"Ah... Mai Sakurajima!?"
Ryan's voice sounded slightly surprised, but still carried his usual tone of calculated calm. His gaze fixed on the girl with long black hair, which moved subtly with the breeze coming through the open window.
Mai blinked slowly, her dark eyes evaluating Ryan for a moment before she responded in a drawn-out, almost lazy tone, yet tinged with a light blush on her cheeks. "Ryan? I didn't expect to see you here so early..."
Beside Ryan, Masha tilted her head slightly, curiosity evident on her angelic face. Her eyes shone as she asked in her naturally sweet voice. "Do you know each other? And... Why did she call you Ryan?"
Ryan, maintaining his calm and practically rehearsed expression, answered almost automatically. "It's the name I use in online games." His voice sounded natural, but anyone who knew him well would notice the slight stiffness in his reply.
Mai raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "Hm? Online game?" Her voice carried confusion, but before she could delve deeper, Ryan was quicker.
"Yes, we're two otakus addicted to gacha." This time, his gaze met Mai's with a clear message: "Just play along, damn it, follow my lead, bunny girl!"
Mai sighed lightly, closing her eyes for a brief moment. Her tone, now more subdued, held an almost comical resignation. "Ah... Yes, I got used to calling him that because of the games."
The exchange of glances between the two did not go unnoticed by the student council president, who observed the scene in silence, his fingers tapping lightly on the table surface.
Ryan, still intrigued by Mai's presence there, tilted his head slightly and pointed at her. "What are you doing here?" There was a subtle weight on the emphasis of you, as if her presence there was an unexpected puzzle.
Mai hesitated, her eyes glancing away for a moment before lightly touching a strand of her own hair. "Well, I... Kind of had some issues with absences because of... That problem, you know..."
Ryan shifted his weight from one leg to the other, placing a hand on his hip as he analyzed the situation. "Oh? So that solution we came up with is already expiring?"
Masha, even more intrigued, placed a hand delicately on her chest. "Are you two close or something?" Her voice held a mix of surprise and a slight hint of enchantment.
Ryan smirked, his sharp gaze turning to her. "Like I said, we're two gacha addicts, so we are..." He slid his eyes towards Mai, who was now staring at him with narrowed eyes and a light blush on her cheeks. She seemed to want to maintain an angry expression, but to Ryan, she just looked like an irritated bunny girl.
"...We're friends who met online and were lucky enough to end up in the same school." He finished with a mischievous smile, clearly enjoying the situation. Mai pressed her lips into a thin line, her displeasure evident.
"Ahem." The council president interrupted the conversation, his formal and polished voice drawing everyone's attention. "Well, as I was saying, Sakurajima-san, you need to choose a club to focus your activities on. That way, we can compensate for your absences."
Ryan, seizing the opportunity, stepped forward, his enthusiasm evident. "Ah, so you need to join a club?" He gestured with his hand as if presenting a miraculous solution. "What a coincidence, because I want to start my own club! And look, it's about games! Perfect for us, don't you think?"
His smile was full of confidence, almost as if Mai's decision was already sealed.
The student council president leaned back in his chair, adjusting his glasses with a practiced gesture. His gaze turned to Mai with an understanding tone. "If you already know someone in the club, perhaps it's a more comfortable option than having to adapt to a completely new environment."
Mai felt a small twitch in her eye as she thought. "Damn it... I wanted to refuse right away, but now I kind of can't..."
She sighed, her voice hesitant. "Well... Since Ryan is starting a club..." Her dark eyes drifted into the distance for a moment, as if mentally trying to accept the direction things were taking.
Masha, beside them, smiled with her usual sweetness, clasping her hands as if about to make a request. "I think you can help us, right, President?"
The president turned to her, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Ah, so you will also be participating in the club, Kujou-san?"
Masha nodded sweetly, her presence almost angelic. "Yes! This here is Masachika Kuze, he'll be part of the council soon and also starting his own club! He's very hardworking, don't you think?"
She then turned to Ryan, introducing him naturally. "Masachika-kun, this is Touya Kenzaki, the student council president."
Ryan inclined his head slightly in a gesture of acknowledgment. "Nice to meet you." His tone was calm but still carried his characteristic self-confidence.
Touya Kenzaki, a young man with a meticulous appearance and impeccable posture, adjusted his glasses before responding with a polite smile. "Pleasure to meet you, Kuze-san. So, we'll be colleagues on the council soon, right?"
Ryan maintained the same calm. "That's right. I'm running because I'm on the same ticket as Alisa Kujou, Maria's sister."
Masha, beside him, laughed softly, bringing a delicate hand to her mouth. "Heheheh, it's funny hearing you say our names so formally."
Ryan simply blinked at Masha, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Mai hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth, her voice coming out a bit hesitant. "So... what do I need to do to join his club?"
Touya, who had just been observing until then, turned his attention back to her with his always formal tone. "Ah, yes. Well, since Kuze-san is starting a club now, I'll need him to sign some important documents."
Ryan let his shoulders slump dramatically, letting out a drawn-out sigh. "Paperwork? Seriously?" His tone mixed boredom and slight indignation, as if already anticipating bureaucratic torture.
Masha, ever gentle, leaned slightly towards him, her voice sweet and reassuring. "Don't worry, Masachika-kun! You can just sign the most important papers and leave the rest to me!"
Ryan's eyes sparkled for an instant, surprised by the unexpected offer. "Really!? You'd do that for me, Masha?" He tilted his head slightly, his tone shifting to a softer, almost playful one. "But... won't that be a lot of work for you?"
Masha smiled tenderly, shaking her head no. "Don't worry, leave it to me! Of course, if you trust my tastes!" Her honey-colored eyes closed slightly in a graceful gesture, conveying full confidence.
Ryan smirked, leaning forward slightly. "I trust you completely!"
Touya then moved calmly, placing his hands on his laptop before speaking. "Very well. Kujou-san will be responsible for the members' paperwork and also for choosing the clubroom. Kuze-san, you will just need to sign the necessary documents to formalize the club's creation and grant her permissions."
With his usual efficiency, he began typing and, shortly after, printed out some papers, handing them to Ryan.
Ryan took the documents and, without wasting time, signed quickly, not even bothering to read the content. Mai and Masha received their respective forms and also signed, officially confirming their entry into Ryan's club.
Upon finishing, Mai pressed her lips together lightly before raising her eyes to Ryan. Her voice came out low, almost hesitant. "So... I need to talk to you about something important..."
Ryan watched her for a moment, the intensity of his gaze softening slightly before replying. "Sure. Does it need to be private?"
Mai just nodded, her gaze flickering to the floor for an instant before returning to him.
Ryan, ever calm, just gave a slight nod and turned to Masha. "Thanks again for the help, Masha! You're adorable!"
Masha, caught off guard, felt her face warm up and quickly hid part of it behind the signed paper. "Y-you're welcome! I hope I can get your tastes right!"
Ryan chuckled softly and gave her a thumbs-up. "Okay, I'm going to see what Mai needs. Talk later, alright?"
Masha nodded enthusiastically. "Yes!"
Before leaving, Ryan nodded politely to Touya, who simply returned it with a professional gaze.
They walked through the school corridors, still relatively empty. The muffled sound of occasional conversations echoed in the distance, but Mai maintained absolute silence. Her steps were slightly faster than usual, as if she were anxious to reach their destination. Ryan observed this haste with curiosity but said nothing, just accompanying her until they finally reached an empty classroom. Without hesitation, Mai entered and turned, gesturing for Ryan to follow.
He raised an eyebrow but shrugged and entered, closing the door behind him. "Hey, bunny girl, why are we isolating ourselves like this?" His tone was teasing, a mischievous smile appearing at the corner of his lips. "I'm starting to think you're up to something..."
Mai, who was already turning to face him, stopped mid-motion and shot him a look of pure irritation. "Not at all!" She crossed her arms, letting out a weary sigh before continuing. "It's just... people are starting to forget me."
Ryan let his smile fade gradually, now adopting a more attentive look. "So, that's what happens to you, isn't it?"
Mai averted her gaze, her expression carrying a mix of frustration and apprehension. "Not like before... After... what we did..." Her voice lowered slightly, and an almost imperceptible blush tinted her cheeks. "The way it happens has changed. Now people don't just stop noticing me... they actually forget who I am. As if I never existed."
Ryan uncrossed his arms, running a hand through his hair as he murmured. "Hmm... I see."
Suddenly, he raised his eyebrows and faced her directly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Wait a minute... who are you?"
Mai froze. Her breath hitched, and her eyes widened, the color momentarily draining from her face. "N-no... anyone but you..." Her trembling voice betrayed the genuine fear that hit her in that instant. Her eyes began to glisten, moist with tears threatening to fall.
Ryan held the serious expression for another second before sighing, relaxing his shoulders. "Just kidding."
A silence hung in the air.
Mai remained motionless for a few moments, blinking slowly as if trying to process what had just happened. Then, in a swift motion, she advanced towards him and started punching him lightly on the chest.
"Baka! Baka! Bakaaaa!" Her small hands hit Ryan repeatedly, but without any real force.
Ryan laughed, easily holding her wrists. "Okay, okay, my bad, bunny girl. But you should have seen your face!"
Ryan smiled, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes.
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