Chapter 2

(Kiyoshi's pov)

I never liked the idea of joining a club, even in middle school when I had this small group of friends I used to hang out with. I remember that once they asked me to join the same club as them, which I ended up accepting.

It was boring as hell, but I managed to go through it because they were there. At least I had someone to talk to or fool around with, which made it somewhat bearable. It might sound cheesy, but it is the truth.

This was different though. Right now, I found myself in an almost empty classroom with two students that I had just met. No one said anything and the silence was starting to make me feel really uncomfortable.

Me and Hikigaya stood there like idiots for a while until Yukinoshita finally spoke to us.

"...How about you stop standing there like idiots and just sit down?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Sorry."

We picked a couple of chairs from the corner of the room and looked for a place to sit down. It was quite clear that Hikigaya didn't want to be anywhere near Yukinoshita or me since he sat in the other side of the classroom.

I could sit down between them and there would still be some space separating us. However, if at some point we had some kind of quarrel (which was very likely to happen because there was a very tense atmosphere), I would receive attacks from both sides.

That's why I decided to sit in the back of the classroom, behind both of them. They both eyed me for a few seconds but didn't say anything, although Yukinoshita probably thought that I was a creep. Not that I minded.

Now I only had to find something to do until the clubs closed for the day and finally be free. If I knew this would happen, I would have brought a book to read. But there was no use thinking about that now, I just had to be patient and wait. I was sure it would be over before I knew.

"Is something wrong?"

I looked up and saw Hikigaya and Yukinoshita staring at each other.

"Ah, my bad. I was thinking about what I should do about all this."

"About what?"

"Well I mean, I-" Hikigaya stopped and glanced at me for a moment before speaking again. "We were brought here with nothing but a confusing explanation."

I nodded in affirmation, even though they weren't paying attention.

The only response we got from her was a sigh and her book being closed abruptly.

"I suppose you're right. Then let's play a game."

"What are we, little kids?"

"This game requires to use your brain a little, so you don't have to participate if it's too much for you, Takeda-kun."

I guess I had it coming. Still, was this the appropriate way for a club's president to treat her fellow members? I could try to use the fact that Yukinoshita was making fun of me as an excuse to leave the club, but I doubted that Hiratsuka-sensei would let me.

"...so what is this game about?" Hikigaya broke the silence.

"You have to guess what kind of club this is."

What kind of club this was, huh? The name 'Service Club' made my mind come up with many ideas, but it wouldn't be a good idea to voice them out.

"Are there other club members?" Hikigaya asked.

"No, there aren't."

"I wonder why." I muttered. Apparently Yukinoshita heard me because she was now glaring at me. I avoided her glare and looked at the birds outside the window.

"A literary club?"

"Really...? Your reason being?"

Hikigaya smiled proudly as if he was a detective who had just solved a crime and proceeded to explain his reasoning.

"The particular setting, the lack of any need for special equipment and that despite the fact that there aren't enough members the club hasn't been abolished. In other words, it's a club that doesn't require any expenses. In addition, you were reading a book. The answer was apparent from the start."

That was a good reasoning, if I do say so myself. I found myself believing every word that he said.

"Incorrect." Yukinoshita answered with a short and scornful laugh.

After that, she looked back at me in case I was going to say something. I just shrugged.

"Then what kind of club is this?" Asked Hikigaya, irritation evident in his voice.

"All right, I'll give you the biggest hint. My being here, doing what I am, is the club's activities."

"We make fun of people, then? Woah, if I had known this before I might have even joined voluntarily." I joked.

"Such a childish behaviour."

"I still don't see any flaws in my last statement."

Ignoring me, she looked back at Hikigaya, who still seemed to be deep in thought.

"I give up. I don't have a clue."

There were a few seconds of silence before Yukinoshita spoke again.

"Hikigaya-kun, Takeda-kun, how many years has it been since you last spoke to a girl?"

Why was she asking this all of the sudden?

"I fail to see how this is relevant." I said.

She stood up and looked down at us.

"Those that possess much are motivated by charity to give to those who do not. People call this volunteer work. Providing development assistance to developing countries, organizing soup-runs for the homeless, allowing unpopular boys the opportunity to talk to a girl. Extending a helping hand to those in need. That is what this club does."

What a strange club. I would have believed that she was making all this out of goodwill if it wasn't for the fact that she made fun of me every time she could. Either she didn't enjoy our company or she didn't want to be here to begin with. Did Hiratsuka-sensei make her join the club against her will as well?

"According to Hiratsuka-sensei, it is the duty of those who are superior to save those who lead a pitiable existence. I will make sure that I accomplish what she requested of me and fulfil this responsibility. I will rectify your problem. Show some gratitude."

...

What a strange feeling. Every time that she opened that mouth of hers my desire to leave that classroom and never come back grew wider and wider.

"This bitch..."

Hikigaya couldn't even hide his anger. I couldn't blame him.

"...You know, even though it's me saying it, I'm actually fairly superior myself. I ranked third in the Japanese Proficiency Exam! I'm pretty good looking! If you disregard the fact that I don't have a girlfriend or any friends, I'm basically top of the line." He said.

What was this, a battle of egos? If that was the case it was clear who would lose out of us three.

"Though I'm sure I heard you mention a fatal flow towards the end... In a way, it's amazing you can say all that so confidently. You're a weirdo. I'm already creeped out."

"Shut up. I don't want to hear that from a weird girl like you."

I had to agree with him on this one. She kept saying that she was superior, as if she was some kind of celestial being that decided to grace us with her presence, but I didn't think that she was one to talk.

For starters, almost everyone in the school knew her. However, being known is not necessarily a good thing. As rumours had it, Yukinoshita Yukino was not the girl that she appeared to be. Plus, it didn't seem like she had any friends either.

I'm not saying that I believed these rumours, because people always tended to exaggerate things. However, it was annoying that someone like her was looking down on us like this.

"Hm... Based on my observations, it seems that your loneliness is a result of your corrupt mind and cynical temperament." She stated, looking at Hikigaya. "Firstly, I will find a place for you in society. Given that you're so pitiable, I can't just leave you alone."

"Hey, wait a minute. Who said that I need any help?"

"To start with, eyes such as yours that emulate those of a rotten fish, would invariably leave a bad impression. If at least I manage to change your personality things will be better for you in the future, even if just a little."

"Enough with the eyes!"

The poor guy had been told that his eyes were those of a rotten fish many times already.

"As for you, the cause of your loneliness is quite clear." Seemingly having said everything that she wanted to Hikigaya, she turned to me.

I was not looking forward for this. Ever since I entered the room, I had this feeling that I was being judged by her, I bet that Hikigaya was feeling the same. It wasn't a pleasant feeling.

"The rumour that Kiyoshi Takeda had sent three students to the hospital due to a fight in his middle school days spread quite quickly during our first year here. Since then, the students have been avoiding you."

Quite the reputation that rumour gave me. Everything was fine in my first day here, a couple of my classmates even approached me to try and get to know me. However, in my second day here, everyone started to avoid me. It had been this way until today.

I didn't know how that rumour made its way to Shobu High to be honest. The only plausible explanation was that someone from my middle school enrolled here as well.

I tried to convince myself that I didn't care about other people's opinions. However, I found myself asking a question to Hikigaya and Yukinoshita.

"So? What do you think about those rumours?"

I looked up at her, then at Hikigaya. He seemed surprised that I was asking him this question, but that didn't stop him from answering.

"I wasn't there to begin with, so I can't tell if they're true or not. Besides, it's hard to believe that one middle schooler would be able to do that."

At least someone seemed to have a bit of common sense. Whether there was some truth in those rumours or not, how would a kid be able to beat three students and leave unharmed?

"It's hard not to be suspicious when the involved party doesn't do anything to stop them, though." Yukinoshita added, frowning slightly.

"Why would I? That would only make things worse."

If I tried to refute the rumours I would just be giving them what they wanted. It was quite simple. The "cool kids" find someone to make fun of and if that someone gets upset or angry, they win.

"Look, he's crying! Pathetic!"

So, what was the best curse of action? Just ignore them. Let them know that you couldn't care less by not doing anything. In the end, they'll get bored and look for another unfortunate soul to make fun of.

"Worse than they already are? I doubt that's possible. In the end you're just running away and letting people look down on you. That's the reason why you two are alone." She refuted.

Most teenagers want to be popular. They want people to look up to them. Because of that, they constantly show openly how the rest of the students are below them.

There are those who show their superiority by making fun of others, those who show a public persona who is completely different from their true selves to impress others... Those two kind of students were the popular kids in the school. The top of the hierarchy.

Then there are those directly below them. The lap dogs. They exist to praise the popular kids and make their ego grow even more. You don't want to be made fun of? Easy-peasy! Be a lap dog! Tell the popular kids how cool and handsome/beautiful they are! Congratulations, you're now part of the cool kids!

And then there is the base of the pyramid, formed by the unpopular ones. Those who are there to be made fun of.

It might not look like it, but their role is very important. Why? Because if they weren't there, how would the popular kids show their superiority? Remove the base and everything else crumbles down.

I was no genius, but I arrived at two conclusions just by observing others.

First: Everyone was rotten. I was no exception.

Second: If this were the kind of people that surrounded me, it was better to be alone.

"I'm just running away, huh? Well, call it however you like, I don't care. That's how I am and I don't intend to change any time soon."

I heard Hikigaya chuckle from where he was sitting.

"...so annoying." Yukinoshita muttered.

The door of the classroom suddenly slid open.

"Yukinoshita, I'm coming in."

"I told you to knock..."

"Sorry sorry, don't mind me and just continue as you were. I just thought I'd stop by and see how you were doing." Hiratsuka-sensei said.

"Hikigaya, keep up the good work and focus on straightening out that cynical temperament of yours."

"What do you mean by straightening out? Doesn't that make me sound like a juvenile delinquent? Just what the hell is this all about?

Ignoring him, she now turned to me.

"Takeda."

"Hmm?"

"You and Hikigaya are not that different. However, the way that you two see things will only bring harm to you in the future."

"I call it being realistic."

Hiratsuka-sensei sighed as she observed us.

"Yukinoshita, it seems that you're having a hard time straightening them out."

"That's because they're not aware of the fact that they have a problem." She stated matter-of-factly.

"Um... you've been saying nonsensical stuff about straightening us out and improvement and reformation and revolutionary girls and whatnot for a while but we never asked for any of it." Hikigaya said looking at me and then at Hiratsuka-sensei.

However, the one who responded was not her, but Yukinoshita.

"What are you saying? If you don't change, you'll be at a level that'll make living in society difficult. Don't you want to change for the better?"

"That's not it..! I don't want people to keep harping on about making me change and telling me who I am. You told Takeda that he was running away but, in the end, trying to change yourself is the same as running away, isn't it?"

"Not accepting who I am and trying to be someone different would make me the same as the rest of them. Even I have some self-esteem, you know?" I added.

This time our words seemed to affect Yukinoshita, who frowned and clenched her teeth.

"Calm down, the three of you." Hiratsuka-sensei had to intervene to make peace. "Things have become interesting. I love developments like these."

Sensei was the only one of us who was ecstatic.

"Well then, let's do it this way. From now on, I will guide troubled lambs to this club where they will be under your supervision. The three of you will try and help them as you see fit. And it would be good if you prove your moral righteousness to each other to the best of your abilities in the process. Who can help these people!? Ready, go!"

"I refuse."

"No, thanks."

I spoke in sync with Yukinoshita, which made her look at me in disgust.

"Sensei. Please stop acting so childishly hyperactive. It is unbecoming of someone your age and it's awfully indecent."

Sensei's cheeks turned pink in embarrassment and it took her a few seconds to recover.

"In-in any case! The only thing that will prove one's rectitude is their actions! If I said you must have a match, then you will have a match. None of you have the right to say no."

"That's too tyrannical..." Hikigaya muttered.

"In order for you to fight with your utmost desperate efforts, I'll provide you a little motivation. How about, the winner can command the losers to do anything they wish?"

"Competing against these boys makes me feel that my chastity is in peril. I refuse."

If one party didn't want to participate, the whole competition was meaningless. Hikigaya and I probably didn't have the right to refuse, but Yukinoshita did. I think.

"You heard her. She's too scared to even participate, sensei. It's better to leave it like this."

Besides, I got to make fun of her in the process, which was great. I thought that sensei would chide me but, to my surprise, she nodded with a smug smile on her face.

"You're right. It seems that even Yukinoshita Yukino is fearful of something... Are you that afraid that you'll lose?"

There were a few moments of silence before Yukinoshita spoke again.

"...Fine. Although, I'm a little annoyed that I must give in to such a cheap provocation. I accept."

I looked at her in disbelief. Had that cheap provocation really worked? Sensei looked at me and flashed me a thumbs-up.

Did I just unconsciously help her convince Yukinoshita?

"Then it's decided."

It seemed that our opinion didn't matter. Things just weren't going my way today...

"I will be the one to decide the winner of this match, so do your best! I'll be looking forward to see how things turn out." With that, Hiratsuka-sensei left the classroom.

The uncomfortable silence was interrupted by a synthesized chime, signalling that the club's time had ended. We took our bags and left the room without saying a single word or looking at each other.