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Soon after, Rikka finished her lunch.
"Energy replenished! Ready for any challenge ahead!"
Hiroshi tidied up the desk. After all, they'd eaten on Shizuka's workspace, so cleaning was the least he could do. At the same time, he reminded Rikka, "Don't forget why you're here."
He knew she wanted to establish some kind of "base," though he wasn't clear on the details.
Rikka nodded and stood before Shizuka, suddenly serious. It was a rare sight for Hiroshi. But even with her serious demeanor, her words remained chuunibyou as ever.
"The Hero and I wish to create a temporary base at school. We hope Teacher Hiratsuka can approve it."
Hiroshi: ??!
Shizuka: ??!
Her request left both Hiroshi and Shizuka speechless. Hiroshi even stopped wiping the desk. After a long pause, he finally pieced it together.
"What Rikka means is, she probably wants to start a club..."
"Exactly, as the Hero said."
Even after years of knowing her, Hiroshi hadn't immediately understood. But upon reflection, a "temporary base" that needed Shizuka's approval could only be a school club.
"A club?"
Shizuka's eyes flicked past Rikka to Hiroshi, clearly seeking his input. If it were just Rikka's idea, she'd have to think it over, but if Hiroshi was involved, it was a different story. If he wanted to start a club, she'd approve it without hesitation, even if they didn't have the required five members. She'd pull strings to make it happen.
It wasn't favoritism; it was just that their personalities were worlds apart. Rikka was loud, unpredictable, and deeply chuunibyou. Hiroshi, on the other hand, was someone Shizuka wished would join a club to keep him out of trouble.
But when she looked at him, Hiroshi quickly shook his head, signaling he had no such plans. Her brief spark of hope extinguished, Shizuka turned back to Rikka.
"Starting a club isn't something to take lightly. You'll need to gather the members first."
Rikka pointed at Hiroshi, then at herself. "The Hero and I are the members."
After a long wait with no further explanation, Shizuka's hand froze mid-reach for a file. She sat up straight.
Hiroshi sighed, rubbing his forehead. He'd seen this coming.
"Rikka, you need at least five people to start a club..."
"Huh? There's a requirement like that?"
Even though he was used to it, Hiroshi was still baffled by her cluelessness. He could've let it slide. After all, the conditions weren't met, but professionalism urged him to try.
"Teacher Shizuka, could you maybe bend the rules a little?"
He asked cautiously, knowing it was a long shot.
"Kid, do you realize what you're asking?"
"Haha..." Hiroshi let out a helpless laugh. As expected, this kind of thing was never going to work.
Rikka Takanashi wouldn't be able to gather five people, heck, even three would be a stretch. Her intense chuunibyou tendencies didn't exactly make her popular; friends were few, and finding anyone willing to join a club with her was a pipe dream.
Clubs were a big deal in Japanese schools. Almost everyone joined one, and people like Hiroshi, who avoided them, were the exception. As for bending the rules, Hiroshi suddenly recalled a certain sharp-tongued, black-haired girl in the next class who'd managed to start a club all by herself. But her family had donated an entire building to the school. With that kind of backing, she could've started ten clubs if she wanted.
Rikka, on the other hand... Hiroshi couldn't see any reason for Shizuka Hiratsuka to make an exception for her.
Just as he was about to give up, Shizuka spoke up. "Kid, did Rikka say the club members include you?"
"Huh?" Hiroshi blinked, caught off guard. He thought he'd made it clear through their silent exchange that he had no interest in starting a club. So why was she asking again?
But then it clicked. Shizuka pulled out a club registration form and placed it on her desk.
"Rikka, you said the club members are you and Hiroshi. Is that correct?"
Rikka's eyes lit up at the sight of the form. She stood tall, puffing out her chest. "Yes! The club consists of the Evil King's True Eye and the Hero. But once it's established, more will surely be drawn to our cause!"
Shizuka glanced back at Hiroshi, her expression unreadable. "So, what do you say, Takeda?"
The formal use of "Takeda" nearly made Hiroshi jump. He hadn't been called that since the first few days of school, and it felt like a lifetime ago. The title alone told him Shizuka was up to something.
He opened his mouth to refuse, after all, he wasn't about to waste his free time but Rikka grabbed his sleeve.
"Hero... we had an agreement."
'Agreement? Ha! Agreement?!' Hiroshi almost laughed. He thought he was ruthless, but Rikka was on another level. She was trying to buy half his afternoons for a pittance. If Sayuri Sawamura heard about this, she'd probably burst into tears.
"Evil King's True Eye, you know our deal didn't include this."
"Hero, please. This base is really important."
After a long pause, he sighed. "I'll help you find four other members."
"Really—"
"But I won't be one of them."
Rikka's excitement fizzled, but she quickly perked up. Now that Hiroshi was free from Eriri's distractions, he'd have plenty of time. A little pleading later, and getting him to join her "base" activities would be easy.
With a sly smile, she nodded, accepting his terms.
Hiroshi turned to Shizuka. "So, Teacher Shizuka, if we gather five members, you'll be the club's advisor, right?"
"Well, yes..." Shizuka nodded. As their homeroom teacher, she couldn't exactly refuse if they met the requirements.
But from what she'd overheard, Hiroshi would rather round up five strangers than join himself.
'He must really value his free time, Shizuka thought.
Her mind drifted to Eriri Sawamura. If she asked, Hiroshi would probably agree without hesitation. In Shizuka's eyes, despite today's lunch for Rikka, two years of devotion couldn't be erased in a day.
'Hiroshi still has feelings for Eriri; today was just an anomaly.'
The thought nagged at her. She looked at Rikka. "Is there anything else, Rikka?"
"N-no."
"Then you should head back to class. Lunch break is almost over."
Rikka glanced at Hiroshi, who gave her a reassuring "OK" sign. With a nod, she grabbed her empty lunch box and left.
Hiroshi watched Rikka's retreating figure, then turned to Shizuka with a teasing grin. "Looks like you've got something important to discuss, Teacher. You even chased her out."
"Explain yourself."
Shizuka pulled out the cigarette she'd tucked away earlier, lighting it. A plume of smoke escaped her lips, carrying her worries with it.
Hiroshi stepped aside, not fond of the smell. Secondhand smoke was still harmful, and he'd rather avoid it.
"Explain what?"
"What do you think?"
Hiroshi knew exactly what she wanted to ask but played dumb.
"Teacher, do you know how Rikka got through junior high?"
Shizuka frowned. She'd only been Rikka's teacher for a month; she didn't know the girl's past.
Seeing her confusion, Hiroshi sat back down, ignoring the smoke. "Teacher Shizuka, you know I hate fighting."
"Really?" Shizuka would sooner believe Hiroshi was a walking good luck charm than a pacifist.
"You've seen Rikka's personality. In a school full of cliques and drama, what do you think happens to someone like her?"
"School bullying," Shizuka said flatly, exhaling another cloud of smoke.
She wasn't surprised. Bullying was rampant in schools. Schools were microcosms of society, and society was messy. No matter how prestigious the institution, rule-breaking was inevitable. Bullying was a constant, and Shizuka had witnessed it more times than she cared to admit. She wanted to help but felt powerless. What she saw was just the tip of the iceberg.
That's why she'd gone to bat for Hiroshi after his fight. He was right, some people deserved a punch. In that way, he reminded her of herself.
"Yeah, bullying."
"So, what's the best way to handle it?"
A few years ago, Shizuka would've said to tell a teacher or call the police. But now, she knew better. Idealism and reality are rarely aligned. Still, as a teacher, she couldn't voice her true thoughts.
"What are you getting at, kid?"
She stubbed out her cigarette, tossing it into the trash.
"When someone regrets their actions, it's not because they've repented, it's because they're scared." Hiroshi raised his right hand, fingers forming a gun shape, and pointed it at Shizuka with a bright smile. "Even the fiercest animal trembles at the sight of a firearm."
He continued, "I'm that firearm. Even without firing a shot, my presence is a deterrent. With a 'madman' like me around, anyone thinking of bullying will think twice."
Shizuka stared, incredulous. By doing this, Hiroshi was branding himself as a delinquent. That label would stick with him throughout high school, maybe even into college. All to intimidate potential bullies.
"I didn't know you had such a thoughtful side," she said, impressed. She'd already guessed where this was going, and it shifted her view of him significantly.
"But why go this far?"
"It's part of my original agreement with Rikka."
Hiroshi's mind flashed back to a drenched little girl standing before him, her eyes red from crying. A rare look of nostalgia crossed his face.
"And what about Eriri Sawamura?"
"That's a different agreement."
"So, you're playing both sides?"
"Teacher, playing both sides implies I have control over both. But that's not the case here."
Hiroshi grumbled. His relationship with Eriri was purely transactional. With Rikka, it was different. Even if she stopped paying him, he'd never forget that desperate girl from two years ago.
"My agreement with Eriri has expired. You don't need to worry about it."
"Wait, wait, wait!" Shizuka held up a hand. "I'm a bit lost, but are you saying you've given up on something you've pursued for two years?"
"No, no. It's not 'giving up.' The agreement just ended. It's like throwing away an expired snack, am I wasting food?"
Shizuka wasn't trying to change his mind; she was just shocked. From any angle, Hiroshi moving on from Eriri was a good thing. As a teacher, she was glad he'd have more time for studies or extracurriculars. Even a nap during lunch would be better than chasing after someone.
From a friend's perspective, it was even better.
"Teacher, class is about to start. I should go."
"Wait, kid. Are you sure you're okay?"
Shizuka wasn't being nosy; she was genuinely concerned he'd been hurt.
"Relax. Just think of me as the guy who loved too long and left with regrets."
Because of the contract, Hiroshi couldn't reveal his deal with Sayuri Sawamura. This was the best excuse he could come up with.
His smile was forced. He wasn't great at lying, but few could tell when he did.
Shizuka studied his eyes, searching for any sign of distress. Finding none, she sighed.
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