"Look, everyone," I said. "Not talking to them would only make things worse. Maybe they don't know they're replacing a currently active club and maybe we'll get them to our side."

"T-that does sound logical," Yuri admitted, still looking doubtful.

"Exactly!" I pointed at Yuri which kinda startled her. "We can't just skirt around this situation."

"Are you an idiot!?" Natsuki snarled at me. "They're probably gonna beat us up for even trying to ask!"

"Yeah..." Sawako agreed.

"Sawako, you of all people should be with me on this one." I turned to her.

"Huh?"

"Because you taught me not to judge people without talking to them first!" I grinned at her.

Sawako just looked surprised at what I said for a second then laughed. "Oh, right. I taught you that."

"Right?"

"How could I forget that?"

"We all have our moments."

Sawako then nodded. "I'll talk to them. I'll try to explain to them the situation."

"What if they're actually dangerous people!?" Natsuki complained.

"They won't anything on the school grounds," she countered. "I should've done this from the start."

Shinji let out a sigh. "If that's what you want."

"Still, you shouldn't do this alone," Monika said, crossing her arms. "But all of us can't go. It might look like we're ganging up on them."

"Isn't there safety in numbers?" Natsuki asked.

"We're just going to talk," Sawako said.

"I'll go with you!" I volunteered.

"Nice, Zou-chan!" Sawako gave me two thumbs up.

"What? Sayori? You'll go?" Yuri asked, looking very worried.

"Maybe I should go," Monika suggested, "I can try to reason with them."

"It's okay, Monika," I reassured her, placing my hand on her shoulder. "We can go this!"

I showed her a thumbs up. Sawako gave a thumbs up too.

Monika first looked surprised at us. She then smiled at me. "Alright. If there's anything we can help with, don't hesitate to ask us."

I know I said I would help Sawako talk to those students, but now that we're here, I felt like taking back those words.

Sawako and I went down to the ground floor and went outside the building to talk with those students we saw from the rooftop. However, looking at them up close, I can't help but think they might beat our asses as soon as we said anything.

The long haired girl just stood there and her eyes had one of the most scariest glares I had ever seen in my life. It didn't help that she wore a surgical mask as it added her intimidating aura. As for her other friends, they just stood next to her like her bodyguards or something. One of them with pixie haircut was just looking at her smartphone while the other one with headphones just bobbed her head to the beat of whatever she was listening to.

"Zou-chan," Sawako called out.

"What?"

"Why aren't we going to them?"

We're actually hiding; sitting behind some bushes near the school gate.

"I don't know," I whispered back to her.

"I thought we're gonna talk to them?" Sawako asked quietly.

"Be my guest and lead the way."

"Zou-chan, I believe you must lead me."

I looked at her. "Why?"

She looked at me seriously. "I'm scared."

"What!?"

Sawako twiddled her thumbs. "I'm being honest here, Zou-chan."

"But you were so determined back there!"

"Bravado is one thing but doing is the hard part." Sawako looked away from me.

"What the hell is that noise?" someone asked. Now that I thought about it, the voice came from above us…

I looked up and saw the masked girl looking down on us.

"The hell you two are hiding for?" She wondered.

I think Sawako made a weird noise, like a puppy that got hurt a bit. Actually, she looked like a puppy that was scared to get hurt.

"What, you two making out?" The masked girl raised an eyebrow.

"What!?" I blurted.

"Wait, is that why you wanted to come with me?" Sawako asked.

"No! I came with you because you needed help!"

"O-oh, right."

"Why don't you two get up already?" the masked girl said.

We immediately stood up, almost like standing at attention in military.

"So, what, you two wanted something from me? Nobody hangs out here beside me."

I heard Sawako gulp so I did too.

"A-actually, we wanted to talk to you…" Sawako managed to say. You go girl. I'm just gonna wait till you're done here.

"Huh? What the hell do you need from me?" She glared at Sawako.

Sawako's mouth was open but no words came out of it.

"Oi, your friend got speechless," the masked girl's gaze turned to me, "so what do you need from me?"

Now that I got the girl's gaze on me, I realized why Sawako couldn't speak. Her eyes were like a predator's. Sharp and cold. I wouldn't be surprised if she said her dad was the leader of the yakuza.

"Wait, you're not confessing to me, aren't you?" The masked girl raised an eyebrow.

"No…," I muttered.

"Huh?! I can't hear what you're saying!"

"Um! I'm from the anime club! We came here to ask that you hold off your club application so we can reestablish our club we are on the verge of being terminated! Please!" Sawako bowed her head.

I just looked at Sawako in awe.

"Ha? What are you talking about?"

"Eh?" Sawako gasped.

"Why should I care about your club? I'm starting my own and I've been trying to get it official since last year. In fact, yours going away makes it easier for me to get my club approved."

My god, this bitch was condescending as fuck. I wanted to kick her so hard. Who cares if she was yakuza? No one talks like that to other people, especially to Sawako!

"And your club's being dismissed? You're probably not even doing anything if the student council is letting us have your room."

I had enough. "Hey, listen here—"

"Um! Maybe that's true!" Sawako raised her head. "Maybe we didn't do enough to keep ourselves in a positive light. But still, the club is important to me. It's a place not just for me, it's for people who share my passion, my hobbies! There isn't any other place like it, so I want to protect it. President showed me that!"

The masked girl was taken back by Sawako's response and then she started laughing. Wow, do I beat the hell out of this bitch now?

"Interesting! This is really interesting!" She said after stopped laughing. She placed her hands on her hips. "Very well. I'll give you one chance."

"Really!?" Sawako excitedly said.

"Yeah. We'll fight for the club room."

"F-fight?" Sawako nervously asked.

"If you win, you get to keep your club. I'll even help you out getting it fixed and what not."

"Zou-chan!" Sawako grabbed my hands. "We can save the club!"

"Y-yeah." I agreed.

"BUT!," the masked girl interrupted, "If we win, you will disband your club so our approval can be faster."

The excitement drained from Sawako's face.

"So, how are we doing this?" I asked her. I think I can still do Tae Kwon Do, but I'm a little rusty.

"This coming school festival, there's an open talent show. We'll be entering there. You guys enter too and then we'll see who will win."

"A talent show?" I repeated. I thought we're gonna beat up each other but hey, at least no one's ending up in a hospital.

"Yeah, so you should sign up. I don't care what you do on stage. Just make sure it's worth my while." The girl then turned around, her hair fluttering in the wind. "Time passes so quick. Looks like I'll be looking forward to next week." She turned her head a bit and glared at me. "Do not disappoint me." And with that, she walked back to her friends and they all walked out of the gate. The masked turned her head at us.

"My name's Kasukabe Tsukasa. What's yours?"

"Sawako! Tachibana Sawako!" Sawako replied.

"I'll remember that, Tachibana." And with that, she flung her handbag over shoulder and walked away with her friends.

I also realized Tsukasa didn't even ask for my name.