Service Club's Hollow Afternoon
The sun slanted low through the windows of the Service Club. Normally, by this hour, Ras would already be seated with that easy smile of his, brushing off banter or quietly filling the silence. Today, his chair was empty.
Yui twisted her scrunchie in her hands, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Do you think… Ras-kun's okay?"
Yukino's gaze stayed fixed on her book, though the pages hadn't turned in minutes. Hachika, by the window, stared out at the sports field where shadows stretched long across the dirt. Her eyes, usually dead-fish dull, had a sharp glint.
None of them answered. The silence felt like waiting for a storm.
---
On the far side of Sobu High, behind the gymnasium, sat an old equipment warehouse. Dust clung to the windows, and the air inside smelled of rust and stale wood.
Here, Ras stood with his back against the wall. Three gyaru circled him, not Sobu students, but older, their uniforms mismatched, skirts shorter, makeup heavy.
"Well, well," one drawled, poking at his chest. "The quiet one's cute up close."
"C'mon, smile for us. Do what we say, yeah?" another sneered.
Ras's lips curved faintly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. His gaze seemed distant and dull, glazed the faint mark of hypnotic influence tugging at his mind. The familiar violet flicker of his Book-UI tried to rise in his vision… but he never looked at it.
---
The door slammed open.
"The East Magic Society descends upon this den of corruption!"
Rikka's voice, sharp and ringing, filled the warehouse. Yuuta followed, cape swishing dramatically — but their eyes weren't playing games tonight.
Both of them froze the moment they saw Ras cornered.
Yuuta's voice shook, low and commanding. "Let him go. Now."
The gyaru laughed, but the atmosphere had shifted. Gone was the playful chuuni banter; in its place was raw, protective fury. The girls hesitated, sensing danger in their resolve, and after a tense beat, they spat curses and slipped out into the fading daylight.
---
"Ras!" Rikka rushed to his side. His faint smile wavered, but he barely reacted.
Yuuta crouched, gently slipping a blanket from her bag around his shoulders. "It's okay. You're safe now."
For once, their chuunibyou persona was stripped away. Their concern was raw, real.
Ras's lips parted, a weak chuckle escaping. "Destiny's… pretty embarrassing."
"Don't joke about this!" Rikka snapped, voice breaking.
They steadied him between them and led him out, the late sun washing gold over the schoolyard as they carried him back to their clubroom.
---
Minutes later, Rikka burst into Hiratsuka's office, words tumbling too fast. The teacher froze, beer can still in hand, then her face darkened with something heavier than anger.
By the time they reached the Service Club, Hiratsuka's stride was sharp, decisive. She slammed the door open, her voice cutting.
"Something is wrong with Ras. And all of you know it."
The room fell into silence. Yui's lips trembled. Yukino closed her book with deliberate slowness. Hachika's fingers tightened on her sleeves.
Finally, Hachika pushed herself upright. Her voice was hoarse but firm.
"If I tell you something… you swear it doesn't leave this room. Not to classmates. Not to anyone."
Her gaze swept them, Yukino, Yui, Rikka, Hiratsuka. One by one, they nodded.
Slowly, Hachika pulled something from her bag. A thin book. Its cover sent a chill through the room.
---
"This isn't just a manga," Hachika said, her voice shaking. "It's… it's happening. To Ras."
The title glared in the afternoon light:
"Oregairu Doujin: Vol.1"
Yui gasped. Yukino's composure faltered. Hiratsuka's brows furrowed, jaw clenched. Rikka covered her mouth.
Hachika forced herself to continue. "I don't know who wrote it. I don't know why. But the events… they line up. And this one doesn't even show the mastermind."
The silence pressed like a weight. Finally, Hiratsuka exhaled, voice iron-hard.
"Rikka. Hachika. Get Ras's things. Now."
They left and returned with his school bag, the leather worn from use. Hiratsuka unzipped it with steady hands.
---
Inside, stacked neatly between notebooks and pencils, was another book.
"Oregairu Doujin: Vol.2 (Final)"
The world seemed to stop.
Hachika's eyes widened in dread. Yukino froze. Yui's breath hitched. Hiratsuka's fist trembled.
The second volume lay there like a curse, a prophecy waiting to unfold.
---
"This...." Hachika heart-rate abnormal.
And so does other.
Yukino calmed first.
"Seems like Ras already knew about it... that's why he always brought it with him... " Yukino stated her reasoning.
Hiratsuka could only stood still, her emotion could not be read even by Hachika with her unnatural senses. But deep down, she regretted herself, regret that she'd done things while the one she done is not in a good state, as for wether he's awake and aware... she didn't know, and now, she's full of a self-loathing and self-blame of what she had done.
Imagining Ras actually screamed in his mind while Hiratsuka doing it were a full amount of critical blow for her.
"Ras...." Hiratsuka muttered under her breath.
Yukino who noticed this stood in silence.
Rikka: "Now is not the time to feel remorse, we need to save Ras from the abyss! his eyes didn't have that same fire of life anymore, Lets go for a CRUSADE against the worldly Devil!!"
Those words woke the room awake, like a dragon about to awaken from their infinite slumber. 'Rikka's imagination.'
Hachika: "Now, let's see what this book contains..."
Everyone watch in focused.
And Rikka.... well, her eyes glowed the most, unknowingly, her eyes begun to glow.