Chapter 76 - Meeting With Ayanokouji Group

A few days later, Ryou decides to take a breather and go to Keyaki Mall by himself. He didn't have any particular reason to go there, he just wants a new environment.

'Well, it is good to see something different from school or dormitory.' he thought.

And after school finished, he decides to take a stroll around Keyaki Mall.

Honami: "Where are you going Ryou?"

Ryou: "Hmm... taking a stroll. I need to refresh my mind sometimes."

Ringo: "Alone?"

Ryuji: "It's rare for you to go alone."

Ryou: "Hey hey, I'm not that lonely even if I go alone you know. Just need a fresh air once in a while."

Fumino: "Alone?"

Ryou: "Yeah, why are you guys ask it again? It's not weird even if I'm going alone, you guys are the weird one. You have a group study schedule right? Just do that."

He then exited the class and go to the Mall's direction. Fumino looks like wants to say something but hold herself.

(Ryou POV)

'Is it really weird if I'm going to the Mall alone? Hm... I don't think so.'

Arrived at the Mall, I can see many students enjoy themself in the cafe or shopping with their friends.

'When I look at them like this, it's just like any ordinary student. Without any worries about exams or the chance they will be expelled anytime.'

I decide to go to the gadget store.

'Maybe I can find something interesting there.'

Looking here and there inside the gadget store, I didn't found anything interesting, so I decided to go to the cafe to buy a coffee.

'Coffee never failed to make my day better.'

So, I enter one of the cafe inside the mall.

(Third POV)

Inside the cafe, Ryou sits near the window, so he can enjoy his coffee and look around near the cafe.

'But it sure noisy huh, is it because the club activities had stopped in order to allow students to focus on the final exams?' he thought.

He can see a lot of students forming a study group to prepare for the final exam. Sometimes, a group of girls looking at his direction and whispering.

When he is waiting for his coffee, a group of students catch his attention.

'Isn't that Ayanokouji and his classmates?'

They look like searching for a place. Because the cafe was almost full and the place around Ryou was empty, he thinks it's better to offer them a place.

Ryou: "Hey Ayanokouji-kun."

Ayanokouji and his group then looking at the direction of the voice that calls to him.

Ayanokouji: "Oh hey Hiroki-kun."

They walking to Ryou's place.

Ayanokouji: "Are you alone?"

Ryou: "Yeah. Are you guys looking for a place to sit?"

Ayanokouji: "Um... yeah. I think this place was already full."

Ryou: "If you don't mind, you guys can sit here."

Yukimura: "Eh... is that really okay?

Ryou: "I have nothing to lose anyway, I'm just waiting for my coffee. Maybe after drink it in a few minutes I'll be going."

Ayanokouji: "What about you guys?"

They all agreed, because they really need a place and it seems Ryou will not taking too long over there.

Ryou: "What are guys doing here?"

Ayanokouji: "Ah, we're going to do a study group."

Ryou: "Ah, preparation huh..."

Ayanokouji: "Almost forgot, this is Miyake-kun, this is Yukimura-kun, and this is Hasebe-san."

Ryou: "Hello Miyake-kun, Yukimura-kun, and Hasebe-san. I'm Hiroki Ryou, nice to meet you."

Hasebe: "You're Hiroki-kun from class 1B right?"

Ryou: "Yeah."

Hasebe: "You're pretty popular you know. Even I heard many girls from our class talks about you."

Ryou: "Well... thank you? Am I not bothering your study group?"

Yukimura: "Don't worry, it should be us thanking you to give a place for us to sit."

Miyake: "Yeah, thank you."

Ryou: "You're welcome then, you guys can start with your study group, just ignore me. I'm just going to drink my coffee."

Ayanokouji: "It's pretty rare to see you alone Hiroki-kun."

Ryou: "Hm? What do you mean?"

Ayanokouji: "Usually you're together with your friends."

Ryou: "Let's say, I need a breather, a change of environment?"

Hasebe: "Are you sure we're not disturbing you?"

Ryou: "With you guys can be said a new environment for me. I only knew a few students from class 1D after all. Only Ayanokouji-kun, Horikita-san, Airi-chan and a few boys who i've been played football with."

Hasebe: "Ohhh... you know Sakura-chan?"

Ryou: "Yeah, we often together if we have time."

Yukimura: "It's surprising."

Ayanokouji: "I just know she talks about you when we're on Sudou-kun's case."

They talk about various things before continue their study. Hasebe tried to stand up with her empty plastic cup, but she stumbled over the backpack at her feet and the cup in her hand fell to the ground.

The cup stopped at the feet of a student who was walking past.

Hasebe: "Ah, sorr...."

Hasebe started to apologize, but the cup was then crushed under foot, so she swallowed the words before they came out.

Ryuen: "You all seem to be having a good time. How about we join in?"

Hasebe: "What are you guys..."

Hasebe immediately strengthened her guard and looked at the group in front of her sharply. It was a reasonable reaction too because the man who crushed the cup was none other than Class C's Ryūen. Standing behind him was Ishizaki, Komiya, and Kondō, the often seen Class C trio.

Ryūen showed a sly smile as if he was thinking about something amusing. There was also a lone girl who wasn't usually a part of Ryūen's group standing next to Ishizaki. She wore an expression that was unsuitable for the situation, one that was devoid of all tension.

Hasebe: "Hey! Why did you step on my cup? It wasn't an accident, was it?"

Ryuen: "It rolled to my feet and I thought you'd tossed it. I stepped on it to save you the effort."

He laughed and returned the crushed cup to Hasebe with a kick.

'What a troublesome fellas...' Ryou thought.

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A/N: Now, finally he meet with this troublesome guys.