Chapter 69: I Choose to Refuse
That's right.
Shizuka Hiratsuka knew him.
To be precise, Shizuka Hiratsuka knew his family.
The two of them didn't really have much of a relationship; coming to school was the first time they had truly met.
The Hiratsukas were old nobility on paper—rich once, but down on their luck now. Still, they had enough left for fancy cars. My family? We crashed harder and earlier, basically just regular folks scraping by.
It was just that his family had fallen from grace much earlier and much more thoroughly than the Hiratsukas. By now, they were basically no different from ordinary people; otherwise, his parents wouldn't have had to go out and work to support the family.
But the two families still had some connection. If he had to put a label on it, Haruka should call Hiratsuka "Big Sister."
However, the relationship had faded.
Distant relatives of distant relatives?
They occasionally exchanged gifts during holidays, but there was basically no contact otherwise.
Before meeting him here, she hadn't really spoken to him.
As for the family connection, Haruka only found out about it recently after looking it up himself.
Why did he look it up?
It was driven by his desire to be an "elite." At the time, he even entertained the fantasy that his parents were actually secret billionaires hiding their wealth to train him, and that he was actually a rich heir.
Unfortunately, his family's ordinary condition was all too real.
As for family history, just like in his past life, it could be summed up in one sentence: My ancestors used to be rich.
Now, they weren't.
But hey, whose family tree doesn't have a rich branch somewhere?
Knock, knock.
"Haruka?"
Inside the office, Hiratsuka addressed him a bit more intimately.
"Hiratsuka-sensei?"
"I called you here mainly because I heard you have a good relationship with the new student, Nishimiya, and the girl sitting behind you, Gotoh?"
"And you even went with them to the Service Club to ask Yukino Yukinoshita for help?"
???
Haruka looked at Hiratsuka in surprise. How did she know all that?
Didn't that just happen last Friday? Today was Monday!
Also, who told her?
Nishimiya? Impossible... Gotoh? Also impossible...
So...
Yukino Yukinoshita?
Right. Hiratsuka was also the advisor for the Service Club. It was because of her that the school allowed such a one-person club to exist.
It made sense.
Haruka's brain deduced the result in an instant.
"What do you mean, Hiratsuka-sensei?"
"Ahem, well." A rare look of embarrassment appeared on Hiratsuka's face.
"Yukino's Service Club is currently short on members. Why don't you bring Nishimiya and Gotoh and join?"
"..."
"I choose to refuse."
"Hiratsuka-sensei, I don't really want to join a club and squeeze my free time. Besides, I think you should be honest with me. Asking me to bring people to join out of nowhere... Also, what do Nishimiya and Gotoh think about this?"
Haruka asked directly.
Joining the Service Club?
He had never thought about it.
The founding philosophy of the Service Club was to help others, which was naturally noble.
But Haruka himself had no such desire.
So naturally, he didn't want to join.
Hiratsuka looked a bit troubled.
How should she put it?
She mainly wanted Yukino Yukinoshita to change herself while helping others. And in this process, she needed some suitable friends to help each other and get to know each other.
The gentle and kind Shoko Nishimiya, the socially anxious but sincere Hitori Gotoh, and this self-centered but reliable Haruka Kasugano.
They all had problems, but they all had shining points.
If they were in the same club, would they change each other?
That was what she wanted to do.
But how could she say such a thing to a student!
'The teacher wants you guys to help each other and love each other?'
Sounds like a bad romcom plot...
Just as she was pondering how to trick Haruka.
Haruka guessed some of it from her expression.
"Alright, it seems Sensei isn't planning to tell me the truth. Never mind,then."
"Don't, Haruka..."
"..."
Hiratsuka began a bombardment of persuasion on Haruka.
From academic progress to turning a blind eye during class... but Haruka remained unmoved by force or persuasion.
"Sensei, I have to go to class. See you next time."
Haruka said politely, then walked out of the office.
"..."
As she watched Haruka walk out, Hiratsuka rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.
Beside her, Kirisu-sensei, who had been silent, leaned over. "What are you doing?"
"Sigh. My class is full of problem children. I was just thinking about how to reform them..."
Then, she explained her general idea.
Mafuyu Kirisu nodded. "Hiratsuka-sensei, you are very responsible. But I don't think hiding things is good. Even if it's for their own good, you should ask for their opinion to some extent. You can't make decisions for them. After all, it's their business."
"Sigh, I know." Hiratsuka had taken out a cigarette at some point.
Smoke curled in the air.
Mafuyu Kirisu shook her head helplessly and took out her textbook to prepare for class.
"By the way, Kirisu-sensei, how do you plan to persuade those geniuses in your class?" Hiratsuka asked out of the blue.
Perhaps she wanted to see Kirisu's thoughts and get some advice.
At the mention of this, Mafuyu Kirisu's eyebrows practically stood on end.
"I absolutely will not allow them to waste their talent and squander their gifts, only to regret it later!"
???
Hiratsuka looked at Mafuyu Kirisu with a strange expression.
'Good grief, and you have the nerve to lecture me...'
"..."
"..."
The atmosphere seemed to fall into awkwardness at this moment.
They exchanged awkward glances, forced a smile, and buried themselves in their work.
***
Back in the classroom.
Haruka snickered mockingly.
Joining the Service Club?
Too troublesome.
Although he had to go to the Service Club because of the Alliance of Outcasts, at least he could decide the time and method himself. There were no messy things like club tasks.
Why shackle himself?
It's not like he was trying to romance Yukino.
Haruka thought to himself.
Soon.
Class ended.
Lunch break arrived.
Most people generally didn't go home.
They usually rested in the classroom and ate bentos prepared in the morning. The bentos were kept in insulated containers to ensure the temperature was right.
'Ah, I should eat too. I'm starving.'
Haruka rubbed his growling stomach.
'Wait.'
'I seem to have...'
Haruka looked into his backpack.
Aside from books.
It was empty.
'Crap.'
'I didn't bring a bento.'
He woke up late this morning, and Sora made breakfast.
He completely forgot about the bento!
'No choice. I'll have to go to the school convenience store to buy something.'
'Hopefully, they aren't sold out yet.'
Haruka thought to himself.
Then...
A red bento box appeared in front of Haruka's eyes. It opened, and a rich aroma wafted out.
Shoko Nishimiya smiled shyly beside him.
I brought an extra portion. Please have some. Sorry if it doesn't taste good.
"..."
Haruka opened his mouth.
He felt slightly touched.
But...
The Simulator's words, the so-called "Fate Anchoring," flashed through his mind.
So... was this also a link in the chain of Fate?
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A/n: Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you reach all your goals and have a great year ahead.
(First Goal: 200 Stones = +1 extra Chapter)
So... Hand over all of your Power Stones!!
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