Honnouji Academy
As the days went by, Ryuko, Y/N, and Mako were constantly dragged into fights against different clubs at Honnouji Academy. It felt like every other lunchtime, someone grabbed one of them just to force Ryuko to fight. Today, the three friends were chilling in the schoolyard, getting ready to eat their packed lunches.
Mako: Are you totally sure you don't want any of my lunch, Y/N?
Y/N: I'm good. I brought my own food. Gotta keep it simple and clean. The last thing I need is a random jolt to my system, he thought, touching the small, hard monitor hidden under his school uniform.
Mako: Cool! Let's eat!
The second they picked up their chopsticks, a sharp piece of metal flew over and stuck right into Ryuko's lunch container.
Jack: Listen up! Ryuko Matoi! I'm Jack Naito, head of the Knife Throwing Club, and I'm going to be the one to finally beat you!
Ryuko: You've got guts, messing up the perfectly good lunch Mako's mom made for me!
Y/N and Mako didn't even flinch at the guy with the knife. They just kept eating.
Y/N: __- *munch*
Mako: Go get him, Ryuko! *gulp*
Ryuko immediately charged at Jack and ripped his uniform to shreds. Before the guy could even hit the ground, another challenger stepped up.
Kagero: Amazing! But I am the one who wins today! Kagesaburo Kagero, leader of the Nanjing Lily Group! Ha ha ha— Wait, what?
Ryuko sliced his uniform the second he finished his big speech. Again, another student showed up, ready to fight.
Watari: I'm the president of the Tightrope Walking Team! Masuyo Wata— Whoaaa—
Ryuko destroyed his uniform before he could even finish his intro. She instantly changed back into her regular clothes and sat down, looking bored.
Y/N: That makes nine club leaders today. I think that's a new record.
Ryuko: A Knife Throwing Club, a Nanjing Lily Group, and a Tightrope Walking Team? What's the deal with these weird clubs?
Mako: Oh, they were all part of the Gymnastics Club before. They all split up because of you!
Ryuko: Because of me?
Mako: Yep! See, if someone beats you, they jump straight to a Two-Star or Three-Star uniform. But since you have to be a club president to get a high-level uniform, they all started these tiny, new clubs just so they could fight you.
Y/N: That explains why there are so many people constantly bugging us.
Mako: Better uniforms mean a better life. They're all desperate to move up.
Ryuko: Seriously, this school's whole system is messed up.
Y/N: Wait, so if I start a club, I could also get a Two-Star Uniform and some much better housing?
Mako: Yep!
Y/N: *Eyes light up* I got it! I'm starting the "Ryuko Is Crazy Club"! We'll focus on checking out how truly nuts Ryuko is! For example, she talks to her outfit—
Ryuko cut him off, smacking him over the head with the handle of her Scissor Blade.
Y/N: Ow.
Ryuko: Shut up, idiot! But wait, that actually gives me an idea...
Ryuko put a chair in the middle of the yard and sat down, looking ready for a fight. Y/N and Mako stood next to her, holding a sign that just said "FIGHT CLUB."
Y/N: This is definitely a dumb idea.
Gamagoori suddenly appeared, towering over them.
Gamagoori: What kind of stunt is this, Matoi?
Ryuko: Can't you see? I'm opening a Fight Club.
Gamagoori: Stop trying to trick the school rules!
Ryuko: You guys are the ones messing with me! You force students to make ridiculous clubs just to chase after me. So I'm just playing your game. Meet Ryuko Matoi, the President of the Fight Club!
Gamagoori: You honestly think a club like that would ever be allowed?
Just as he finished, a bright beam of light shot down from Satsuki Kiryuin's big tower above the school.
Satsuki: I approve this club.
Y/N: Does she always have to use the dramatic spotlight every time she speaks?
Ryuko: She just loves looking down on everyone.
Satsuki: Are you trying to join my system, Matoi?
Ryuko: Idiot! I'm going to rip your stupid system apart and make it fall down on your head!
Satsuki: Hmm. Just try not to lose your temper. Satsuki quickly glanced at Y/N before leaving.
Ryuko: Just wait... I'm going to make you spill everything eventually!
Gamagoori: Fine, we'll start the paperwork now.
Right away, a group of One-Star students showed up behind Gamagoori, carrying huge piles of papers.
Gamagoori: Matoi! You'll be the President of the Fight Club, right?
Ryuko: Yeah. And I don't need your dumb Goku Uniform. I've got my Kamui.
Gamagoori: Got it.
The One-Star students started dumping the giant piles of documents onto a table in front of Ryuko.
Gamagoori: Club presidents have to turn in an activity report every Friday. At the end of every month— Gamagoori listed all the boring rules, while the paper pile grew into a literal mountain. —being late is not allowed!
Ryuko just stared at the massive stack of forms.
Ryuko: Um, my friend Mako Mankanshoku says she will be the Club President!
Mako: EH!?
Ryuko: And my other friend, Y/N, said he would be the Vice-President.
Y/N: EH!? I did not say that!
Later…
The three friends walked down the halls. Y/N and Mako struggled under the weight of the massive paper stacks Gamagoori had given them.
Mako: This is so mean, Ryuko! Why did you trick us?
Y/N: Yeah! What happened to your goal, "I'm gonna bring your precious system down around your ears!" Huh?
Ryuko: I don't know what you're talking about.
Y/N: Satsuki would have buried you in so many forms just to fight her. You'd never get close!
Ryuko: Shut up! I know what I'm doing! The Fight Club is simple: we fight! When I beat the other club presidents, our club gets famous, we get recognized, and we get stronger! That means our living situation will also get much, much better, right?
Y/N: I still hate this.
Mako: I can't be president! I can't! I can't! Nooooo!
Once the Fight Club was officially recognized, Ryuko immediately started challenging every other club. Meanwhile, Y/N and Mako worked hard to finish all the necessary forms and club duties.
Ryuko: Get ready! I'm Ryuko Matoi from the Fight Club! Folk Dance Club President Maimu Okurahama! I'm here to take your Goku Uniform!
Maimu: Sounds good to me!
The members of the Folk Dance Club surrounded Ryuko and started dancing. Y/N held a clipboard, and Mako held the Fight Club sign.
Y/N: Folk Dance Club? Seriously?
Maimu: Well, everyone has to start somewhere...
Ryuko: It's going to take more than this silly little dance to beat me!
Just then, every member of the Folk Dance Club kicked Ryuko at the same time.
Folk Dance Club: *Kick* Be-sasson!
Ryuko: What the—
Folk Dance Club: *Kick* Be-sasson!
Y/N: Oh my god. You're actually losing to the Folk Dance Club. This is hilarious.
Ryuko transformed and instantly shredded the Folk Dance Club's uniforms.
Ryuko: Okay! Now we're getting serious!
Mako: 'Kay...
Y/N: Ryuko, just so you know, you still have their shoe marks all over your back. Just thought you should know. __-
Ryuko kept winning. This meant Mako had to go to all the meetings and Y/N had to help her with the endless paperwork.
Y/N: Okay, that's the Pottery Club, the Water Polo Club, the...
Mako: Yes...
A Week Later.
Honno City One-Star Apartment
Y/N got an upgrade to the One-Star area because the Fight Club was doing so well. Y/N never wore the uniform, but he was really happy about the better apartment. He just wanted things quiet and easy.
Y/N: OH MY GOD!!! The ceiling isn't leaking!!! The kitchen sink works!!! The lights all turn on!!! Oh my god. Is that— *sniffles* Is that an air conditioner? *Cries hard* It is!
He opened his fridge, and it was completely full of food.
Y/N: *Falls to the floor, sobbing* This *sniff* is the happiest moment *sniff* of my whole life!
Ryuko kept challenging clubs, mainly because it made her friends happier. Y/N and Mako kept working hard, making sure Ryuko always had a new fighter ready.
Y/N: Ping Pong Club?
Mako: Confirmed.
Y/N: Origami Club?
Mako: Confirmed.
Y/N: ...Hey Mako?
Mako: What is it? Mako didn't look up, her pen flying across a form.
Y/N: Do you want to eat lunch with Ryuko today?
Mako: No, we have way too many forms to finish. Plus, she has more fights scheduled during lunch.
Mako's voice was much less excited than usual.
Y/N: O-Oh. Okay...
A Few Days Later.
Honno City Two-Star Mansion
Eventually, Mako's amazing work got her family a giant house in the Two-Star area. Y/N stayed in his nice One-Star apartment. Inside the huge mansion, Ryuko and the Mankanshoku family were sitting at a giant table. Only Mako was still working. The crazy, loud family were now wearing expensive, fancy clothes and acting stiff and cold.
Mataro: Ugh, French food again?
Sukuyo: Oh, honey, are you leaving?
Barazo: Yes, I have a meeting for the Doctors' Association.
Sukuyo: Oh, I see. Could I buy that diamond necklace I showed you the other day?
Barazo: Sure. I really like that one. It looks lovely on you.
Barazo left.
Mataro: I got invited to a party.
Sukuyo: I'm leaving, too. Enjoy your dinner, Ryuko.
Ryuko: Oh, sure.
Mataro and Sukuyo left, leaving Ryuko to eat alone. A few seconds later, Mako came in. She was wearing a stiff business suit and looked like she was all business, not her usual self.
Mako: Sorry, the Club Presidents' meeting ran late! Huh? Where did everyone go?
Ryuko: I guess they're busy with their new jobs.
Mako: I see. Okay, Ryuko, when you're done, you need to go to the gym for two hours of weight training. You have matches tomorrow and the day after.
Ryuko: O-Ok.
Mako: I'm going to sleep now.
Ryuko: Of course.
Mako left Ryuko to finish eating alone.
The Next Day
Honnouji Academy
Ryuko, Y/N, and Mako walked into a huge gym full of dozens of sports clubs fighting everywhere.
Mako: Okay, Ryuko. You need to fight every single person in this gym!
Ryuko: What!?
Mako: Y/N.
Y/N: Yes?
Mako: Make sure you get the Knock-Out forms, the Damage Reports, and the Club Win forms ready.
Y/N: Right, got it...
Ryuko immediately jumped into the giant fight. Y/N ran out of the gym and came back with a stack of papers that was taller than he was. When he got back, Ryuko was leaning on the seats, totally worn out from fighting.
Mako: Let's go outside to the field for your next matches.
Ryuko: *Sigh*
Mako: Y/N, I need you to write down all the names of the fighters you defeated, their clubs, and check their IDs. Then come meet us at the field.
Y/N: Yes, boss... __-
Mako: And you need to put on your One-Star uniform. You're a One-Star now, you have to look the part.
Y/N: Yes, boss...
Y/N didn't actually put on the scratchy One-Star uniform. He was lazy and didn't like how it felt.
The Fight Club kept getting more famous. Mako pushed Ryuko and Y/N hard. Ryuko fought many times a day, and Y/N had huge piles of forms, taller than him, to fill out. The paperwork, the constant rush, the stress—it was slowly hurting his heart, even with his medicine trying to fix it. He kept his face calm, but he was about to crack.
A Few Days Later
Honnouji Academy
Ryuko was walking up the steps when she saw Y/N carrying a ridiculous amount of documents. She stopped and went over to him.
Ryuko: Hey, Y/N.
Y/N: Oh, hi Ryuko.
Ryuko: Why are you still not wearing your One-Star uniform?
Y/N: Nah. I hate how it feels. Anyway, Mako is waiting in the courtyard. Your opponents today are—
Y/N dug through the papers and pulled out a specific list.
Y/N: —The Elite Four.
Ryuko: Y/N, I actually wanted to talk about something.
Y/N: About what?
Ryuko: About Mako, about the Fight Club, about all of this mess.
Y/N: What's the problem?
Ryuko: I think all this money and power is changing Mako. She used to be fun. Happier. I... I want to shut down the Fight Club.
Y/N: Oh my god, I thought I was the only one.
Ryuko: Really!? You think so too?
Y/N: Hell yes! The amount of paperwork I've had to deal with is seriously killing me. I truly think this is taking years off my life. He was talking about his secret injury without giving it away.
Ryuko: Oh.
Y/N: Do you know how many people you beat yesterday?
Ryuko: I didn't count because it was so many.
Y/N: 526.
Ryuko: Woah, how do you—
Y/N: How do I know!? I had to personally find every single one, check their ID, confirm their club, and take a picture to prove you beat them! Do you have any idea how much work that is!?
Ryuko: N-No.
Y/N: It's too much work. I hate it. I miss Mako, the real Mako, I miss her smiling. And I really miss not doing all these forms.
Ryuko: Me too! So, is it settled? We're done?
Y/N: Damn right we are!
The next time Ryuko saw Mako, Mako was wearing her Two-Star Goku Uniform.
Y/N: __... Jerk.
Before they could talk, Mako was ready to fight.
Ryuko: Just make sure you stay right behind me.
Y/N: __... Okay.
Ryuko transformed and Y/N quickly hid behind her. Mako and Ryuko immediately started fighting in the middle of the schoolyard.
Ryuko: Mako, stop this right now!
Mako: I can't stop, not when we finally got this great life! I won't go back to being poor!
As they fought, the rest of the Mankanshoku family drove up to watch the fight.
Ryuko: Mako, what is wrong with you...
Barazo: Mako! Stop! She's not thinking straight! If you try to jump in, you'll be in trouble, too!
The Mankanshoku family totally ignored Ryuko and went to the viewing area.
Barazo: Hurry up and destroy Ryuko and Y/N for the good of the family!
Y/N: Are you serious!?
Sukuyo: Yes, go for it!
Mataro: Send those two straight to the deepest part of Hell!
Ryuko: You guys aren't going to stop her?
Barazo: We're sorry, Ryuko. But we just can't give up this comfortable life we have now.
Sukuyo: Don't worry! We'll make sure to enjoy this new life for you, too!
Satsuki: Look, Matoi! This is what people are truly like! Getting rich leads to wanting more, and wanting more causes their end! Once they've tasted pleasure, they are controlled by it forever! They are just dressed-up animals, and animals must be bossed around!
Mako kept hitting Ryuko hard. Ryuko couldn't bring herself to hit her friend back. Because she hesitated, Mako landed a hard punch that sent Ryuko flying away, leaving Y/N completely open.
Y/N: Mako! Please try to remember what you're doing! This isn't the real you!
Mako: No! I'm never going back to the life I HAD!
Mako ran toward Y/N with her fist raised, her eyes shut tight.
Y/N: She wouldn't actually punch me...
Mako's fist landed hard on Y/N's stomach.
Y/N: __- It wasn't a huge hit, but the shock... take the medicine. Keep cool. Stay chill.
The mean look in Mako's eyes was real!
Mako: We are the worst! Dad and all of you are bad! And so am I!
Mako couldn't take her feelings anymore, and she punched the ground. Her punch created an explosion that sent dirt flying and left a hole in the ground. Ryuko had to jump away, and Mako fell to her knees, crying loudly.
Mako: Y/N... *sniff* Y/N...
Y/N: (Quietly) What?
Mako: Waaaaah! *cries* I can already hear his ghost!
Y/N: (Quietly) I'm not dead, you goofball!
Mako: Huh?
Y/N: (Quietly) There's a huge piece of concrete sitting on me!
Mako rushed over and tossed the large piece of rock away.
Y/N: Hi, Mako. Feeling better?
Tears were still streaming down Mako's face. Y/N was somehow fine. His uniform was ripped apart, but luckily his shirt underneath was still intact. Good thing my regular clothes can handle some blast force. The injury is still safe.
Mako: Y/N!!!!!!
Mako hugged him as tightly as she could. Ryuko ran down and hugged him too.
Y/N: Did we win?
Ryuko: I think so.
Y/N: Woooo. Teamwork.
Ryuko: How in the world did you survive that hit?
Y/N: I'm surprisingly tough.
Mako stood up and quickly wiped her eyes.
Mako: Starting right now, the Fight Club is over! I, Mako Mankanshoku, am happy to go back to being a No-Star student!
Ryuko turned to Satsuki.
Ryuko: Kiryuin! People aren't as weak as you think! We can beat our selfish desires just by wanting to!
Mako: Ryuko! Catch!
Mako took off her Two-Star Uniform and threw it to Ryuko. Ryuko instantly sliced the uniform into pieces.
Y/N: *Cries*
Mako: Huh? Y/N, why are you crying?
Ryuko: He's just happy to have the real you back, obviously.
Y/N: That's not it. *Sniff*
Ryuko: Then what is it?
Y/N: I'm going to really miss my air conditioner! *Sobs loudly*
Ryuko hit Y/N directly into the ground with the handle of her blade.
Y/N: Ow!
Ryuko: You total dummy! We should have left you buried! You know what, I am going to bury you this time!
Y/N: AAAAAHHH!!
Mako: Yay! We're all best friends again!
The rest of the Mankanshoku family quickly tore off their fancy clothes and rushed over to hug and celebrate with the trio.