Private Shuchiin Academy, second-year classroom activity room, afternoon.Since filling out the school cheering squad application form that Ishigami had given him, Yao Yaoling was now required to attend the cheering squad meeting with Ishigami today.
"This is my first time joining something like this.""Me too."Yao Yaoling and Ishigami Yu walked toward the activity room.
The cheering squad had its own program at the sports festival—chanting slogans, dancing, and sometimes singing. Because every year's event was different and this year planned to add new elements, they naturally needed a meeting.
Click.The door opened, and after greeting, Yao and Ishigami entered.
Inside, desks were arranged in a circle, and the cheering squad members were seated, watching Ishigami and Yao enter.Ishigami blended in without attracting much attention.But all eyes quickly turned to Yao Yaoling, who was still infamous for his actions during the student council presidential election.
"You must be Yao from Class 1-B and Ishigami, right? Welcome to the cheering squad~"Just as the atmosphere was about to freeze, a girl broke the ice.
She was a third-year senior, Koyasu Tsubame.Her pink short hair was swept to one side with a black bow, revealing a smooth forehead. Her words were filled with warmth, and her beauty alone inspired instant goodwill.She was very popular at Shuchiin Academy; many boys who joined the cheering squad did so hoping to impress her.
"Hello, senior Koyasu! I hope I'm not late.""Nope~ Come on in!"Tsubame smiled warmly, grabbing Yao's arm and pulling him to a seat, then gently pressing his shoulder to have him sit down.
Her outgoing and slightly playful personality was well known, combined with her beauty—it was no wonder many boys liked her.
After Yao sat down, Ishigami took the seat on his left, and on his right sat another classmate, Onodera Rei, a blonde-haired high school girl who usually wore a blank expression but now looked quite surprised at Yao.
"…Why are you staring at me like that?""No... did you join the cheering squad because you're crazy?""I was invited by Ishigami, who said joining the cheering squad would help improve my reputation or something.""Well, that's partly true… but with your current reputation, joining a group activity…" Onodera hesitated."You mean it's asking for trouble?""I didn't say that exactly, but some cold stares are inevitable."
Indeed, as Onodera noted, many students, especially from the first year, regarded Yao with wary eyes.
"Don't mind them.""…Unbothered by others' opinions? That's an enviable personality."
Once everyone arrived, Yao and Onodera stopped chatting.
The cheering squad captain was a muscular third-year senior named Kazeno.His well-developed muscles strained the school uniform. Yao envied his physique deeply.Though he envied him, Yao hadn't set foot in a gym for months.
"After discussion, I'll serve as captain, and Tsubame as vice-captain.""Ok~""Support!""Great!!"
Yao: "..."Watching the room suddenly brighten, Yao felt completely out of place.
"Those who join cheering squads are usually 'genjitsu-kun' types—you know, popular, social, with lots of friends both in and out of school," Ishigami explained, reading Yao's puzzled look."Oh right, you're the top student in first year, right?"
Besides Yao and Ishigami, the rest of the students left their seats and crowded around the blackboard.
On the board, they eagerly wrote slogans like "Burn, true Red Team!" and "The Wind-Fire-Mountain hype!"—all phrases Yao didn't understand.
Even worse, they clapped and cheered below the board like they were having a blast.
"Hey Ishigami, does joining this cheering squad really improve one's reputation?" Yao asked with deadpan eyes as he watched the lively crowd. "I don't mind being seen as a villain, but I don't want to be treated like an idiot.""That's the usual story."
Those in the cheering squad were energetic and trendy, speaking all sorts of current slang. Though Yao spoke very standard Japanese, he wasn't familiar with most of their slang or trendy phrases.
The two sat isolated like socially awkward teenagers.
"Ishigami, maybe we should just quit now, before it's too late.""Let's wait and see."
At this moment, Captain Kazeno wrote a slogan on the board with a flourish, full of wild internet-style words and symbols.
"Wind-Fire-Mountain THE True? Ultimate HYPE 卍~ insta shining Red Team.""That's it!""Nice!""Post it on Insta!""Club off today!"
Yao: "...I have no idea what that means."
Feeling out of place was rough, especially knowing they'd have to train together soon. He thought quitting might be better.
"Well Ishigami? Shall we leave now?""Hmm... okay."
The two socially awkward teens got up to leave.
"Oh, by the way, about the cheer outfits."Captain Kazeno suddenly said.
He drew two little figures on the board, a boy and a girl. The boy wore the girls' school uniform, and the girl wore the boys' gakuran.
Underneath was a small caption: "Did we switch bodies or something?"
"This time, guys wear girls' uniforms, and girls wear guys' uniforms," Kazeno said. "As for the clothes, borrow them from classmates."
Whoosh!Ishigami, who was about to stand, suddenly sat back down, pulling Yao back with him.
"Hey! Ishigami, what the heck—""Sorry, Yao. I suddenly realized we shouldn't waste high school life wandering aimlessly. We should actively join group activities!"