Friday, 5/6
Ren stood in the middle of the hallway, staring down Yoshiro Takata. Yoshiro had the volleyball team behind him, trying their best to look intimidating. Surrounding both parties was a huge group of students.
Word spreads fast when the criminal is about to fight the whole volleyball team.
As Yoshiro took a step towards Ren with a menacing glare, Rent took a second to consider how he had gotten to this point this early in his day.
I planned for this to happen around the end of the day. Now I'll have to worry about getting in trouble.
Ren wasn't happy to be waking up early. He was way more tired than he should've been the previous night. What made him less upset was the realization that Club Day meant there was no actual school. He rolled out of bed lazily and got started on his morning routine.
Once he had arrived at Shujin, he made his way to Kawakami's room. He greeted her, briefly thanking her before getting to work on setting up the GRAVY booth. He took the table out of Kawakami's room and placed it in between the corner of the hallway and the stairs. This was less due to wanting to attract visitors, and more for strategic value for Ren's plans that day. As he was setting the table up, Haru and Ann approached. Haru had a plate of carrots, and two potted flowers. Ann had gotten the banner from Kawakami's room and was ready to set it up. Ren thanked both of them, and then headed back into Kawakami's room to get the poster. He walked in to find Kawakami napping again, and Ryuji already getting the poster. Him and Ren went back to their club booth together to find Ann standing on the table, taping the banner on the wall above the table. Haru was holding Ann's legs to make sure she didn't fall. Once Ann was finished with that, Ren used the tape that Ann had used to put the poster on the table so it covered the underside of the table. With that done, Haru placed one plant on either side of the table and the plate of carrots in the middle. They finished with ten minutes left before Club Day officially started.
"Good job guys." Ren said proudly.
They all appreciated their handiwork. Behind their appreciation was slight dissatisfaction. They all knew that their work was technically going to nothing. No one would join a club led by the Ren Amamiya, delinquent criminal extraordinaire.
"We should get some chairs. It's gonna be a long day." Ren said.
Ryuji nodded, and he went to the gym to grab some of the extra chairs that Shujin was giving out at the gym.
"Do you think people will like our booth?" Haru asked worriedly.
"If they don't, I'll make them." Ren said jokingly.
Ann laughed a little, as did Haru. After a few minutes, Ann approached Ren, lowering her voice.
"Did your little talk with Maruki solve your problem? Or am I gonna have to bug you about it?"
Problem? What problem? I'll just say yes. It's better than being bugged all day about whatever she's talking about.
"Yeah. It did."
"Good. Now, let's have a good Club Day!" Ann said just as Ryuji was approaching with four chairs in hand.
Once all chairs were behind the table, the GRAVY members all sat down. The bell rang. Students had already been in the halls, chatting with each other, waiting for their cue. Once it came, they all began exploring. Several approached the GRAVY booth, only to turn away upon seeing Ren.
I know that people won't be joining the club, but the least they could do is stop by the booth. We have carrots! Fucking carrots!
To calm his frustration, he pulled out his phone. He resorted to playing a game. As the minutes passed by, he began to feel a tug on his sleeve.
"Uh, dude? You there? That guy just called you a shithead." Ryuji said.
The fuck did he say about me?
Ren looked up from his phone. Five volleyball players stood fifteen feet away from the booth. In the middle of them was Yoshiro Takata, the very person the Ren had been waiting for.
He really shouldn't have come this early. I'm just waking up.
"You hear me now, Amamiya? You know why we're here."
Ren stood up from his chair and moved to leave from behind the table. Ann grabbed his arm.
"Ren, don't do anything stupid. Please."
As he shook loose her grip and got out from behind the table, he smirked at her.
"I'm not the one doing something stupid."
He in front of the table. There was now only ten feet between him and the volleyball players. A crowd was forming around them. The whispering was already in full force.
"That's the kid who stabbed Mishima?" A voice said.
"That's what Mishima said." A second voice replied.
"Mishima also said that Amamiya is running a terrorist cell out of his home, so I wouldn't believe everything you hear." A third voice said, ending that conversation.
Rather than chuckle to himself at the rumors, Ren knew he had to keep a straight face.
"I said, you know why we're here!" Yoshiro repeated again.
I guess he didn't get the reaction he wanted the first time.
"Do I? We don't have volleyballs or vulnerable teenagers here, so I really have no clue why you're here."
The crowd gasped.
"Why you-! We're here for Niijima! We know she's in your club!" Yoshiro said, his face getting red.
Is that anger or embarrassment? Doesn't matter. It'll be embarrassment soon enough. Wait… Did he say Niijima? Oh yeah, Makoto Niijima. I kinda forgot about her. Yoshiro was threatening her. That's why I don't like him.
"She's not here. Maybe she's over at the volleyball team's booth? I heard that you guys need more members." Ren said, his smirk growing.
Ren turned to check on the other members of GRAVY. He expected a negative reaction from each of them, but was surprised to find amazement on their faces. He turned back to Yoshiro and the volleyball players. He could see the crowd growing around the groups.
Word spreads fast when the criminal is about to fight the whole volleyball team.
As Yoshiro took a step towards Ren with a menacing glare, Rent took a second to consider how he had gotten to this point this early in his day.
I planned for this to happen around the end of the day. Now I'll have to worry about getting in trouble.
"You're gonna need new limbs if you keep talking like that!" One of the volleyball players called out. He sounded proud of himself, like he had come up with a fantastic insult.
"Wow, that was such a good one. You're gonna make the big bad criminal shit his pants." Ren said, adding sarcastic fear to his voice.
"Yeah, that's right!" The volleyball player called out.
Ok, he's an idiot.
Yoshiro took another step forward.
"Just tell us where that bitch is and this won't have to get messy!" He said.
"Don't worry, Ren! I got your back!" Ryuji yelled as he stood up.
Ren turned, and held his hand up. He made a face that said "Watch this." Ryuji sat back down.
"I didn't know that the oh-so manly volleyball players got messy with each other. I don't know where Niijima is, but you're definitely leaving me out of that."
"That's it, you little-!"
The crowd collectively held their breath as Yoshiro fully began his advance.
"Hold up. Can I use my lifeline?" Ren asked with the most sarcasm he could muster.
Yoshiro stopped.
"Can I just make a phone call to my girlfriend and tell her that I won't be home for dinner tonight? I'll probably be in the hospital." Ren said flatly as he dropped his smirk.
The crowd let out their breath, their whispering ramping up.
"Fine. You have one minute." Yoshiro said, rolling his eyes.
Ren dialed up his trump card. He put the phone on speaker. The crowd's whispering halted.
"Hello?" A female voice said.
Yoshiro paled when he heard the voice.
Ren had called Ayumi Takata. But only him and Yoshiro knew that.
Before Ren spoke, he looked around to make sure that no teachers were there. He breathed in as he noticed that he was in the clear.
"Hey, Ayumi. I was just wondering what the plan was for dinner tonight?" Ren said as his smirk returned, stronger than ever.
"You want to go out tonight? That works great. Yoshiro will be out tonight, so maybe you can come over…" Ayumi said seductively.
"That sounds wonderful." Ren said as he stared directly into Yoshiro's twitching eyes. "Oh, that reminds me, Yoshiro is with me right now. He's threatening me over the location of some student."
"Oh you poor dear… I'll speak with him as soon as you leave tonight. Or tomorrow morning... Speaking of tonight, I'll make sure to wear the nicest pair of-" Ayumi was cut off as Ren hung up.
Yoshiro stood there, his face a shade of red similar to Kasumi's hair. The crowds whispers ensued, but Ren couldn't make any of them out.
"I-I'll tell her who you are! She'll leave y-you when she finds out you're using h-her!" Yoshiro's voice was shaking.
To be fair, she planned on using me for pleasure. Loneliness is a bitch. Anyways Yoshiro, I win.
"Who's she gonna believe? The leader of a pedophile's fan club? Or the guy who warms her bed at night?"
Club Day was meant to be Makoto's break from her investigation into Ren. She sat in the student council room, organizing paperwork. That was when she heard the bell.
I suppose I could relax a little. It will be nice to see what the different clubs have done. Except for Ren's club. I'll have to stay away from the second floor, Makoto thought.
She took several minutes to organize a few more papers before standing up and leaving the room. She expected to enter the hallway and see students wandering in between the different club booths. Only half of her expectations were met. There were certainly club booths, but they were all deserted. There were no students anywhere.
What is going on? Am I dreaming? Makoto asked herself.
She wandered the third floor of the classroom building. She made two loops around the floor before finally concluding that she wasn't dreaming. She went to the window that loomed over the courtyard. No students were in sight. She made her way to the stairs down to the second floor.
What could be so important that everyone leaves their booths? She thought.
As Makoto came down the stairs, she could hear the commotion.
It sounds like every Shujin student is here. Are there no teachers? Are they just holed up in their classrooms, indifferent to whatever's going on? Club Day is supposed to be a break for them, Makoto thought.
When she finally reached the second floor hallway, she saw the massive crowd. They were all shoving each other, trying to see what was happening in the center. Makoto made her way into the crowd. As she moved passed students, they noticed her and pulled their friends out of the way.
I must look angry, Makoto thought.
As she neared the front of the crowd, she heard a voice.
"Who's she gonna believe…"
Ren, Makoto realized.
When she reached the front of the crowd, she could see what was happening. Ren had just finished saying something, and the other boy, who Makoto recognized as one of the volleyball players, looked like he was on the verge of tears. He was flanked by four other volleyball players.
The silence between the two was deafening. The crowd was silent. No one moved. They all wanted to see Yoshiro's next move.
"His minute's up! Fuck him up, Yoshiro!" One of the volleyball players yelled.
"It's up to you, Yoshiro. Fight me, or tell everyone why you won't fight me and who my girlfriend is." Ren said as he raised his arms wide. There was a grin on his face.
Girlfriend? Stop that, Makoto. It doesn't matter. What does matter is that Amamiya is provoking a fight, Makoto thought.
Yoshiro charged just as Makoto stepped into the circle that had formed.
Ren narrowed his eyes on Yoshiro. His tunnel vision restricted everything else. The crowd. The hallway. Only Yoshiro existed. As Yoshiro charged, Ren began to side step the right hook that Yoshiro was heavily telegraphing. He also raised his arms in self defense.
That was when Yoshiro stopped. Ren's tunnel vision promptly ended, and he saw why Yoshiro stopped. Makoto Niijima was glaring at Yoshiro as she held his arm in a tight grip. Yoshiro's teary eyes looked at Ren, as if asking permission to do whatever it was he wanted to do to Makoto.
"You found Niijima. Congrats. Now what're you gonna do?" Ren asked slyly.
"That's enough, Amamiya-kun!" Makoto said.
Did I say something wrong?
"Everyone, please go back to your booths!" The crowd hesitated until Makoto spoke again. "Now!"
The crowd, including the volleyball players, dispersed.
Even they, the people who were looking for Makoto, don't actually want to deal with Makoto. My most pressing question about the volleyball team: how could five dicks be pussies?
"Yoshiro, you have a warning. Any more mistakes, and you'll be visiting Kobayakawa." Makoto said as she let go of Yoshiro. He looked at her angrily.
"You'll get what's coming to you…" He muttered as he walked away.
Apparently Makoto's ears needed to be checked because instead of acknowledging the threat from Yoshiro, she advanced upon Ren.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
"Defending my club?" Ren asked.
"As if. I'll be reporting this to Kobayakawa."
Ren said nothing, as he purposely looked away from Makoto. He could feel his confidence deflating.
I know that I have a pretty loose leash here at Shujin, but I don't know how loose that leash is. I've never really tested the boundaries. Shit… I could get expelled for this.
Makoto walked away. Ren turned back towards the group to see them all standing and smiling at him.
"You showed that bully." Haru said.
"Damn right he did! Who was it you called?" Ryuji asked as he held his hand up for a high five.
Ren's confidence returned to him as he remembered his accomplishment.
"Oh, you know. Just his mom…"
"Dude… You're a effing god! A god!"
Ren chuckled.
"I'll be a god if we can get some new club members. Let's get to work."
As Makoto stood outside the door to the principal's office, she considered the weight of what she was about to do for the first time.
Ren could be expelled… or he could just get a slap on the wrist. But there's still a chance of expulsion. He'll leave Tokyo. He'll be sent to juvenile hall, with no chance to ever recover within society. He'll be marked as a criminal for the rest of his life. All that would come from what I'm about to do… no… it wouldn't. Ren made his decision when he started that fight. Or did he? I only arrived when he mentioned his… girlfriend. Ren has a girlfriend. Was that what he wanted me to be? And now that I'm gone… he replaced me? Or was he already with her when I was still speaking to him? And who is her? Is it Ann? Haru? Most likely Ann. Haru would tell me. But Ann was so intrigued by my relationship with Ren. For her to just start going out with him feels… strange. I don't think she would do that. She's too nice. But maybe I'm just clueless. Maybe I don't know any of the GRAVY members as well as I think I do. Afterall, I'm clueless socially, Makoto contemplated.
She came to the same conclusion that had been intertwined with everything else in her life: she needed more information.
With a dejected sigh, Makoto walked away from Kobayakawa room.
Ren was definitely no god. There were no visitors. Not even a messenger from Kobayakawa.
Nothing.
The only movement from the booth had been Ann getting up to go to the bathroom.
The phone came out. The game began.
"Excuse me, Amamiya-kun?" A voice asked, pulling Ren out of his phone.
Ren looked at the speaker. Of all the people he expected to come to the booth, Yusuke Kitagawa was certainly not the last. He actually wasn't even on the list.
"Uh, Ren? Ya know this guy?" Ryuji asked, sizing up Yusuke.
"I met him at the park. He's an artist." Ren said out of the corner of his mouth to Ryuji while watching Yusuke curiously.
Inokashira… with Makoto. That feels like it was forever ago.
"Ooh, an artist! Do you know Madarame?" Haru asked.
"Indeed I do. He's my master."
"Oh, so you're the Mushroom Boy." Haru said with a giggle.
Yusuke looked taken aback.
"The pupil of Madarame reduced to being a Mushroom Boy? Preposterous."
"My apologies. It was just a little joke." Haru said.
Yusuke's calm manner restored itself.
"My apologies, as well. I over reacted."
Ren cut into wherever the conversation was going.
"It's great that you came to visit our booth, Kitagawa-kun, but if I recall correctly, you're a Kosei student, no?"
"You are correct. I am a student at Kosei, but I have the day off today and chose to spend it concluding the ordeal between us."
Ordeal? Is this guy gonna challenge me to a duel or some shit? "Draw thee sword, bitter knave!"
Yusuke noticed Ren's confusion, and elaborated.
"I never thanked you for your assistance at Inokashira. That's why I am here. With that, I thank you for your kindness. I wish you well in all future endeavors."
Yusuke bowed, and turned to leave when he bumped right into Ann. Yusuke's thin frame was almost his downfall as he stumbled from the collision. Ann grabbed his shoulders to make sure he didn't fall over. When Yusuke had regained his footing, he noticed the person who had grabbed him. As he stared into Ann's eyes, he felt a feeling that he had not felt for an immense period of time.
True inspiration.
It was inspiration that led him to look over the rest of Ann. This was his true downfall.
"Hey! My eyes are up here!" Ann said as she took her hands off Yusuke.
"My artistic vision requires all of you."
Too confused to slap him, Ann looked over to Ren. Ren got the message.
"Uh… Yusuke? I don't think she's into that."
Yusuke raised his eyes from Ann's form, and then widened them. He looked Ann directly in the eyes again.
"You must be my model!"
Yusuke is definitely a strange guy. I don't think he knows how weird he is.
"Um… what?"
"It is but a yes or a no…" Yusuke turned away from Ann. "Forgive me, but I now realize that my inspiration has taken my manners. Would you give me your name?"
"Ann Takamaki?" She was still confused.
"Takamaki-san, I beg of you. Be my model, and I will create the finest portrait Japan has ever seen." Yusuke said, swinging his arm out to his side for emphasis.
Ren looked to his side to gauge Haru and Ryuji's reactions. Haru was intrigued as well as confused, while Ryuji was just looking at Yusuke in awe. Ryuji noticed Ren looking, and leaned over to whisper to him.
"That guy has some serious balls. Ya think he's gonna ask Ann to go nude?"
"Knock it off…" Ren's voice trailed off as he thought of that actually happening.
No. Bad Ren. Ann is your friend. And Ryuji maybe kind of semi-likes her.
He shook away the thoughts to see Ann's response to Yusuke.
"I'd be willing to try." She said. She had seemed to have accepted Yusuke's weirdness as just him being an artist.
"Wonderful. Allow me to input my contact number into your cellular device."
"Uh… I don't think so. I'll just tell you mine, and you tell me yours." Ann said.
The two exchanged phone numbers. After that, Yusuke said thanks again to Ann and Ren, and left. Ann sat back down in her chair.
"You know an artist?" She asked Ren.
"Kinda. His name's Yusuke Kitagawa, but he probably told you that when you exchanged numbers. He's the pupil of Madarame or something. He goes to Kosei." Ren explained. "I'm surprised that you agreed."
"I'm trying to expand my horizons. Modeling has been getting tougher. Other models have been more competitive lately. I need to start taking it seriously." Ann said.
"Good for you." Ren said indifferently.
The monotony of a Club Day with GRAVY continued.
Ren watched the most recent group of students see him and quickly turn to go in the other direction.
"This shit sucks." Ryuji said plainly, leaning his chair back against the wall.
"Tell me about it." Ann said, crossing her arms.
"There must be someone willing to join our club." Haru said reassuringly.
Ren felt a lightbulb turn on in his head.
"Haru, what are the restrictions for who can join clubs? Are students of Shujin-associates allowed to join Shujin clubs?"
"They are, but it is more of a pseudo-membership. They can take part in club activities, but they are not allowed to claim that they are part of the club in official paperwork."
"Huh. So how 'bout Yusuke? He seems to like me. We could get him to join."
Ann quickly shot that down.
"Definitely not."
"Come on, Ann. Let's at least give him a chance to prove himself with the painting he's doing of you."
"Fine. But you're coming with."
"Deal."
"And no leaving early this time!" Ann added.
Ren rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, remembering his premature departure from the hospital.
I left early that day because… because…? Because what? Why the hell did I leave the hospital that day? Something about Shiho being a distraction. A distraction from what?
Rather than reopen what seemed to be a closed wound between him and Ann, Ren kept his mouth shut.
The phone came out again.
Yet again, Ren's attention was yanked away from his phone as he heard a crash to his right. He looked over and saw Ryuji, laying on the ground with his chair on him.
"What the fuck…?" Ren said nonchalantly to Ryuji.
Ryuji groaned and raised his finger, pointing to the front of the booth.
"G...girl."
Ren tested his source's information. Upon turning to the left, he was greeted by the sight of Kasumi.
I understand why Ryuji fell over. She's as gorgeous as yesterday.
"Senpai! I'm so sorry to have scared you!" Kasumi asked with a worried glance.
Ryuji groaned again, and flipped his pointed finger into a thumbs up.
He's not giving her the thumbs up. It's for me: He's giving me the go ahead.
"He'll be alright. I'm glad you stopped by, Yoshizawa-san."
"Who's this, Ren-kun?" Haru asked with a questioning glare.
"My name is Kasumi Yoshizawa." She gave the same bow to them as she gave Ren the previous day. "I accidentally bumped into Amamiya-senpai yesterday and he requested that I visit his club booth."
"Did he?" Haru asked.
Kasumi didn't hear Haru, and continued her conversation with Ren.
"Your booth looks wonderful, Senpai."
"Thank you, Yoshizawa-san."
"You know, when I heard that you were the founder of the gardening club, I didn't know whether to believe it or not."
"Totally understandable. Say, Yoshizawa-san, are you in a club?" Ren asked, getting his hopes up.
"Mhm." She nodded. "I'm on the gymnastics team. We have a booth set up in the gym. It took us much longer than expected to set up, so we missed whatever the commotion was this morning."
Ren nervously chuckled.
"It wasn't much. Just some problem kids getting into a fight." He said.
"Oh." Kasumi said with a hint of disappointment. "I'll be going, Senpai. I have to get back to the gym."
Shit. I need to make a recovery.
"Say, my shoulder's still feeling a little sore from yesterday." Ren said as he rolled his shoulder.
"Oh no!" Kasumi immediately became worried again.
"Yeah. It's a real bummer. I think the only way it'll feel better is if you talk to me when I stop by your booth later."
Ann facepalmed. Ryuji's hand that was still raised contorted into what Ryuji must've thought was sign language. Ren glanced back at him.
I'm pretty sure that those are American gang signs.
Haru gave Ren a cold stare, but Ren didn't notice as his attention returned to Kasumi.
"I'd love to. I'll see you later, Senpai!" Kasumi said as she turned away and walked back down the hall.
God, she's so damn good looking.
Ren's stupor was interrupted by Haru giving him a light punch in the shoulder.
"What was that, Ren-kun?!"
"A conversation?"
"Have you already forgotten about Mako-chan? Have you forgotten your feelings for her?!"
What the hell is she talking about?
Ren just shrugged. Haru deemed him a lost cause, and gave up.
Before the GRAVY's Club Day resumed, another visitor came to their booth.
"Amamiya-kun, it's good to see you looking so happy." Maruki said.
"Yeah…" Ann said, obviously intrigued.
"I guess so, Maruki-san."
"I love what your club's done. Looks like you guys have some real talented artists." Maruki said, admiring the banner.
Ann and Haru both blushed.
"I'd hate to interrupt your guys' business, so I'll get going. But before I go, I'd like to remind all of you that the nurses office is open. It's not just for counseling. We can talk about anything."
"Anything?" Ryuji's interest was piqued.
"Anything." Maruki said with a genuine smile.
"Manga?"
"Yep."
"Pro sports?"
"Ditto."
"Risette?"
"Even Risette. It can be whatever you want, Sakamoto-kun. You too, Haru-chan and Ann-chan. Thanks for your time. Be seeing you." Maruki said as he strode off.
"I think that I gotta check out the nurse's office." Ryuji said.
"Me too. Maruki-san is very kind." Haru said.
"Yeah…" Ann said.
She's definitely suspicious of Maruki. She wants to know what we talked about yesterday. I can't tell her. It should be enough for her to know that I'm happy. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
The monotony returned.
"This is too damn boring." Ryuji said.
It was the afternoon of Club Day, and nothing had happened since Maruki's visit.
"You guys think we should just call it quits? There's still time for us to enjoy Club Day for ourselves." Ren suggested.
"Definitely." Ann said.
"If everyone else wants to, I agree." Haru said.
"Ryuji, I already know your answer." Ren said. "Alright guys. Let's just take everything apart. Recycle the paper stuff. I'll donate the table to the school or something. Haru, you can decide what to do with the plants."
The group got to work on dismantling their booth. It went much faster than they expected. The poster and the banner were quickly thrown out, and Haru did the same with the carrots. She saved the potted plants for her home.
Now for the table. Everyone has pretty similar tables, so it would be difficult to identify this one as mine.
As his idea of a practical joke, Ren left the table outside of Kobayakawa's office. When he got back to the corner where GRAVY's booth had been, only Ryuji remained.
"Haru and Ann went off together. Dunno why." He said.
Ren nodded, not questioning it further.
"Wanna walk around with me? There might be a few volleyball player's moms to seduce." Ren asked with a smirk.
"Hell yeah." Ryuji said.
As the two walked through the halls of Shujin, they were left alone by the other students. A new rumor caught Ren's attention.
"That's him! The cannibal!" A voice said.
That's a good one. Wonder how that came to be.
They continued walking. They passed the other club's booths. The other clubs of Shujin Academy, despite being much larger, hadn't put nearly as much effort into their booths as GRAVY had.
They're relying on reputation to get new members. I guess they're copying the Shujin administration.
Ryuji also noticed the lack of effort, and began muttering under his breath.
"We got no damn visitors. Sonofa..." Was all that Ren caught.
I'd rather not have a Ryuji meltdown. We better get going.
Ren led Ryuji to the practice building. Fewer clubs had set up their booths there, but it was where the gymnasium was. Ren saw the boys volleyball team, bar Yoshiro, standing around a table. No sign, no display.
They really were expecting people to join just because it's the volleyball club. They relied on Kamoshida's reputation. And now there's no one to join the club. That's just stirring the pot of anger that's brewing under them.
As Ren and Ryuji passed the volleyball booth, the members jeered at them. Ren stopped walking, and slowly turned for dramatic effect. He stopped turning as he faced the tallest boy, who had emerged from behind the booth. Funnily enough, it was the idiot from the showdown.
"Why'd you stop, Amamiya? You wanna get your ass beat?" The boy said.
"Dude, I just reduced your fearless leader to tears earlier today. If you really want to do this, say goodbye to your parents' marriage." Ren said in a tired voice.
"Ooh, burn!" Ryuji cheered.
"Huh? My parents' marriage?"
I forgot. He's an idiot.
"Look. Here's the point. Don't fuck with me. Don't fuck with my friends. If you do, well, go ask Yoshiro." Ren said with a chuckle as he turned to walk away.
A hand on his shoulder stopped him. Ren knew it was the idiot. He almost turned back to throw a punch, but didn't.
Makoto said she would report me for starting a fight, but nothing ever happened. She must've not reported me. If I get into a full on fight, she'll definitely report me.
Ren turned to the volleyball player slower.
"We'll do what we want, dick!" The idiot said, giving Ren a shove.
"Fine. Then I'll do who I want."
"You talkin about your girlfriend? Or that Niijima slut?!" One of the volleyball players behind the booth called out.
"Go fuck yourself. Better yet, go fuck Kamoshida. Have a good day." Ren said as he walked away.
"Dude! You just-just… woah!" Ryuji said to Ren.
"Relax, Ryuji. They're dumb. Anyone could insult them and look mildly clever while doing it"
"Bet." Ryuji said as he turned back around and began walking to the booth.
Dammit, Ryuji.
Ren grabbed Ryuji's arm.
"Come on. I got someone to see."
When Ren and Ryuji finally arrived to the gym, they found out that they were too late. Club Day was over. They saw the gymnastics team dismantling their booth.
"Lost cause, dude. Better luck next time." Ryuji said.
"We made it this far, Ryuji. Finish the fight." Ren said with determination.
Ren and Ryuji walked up to the booth. When one of the gymnasts noticed Ren, panic swept over her face.
"Don't worry. I just want to say hi to Kasumi. Do you think you could help me?" Ren asked in a kind voice.
"U-uh…" The girl stuttered.
"You don't need to talk. Just point me in her direction." Ren said.
The girl pointed to the storage room in the back of the gym that several of the gymnasts were going in and out of. Ren thanked the girl, and walked over to the storage room with Ryuji in tow. The gymnasts in the area made sure to stay a few feet away from Ren.
The rumors are funny, but I don't know if it's worth it anymore. People are just afraid of me. The only people who aren't afraid of me are, unfortunately, the volleyball team members. I'll stop encouraging the rumors. Or I'll get Mishima to shut his mouth. Probably both.
Ren knocked on the door to the storage room as Ryuji stepped to the side.
"I'll stay out here. It's your time to shine, Renny."
The name caught Ren off guard, and before he could move out of the way, the door opened into him. Unlike the last time this happened, he was hit right in the face.
"Senpai! I can't believe that this has happened twice! I'm so sorry!" Kasumi said, stepping out from the storage room.
Ren was pressing a hand to his forehead. Ryuji was cracking up a few feet away, out of Kasumi's view.
"No, no. It's alright. I should probably have learned my lesson to not stand in doorways."
"It's not your fault. I shouldn't have opened the door so quickly." Kasumi said.
Ren took his hand away from his forehead, and gave Kasumi a smile.
"Seriously. It's alright. A surgery or two and I'll be back to normal."
"Senpai! That's not funny. You could've been hurt." Kasumi said with a scold.
"Just tryna lighten the mood. Enough of this door opening business. Could you tell me about your club?" Ren asked.
"But Club Day is-" Kasumi started.
"I'm just interested in your club, Kasumi. Don't think of it as a Club Day introduction."
"Well… it's a rhythmic gymnastics team. We have one important meet every month and a half, and intense training in between. It's almost daily. There's little free time."
"That's a bummer. I was hoping we could hang out." Ren said with a smirk.
"H-hang out?! But Senpai-" Kasumi gasped.
"How else would you pay me back for hitting me with a door twice?" Ren said, feigning pain on his forehead by brining a hand to his head.
"Oh, of course. That makes sense." She said with a relieved sigh.
"Cool. Could I get your number then? You can just text me when you're free." Ren said, pausing. "Or not. I was only joking about paying me back. I don't wanna force you into anything."
"No, I would like to spend time with you." Kasumi said as she pulled out her phone.
She gave him her number, and he gave her his.
"Thanks. I'll see you later, Yoshizawa." Ren said.
"Goodbye, Amamiya-senpai."
Kasumi went back into the storage room. Ryuji came over to Ren and gave him a high five.
"You wanna call it a day?" Ren asked.
"Yeah, dude. I've gotta get home and play videogames."
"Speaking of, you got a Switch, right?"
"Of course. Rash Toes is essential."
"Me, you, and Alibaba should play sometime."
"Maybe. I've gotta train first." Ryuji said, pumping his fist.
"Lemme know. I can send you Alibaba's profile."
"Bet. I'll see you tomorrow night, Ren." Ryuji said with a smirk.
Tomorrow is the maid. And Mishima.
"See ya, Ryuji."
They walked out of the gym together and parted ways. As Ren was leaving Shujin, he realized there was something he never did.
Ren Amamiya:
-Hey, Yoshizawa. I realized I never told you my first name. It's Ren.
Kasumi Yoshizawa:
-Thank you, Senpai. I just updated your contact.
Ren Amamiya:
-Cool. Lmk when you can hang out.
Kasumi Yoshizawa:
-Lmk?
Ren Amamiya:
-Let me know.
Kasumi Yoshizawa:
-Oh! Of course.
Ren put away his phone.
Makoto sat alone at home again. Messages from Sae were scarce, and contained little information.
Sae Niijima:
-Keep your grades up. Stay away from the criminal. I won't be home for a while.
It was less of a check-in, and more of a reminder.
While Makoto's alone time had previously been dedicated to reading (casual and academic) and movies, her alone time now consisted of reviewing the notes she had taken. But not her notes from school. Her notes on Ren.
5/6
Amamiya incited an incident between himself and Takata-san. After asking Takata-san several questions about the incident, none of which were answered, my investigation has progressed very little. What I learned from the incident:
1. Amamiya has a girlfriend.
2. There is something between Takata-san, Amamiya, and the volleyball team.
3. There is something off about Amamiya.
Takta-san revealed nothing. The few members of the volleyball team that I questioned also kept their mouths shut entirely. They didn't even speak to me. 2 is not a viable option at the moment. I must pursue 1. This is for personal investigative purposes. Takamaki is a possible suspect. Haru is engaged in a marital relationship of some kind, and she likely would have told me if there was a relationship. The final suspect is Yoshizawa-san, the first year. I watched as Amamiya pursued a conversation with her. He seemed happy comfortable. As for 3, it is non pursuable. When I told off Amamiya during the incident, he seemed confused. Not awkward, given what's going on with us, but confused. Confused with the way I treated him during the incident. He wasn't angry about me walking out. He wasn't even sad, that is until I brought up reporting to Kobayakawa. This doesn't feel natural. This likely won't lead anywhere, but it's worth keeping as a note.
Investigation Agenda
Question Suzui-san
Question remaining volleyball team members (maybe)
Follow/question Takamaki (strictly investigative purposes)
Follow/question Yoshizawa-san (strictly investigative purposes)
Ask Haru about any changes in Amamiya's behavior.
Take a break
Makoto closed her notebook and got ready for bed.
A/N: I just want to say that I am open to all reviews, praise or criticism. Whether you leave a review or not, thank you for continuing to read this story.