Chapter 33: Hiratsuka-Sensei's Club?

"Rei? Rei! Rei!" As soon as he approached the school gate, Hana's familiar voice called out to him. There was also the customary pat on the back.

"Good morning, senior!" Hana greeted Rei energetically. Then, she pulled out a large rice ball covered in toppings from her pocket. "Senior, this is the breakfast that my father asked me to bring for you."

Breakfast? Rei found it a bit odd. Hana didn't usually bring him breakfast on regular days. Moreover, why would her father specifically instruct her to do so? What's the meaning behind this?

"I've already had breakfast today," Rei said, but he didn't decline. He accepted the rice ball from Hana. After all, it was a gesture of goodwill. "When you get back home from school, please thank your father on my behalf."

"Huh? The senior, who never eats breakfast, actually already had breakfast? Is the world going to end today?!" After hearing that Rei had eaten breakfast, Hana was left stunned.

No matter how Rei looked at it, his breakfast had nothing to do with the world's ending.

"Good morning, Uzaki-san."

"Ah, Doma-san is here too, I'm sorry. I was too focused on the senior just now and didn't notice you."

"It's fine. I happened to come with Senior Rei." Umaru spoke in her usual honor student tone, full of vigor. One couldn't tell that this girl had stayed up until four in the morning last night.

Rei checked his phone for the time. He noticed a message notification.

Ai: Rei, I have a rehearsal this morning, so I won't be going to school. Could you help me get a leave from the teacher?

Seeing Ai's message, Rei quickly replied with an ok emoji.

Ai: It's great that you can help. I'm not very familiar with the others, and I feel awkward asking them to help me get an excuse. (ω*)

Rei: It's good to be of help. You work hard every day, and your rehearsal should go smoothly.

Ai: Make sure to come tomorrow! You must!

Rei: Yes.

As Rei replied to Ai's messages, Umaru tried to sneak a peek but she couldn't do it for long since she had to maintain her honor student persona at school.. Even though she wanted to joke with Rei, she had to maintain the appearance of a good student due to the surrounding gazes. Hana also wanted to see, but even if she stood on her tiptoes, she could hardly see the screen at all.

"Goodbye, senior." x2

Rei watched the two troublesome juniors return to their classroom, then headed toward the teacher's office.

As the homeroom teacher, (Hiratsuka) Shizuka was already in the office, going through some materials on the computer. Upon hearing Rei knock on the door, she casually greeted, "Please come in."

"Hiratsuka-sensei, I'm here to help Ai with a leave application."

"Hoshino-san is asking for an excuse again, and this time it's you who's helping. It seems like you two have a good relationship. Did you know each other before coming to this school?" Shizuka said as she swiftly filled out a leave note on the computer, typing away on the keyboard.

Due to the small age gap of just ten years, Shizuka easily connected with the students.

When Rei was being bullied by the troublesome trio at school, it was Shizuka who intervened time and time again, significantly reducing the harm that Rei suffered. However, unfortunately, without the ability to expel those three, this approach only led to even harsher bullying later on.

Afterward, to spare Shizuka from further embarrassment, Rei began to deliberately hide when he was being bullied. Although the perceptive Shizuka noticed this, she didn't stop him. Because of this, Rei suffered fewer injuries.

"I met her a long time ago."

"Is that so?" Shizuka lit a cigarette. "Hoshino-san's grades aren't very good. Her classwork in all subjects have a high error rate. Many teachers have noticed her passing notes to you during class. What do you think about this Rei?"

The corner of Rei's mouth twitched. Ai's grades had been subpar since childhood. He knew this.

It wasn't that she couldn't learn; it was simply that the orphanage where she lived didn't provide a conducive learning environment. Constantly ostracized, much like Rei, she naturally developed a strong aversion to school. As a result, she had a deep-seated dislike for it. While her affinity for learning wasn't high, it wasn't bad either.

"I'll talk to her." The discussion about Ai ended there. Shizuka changed the subject and said, "The three individuals who bullied you before have voluntarily withdrawn from school. Word has it that they instigated trouble with gangs outside and subsequently vanished from sight. Though this statement may not be very fitting for a teacher, congratulations, Rei. You're finally free of them."

Rei had a smile on his face. Of course, he knew about this. He was the one who made it happen.

"Thank you, Hiratsuka-sensei."

"Now, let's talk about your situation. I heard that the ace of the basketball team, Kagami, came to your class to ask you to teach him basketball. I heard that you left him in tears with your skills. I can believe the first part, but the second part—is it true that he was in tears?" Shizuka asked with a curious glint in her eyes as she puffed on her cigarette.

"Before I answer, can you tell me who spread this?" Rei inquired.

"Of course not. I'm not here to gossip about students," Shizuka said nonchalantly.

Rei didn't need to think twice. He'd already figured out who leaked it. Besides the gossip-queen Hana, who else could it be? Among those present in the basketball team, there were only Rei, Hana, and Ai. The basketball team members wouldn't spread this about themselves.

So, the only possibilities were Ai and Hana. The former hadn't formed many close friendships thus far. As for the latter...

"Is it Uzaki-san?"

"I don't know. Don't ask me," Shizuka replied with a quiet smile.

Shizuka filled out the leave request form, printed it out, and soon handed Rei a leave slip signed by her. "Okay, the leave application is ready."

"By the way, Rei, I remember that you haven't joined any clubs, right?" Shizuka asked casually. She knew very well that Rei had no friends in the class and hardly interacted with anyone other than Iori and Motoharu.

With his introverted personality, coupled with the fact that he lived alone far away from home and had previously experienced bullying, Shizuka was genuinely concerned about Rei's mental well-being.

"No, I haven't joined any clubs," Rei replied.

"In that case, would you be interested in joining the club I just started?" Shizuka asked.

"No, I'll be heading to the gym after school," Rei promptly declined Shizuka's offer. 

"Gym?" Shizuka looked at Rei with squinted eyes; indeed, he looked much stronger than before. However, with his jacket and trousers on, nothing was visible. "Alright, the club activities generally take place around noon, so you're free to leave the school in the afternoon."

"I decline. I really don't have any interest in clubs."

"Nope!" Shizuka clenched one hand into a fist. "I think you're interested."

Rei: "..."

"I don't want you to think; I want to see it for myself."