First Club Meeting

"You've got to be kidding me…" 

Everyone in the school gym were somewhat mortified with Mori Ken's sudden declaration in joining the book club, especially Sakura. Behind Ken is also a group of bewildered club recruiters who were really determined to make either Ken or Alan to be a member of their club.

Sakura's eyebrows were drawn together as she folded her arms and faced Ken. "I thought you already joined a club."

"Well, you thought wrong." Ken countered right away, smirking in the girl's direction. Seeing how surprised Sakura is, he added while raising one eyebrow at her. "What? Am I not allowed to join your club?"

Ito Yui's eyes were filled with horror knowing that Mori Ken might change his mind any minute from now without Sakura's approval. She doesn't have any idea what's really going on with these two, but one thing's for sure. Yui is determined to keep Ken in the group.

So with that thought in mind, Yui answered on Sakura's behalf. "You are more than welcome to join our club, Mori-san!"

Since her leader is already set with Ken being in the group, Hayashi Sakura can't do anything about it now but to sigh in defeat and accept the annoying fact that even during club hours, she will still see Mori Ken's annoying face.

***

Rumors of Ken and Alan joining the 'underdog' club, as what the majority calls the book club, spread all throughout the campus like wildfire.

Some were confused, and some were disappointed. And they can't help but blame Sakura for this, which the latter only ignored and carried on with her college life.

As expected from the two hottest bachelors in Hirosaki University, their mere presence in the book club brought in a lot of freshman students (and most of them are, of course, teenage girls) to the point that Yui had to cut in the applications up to thirty only because that's the maximum members that a club can hold.

As a result, Yui and her club members were granted the most convenient room to transfer their club that is located in Hirosaki's activity building on the second floor during the assembly meeting with the faculty department and other club leaders.

The new room itself is like two rooms combined made into one, and it took them at least a week to finish setting everything up with the help of both Alan and Ken's resources. 

By the end of the week, Yui was able to open their newly-furnished club room to her club members.

Sakura can't help but be amazed on how their room went from being small and slightly haunted to being stylish and cozy-looking at the same time.

On their new room, another big shelf was added where the new members would need to donate their used yet good books of any genres to the club to stock in there as part of their initiation.

All three book shelves were placed on the right side of the room where tables and chairs were also placed in case the members wanted to spend time reading books on one side.

On the other side of the room is where the L-shaped black sofa set with a stylish round glass table was placed. In the middle of the room where the two rectangular tables are set right next to each other with their corresponding leather boardroom chairs to make their meetings a bit comfortable and relaxing.

To take note of every detail in their meeting, the club's double-sided magnetic whiteboard was placed in front of the table.

And to make their stay truly relaxing, the room was made homey with the slightly- big remote-controlled air conditioning unit that was installed on the club's ceiling. 

Everyone's mouth gaped as they witnessed how their club room drastically changed in just a week.

Other members were still busy checking out all the corners of their room when Alan and Ken approached the book club president Ito Yui and her vice president (and later she introduced as her boyfriend and co-founder) Kimura Ren.

Beside the club leaders was where Hayashi Sakura is standing, whom Yui appointed as their secretary.

"I hope you like your new club room, Ito-san." Alan smiled genuinely. 

"Yeah…" Ken echoed reluctantly. "Just tell us if there is anything you wanted to change "

Ito Yui, on the other hand, shook her head ferociously and responded, "Are you kidding me? This is by far the best club room I have ever seen."

Hayashi Sakura was pleased to see the president being this excited that she can't help but smile to herself.

While she was still smiling about it, Mori Ken happened to look up and sneak a glance in her direction and was somewhat pleased with himself as well for making her happy.

After everyone got a better look at the new club room and was settled into their mini boardroom setting in the middle of the club room, Ito Yui stood in front of the double-sided whiteboard and wrote their agenda for today: CLUB WELCOME PARTY.

"Welcome to our first club meeting. As part of the tradition for welcoming the newly-recruited members of this club, we will hold a club welcome party as our first club activity for this academic year by the end of the month-- which is, technically, on a Saturday, a few days from now." 

Ito Yui paused for a moment and keenly observed everyone's delighted reaction upon the mention of the words 'welcome party'.

"Any suggestions on what you would like to happen in our upcoming club activity?"

Everyone went silent after that and thought of a possible way to celebrate their membership into this club. It did not take long for each member to speak their suggestions.

"Out of the country trip?" said one female student who belongs to Alan's fans club.

"Absolutely not." Yui rejected the idea right away. "I prefer it to be related with our club as much as possible."

Sakura rubbed her chin for as long as she can remember. Then, just as she was about to give up hope that her brain could think of any possible ideas, a sudden realization dawned upon her and she felt a sudden confidence surge within her. 

Sakura finally raised her right hand almost hesitant, and Yui immediately spotted her and called her name.

"What if we will have a simple gathering and feast here in this club room then we will be playing a game that we could still relate to books. If you are agreeing with this plan, I will be the one to prepare the game for all of us." Sakura happily suggested. Ito Yui thought about this for a while before giving her judgment.

"Well, I think that would be a lovely idea! Thanks, Hayashi-san."

However, another female student from Ken's fans club immediately stood up and complained with Sakura's suggestion.

"That would be boring if we only stay here, I mean we will be spending the rest of our school days in this very room, right? Isn't there a way for us to go on a trip somewhere else besides here?"

"Good point." Yui spoke more to herself than to this girl.

"We could hang out in our private island resort with free accommodations for all of you so that we won't go over the intended budget of the club," Alan suggested casually, like it is a normal thing for him to invite strangers into their resort for free. "What do you say?"

Yui's eyes literally sparkled upon hearing his suggestion. And this is why it is so important to have a multi-billionaire member in your club!

"I strongly approved that suggestion, Yamaguchi-san. Thank you." Yui agreed, making others clap their hands in delight and some of them even screamed in excitement.

And just like that, everything about their welcome party is finally settled.