Chapter – 08
“Rejected.”
“…Huh?”
Kazuki had brought Guernica with her to the clubroom.
The moment Shioi saw Miyata, those were the first words out of her mouth.
“I refuse to accept this man’s application.”
“I already told you we’re not in a position to be picky! You were doing this same thing this morning! Why are you holding auditions and judging people when we’re literally about to run out of time? You actually want this club to be shut down, don’t you?!”
Miyata, who had been nervously meeting the beautiful upperclassman he’d admired, froze in shock after being so bluntly rejected.
“Would you like me to explain why?”
“…Don’t tell me the club is girls-only?”
“No.”
“His face is too artistic.”
“…What?”
“No matter what kind of artwork he creates, his face would attract more attention than the artwork itself.”
“The artist should never outshine their own work.”
“Miyata, was it? I don’t think you’re suited to creating art.”
“If anything…”
“I think you’d be better off as one of the exhibits.”
Admittedly, if Miyata simply stood there doing nothing, he somehow looked like an avant-garde art installation.
But that was hardly a valid reason to reject his membership.
Kazuki shoved the membership application Miyata had filled out directly in front of Shioi’s face.
“Just let Guernica join already! That gives us four members! We’re safe from being disbanded! Isn’t that enough?”
Shioi accepted the application.
Then…
She tore it in half.
“Ahhh! What are you doing?!”
“I won’t allow anyone into the Contemporary Art Club who isn’t worthy of it.”
“Seriously?! Oh, come on!”
Kazuki finally reached the end of her patience.
Grabbing a mysterious tube that happened to be lying on the table, she smacked Shioi on the head with it.
“Eep!”
Shioi let out a yelp like a frightened puppy.
“T-That’s something I made last year…”
“What even is this?”
“It looks like a giant toilet paper roll.”
“Is this art too?”
“No, forget that!”
“What do you actually want to do, Senpai?!”
“Are you letting Guernica join or not?!”
Holding the plastic tube—which Shioi stubbornly insisted was art—Kazuki slapped it against her palm as she advanced threateningly.
Terrified, Shioi tried to flee the clubroom.
But she tripped over one of the art pieces she’d left lying on the floor and crashed spectacularly.
I keep telling you to clean this place up…
“Fine!”
“I’ll allow it! I’ll allow it, okay?!”
Being scolded by her underclassman was one thing.
Being lightly beaten with modern art was an entirely new experience.
Shioi had been completely intimidated.
“…Kids these days are terrifying.”
Even though she was only one year older, she sounded like an old person lamenting the moral decline of today’s youth.
After carefully taping the torn membership form back together, Shioi headed toward the clubroom entrance to call Miyata inside.
“Sorry about that, Miyata.”
“I’ve decided to accept your application.”
“Welcome to the Contemporary Art Club…”
“…Huh?”
“What is it?”
“He’s gone.”
“…Wait.”
“Did he go home?”
Panicking, Kazuki immediately sent Guernica a message on her phone.
A reply came almost instantly.
‘That senior scares me, so I’ve decided not to join.’
“…Me?”
“I’m the scary one?”
“I think you’re the scary one.”
“You looked someone in the face and told them their face was too artistic and they’d make a better exhibit than an artist.”
“Of course that’s terrifying.”
“Ugh…”
“We were so close.”
“And now, thanks to you, the club’s definitely getting shut down.”
The fish they’d let get away was a big one.
There probably wouldn’t be another person as willing as Miyata to join so easily.
Just as Kazuki was lecturing Shioi—the person responsible for letting that fish escape—Iwasaki walked into the clubroom.
“Whoa.”
“Getting chewed out by a first-year?”
“That’s pretty pathetic.”
“…Shut up. Don’t look.”
“So why’re you so mad, Kazuki?”
“You’ve even got veins popping out on your forehead.”
“What a waste of such a cute face.”
It was exactly because he could casually say things like that…
…that Iwasaki was unfair.
“Seriously, Iwasaki-senpai, listen to this!”
“I finally brought someone who was willing to join…”
“And she scared him away!”
“You’re an idiot.”
“You made the exact same mistake as this morning.”
“Uooooooooh…”
Kazuki wished Shioi would stop breaking into dramatic sobs every time she ran out of arguments.
After hearing why Shioi had rejected Miyata, Iwasaki let out a deep sigh from the bottom of his heart.
“She’s hopeless.”
“Maybe we oughta drag her down from the club president position.”
“…Maybe we should.”
“I know I messed up.”
Shioi lowered her head.
“I’ll take responsibility.”
“I’ll go find us one more member.”
Iwasaki looked at her skeptically.
“You really think you can do that?”
“Of course I can.”
“You two just wait here.”
“I’ll be back with a brand-new club member before you know it.”
Kazuki decided not to get her hopes up.
She’d probably come back empty-handed anyway.
“Iwasaki-senpai, should we just have some tea while we wait?”
“Sounds good.”
“Oh, I’ve got snacks too.”
“Help yourselves.”
From Iwasaki’s bag came an endless stream of chocolate, cookies, and potato chips.
Yep… he’s definitely from Kansai.
