Tokyo: Oreimo

He read the name aloud, a slight smile playing on his lips.

There really are such clubs.

"Yes, yes, yes! We are different from other societies that have existed for more than half a century; we are brand new!"

The senior in the plaid shirt had his eyes shining. "I'm President Tian Zhongchu, a second-year student in the Faculty of Letters. This is Vice President Horiuchi Ayumi, a second-year student in the Faculty of Education. Although our club is newly established, our activities are very diverse!"

"To put it simply, it's just a bunch of otaku getting together to watch anime, draw comics, play games, and maybe make some doujinshi (fan-made comics) on the side."

Horiuchi Ayumi glanced at Tanaka beside her, glared at him, and then spoke the truth without any hesitation.

Tian Zhongxue coughed twice and gestured to the vice president to be mindful of his words.

"So," Ryosuke folded the flyer and put it in his pocket, "why did you stop me?"

"Well," Tian Zhongxue pushed up his non-existent glasses, revealing an expression that said, "I have a good eye for people."

“I’ve been observing you all this way. Other freshmen are pulled over by various clubs when they pass through this area, but you didn’t turn your head to look in any direction from beginning to end, nor were you intimidated by the aura of those sports clubs.”

“Simply put, you look like you’re on our side,” Ayumi Yamazaki added again.

Which way?

"The otaku community," the vice president concluded bluntly.

Chapter 231 Missing Me? (Combined Chapter)

Ryosuke remained silent for a moment.

Do I look like an otaku?

He reflected on himself and thought that his usual dress and behavior were quite ordinary, and he shouldn't have any particularly obvious homebody traits.

But on second thought, a male college student who walks through the club recruitment area and is indifferent to all sports clubs probably does seem like one of the same kind in the eyes of the anime and manga club members.

"I don't dislike anime culture."

Ryosuke gave an ambiguous answer.

"Right, right!" Tian Zhongxue clapped his hands excitedly. "I knew it! So, have you played the game or watched the anime? Have you been watching any anime lately? Have you watched 'The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya'?"

"I've seen it." Ryosuke nodded.

Have you read Fate/Zero?

"I read it."

Have you ever played Steins;Gate?

"I've played it."

Tian Zhongxue gasped, his face showing an expression as if he had discovered a rare Pokémon.

"Hey, you've played S;G?!"

"I've played it."

"Have you finished cutting the wires?"

Steins;Gate.

"Oh my god, I'm the only one in our club who has completed the true ending so far. Finally, we have a second place!"

Tanaka excitedly grabbed Ryosuke's hand, his eyes shining. "How long did it take you to finish all the endings, classmate? Did you cry during Rei's part? Which character is your favorite? I'm a fan of Makise Kurisu..."

This guy started talking non-stop.

"President, you scared him." Ayumi Yamazaki pulled Tanaka back and reminded him in a low voice to be mindful of his behavior.

Ryosuke didn't show any displeasure; he simply shifted his gaze slightly, considering how to answer the questions.

Claiming to be the author of the entire script is probably not a good idea.

"Lingyu's part is indeed touching," he replied simply.

“Right!!!” Tian Zhongxue’s tears were almost coming out. “I really cried for half an hour in the dormitory about that suicide note. Such a strong person, who finally regained his memory in 1975, was met with despair and suicide. Gen Urobuchi’s script is too cruel!”

"The president can't stop talking about S;G, so I apologize in advance."

Ayumi Yamazaki sighed, then turned to Ryosuke, "But honestly, the completion rate for the entire S;G story is extremely low. Those who manage to get the true ending are either hardcore players, strategy-obsessed players, or..."

“We were lucky,” Ryosuke interjected before she could finish.

Ayumi Yamazaki responded with an "oh," seemingly accepting the explanation.

“Our club is recruiting,” she switched back to promotional mode. “Although it’s a new club, the atmosphere is great. We have regular gatherings every Wednesday and Friday after school in the club building’s activity room to hold anime screenings or manga reading groups, and we also occasionally make doujinshi together.”

"As for doujinshi," Ryosuke asked casually, "will you be participating in Winter COMI?"

“Yes! Winter COMI is our club’s first official booth event,” Tian Zhongxue proudly puffed out his chest. “We’re preparing to publish an S;G doujinshi. Although our drawing skills still need improvement, the story is written by ourselves.”

He spoke the words "We wrote it ourselves" very loudly, as if to declare that the creative ability of the comic research institute should not be underestimated.

"The currently planned pairing is the assistant and the brooch, a relationship that is not quite a romance."

Ayumi Yamazaki pulled a line drawing from the table and showed it to Ryosuke. "There's also a solo illustration book by Reiha. Although our club doesn't have many illustrators, the quality is still pretty good..."

"Regardless of how well it's written, I think the artwork is pretty good," Tian Zhongxue added, "By the way, our club's top recommendation for an Aniplex title is *Puella Magi Madoka Magica*. The entire club bought last year's Blu-ray!"

"Oh right, right," Ayumi Yamazaki said as if she had suddenly remembered something. She pulled a magazine out from under the pile of flyers, opened it to a page, and pushed it in front of Ryosuke.

"Since you're an S;G player, you must have played White Album 2, right? We're still considering drawing a WA2 doujinshi for this winter's release. If you're interested..."

"actually."

Tian Zhongxue pushed up his non-existent glasses, revealing an all-knowing expression. "My discerning eyes have determined that you've not only played these works, but based on my years of reading light novels, you're probably a huge fan of Aniplex, right?"

"You must know the projects behind those works, as well as the works of Gen Urobuchi and Keiichi Sigsawa very well. You are one of us."

Ryosuke looked at him calmly.

To be honest, in a way, he has always been a core fan. As a creator, he would never write something if he didn't like it himself.

If it were someone else, they might find this misplaced praise ridiculous.

But Ryosuke didn't find it funny.

Because of the things Tanaka said, those feelings about "being heartbroken by Reiha's suicide note," "the ending of the 'Midnight' story," and "liking Makise Kurisu," these were the voices he most wanted to hear when creating these works.

Ryosuke was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.

"You guessed right." He started spouting nonsense without batting an eye. "I've watched the Saber route ending of Fate nine times, and I followed the entire live forum commentary the night the third episode of Puella Magi Madoka Magica aired. By the way..."

He paused, his gaze calmly meeting that of Tanaka and Ayumi Yamazaki. "I actually prefer assistants to part-time workers."

Ayumi Yamazaki's mouth dropped open.

Tanaka stood up straight as if struck by lightning and reached out to Ryosuke.

"brother."

His eyes were filled with tears. "Please be sure to join our manga club."

"So, are you going to join the club?" Ayumi Yamazaki asked expectantly, already shoving the club application form into Ryosuke's hand.

Just as Ryosuke was about to speak, he suddenly felt his phone vibrate slightly in his pocket, so he took it out and glanced at it.

"I have something to do today."

He took the application forms from their hands. "But I'll consider it. Which building is the club activity room in?"

"The fourth floor of Student Club Building No. 3! Room 411!" Tanaka's eyes lit up immediately.

Ryosuke folded the form and put it in his pocket, nodding slightly. "Thank you for your hospitality. I'll take my leave now."

"Wait! Hey, could you at least leave your name?"

Tanaka's shouts followed several steps behind.

Ryosuke didn't turn around; he simply waved casually behind him as a farewell.

He walked past several club booths, followed the slope leading to the south gate of the campus for a short distance, and stopped in front of a vending machine.

Phoenix Saori leaned against the wall next to the vending machine, holding a can of melon soda in her left hand and slowly taking off her sun hat with her right.

"Why did you come here?" Ryosuke walked towards her.

"When the man I like goes to university, of course I have to come and see him."

"University is a place full of youthful energy. To prevent you from cheating on me, at least the girls around you should know that you already have someone you like."

"You're actually worried about this?"

Ryosuke was both amused and exasperated.

Despite having a major enemy right beside him, and even threatening to let the other party come and take it, he still cares so much about these kinds of things at school.

"Of course, Ling is special."

Saori tilted her head and gave a teasing smile. "Besides, if I didn't come, how could I have witnessed the famous president of ANIPLEX being praised to his face?"

“Don’t make fun of me.” Ryosuke pressed the button on the vending machine and took out a can of black coffee. “But they really do like those works, it’s not just polite talk.”

"Really? I'm just curious, what would their reaction be if they knew you were Gen Urobuchi himself?"

Saori grinned and snuggled up to him, taking his arm and winking at him.

"Spare me."

Ryosuke gave a wry smile.

Are you kidding me? Don't be fooled by those college students happily promoting their own work. If they had actually found out that Gen Urobuchi was standing right in front of them, they would have been in big trouble.

Who knows if there might be some spies hiding inside, ready to hand you razor blades face-to-face or something.

If a 'cursed doll' actually hits you, that would be terrible.

.....

Saori, arm in arm with Ryosuke, strolled through the campus.

Since it was the first day of school, after the entrance ceremony, I was actually quite free and there were no extra classes.

With a stunning beauty like Saori by his side, Ryosuke noticed that he was being stared at several times more often than when he came alone.

The number of people turning their heads to look at it is truly astounding.