Hanada Takumi's college life, which he desperately wanted to be uneventful, was about to take another unexpected turn. It was a bright Tuesday morning when Hanada walked into the main hall of the campus, feeling slightly more optimistic than usual. The fresh spring air and the sight of cherry blossoms in full bloom gave him a fleeting sense of peace. However, this tranquility was short-lived.
As Hanada approached the bulletin board near the cafeteria, he noticed a large crowd of students gathered around, whispering and giggling. Curiosity piqued, he moved closer to see what was causing the commotion. To his shock, the center of attention was a flyer featuring his own face.
"Join the Hanada-kun Fan Club!" the flyer proclaimed in bold, glittery letters. There was a picture of him, likely taken without his knowledge, looking thoughtfully out a window, his handsome features framed perfectly by the sunlight.
Hanada's heart sank. This was the last thing he needed. He quickly grabbed one of the flyers, reading the details in disbelief. The club promised regular meetings, discussions about Hanada's daily activities, and even a newsletter with updates on his whereabouts and any interactions he had with other students.
Feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration, Hanada crumpled the flyer in his hand and made his way to his next class. He could already feel the eyes of his classmates on him, whispers trailing in his wake.
---
In the dimly lit meeting room of the Hanada-kun Fan Club, a group of girls sat in a circle, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their president. The room was decorated with posters of Hanada, candid photos capturing his most charming moments, and a large banner that read "We Love Hanada-kun!"
The door creaked open, and Ayaka stepped in, her expression one of manic excitement. "Good afternoon, everyone!" she greeted, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "Thank you for coming to today's meeting."
The girls responded with a chorus of greetings, their eyes shining with admiration for their idol. Ayaka took her seat at the head of the table, pulling out a stack of papers.
"First order of business," Ayaka began, "we need to finalize the plans for our next big event. The Hanada-kun Appreciation Day is just around the corner, and we have to make sure everything is perfect!"
The girls nodded in agreement, their excitement palpable. One of them, a petite girl with glasses named Yuki, raised her hand. "I think we should make a giant card for Hanada-kun and have everyone in the club sign it," she suggested.
Ayaka's eyes lit up. "That's a wonderful idea, Yuki! We'll get a large, heart-shaped card and decorate it with pictures of Hanada-kun and messages from all of us."
As the meeting continued, the girls brainstormed more ideas, from creating Hanada-kun themed merchandise to planning surprise encounters. Ayaka took detailed notes, her mind racing with plans to get closer to Hanada.
---
Meanwhile, Hanada sat in his afternoon lecture, trying to focus on the professor's words. But the knowledge of the fan club's existence gnawed at him, making it impossible to concentrate. He could feel the stares of his classmates, and every whispered conversation seemed to be about him.
"Hey, Hanada-kun," a voice whispered beside him. Hanada turned to see Akari, her expression a mix of amusement and concern. "Have you seen the flyers?"
Hanada sighed, nodding. "Yeah, I saw them. I can't believe this is happening."
Akari gave him a sympathetic look. "I know it's overwhelming, but maybe it won't be so bad. They seem to really admire you."
Hanada shook his head. "It's not just admiration, Akari. It's obsession. I don't want this kind of attention. I just want to be left alone."
Akari reached out and squeezed his hand. "We'll figure something out. You're not alone in this, Hanada-kun."
---
Later that evening, Hanada found himself back in the library, hoping to find some solace in the quiet, familiar surroundings. As he browsed the shelves, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.
He turned around and, sure enough, there was Ayaka, peeking out from behind a row of books. Her face was flushed, and she looked like she was about to burst with excitement.
"Hanada-kun!" she squealed, stepping out from her hiding spot. "I'm so glad I found you. I wanted to invite you to our next fan club meeting. We're planning something really special for you!"
Hanada's heart sank. "Ayaka, I appreciate the gesture, but I'm not interested in being the focus of a fan club. Please, just leave me alone."
Ayaka's face fell, her eyes welling up with tears. "But Hanada-kun, we just want to show you how much we care about you. Can't you see how much you mean to us?"
Hanada felt a pang of guilt, but he knew he had to stand firm. "I understand that, Ayaka, but this isn't healthy. I need my space."
Ayaka's expression hardened, and she took a step closer. "You don't understand, Hanada-kun. We need you. I need you."
Hanada took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Ayaka, please. I can't handle this right now. Just give me some time."
Before Ayaka could respond, Akari and Kenji appeared, having spotted the tense exchange from across the library.
"Hey, Ayaka," Kenji said, stepping between her and Hanada. "I think it's time for you to go."
Ayaka glared at Kenji, but she reluctantly backed down. "Fine," she muttered. "But this isn't over, Hanada-kun. We'll be waiting for you."
As Ayaka walked away, Hanada felt a wave of relief wash over him. He turned to Akari and Kenji, gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you," he said quietly. "I don't know what I would do without you guys."
Akari smiled, patting his shoulder. "We're here for you, Hanada-kun. Always."
---
The following week, Hanada tried to go about his routine as normally as possible. He attended classes, spent time with Akari and Kenji, and tried to ignore the whispers and stares from his classmates. But the presence of the fan club loomed over him like a dark cloud.
One afternoon, as Hanada walked to the cafeteria, he noticed a group of girls giggling and pointing in his direction. He sighed, trying to keep his head down and avoid drawing any more attention.
But his efforts were in vain. As he reached the entrance of the cafeteria, a girl with a camera jumped out in front of him, snapping pictures and asking rapid-fire questions.
"Hanada-kun! How do you feel about the fan club? Do you have any message for your admirers?"
Hanada felt a surge of panic. He tried to push past her, but more girls appeared, blocking his path and bombarding him with questions.
"Hanada-kun, who's your favorite singer? What's your favorite color? Do you have a girlfriend?"
Hanada's mind went blank, and he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He stumbled back, his vision blurring as the world around him seemed to spin out of control.
Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the crowd. Hanada blinked, trying to focus, and saw Kenji leading him through the cafeteria and out the back door.
"Come on, Hanada-kun," Kenji said, his voice steady and reassuring. "Let's get you out of here."
They made their way to a quiet spot behind the cafeteria, where Akari was waiting with a bottle of water.
"Are you okay?" Akari asked, her eyes filled with concern.
Hanada nodded, taking a deep breath and sipping the water. "Yeah, I think so. Thank you, both of you."
Kenji grinned, giving Hanada a playful punch on the shoulder. "No problem, man. We've got your back."
Akari smiled, squeezing Hanada's hand. "We'll get through this together. You're not alone."
---
As the days went by, Hanada found himself growing more accustomed to the presence of the fan club, though it still made him uncomfortable. He tried to avoid the meetings and steer clear of the girls who seemed particularly obsessed, but it was a constant challenge.
One evening, as he sat in his dorm room, Hanada received a text message from Akari. "Emergency meeting in the common room. Come quickly."
Hanada's heart sank. What now? He quickly made his way to the common room, where Akari and Kenji were waiting.
"What's going on?" Hanada asked, his voice tinged with anxiety.
Akari held up a flyer, her expression serious. "Ayaka's planning a surprise party for you. Tonight. In your dorm room."
Hanada's eyes widened in horror. "What? How did she get access to my room?"
Kenji shrugged. "She probably sweet-talked the RA. We need to come up with a plan to stop this."
Hanada felt a mix of frustration and despair. "I just want this to end. I can't keep living like this."
Akari placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure something out. But for now, we need to get you out of here before they arrive."
Kenji nodded in agreement. "Let's go to the student lounge. It's usually empty this time of night. We can wait there until the party blows over."
Hanada sighed, feeling a bit of hope. "Alright. Let's go."