GJ Bu - Volume 2 - Chapter 18

Volume 2 - Chapter 18: The Sign

"There's no way I can do that!"

As usual, afterschool in the clubroom.

But, unusually, Kyouya was undergoing a strange training regimen.

The goal was to make a sign with one's fingers, but this was no ordinary sign.

The sign was to be made with one hand held straight in the air, forming the shape of a V. However, this was no ordinary V sign, for the middle and the ring finger were to be separated to form the shape of the V, and the ring finger had to stay firmly pressed against the pinky.

Was this even possible? Kyouya thought. 

"It's easy!"

Said the president. 

Easy to say, maybe, but difficult to accomplish.

Kyouya had tried multiple times, but his fingers felt as if they were going to cramp, so he had given up already.

"It's impossible; no human could do it."

"It's not impossible, see?"

And so, the president began to effortlessly demonstrate. Her middle finger and ring finger were parted neatly, a splendid display of a V sign.

"That's because you're the president."

"What are you implying?"

"I mean I'm not talented like you."

"Is that so?"

The president looked over her shoulder.

As she looked toward the round table, then the sofa, and finally toward the black tea station in front of the furnace, she was greeted with three "GJ-Bu salutes". 

Shion-san raised her hand without even looking up from her paperback.

Kirara-san raised one hand while she ate her meat.

Megumi-chan was busy pouring the tea and raised her free hand.

Somehow, it made the sign look like child's play.

"See? Everyone can do it."

The president was triumphant.

"Just how much have you guys trained?"

"If you can't do it, then you'll never be a proper man. You'll just be Kyoro."

"Is Kyoro supposed to be a derogatory term?"

"If you don't learn, then you'll be in trouble."

"I don't think I'll ever be bothered by that in my entire life."

Kyouya's ideal was to never involve himself in meaningless conflict.

Kyouya had no intention to learn, and perhaps because of that attitude—

"Alright, fine."

The president narrowed her eyes.

"You're out of the club if you can't do it. Don't come tomorrow."

She said without a hint of warmth in her voice.

"Eh?"

Kyouya thought he had misheard.

"...Um... uh... just now..."

"Like I said."

The president sat down in her chair with only those words.

A cold air of rejection was emanating from her back.

Kyouya looked toward everyone else in turn. Shion-san and Kirara-san gazed back with worried looks on their faces, and Megumi-chan held her two hands up in a "you can do it!" pose. 

Kyouya worked hard.

He sat in his chair and practiced without any lapse in his focus, making the sign as his fingers trembled and seemed as if they would cramp.

At some point, the cup that was left on the table had been filled with black tea. In fact, it was already cold.

Kyouya continued with his practice, even ignoring the black tea that Megumi-chan had poured for him.

Finally, the end of school broadcast started. The Beetles' melancholic tune echoed through the hallway speakers. Stunned, Kyouya listened to the broadcast with growing anxiety.

In the end... he still couldn't do it.

It was a little better than when he started, but he still couldn't make the crisp and clear GJ-Bu salute that everyone else could. No matter how he tried, his hand trembled with every passing second.

"Am I out of the club?"

Kyouya asked with unease.

The president slammed close the manga she was reading with a loud thud.

"Did you think I was being serious?"

She said casually.

"Well, with this, you just have to give it a week and anyone can do it, even you, Kyoro. It's good to let your fingers get some flexibility, you know."

"Y... yes."

Kyouya picked up his bags and followed the president out of the classroom.

He was just happy that he could come here again tomorrow. 

---

 

Kyouya: Looks like I can do it now—

Megumi the Negotiator:

Obtaining the items from other clubs is Megumi's job. Resources in the school are usually exchanged with club tokens, and these club tokens can be used during the school festival for original goods from each of the clubs. Megumi's handknit items are very popular, and the GJ$'s exchange rate is skyrocketing.