What a twist! The loser heroine!

"Um, this is my classmate. She's here for a visit today."

"Hello."

After Nonomura finished speaking, she bowed slightly to the two presidents, perfectly embodying the word "gentle and quiet".

"Oh! Another visitor. Welcome, welcome! Our literary club mainly focuses on reading, so please feel free to borrow any books." Tsukinoki Koto pushed up his glasses with a hint of excitement. "Great, great! Quite a few people have come to the club office today."

"After all, book signings are a lot of hot topics." Wen Shui put her backpack on the chair. "Huh? Is no one going to make tea today? I'll do it then."

"Oh, thank you, Wen Shui. There were so many people just now, I completely forgot about it," said Yue Zhi Mu with a smile.

"Don't mention it."

Wen Shui glanced up casually; the bookshelf area that had previously held Osamu Dazai and Yukio Mishima had now been cleared out.

Did the vice president anticipate a large number of visitors today and specially put the set away? Or did some BL fanatic borrow the entire set?

The thought of the possibilities ahead filled Wen Shui with dread. Who on earth could achieve such a level?

Hmm, probably not...

Wait, I also hid some light novels about younger sisters in the clubroom before.

Let's check it again when there are fewer people around.

He suddenly felt inexplicably frightened, and hurriedly pulled out a light novel he hadn't finished reading from the bookshelf, placed it on the desk next to President Tamaki, and then started making tea. Nonomura also began searching the bookshelf for the books he wanted to read.

"Speaking of which, it seems like Xiaoju didn't come today, and she didn't send any messages in the group chat." President Tamaki suddenly realized something: "Wenshui, do you know where she went?"

"I don't know, she didn't come with me today." Wen Shui said while opening the tea bag, "She was probably bothered by her classmates because of the book signing event."

“That is indeed a possibility.” Senior Yuezhimu looked worried: “I’m a little worried about whether Xiaoju can withstand the attention from the students.”

Wen Shui recalled the pale-faced Xiao Ju from that morning and couldn't help but laugh.

"I think it might be a bit difficult. Just the shady readers at the book signing event have already scared her a little."

After saying that, he carried the electric kettle out of the office and went to the nearest water tank to get water.

After silently nodding in agreement, President Tamaki said with a hint of helplessness, "However, Komari's personality should gradually change, so let's take this signing event as a starting point."

"If only that were true." Senior Yuezhi sighed softly as she wrote down a senior's borrowing request and book information: "We only have less than a year left in Shilu."

"Don't worry about Wen Shui and Ji Gong, Koto."

"You make it sound so easy..."

Nonomura, who was selecting books, clearly heard the conversation, and her fingers, which were tracing the spines of the books, paused slightly.

After a while, Wen Shui returned to the office and plugged in the electric kettle.

Meanwhile, Nonomura, holding a copy of "Dark Cherry Blossoms," chose a chair where no one was around and sat down.

【Huh? Did they choose Higuchi Ichiyo...?】

Wen Shui took out a large number of disposable paper cups from the packaging bag, brewed the tea in the teapot, and began to act as a temporary waiter in this small community office.

First, he served hot tea to several students who were reading books attentively. Then he walked over to Nonomura and placed the paper cup in a spot that wouldn't obstruct her reading but was still within her reach.

"It's a little hot, please be careful."

"Thank you." Nonomura looked up, smiled, and thanked him softly.

"You're welcome," Wen Shui replied calmly.

He turned around and found two unexpected people standing at the entrance of the community office.

Hibari, the student council president of Ishigaki, was looking thoughtfully at the situation in the club office. Behind her, Masato Tenai, who was somewhat reserved but still gazing at the president with longing, was...

After realizing that Wen Shui had seen him, the student council president spoke, as if announcing his arrival.

"Oh my, the Literature Club has changed a lot now."

"The student council came to inspect club activities, which caused quite a bit of disturbance."

As Hibari Hohara said this, she walked into the clubroom. She casually found a chair near Tsukinoki-senpai and sat down, so Aoi Hoshi also sat down next to the president, and Onami immediately served two cups of hot tea.

The students who were reading in the club office seemed a little afraid of the president. They quickly put down their books and left the club office, leaving only Nonomura in the visiting group.

"Huh? What, what happened?"

Wen Shui paused for a moment, somewhat surprised by the students' decisive departure.

"Hehe, last week, while I was at the book signing event, I took the opportunity to communicate with the school committee and also got rid of some unwieldy and redundant clubs."

The president spoke as if he were recounting some trivial matter: "Those students from earlier are probably planning to join a new club because their original club was disbanded."

The two club presidents couldn't help but shudder, glancing nervously at the president, afraid that she might say something like, "I'm here to end this club."

Is that so? No wonder they run away as soon as they see the president... So it's because they're traumatized?

With that thought in mind, Wen Shui handed tea to the two club presidents, then took her own cup and sat down at the table.

President Fang Hu smiled and looked at Vice President Yue Zhimu: "Senior, there are so many more people visiting the club today, how was the result?"

The results she was referring to were, of course, the number of people who had joined the club.

Tsukinoki Koto shook his head helplessly: "Not at all. Everyone thinks that our club usually just gets together to read books and doesn't have any other activities, so they all just came to borrow a few books and left."

"I see. Then we'd better hurry up with the club activities." Hibari Hara warned, "If we don't get any activity reports, I won't be able to explain myself."

"Isn't a book signing event considered an event?"

"That will only last about a week. If the literary society continues to operate without any club activities, it will likely end up like those other clubs and be disbanded."

The president issued a warning.

“I see…” Tsukinoki Koto pondered for a moment, then nodded: “I understand. I will submit an activity report to the student council this week.”

"She truly lives up to her senior's reputation; she's someone you can really trust to get things done."

The president stood up with a smile, and added as a final reminder: "By the way, if there are any new activities, remember to promote them more; it might attract more people to join the arts club."

After saying that, she left the club office with Tian Aixing, who seemed to have something to say.

"Hmm... club activities..." Senior Tsukinoki slumped onto the table, tapping her head lightly with her pen as if that would spark inspiration: "Besides the club magazine issue that we were already planning to restart, what other book-related activities are there?"

"I remember when we were in second grade, we used to work shifts at the library," President Tamaki recalled the activities of the literature club.

"Was that community service that the student council required?"

"Hmm, how about making a list of recent light novel recommendations or something?" Wen Shui suggested. "The recent online trend is to make a list of everything, so that it can attract attention and generate buzz."

“If we just arrange it ourselves, it feels like there’s a lot of subjectivity involved.” President Tamaki looked at Senior Tsukinoki and frowned slightly.

"Hey, Shintaro, why are you looking at me all of a sudden?!"

"No, it's nothing." The club president looked away, but was still tapped on the head by the senior student.

[Yes, it's possible that Senior Tsukinogi might manipulate the rankings by using underhanded tactics. Please, please don't do anything like that.]

"But if it's done through a questionnaire survey, the workload is too large and the sample size is too small, which doesn't feel right," President Tamaki said, rubbing his head, effectively rejecting the proposal.

"Hmm, how about we do it like before, making some promotional brochures for the bookstores in Toyohashi? That way we can also build good relationships with the store managers."

"However... such small-scale activities are probably not enough to attract new members."

"These days, very few people are willing to sit down and read a book."

Senior Yuezhi lay on the table, looking somewhat listless.

"Clap."

Nonomura, who had been silent for so long that the members of the literature club had almost forgotten about her, suddenly placed "Dark Cherry Blossom" on the table, making a soft clinking sound.

Facing the gazes of Wen Shui and the others who had been drawn to her, she spoke with a hint of nervousness.

"It's okay, um... I really like the atmosphere here."

"Reading quietly feels quite nice, so..."

The two presidents exchanged a glance, their eyes immediately lighting up.

"so……?"

Tsukinoki-senpai gave what was arguably the kindest smile she had seen all day.

Nonomura took a soft breath.

"I want to join the literature club."

After saying that, she smiled with relief.

~The Forty-Ninth Defeat~ Undercurrents are brewing?

Upon hearing Nonomura announce her decision to join the Literature Club, Tsukinoki-senpai immediately cheered with delight.

"Welcome, welcome! Welcome to join us!" She immediately took out the application form and pen that she had prepared in advance but had no use for from the table behind her and placed them respectfully in front of Nonomura.

"I am Tsukinoki Koto, and this guy next to me is Tamaki Shintaro. We are the president and vice president, respectively. Nice to meet you."

"No, there's no need to be so formal."

Nonomura picked up her pen and said, slightly nervously, "Um... I'm Nonomura Touko from Class 1-C. Nice to meet you."

After saying that, she signed her name on the application form.

[So her name is Touko... I didn't remember her well when she introduced herself, I've completely forgotten.]

As Wen Shui was thinking this, she suddenly felt a gentle pat on her shoulder.

Turning my head, I saw President Tamaki holding a paper crown that read "New Employee," smiling at me.

“Warm Water, since you brought Nonomura here for a visit, you can help her put this crown on.”

"Huh? When Xiao Ju and I joined the club, there wasn't this ceremony yet?" Wen Shui took the crown, somewhat hesitantly.

"Ahem, it was Koto's idea..." President Tamaki laughed and passed the buck to Vice President Tsukinoki.

"Hey! Shintaro, did you really have to make me come up with a welcoming ceremony? How are you going to compensate me for the brain cells I lost?!"

"Okay, okay, I'll treat you to dinner tomorrow."

Ah, these two are showing off their love again.

Wen Shui looked at the two club presidents who had started playfully fighting, shook his head helplessly, and turned to walk to Nonomura's side.

By this time, Nonomura had finished signing the application form. She looked up at the crown in Wen Shui's hand and said softly, "So there was this step too..."

"If you don't want to, you don't have to wear it," Wen Shui said with a smile. "After all, this wasn't available when the previous members joined."

"Hehe, this sounds interesting. Besides, we can't let the club presidents' efforts go to waste." Nonomura smiled. "Then please help me put it on, Nukumizu-kun."

Wen Shui nodded and gently placed the crown on Nonomura's head.

"Welcome to the company."

"Thank you."

◇

The literary club quickly returned to its usual tranquility. New students would occasionally come to visit the club office and borrow some books that interested them. However, it seemed that not many people were willing to join the club, which gave Senior Moonwood a headache for a while.

Nonomura, somewhat embarrassed, took off the crown that welcomed him to the club and placed it on the table. After all, it was just a symbolic ceremony, and he felt a little silly wearing it in front of the visiting students.

Having finished reading the light novel in her hand, Wen Shui stood up, somewhat reluctant to leave, intending to go to the bookshelf to find the next volume.

"Oh, sorry to bother you!"

A dull sound suddenly came from outside, and the members of the literary society all turned their eyes toward the entrance of the society's office.

A girl wearing a mask and sunglasses, who looked somewhat familiar, was waving at the crowd, her pink high ponytail swaying slightly with her movements.

Why would someone dress like that at school?

Wen Shuihe looked at the unknown girl's familiar hairstyle and flower hair accessory with amusement.

"Huh? Why are you so late?" Senior Yuezhi asked curiously.

"Oh dear, my video has gone viral online. Even the seniors from the third year of high school came to Class C to watch. I only managed to sneak over here by having Chaoyun help me change my clothes."

The girl spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, taking off her sunglasses and mask, and then untying the hair tie that held her ponytail. Her long hair fell down, and some unknown background music seemed to be playing in the office.

"Heh heh heh, how does my disguise feel? Did Wen Shui fall for it?"

Himegami Karen smiled and poked Onami's shoulder.