“It seems Yuri really wants to go. What about you, Carmilla?”
“I want to go.”
Now that both of their opinions were confirmed, she decided to ask Nomily and Olesia what they thought.
She walked to the front of the classroom and said to the two of them, “Good morning. Are you free at noon?”
“I usually practice my sword at noon, but that is just daily training. If Ruri has something she needs, I can clear my schedule,” Olesia replied.
Hearing Yuriko ask this, Nomily stepped in front of Olesia with a look of vigilance.
“Why are you asking that? Do you want to have lunch with my Elder Sister?”
“No, although that would be nice. I’m actually here to invite you both to participate in an interview with the News Club.”
Yuriko told them about being invited by the News Club and asked for their thoughts.
“I can go. It will be a good chance to inspect the News Club’s activities.”
“If Elder Sister is going, then I am going too!”
Having received their answers, Yuriko returned to her seat and asked Carmilla about the News Club.
“I don’t know much about the News Club. I only know they publish the school newspaper regularly. I heard they have connections with some news agencies in Pilgrim City and can publish directly through them.”
‘Are they really that professional?’
But on second thought, it made sense.
Many students at Shengxiu Academy were nobles, and each one was exceptionally talented.
It was only natural for them to have ties with external newspapers.
However, Yuriko knew that many newspapers loved to take things out of context. She began to draft a plan in her mind, thinking about what she should do to avoid being tricked.
This was an opportunity—an opportunity to promote herself to the entire academy.
If she succeeded, her popularity within the school would skyrocket.
While she pondered potential questions, noon arrived.
After lunch, the group arrived at the News Club’s headquarters right on time.
The News Club President was already waiting.
When she saw Yuriko in person, her eyes immediately lit up.
Yuriko looked beautiful in photos, but seeing her in reality, the News Club President felt the photographer’s skills were truly subpar.
They hadn’t captured this senior’s beauty at all.
Beautiful, dignified, gentle, and easygoing…
That was the President’s first impression upon meeting Yuriko.
‘Did she really not just walk out of a dream?’
“Hello! I am the News Club President. You must be Senior Ruri Yuriko!”
“Yes, that is me.”
‘Her voice is so lovely too—gentle, slightly magnetic, yet carrying the vitality of a young girl. Hearing it just once makes my ears feel like they are melting…’
Based on their first interaction alone, the News Club President felt that Yuriko was a girl overflowing with femininity.
She was someone who could definitely compete with Olesia for the title of School Beauty.
While Olesia was beautiful and noble, she was somewhat unapproachable.
A girl with a friendly aura like Yuriko was much easier to like.
At the very least, the News Club President had a very good first impression of Yuriko.
If she weren’t straight, she might have fallen in love right then and there.
“Seniors, please come in!”
The News Club President invited them inside and then shouted to the members, “Quick, serve tea!”
After the tea was served, the President noticed Olesia take out an inspection form and begin observing the club’s conditions.
This made her break out in a cold sweat.
Good heavens, she had to perform well now.
Olesia’s attitude directly affected the club’s budget!
Thus, the News Club President sat opposite them with a somewhat fawning expression and asked Yuriko, “For this interview, we plan to conduct it in the form of a campus broadcast. What do you think?”
‘A broadcast?’
Yuriko was familiar with the concept.
In her previous life, schools would use broadcasts during breaks to play music or read announcements.
She picked up the teacup and took a small sip. It was bitter; she didn’t like it very much.
“Speaking in front of the entire academy… I might be a little shy.”
Yuriko had never done anything like this.
Just thinking about broadcasting to the whole school made the pressure mount.
“If it’s too difficult, we can just conduct the interview here!”
The News Club President was terrified that Yuriko would back out, so her tone became quite humble.
This was tomorrow’s headline! She had to seize this chance no matter what!
“No need. Let’s do the interview in the broadcast room.”
Yuriko’s words surprised the News Club President.
Didn’t she just imply she didn’t want to do the broadcast?
As if to answer the President’s confusion, Yuriko said to her, “This is a request from a cute junior. How could I refuse? Besides, you will be happy if we do it this way, right? As long as I see the people around me smiling, I feel happy too.”
As she spoke, Yuriko flashed the smile she had practiced many times.
An aura of a gentle elder sister radiated from Yuriko, leaving the News Club President stunned.
‘So gentle, so beautiful…’
Yuriko’s words were like a warm breeze brushing against her face, making her feel exceptionally comfortable.
In that moment, the News Club President’s heart began to beat rapidly.
If she weren’t the president of this club, she would have wanted to dive into Yuriko’s arms and act spoiled.
‘How was that? My words just now were perfect, right? Didn’t I have the grace of an elder sister?’
**[Sigh, you’re a real femme fatale, meow.]**
‘What are you talking about?’
**[Nothing, meow.]**
“T-Then, without further ado, let’s begin!”
The News Club President grabbed a pen and paper and said to Yuriko, “Senior Ruri, please follow me inside. The other seniors, please wait here for a moment.”
Yuriko followed the President into the broadcast room.
It was her first time in such a place, and she looked around with curiosity.
“Please take a seat, Senior!”
Yuriko sat in a chair with a broadcasting microphone positioned in front of her.
She adjusted the microphone’s position and asked, “Should I just speak into this in a moment?”
“The academy’s microphones are very high quality. You can just sit normally and speak, Senior. Would you like to look over the questions first?”
Actually, the questions were not supposed to be shown to the interviewee to maintain authenticity, but the President didn’t want Yuriko to embarrass herself in public.
Even though they had just met, she was already starting to look out for her.
“Don’t worry too much about my feelings. Just follow your own rhythm.”
“Ah, okay!”
As a result, it was the News Club President who became nervous.
She was wondering if she should ask simpler questions.
If she asked something that made Yuriko uncomfortable, she probably wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.
“Then, let us begin.”
The News Club President turned on the broadcast and tested the microphone first.
“Check, check.”
Once she confirmed everything was working, she began the opening remarks.
“Youth is in its prime, and time is unending! Dear teachers and students, welcome to the Academy Broadcast! Here, we have the latest academy news and the beautiful melodies of youth. Lighting up the academy with sound and embracing time with passion, let’s start a vibrant academy moment together!”
After a standard opening, the News Club President moved to today’s theme.
“Since the founding of Shengxiu Academy, the institutional rules have never changed. But today, our guest has shattered conventional wisdom. She joined the Fifth Grade as a transfer student, something unprecedented in the academy’s history. To explore the secrets behind this, we have invited this special classmate. Please introduce yourself, Senior Ruri!”
—