7 The Next Day

The next morning, I was greeted at the gate of the school by a bustling crowd of students. As I slipped through the crowd, I could hear many students shouting "join our club" and catchy lines to entice freshmen. There were tables for every club, and every club had a spokesperson handing out flyers and persuading students to join.

I wasn't expecting for the beginning of the day to be recruitment time. The end of the day or even recess made more sense to me. Maybe I should've paid more attention to what Ando-sensei was saying yesterday...

Well, time to look around!

I looked around at all sorts of posters and flyers. There were surprisingly a large amount of clubs at this school. Many sports teams were shouting about and pressuring boys to join. More girl dominated clubs like home economics and gardening were approaching fellow females. Nerds attracted nerds. You know, the usual cliches gathering here and there.

What I wanted was a mindless and peaceful club. Something that could help me to not focus on the fact that I am in an otome game filled with yanderes. As such, I went to a table labeled "Chess Club." Chess is a distraction since it uses brain power and strategy.

As I picked up a flyer, I heard a familiar voice call out my name before feeling someone grab my sleeve.

No. I am not gonna let you get your way, fate! Not without a fight!

"It is you, Haru-kun!" Yuu's cheery voice exclaimed as I turned to face him.

"Oh, Yuu-kun. Hello." I gave the simple greeting with a small smile. "Do you need me for something?"

"Well, you see..." Yuu looked away in embarrassment as he twiddled his fingers. "I was wondering if you would join the Home Ec club with me?" Yuu clasped his hands together and looked at me with upturned eyes, pleading.

"No." Smile and walk away.

How I wish I could do that. Too bad I'm not a jackass.

"Eh, why do you need me to join?" I asked with genuine curiously. Yuu looked down sheepishly.

"I heard that only girls were in the club, and that if I joined, I'd be the only boy there. That's a little embarrassing." Yuu said softly as he blushed lightly.

Oh? Is that so? How come that didn't stop you before in the game? Hm? Hmm? Hmmmm???

"Then, why don't you ask some of your friends?" I asked without trying to look like I wanted to leave. I'm sure you have plenty.

"Everyone already decided on a club!" Yuu whined. "You're the only one left! You don't want to join the same club as me?" Yuu's eyes moistened with, I'm sure, fake tears.

As he said this loudly, students that were browsing nearby overheard. Whispers started flying around.

Wow, peer pressure, huh? I expect no less from a yandere.

"Of course not, but I just decided on a club. It's unfair if you force me to join a club with you if you didn't with your other friends." I frowned slightly to express my disappointment.

"So, you're saying you're my friend?" The tears in Yuu's eyes immediately cleared up. I blinked, not expecting that response.

Uh, what? How did this and that have a connection?

"...Were we not?" I answered hesitantly back with a question of my own. Yuu pouted.

"Yesterday, Haru-kun didn't speak to me anymore after I gave you cookies. You only hung out with Aki-kun the whole day. You were clearly avoiding me!" Yuu's false tears welled up again. I could hear the gossip around us grow again.

...Boi.

"Of course, I wasn't avoiding you. It's just that Akira-kun is my friend, too. Since we're seat mates and met for the first time, we just got caught up in talking with each other. If you had just come over, you could have joined us." I gave a placating smile. Yuu's tears didn't clear up quite yet.

"You won't come to me, so you are avoiding me!" Yuu finally let a tear stream down his cheek. The whispers around us were no longer whispers.

Hm, give in to peer pressure and possibly be murdered, or not give in and possibly suffer bullying? What lovely choices!

No, as long as I don't admit to Yuu that he owns me, his trigger, I should be fine.

...I still rather not get any closer to him, though!

"Y-Yuu-kun, how can I prove I'm not avoiding you?" As soon as I asked that, I knew that was the wrong response. Yuu sniffed and wiped his tears away before beaming a bright smile like he had never cried in the first place.

Sneaky son of bitch!

"Then, will Haru-kun join the same club as me? I'll know for sure you aren't avoiding me if you do." Yuu sweetly replied as I chewed my cheek. I could feel the piercing stares of the audience waiting for my response.

Oi, what does this have to do with you!? Leave me alone! Leave!

"...okay." I hung my head in defeat and softly agreed. As I looked down, I saw the chess flyer in my hands. So long peaceful days~

"Really?! Yay!" Yuu glomped me in his excitement. "Let's go! Let's go!" Yuu grabbed the hand holding the chess flyer, making me drop it in the process, and proceeded to drag me to the home ec club table.

I dare not challenge fate anymore.

After signing up for the home ec club with Yuu, I ran to the classroom before he could catch me and put my head on my desk in wallowing depression until the first class started. I was not in the mood, so I ignored Akira's attempts at poking fun at me during classes and breaks. Classes passed, and it was already lunch time.

"Oi, Ha-ru-ka-kun." Akira probed my head. "Are you alright, man?" Before I could answer, a voice I was dreading popped in.

"Can I eat lunch with you, Haru-kun?" Yuu's innocent voice made me grimace. "Oh, and you, too, Aki-kun!"

"Haha, why do I feel like Haru-kun's your real objective?" Akira lightly joked, but the atmosphere got weird. I lifted my head to glance between the two with a confused look. "We don't mind, do we, Haru?" The confusion changed to dread when Akira suddenly dropped all honorifics.

Already fighting, are we?

"Uh, no. We don't." I could only say those words as I pulled out my lunch.

I would've liked to eat in peace, you know?

"Ehhh, can I call you Haru, too?" Yuu asked as he pulled a chair over and placed his lunch on my desk.

"Er, sure." I shrugged. Not like I could really deny. Who knows what play he would act out if I did.

"Thank you, Haru!" Yuu gave a blinding smile. I had to squint my eyes because of how bright it was.

"Wow. If I knew you'd give in so easily, I would've called you Haru from the start." Akira had pulled his desk over to touch mine and sat next to me while Yuu was across from me. "You can call me Aki, then."

"Eh, I'd rather not." I promptly shot him down. I gotta keep up some distance between us, you hidden character.

"What? Why not?!" Akira pouted his lips. I rolled my eyes.

"Does it really matter? Anyway, I need to eat, so I can go prep for tutoring." I brushed the topic aside and shoved food in my mouth.

"Haru tutors?" Yuu caught onto the information swiftly. "Isn't it only the second day of school?" Yuu tilted his head to show his confusion.

"It's seems like someone is really dumb and needs help urgently, and you saw how smart this nerd was yesterday." Akira responded. "Sensei caught him as quickly as she could." Akira snickered, making me elbow him in annoyance.

"Eh, is that how it is?" Yuu passively mumbled as he gazed at our interactions and mindlessly stabbed his lunch. "Who're you tutoring?"

"..." I didn't answer but glanced backwards instead. Ryuu's desk was empty. Yuu followed my line of sight and seemed to know who's seat I was looking at.

"The Raging Dragon!?" Yuu gasped with a tiny hand covering his mouth. "Isn't that dangerous?"

"We'll be in sensei's office. Hopefully, I don't piss him off enough to come looking for me out of lessons." I grumbled as I scooped up the last bit of the rice I had left. Akira comfortingly patted my shoulder. I glowered at him before shoving the rice in my mouth.

"Don't worry, Haru!" Yuu suddenly declared. "I'll protect you if he ever bullies you. Just come to me, and I'll take care of him." Yuu promised with an pure smile. I harshly swallowed the lump of rice in my mouth.

"Oh, t-thank you, Yuu-kun." I warily replied.

What scary things would Yuu do to Ryuu?

I shivered from the thought.

"Ooo, Yuu-kun can take down the Raging Dragon? That's something I wanna see." Akira's eyes twinkled in amusement.

"I'm strong!" Yuu retorted as he puffed out his tiny chest. I couldn't help but chuckle at the small, cute Yuu trying to make himself look bigger.

I instantly felt two pair of eyes intensely staring at me as I did. I quickly changed to coughing and clearing my throat before packing up my now empty lunch and avoiding their stares.

Note to self, don't express any emotions of happiness or enjoyment near predators.

"I-I'll get going. You two enjoy the rest of lunch and recess." I said as I packed up my bag to bring with me.

"Good luck with tutoring that dragon." Akira lazily grinned as he wished me well.

"Be careful, Haru." Yuu cutely frowned with worry.

I nodded and left the classroom. As I walked to sensei's office, I couldn't help but sigh. I've been caught by every single capture target. At this point, aren't I the capture target?!

Well, time to teach some math to a dragon.

...Never thought I'd ever say that.