After I returned to my classroom, buzzing with excitement, the bell for class rang again almost immediately. But the eerie atmosphere inside left me utterly bewildered.

...What’s going on?...

There, stretching from Umaru—the perfect high-school girl at the last window seat—all the way to the classroom entrance, a stark gender divide had formed in our class.

What?! What happened here?! I must’ve missed something huge...

Amid the weird tension, I walked back to my seat and poked my best buddy Nishi in front.

“Hey, hey! Nishi! What happened in class? Why’s it like this?”

“Oh, that!” Nishi turned around, handing me an A4 sheet. “After you left, we were supposed to discuss school clubs. By the way, bro, which one do you wanna join?”

“No! I’m asking why the class turned like this?” I shook my head, taking the paper. I had zero interest in clubs—they’d just waste my time.

“Ah, that? I wasn’t paying attention, sorry bro.” He turned back around.

Damn it! This guy’s so unreliable sometimes!

I skimmed the A4 paper—club names and descriptions printed neatly. Just then, a text popped up on my phone. I pulled it out; it was from Nagisa. I glanced at his seat and opened the message.

“Chiyo-kun, the girls in our class just decided to form a new club.”

A new club? Interesting... I typed back fast.

“What club?”

Soon after, the blue-haired boy ahead ducked his head briefly. Another text arrived.

“I didn’t catch it all, but their club name seems to be—the Anti-Player Task Force.”

I nearly choked on my own spit. Then it clicked. My morning antics must’ve completely triggered some girls’ sensitive nerves!

Player? By their standards, wasn’t I exactly that?

...Hmm... judging by the class vibe, they probably lumped in all the other guys too!... No wonder the atmosphere’s so weird...

But... will the Student Council even approve this club application?...

I shook my head speechlessly, replied, and pocketed my phone.

“Thanks, Nagisa. Lunch is on me at noon.”

I glanced at the elderly, nearsighted teacher on the podium and picked up the A4 paper. It listed mainstream clubs: basketball, soccer, baseball, swimming...

“Huh? There’s more on the back?”

I flipped the sheet over and scanned it.

...

Light Music Club?... Probably a music group...

Magical Girl Club?... Seriously? In high school? Must be a bunch of otakus!

SOS Brigade?... What even is this?...

Far Eastern Magic Siesta Society?... What bizarre club is this?...

Man, this school’s got way too many weird clubs...

...Weird... Why do these feel so familiar?

I dug through my memories. Must be from my past life... I’ve forgotten most of it by now. Living here over a decade wiped out trivial details.

Where did I come from? What am I to this world? Where will I end up?

For no reason, life’s three big philosophical questions popped into my head...

Hmm... for me, I’d add a fourth—why did I get stuck with this scammy system?

I cleared my head, stuffed the paper into my desk. No clubs for me—not unless one helps me win over girls!

Speaking of that, I now know the weakness of the Opposite-Sex Repulsion Aura.

...But... how do I make girls who hate me believe in something this absurd?

Getting someone to listen and making them fully believe are totally different things.

It’s like convincing someone to eat something gross versus making them love it—completely different difficulties.

Crude analogy, but it fits my situation perfectly.

To make them believe, they’d either know supernatural stuff—like Ms. Yukimura—or have a screw loose. Basically, not normal girls.

Achieving either? Nearly impossible! Forget ghosts; I’ve never seen anything paranormal here.

Absolute Choice? Tch! Probably another unlucky guy like me—stuck with a scammy system too!

I wonder where he is? Meeting him, teaming up against our systems... that’d be nice.

But even Ms. Yukimura only has vague rumors. Finding this kindred spirit’s address? Almost hopeless.

Honestly, I’m only curious about Absolute Choice. As for Kanzo Amakusa? I don’t care... unless he’s a girl...

Time flew to noon. I watched our noisy classroom—classmates huddled in groups, debating clubs. Meanwhile, I walked to the cafeteria with Nagisa and Nishi. I’d promised lunch, so I dragged Nagisa along.

“Nagisa-kun, this big guy’s my childhood best friend, Nishi. Call him that. He’s got a sharp tongue.”

“Hello, Nishi-kun. I’m Nagisa Shiota.”

“Huh? You really look like a girl!” Nishi scrutinized the blue-haired boy. “Nagisa, are you cross-dressing?”

“...Uh...” Nagisa sweat-dropped, ignoring him.

“By the way, Chiyo-kun, picked your club yet?”

“Well... no plans for now! How about you, Nagisa-kun?” I smiled back.