Although he suspected it might have been written by the past Xia Chuan Yuan—he had no memories anyway—he still needed to be shameless. He couldn’t admit to writing such things. Yes, that was the way to go.

“I think you’ve gone to great lengths to get me to join your Literary Club, haven’t you?”

Xia Chuan Yuan watched Narumi Miyu reading the chuuni lines from the diary and calmly said.

“No, it was pure coincidence. I found it somewhere, and I felt it was destiny. We need your strength, so we invited you. This was really a last resort.”

“I don’t believe it! I’ve never written such chuuni diaries! Unless… let me see it.”

After Xia Chuan Yuan spoke, he saw Narumi Miyu actually handing him the diary.

“Here, if you want to see it, go ahead!”

Xia Chuan Yuan took the diary and flipped through it.

This… this handwriting was very familiar. It was his own; he had some memory of it.

Then, Xia Chuan Yuan realized the diary was in his hands. He could tear it up instantly—no evidence, no blackmail worries.

Mm~ Yes. They’d made a mistake.

He thought for a moment, silently chuckling. This was a loophole they hadn’t considered.

But just as he thought that, Narumi Miyu said:

“Oh, by the way, don’t think about destroying this diary. I gave it to you because I’m prepared. Don’t be stupid! Even if you tear it up, photos might flood the whole campus tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Xia Chuan Yuan abandoned the idea. His face turned grim—his little scheme exposed, making him look awful.

“Here, take it back, okay! Seeing the handwriting, I must admit my past self wrote such chuuni things. The evidence is here; I can’t deny it. But tell me—why is my diary in your hands?”

Narumi Miyu and Mizuki Miyabi exchanged a glance. Mizuki Miyabi, as if prompted, spoke to Xia Chuan Yuan:

“Actually, this diary was kept in Senior Xia Chuan Yuan’s old clubroom. A clubmate found it back then. With her, we have four members. Your arrival makes us five. We’ve secured an advisor too. After reading this diary, we felt you were reliable—that’s why we invited you.”

…Why did my past self love diaries? It’s a bad habit. I must quit. Diaries ruin worlds—it’s their fault I’m blackmailed! Never again.

“Alright, truth is, I was willing to accept at first. But I couldn’t agree right away—that’d be uncool. So I refused. Yet your sincerity moved me. I’ll help start this club. Give me a chance to make your dreams real!”

And so, Xia Chuan Yuan was dragged into this mess. He joined the Cultural Club, leaving the Going-Home Club behind.

Still, he wondered what club he’d been in before and where he’d hidden the diary. But…

Glancing at the two girls heading to the Cultural Club’s base, he decided not to ask. He’d have chances later. Asking too much might make him seem fake or ill. It wasn’t necessary; not knowing was fine.

…

Xia Chuan Yuan followed Narumi Miyu and Mizuki Miyabi to the Cultural Club’s unestablished base. He slowed his pace—since they led, lagging half a body length back was best.

They walked awhile, leaving one classroom building for another. Xia Chuan Yuan wasn’t surprised. At Sakurano High, club culture thrived. A dedicated building housed student bases—secret spots kept kids off streets and away from shady crowds. It boosted safety and meaning. Why wouldn’t the school approve?

Xia Chuan Yuan just hadn’t expected a whole building for clubs. In his past life, he’d never seen such wealth. He marveled at the school’s resources—and at Narumi Miyu and Mizuki Miyabi’s backgrounds, especially Narumi Miyu’s. He noticed Mizuki Miyabi followed her lead; Narumi Miyu decided everything.

Why connections? The school had old and new buildings. The new one was a student-only base; the old one held most clubs. Only ten percent got the new spot—it was better but smaller. Xia Chuan Yuan figured one of them must have pull to secure it.

At the new building, Narumi Miyu didn’t enter directly. She detoured to a secluded wall with a door.

She opened it—as if unlocking a new world. Behind lay stairs descending underground. The two girls stepped in. Xia Chuan Yuan hesitated, then followed, walking down the stairs.