Yuko's POV:

"She's too rich to enter the club. Why does she even bother?" Aoi Tanaka, one of the members of my pack asks me as we head home a day before our troop meeting.

"Yeah, besides she doesn't need to tie a random rope and use a pocketknife." Sakura Nakayama, another of my packmates, adds. "I mean she has a lots of money, she can buy something like a gun. She may even want to buy a private island to camp by herself."

"I know what you are thinking right now, but let's give Kokoro a chance." As club president and patrol leader, I try to stay at the middle. "Let her decide for herself. If she doesn't take it, the door is welcome for her to walk away. But just don't let your doubts surface, okay?"

Now, on to the day of the troop meeting...

"Hello, sis! Huehehe! Are you ready to do this? Huehehe!"

Kokoro and I sit at a table, as I carry along a small rope with me...I know that Sakura and Aoi is watching at us, checking whether our newcomer will fail immediately in her first major test.

"Let's start with the basics." As patrol leader, I'm gonna teach her the rope knots. "Let's start with the half-hitch knot. Let me demonstrate yo-"

"Wait. Hehehe! Let me try it first..."

Kokoro giggles as she grabs the rope from me. Her tongue goes out as she attempt this very simple but crucial rope kno-

"Done! Hehehe!" Kokoro shows me her finished work, much to my amusement.

"Wow...you've done well beyond my expectations." I smiled at the newcomer's progress. "Alright, would you like to demonstrate how a taut-line hitch tie? I might be a bit hard so you might need help."

"No need! I can handle it. Hehehe!"

Kokoro goes on to attempt to make the next rope tie, as she begins to hum. She seems pretty confident with this, huh?

"Hmm...I wonder how do you able to learn the rope knots?" I asked her with curiosity.

"Well...ehehehe...I actually learn this from Nagi-chan." Kokoro reveals to me. "I believe that she's been with your club, yes?"

"Well...yeah..."

I'm a bit surprised that she knows Nagi Fueki. She's one of my former members of the pack that I should be proud of. But...

"Oh! If it won't offend you, can you tell me why Nagi-chan left the scouting club?"

"Oh! Hehehe! She left because of personal reasons." I tried to cover up what makes Nagi to leave the club. "Putting that aside, are you finished with the tie?"

"Yup! Hehehe!"

Kokoro showed me her finished work. Hmm...this is not a surprise now, she learned from the expert. 

"Okay. The last rope knot I want you to tie is the square knot." I decided to be a little more strict as I give another short rope to her. "This time, I will watch you how to make that tie...and I'm gonna check if your rope knot is strong enough, understand?"

"Yes, mam!" Kokoro also becomes serious and saluted me before starting to make the last rope tie.

Let's see here...hmm...she twisted both ropes with each other...then she joined the ends by twisting one end with the other...and then she pull both ends to tighten the knot.

"I'm done! Hehehe!"

I take Kokoro's finished work and check how tight it is. Oh! This is pretty tight, perfectly tight! I was expecting that her knots is not tight enough and it will fall through.

"Does this mean that I pass, right? Hehehe!"

I've never saw a scout this energetic and optimistic before...she's more than just Yua...or even Nagi! Well, she completed most of the task with flying colors. There's nothing I could do but to smile at her.

"You've done well on how you make those rope knots. Well, there are two tasks you need to complete: how to take care of the ropes, as well as pocketknife safety. But before that...sigh..I just want to apologize to you."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Kokoro still smiles with me, but with curiosity.

"Well...I've underestimated you from the moment I met you...and from your first steps in our clubroom." I revealed to her. "It's not because you're rich and all, it's because we don't want to another scout to enter and leave the club only because they only care for fun. They didn't seem to understand, this camping club exist as one of the most decorated scout patrols in the country, they need to keep up wi-"

"Is this kind of view the reason why this club becomes a bit boring?"

Kokoro's statement somehow gets into my nerves. She's just a newcomer and she's never had a right to tell me like that!

"If you could here me out, can we go for fun and for badges all of the same time?" Kokoro added. "I know that this club has a lot of history to be proud off, but why don't we make the scouting club more lively and all? You can disagree with me, but this club should be about enjoying nature, meeting new friends, working together towards random goals, and having some unforgettable memories. I may be a newcomer, but I can help you by my ideas. Who knows, our club will not only be the most decorated, but also the most popular. Hehehe!"

Again, I see how extraordinary Kokoro is. Back when she recited the Scout Law flawlessly, we thought that she was just lucky. But now...I can see that's she's more than just a lucky girl...she's a leader in the making...right in front of my eyes.

"Hehehe! I indeed underestimate you. And I owe you an apology. The scouting club is welcome for your ideas, Koko-chan! I'm counting on you from now on. Hehehe!"

Kokoro smiled brightly at me...and hugged me tightly.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much, Yuko-chan! Hehehe!"

Kokoro hugs me, just like when we met at the nature park that fateful Friday night. The first time she cuddled me, I feel uneasy and embarrassed that someone that I really don't know much can do that to me.

But this time, she's a friend...not only to me, but for the entire scouting club. I simply smile at her and hug her back. Alright...I'll give Kokoro's idea a standing chance.

Kokoro's POV:

"Alright, Koko-chan. What will be your ambition as a scout?" Yuko starts to open up and asks me. "And what's your dream for our scouting club?"

"Well...hehehe...I simply dream for a scouting club that have so many friends and and to have so much fun!"

"But you need to be specific. Hehehe!" Yuko giggles and ask for more. It seems that my bubbly personality spreads to her. Hehehe!

Well, I have so many ideas that I share to her that everybody else seems to listen...and they want to join us.

"Hey! How about this, let's have a overnight camping this month?" Yua then makes an idea that makes my eyes sparkle. "Then we can make cook some delicious food and have some fun!"

"That's a great idea!" Another scout, whose surname written on her nametag is Amemiya-san, supports Yua's suggestion. "How about we hold it in our own nature park? We can have the opporunity to hone up our scouting skills together."

Ideas keeps flowing thereafter. This is what I wanted for the scouting club to see, it's not just the badges that makes it memorable, it's bonding together with friends! Hehehe!

"Well...as we haven't done one since the school year started, let's do it!" Yuko approves the club's first official activity. "Guys, we're heading to camp!"

Yaaay! That's what I really wanted! Camping with friends! Hehehe! I'm looking forward for that!

"With that being said, your scoutmaster conference is completed, Kokoro Sato."

"Huh? What do you mean?" I'm a bit confused on what Yuko is saying from out of nowhere.

"Well, I'm not just your senior patrol leader. I'm the junior assitant scoutmaster here in Yasuda City!" Yuko reveals. "I have the authority to guide every scout not just in this school...but in all of the city. And having a scoutmaster conference is one of the initial requirements on being a scout to guide you...and help you start your scouting dreams. But you know...today...I'm the one who was guided by you."

I can feel my face blushing right now...I'm don't have any positions in this patrol team to influence a leader like Yuko. I'm just a newbie scout...

"Oh, dear. I'm just giving ideas here. Hehehe!" I giggled shyly in reply. "I'm not trying to take away your leadership from you, Yuko-chan."

"Well, thank goodness you know that." Yua then comes forward and patted my shoulder. "But I believe Yuko said that because she sees a bright future for you, Koko-chan."

Hehehe...I already have a bright future in the school swimming club, but do I really have one in the scouting club? Well, I guess time will tell. But if there's anything...I really...really look forward to hanging out with my new friends here! See? Didn't I tell you that I'm a happiness magnet back at the beginning? Hehehe!

"Alright, alright. Enough of the chit-chat." Yuko heads back to my checklist. "You're one step closer to completing your requirements to be a fully-fledged Scout. You only need to demonstrate the pocketknife safety and how to keep the rope knot secured."

"Sure! Hehehe! Let's begin with the pocketknife..."