Since The Fall Of Maglindo
Chapter 01 part V: The Purpose of Life

“Of course. I'll answer it as much as—“

“How many members are you?”

Picking it up just like that, he instantly fell silent.

It feels strange, there are only 3 people here besides me. Obviously if based on the rules of establishment of a club, at least must contain 5 people, under which it is strictly prohibited, especially the Government always acts decisively for this section.

I know, there could be a possibility that their other members are not here right now. But when I remembered this first day, there were many facts that further strengthened my guess.

“Sorry to disappoint you, our members only number three. However, when you join it will be four.”

“Yes, if that's what I already know. But how can it be?”

Ryuga slightly opened his eyes towards me. Maybe it was an expression when he was unable to answer something asked by others.

“Ohhhh!” He looked like he had found the answer. “What do you mean is the addition of new rules to the Tertiary Rule?”

This conversation seems to be getting heavier. I'd hate to have to deal with things that if they go wrong in certain parts, can put someone in jail. I know my mother also seems to work in politics, along with her colleagues.

Politics in this regard, as Ryuga said, is the Tertiary Rule. The addition of rules, in other words there is a kind of new things that must be accepted or done or not done by the community. Of course someone who is not interested like me, it is impossible to know, if the basics are still possible, because it is in a study book.

When Ryuga asked like that, I was eager to take a deep breath. If until a spy hears our conversation right now, I'm afraid suddenly a hot lead pierces my head.

Speaking of heads, now I was nodding it twice in response to Ryuga's question.

“This is a rule that was just inaugurated a few weeks ago, based on consideration by making students at different levels as objects.”

“Live the point only. Hazard.”

I don't know if Ryuga understands what I'm saying, but he sticks to his smile.

“So in short, for a club whose members are filled by the final class where it has reached their time to move to a higher level, once a year every class increase, the, then clubs that lack members are therefore still allowed to stand during the specified time, which is 1 month since the new learning began.”

“You said it was short?”

Rather than asking that question, I wonder why he remembers it. From here anyone can guess that Ryuga has his own interest in the topic we are talking about. As famous motivators often say, someone who likes what is being learned will feel much easier, both in applying it and remembering it.

“There are still other parts actually. For example for new clubs also in—“

My brain is burning, but it's not as complicated as I thought, like. It was only fitting that even though I had been imprisoned in the room for an entire day for the obvious purpose, which was to stand at the top of the list test, it was still only defeat that was approaching.

But actually can not be said to be in vain. Of the 180 students who were accepted to attend school here, there are hundreds of others who instead, in other words failed. Besides, I got a position at 99, that should have been pretty high.

Thirsty awards are not always good either, but thirsty for never getting an award is very sad. Because at least I have a rank that can still be changed someday, then a great opportunity could come to me. If there are more tests in the future, at least I will set aside my free time for one week to study in full, considering that one day is enough to beat hundreds of other participants.

“So, are you interested in joining this club?”

How many times did he say the same word? Here's how I've forgotten, let alone memorized mathematical formulas.

By the way I've got the right moment to get out of here. Indeed there are some things that make me interested in joining, but you should not first, after all by going out now does not mean you can no longer enter here.

“Honestly, my answer is no. But I'll reconsider after looking around the other clubs first.”

Hearing that, Ryuga did slightly change the expression on his face, looking slightly disappointed. However, the entirety of him was drawn as if he had often experienced something similar, a habit that brought his toughness deep into the chest.

“Oh, I see, it's okay. Actually I already knew that you would answer that from the beginning.”

“Really? I think my acting is good enough.”

If caught, how else, denying it will only bring shame.

While we were talking like someone who was negotiating, the two women who were Ryuga's associates without me realizing earlier had disappeared from their previous positions.

Yes, it's obvious they're gone, it's not something mysterious. Thinking about it further, even though Ryuga did not say directly, I already knew that they were members of this club, there was a lot of strong evidence to support. While talking about mysteries, there are many questions whose answers are still mysteries in my head.

When I looked back at Ryuga guiltlessly, his face returned to normal, I mean for the part of his expression.

“Actually, Crayon, there are a lot of people like you who also refused to join the Volunteer Club. Sometimes when rejecting it, most of them use subtle ways like you, which in the end when I asked ‘Are you guys interested in joining?’ then their answer is ‘I will think about it first’ or ‘Give me time bla bla bla’ and that sort of thing, in the end also never come back here again. But you're different, few people honestly say they're not interested in joining. To be honest it feels better, thank you.”

“Ya, it's up to you.”

Actually he did not need to thank me, after all I did not choose to accept his offer, or maybe it was just an expression because as he had said, I am different.

In addition, as a man who identifies with everything related to how to talk and feel awkward towards others after reading a book entitled 1001 How to Get Friends, which is also a very interesting topic, I belong to the type of person who is stingy in saying “sama-sama” or the like. So to overcome this, there are already some special sentences that I deliberately prepared.

Most teenage boys seem to be the same. That awkward feeling is almost never felt by everyone, even the famous motivators who every day talk about “social relations” also did not escape the target. Knowing how difficult it was to overcome the awkwardness that became the barrier wall of friendship, made me often think of him as the greatest enemy.