She stared blankly at the two intruders before her.
This was her sanctuary.
Her only solace from the hormone-fueled monkeys that surround her.
A secret base to mend her fatigued soul.
And yet she wants to break that atmosphere?
She flicked her long black hair backwards.
For she, Yukinoshita Yukino was no pushover.
With her sharp and cold eyes, she glared at Shizuka.
"Sensei, could you please repeat that?"
She said as she crossed her arms with a huff.
"You need 4 people to make a club. This guy needs the Service Club's help. In exchange let him join!"
Shizuka said as she turned to Ritsuka, "Her name's Yukinoshita Yukino, your club president. She's got a bit of a sharp tongue, but you'll get used to it."
She furrowed her brows and shook her head.
"Hah?
It did not compute. What the hell is she saying?
"You see this brat right here does not know how to spend his youth, I want you to correct his personality alongside one more idiot who managed to escape my clutches for about a week now."
She said with a grin.
"I absolutely refuse. Why is this popular person even here? Help with what? Chasing skirts?" She said with vitriol.
Shizuka sighed, "I'd rather him do that."
Yukino was absolutely stunned, "Are you serious? You really want me to do that? The service club does not provide that kind of service! Please leave!"
She said as she turned her chair around, ignoring both of them completely.
Ritsuka, on the other hand, turned towards Shizuka, "Is what she said Sensei."
"Relax, this kid's a bit messed up in the head. He doesn't exactly know how to properly fit in. He only goes along with what the kids around him do. But I have never seen him properly enjoy something like a kid would." Shizuka said with a chagrin.
Yukino's shoulders flinched when she heard Shizuka's words.
"I see... Well... I can't exactly go against the teacher's wishes, but it's getting really late. Can you give me a day to think about this?"
Shizuka nodded her head.
"Alright, that's good enough. Alright, you two get ready to leave them. Try and get to know each other on the way down."
She said with a grin as she returned to the faculty office.
There was a beat of silence after she left.
Ritsuka turned towards Yukino, who was gathering her stuff.
"So, what exactly does the Service Club do?"
Yukino, without looking back, said softly, "Guess?"
With a shrug, he said, "Freelance?"
Her cold and neutral expression suddenly faltered as her lips curled upwards.
"Close, there are people, out of the goodness of their hearts, who provide to those who are in need. People call them volunteers. We extend a helping hand to those who are in need." She said as she slowly turned to him.
Ritsuka opened his eyes wide, with a bright smile, he said, "Helping people, huh? This is a great club."
Yukino faltered and looked away. With a click of her tongue and a deep breath, she looked back at him and said.
"I've decided. I'll let you join. Since the Teacher had handed you to me, I'll solve your problem." She said seriously.
Ritsuka tilted his head, "Yeah, that's great and all, but... what exactly is my problem?"
Yukino frowned, "It's not that you're denying you have a problem, but rather you can't figure out the root cause. Hmm... I see. This might be more difficult."
She said as they walked through the empty hallways.
"What are your hobbies?" She asked tentatively.
"Does training count?" He said.
"Train what?" Yukino paused as she turned to him.
"Well, Martial arts? I mean all sorts of martial arts."
Yukino frowned at his answer, "You don't look the type." She said with raised eyebrows.
Ritsuka could only scratch his cheeks.
"Heh, I get that a lot. I guess it's more of a habit than a hobby. It's been ingrained in me." He said simply.
"Any other thing you like to do?" She asked.
He shrugged, "The closest one might be travelling? I guess?"
She sighed, "You're not sure? Well... Hiratsuka-sensei might be onto something after all." She said while rubbing her chin.
"It's just that those are just habits formed from the people around me. Never really found a hobby that's just for me, you know. So I kinda just went along with whatever they did." He said with a shrug.
"Oh! But I like Giant Robots! I'm a huge fan of Gundam!"
He added quickly.
Yukino nodded her head as she went pensive.
"I'd assume all boys do..." she said dryly.
"So what are your dreams and aspirations?"
She asked tentatively.
"I wanted... No... I want to open a bakery."
He said with a bright smile, stunning Yukino with his standard smile.
A loud car horn echoed outside.
They slowly got close to the school gate, and he saw a car at the gate.
He looked towards the outside of the school yard and saw a black car.
He narrowed his eyes as he stayed vigilant.
Yukino followed his eyes and the moment she saw the car, she clicked her tongue.
"My ride's here. We'll continue our interview tomorrow. It's nice to meet you properly, Fujimaru-kun."
He smiled at her, "Likewise, Yukinoshita-san. It's a genuine pleasure."
He said as he waved her goodbye.
They split up the moment they reached the gate.
Ritsuka turned towards the school one last time to see Shizuka watching him from the 2nd-floor windows.
He shrugged his shoulders as he made his way home.
Yukino got in the car and stared at his departing back.
She stared at the rolled-down windows and saw a short-haired woman smiling at her.
Her sister, the bane of quietness. Yukinoshita Haruno.
"Oh! Yukino-chan! Didn't know you had a good eye for boys!"
Her loud voice boomed across her ears.
That string of words made her roll her eyes.
"Just drive."
Inside the car, she listened to her sister yap about her day inattentively.
"Hey! Hey! Yukinoo~~ Are you listening?"
She stared at the beautiful woman in the driver's seat who wore a beaming smile.
The woman looked exactly like her except cheerful, which pissed her off even more.
With a sigh, she turned towards her sister, "What does it mean to not know how to spend your youth? Does it mean they are an outcast?"
Haruno opened her eyes wide, "Hmm~~ That's a difficult question. Even if you are considered an outcast, you still have hobbies. Something you enjoy. So... That really depends. It's a matter of perspective. People enjoy what they like. That's it."
She listened to her sister's words carefully.
"So if... for example, they just went along with whatever anyone said, does that make them a pushover?"
Haruno laughed, "Again, that's a matter of perspective. But, say... Yukino-chan! Is that about the boy from earlier? Hehehe! You've really grown up!"
Yukino rolled her eyes at her, "Shut up! Geez! It's really unproductive getting an opinion out of you." She said with a huff as she ignored her sister.
The two went home silently, however...
Ritsuka, on the other hand, found himself in a rather peculiar situation.