Crossover: I Took In a Runaway High School Girl

Back in her seat, Runa Kusami still maintained that cold expression. Yet, beneath her mask of calm, her heart churned with complicated emotions. Everything felt so clear now, precisely as Renji Kamisaka had said.

If you truly like someone, it's impossible not to notice their feelings.

And once she had returned to her seat, watching Renji about to leave with her, Hazuki Yasuo hadn't asked a single question. There wasn't even the slightest furrow in his brow that usually indicated confusion.

Was it because of overconfidence? Runa mused, her clear blue eyes staring blankly ahead. Did he think that Momo Sakurabara (Senior Momo) and I would always stay by his side without regret?

No. There had to be a reason.

Why? Runa thought, a pang of pain in her heart. Hazuki Yasuo wasn't like this when he faced Sumireko Sanshokuin. When confronting Sumireko, he wouldn't give up even knowing she already had a boyfriend. So, what about her and Momo? Always hiding their feelings and being wingmen for the person they liked.

Why be so humble? A piercing question, awakening something within her. Do we really have to find an opportunity to confess to Hazuki Yasuo and then be rejected like losers? Why do Momo and I keep hurting ourselves for Hazuki Yasuo?

Hazuki Yasuo was sick. Runa admitted inwardly, a bitter truth. And it was a serious illness. But what was more terrifying, she and Momo had never thought of curing him. Instead, because they trusted him too much, they always hoped he would become sensible one day and then marry one of them.

Thinking like this, Runa felt a chilling realization. She and Momo were also sick, and their illness wasn't minor. Perhaps because they cared too much, they became overly cautious. A failed confession would feel incredibly embarrassing, and there would be no way to remain close to Hazuki Yasuo afterward.

Confession always required courage, a frightening step forward. If it didn't work, you could only become a loser and retreat in shame. That's why she and Momo hid their feelings and didn't dare to confess.

But it was so painful. Hazuki Yasuo never paid attention to their feelings, instead falling in love with another girl without hesitation. She and Momo were like clowns, fighting openly and secretly, making others laugh.

Pondering these things, a resolute decision formed in Runa Kusami's heart. She would go find Momo Sakurabara during lunch break. It was time to make a decision. They couldn't let her and Momo continue to suffer like this. This had to end.

Hazuki Yasuo had no idea that his friendships were on the verge of collapse. He approached Renji Kamisaka again, with his typical friendly smile, and said he wanted to observe the Service Club. After all, he was a good person. The Service Club, a club that helped others, suited him too well. If possible, he even wanted to join.

Renji Kamisaka firmly rejected his proposal to join. "You're from another school, and you'll be leaving sooner or later. Why join?"

"I can join and quit after I leave, right?" Hazuki Yasuo tried to argue again, his expression full of hope.

Renji rolled his eyes. "Don't pretend. You just want to see my Sumireko. I won't agree. Please give up on her and stop bothering her." Renji's tone was cold, without pretense.

Hazuki Yasuo smiled bitterly, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I won't bother her. Besides, she already has a boyfriend." He sighed. "I just want to know if I'm really that bad, and if the reason she hates me is truly as you said."

Seeing that he still hadn't given up, Renji Kamisaka sighed and pulled out his phone. With a swift motion, he played a voice recording, then handed the phone to Hazuki Yasuo.

That's right. This was a recording he had secretly made when Sumireko told him about Hazuki Yasuo. It was to prevent situations like this. Sumireko couldn't take the initiative to say such things to Hazuki Yasuo due to her gratitude. But this recording was released by Renji, which indirectly allowed Hazuki Yasuo to understand Sumireko's thoughts. It would also make him give up.

Hazuki Yasuo listened to Sumireko Sanshokuin's voice in the recording, her voice clear yet full of vexation, as if struck by lightning.

"As for me, just having Hazuki Yasuo nearby makes me feel so sick. He doesn't see the painful expressions of Momo Sakurabara and Runa at all, but instead keeps pursuing me."

"Even if I hint at him, he doesn't understand. It really annoys me, so I ran away immediately after graduation."

The recording ended. Hazuki Yasuo looked up, staring at Renji Kamisaka in despair, his eyes hollow. "Isn't this synthetic? You're lying to me, right? This isn't what Sumireko said." His voice sounded broken.

"You have to deceive yourself like this, so just let it be. Anyway, if you bother Sumireko again, I'll use my fists." Renji looked at him with pity, a gaze he never expected to receive from Renji, then turned away.

Hazuki Yasuo clenched his fists, staring at Renji's receding back, revealing deep frustration. "I can change it!" he muttered, his lips trembling. "Why has no one ever told me?" A hint of anger mingled with his pain.

After listening to the recording, he felt that he was no longer qualified to pursue Sumireko. Just associating with her would make the girl miserable. How bad am I? And there were Momo Sakurabara and Runa Kusami. What should I do? Anyway, he really couldn't bring himself to date these two girls. A labyrinth with no exit.

After giving Hazuki Yasuo a 'lesson', Renji Kamisaka went to the Service Club. You have to treat your future sister-in-law carefully. How can you succeed in the future? He shook his head, a faint smile. Let's talk about it later. Now Sumireko is there too.

When he arrived at the Service Club, he was surprised to find that Momo Sakurabara and Runa Kusami were already there. And they were discussing the differences between their two schools. Yukinoshita Yukino gave her opinions seriously and structurally, and Momo Sakurabara took meticulous notes from time to time. Runa Kusami occasionally voiced her own opinions, inserting clever comments. Sumireko responded with her sweet smile, and the atmosphere there was surprisingly harmonious.

"Um, shouldn't I have come?" Renji muttered, feeling a little awkward interrupting the peaceful atmosphere.

Yukinoshita Yukino rolled her eyes at him, her expression flat but clearly showing annoyance. "You came just in time, help me move two tables."

"It seems you're treating me like a laborer." Renji looked at his sister-in-law with a feigned complaining tone.

Yukinoshita Yukino waved her hand at him dismissively. "Stop talking nonsense, hurry up. This is your chance to join the Beautiful Girls Club as a male. The only use of this club."

"In that case, this use is truly humble." Renji grumbled, but he still moved two tables and put them together, tidying up the room.

Sumireko Sanshokuin covered her mouth and chuckled, glancing at Yukino. "Yukinoshita, you're bullying Renji like this, aren't you afraid he'll retaliate in the future?"

Yukinoshita Yukino's cheeks flushed faintly, a color rarely seen on her face. She naturally knew what kind of retaliation Sumireko Sanshokuin was talking about. But she pretended to be calm and glanced at Sumireko, saying confidently:

"I'm just giving him a chance to show his masculinity, not bullying."

"Ah, yes, yes, his revenge in the future won't be bullying, but a display of love." Sumireko teased her, her tone sweet yet full of mischievous intent.

"Sumireko, you're annoying, I regret letting you join the club." Yukino pouted.

"There's no point in regretting. I'm just like Renji. I depend on you, President." Sumireko pointed at Renji, then smiled sweetly at Yukino.

"No, please don't do that." Yukino sighed, her gesture resigned.

Sumireko Sanshokuin and Yukinoshita Yukino had a small quarrel, but the atmosphere actually became warm and pleasant. Momo Sakurabara and Runa Kusami looked at each other and smiled, feeling the warmth of friendship between them.

"Sumireko, it seems you're living well here. You have a friend like Yukinoshita and a boyfriend like Renji. I'm so envious of you." Momo commented, her gaze sincere.

Sumireko Sanshokuin smiled slightly and replied, "We're also friends. What's there to envy?" She then looked at Momo and Runa with a serious expression. "Senior Momo, Runa, I will also help you." A sincere promise. "Of course, I absolutely refuse to associate with Hazuki. Don't even think about it."

Momo Sakurabara sighed, a mix of relief and new resolve. "Don't worry, we don't have that idea anymore." She looked at Renji, then back at Runa. "Runa and I decided to confess this afternoon!"

Renji Kamisaka showed a surprised expression, his eyebrows raised high. "That fast?"

"No way?" Momo Sakurabara stood up, placed her hands on her hips, and looked at him proudly. "Didn't you ask Runa to tell me to value myself and not keep hurting myself?" Momo smiled faintly. "So Runa and I decided to bravely pursue our own happiness."

Renji frowned, his expression unsure. "You're so eager to be losers, isn't that also self-harm?"

Momo Sakurabara thought about it, yes. There's some truth to that. But she was still a little unsure. "How do you know that we will definitely fail? Runa and I are Hazuki Yasuo's best friends after all. We've been together for so long, and we have feelings for each other after all!"

Renji shrugged indifferently. "I wish you success."

Momo Sakurabara couldn't help but frown. "You clearly don't have sincerity in blessing me."

Renji gave a dry laugh. "Ahem, how could that be?" You're going to fail anyway, so why should I bless you? You clearly think you're going to fail, so you want to end this unrequited love. He supported this.

"Sumireko, you don't care about your boyfriend. Look at him. He's still... attacking us?" Momo Sakurabara hugged Sumireko's arm and complained to her, pouting at Renji.

Sumireko Sanshokuin held back her laughter, but then glared at Renji unhappily. "Say something nice quickly, how can you bully a senior?"

Renji Kamisaka showed a serious expression and said, "Whether it's success or failure, it's also an explanation for yourselves, Momo, Runa, come on!" He smiled, his gaze encouraging. "Sumireko and I will always stand by your side!"

"Thank you." The expressions of Momo Sakurabara and Runa Kusami softened, warmth spreading through their hearts. They looked at each other and both were slightly surprised.

The atmosphere around Renji and Sumireko was completely different from Hazuki Yasuo... Why was that? Unconsciously, both girls became a little curious about Renji Kamisaka and the mysterious aura surrounding him.

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