuka leaned closer. – Why? Is that a problem? – she had a concerned expression.
Eiji shook his head and sighed.

– No, I just didn’t know Masato was recruiting members behind my back… – he looked at Yuuka – You sure you want to join?

Yuuka nodded in excitement.

– Of course, I would love to enter the club that Takemura-kun is leading!

Eiji’s face reddened as he took a step back.

– Yeah… Okay, I’ll… write you up as a member.

Seeing Eiji’s reaction and realizing what she said, Yuuka’s face also reddened as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, avoiding his gaze.

– Thank you… – she said.

Then, Shiori suddenly appeared from behind Yuuka.

– I would also like to join, Takemura-kun. But not for the same reason as Yuuka-chan. – she said as she looked at Yuuka’s and Eiji’s reddened faces. – I’m only joining so Yuuka-chan doesn’t get dragged into whatever circus you’re running. – she squinted at Eiji.

Eiji shook his head as the redness disappeared from his face.

– Okay, I’ll sign you up too, then. – he said as he got out a notebook from his bag.

– The coast is clear guys. – Masato told Dai and Tamotsu who were still standing in the doorway.

– So I can let go of Dai? – Tamotsu asked.

– Yeah, were you holding him like that the entire time? – Masato smirked.

Tamotsu took his hand of Dai’s mouth.

– Finally, just leave me out of this shit. – Dai said as he walked to his seat.

– Well, I’ll just sit down too, then. – Tamotsu also walked to his seat next to Dai.

Masato then walked to Eiji and the two girls.

– So, don’t you want to join because I’m the vice-president of the club? – he said, looking at Shiori.

– I didn’t really consider that. – she said in a plain voice. – But now that you mention it, it is nice… – she added in a quieter tone.

– You know, if you say it louder, I might even believe it. – Masato leaned in, grinning.

Shiori rolled her eyes, cheeks still pink.

– Don’t push it.

Eiji sat down at his desk as he stared out the window.

– And now we have seven members and a sponsor… – Eiji sighed to himself. – Looks like the club’s official now…

The club president’s title weighed heavily in the back of Eiji’s mind. He knew he had a hard year waiting ahead of him.