"Kirigaya, wake up the person behind you."
Kirigaya Kazuto hurriedly nudged Luo Yu.
Half-asleep, Luo Yu heard someone calling his name and opened his eyes.
Last night, inspiration had struck while he was writing, and no matter how Prometheus reminded him, it had been useless.
Luo Yu had stubbornly kept writing until six in the morning, essentially pulling an all-nighter.
I actually fell asleep right in the classroom.
Luo Yu stretched and asked Kirigaya Kazuto, "Kazuto, is class over?"
"Sleeping pretty soundly, aren't you?" A voice came from the podium.
Luo Yu looked toward the sound and saw Hiratsuka Shizuka watching him teasingly.
"Come to my office after school. That's all, class dismissed." With that, Hiratsuka Shizuka took her teaching materials and left the classroom.
"Are you okay, Luo Yu? You've been asleep all day. Even during lunch break, you only took two bites before going right back to sleep," Kirigaya Kazuto asked worriedly.
"Yeah. Luo Yu, don't tell me you pulled an all-nighter too?" Satou Kazuma also expressed his concern.
"I lost track of time last night." Luo Yu said to his two friends, "But it's fine. I'll sleep a little more later."
"You're still going to sleep? Teacher Hiratsuka told you to go to her office," Kirigaya Kazuto said in surprise.
"I've already been summoned to the office, so why shouldn't I get a little more sleep?"
Hearing that, Kirigaya Kazuto and Satou Kazuma both gave Luo Yu a thumbs-up.
After school.
Luo Yu arrived outside Hiratsuka Shizuka's office.
"Excuse me." He pushed the door open and entered.
"Youth is a lie. Those who glorify youth are merely deceiving themselves. They blindly affirm everything around them. So long as something is associated with the word youth, they can twist every common truth. In their eyes, lies, concealment, even failure, are nothing more than seasonings for youth... Therefore, I have come to a conclusion: you fools intoxicated by youth, go explode!"
Upon hearing those classic lines, Luo Yu saw the dead-fish-eyed boy with a stray lock of hair standing in the office.
As expected of you, Hachiman.
"The one who should explode is you." Hiratsuka Shizuka looked utterly helpless.
Then she turned to Luo Yu and said, "You're here, Luo Yu. Wait over there for a moment. I'll deal with this guy first, then handle your matter."
"Deal with me? Violence is not permitted." Hachiman Hikigaya put on a pose as though he were about to be beaten.
"It's fine, Teacher Hiratsuka. Go ahead and finish up first," Luo Yu replied with a smile.
After all, this was a famous scene. Of course he had to enjoy the show from the sidelines.
Luo Yu and Hachiman Hikigaya
"I say, Hikigaya, do you remember the essay topic I assigned in class?"
"Hoh. An essay reflecting on high school life."
"Then how did you manage to write something this stupid?!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka helplessly rubbed her forehead.
Then, staring into Hachiman Hikigaya's eyes, she said, "Your eyes are practically dead fish eyes."
"Do they look rich in DHA? Makes me seem intelligent, doesn't it?" Hachiman Hikigaya looked proud.
Pfft. Luo Yu could not help laughing. He had already seen it in the anime, but seeing it again in person still made him laugh.
The sudden laughter drew Hachiman Hikigaya's attention. The moment Luo Yu entered, Hachiman Hikigaya had noticed the handsome boy. Based on his years of experience as a loner, Hachiman Hikigaya could tell that this boy was not his kind.
You damn normie, what are you laughing at?
Hachiman Hikigaya looked at Luo Yu with that meaning in his eyes.
Isn't this pretty interesting?
Luo Yu smiled back at Hachiman Hikigaya.
"Reflect on yourself properly, brat!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka's words interrupted the eye contact between Luo Yu and Hachiman Hikigaya.
Hachiman Hikigaya recklessly said, "Brat? Though considering a teacher's age, I suppose I really am a brat..."
Hiratsuka Shizuka suddenly rose and punched toward Hachiman Hikigaya, creating a gust of wind around her fist.
Unfortunately, that punch missed. Luo Yu thought wickedly.
"Has no one taught you not to joke about a woman's age?" Hiratsuka Shizuka said as she withdrew her fist.
Hachiman Hikigaya let out a sigh of relief. "Sorry, I was wrong."
"Anyway, that's enough for now. Hikigaya, wait a moment. Luo Yu, it's your turn."
"Teacher Hiratsuka, why did you call me to your office?"
"It's one thing that you usually don't listen in class." Hiratsuka Shizuka sighed. "After all, you do know the material. But today, you slept through the entire day. It would be one thing if other teachers didn't care, but you even dared to sleep during my class. Haven't you been getting bolder lately?"
What a warrior! He even dared sleep in the Iron Fist Demon King's class.
Hachiman Hikigaya looked at Luo Yu with admiration.
"I won't do it again. Besides, Teacher Hiratsuka, you know me. Since school started, even though I've never seriously listened in class, I've never once slept either. Because I believe that staying awake in class is the bare minimum of respect for the teacher!"
"If you really respected your teachers, then listen properly in class!" Hiratsuka Shizuka looked as though she had a headache.
"Forget it. Then tell me why you only slept today."
"I accidentally stayed up late last night. I really couldn't hold on today."
"Fine. That was the only reason I called you here. Let's go together. You, dead-fish eyes over there, follow us."
Was she getting Hachiman to join the Service Club?
Though Luo Yu had already guessed that possibility, he still asked Hiratsuka Shizuka, "Teacher Hiratsuka, are you planning to go to the Light Music Club?"
"That's right. Let's go."
On the way to the Light Music Club.
After thinking it over, Luo Yu decided to greet Hachiman Hikigaya.
Luo Yu stepped in front of Hachiman Hikigaya and extended his hand. "Hello, shall we get acquainted? I'm Luo Yu from Class A, first year."
The sudden words left Hachiman Hikigaya standing there blankly.
How long had it been? How long had it been since someone had taken the initiative to get to know him?
Hachiman Hikigaya hesitated for a moment before extending his hand and shaking Luo Yu's.
"Class F, second year. Hikigaya... Hachiman. Nice to meet you."
"Second year? Then you're my senior. Senior Hikigaya, can we be friends?"
"You can just call me Hikigaya. But do you really want to be friends with me? Not to brag, but I don't have a single friend in this school!" Hachiman Hikigaya said awkwardly.
Someone like me actually has someone willing to befriend me? But no one had ever called him senior before. Thinking about it, that was pretty sad.
"Okay, Hikigaya. But can't I call you Hachiman? You can call me Luo Yu directly too."
"H-H-Hachiman! No! Just call me Hikigaya. Hearing that name is bad for my heart." Hachiman Hikigaya clutched his chest with a pained expression.
"Pfft, aren't you pretty interesting, Hikigaya? How could you possibly have no friends? Well, since you don't have any friends, let me be your first one."
Seeing Luo Yu say that with a smile, Hachiman Hikigaya smiled as well.
Perhaps friendship between men was just that simple.
With only a few words, Luo Yu and Hachiman Hikigaya became friends.
"By the way, Luo Yu. Do you know where Teacher Hiratsuka is taking us?"
After the two became friends, Hachiman Hikigaya suddenly remembered something and asked.
"Teacher Hiratsuka didn't tell you? We're going to the Light Music Club now. Oh, right, I'm a member of the Light Music Club."
"Then why is Teacher Hiratsuka taking me to the Light Music Club?"
"Who knows?"
Luo Yu revealed a meaningful smile.
Before long, the three arrived outside the Light Music Club's room.
With a bang, Hiratsuka Shizuka directly pushed open the door and walked in.
The girls were startled by the sudden opening of the door and all turned their gazes toward the entrance.
"Yo! Good afternoon, everyone. Sorry I'm late." Luo Yu calmly greeted the girls.
Then, as if it were second nature, he returned to his seat and began drinking tea. The young lady was as thoughtful as ever; she had already brewed black tea for Luo Yu by the time he sat down.
"Teacher Hiratsuka, I believe I told you that you should knock before entering. As a teacher, you should lead by example. And this is the Light Music Club's clubroom, not a place occupied by only me."
Yukino's cool voice came from a corner of the clubroom.
"Ah, sorry, sorry." Hiratsuka Shizuka apologized to everyone.
"It's fine. None of us mind at all."
The girls from the Light Music Club did not mind Hiratsuka Shizuka's behavior.
"Besides, even when I knock, Yukino, you never answer me anyway," Hiratsuka Shizuka said to Yukino Yukinoshita.
"Because you enter before waiting for my reply. Now then, who is that person over there who looks rather dull?" Yukino looked at Hachiman Hikigaya and asked.
Though Yukino Yukinoshita's tone was calm, Luo Yu still noticed that her expression changed for an instant when she saw Hachiman Hikigaya.
Looks like she recognized him.
Luo Yu took a sip from his teacup.
A live broadcast really was too interesting!
"Hey, Luo Yu, who's that boy? I saw that you came together. Is he here to join the Light Music Club? He doesn't look like it," Ritsu Tainaka leaned close to Luo Yu's ear and whispered.
"His eyes look like they're about to rot," Yui Hirasawa added with a nod.
Hachiman, your dead fish eyes really are quite a distinctive trait!
With that thought, Luo Yu replied, "All right, say less. He's a new friend I just met. He seems like a decent person."
The Service Club's New Member
While the girls and Luo Yu were discussing things, Hachiman Hikigaya was also observing the entire Light Music Club.
With his sharp powers of observation, he had already analyzed that the people in the room were divided into two groups.
One group consisted of his newly made friend, Luo Yu, and four girls. Damn it! His initial impression had been right after all. Luo Yu really was a damn normie.
The other was rather unexpected, because it was Yukino Yukinoshita, the school's famous unattainable flower and ice-cold beauty.
"He's someone who wishes to join the club." Hiratsuka Shizuka pointed at Hachiman Hikigaya and said to Yukino Yukinoshita.
No way? Hachiman Hikigaya's eyes widened. Teacher Hiratsuka couldn't be planning to make him join Yukino Yukinoshita's club, could she?
Compared to that, he would rather join the Light Music Club next door. At least he knew someone there.
Hachiman Hikigaya sent Luo Yu a pleading look.
Faced with Hachiman Hikigaya's look for help, Luo Yu shrugged and silently mouthed something at him.
You... are... on... your... own.
Before you continue