Chapter 75: Change in the Trajectory of Fate
"Ring, ring~"
"Whew~ Class is finally over..."
With the end of the afternoon classes, Aragaki Takiya stretched his body, feeling a wave of mental relief. He couldn't help it; the last two periods of the afternoon were math. Takiya didn't have much of an affinity for the subject, so he forced himself to listen attentively every time. Although the results were mediocre, it was at least an effort on his part.
"Better head back early to see Moeha. Hmm, I should bring her something tasty on the way..."
Packing up his textbooks, Takiya stood up and waited for the girl in front of him. Even though she hadn't explicitly asked him to, he seemed to have made a habit of it. He didn't make another move until the girl stood up and looked toward him.
"Let's go together, Kato."
"Okay."
It was just a simple exchange, but it demonstrated the tacit understanding between the two. For both Aragaki Takiya and Kato Megumi, this was something worth remembering.
To Takiya, Kato Megumi could be considered his first female friend.
Furthermore, she was a female friend without any other complicated feelings involved. Regarding Eriri and Shiina Mahiru, Takiya acted more out of a sense of responsibility, while Kasumigaoka was someone he considered a'soulmate.' Only with Kato Megumi were his feelings as pure and flawless as true friendship.
At least, that was what he believed himself.
Regardless of what Takiya thought, today was a memorable day for Kato Megumi... It should be just like the day she first met him. If that day was the starting point, then today was like a transfer station.
Kato-san really liked this feeling. Even though there were only two of them, the other person would always wait for her silently. Kato Megumi never expected that she would actually be able to enjoy this kind of wordless understanding.
And so, Takiya and Kato Megumi walked out of the classroom. However, today's situation was different from usual. Just as they stepped out, they encountered a female teacher wearing a white lab coat.
It was none other than our dedicated Hiratsuka-sensei. Following behind her was a boy with dead-fish eyes, who happened to be one of Takiya's few male friends—Hachiman Hikigaya.
Seeing the two of them arrive, Takiya blinked. He didn't choose to ask anything, but he saw a hint of helplessness in Hachiman Hikigaya's eyes.
It seemed the other party wasn't there of his own volition.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, this is..."
Seeing Shizuka Hiratsuka looking at him, Takiya couldn't help but ask.
"Oh, it's Aragaki. I'm taking Hikigaya to a place where his soul can be cleansed. Do you want to come and observe?"
The female teacher in the white lab coat wore a gentle smile. Based on that smile alone, one would never associate her with the nickname 'Iron Fist Shizuka Hiratsuka.'
Unfortunately, Takiya knew her true nature.
Therefore, he naturally wouldn't be deceived by outward appearances.
"Do you want to go take a look together, Kato?"
The boy turned and asked the girl beside him.
"Okay."
Kato Megumi nodded without saying much. She knew Takiya wasn't actually someone who liked to join in on the excitement, yet he had accepted Hiratsuka-sensei's invitation.
There could only be one truth.
"Is he the friend Aragaki mentioned?"
Kato Megumi shifted her gaze to the dead-fish-eyed boy behind Shizuka Hiratsuka.
"He looks like he's not in a very good state."
The conversation between Shizuka Hiratsuka and Takiya naturally reached Hachiman Hikigaya's ears. However, he didn't care much about that; what he cared about was Kato Megumi standing behind Takiya.
"When did this guy Aragaki get a new friend, and a female one at that?"
Hachiman Hikigaya blinked in disbelief. He understood the other guy's personality; with that kind of temperament, he wouldn't spend time proactively getting to know girls.
"Could it be?"
Hachiman took another look at the two of them. He didn't say anything, but a seed of suspicion was planted in his heart.
And so, the original group of two became four as they headed toward their intended destination.
"Bang!"
As Shizuka Hiratsuka swung the classroom door open, Takiya saw their destination.
An empty classroom... and a girl sitting inside.
Takiya had a bit of an impression of this girl. After all, when Aragaki Moeha and Shiina Kaede had broken into the school last time, she seemed to be the one who helped Hiratsuka-sensei notify him.
Yukinoshita Yukino, that should be her name.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, I..."
Yukinoshita Yukino closed her book and was about to say something, but when she looked up, she saw four people standing at the door.
"?"
A question mark flashed over Yukinoshita Yukino's head. Was this a request? Or... "Yukinoshita, I've brought you a newcomer," Shizuka Hiratsuka said as she stepped aside, revealing Hachiman Hikigaya standing behind her.
"Then who are these two?"
Yukinoshita Yukino looked over at Takiya and Kato Megumi, a hint of curiosity flashing in her blue-green eyes.
"Uh, we're just here to watch."
Takiya waved his hand and then pointed at Hachiman Hikigaya.
"I'm Hachiman's friend."
"Is that so?"
Yukinoshita Yukino nodded. She had some impression of Takiya; he was the older brother of that little blonde girl who had snuck into the school last time.
"How about it, Yukinoshita?"
"Hiratsuka-sensei, I need to know his reason for applying to join this club."
"Well, for now, let's call it a labor dispatch..."
Classmate Hikigaya muttered a silent retort.
"Hmm?"
Hearing Hachiman's voice, Shizuka Hiratsuka immediately brandished her fist.
"Fine, never mind."
Seeing Hiratsuka-sensei's angry expression, Hachiman Hikigaya decisively chose to follow his heart. No joke, the taste of being hit by that thing was not pleasant, and he didn't want to experience it.
"It's like this, because of the essay he wrote..."
Spending a minute, Shizuka Hiratsuka explained the cause and effect.
"That's amazing..."
This was Kato-san's inner thought. After listening to Hiratsuka-sensei's explanation, Kato Megumi also understood the so-called situation.
It had to be said that although the essay Hachiman wrote didn't conform to mainstream society, it sounded very sharp. Even Kato Megumi felt that the other party was a unique person.
"I see..."
After listening to Shizuka Hiratsuka's explanation, Yukinoshita Yukino sized up Hachiman Hikigaya and finally gave a response.
"Fill out a club application form."
"Eh? That easily..."
Classmate Hikigaya looked somewhat surprised.
"Because the original intention of the Service Club is to help those in need. This isn't a difficult matter, so..."
Yukinoshita Yukino didn't continue speaking, but the meaning in her eyes was clear.
She would also accept a problem child like Hachiman.
"What about you, Aragaki? Are you interested in joining? And the student next to you, give it some serious thought. This is a very interesting club," Shizuka Hiratsuka said, striking while the iron was hot.
"Ah? I won't be joining."
Hearing this, Takiya shook his head. He already had enough on his plate; he had absolutely no time for something like the Service Club.
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