Chapter 7: Humanities Clubs are Mostly Normal

When I was done talking to the clubs in the basement I went up to the first floor, mostly there were the humanities clubs like literature, art, culture, and theater. The first one I decided to check out was room 101 the literature club. The door was wide open, and only two people were currently in the classroom besides myself. One was a taller girl with short black hair in a beige colored cardigan reading a book next to the window in the back of the room. The other was a short kid sitting at a desk also reading something, he was learning his torso over the desk.

"Excuse me, may I-"

"Yes you can come in, that's why the door is open." I was cut off quickly by the kid at the desk who didn't even look up from his book.

"I am with the-"

"Student council, looking around different clubs, do I need anything you might be trying to ask, no we are fine, please say something new would you." Again I was cut off quickly before I could even finish over half of my sentence. I wasn't mad exactly, but curious.

"How did you know what I was going to say?" He leaned his book forward, finally looking at me, his eyes were dark yellow, he had light brown hair, and was wearing a green mantle half cape with black squares similar to what the VP of the knitting club had on her scarf, they had probably made it for him, he wore this over a black suit and red tie. He was still leaning over the desk.

"Because, the president informed me in advance. You don't have to visit every club in this school, you're wasting your time being here."

"Can you please explain how I am wasting my time?" I asked sincerely.

"The witchcraft club downstairs can get their materials from the nurses office, and the literature club has unlimited access to the school's library and external resources. Going around asking every club if they need something when some clubs will never need more stuff is a waste of time for you and them."

"I understand that, but it is important to meet with everyone at least once, what if they do something, or what if people don't know they can rely on the student council, it's important to make connections with everyone I can, is it not?"

"I agree, making connections is important, but you're in a time crunch aren't you? Certain clubs need a lot of items fast and others don't need any materials. If you're going to make friends with every club, do so on your own time."

His argument made perfect sense. I was asked to get a list of materials before the next student council meeting. Given every club meets for about two hours after school, and each meeting with the clubs takes various amounts of time, the odds of me getting everything each club needs in time would be slim. My plan to meet with every club wasn't bad, just time consuming.

"Here is a pop quiz for you then, who should you go see next? Given my advice."

He told me that not every club needs materials while some need a lot. Which clubs need the most stuff? I put my hands to my face and thought for a second, "sports clubs" I said confident in my answer. "Correct, good job. But there is another that you should see before that, any guesses?" I hate questions, I paused and thought for a second, "the art club, right?" I was a little less confident in this one. "Correct again, those are the ones you should go see first."

"Thank you … um can I get your name?"

"You can get my name some other time, that is not important at this moment."

"I suppose not, thank you for the advice then, senpai." He pulled his book up from the table and went back to reading, as though our meeting meant nothing to him. As I left the room the girl over by the window started to say something, but I didn't hear their conversation.

"Hey Shosetsu, who was that first year?"

"Kyoyota Arianagi, the child of the famous musician and Tokyo University professor Asa Arianagi. He is someone who shows promise at being a good fit for this school."

"Oh cool, I hope we see him again soon."

As I was walking over to the art club, I saw Himori Tora, Kimori's younger twin brother heading the opposite direction as I was.

"Hey Himori, long time no see, where are you off to?" I asked just to make small talk as we walked towards then past one another.

"I am on my way back to the literature club, and you?" he responded with a plan explanation, he was way more calm and collected than Kimori was.

"Art club." I said

"Did you join with Kimori?"

"No, I am part of the student council and have to meet with them. I thought you and Kimori were part of the tennis club, not art and literature."

"We decided to do two clubs, one with each other, and one without."

"I see, that sounds difficult to manage, best of luck."

"You too." With that we parted ways, I was now at the entrance of the literature club, room 107.

The door to this club was also open, and there were more people in this room than any other club I had seen so far. Tables and chairs were moved around the entire room, and different people were working on different projects from drawing to structures. I felt like I had walked into a fantasy land made out of color. As I was looking around people were so focused on their own creations I was like a fly on the wall. I even saw Kimori, but he was really focused on his art piece, so I let him be. My eyes were darting around the room looking at all these cool things, that I almost forgot why I was here, I then bumped into a girl with a blue ribbon holding up her hair, who had silver-ish blond hair, a ti-dyed white button up and skirt with colorful pins around all around her, looking at her was like looking at the personification of a rainbow.

"Heyyy there, you must be new, looking to join?"

"Huh? Oh no, sorry I bumped into you, I am with the student council."

"Ohhh, really? You must be a really amazing student then, and what does the student council need from our club? A new banner? Or maybe a new symbol? Oh I know!! You guys finally decided to get some art hung up in your office, is that it?!?" She then tilted her head waiting for a response, She talked fast and loud, it was hard to keep up with her. "We were just wondering if you needed any materials?" I sated

"Ohhh, yeah I have no clue then, wait here."

She said to wait, but she was running at a cartoon level of speed, she left my line of sight for about a second before a girl in a black suit with a pink tie and ribbon was sliding towards me at an impressive speed. "Heeyyy sorry to make you wait, this is the president of the art club, tell her what you asked me." The girl from before appeared out from behind the girl now standing before me.

"Oh umm, you didn't have to hurry, I wasn't in a rush." I said.

"Sorry about her, she is my VP and likes to get things done quickly."

"I see, well is there any materials the art club is running low on or needs?"

"Materials huh? Let me think, two rolls of butcher paper, two packs of craft paper, about twenty boxes of colored pencils, and a pack of styluses should do for now." I pulled out my phone and wrote all of those down, "anything else you can think of."

"Nope, that should do it."

"Great, thank you I will get those materials to you when I can." As I said this I felt a jerk on my neck, as Kimori's arm was now around it, "Hey there Kyo, how's it going?"

"You know this boy Kimori?" The president asked.

"Yup, me and him go way back, I just thought I heard his voice and needed a break so I came over." He looked down to see the list on my phone piecing together what I had asked the president and vice president of the art club. "Can you do me a favor and add acrylic paint to that list Kyo?"

"Yeah sure."

"Sweet you're the best, oh hopefully that is alright with you president Bijutsu."

"Yes, fine by me, I didn't know you preferred acrylic over regular so I suppose I should have asked you."

"Your name is Bijutsu?" I asked to confirm.

"Yes I am Emi Bijutsu and my VP here is Hajime Mitsu."

"It's formally nice to meet you both," I tried to bow, but Kimori stopped me with his arm.

"Kyo you should see my new piece, now that you have your list you're free for the day yeah?"

It was nearing 5:50pm, so there was little chance of me meeting with any sports clubs today. "Yeah I planned on heading home after this."

"Cool, see you two later." He said to the president pulling me away. Kimori had gotten into art about three years ago now since a mutual friend of ours had gotten him into it. Over the last two years though art and tennis were the only things he really loved, but deep down we both knew that art came first in his eyes. I then sat down at his workstation to see an amazing piece of art. It was of a couple, you could only see their backs as they were looking at the sun set before them, their legs dangling off a wall, below them was sand leading to the sea. Kimori had done a great job making it seem like the sun's light was hitting the water, everything blended in so well. I don't know much about art, but even I could tell he had been working on this one for quite a while. "Kimori this is amazing, the coloring is some of the best I have ever seen."

"Hehe, you really think so? I am glad, it's almost done, then I was going to show it off at our schools annual art show during the welcome festival. You think it's good enough to stand against the other works?" His confidence seemed to waver, but he was proud of his work. "Definitely, it will get first place for sure!" He first bumped me and said "If I don't then you owe me some takoyaki," "Sure, but if I am right then you're paying." We smiled at one another.

Soon after I left the room and went back up to the fourth floor to copy down the items needed for what clubs on a piece of paper before heading home. I was the only person left in the giant student council room and was presently surprised by how relaxing it felt to be in. "I should come here more often." I said before closing the door behind me.

On my way home I stopped by the combini to get some dinner, I grabbed two steamed buns and some water. After getting home I sat at the desk in my room and started to study. "Tomorrow is going to be even busier than today." I said to myself, I studied until I was tired enough to fall asleep. Before I knew it, Tuesday morning had arrived.