Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san had caught the words I let slip. They watched our reactions in uneasy silence.
Damn, I messed up, I thought. I’d accidentally blurted out something I shouldn't have. Since they hadn't even committed to joining the club yet, it wasn't something they needed to know just yet... but it was too late now.
"...This is still just a theory, okay? It's not a confirmed fact," I began.
I offered the disclaimer with an awkward grimace. Then, for the benefit of Tatebayashi-san, Hino-san—and Hashimoto-sensei as well—I laid out my prediction regarding how Goto and his group might act after their talk with the Student Council. While the three of them initially listened with skeptical expressions, their faces gradually stiffened as I listed the evidence supporting my hypothesis.
It seemed all three realized my scenario was entirely possible.
"At this stage, it’s strictly a prediction," I continued. "However, based on what Tatebayashi-san and the others said about Goto’s behavior, I’m certain something has changed. It would be bizarre for them to bounce back this quickly otherwise. If it were just one or two people, you could chalk it up to them falling into a state of reckless optimism out of pure resignation, but..."
"If the atmosphere of the entire core group has brightened up... we have to assume they’ve started moving toward a new objective," Yuji added.
"Regardless of whether their goals are good or bad, once you have an objective, you don't have time to stay depressed," Hiiragi-san noted.
It felt as though I could hear the steady, heavy footsteps of trouble marching toward us.
Once we finished explaining, Hashimoto-sensei rubbed her temples as if she had a sudden migraine. Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san turned anxious, pleading gazes toward Mika and Saori.
"And to think, thanks to you all, we were only one step away from potentially resolving the whole thing..." Hashimoto-sensei sighed.
"I'm sorry," I said. "I didn't take interference from an outside party into account."
"...No, it's not your fault. Based on what Tatebayashi-san and the others said, your actions were a sufficient deterrent. Sigh. If only we teachers had spoken with them while they were still shaken by your demonstration, instead of putting it off because the sports festival was starting... maybe we could have settled it then and there."
"..."
We all nodded slightly at Hashimoto-sensei's lament.
However, this year's sports festival had been an unprecedented event, a mixed competition between explorer students and general students. It was obvious the faculty had been overwhelmed. If they hadn't been, the Student Council wouldn't have had to step in to handle safety measures after the rehearsal. That alone showed just how much the staff had been struggling.
While we were talking, Hino-san spoke to Mika and Saori-chan with a worried look.
"Hey, Mika-chan? Is what the seniors are saying really...?"
"I think they're probably right," Mika replied. "It was only for a moment, but Goto-kun and his friends gave Saori-chan and me a really intense look when we got to school this morning. Right, Saori-chan?"
"Yeah. They didn't let it show on their faces and they looked away quickly, but it was such a spiteful glare. It spoke volumes about how they feel toward us..."
...
Seeing Mika and Saori-chan describe the situation so calmly and without emotion, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san were left speechless, their faces twitching. They probably never imagined such a hidden battle of intimidation was playing out in their own classroom.
After giving them a moment to process everything, I decided to confirm—though it felt a bit late now—whether they actually intended to join.
"So, after hearing all that... what do you want to do? Do you still want to join our club?"
"Um..."
"Well..."
In response to my question, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san looked at each other, troubled... then they nodded to one another, appearing to have made up their minds.
"Please let us join."
"I take it that's a yes?"
"Yes."
Though their voices were quiet, they showed their resolve with firm nods.
"Just to be sure—our club has a lot of complicated circumstances. You're okay with that?"
"...Yes, we understand the situation."
"Since our class is at the center of the commotion, we’ll probably get dragged in sooner or later anyway," Hino-san added. "Rather than being caught up in it without knowing anything, I’d at least like to choose my own path."
"I see..."
It seemed both Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san had decided to join after fully processing the risks.
"Besides, since Suzune and I haven't had our birthdays yet and can't get our Armed Exploration Permit for Special Underground Structures, Goto-kun and his group haven't been too pushy with their recruitment until now. But..."
"Asami-chan and I were born in late July and early August, so our birthdays are coming up soon," Hino-san explained. "We figured that once summer break was over, Goto-kun and the others would come after us. Based on what you said, they might stop recruiting new people, but..."
"We can't say for sure," Tatebayashi-san finished. "Honestly, I wonder where they're getting our birthday information from..."
They both let out long sighs, looking thoroughly fed up.
I remembered that there were signs Mika’s birthday information had also leaked to Goto. I wondered if someone well-versed in gossip—or someone with access to student records—had looked it up. The enrollment documents submitted to the school did have a section for dates of birth.
"Understood. Then I look forward to working with you, Tatebayashi-san, Hino-san."
We look forward to working with you!
With that, their membership was settled. I immediately had them fill out the forms Hashimoto-sensei provided. Even though I'd confirmed their intent, we were technically under the Student Council, so the paperwork had to be handled properly.
Once they submitted the completed forms to Hashimoto-sensei, Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san officially became members of the club.
"Alright, since you're officially in, let me explain our public activity policy," I said. "Setting aside the behind-the-scenes stuff for a moment, the purpose of this club is personal business research. Essentially, we aim to obtain qualifications that are useful for running a sole proprietorship."
"Qualifications...?"
"Yeah. Usually, the easiest way to prove a club's worth is by winning a tournament, right? But we're a research circle; we don't compete with anyone. Because of that, it becomes a question of how we demonstrate a track record of activity."
"I see... It would be hard to explain what we've been doing if we don't enter competitions," Hino-san agreed.
"Exactly. We could present our research at the school festival, but honestly, that would just be us translating content from how-to books and posting it up."
I could already see visitors mocking us for such a half-hearted attempt to save face.
"But if we can hang a sign saying we obtained official qualifications through our club activities, people will see that we're working seriously."
"So that's why you want the qualifications!" Hino-san’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
Even if people don't understand the subject matter, if they see a sign proudly stating that a qualification was obtained, they’ll pretend to be impressed. Once that happens, even mediocre research somehow looks prestigious. It’s a strange phenomenon.
Human perception really is a mystery.
"But senior? There are all sorts of qualifications... what kind are we aiming for?"
"For now, we're aiming for a bookkeeping qualification as our official achievement."
"Bookkeeping...?"
"It matches the club's theme. It's useful for administrative work, and the best part is that the requirements to take the exam are as simple as signing up."
Some qualifications have annoying requirements like age limits or practical experience, but bookkeeping doesn't. You just send the documents, apply, and pay the fee. Moreover, we were aiming for Bookkeeping Level 3. If you study seriously, it's not impossible to pass on the first try.
"I see..."
"That said, you have to pay the exam fee yourselves, so I'll leave it up to you whether you actually want to take it. We won't force you. We're mainly doing this to bolster our public record; it's not like we're a hardcore study group."
Still, it’s a qualification that can help with university entrance exams or job hunting, so it doesn't hurt to have.
"Understood. I'll think about it."
"Me too."
Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san both looked thoughtful. It was a sudden proposal, so they wouldn't have an answer right away.
With that, the explanation of our club activities was over.
Once we finished for the day and said goodbye to our new members, we left for home, making sure to avoid any students remaining on campus. Mostly only those in dedicated sports clubs were left, so I didn't think we'd be swarmed like we were this morning, but I wanted to be careful.
Fortunately, we managed to escape the school grounds without being cornered.
"Phew... that was easier than I thought," I said.
"Yeah. But come tomorrow..." Yuji trailed off.
"We'll probably be surrounded again," Hiiragi-san finished.
Ehhh...
We all shared a look of exasperation, glancing back at the school we had just escaped with gloomy eyes. We weren't going to start skipping classes, but the thought of being surrounded by gawkers again tomorrow... sigh.
"Let's just get home. If we stay here, someone might spot us."
Yeah.
Our steps felt a bit heavier as we hurried away from the school. Once we were a safe distance away, I slowed down and asked Mika something I'd forgotten.
"By the way, Mika, did Tatebayashi-san or Hino-san mention anything about getting an Armed Exploration Permit for Special Underground Structures?"
"Eh!? Uh... Saori-chan?"
Mika panicked slightly, her eyes darting around before she dumped the question on Saori-chan.
"Um... I don't know if they're serious, but they did mention they might try to get one during some small talk we had recently," Saori-chan replied, sounding a bit unsure.
"I see."
I’ll check with them directly tomorrow. But if Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san are serious about becoming explorers...
"Mika, Saori-chan. I have a proposal."
"What is it, Onii-chan?"
"What's on your mind?"
"If Tatebayashi-san and Hino-san decide to get their permits, how about you two handle their basic instruction?"
Ehhh!?
Mika and Saori-chan cried out in shock. Yuji and Hiiragi-san didn't make a sound, but their eyes widened in surprise. I suppose that's the natural reaction to a sudden suggestion like that.
"Wait, what do you mean? Us teaching Asami-chan and Suzune...?"
"Well, there are a few reasons... but ultimately, it's for your sake."
"For our sake...?"
Mika and Saori-chan looked confused, while Yuji and Hiiragi-san looked like they had realized my angle. Since they didn't try to stop me, it meant they agreed.
"Yeah," I explained. "I've hammered the basics of everything an explorer needs into you during our last expedition. From here on, it’s about daily training and building up experience."
...
When I told them I had taught them the essentials, a flash of anxiety appeared in their eyes. It wasn't that I was going to stop helping them entirely, but I intended to gradually step back and let them handle things themselves. They have to become independent eventually... and the same goes for us.
"But you see, there are a lot of things you don't notice when you're only training yourself. In fact, while we were teaching you two, we noticed quite a few of our own shortcomings. Right, Yuji? Hiiragi-san?"
"Yeah, that's true," Yuji said. "Even with things we thought we were doing well, trying to organize that knowledge to teach it to you made us realize how we could improve."
"Exactly," Hiiragi-san added. "There are many things you only notice once you try to explain them to someone else."
"So, there you have it," I said. "Why don't you try reflecting on your own progress while teaching Tatebayashi-san and the others? I guarantee it'll be a useful experience."
...
Mika and Saori-chan fell silent, looking uneasy and unsure of what to do.