Smashing Pins Barehanded

The others looked to one another in bewilderment as they turned to the science club only to find them hardly surprised at all.

"Speaking of which, I heard that, during the last camping trip, Lotus single-handedly carried the entire equestrian club throughout challenges by keeping the clubs well fed. Apparently, his knowledge in herbology and survival is surprising."

"I heard that too. I thought that this will give the science club a disadvantage because someone from their group tried to show off, but look at them. They are hardly fazed. Did he tell them?"

"Either way, this means that there won't be any need to beg the science club now. Hmph! Weren't they all smug when hearing about their member's accomplishments in a sports club? Where's the confidence now?"

Hearing the jeerings and the soft whispers, Kalim looked on in shock, "Woah! Do they all have a deep grudge against the science club or something?"

Trey muttered under his breath, "As expected…"

"You knew this would happen?" Cater glances over to him in confusion before saying with a frown, "What's going on?"

"Alas, when we heard of the camping trip, we thought it would be a simple one." Rook began with a frown, "However, Lotus approached us and told us to stay on our feet."

"According to him, the club's achievements have been gaining more attention since the cultural festival." Trey explained, "According to him, amongst the expectations of others are also those who have started holding a grudge against us. Thanks to that, our activities may not go so smoothly for the next few days. At least not until this camping trip is over then we can at least stop needing to look over our backs according to him."

"Not bad…" Vil nodded with a sigh, "It's troublesome though."

"Ah, Vil." Cater turned to the Pomefiore dorm leader with a confused expression, "Do you know anything about this too?"

"The Film Studies club often reaches out to the science club and Ignihyde dorm for props and materials. Naturally, our vulnerable freshmen caught wind of what was going on. I was impressed that no one brought this matter out into the open though." Vil sighed, "At first, everything was normal and everyone was doing their daily business when someone overheard that some newspaper writer from town wanted to cover the science club. As a result, they brought this news back to their club and it began to spread like a fog. Now, everyone is blind to what's in front of them because their eyes are all on the science club."

"I didn't think the matter would be that difficult to handle." Jade noted with a surprised look.

"We thought about bringing this to the headmaster, but, according to club representative…"

"Ah, the guy is over the moon, I bet." Cater sighed in dismay.

"What did Lotus say?" Malleus spoke up after a brief moment of silence.

"Eh?" Trey looked to him in surprise before he responded calmly, "Ah. He said… To mind our own business for now and stay in groups."

"Rather than acting suspiciously or ignorant of the matter, act normally." Rook explained, "We agreed to his suggestions as there was also a lot of freshmen this year."

"To avoid scaring them. We told them to expect a lot of talk about the club but to ignore them as we can't guarantee everything they said is true." Trey responded. "He said he would deal with the rest of the matter by the time training camp was over."

"But isn't Lotus a freshman too? Why let him make such a big decision? What if he gets affected badly by this." Kalim responded.

Malleus and Jade were curious about this as well. If it were any other, they would've believed it with a speck of salt, but, if it was her, they'd believed it wholeheartedly. However, the problem actually lies with why so much power was left in the hands of a freshman such as herself?

"Because the current advisor has decided to make him the next club representative or, more accurately, the next club leader." Rook replied.

"What did you-!"

Jade slapped a hand over the opened mouth as they found that Idia and Azul had snuck themselves over to the Lights club as well.

"Rook! You can't go sharing that information around!" Trey whispered in a hush tone and shocked expression!

"However Monsieur Snow Fox does not seem to mind letting them know." Rook replied with a wide smile.

Vil sighed and began to explain the situation to them of the last competition. When he was done, Trey sighed and continued, "When he learned that he would not be participating the camping trip as a student, he immediately went to go devise a plan with the current club representative before being given their approval."

"Yet another side we have not seen before." Cater sighed, "Seriously, what a mysterious guy. Well, let's hope this plan of his works."

"I get it now too… But I'm still a little confused." Ortho responded hesitantly.

Weary, Vil sighed, "It's best if you don't understand about this yet, Ortho. Someone can explain it to you another day."

"All right!" Ortho nodded his head obediently with a cheery smile.

Hearing all of the negativity and chaos, Vargas scowled in dismay. All he wanted to do was keep the competition fair and friendly so that everyone could gain the knowledge of the outdoors from someone as experienced as Lotus. Who knew that they would throw a fit and create a muck just cause the popularity of one club rose by an inch! And, to think this all happened because he isolated Lotus who was from the Science club! How could they do this?!

There was much he wanted to say, but he still had to maintain the image of a steadfast teacher to his students and so he crossed his arms across his chest as he spoke firmly, "Hmph. I would have yelled at you all to stop complaining, but it would be harsh to the culture club. That's why… I'll specially allow those clubs with less than five members to team up with the other clubs. And, I'll decide which club you will join."

With a renewed confident smile, he stared, "Mountain Lovers Club, Gargoyle Research club, … and Ortho Shroud. Come to me after we start setting up the tent, got it?"

"Eh…" Ortho looked startled in surprise as he heard this, "Even me… But why?"

Lotus then went ahead and pitched up her tent as well as installing a couple of simple finishing before sitting on top of a tree branch and watching the others secretly. As this was her second time doing this, the others ignored the ease of her work but the steps of how she put it up before the others tried to follow in suit only to fail and get lost soon after, costing them their only chance to ask the question this challenge.

Seeing this, Yuu could feel deep dismay as he watched those guys try to copy her with a off hand-ish manner. Did they think Lotus was undeserving of her position and wanted to challenge her? Rather than beating her, they proved themselves to be complete idiots as they completely ignored the simple set of instructions accompanied with their tent kit!

From afar, Vargas sighed in dismay and disbelief upon seeing this he grumbled, "What do they think they're doing? Even the sports club know how to read a couple of instructions!"

"Let it go, Vargas." A voice spoke up from behind a nearby tree, "Unless one of them are harmed, we cannot recklessly step in. However, I agree. This is unacceptable . I expected to see pups struggling to learn how to sit, but, instead, I see rats scurrying about and making a mess!"

"And I thought I was the only one angry. Chill…" Vargas sighed as he shook his head, "We still need to play our roles next."

"Hmph! That's right. I nearly forgot about that… Don't worry. I'll carry out the task perfectly."

…..

After having mended the fixture again, Lotus pouted in annoyance at Malleus, "Must you do this on purpose?"

"Like we said, it was not on purpose." Malleus grumbled.

"Then, why can't you hammer the pin in? You put in so much strength. Forget the handle. You'll break the head of the hammer, instead." Lotus sighed.

"I will not."

"Then what is that?" Lotus gestures to his hand as he found that one of the angled tip of the hammer had been chipped off!

"Seriously…" Trey muttered in bewilderment as he saw this.

"Looks like you were correct yet again, Rose Chevalier!" Rook cheers with great amusement.

"I didn't think Malleus would end up accidentally breaking it so easily. Still, with the current situation, we can say that it was clearly an accident. Still…" Trey folded his arms and sighed, "what do we do about the hammer?"

"This?" Lotus frowned and pulled malleus away from the group.

With their backs turned to them as Malleus leaned in to hear her words, his expression quickly contorts as it blinks hinting numerous different thoughts that couldn't be read before it vanished swiftly, He turned to her with a glare and folded his arms firmly, "No."

"I'm not the one who broke the hammer." Lotus reminded him with a troubled sigh, "Unless you want to go around smashing the pins with your bare hands. Ah wait. You'll break the pins instead."

"I will not do it."

"All right, all right." Trey stepped in with a wry smile, "Don't you have to help the Flim study club?"

"The film study and the board game club." Lotus clarified, "I'll get going then. Let me know if you want to change your mind, Malleus."

"Hmph!"

"Hehe!" Lilia chuckled from afar, "I had no idea that Lotus and Malleus actually got along so well."

"You call that 'get along'?!" Cater exclaimed in horror, "Wait, why are they even arguing against one another in the first place?!"

Sadly, his question would continue to remain unanswered for the remainder of the school trip as others struggle to complete their own tasks.