Rin awoke with a soft sigh, the morning sun filtering through his bedroom curtains. He stretched, feeling a lingering warmth in his chest, a ghost of a sensation from the previous night. Haruno. The memory of their kiss, hesitant yet undeniably passionate, played across his mind. She had been on the verge of surrendering completely, her desire palpable, but at the last moment, a sudden, almost violent restraint had pulled her back. It was as if a deep-seated mental barrier, perhaps born from her complex relationship with Yukino, had asserted itself just before she fully gave in. So, no, they hadn't crossed that line. It was just the kiss, raw and exploratory, leaving him with a curious blend of satisfaction and unfulfilled anticipation.
He wasn't in the DXD world anymore, that much was certain. The familiar scent of his own room in North High's vicinity confirmed his return to Haruhi's domain. A world where reality bent to the whim of a single, energetic girl. He was vaguely worried about what antics Haruhi would pull today, yet, a part of him, a part he rarely acknowledged, felt a flicker of something akin to excitement. He wasn't a masochist; far from it. The only reason he tolerated Haruhi's shenanigans was that, with his Tier III maxed status, they posed absolutely no real challenge. He was simply riding the wave, observing the unique chaos she generated. It was, undeniably, different.
Just as he stepped out of his bedroom, Haruhi Suzumiya was there, blocking his path, a triumphant grin splitting her face. "Rin! I found it! The perfect clubroom for us!"
She didn't wait for his reply, or even a chance for him to voice any objections. Her grip, surprisingly strong, was already on his arm, and he was being dragged down the hallway, her momentum undeniable. He simply let it happen. What was the point in resisting? Her will was a force of nature in this world, and for the moment, it was easier to simply comply.
As he expected, Haruhi led him to the literature club. The door slid open to reveal Yuki Nagato, as ever, silently absorbed in a book, her eyes scanning the pages with unwavering focus. She looked up as they entered, her gaze meeting Rin's for a brief moment before she offered a subtle, almost imperceptible nod. Rin returned it.
"And here it is!" Haruhi announced, gesturing grandly around the sparsely furnished room. "I told her we needed a place for our new club, and after some negotiation, she agreed!"
"I am fine with it," Yuki interjected, her voice flat, devoid of emotion, not even looking up from her book. She then resumed her reading as if they weren't even there.
Rin said nothing. He was just a passenger on Haruhi's whirlwind, his role merely to satisfy her seemingly insatiable need for excitement. He leaned against a wall, watching the silent girl and the boisterous one, a bizarre balance in the small room.
The school day finally ended, a wave of relief washing over Rin. He was about to head home when an idea struck him. The literature club. Or rather, what it was destined to become. He decided to pay it a visit.
He knocked lightly on the door before entering. The clubroom was empty. He dropped his bag onto one of the tables and walked to the window. From this vantage point, he could see Kyon, undoubtedly continuing his normal, unremarkable life, completely oblivious to the burgeoning anomaly that was about to engulf him.
The door slid open again, and Haruhi bounded in, a new recruit in tow. Mikuru Asahina.
Haruhi had evidently set out to acquire more members for her new, as-yet-unnamed club. And just as Rin had anticipated, her target was Mikuru Asahina, a timid, seemingly helpless upperclassman with large, innocent eyes and a perpetually worried expression. Haruhi, in her boundless wisdom, had deemed her "moe" and, therefore, a perfect "mascot" for her new organization. Despite Mikuru's obvious discomfort, bordering on fear, she was clearly being coerced into joining.
Yuki Nagato, punctual as ever, entered the clubroom right after them. Seeing the new addition, she offered a simple nod of greeting. Haruhi responded with an enthusiastic "Yuki-chan!" Mikuru, still looking utterly bewildered, managed a small nod in Yuki's direction. Rin, following suit, gave Yuki a brief nod as well. Yuki, as always, simply returned to her seat and her book, seemingly unfazed by the growing unconventionality around her.
"Alright!" Haruhi clapped her hands together, disrupting the fragile peace. "Now that we have some members, the SOS Brigade needs a computer!"
Rin watched in mild amusement as Haruhi, with surprising cunning, strong-armed the president of the Computer Research Society into "donating" a computer. Mikuru's innocent, distressed appearance was apparently a powerful weapon in Haruhi's arsenal, used to guilt-trip the poor, beleaguered president into submission. It was a clear demonstration of Haruhi's manipulative and forceful nature, a trait Rin found both irritating and, admittedly, fascinating.
The next day, Rin, Mikuru, and Yuki were already in the clubroom when Haruhi burst through the door, carrying several large paper bags. Her eyes sparkled with mischievous anticipation. She began rummaging through the bags, pulling out… bunny girl costumes. Black, sleek, complete with ears and fluffy tails.
"Alright, Asahina-san!" Haruhi declared, holding up a costume. "You're going to wear this! We're going to hand out fliers!" She then proudly displayed a stack of hastily printed fliers, presumably advertising the "SOS Brigade," whatever that was.
Mikuru's face paled, her timid nature clashing violently with Haruhi's outrageous demand. She stammered, protested weakly, but Haruhi was relentless. Before Mikuru could be fully convinced, Haruhi turned to Rin, a questioning look on her face.
"Don't mind me," Rin said, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I've seen stranger things."
Haruhi, however, didn't seem to appreciate his nonchalance. With a surprisingly swift kick to his shin, she ordered, "Out! You wait outside!"
Rin rubbed his leg, a phantom ache where her foot had connected. Even though it didn't hurt him, it was still a shock, a reminder of her unpredictable nature. He stepped out of the clubroom, leaning against the wall, waiting. It wasn't long before the door opened again. Haruhi emerged, a wide, proud smile on her face, followed by a blushing, mortified Mikuru Asahina, both adorned in the ridiculous bunny suits. Mikuru looked like she was about to cry.
"Teachers are definitely going to scold you for this," Rin commented, stating the obvious.
Haruhi merely waved a dismissive hand. She either didn't hear him, or, more likely, she simply didn't care. Her eyes were alight with the thrill of her latest, most absurd scheme. They marched down the hallway, two bunny girls and one stoic observer.
As expected, it didn't take long for the school authorities to intervene.