Volume 1 Chapter 4 I Decided To Join The Home Economics Club For Club Activities.
Summary of the previous chapter: Cosplay brothel employee's skills "laundry" and "ironing" were activated.
Now, after sleeping overnight, when I took off my pajamas in the morning, I laid newspaper on the floor to prevent scattering, and then put it on the ironing board. I sprayed a diluted laundry adhesive for washing machines onto the shirt from a spray bottle and lightly ironed it to make the collar and sleeves crispy in parts before wearing it.
"Yeah, this is good."
If the collar and sleeves of the shirt are wrinkled, it definitely loses its cleanliness.
On the other hand, if only the collar and sleeves are crisp, it gives a neat appearance.
It should cost around 200 yen to send the shirt for dry cleaning, so it's not that expensive, but it takes time and it's a bit bothersome to drop it off and pick it up.
Well, ironing and gluing can be a hassle...
Anyway, as usual, I took a shower, brushed my teeth, washed my face, rinsed my mouth, and then headed to the living room for breakfast.
"Oh, you're dressed nicely today too. You used to be so casual until junior high."
"Well, it's my high school debut, you know. Mom."
"Is that what they call a high school debut? Well, it does look better than before, even to Mom. And after finishing eating, you wash the dishes, take out the trash on your way to school, wash the bathtub after taking a bath, help tidy up your room, and even help with the laundry. Mom is really grateful. It's a promise, so I'll increase your allowance a bit."
"Yay, that's really helpful!"
At my school, if a student get permission, they can even work part-time, but since I'll have to work like crazy once I enter society, I don't want to be all about part-time jobs in high school.
"Well, I'm off then."
"Starting today, you'll be commuting alone, so make sure you don't miss the train."
"I understand, Mom."
Well, back when I used to work at the red-light district, I would often oversleep and miss my train on the way back. I would end up missing my transfer or getting off at the wrong station. But now, I get enough sleep, and I'm young, so there shouldn't be any problem.
Now, I arrive at school, and I head to my seat.
Already, Saikachi-san has arrived at school and taken her seat.
"Good morning, Saikachi-san."
I smile and greet her.
"Oh, good morning, Hata-kun. You're always so neat and clean in your school uniform."
"Well, being well-groomed and having a sense of cleanliness in the morning is important, right?"
"Well, I used to think that boys didn't really care about those things. Their hair would be a mess, they wouldn't properly wash their faces, and their uniforms would be wrinkled and dirty."
"Yeah, that was definitely me until middle school. My hair was a mess, I hardly washed my face, and my uniform was full of wrinkles and stains."
"It's amazing how you don't look like that anymore."
"Well, it seems that if you pay attention to your posture, brightness, smile, and cleanliness, you won't give a bad impression. Since I don't know anyone from high school, I thought I should be careful about that."
"Yeah, that's true."
If it was the 'me' from before, I feel like I couldn't really talk properly with a girl when we were alone. But now, I can have a casual chat with a girl after greeting her without any problem.
After all, in adult entertainment establishment, it's important to talk pleasantly with the girls, but accumulating experiences is definitely important too.
Well, it was usually fine just nodding and listening to the girls' complaints at the adult entertainment establishment. However, it's a bit different in high school.
It feels like I can get along well with Saikachi-san.
And the day after the entrance ceremony, there will be a welcome party for new students.
This is an event organized by the student council at the school, where current students who didn't have the chance to meet the new students during the entrance ceremony welcome them and at the same time, showcase the activities of the clubs and committees through demonstrations to appeal to the new students. After that, they invite the new students to join the clubs and committees.
Even as a current student, securing new members is crucial for existing club members as well.
First, the student council president delivers a congratulatory speech to the new students, and then each club puts in a lot of effort to showcase their activities as if this is their prime opportunity to recruit new members.
I can understand the feeling of each club wanting the new students to be interested in their activities and join their clubs, with the hope of increasing club funding.
The school clubs here seem to be quite active, but joining is not mandatory, so about half of the new students don't seem interested.
"Hata-kun, are you going to join any club?"
"Hmm, I haven't decided yet. I don't really intend to join a club with strict commitments."
"So, maybe something related to culture?"
"If I were to join, well... I think the Home Economics Club seems interesting. But I'm a guy, and it seems like there would be mostly girls or only girls in that club. So, I'm a bit hesitant. By the way, what about you, Saikachi-san?"
"I haven't decided yet. That's why I plan to look around and see."
"That sounds like a good idea. Well, for now, I think I'll go to the Home Economics Club tomorrow and see if even a guy like me can join."
"Then maybe I'll go check it out too."
"It's a bit reassuring if Saikachi-san is there."
"But isn't the Home Economics Club mainly about cooking and sewing? Hata-kun, are you good at those things?"
"Well, I'm okay."
"Could you even iron shirts?"
"Yeah, I can. Why?"
"Wow, Hata-kun, you could be a good househusband!"
"Really? I think it’s normal for guys to do housework and take care of kids, right?"
"No way, you won't find many high school boys who think like that."
"Is that so?"
"That's how it is."
Then, the next day starts with a health check-up, followed by visiting club activities and committees.
"Okay, shall we go see the home economics club's invitation?"
"Yes, let's go."
I went with Saikachi-san to the home economics practice room.
On the door, there was a small whiteboard.
[Home Economics Club welcomes visitors anytime! Let's cook delicious food together, make stuffed animals, and try DIY!!]
"Cooking is one thing, but to see stuffed animals and DIY on the same level..."
When I said that, Saikachi-san laughed and said,
"Well, nowadays, even girls do things like wallpapering."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
Well, changing curtains, rugs, and wallpaper for room redecoration isn't that different.
"I see. The idea that painting and changing wallpaper are things men do might be old-fashioned, huh?"
"Gender doesn't really matter much in those things nowadays."
While we were talking about that, someone called out from behind. When I turned around, it was probably a second-year student.
"Oh, could it be that you two are interested in joining the Home Economics Club? In that case, please come inside, come inside!"
"Ah, are you members of the Home Economics Club?"
"Yes, indeed. I'm Osaragi Megumi. Since we're just chatting here, please feel free to come in."
"Well then, we'll take you up on that offer."
"Excuse us."
"Oh, we're short on members, so prospective members are very welcome! Since you're here, I'll go call the other member. Also, we had a ghost member, so practically, it's only been the two of us until now. I'm happy to have prospective members joining!"
And with that, Osaragi-san left the home economics practice room and returned shortly after with another woman.
"Oh, you must be the new students interested in joining the club. I'm Utashiro Kanae. Nice to meet you!"
Utashiro-san said that, and Osaragi-san responded with a happy expression.
Osaragi-san gives off a smart and student council president-like impression, while Utashiro-san has a more domestic and girlish image.
"Then, how about we make some sweets for the two of you?"
I nodded in agreement with the seniors' suggestion.
"In that case, how about a simple roll cake? You can make it with cake flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and cream."
When I said that, the three women turned towards me.
"Do you know a recipe for an easy roll cake?"
I nod in response to Osaragi-san's question.
"Well, I like making bread and cakes at home, just like my mother. As I helped her, I learned the basic recipes."
Not everything I said is true, but it's not entirely false either.
After my mother passed away, I wanted to eat the bread and cakes she used to make when I was little. So I bought recipe books and tried over and over again, making countless mistakes. But the recipes somehow ingrained themselves in me.
And when it comes to cooking, if you faithfully follow the recipes, most people will find the result delicious.
Adding variations to go beyond that should only be done when you've reached a point where faithfully following the recipe won't make it any more delicious. But it seems like there are quite a few people who don't understand that.
Why is it that when people measure the amount and temperature as written in a recipe, it's unlikely to go wrong, but even if the recipe says to beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form, it's not easy to do well at first, and the sponge cake doesn't rise at all when baked?
This is something that can only be learned through experience.
When I said that, Saikachi-san seemed surprised.
"Oh, really? I don't understand at all, so I'll just watch."
"My mom is good at embroidery and knitting, but I'm not good at them."
Utashiro-san said with a surprised expression.
"Even so, you have a lot of feminine charm!"
"Is that so?"
When I said that, Saikachi-san nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, you have a lot of feminine charm, I'm surprised!"
"Well, let's actually make it. Do you have the ingredients?"
When I asked, Osaragi-san nodded in agreement and replied,
"Yeah, it's fine because we have the basic ingredients."
"So, let's make a roll cake since we're at it."
"Let's do that."
Utashiro-san also nodded, and the three of us decided to make a roll cake.
The ingredients to prepare are 3 eggs, 50g of sugar (approximately 1/4 cup), 50g of cake flour (approximately 1/3 cup), and an appropriate amount of cream and sugar.
To ensure there are no lumps, sift the cake flour about three times. Bring the eggs and butter to room temperature, preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F), line the baking sheet with parchment paper, and create a mold.
Then, in a bowl, put the egg whites and sugar over hot water. Once the temperature rises to lukewarm, remove it from the hot water and use a hand mixer to lightly whisk until stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes.
After that, add the sifted cake flour and gently fold it into the meringue, being careful not to deflate the bubbles.
Next, pour the batter onto the baking sheet, spread it evenly, and bake in a preheated oven at (356°F) for about 10-15 minutes.
Once the cake is baked, drop it from a height of about 20 cm (7.87 inches) with the mold, imparting a shock to the batter. Cover it with plastic wrap, place it on a cake cooler to cool, and when you spread the cream and roll it from the front, it's complete.
Ideally, it's better to refrigerate it for about an hour, put chopped fruits in the cream, and sprinkle powdered sugar for a more appealing look.
"Hey, is this Hata-kun's White Roll Cake?"
Saikachi-san said as she looks at the finished roll cake.
"Yeah, if you don't add egg yolk, it becomes a completely white roll cake."
The yellow color in the cake sponge is from the egg yolk.
"Ah, I see. So that's why you didn't add egg yolk. It does look beautiful."
Osaragi-san also chimes in,
"Indeed, it stands out a bit. Not a bad sense, I think. Since we made it, how about uploading it to Instagram?"
"Haha, thank you. That might be a good idea."
After cutting the roll cake and arranging it nicely on the plates, the girls took out their smartphones and started taking pictures to upload on Instagram.
I don't have Instagram, so I didn't join in, but it looked like a lot of fun.
After that, we all cut and shared the things I made with each other, and it turns out the two senior members were really good at it.
Utashiro-san, with a mouthful of roll cake, said cheerfully,
"Oh, it's reassuring to have two new members joining us."
"Then..."
"Yeah, both of you, welcome to the Home Economics Club!"
"Nice to meet you."
When I said that, Saikachi-san also said,
"Nice to meet you, senpai."
It seems like this place won't have that intense sports club vibe, so I can take it easy here.
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