Natsume Enako stood in front of the door to Room 210. As she gently turned the key in the lock, a wave of sleepiness washed over her, and she stifled a big yawn.
Her day had been exhausting. In the morning, she'd been busy adapting to her first-year junior high school courses. The afternoon was filled with exploring after-school clubs and deciding which one to join. Then, she spent time exercising her ability and riding her bicycle around the seventh school district.
From waking up at precisely 7:29 a.m. to now, Natsume Enako had hardly rested for a moment.
Tokiwadai Middle School really lives up to its reputation as a school for "elite girls," she thought. Not only did it offer numerous college-level courses, but the curriculum also included etiquette, household management, handicrafts, and even cooking classes. It left her astonished.
(Explanation: Tokiwadai is an elite school that expects its students to excel not only academically but also in practical and cultural skills.)
Are Tokiwadai girls expected to learn the equivalent of university material while still in junior high?
Persian carpet restoration, the gold-foil repair method for gold-threaded painted plates, music lessons involving piano and cello—Tokiwadai's offerings seemed endless. Even its foreign language electives exceeded a dozen options.
"It's tough, but I can still keep up with the pace," Natsume muttered to herself. "The increased calculation ability from my powers helps not just with abilities but also with studying these complex subjects."
No wonder Tokiwadai's admission requirements demanded Level 3 abilities or higher. Without the enhanced mental computation provided by such abilities, understanding these challenging subjects would be nearly impossible.
Just as she was about to let her yawn escape, something caught her eye. She immediately closed her mouth and tried to suppress her sleepiness.
In the distance, a figure clad in a sharp black women's suit, holding a pointer and wearing black-framed glasses, was inspecting something along the corridor.
Natsume quickly opened her door and slipped inside Room 210.
"Thankfully, she didn't see me yawning," Natsume whispered to herself with relief.
"Tokiwadai's elite must maintain decorum at all times and in all places. Yawning in public is utterly unbecoming of a young lady," Natsume said in an exaggerated tone, mimicking the dormitory supervisor's voice.
Finally, she let herself collapse onto the sofa by the window with a sigh of exhaustion.
Natsume Enako's dormitory was furnished with two large beds, two spacious bookcases, desks, and a cozy sofa.
The dormitory itself was not small, covering about 40 square meters. This was the standard setup for most student dormitories in Tokiwadai Middle School.
For now, Natsume lived alone. There were more dormitories available than there were students, and those who wanted roommates needed to apply to the dormitory supervisor.
"It's really hard to be a lady. Not only do you have to pay attention to your appearance, but you also have to maintain proper etiquette at all times," she murmured, secretly venting her frustration. "It seems like all private schools in the academy are like this. Aristocratic girls' schools like Tokiwadai Middle School are even pickier."
Natsume hugged a huge stuffed bear on the sofa and retrieved a tablet hidden in its plush belly.
She had heard that Senior Misaka also owned a large stuffed bear, rumored to contain many items that violated school rules. Natsume Enako feigned ignorance about such matters.
In Academy City, technological gadgets were ubiquitous, and their prices surprisingly affordable. In fact, Natsume's bicycle had cost significantly more than the tablet she now held in her hands.
As she casually browsed a few webpages, sleep crept up on her, and she dozed off on the sofa. The tablet in her hand suddenly beeped, displaying an unread message.
Natsume-san, the teacher reminded us to choose the club we want to join by tomorrow or the day after. Don't forget, or you'll end up in the default club! ? — Wannai Kinuho
...
The next day, in the activity room of the cooking club, Natsume Enako found herself staring blankly at several second-year students meticulously slicing vegetables with the grace of young ladies.
Nearby, a group of senior students, dressed in neat aprons, were attempting to handle a lively fish. Suddenly, water splashed everywhere, startling the seniors so much that they stumbled backward. The fish slipped from their grasp and flopped onto the floor.
"What a mess, my juniors!" exclaimed Senior Shichijou, a second-year student, hands on her hips. She glared at the flustered members before picking up the fallen fish. With a swift, decisive motion, she ended the fish's struggle.
"Natsume-san, have you decided which club to join yet?" Wannai Kinuho asked with a cheerful smile, approaching Natsume. Without waiting for an answer, she handed Natsume a flyer.
Natsume Enako, at only twelve years old, was smaller than most of the students at Tokiwadai Middle School. She wasn't very tall, standing about half a head shorter than Wannai Kinuho.
"Is this the swimming club? Wannai-san, are you planning to join the swimming club?" Natsume Enako asked curiously, looking at the flyer in her hand. It seemed like the swimming club was a good choice. At least there would be no need for department activities during winter. The swimming club was quite popular at Tokiwadai Middle School, especially since summer was approaching. The current high temperatures were expected to last for many days, and for many Tokiwadai ladies who disliked the heat, swimming was certainly a great way to stay comfortable.
However, for Natsume Enako, the swimming club held no appeal. After all, her ability was temperature control, so for her, it would always feel like spring.
"Yeah, my ability is to control water flow, so joining the swimming club is a strong match for me," Wannai Kinuho said, placing her thumb on her chin as she thought for a moment. "But in winter, the water temperature can get too low, and that's a problem. But if you join, Natsume-san, you could practice swimming happily in the winter, just like now. What's your decision?"
Wannai Kinuho leaned against Natsume Enako's clothes and felt a cool breeze, then instinctively leaned closer with a refreshed and contented look on her face.
"Natsume-san's ability is amazing. It's like a miracle in summer," Wannai Kinuho said, a hint of envy in her voice.
"I'm sorry, I'm not really interested in the swimming club, but if you ever need help during the winter, I'd be happy to assist," Natsume Enako said, feeling a little embarrassed. In truth, Natsume Enako wasn't interested in club activities at all. She'd rather stay in her dormitory reading comics or playing games than participate in any club activities.
"If you must join a club, I'll have to think carefully about it," she added.
"It's a shame, Natsume-san," Wannai Kinuho said with a smile. "But please take your time and think it over. You should definitely find a club you enjoy." She ruffled Natsume Enako's hair affectionately, then led her to explore other clubs.
There were too many clubs to choose from, covering all sorts of interests. Tokiwadai Middle School, with a student body of just over 200, had many small clubs, each with only five or six members. Larger clubs, like the music, swimming, and badminton clubs, only had about thirteen or fourteen members.
After wandering around for about half an hour, Natsume Enako walked out of the activity room of the Kaidan Club, her head down, under the reluctant gaze of the Kaidan Club president. Wannai Kinuho, who was beside her, also looked pale and was still in a state of lingering fear.
"It's amazing that you can use holographic equipment to create realistic ghosts, but I think this club is just a big haunted house," Wannai Kinuho said, glancing at Natsume, who also seemed unhappy.
"Let's go, let's go for a walk," Natsume Enako said, a bit frustrated. She would never join such a club.
At Tokiwadai Middle School, almost all students join clubs. Not being part of a club is seen as a sign of being unsociable, and it could even affect your grades. However, some student organizations in Academy City are recognized by Tokiwadai Middle School, such as the Pinch Sister Shake.
The only ones who can safely avoid joining a club and still be admired and liked by most Tokiwadai students are probably Tokiwadai's strongest electric princess, Senior Misaka Mikoto, and another LV5, Senior Shokuhou Misaki, the leader (president) of the Queen faction, the largest faction (club) in Tokiwadai.
"Natsume-san, are you thinking about starting your own homecoming club? Although the school allows it, you'll lose a lot of points in etiquette and communication," Wannai Kinuho said worriedly.
As they were walking, Wannai Kinuho suddenly bumped into something. She looked closely and realized she had bumped into Natsume Enako.
Natsume Enako had stopped in front of a classroom, and she didn't know when she had picked up a strange club introduction flyer.
"What's wrong?" Wannai Kinuho asked, a little surprised, as she looked at the name of the club posted on the classroom door.
"Urban Legend Investigation Club!?"
"Natsume-san, are you interested in this club?" Wannai Kinuho asked, sounding uncertain. The club seemed a bit strange, and it sounded similar to the Ghost Story Club they had just visited.
"Well, it's said that the club's activities don't require staying in the school activity room. After class, you can freely search for and investigate urban legends in the Academy City."
"And it seems they have established a connection with an urban legend website, where they can publish some of the urban legends they've investigated. As long as the members of this club find or investigate an urban legend every month, they can earn credits and funds for normal club activities." Natsume Enako's face lit up with excitement. Isn't this the salted fish club I've always dreamed of?
[A Japanese word made up of two kanji: 怪 meaning "strange, mysterious, rare, or bewitching apparition" and 談 meaning "talk" or "recited narrative". It can also refer to a Japanese ghost story or horror story.]