Ren Asakura seemed to have had his fill of fun and returned to his normal self.
"That was pretty fun! By the way, why don't you invite me to hang out in your club?"
Yuuta Togashi blinked in surprise.
"You want to come to our club?"
Ren nodded confidently.
"Yup!"
…
Far Eastern Magic Napping Society of Summer
At the entrance.
Ren glanced around.
"I remember this used to be a storage room, right? It was always pretty empty. Never thought it'd turn into your clubroom."
Yuuta replied with a helpless tone.
"Nana made us clean it up once… then it accidentally became our new club."
They opened the clubroom door.
The inside was bustling with energy.
"Morning!" Yuuta greeted as he stepped in.
Inside the clubroom:
Sanae Dekomori was on guard, watching Shinka Nibutani closely.
Shinka was scolding the always-sleeping Kumin Tsuyuri.
When Sanae saw Rikka Takanashi walk in, she immediately jumped up excitedly.
"Master! What happened in the office? And who's the guy behind you?"
At that moment, everyone turned their attention to Ren Asakura, who was standing behind Yuuta.
When Ren wasn't in full delinquent mode, he actually looked quite handsome—delicate features, tall figure, and a calm, gentle smile always on his face. If he didn't act like such a troublemaker, he'd totally pass for a proper pretty boy.
"Hey, everyone," Ren greeted with a relaxed smile.
Shinka wasn't expecting a normal person to show up here.
"Hello," she replied, smoothing out her clothes with a ladylike smile.
"Hey there… yawn…" Kumin mumbled, half-asleep, hugging her pillow.
Ren opened his mouth as if he was about to say something outrageous, but held himself back.
"Aren't you going to invite me in? I'm just here to check out the club."
Sanae laughed proudly, arms crossed.
"Looks like you've been charmed by our mighty society!"
"I just happened to pass by and thought it looked fun. I like interesting things."
Ren stepped into the Far Eastern Magic Napping Society.
Aside from a few random items, the room contained some desks and chairs.
The floor was covered with a large pentagram magic circle.
"This really is a pretty interesting place."
Shinka studied Ren with a curious look—he seemed very familiar, but she couldn't quite place him.
Rikka stood at the center of the magic circle.
"With the power of my Tyrant's Eye, all crises shall be overcome."
Sanae's eyes sparkled as she clapped enthusiastically.
"As expected of Master!"
Shinka, watching the two of them slip into full-on chuunibyou mode again, turned to Yuuta.
"So, what exactly happened?"
Yuuta explained what went down in the office.
If Rikka failed her next math exam, their club would be disbanded.
Shinka had only joined the club to bury her own cringey past, so the news didn't really bother her too much.
"…By the way, this senpai looks super familiar, but I can't figure out who he is."
Yuuta gave her a reminder.
"He's the second-year who's always ranked number one."
Suddenly, Shinka remembered.
"Wait… he's that guy…!"
"Heh heh! So you found me out after all."
Ren Asakura, overhearing the conversation between Shinka Nibutani and Yuuta Togashi, flashed a bold, confident grin.
Seeing that commanding smile, Shinka's heart suddenly skipped a beat—like she was staring at another full-blown chuunibyou case.
"No way…"
Yuuta nodded solemnly.
"Far Eastern Magic Napping Society—your fate has become uncertain. Allow me to properly introduce myself: I am Ren Asakura, the Heavenly Dao Immortal!"
Shinka covered her face. As expected, chuunibyou types really do attract each other.
"Are you an enemy!?" Sanae Dekomori immediately took a battle stance.
"Dekomori, Ren Asakura isn't an enemy. He's here to help us," Rikka Takanashi said seriously.
Ren curled his lips into a wicked smile.
"The gods have already turned their eyes toward you. Your base of operations is quite fascinating. You've survived here for now, but the trials from the gods will be many. I look forward to your performance."
Sanae crossed her arms with conviction.
"Mere gods are nothing! No one can stand against my Master!"
Rikka followed suit, crossing her arms too.
"That's right. No one can defy the Tyrant's Eye!"
Ren placed a hand lightly on his face, his eyes full of madness.
"Very good. I hope you'll keep that fire burning."
Slowly lowering his hand, Ren returned to his normal demeanor.
"This is such an interesting club. A little chuunibyou, sure—but that's just part of youth."
The lightning-fast switch in his personality left Shinka completely stunned.
"…Why do you look so surprised?" Ren asked with a gentle, kind smile that was nothing like his earlier manic expression.
Shinka forced a smile.
"Just a little, maybe."
Ren continued, speaking sincerely.
"To me, youth is a vital part of life. I want this part of my youth to be free of regrets. I also like making friends—and my friends often have… unique traits. To match their wavelengths, I've learned to understand them, to truly get to know them."
Shinka nodded, not fully following, but still listening.
"Chuunibyou doesn't make someone a bad person. But it often leads to misunderstanding. That's probably why so many of you don't talk about it after 'graduating.' People grow up. But Rikka—she's lucky. She met someone who truly understands her, right when she needed it."
Ren smiled warmly again.
"I hope your friendship lasts a long time. So—how about becoming my friends? I'm a great senpai, after all—excellent in all sorts of ways…"
He flashed a bright, open smile—pure sunshine and charm.
Kumin Tsuyuri, still lying on her pillow, raised her hand lazily.
"Well then, I look forward to getting along!"
More friends, more paths in life.
Shinka gave a refined but graceful smile.
"Then… I'll be in your care too, senpai."
Rikka and Sanae struck a dramatic pose together.
"We acknowledge you, Senpai Asakura!"
Yuuta, meanwhile, looked completely exasperated.
"…I guess we're counting on you too, Senpai Asakura."
Ren nodded with a smirk.
"By the way, how do you plan to overcome it this time? The god—err, teacher's trial. I heard you only got two points in math. That's some seriously unbalanced performance."
Rikka, suddenly reminded of her real problem, got back to studying.
…Only to start drawing magic circles all over her test paper not long after.
Ren, having seen all he needed to, waved goodbye to everyone and headed out.
After all, they were all in the same school—he was sure they'd meet again.
Even chuunibyou… eventually graduates.
°°°
Hungry for more chaps? Then check out our pătreon!
Link: Påtreon.com/BaphometFiction
I post 20 advanced chapters of this fanfic there.