Monday was a success. In the sense that there was nothing interesting. And this could not but please. But I remember Tuesday. It started like all the previous Tuesdays, but from the first change it went-it went.
—Sakurai," Imube Kaede addressed me. By that time, I didn't even have time to get up from my seat, and I was sitting at my desk.
— The headman, — I raised my head.
— Have you chosen a club?
—No,— I said. — Still searching.
"Then hurry up, you're the last one in our class who hasn't decided on a choice," she said, still dispassionately.
— Are you going to come up to me every day?
—Every change, if necessary," she replied indifferently.
— Or maybe you just like me? — I tried to get rid of her.
"You flatter yourself," she didn't even raise an eyebrow in response. Then she turned around and walked towards her desk.
— The headman! I raised my voice. And when she turned around, he continued: — After all, you like me.
To which Imube only rolled her eyes slightly and shook her head.
"You're not going to make it," said Raydon, who was standing next to him. And seeing my uncomprehending face, he interpreted it in his own way: - She already has a fiance.
I already rolled my eyes at his words and shook my head.
—You aristocrats know everything.
— And then! he squared his shoulders. — We are like that.
— I wish they would respond to the ad sooner.
— Come on. There's just nothing about time.…
— Sakurai Shinji!
Turning around, I saw three guys standing at the exit of the classroom. Judging by the red ties - the first year of study, that is, my peers. All three are black-haired guys with short haircuts and slightly taller than me.
— Well, who is the king here? I asked Raydon.
— I admit, — he spread his hands, — you're a lucky guy.
— Hey, people, — I waved my hand to the guys, — kom tsu the world.
— Are you a Sakurai? — asked one of those who came up.
— In the flesh.
— Toyotomi Ken, — he held out his hand, greeting. — And these are my brothers. Takumi is a native and Daichi is a cousin.
"You have no idea how pleased I am to meet you," I shook the outstretched hand, standing up. Not a frequent habit in Japan, by the way. — Ohayashi Raydon, — I pointed to my friend, — my friend and classmate. — After which they said hello.
— So ... — said Ken, sitting down on my desk. Apparently, he is the senior in this company. — Do you mind, by the way?
— Yes, everything is fine, sit down.
"So," he repeated, "we have read your proposal and would like to clarify whether we have understood everything correctly. Can you tell your idea in normal words, and not in a streamlined way, as in the ad?
— Well, — I looked at them, — I want to create a club in which nothing needs to be done and which does not need to go after school. I've got a lot to do without clubs, but these disgusting school rules… I need an excuse for the teachers, the school board, and out," I waved my head, "for the class leader. The club will be only on paper, you only need to sign in... these very papers. Well, and confirm, if anything, they say, yes, there is, we are.
— Hmm... simple and understandable. We," Ken and his brothers exchanged glances, —agree in principle. Only five people are needed to create a club…
— I have a fifth. Wakiya Teijo, if that name means anything to you.
— Something familiar... and okay. Then that seems to be it. Are we going to get registered today?
— Why not? After school, we'll meet near the teachers' room, and we'll discuss everything there until the end.
— Is there anything else? — the guy was surprised.
— The stump is clear. The name of the club and what we will officially do there.
— Well, yes, I did. They can also wrap us up if they don't like the club's activities.
— In-in. From these... well, who is doing this there, will overturn us.
— Okay, then see you later. We'll be at the staff room after school.
— Agreed.
After waiting for the trio to leave — by the way, this Ken seems to be a normal guy — he raised his voice again:
— The headman! I'm joining the club today!
— Don't forget to bring me a notification, — Imube answered without turning around.
I just want to call her... mm... the headman.
Raydon, who was standing next to her, smiled when he heard her answer. Like half the class.
At lunch, we were already sitting, one might say, with the traditional composition. I, Raydon and spotted, that is Teijo, I apologize. As well as Sheena, Kino and Aneko, who imperceptibly joined our "dining" line-up. Today's lunch was different from all the others in that there were already two boxes of bento in front of me. One was brought by Sheena, the other by Aneko. I was even a little confused by such a case. But Raydon and Teijo are not.
"You know, comparing two bentos made by women is pretty dangerous," Teijo said. — And you'll have to compare them anyway.
"It's good that you have friends who will always help in difficult times," Raydon continued. — Today, I think it's better for you to eat only my sister's bento, you just haven't tried it. Well, in order for Kagami-san not to be offended, Teijo and I will pay tribute to her cooking.
—Raydon," Aneko said reproachfully. — Believe me, Shinji, I do not claim the laurels of Kagami-san and I am fully aware of what I am capable of. So don't pay attention to these gobblers.
A little more reproach, and you won't even be offended by the "swallows".
— Why does all happiness fall into the hands of evil commoners? Teijo grumbled.
I'm also concerned about this issue. I hope this is a hint of an invitation from Seng. Glancing at Sheena, I noticed her curious gaze directed at the bento Ane-ko prepared for me. It seems that she is the only one of us who wants to compare these bento.
—By the way, yes, Ohayashi-san," Kino asked, "how did it happen?.. She waved her hand vaguely. — Leftovers from dinner? — It's not going to calm down, damn it.
"Does that require a reason, Kino—san?" Aneko smiled. Such smiles are also called duty smiles. She knows how to settle down, and you won't get to the bottom of it. Even if you really want to. — I was just in a good mood this morning, and I decided to cook one more bento.
Kino's face showed that she really wanted to ask why me. But the danger of running into him prevented him from saying the question out loud.
"Why Shinji?" — But the Tire did not bother with such problems.
Aneko didn't answer right away. Before that, she thoughtfully put a piece of fish in her mouth and, after chewing, swallowed.
"I don't even know, Koyama—san. Apparently, I secretly still wanted him to compare what I got with Kagami-san's lunch," Aneko replied with an apologetic expression on her face.
She got out of it. If I'm right, then it was her older brother who suggested cooking the extra bento. But she couldn't say that, otherwise... how should I put it better... it would have turned out that she personally looked at me somehow in parallel. As it is, she seems to be out of business, but she thought about me first of all. In general, as for me, she creates unnecessary problems for herself for nothing. I would have said right away that my brother asked. Even after Kino's question, it was possible to answer like that. Just formulate it a little differently.
After school, picking up Teijo, I went to a meeting with the Toyotomi brothers, and, having already gathered together, we stumbled into the teacher's room. But then the shit started. Or should we call it bureaucracy? We learned from the deputy director that in order to create a club, one of us, the one who will be the president of the club, needs to get permission from his class teacher ... Actually, this is already an achtung. Personally, I did not understand the meaning of this action. Well, anyway, my class teacher was sitting there and signed one of the papers received from the deputy director without any problems. Then, after filling out the questionnaire, we had to contact the student council, or rather, those who were responsible for the clubs in this very council. If we have the gift of persuasion and manage to pass this stage, it is necessary to get the signature of one of the curators, who at school was responsible not for a specific club, but for the floor in the club building. After that, we return to the school board, get a seal on the documents and go to the deputy director, who has already officially fixed the appearance of a new club.
— Um... is the presence of all five required? Toyo—tomi Daichi, Ken's cousin, asked. — Maybe there are enough signatures in the questionnaire?
Unfortunately, I felt the same way. However, why torture guys? My idea, and I run.
—It's better for all five of us to approach the club department of the school board," Ken replied. "And then, yes, I think Sakurai and I can handle it ourselves.
I wonder if he doesn't trust me or wants to support me? Judging by his behavior — the second.
"Personally, I have nothing to do, so I'm with you," Teijo said. To which Ken just nodded.
The first thing we stalled on was the name of the club and its activities. We needed something not completely crazy, but at the same time allowing us to score on the club.
— Maybe a butterfly lovers club? — Ken's brother, who had been silent for some time, gave out. — I didn't see them on the school grounds. If anything, we'll say that we're on the hunt. And where is none of your business.
"Even if there is no such club in the school," Teijo replied, "then there are definitely such societies. As if we were not sent to them. Get out of it later.
— Then let there be a club of information getters, — Takumi did not give up.
—No way,— Ken said.… They will also start demanding information.
Hmm... but it can also take a ride.
— Actually, it's a good idea. Only we're upgrading it a bit. Let there be an intelligence club. And to the question, where do we disappear and what do we do…
"There will be one answer," Ken finished. — In intelligence. In principle, yes, intelligence is a rather extensive concept, and it can work.
— And if they demand specifics from us? Teijo asked.
— We are just learning ourselves. What specifics?
— Well, for some reason we came up with such an idea, - the spotted one did not give up. "Is there anything we should know?"
— For a start, it's enough that everyone knows. We're amateurs, we've had enough. And later... leave everything to me, I'll figure it out. — Do not tell them that my military career, even in that world, began with the GRU?
—Whatever you say," Teijo said uncertainly. And more cheerfully: — And that's right, you're the president of the club, and you keep the answer.
— But if anything, you never know, tell us right away... — By that time we had already exchanged phones. — Let's think it over together.
— Okay, — I summed up the discussion. — Let's move on, we still have to engage in chatter in the council.