Chapter 5: Recruitment
The day of the club recruitment festival finally arrived. According to Kaito-senpai, this was a big event at our school—like a mini festival. Classes ended early, students roamed freely, and every club set up flashy booths to attract new members.
"Dirga!" a familiar voice called.
I turned around. There he was—Buddha himself.
"Ah, Rikuya-senpai! You've already set up the booth?" I asked as I jogged over.
Our basketball club's booth was simple, but thanks to Rikuya-senpai's help, it looked lively—banners, flyers, and even a makeshift mini-hoop for free throws. The school park, where all the booths were gathered, wasn't large, but it had charm with its trimmed grass and sakura trees lining the path.
"You two got here early?" Kaito asked, panting and sweating like he'd just sprinted across the school.
"I just arrived," I said. "This is all thanks to Rikuya-senpai."
"Thank you, Senpai," Kaito added with a bow.
"It's nothing. I'm just doing my job as a teammate," Rikuya replied calmly.
Man, he really shines. I half expected to see golden light glowing behind his bald head. Every time he spoke, it felt like I should bow and offer incense. Is this what meeting a deity feels like?
As the three of us made final adjustments to the booth, I opened a mental window.