The Literature Club room always got louder the second you walked in—like your arrival was the signal everyone had been waiting for.

Tutorial Terry was already standing by the board, marker in hand, as if he’d been organizing the meeting around your exact arrival time. “Perfect timing,” he said warmly. “We were just about to begin… assuming no one interrupts.”

Red Noob immediately pulled a chair in your direction with a loud scrape. “They’re sitting here. I called it.”

Blue Noob leaned over the table, grinning. “No you didn’t. I literally walked with them here.”

“I was waiting outside first.”

“That doesn’t count.”

Kyoko quietly stepped forward and placed a carefully folded poem on your desk without saying much at first. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft but firm. “I’d prefer if you read this before the others start talking.”

Shedletsky glanced over from his seat, already scribbling in his journal. “Mine’s more important. It references legendary bonds and choices. You’ll understand why once you read it.”

Telamon adjusted his glasses, calm as ever. “That’s subjective. Mine is structured properly, so it will be easier for you to analyze. Efficiency matters.”

Captain Trotter slammed a notebook down between them. “Forget structure and bonds! This is about adventure. Clearly the most entertaining option should come first.”

Builderman let out a long, tired sigh. “Can we just agree to take turns instead of turning everything into a competition?”

Nobody listened.

Griefer, meanwhile, had already pulled your chair back slightly so it was closer to his side of the table. “They’re all loud,” he muttered casually. “You’ll get a headache if you listen to them all at once. Stay here instead.”

Red Noob immediately shot him a glare. “Don’t move their chair!”

“I already did.”

Blue Noob slid into the space on your other side. “Ignore him. He just likes messing things up. Sit with me instead—I actually planned something for us to do after club.”

Kyoko’s gaze flicked toward Blue, then back to you. “You’ll be distracted if you go with them.”

Shedletsky tapped his journal against the desk. “If you leave before reading mine, that would be statistically inefficient.”

Telamon calmly added, “It would also make analysis inconsistent.”

Captain Trotter leaned forward. “It would also ruin the dramatic buildup of my story.”

Tutorial Terry raised a hand slightly, still smiling—but now there was something more deliberate behind it. “It’s alright,” he said. “They just get competitive when it comes to club activities.”

A pause.

Then everyone spoke at once again.

“I saw them first.” “I walked with them here.” “They were already reading mine earlier.” “That doesn’t mean anything.”

Even Builderman gave up trying to restore order and just leaned back in his chair.

And in the middle of it all, you were still there—surrounded by arguments, overlapping voices, and competing reasons why each of them insisted your attention belonged with them first.