The lunch bell echoed through the classroom just as I opened my bag, retrieving the tiffin box my little sister had lovingly packed for me. Inside was a colorful meal of omelette rice drizzled with sauce, a few neatly arranged sausages, and some bright, healthy tomatoes. Picking up my chopsticks, I prepared to take my first bite when the sound of approaching footsteps caught my attention.
They stopped beside my desk, and before I could turn to look, a soft yet elegant voice interrupted my quiet moment.
"Hello, Saito-san. Sorry to bother you while you're eating, but would you be so kind as to spare me a moment of your time?"
I looked up, and there she was—Tadashi Lily. Her voice was polite and composed, yet it carried an air of confidence that matched her reputation. For a moment, I found myself staring, a mix of curiosity and awe flickering in my mind.
That's when I noticed it. The room had fallen silent, and dozens of eyes were fixed on us. It wasn't surprising. Tadashi Lily wasn't just anyone—she was one of the most popular girls in school. Everything she did, no matter how small, drew attention like moths to a flame.
And now, all that attention was directed at me.
As I gazed at her in awe, a whirlwind of thoughts raced through my mind. What does she want from me this time? I wondered, feeling the weight of the room's stares pressing against my back like sharp knives. Rejecting or ignoring her request wasn't an option—not with the consequences that would undoubtedly follow.
Swallowing hard, I forced a smile. "Sure, Tadashi-san. I did say I have all the time in the world," I replied, though my voice wavered slightly as beads of sweat began to form on my brow.
Her expression didn't falter. With the same poised demeanor, she nodded. "Great, then. Please follow me," she said simply, her tone carrying a quiet authority that made it impossible to refuse.
"Sure," I repeated, my voice faint as I rose from my seat, already feeling the collective gaze of the class burning into me like a spotlight.
As I followed her through the hallway, it became impossible not to notice the attention she commanded. Every pair of eyes seemed to gravitate toward her—boys and girls alike. Conversations hushed, heads turned, and whispers trailed in her wake like ripples on water.
"Sorry for all this commotion," she said, glancing over her shoulder at me.
I shook my head, offering a faint smile. "No, I really don't mind. Must be tough being so popular, though."
She chuckled softly, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "I've gotten used to it by now," she replied, her tone almost playful. "The stares of admiration, the stares of jealousy, the stares of … even the stares of lust."
There was a smugness in her voice, not arrogant but confident, as if she had long since come to terms with the world's gaze fixed on her.
After following her for several minutes, we arrived in front of a clubroom. The sight of it tugged at my memory—it was the old school storeroom. I'd been here once before, helping the PE teacher carry some equipment. The room had always been locked and forgotten, yet somehow, Tadashi Lily held the key.
She unlocked the door with practiced ease and gestured for me to step inside. "Please, come in," she said, her tone polite yet firm.
Hesitantly, I entered, expecting the same dusty, cluttered space I remembered. But to my surprise, the room was nothing like before. It was immaculate—clean, organized, and almost unrecognizable. It felt more like a personal hideout than an abandoned storeroom.
As I stood there, taking it all in, a sharp click broke my thoughts. I turned around slowly, my heart sinking. Tadashi Lily had locked the door behind us.
Her expression was calm, yet her movements were deliberate as she began walking toward me. Something in her gaze made me instinctively step back, though I wasn't entirely sure why.
"Um, Tadashi-san…" I stammered, my voice faltering as the distance between us closed.
Step by step, I retreated until my back hit the cold glass of the window. There was nowhere else to go. Trapped, I could only watch as she stopped just inches away from me.
Her face leaned closer to mine, the proximity making my heart pound erratically. At over 175 centimeters tall, I rarely had to look anyone directly in the eye, but Tadashi Lily, standing just a little over 170 centimeters, was an exception. Our faces were almost level, and the closeness made my cheeks burn with a deep blush.
Meanwhile, she wore a smirk—a confident, knowing expression that only made my face feel hotter. My mind raced, unsure of what to do next, as she simply stood there, in complete control of the moment.
"Do you know why I called you here, Saito-san?" Tadashi Lily asked, her voice steady and enigmatic.
I swallowed hard, my nerves getting the better of me. "No clue," I replied, forcing a weak smile. "A love confession, maybe?" I added, half-joking, though the sweat forming on my brow betrayed me.
She didn't respond. Instead, she stepped back, crossing her arms as her gaze lingered on me.
"You've been to this clubroom before, haven't you?"
"Yes, once," I admitted cautiously.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she gestured to the room around us. "So? Notice anything different?"
"Notice anything different?" I echoed, glancing around. "It's… basically a completely different room."
A proud smirk spread across her lips. "Of course it is. I cleaned it and reshaped it perfectly," she said, her voice laced with satisfaction. "As someone like me will be using this room, it had to be beautiful and elegant."
"I see," I murmured, nodding absentmindedly. But in the back of my mind, questions swirled. That doesn't have anything to do with me… so why did she go out of her way to bring me here?
A sudden, uneasy thought struck me, and I glanced at her cautiously. Don't tell me… she wants to make me her personal servant and clean this room every day for her.
I shook my head inwardly. No way… she wouldn't go that far… would she?
"So, what does that have to do with me?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at her.
Her lips curled into a sly smirk. "Oh, it has everything to do with you."
I blinked, taken aback. "What...?"
"Because," she said, her tone laced with amusement, "your job is to keep this club neat and clean." She added an angelic smile as if that would soften the blow.
"Huh...? You're joking, right?" My voice rose in disbelief, but her serene expression didn't waver.
"You can't be serious," I pressed, hoping to detect even a hint of mischief in her voice.
"Oh, I'm very serious," she replied sweetly. "This is our club, after all. Someone has to handle the cleaning, and since I've never cleaned a thing in my life, I'll leave it to you."
"Excuse me? What do you mean by our?"
"Our, as in yours and mine," she said, her tone light but firm.
I shook my head vigorously. "No, no, no. It's not possible for me to join a club."
She tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes. "And why not?"
"I have a part-time job," I explained hastily. "And... club activities aren't really my thing."
"So, you're refusing my offer to join?" she asked, her smile unfaltering.
The air between us grew still as I hesitated. Finally, I said, "Yes. I refuse."
Her smile didn't falter, but the silence that followed was unnerving. Then, out of nowhere, she spoke again.
"Saito Mika. Fifteen years old. Third year at Azayakana Middle School. She's your sister, isn't she?"
I stiffened, a bead of sweat forming on my brow. "...Yes," I admitted cautiously.
"An excellent student," she continued, her tone almost admiring. "Brilliant in nearly everything she does. Even I'm impressed. Makes me wonder—are you two really siblings?"
"Get to the point," I said, my voice tight.
She leaned in slightly, her smile now tinged with something sharper. "Does she know that you work a part-time job?"
I swallowed hard. "...Yes," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Oh? Which one does she know about?" she asked, her tone casual but cutting. "The one where you deliver newspapers at the crack of dawn? Or maybe the two waiter jobs you juggle at those family restaurants? Or could it be the late-night video editing gigs you do for content creators? Now, tell me—does she know about all of them? Or would you rather she finds out that you're working yourself to the bone?"
I stared at her, my breath hitching, sweat trickling down the back of my neck. My mind raced, yet part of me wasn't surprised—this was exactly the kind of tactic I expected from someone like her, given the family she came from.
"Are you trying to blackmail me?" I asked, my voice trembling, though I tried to keep it steady.
She tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Eh? Me? Blackmail? Is that what it sounded like?" Her wide-eyed expression was anything but sincere. "No, no, no! I'm just having a normal conversation, asking a few questions I'm curious about."
Wow what a villain, I thought to myself. While glaring at her I said, "Even if you tell my sister, I can't just quit my jobs and join your club. I need the money. That's the whole reason I'm working so much—"
"I'll pay you double what you make daily," she interrupted smoothly, her tone calm and matter-of-fact.
I froze, staring at her in disbelief. "...What?"
"You heard me," she said, her expression unchanging. "I'll pay you double the amount you make every day. All you have to do is join the club."
Her offer was tempting—too tempting. But it was also highly suspicious. High risk, high reward, I thought to myself, weighing the possibilities.
"Alright then," I said after a moment of hesitation. "I accept."
"Wonderful," she replied with an unnervingly sweet smile. She pulled out a folder and slid it across the table. "Here's the contract and the club application papers."
"Contract?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," she said with a tone that suggested I was an idiot for asking. "Even if you're a dull-witted plodder, you can still read, can't you?"
"Of course I can," I snapped, snatching up the papers.
I skimmed the contract, my eyes quickly catching the crucial section. It stated that I, Saito Yuta, was officially joining the club presided over by Tadashi Lily. However, if I left the club before our third and final year graduation, I would be obligated to pay Tadashi Lily a compensation of $10 million.
I blinked. $10 million? My mind scrambled for the conversion. How much is that in yen?
I looked up at her. She was watching me expectantly, her smile sharp and predatory.
"So," she asked, her tone dripping with false innocence, "what's your decision?"
I hesitated for only a second longer before answering, "I'll sign both—the contract and the application."
Her smile widened, a peculiar blend of angelic charm and demonic glee. "Wonderful," she said, her voice as sweet as honey, though it sent a chill down my spine.
After I signed the contract and the club application papers, Tadashi Lily walked over and took both sheets from my hands, her movements smooth and deliberate.
"Welcome to our 'Public Service Club,' Saito-san," she said, her voice carrying a strange mix of formality and pride.
I blinked, still processing the fact that I had just joined a club I didn't fully understand. Public service club?
I thought, surprised. I never imagined Tadashi Lily, of all people, would be the president of something like that.
"A public service club, huh?" I ventured, a bit skeptical. "Didn't you once say that the concept of helping others selfishly is meaningless and idiotic?"
Her expression didn't change, but there was a slight flicker in her eyes. "Yes, I did say that," she answered calmly, her tone thoughtful. "That's why I want to understand what's so special about it. Who knows, maybe someone like me might have a change of heart. Maybe it'll even melt this frosted heart of mine," she added, her voice slipping into something almost wistful, a subtle sadness in the words.
I froze for a moment, surprised by the vulnerability I had never expected from her. Well, that's unexpected, I thought, staring at her. I didn't think Tadashi Lily—of all people—would want to grow as a person.
"Sure," I said, trying to keep my composure. "But what about the others? You do know we need at least five people and a teacher to act as the club advisor for it to be official, right?"
Tadashi Lily nodded confidently. "Of course. I've already prepared three people who aren't part of any clubs, and I've found a teacher to act as the advisor. Technically, you're the last one to join the Public Service Club."
As expected of the Crimson Princess, I thought to myself with a touch of admiration. She had everything planned out.
"Then let me formally introduce myself," I said, standing a little straighter. "Glad to meet you. My name is Saito Yuta, 17 years old, 2nd year, Class 2C."
Tadashi Lily gave a small nod and returned my formal introduction with a poised smile. "Yes, my name is Tadashi Lily, Class 2A, 2nd year. Pleased to make your acquaintance," she said, her voice as refined as ever. But there was something different about her smile—so warm, so genuine, that it took me by surprise.
It was beautiful, unlike any smile I'd ever seen on her before. Even I couldn't help but feel a bit awestruck.
But then, just as I was lost in the moment, the bell rang loudly, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Oh! The bell rang! THE BELL RANG! MY LUNCH!" I blurted out, panic rising in my chest.
Tadashi Lily let out a soft laugh, shaking her head in amusement. "Ha ha ha ha, you're such an interesting person," she said, unlocking the door. As she stepped out, she turned back with a bright, energetic smile. "I'm looking forward to the next one year and seven months."
I stood there, frozen, my stomach growling in protest. I really stepped on a landmine, didn't I...? I thought, my mind racing as the weight of the situation hit me.