The emotional catharsis of the previous day had left Ren with a sense of clarity. His apathetic facade, once a necessity for survival, was beginning to crack, allowing a more genuine version of himself to emerge. He went to school with a lighter step, listening to his teacher, Mr. Han, with an attentiveness he hadn't felt in a long time. Everything felt a bit brighter, a bit more vibrant, and a lot less lonely.
When the final bell rang, Ren was gathering his things when his homeroom teacher, Harumu Yumesaki, approached him. Her short, bob haircut framed a face that was almost entirely hidden by her long bangs. She fidgeted nervously, her hands wringing a paper.
"Ren-kun," she began, her voice a shy whisper. "Could you... could you follow me? I wanted to talk to you."
Ren, intrigued by her shyness, nodded and followed her to the faculty room. As they walked, he couldn't help but notice how she hugged her books to her chest, as if using them as a shield. Harumu Yumesaki, in her own world, was a half-succubus who longed for a normal, peaceful life. Her shy nature was a defense mechanism, a way to keep her powers from accidentally wreaking havoc on the world around her. She had a hard time connecting with others, but she hoped Ren was different.
Once they were in the relative privacy of the faculty room, Harumu took a deep breath. "Ren-kun, I was just wondering… are you a member of any club yet?"
Ren shook his head. "No, Yumesaki-sensei. I'm not." He didn't want to explain his reasons, his previous need to focus on his studies to keep himself afloat, so he just remained silent.
Harumu's shy eyes, which were barely visible through her bangs, met his. "Why not?" she asked gently.
Ren, ever the master of half-truths, replied, "I wanted to focus on my studies, sensei." He wasn't going to tell her about his chores and his system.
Harumu sighed. "I understand, but unfortunately, it's a school policy that every student must join a club, either academic or sports."
A small part of Ren groaned. He had so much money, he could technically just drop out, but both his past and present self wanted to graduate and experience the simple joy of a normal high school life.
"Do you have any suggestions, sensei?" he asked, his voice calm.
Harumu let out a sigh of relief. "I do," she said, a small, genuine smile gracing her lips. "I have a friend who is an advisor of a club, and they need at least two more members to keep it from being disbanded. They already have three members."
Just as she finished speaking, the faculty room door opened and another teacher strode in. She was tall, with long black hair that seemed to defy gravity, her purple eyes hidden behind unkempt bangs. She wore a lab coat over her uniform and had an air of casual confidence. Ren's heart skipped a beat as he recognized her. It was Shizuka Hiratsuka, the guidance counselor.
"Harumu-sensei, good to see you," she said, her voice warm and friendly. Her eyes fell on Ren, and she smiled brightly. "Is this the new member you told me you were going to take care of?"
Ren was in a state of shock and excitement. He had passed the characters from Oregairu in the school hallways before, but he had never talked to them. He knew if he had, he would have been tempted to use his tickets and turn them into his lovers, but he had decided that he was satisfied with the family he had.
Harumu gently pushed her friend's hand away as Shizuka tried to touch Ren's shoulder. "Shizuka-sensei, please calm down! I'm in the middle of talking to Ren-kun about joining your club."
Shizuka immediately leaned in, placing a friendly but firm hand on Ren's shoulder. "Please, Ren-kun! Join the Service Club! We need you!"
Ren, caught off guard but still smiling internally at his good fortune, gave her a small nod. "I'll do it," he said simply.
Shizuka's face lit up, and she pumped her fist in the air. "Yes! You won't regret this, Ren-kun! You have a lot of potential! Come on! Let's go to the clubroom right now so you can meet the other members!"
"Just a moment, Shizuka," Harumu said, her voice soft. "I'm still talking to him."
"Oh, it's alright, Harumu-sensei," Ren said. "I've already made my decision."
Harumu let out a soft sigh, a look of relief on her face. "Then I have nothing more to say."
Shizuka beamed. "Great! Let's go, Ren-kun!" As they left the faculty room, she turned back to Harumu. "I'll buy you a drink later, Harumu-sensei! Thanks a bunch!"
Ren followed Shizuka, a small smile on his face. He had no idea what to expect from the Service Club, but he knew one thing: his life was about to get a lot more interesting.