Classroom of the Elite: Shadow puppeteer

Chapter 5: Clubs

"There are more people here than I expected."

After class had ended for the day, Horikita and I went to the gymnasium. Nearly all the students there were freshmen. We stood near the back of the room and waited for the fair to begin. While waiting, we glanced at the pamphlet received at the entrance. It contained detailed information about the club activities.

"I wonder if this school has famous clubs. For example, something like karate."

"These facilities are significantly more substantial than ordinary schools. Oh, but it looks like they don't have a karate club after all."

"I see."

"What? You were interested in joining it or something?"

"No, not particularly."

I wonder if she would hit me less if she joined it.

"It seems like it'll be hard for newcomers to into athletic clubs," I said. "I can't think it would be much fun."

Everything around here seems far too orderly.

"Wouldn't that depend on one's effort, though? Surely by training one or two years, anyone could get in and play."

"Training, huh. I don't think I'd be able to put that amount of effort, no matter how desperate I am."

"I didn't realize that the concept of training existed for someone who avoids trouble, like you."

"What exactly does me not liking trouble have to do with that?" I asked

"Would you agree with someone who avoids trouble and also avoids unnecessary manual labor? You said it first. You should keep to your word, I think."

"I didn't really think about that deeply"

"If you keep acting so non-committal, you're never going to be able to make any friends," she said.

"You wound me, Horikita."

"Thank you all for waiting, first-year students. we will begin now. A representative from each club will explain their functions. My name is Tachibana, the student council secretary, and the club fair's organizer. It's nice to meet you all."

After opening remarks, representatives from each club quickly lined up on the stage. It was quite a diverse crowd. The club representatives included everything from burly athletes in judo uniform to students dressed in beautiful kimonos.

"Hey, if you want to get a fresh start, why not try joining an athletes club. The judo club looks good, doesn't it? That upperclassman looks kind, and I'm sure he'd encourage you."

"What do you 'kind'?! He looks like a gorilla! He'll kill me for sure!" I snapped.

"He'll probably talk passionately about how easy judo is."

"Cut it out!"

Sheesh. I thought that we were having a decent conversation, but she had to stick it to me.

"Even if I wanted to join, the athletic clubs all look really intimidating. I get the impression they don't accept beginners."

"Beginners should be welcomed. The more members a club has, the more money they receive from the school. That's how they're able to get better training equipment."

"Sounds like they're using the beginners for the money..."

"It would be ideal to gather many new members as a budgetary increase, and then simply to bench them the rest of the time, like phantom members. If you were skilled at manipulation, that is."