I was Thrown into an Unfamiliar Manga

Since it had been a while since I last came to the student council room, I figured I might as well stay and listen a bit longer.

As I sat down on the sofa, the student council treasurer, Akagi Minami, appeared from somewhere like a shadow and set down green tea and yokan on the table.
Both were high-end products brought directly from Kyoto. The President had such a picky palate that she wouldn’t even touch tea or yokan unless it was from a specific brand.
“Thank you.”

“Think nothing of it.”
Minami said that quietly and stepped back.
As you might guess from the name, Akagi Minami, the student council treasurer, and Akagi Shinjiro, the vice president, are cousins.

The Akagi family is one of the branch families of the Saionji household, and apparently, they’ve served the main house as retainers for generations.
Unlike the vice president, who looks like a straight-laced honor student but is actually a hot-blooded type, Minami is completely cool-headed.
They’re total opposites in personality, but their loyalty to the President is the same.

That’s why people call the Ichijo Academy student council, with its suspiciously strong power, the President’s personal organization.
The President sat down at her personal desk, clasped her hands, and rested her chin on them.
Because ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) of the curtain behind her, her face was cast in shadow, making her look like a mastermind villain. But in this situation, was there really a need to go for that kind of mood...?

I was thinking that to myself when—
“Kim Yu-seong-kun.”
“Yes.”

“What are you doing for Golden Week?”
I hesitated briefly, then answered.
“I don’t have anything in particular planned for Golden Week. My parents have to run the restaurant, so I’ll probably just stay at home.”

The fitness club would be closed during the holidays anyway, so I really had nothing to do.
“Perfect. I was hoping you could help me out with something.”
“What kind of task do you mean?”
The President gulped and slowly opened her mouth.

“I believe you already know that I’ve been working tirelessly on something recently?”
“Oh, you mean the exchange program with the sister school in Russia?”
“Yes. The discussions went well last week, and once Golden Week ends, we’ll be receiving one exchange student.”

“I see.”
But what about it?
“I’d like to give the exchange student a good impression of our school. So I thought of giving them a small, non-burdensome gift upon arrival. That is to say…”

It was rare for the President—who usually spoke directly—to beat around the bush like this, but I already understood what she was getting at.
“You’re asking me to help pick out a gift for the exchange student?”
“Yes! That’s exactly it!”

She exclaimed excitedly as she jumped up—then quickly realized her mistake and sat back down with a flushed face.
“If it’s for something like that, of course I’ll help. When would be good for you?”
“I-I’m okay with any time. I’m the one asking a favor, so I’ll work around your schedule.”

Hearing that, I took out my smartphone and checked the calendar.
“How about the first day of the break, the 29th?”
“Perfect!”

She responded within 0.5 seconds.
Startled by her lightning-fast reply, I looked at her, and she pressed her fan toward me and declared forcefully:
“If you later say something came up and cancel, I will never forgive you!”

“Uh? Y-Yes…”
The intensity in her voice made it seem like she’d hit me if I refused, so I nodded reflexively.
Satisfied at last, the President put down her fan and started humming as she tackled a pile of paperwork.

…I honestly had no idea what was going on anymore.
Anyway, it seemed the reason she had called me to the student council room was settled, so I was about to head back to class when I remembered something and asked:
“Would it be alright if I rejoined a club activity this year?”

“Yeees~ that’s fine~”
Back when I asked before, she shot me down instantly, but now she was totally okay with it.
Definitely a good call asking while she was in a good mood.

“…This place is the best!”
“You don’t get it. This is the new hot spot.”
I told the vice president and Minami, who were deep in discussion on the sofa, that I’d be heading out, then quietly closed the door behind me so as not to disturb them.

***
Originally, student council members were allowed to participate in regular club activities as long as it didn’t interfere with daily duties.
But during my first year, the President insisted I focus solely on student council work, and I was forced to leave the Board Game Club mid-second semester and became part of the "Go-Home Club."

Now, a chance to rejoin a club had come again.
As I sat at my classroom desk reading a pamphlet the Newspaper Club had distributed, Kishimoto entered the room and, curious, asked:
“Ryu-chan, whatcha reading?”

I turned slightly so she could see the pamphlet.
“A recruitment flier? Ryu-chan, you’re a second-year and still not in a club?”
I nodded.

“Circumstances forced me to quit during first year. Thought I’d try joining something again.”
Kishimoto clapped her hands like it was perfect timing.
“Then wanna go around with me? Starting today, all the clubs are open for trial admission after school!”

“Trial admission?”
“Yeah! Instead of just staring at paper in the classroom, it’s way better to try things out in person and decide, right?”
Now that I thought about it, she had a point.

Back then, I joined the Board Game Club without giving it much thought, so I’d never tried out any other clubs.
Tempted by her offer, I decided to go on a post-school club tour.
***

“So, where should we start?”
Since she was also a transfer student, Kishimoto, like me, wasn’t in any club yet. I mentioned a place I’d already had in mind.
“I wanna check out one of the sports clubs.”

“Sports?”
“I’m curious how far my abilities hold up.”
Honestly, if I thought about it objectively, I was just someone who trained my body to its limits at a neighborhood gym.

I had no idea if that would be effective at a practical level like in a real sports club.
Having lived in a hamster-wheel routine of home, school, and gym, I’d never really had a chance to test myself.
Hearing this, Kishimoto made a mischievous face and suggested heading to the field.

“Which club is doing trial admission at the field?”
She beamed brightly as she answered:
“Soccer Club!”

***
The Soccer Club at Ichijo Academy had the highest competition rate among all the school’s clubs.
And for good reason—guys who play sports are cool.

Soccer, in particular, is one of the most familiar sports to the average person.
Some join the club simply because they love the game, while others are driven by the hope of becoming popular with girls.
Among the freshmen—still mostly short due to just entering high school—there was one guy who stood out with overwhelming presence.

‘W-Why is that guy here?!’
Ryohei, the Soccer Club captain now in his third year and entering his final season for the nationals, was horrified to see the infamous Kim Yu-seong among the new trial members.
An absolutely dominant physique.

He towered over the average Japanese male, and his muscular build was like a living weapon.
If he entered the field, no high schooler could match him.
‘I want this guy!’

What position would suit him best?
By now, all the rumors Ryohei had heard about Kim Yu-seong didn’t matter anymore.
He had poured everything into this club for three years.

No one loved soccer more. No one wanted recognition through soccer more.
But none of his current teammates could match his passion.
Soccer is a team sport.

Even the most talented player can’t dominate the field alone.
If only he had someone on his level—just one other person—they might finally have a shot at the national tournament.
That’s how desperately Ryohei longed for a strong new recruit.

“Alright, come up one at a time and take a shot.”
Still, he had to restrain himself.
If he came on too strong, Kim Yu-seong might feel pressured and leave for another club.

So he planned to persuade him naturally—like rain seeping into the ground.
Eventually, each person took turns shooting at the goal, and finally, it was Kim Yu-seong’s turn.
Gulp—

Even just sitting down, he was intimidating. Now that he stood up and approached, the pressure was overwhelming.
Standing before him made Ryohei feel like a dwarf.
Even if the height difference was maybe only 10 centimeters.

“Do I just kick this?”
Looking down at the ball, Kim Yu-seong asked in a deep, heavy voice.
“W-What? Oh—yeah.”

Snapping out of it, Ryohei nodded hastily. Kim took a step back.
Then raised his leg high—
BOOOOM!!!

With a thunderous sound, he kicked the ball.
Ryohei instinctively turned toward the goalpost—but was puzzled to see the net completely still.
Looking back at Kim Yu-seong, he witnessed an unbelievable sight.

What should’ve been a normal soccer ball had—
Exploded open at the side, shredded at Kim’s feet.
“W-What the…”

Ryohei muttered. Kim looked down at his foot and shook his head.
“This won’t do.”
“Then next is the Basketball Club!”

With the blonde high school girl beside him, his massive back slowly faded into the distance.
Ryohei could only stare blankly after him.