Chapter 18: Club Disbanding

Ryuji was in a good mood, but compared to him, Tobe was not.

Earlier this morning, he had basked in so much praise. Now, he was overwhelmed with scorn. Many people despised him, including his supposed friend, Hayato, who hadn't offered him any real support.

The most direct among them was Yumiko, who never held back her feelings. She scoffed loudly, "So disgusting!"

"Yumiko!" Hayato called out helplessly, knowing she was talking about his friend.

"Humph!" Yumiko glanced at Hayato but refrained from saying more, though she warned him, "You'd better stay away from this guy in the future, Hayato, or you'll end up just like him."

Hayato could only offer a bitter smile, while Tobe sank deeper into his seat. His face was buried under his arms, hiding not regret, but a growing resentment.

'What did I do wrong? It's always been like this! This is all Ryuji Hoshino's fault! And this teacher, who does she think she is? And my friends... they're the worst!'

His thoughts spiraled deeper into bitterness. At the same time, a strange, oppressive aura seemed to gather around him, much like the one Ryuji had sensed earlier.

'Only Ellie understands me. Only Ellie is on my side...'

---

During lunch, Ryuji didn't waste any time and headed straight to Shizuka's office.

Meanwhile, in another part of the school, inside the art club's room:

"What? You want to disband the club? Do you even realize what you're saying?" Eriri Sawamura, the club's ace member, couldn't believe her ears. Utaha Kasumigaoka, the third-year known for her calm demeanor, also frowned in disbelief. Kato Megumi sat nearby, but she seemed distracted, her attention elsewhere.

Both Eri and Utaha stared at Tomoya Aki, who stood before them. His tired eyes, surrounded by dark circles, told the story of someone who hadn't slept well likely from binge-watching anime or overworking himself.

Utaha's usual teasing tone had disappeared, replaced with a cold one. "Tomoya-kun, are you serious? You can take a day or two off if you need rest, but disbanding the club? That's a drastic step."

Eriri, usually loud and energetic, echoed the sentiment, "Yeah! You begged us to help with this project, and now you want to give up? After just a few days? I even put my own work on hold for you!" Her twin ponytails practically bristled with indignation.

Utaha crossed her arms and added pointedly, "Tomoya kun, don't you think this is sudden? Especially after all the effort it took to find a heroine for your game?"

Megumi, who had been quietly lost in her own thoughts, didn't expect the conversation to turn toward her. Glancing at the others, she simply shrugged and said calmly, "I don't mind. We can disband the club if that's what everyone wants."

After all, Megumi hadn't truly wanted to join the club in the first place. Tomoya had been annoyingly persistent in recruiting her, and disbanding it seemed like a relief. Her mind, however, was preoccupied with the events of the previous night. Even though time had passed, the memory of Ryuji lingered vividly. Despite having his contact info in her phone, she couldn't find a good reason to reach out.

"You can't be serious!" Eriri glared at Megumi, feeling betrayed. "We should at least talk it through!"

Before the argument could escalate, Tomoya raised his hand to silence them. His usual lively demeanor was replaced by a solemn one as he spoke clearly, despite his fatigue, "It's over. I've found a new heroine. There's no point in continuing with this club."

His words left both Eriri and Utaha dumbfounded.

"What? A new heroine? What are you even talking about, Tomoya?" Eriri blurted, her disbelief clear.

Utaha, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes. "Tomoya-kun, you owe us an explanation. A new heroine? What does that even mean?"

Tomoya, seemingly oblivious to the rising tension, smiled dreamily. His tone softened as he revealed, "Ellie... Ellie is the only heroine I need. I've already moved in with her, and from now on, my life belongs to her. This club is meaningless to me now."

"...Ellie?" Both Eri and Utaha exchanged confused looks. Neither of them had heard this name before.

"We already live together, and the rest of my life belongs to Ellie," Tomoya continued, his expression glowing with a weird mix of happiness and detachment.

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