It was lunchtime.
Most people took out their prepared bentos and went to find their friends to share tables.
However, perhaps due to Kawasaki Saki's presence, others unconsciously avoided this area when combining tables.
This, in turn, benefited Tanaka Masao.
If others didn't come to share tables here, it meant he didn't have to give up his seat.
He remembered that his previous self, every lunchtime, either had someone trying to take his seat or felt out of place with people around him.
So, his previous self would always find a quiet corner and eat alone.
Looking at it this way, perhaps he should even thank Kawasaki Saki for providing him with a sanctuary.
Taking out the bento his mother prepared, Tanaka Masao slowly began to eat.
"Hmm, the rice is cold and a bit hard.
The side dishes are good though, fried chicken, sausages, lettuce...
These are all dishes that still taste good even when cold.
In that case, wouldn't it be better to switch the main course to bread or pastries?
But when people eat bread here, they usually spread butter and jam, or make sandwiches.
Speaking of which, in anime, almost every school's supermarket sells yakisoba bread, and they're all very popular.
I've never tried it, should I give it a shot?
If it's freshly stir-fried, hot yakisoba with sauce, wrapped in bread, it sounds like it would be delicious.
But if it's cold yakisoba, soft and sticky, combined with bread, I don't think it would taste good."
...
Lunchtime passed.
Tanaka Masao drowsily got through the two afternoon classes.
At three in the afternoon, the bell rang, not for the end of class, but for the end of the school day.
As the day's lessons concluded, the campus became lively.
Most people were part of clubs and were now heading to their club activities.
Those who weren't in clubs either went straight home or chose to go shopping or sing karaoke with friends.
Of course, some also used this time to work part-time and earn some money.
For example, Kawasaki Saki, who sat in front of Tanaka Masao, tidied up and left directly, likely heading to her part-time job.
Watching her retreating back, Tanaka Masao sighed helplessly.
Today, he hadn't found any opportunity to strike up a conversation with her.
He had been staring at the floor all day, watching to see if she might accidentally knock over a pen or eraser, so he could pick it up for her and start a conversation.
But throughout the entire day, Tanaka Masao never had such an opportunity.
Tanaka Masao packed up his belongings and left the classroom.
He didn't feel sad for Kawasaki Saki's departure for a moment; his next task was to find Yukinoshita Yukino.
After a full day of activity, Tanaka Masao had also seen several main characters from the anime.
Yui Yuigahama, Yumiko Miura, Saika Totsuka...
But he hadn't encountered the male protagonist, Hachiman Hikigaya.
Thinking of another important character in the plot, the junior student Iroha Isshiki.
Tanaka Masao then realized.
The original plot takes place in the second year, but they are still in their first year now.
This explained why he was in the same class as Kawasaki Saki.
According to the original plot, at the beginning of the school year, Hachiman Hikigaya was hit by the Yukinoshita family's car and hospitalized while trying to save Yui Yuigahama's dog.
It had been a month since school started, and Hachiman Hikigaya hadn't been seen, so he was most likely still in the hospital.
Since that was the case, he had to go find Yukinoshita Yukino.
...
Tanaka Masao wandered around the school for a long time but couldn't find where the Service Club was.
"The Service Club hasn't been established yet, has it?"
He walked through the club building but couldn't find any trace of the Service Club.
"Should I just go back?"
Tanaka Masao held his school bag, already planning to leave.
"Hmm, wait a minute, this is the administration building."
The administration building had five floors, and the teachers in the school didn't even use all those rooms; the top two floors were almost empty.
"It couldn't be here, could it?"
With a 'let's try' mindset, Tanaka Masao walked into the administration building.
The first three floors were where the teachers worked, which he didn't plan to visit, so he started directly from the fourth floor.
After some searching, he finally found the room on the fifth floor, in the innermost position.
Service Club
"It wasn't easy, it wasn't easy."
Looking at the somewhat familiar sliding door in front of him, Tanaka Masao was so moved he almost shed tears.
He finally understood why, in the original work, all those seeking help were introduced by Hiratsuka Shizuka.
With such a secluded location, a normal person really wouldn't come here.
If Yukinoshita Yukino could have set up the Service Club in the club building,
others passing by would have been curious and gone in to take a look.
But here, the Service Club had no fame, no publicity; it would be strange if anyone came.
However, it was understandable; a brand new club with only one member.
The school couldn't possibly allocate a club room.
Being able to use an empty room here was a convenience provided by Hiratsuka Shizuka.
Tanaka Masao took a deep breath, cast aside his complex thoughts, and reached out to knock on the door.
The sound of knocking faded.
There was silence for a full ten seconds, and just as Tanaka Masao thought no one was inside, a cool voice spoke.
"Please come in."