The Gardening Club, naturally, was located in the academy's lush garden—a haven of vibrant flowers and perfectly trimmed hedges. It was the kind of place that felt removed from the chaos of the academy, a peaceful retreat that suited someone like Lillian perfectly. As expected, I found her amidst the blooms, tending to the flowers with delicate precision. She was crouched near a bed of roses, her gloved hands gently patting the soil around the roots. Even doing something as simple as gardening, she somehow managed to look like she belonged in a painting.
To be honest with myself, Lillian might be the only heroine I genuinely looked forward to seeing. Everyone else seemed to specialize in raising my blood pressure, but Lillian? She was... soothing, like a breath of fresh air.
"Lillian!" I called out, waving as I approached.
She turned toward me, her soft smile blooming as she stood and dusted her gloves against her pristine uniform with a kind of effortless grace. "Sera, it's good to see you here," she said, her voice as warm and gentle as the sunlight filtering through the trees.
Everything she did radiated elegance. How was that even possible?
"Yeah, well," I began, scratching the back of my neck as I suddenly felt self-conscious under her soft gaze, "I've decided to join the Gardening Club, if that's okay with you."
Lillian's smile widened, and her expression brightened in a way that made me feel unexpectedly... accomplished. "Of course, you're welcome here. I sort of extended an invite last time, didn't I? But I'm glad you decided to join. Did you check out the other clubs first?"
I shook my head quickly. "No. I don't think any of the others would suit me anyway. Your club almost feels... perfect for me."
Her eyes softened further, and for a moment, I wondered if I'd said something too sentimental. But Lillian simply clasped her hands together and said, "That's wonderful to hear. Now we're three out of four members strong."
"Three out of four?" I echoed, tilting my head in curiosity.
"Yes," Lillian explained with a nod. "I've decided the Gardening Club will have a maximum of four members. Any more, and it might become too overwhelming to manage. Keeping it small and simple seems like the best approach."
That made sense. Lillian, as a princess, probably had experience managing far more complicated affairs than a club. Running this must feel like child's play to her.
"I see," I said, nodding along. "That's a smart idea, actually. But wait—who's the third member?"
"Who else but me?"
My heart sank at the sound of that voice. Slowly, I turned around, already dreading what I'd see. And, of course, there she was.
Tessa Vale.
My ever-charming roommate stood just a few steps behind me, her red eyes gleaming with amusement and a knowing smirk plastered on her face.
"You've got to be kidding me," I muttered under my breath.
"Surprised to see me, Sera?" Tessa asked, feigning innocence as she strolled toward us, her long black hair swaying with each step. "Why wouldn't I join the Gardening Club? It's peaceful, relaxing... and now, much more entertaining with you around."
Lillian chuckled softly, completely unfazed by the tension crackling between us. "Tessa joined not long ago," she explained, "and she's been a wonderful addition so far."
"Wonderful addition," I repeated flatly, shooting Tessa a glare.
"Aw, don't look at me like that," Tessa teased, placing a hand over her heart as if I'd wounded her. "We're going to have so much fun together. Isn't that right, Lillian?"
Lillian, ever the peacemaker, smiled and said, "I think the three of us will make a great team. Now all we need is one more member, and the club will be complete."
I groaned internally. So much for finding peace in the Gardening Club. With Tessa here, I could already feel my stress levels rising again.
"Fantastic," I muttered, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "This is exactly what I needed."
Tessa just laughed, clearly enjoying my misery, and Lillian, bless her, simply carried on as if everything was perfectly fine. Somehow, this small and "peaceful" club was already starting to feel like another battlefield.
Just as I thought I'd reached my limit, another figure stepped into the garden. A familiar, energetic voice called out, "Hello!"
I turned toward the entrance, and my stomach sank as I recognized the newcomer.
The Student Council President herself—Claire Clovis.
Claire strode in with her characteristic enthusiasm, her dark brown hair bouncing with every step and her striking violet eyes scanning the garden. She carried her usual air of casual confidence, her black leather jacket draped over her shoulders and her red backpack slung carelessly over one arm.
"Wow, this place is even more beautiful than I imagined!" Claire exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she took in the vibrant blooms and perfectly manicured rows of flowers. "It's like stepping into a fairytale!"
"Claire," I said, my voice laced with both surprise and dread. "What are you doing here?"
She grinned at me, and I already didn't like the mischievous glint in her eyes. "Isn't it obvious? I'm here to join the Gardening Club!"
"You're what?" Tessa cut in, raising an eyebrow. She crossed her arms, clearly amused by the sudden development. "This just got a lot more interesting."
Lillian, ever the gracious host, stepped forward with her signature smile. "Claire, it's wonderful to see you. Are you really interested in joining?"
Claire nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely! I've been thinking about getting more involved in something relaxing, and this club seems like the perfect fit. Plus..." She shot me a pointed look, her grin widening. "It's always fun to see what Sera's up to."
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Why does it feel like the universe is conspiring against me?"
Tessa chuckled, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "Because it probably is," she said with a smirk. "But don't worry, Sera. We'll all take good care of you."
"Don't lump me in with your schemes," I muttered, shooting her a glare.
Lillian, ever the voice of reason, clapped her hands gently to gather everyone's attention. "Well, it looks like we now have our fourth member," she said with a warm smile. "Welcome to the Gardening Club, Claire."
"Thanks, Lillian!" Claire said, beaming. She slung her backpack off her shoulder and looked around eagerly. "So, what do we do first? Plant flowers? Water them? Oh, or maybe prune something?"
I sighed deeply, resigning myself to my fate. What was supposed to be a peaceful escape had somehow turned into another source of stress. With Claire's boundless energy, Tessa's teasing, and Lillian's serene but slightly oblivious presence, this club was shaping up to be anything but relaxing.
"Why me?" I muttered under my breath, earning another laugh from Tessa.
Lillian, ever the optimist, simply smiled and said, "I think this is going to be a wonderful experience for all of us."
Somehow, I doubted that. But at least the flowers wouldn't judge me when I inevitably lost my sanity.
"Also, Claire, are you sure you should be joining this club? Don't you have, you know, actual responsibilities? Like running the entire student council or something?" I asked, trying to sound casual but secretly pleading for her to reconsider.
Please! Someone else! Preferably not one of the heroines! Someone normal would be great!
Claire tilted her head, flashing me an innocent smile. "Aww, Sera, thank you for caring about me so much."
I felt my eye twitch. "I don't care about you! I just think you should focus on your duties! Don't misunderstand me!"
Her grin widened, as if she knew exactly what I was thinking and was choosing to ignore it. "But it'll be fine," she said, waving off my concerns. "It's not like this club will take up a lot of time. Besides, a little relaxation is good for productivity! Isn't that right, Lillian?"
Lillian, ever the picture of serenity, nodded gracefully. "That's true. The club activities will be light and flexible. We'll take shifts caring for the plants, so no one feels overburdened. And sometimes, we'll have tea parties and enjoy the garden together."
Tea parties? Seriously?
"See?" Claire said, crossing her arms with a satisfied nod. "Nothing to worry about. I'll balance everything perfectly."
I stared at her, still skeptical. "You say that now, but I have a feeling this is going to end with me doing extra work somehow."
Claire gasped dramatically, clutching her chest as if I'd mortally wounded her. "Sera, how could you doubt me like this? I would never make you do extra work."
Tessa snorted behind me. "Oh, she absolutely will. You'll end up holding a watering can in one hand and doing council paperwork in the other."
"Exactly my point!" I shot back, glaring at Claire.
Claire just laughed, her carefree energy filling the garden. "Don't be so pessimistic, Sera. This is going to be fun! And besides..." She leaned in closer, her violet eyes sparkling mischievously. "You'll secretly enjoy spending time with me."
I recoiled, holding up a hand to stop her from getting any closer. "Absolutely not. Don't flatter yourself."
Tessa, still clearly enjoying the chaos, leaned casually against a tree. "I don't know, Sera. You're starting to sound like you're warming up to us."
I pointedly ignored her, turning back to Lillian. "So, about those shifts... Can I take the earliest ones? You know, when no one else is around?"
Lillian chuckled softly, her gentle smile making it hard to stay annoyed. "Of course, Sera. If that's what you prefer."
Thank you, you an angel!
"Perfect," I muttered, already picturing myself sneaking into the garden at the crack of dawn, free from the torment of my wonderful clubmates.
"Don't think you'll get rid of us that easily," Tessa teased, catching on to my plan.
"Great," I said flatly, resigning myself to my fate yet again.
Lillian went over and wrapped an arm around my shoulder, "Now, now. Let's stop teasing, Sera. It's time to establish the club officially."
The Gardening Club was supposed to be my sanctuary, a peaceful escape. But now, with Claire's boundless energy, Tessa's relentless teasing, and Lillian's serene leadership, it was shaping up to be just as chaotic as the rest of my life.
I sighed, turning to the nearest flowerbed. At least you won't judge me, I thought, addressing the flowers in my mind. They were officially my only allies in this battle for sanity.