Clubs

After beating Aldrich in the tennis match, a swarm of people gathered around Alex and his group. These people were all from sports-related clubs. They who had witnessed Alex's athleticism wanted to invite him into their club.

If they have even one more talented player their budget might increase. Not only is Alex a talented individual, but he was also a first-year which meant his full potential was still unknown, his future was limitless.

"Hi Alex I'm from the tennis club, and with your serve being a pro is not just a dream for you."

"No shit! Why would he want to join your club that challenged him? Join the karate club instead, I saw how you hit the ball with your palm, you must be practicing some form of martial arts. You could release your full potential with karate."

"How about joining the swimming club?! It's full of girls that would love to talk to you while wearing swimsuits."

"No, join the dance club! I saw how you balanced your body, your flexibility is exquisite! If you join the dance club you can touch a girl's body anytime. How about you join with Miss Rachel that way you two can become couple dancers."

Many clubs were trying to gain Alex as a new club member but he couldn't care less, he looked at Rachel and Oliver: "What club are you two in?"

Rachel sighed at Alex's question she knew the reason why he would ask her this question. "I used to be in the archery club, but I stopped going since I was the only member left. The club has been disbanded now I'm in the go-home club."

"Heh, I don't find any of the current clubs interesting and so I guess I'm in the go-hom club as well." 

"Then I guess I'll attend the go-home club with you guys." Alex looked at his two companions as if she was they were the only thing his eyes could see. 

The different clubs hearing Alex's question and his two companions' answer already knew what to do. The club that can rope in Rachel or Oliver, can get Alex.

"Miss Rachel a girl needs to know how to defend herself in these dangerous times, how about learning karate?"

"I already have Alex to defend me why should I learn karate?" Rachel shut down the karate club members.

"How about you Mr. Oliver, with your physique you and Alex can become champions."

"Hmph, competing in such things isn't exciting enough," Oliver answered.

"How about learning how to dance? Isn't it romantic to dance with your special partner?"

"I can dance anytime I want since I already know how to dance. If I wanted to dance with Alex I can just teach him how to properly dance."

"How about you Oliver dancing can help you express yourself." 

"I'm always expressing myself no need to dance for it." The dance club members didn't know what to say to that and left the scene dejected.

The other clubs tried to persuade Rachel and Oliver but were shut down by Rachel's logical excuses and Oliver's whimsies. When every club member failed, one final pitch for the club was proposed. The one who asked was none other than Alex's friend Oliver.

"If you are not interested in any club, how about creating a new one? Not only will it look good on our resumes we could also get some club funding."

There was a huge commotion when the students watching heard Oliver's proposal. Not able to take all the attention anymore, Rachel told Alex and Oliver to change locations before continuing the conversation.

The three ran out of the school premises and headed towards a family restaurant. Seeing as it was his first time in such an establishment Alex followed Rachel and Oliver's lead.

The three sat down and ordered some food and drinks. When the three had properly settled down Rachel was the first one to start the conversation.

"Hey, Oliver did you really mean it? When you said we should create a club."

"Yes, I did... You know even before this I've also been asked by many clubs to join them, but not one of them made me feel like joining. So now I found out my new comrades were not attending any club, I thought that the three of us should create one."

Rachel shook her head at the easy-going answer Oliver gave her. "You do know you need at least five people to be able to form a club, with the three of us we could only make a circle. If we create a circle we won't be able to get club funds, but we could be given an empty room to do our activities."

"Then that's what we should do."

"Stop making decisions for the three of us... What do you think Alex?" Rachel felt a little exasperated at Oliver's gung-ho attitude, so she asked Alex his opinion on the matter.

"I haven't been in a club or a circle before, but as long as I can stay with you guys then it doesn't matter." 'I could observe you better if you're close by and I can fulfill my duties as a friend.' Not hearing the thoughts Alex was having, Rachel felt embarrassed for Alex saying such a cheesy line.

"Well said comrade! So what say you, Rachel? Let's enjoy our high school life while we can." Oliver without caring about the other customers started laughing heartily. One of the waiters reprimanded them for being too noisy. Rachel apologized to the three of them since both Oliver and Alex didn't seem like they wanted to apologize.

Rachel felt a little headache coming and sighed. "Fine, then what kind of circle would you want to create?" This was but a start to a very eventful high school life.

...

"I want a circle that would make my excitement boil with youthful vigor!" Oliver exclaimed what he wanted the circle to be like. Rachel already lost all hope with Oliver so she looked at Alex.

"How about you what kind of circle would you like to create?"

"Before I answer... Can you explain to me what a circle is?" When the two heard Alex's answer they almost smacked their faces at the surprising question.

'Don't you know what a circle is? Are you really a student?' Though Oliver was still keeping a cool unperturbed appearance deep inside he was confused as well.

Noticing their weird looks Alex explained his situation. "Before transferring here, I have always been homeschooled. This is the first time I have heard of clubs and circles."

Hearing Alex's timely explanation the two were able to calm down. 'Still, I wonder why he would be homeschooled until now, and then suddenly attend a public High School?' Rachel had many questions about Alex but decided not to pry. She decided since they might eventually start dating the secrets they have will slowly be revealed. If she knows the answers to all his mysteries even before they start officially dating, then once they do date it might get boring real quick. As they say a bit of mystery in a couple will help the passion burn longer.

Oliver, on the other hand, was getting excited. 'A mysterious transfer student who has been homeschooled all his life has suddenly entered a normal high school. Not only that his father is both a martial arts enthusiast and a survival enthusiast. It's like Alex came straight out of a novel, and I'm part of it! Hehehe, there actually might be hidden implications in Alex's transfer.'

As Oliver was going deep into his delusions, Rachel started explaining what Circles were.

"Circles are a gathering of like-minded individuals too well... Basically they just gather to have fun doing what interests them."

"Then what's the difference between a club and a circle?"

"A club is a more serious and bigger organization. The clubs are also supported by the school and given funds to operate. Since a club can bring more prestige to the school, and the majority of them join tournaments a percentage of their winnings if they ever win are given to the school."

"Then why don't we create a club instead?"

"Like I said you need at least five members to create a club, you would also need a teacher to be the supervisor of the club. Not only that, you need to explain to the Student Council how your club will benefit the school. So all in all in our current state it's better to simply make a circle, and if we ever expand then we just upgrade our circle into a club."

"That does sound like a good plan."

After explaining everything to Alex, Rachel looked at him and asked one more time. "So Alex what kind of Circle should we create?"

'It really doesn't matter what kind of circle is created as long as I can observe my potential target, all other things become unnecessary...'

Alex's thoughts were cut off when he saw Oliver's expectant look, as well as Rachel's hidden excitement. 'Are those things really unnecessary? I could try to have fun with them... Yeah if I have fun with them then they won't suspect me, and find out anything regarding the mission.' Alex couldn't notice the subtle changes in his thinking, but slowly and surely he was changing.

"Like I said it doesn't matter what kind of Circle is created, as long as I as you two are with me it's enough," Alex said so with his indifferent tone of voice, he looked at Rachel and Oliver with his emotionless face.

Rachel who once again heard the same cheesy line felt goosebumps, but when she saw Alex's calm-looking face as he said those lines so seriously she felt her heart beating faster. Oliver was also feeling a deeper sense of camaraderie from Alex.

"We still haven't decided what kind of Circle we should make. You guys are no help at all, both of your ideas are so vague." Rachel sighed as she kept going back to the point that they had no idea of what kind of Circle they should create.

"Why not start a self-defense enthusiast circle?" Oliver suggested, Rachel looked at him like she was looking at a fool, but after thinking for a moment Rachel's expression changed.

"You know that can actually work. Self-defense doesn't just revolve around martial arts, there are many ways to defend oneself, researching the different ways to defend oneself might actually be interesting." Rachel was being affected by Oliver's enthusiasm.

"So what say you comrade?"

"If you two are doing it then, of course, I will too." Oliver smiled brightly as he gave Alex a thumbs up.