Tech Society Chapter 2: Light Music Club ~Recruitment Battle Royale~

Chapter 2: Light Music Club ~Recruitment Battle Royale~ “Today’s agenda is…” with an unnecessary pause for dramatic effect, the club president, Yukino, then slammed her hand on the blackboard saying, “Club member recruitment!” Today was the start of the new term. The time when freshmen get to be curious on their new environment and follow their dreams. And the time when all clubs would be desperate for new recruits for many reasons. Sorano Academy is a school that encourages students in extracurricular activities and allows students to immerse themselves in whatever clubs and hobbies they have. With that reason, Sorano Academy hosts around 782 clubs and is nicknamed the Club Academy. But, even though the students can make clubs as they please, the regulations for all clubs are strictly imposed and clubs that fail to meet the regulations will be suspended, or worse, disbanded. Even with the high number of clubs in the school, hundreds clubs are lost every year due to the harshness of the rules. With that said, now is one of those times that these rules would determine the club's’ fate. Every term, a club must gain at least one new member within 3 months after the term starts. Failure to accomplish this would result in disbandment. This rule was implemented to see if the club actually has appeal to others and to hunt down those clubs that are made for friends only. As long as it’s a new member, it doesn’t matter if it’s not a freshmen as long as they weren’t part of the club before. Any special cases would be dealt with the student council’s consultation. And that is the current issue of the Information and Technology club. As a small club with a vague reason for existing, they must now come up with a plan to get a new member or else it would mean their end. Now, the rest are now seated inside a small clubroom that had a long rectangle table in the middle with dumbfounded faces. With the exception of Yukino who was looking fired up and Shino who was snacking on potato chips left on the table. “It’s been 2 months since the start of the new term and we still haven’t gotten a single new member. If it wasn’t thanks to that hotdog-eating contest last week, we might not be able to leave any single impression on other students.” Sasaki then supplemented after taking a glance at her notebook, giving an exasperated face. “But what we got is a weird impression and we’ve just wasted more time on nonsense, again, instead of recruiting members.” “It’s also this late into the recruitment period. Everyone would have a club right now.” Kotoharu said with a dejected expression. “At least the school knows that we exist right?! Then we could still have a chance to recruit those who are interested with a ” With an energetic voice, Yukino shouted at Sasaki. “We exist?” Finally getting into the topic, Shino asks a question that everyone will ignore. “Nevermind Shino’s statement but of course we exist! We’re the only club that blew up the school twice! And that was only on the first week! We are definitely on the newspapers at least!” The next person to retort was Kotoharu who was trying to remain silent earlier since the meeting started. “I think that we get enough publicity but people already think that this club is dangerous or very weird and are avoiding it.” Kiryu deeply said with his arms crossed. “We’re not the only weird club here you know. But still, it doesn’t change the fact that we need a new member. Forget whatever reputation we have and focus on getting at least one member within this month! Even if we have to use force!” Yukino energetically stated that she punched her fist into the air. “Eh? By force… ?” Kiryu, as if he remembered something he would rather forget, looked away and started to have a traumatized expression. “I just noticed something prez. Why are you so hyped today? It doesn’t really fit your usual mischievous sadistic personality. Are you planning on having a character change just right after the first chapter?” Sasaki gave Yukino a suspicious look to which Yukino proudly puffed out her chest answering… “Oh that, it’s today’s new product. The ‘Energency’!” With a loud declaration, Yukino took out a vial of unknown substance from her pocket and shoved it in front of her. “It increases your energy, erases your fatigue without the physical damage, changes your personality when in effect and lasts for 36 hours! It’s side effects has something to do with your brain but I didn’t bother looking at it. I took one last night and I’m still unable to sleep!” “That sounds scary! And why are we the ones testing that! It’s a drug! The science clubs should be in-charge of testing that!” Hearing Kotoharu’s retort, Yukino gave a big smile. “Well, just like it’s name, it’s purpose is for emergencies like when you’re catching up on your studies before exams or finishing a 6-day project that is due tomorrow that you just started.” Yukino said. “And now we are running out of time to recruit new members so I ‘borrowed’ this from the Independent Student Medicine club, to get you guys fired up on recruiting!” “I’m getting a bad feeling from how you got that from the I.S.Med club. Specifically, why were there quotation marks when you said the word ‘borrowed’.” “Enough about that topic! Now, does anyone have any ideas on how to get new members? Suggestions are now open.” Yukino gladly declared. “Why don’t you just kidnap someone like what you did to me?” Kiryu, who was having a trauma attack earlier, voiced out. “Can’t do. We were only able to get away with it that time since you were Sasaki’s younger brother. The disciplinary committee just got a lot more strict ever since the new chairman took over. Kidnaping is now out of our options.” Yukino then clicked her tongue. “How about handing out flyers? It might be late but simplicity is best.” Kiryu then gave another suggestion to Yukino. “The chances are low but we need a certain 100% method to get a new member.” But she rejected it. “Another eating contest!” Shino voiced out in an unexpected timing. Looking at the table where she had been eating, it was messy with all the used wrappers scattered. “I know you’re hungry right now but bare with it. Another event like that and the rest of the school would hate us.”