After dinner and a bath, Eadlyn scrolled through his group chat, laughing at Ken's memes and Riko's teasing comments. Then a new notification appeared. It was Sayaka. His heart skipped.
Sayaka: Thanks for today. If not for your help, I wouldn't have found Nao‑chan.
Sayaka: If there's anything you need help with—or maybe in school work—I can lend a hand.
Eadlyn hesitated, then typed:
Eadlyn: Actually, I do need a bit of help. I have to join a club, but I don't know much about the existing ones. If you could give me a detour of the campus and clubs, it would be really helpful.
He worried the message was too long, but her reply came quickly:
Sayaka: Definitely. Tomorrow, we'll meet at the last break. I'll show you around.
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The next day passed quickly. At the final break, Sayaka was waiting near the entrance. "Ready?" she asked, her tone calm but friendly.
They walked together through the campus, Sayaka pointing out the clubs one by one. She didn't just list them—she added small stories. The basketball club, she explained, was one of the most popular, with practices almost every day and matches that drew big crowds. The photography club was quieter, but they were the ones who captured every school event. The archery club was serious and disciplined, while the science lab club often stayed late experimenting with projects.
"And me," she added with a faint smile, "I'm in the swimming club. I've been there since first year. It's tough, but the water feels like another world. We even compete against other schools."
Eadlyn admired her passion but admitted, "I'm not great at swimming. I'd probably sink."
Sayaka laughed softly. "Then maybe basketball suits you better. You already impressed everyone in PT."
Eadlyn blinked, surprised. "Wait… how did you know about that? You weren't even there."
Sayaka gave him a knowing look. "Word travels fast. When someone dunks like that on the first day, people talk. You've already attracted attention, whether you realize it or not."
Her words lingered with him as they continued walking. Sayaka shifted the conversation toward school life itself. "Clubs are important, but school here is more than just classes and practice. You joined late, so you'll still get to experience the cultural festival and maybe the school trip. Those are unforgettable. Every year we have sports festivals in early summer, cultural festivals in autumn, and graduation ceremonies in spring. They're the heartbeat of the school. Everyone participates, and clubs play a big role in making them happen."
Eadlyn listened intently, realizing how much he had yet to discover. "Sounds like the kind of stuff I only read about in novels. I can't wait."
After some thought, he decided. "Basketball. It feels right."
Sayaka blinked, surprised, but didn't argue. "Then I'll cheer for you when the matches come."
They parted at the gate, Sayaka heading off for errands. Eadlyn walked to the station, his mind buzzing—not just with clubs, but with the promise of festivals, trips, and memories waiting to be made.
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