Part 1
Touma walked with Hina through the gardens of Seisen after Eleonor Duval's class.
The afternoon was peaceful, although Hina wouldn't stop complaining about the practical nanobot exercise.
When they reached the old building that housed the "Literature and Film Club," Touma stopped just in front of the door. He placed a hand on the handle… and smiled nervously.
—I forgot to mention… the clubroom might look a little different.
—What do you mean by "different"? —Hina asked, raising an eyebrow, clearly suspicious.
—Remember when I went to Tenryu with Shizuki on Saturday?
—Yes, I remember perfectly —she huffed, puffing her cheeks like she was ready to bite someone.
—Well… let's just say she decided the club needed a "new style."
—Kisaragi Touma… step away from that door right now.
Touma stepped aside with a resigned expression, and Hina flung the door open with the force of someone who already knows she's not going to like what she sees.
And then she saw it.
The old clubroom—with its dusty shelves, sagging fabric sofa, and a TV so old it still had a VHS slot—was gone.
In its place stood a completely transformed lounge.
The floor gleamed like it had just been polished. The walls were lined with minimalist shelves filled with hardcovers. Where the ancient TV once sat, there was now a state-of-the-art, 60-inch screen. Below it, a brand-new console glowed softly with pulsing LED lights.
To the side, two sleek "Fighting X" arcade machines rumbled with background music, ready for an impromptu tournament. And in the kitchen corner stood a shiny new fridge, a smart microwave, and a coffee maker that looked capable of brewing everything from espresso to alchemical potions.
—W-what is this…? —Hina stammered, eyes wide—. Did a celebrity invade our clubroom?
—Not exactly… —Touma said, scratching his neck—. Shizuki had a few contacts. And one of those cards you only see in movies.
—Is this a five-star hotel lounge or a school club?! DOES THAT COFFEE MACHINE DO LATTE ART?!TOUMA?!
—How was I supposed to say no?! She already bought everything before she even asked me!
Hina slowly turned to him with the look of someone realizing she had made a terrible mistake trusting him. Just as she was about to say something more, a soft, almost musical voice filled the room.
—Do you like the new design? I tried to keep it functional.
Shizuki stepped in gracefully, a book under her arm and a neutral expression on her face, as if everything were completely normal.
—Functional… —Hina repeated, pointing at the console, the new A/C unit, and the double-door fridge—. Which part of this is functional?
—The sofa is ergonomic —Shizuki replied with perfect seriousness—. And the auto-tea dispenser improves our productivity.
Touma tried to hide a grin. Hina didn't know whether to explode… or move in permanently.
Just then, the door burst open, and Jake and Akari walked in, both clearly shocked.
—Whoa! Talk about a makeover, dude! Bet this was the work of the "Ice Princess," huh? —Jake said, dropping his backpack as he scanned the room.
Shizuki, now seated with elegance on her new dark blue sofa, crossed her legs with perfect composure.
—I'll take that as a compliment… but let me clarify something: this sofa is mine. The rest of the furniture belongs to the club. Understood?
—Ugh, territorial as always… —Akari muttered, pouring herself a drink from the tea dispenser without asking.
—I really liked the coffee machine… I can make tea or coffee for anyone who wants —said Mirai with a soft, timid voice from the main table. She was so small and quiet, she almost blended into the background.
Hina jumped when she noticed her.
—Mirai!? Since when have you been here?
—What a weird question… I was walking right behind us —Touma answered, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Mirai looked down with a faint blush.
—It always happens to me…
Just then, a sharp knock on the door interrupted their conversation.
A second later, the door swung open with almost theatrical precision.
The unmistakable figure of the Student Council President, Evangeline Strassburg, stood at the threshold, wrapped in an aura that commanded respect.
—I see you've made a few changes to this old, forgotten room… —she commented in a calm voice, her gaze sweeping across the newly decorated space.
Hina stepped forward with a tight smile.
—Welcome to the Literature and Film Club, President Strassburg. To what do we owe the visit?
Eva entered with slow, deliberate steps, running her fingers along the new furniture as if inspecting a work of art—without a trace of emotion.
—The purpose of my visit is to inform you that I've formally submitted a request to Headmaster Rheinhardt… to dissolve your club.
Silence fell over the room like a sudden storm.
—What do you mean, "dissolve"?! —Hina asked, frowning.
—Aside from acquiring new furniture without consulting the Student Council —Eva continued— this club lacks purpose. It contributes nothing to Seisen's core mission: protecting humanity.
—But this club already existed before! —Touma replied firmly.
Eva stopped in front of him.
Despite being shorter than Touma, her sheer presence was enough to intimidate.
—It existed because its former president was granted leniency for her contributions in engineering. You… have no such merit.
—By that logic, clubs for sports, art, or music shouldn't exist either —Jake cut in, arms crossed.
—Exactly! This club was the only one that accepted me without issues. Even the sports clubs rejected me! —Akari complained, raising her fist in frustration.
Eva let out a calm sigh.
—I understand that my words may sound confusing, but—
The soft thump of a book closing interrupted her.
Shizuki rose elegantly from her sofa, placing the book on the table with an almost ceremonial gesture. She stepped forward, stopping just in front of Eva.
—Tell me exactly which rule we're breaking.
Eva narrowed her eyes.
—According to the club registration bylaws, you don't have an assigned faculty advisor.
—Are you sure? Because as far as I know, our advisor is Professor Gen Kirishima. You can confirm it yourself in the system —Shizuki said, wearing a thin, unshaken smile.
Eva checked the holographic display on her wristband. After a few seconds, her brow furrowed—just slightly.
—Even so, you didn't seek council approval for acquisitions or remodeling.
Without losing her composure, Shizuki pulled a small envelope from her bag and laid several documents on the table.
—As club treasurer—and, incidentally, the one responsible for the renovation—here are all the purchase receipts. Everything is under my name. All expenses were covered with my own money.
Eva narrowed her eyes again.
—According to the statute—
—According to Article 18 of the student statute —Shizuki interrupted, without raising her voice—, "as long as the club funds any changes to its designated space independently, no explicit permission from the Student Council is required."
Shizuki tilted her head slightly, her gaze never leaving Eva's.
—Any objections, Miss Strassburg?
Eva remained silent for a few seconds.
Her fingers gently tapped the holographic panel as her icy blue eyes reviewed the documents. Finally, the display faded with a soft flicker.
—I see you're well informed.
—I like to know the rules… so I never break them —Shizuki said, with a smile as subtle as it was dangerous.
Touma felt a chill run down his spine.
He wasn't sure whether to be worried about the club… or about Eva's psychological well-being.
The student council president turned slightly toward him, completely ignoring Shizuki's comment.
—In that case, we will proceed with a legitimacy review through performance.
It's a legal resource that allows us to assess whether a club deserves to exist within Seisen.
—That's a thing? —Jake asked, raising an eyebrow.
Eva looked up.
—The "Validation Duel" will take place three days from now, in the combat arena. Each side will designate one active member to fight. The SEI system's rules will ensure the participants' physical safety.
—And if we win? —Akari asked, already grinning like she was ready to punch something.
—The club will be formally legitimized and placed under council protection.
—And if we lose? —Mirai asked softly from her corner.
—The club will be disbanded —Eva replied, without the slightest change in tone.
For a moment, no one spoke. The silence hung in the air like a final verdict.
Until Shizuki stepped forward.
—We accept.
—Eh? Already? —Touma asked.
—There's no reason to hesitate.
—If they want to test us… we'll answer in their own language —Shizuki said, arms crossed, radiating calm, imperial confidence.
Eva gave a slow nod.
—We'll see each other in three days, then.
With that, she turned on her heel and left the clubroom without another word.
As the door closed, Akari was the first to react.
—Uoooh! This is awesome! I finally get to legally punch someone!!
Jake raised his hand.
—Can I be the official announcer? With a mic and everything?
Touma collapsed onto the sofa, covering his face with both hands.
—This got out of hand way too fast…
Shizuki, now seated beside him, calmly reopened her book.
—Relax. It's just a little evaluation. What could possibly go wrong?
Touma stared at her.
Shizuki was smiling slightly… and that worried him more than anything else.