"You're a damn traitor Takeshita-kun!" The student stomped over to the stunned Ren. "Do you know how long we waited for you!?"
Ren swallowed. 'T-Traitor!? Was this person a part of something related to the school and they finally caught on!?'
"U-uh… how long did you wait?" he asked nervously. He had no idea what he was talking about, but he wouldn't admit that when he was this angry!
"How long!? All week!" They yelled. "They gave us more time after you got sick, but you've been totally ghosting us, radio silent! Didn't you get my text? My email? My letter!?" He pestered, slowly backing Ren into the wall, Nearby students beginning to whisper and stare.
"L-Letter?" Ren stuttered, not remembering anyone handing him anything, and he's been unable to crack the phone or laptop. "No sorry, I didn't get anything like that! You must be confusing me with someone else?!" He sputtered.
"Wah? You're Takeshita Akira, right? Don't play dumb with me!" The student growled. "You were supposed to show up to club meetings at least twice a week but you never showed! No one could get you and now, we've been disbanded! We made a pact on the shuttle here and you betrayed it! Have you no shame!?"
"Huh? What? Club meeting?" Ren repeated blankly.
"Yeah!" They yelled. "And now, the only good club in this entire hellhole is gone!! A club with the minimum hours and the least amount of work required: it was perfect! I worked really hard to get it the way it was…" The student leaned against the wall moping, half in tears. "I had to pull so many favors…!"
"And? You lost your club, tough luck." Ren said bitingly, a little irritated now. He was just complaining about losing his club? This whole traitor thing just seemed to be a false alarm, it didn't look like he was part of anything related to the school after all.
"S-So cold!" They gasped at him and rose from the wall. "This is serious, you know!? Without a club, we'll be trapped in study hall, or worse: We'll be bumped into the calligraphy club!"
"Huh? Wait, what about being trapped…?" Ren asked. "And, bumped?"
"Huh, did you seriously forget?" They huffed. "Clubs are mandatory! If you aren't in one they drag you off to study hall! That Ruota-kun's, he even told me if I don't find a club in three days he'll force me into one! That asshole club monitor loves nothing more than to send us to calligraphy club, after all those tryhards are totally bribing him!!" He shouted accusingly with a noisy scoff. "They've got crazy member engagement requirements: four days attendance a week, 15 hours per member! If we get stuck there, we'll be writing for hours: you can say goodbye to all your free time!"
"No… No way! You gotta be joking, right?!" Ren shouted in a panic. What kind of school could force you to join a club under a set time or else they gave you study hall? And what was up with the hours a week, was it an after school club or part time job!?
"It's not a joke! And this is all your fault, so now you've gotta help me!" The student cried out then suddenly gripped Ren's shoulders, locking him in place. "You're an omega, so they give you more time to look cuz your options are more limited! I can't go to study hall tomorrow, so tell them you can't join without your friend and they'll cut me some slack as well! Please, I neeeed that time!!"
"What? What do you need my help for?!" Ren asked. Why was he so desperate to get out of study hall? Was there some kind of secret he was hiding?
"It's dire!" They sniffled. "I… I just got to level 160 on my main and I was supposed to be the main DPS for the five star raids this week…!" They cried.
"Eh, Tough luck." Ren replied coldly. "Just go to study hall or find a new club, lazy kid."
"S-So cruel…! You think it's easy to just find a club that'll let me play?! That club monitor is nuts, he'll cut funds for anyone that's not actually doing club activities so they keep kicking me! But if I'm trapped in study hall for the raids this week, they'll kick me from the guild! Come on, my idea is genius! If we head over to their office-!"
"Hirota Kokichi-senpai…" Finally the dorm leader had arrived, crossing his arms at them looking annoyed. "I know you're upset about your club's closure but please… stop making a scene, It looks like you're harassing him. Didn't Ruoto-senpai just call you here to inform Takeshita-kun of the news? Now if you're finished…"
"A-Ah, Murokawa-kun…!" Kokichi blanched. "This'll just take a second more! You know, it's not harassment when they owe me an apology-!"
"That's enough. Let's go." The dorm leader grabbed Kokichi by his jacket and effortlessly pulled him away. "Apologies Takeshita-kun, but please report to Ruoto-senpai if you've joined a new club, is what this idiot should have told you."
Kokichi called out one last time with a sniffle as he was dragged away. "You gotta do this for me Takeshita-kun! Don't leave me hangin' agaaaiiin!!"
Ren's brow furrowed worriedly, though it had nothing to do with the crying student. He started to break into a sweat. That guy said that one club required 15 hours a week? For the entire week that was only 2-3 hours a day, but school was out around 4pm not including cleaning, and curfew was at 7!! There was barely any time in between! This couldn't just be due to some overly competitive club space, it was a ploy to keep all the students in one place so they could be monitored from classes to curfew!
'This school's just getting stranger by the second! Wait… if I have to join a club then… won't I lose that time to watch the alphas?!'
Afterschool was prime time for surveillance! That Kokuhi or whatever was right, he needed a minimum requirement club! But checking out clubs, that… may not be an entirely bad thing here.
'The clubs… Might actually be the perfect place to find out where the Alpha students go!'
Of course, why hadn't he considered it? He could look through all of the clubs, figure out where the most alphas congregate, get eyes on multiple at once! This was a great opportunity to gather intell!
___
But when Ren went looking for the club rooms the next day, he discovered they were fairly scattered throughout the school, hardly any of them were close to each other to simply scour through.
When he asked where each club was, he received vague answers and directions to the club monitor's office. The room was a typical teacher's private office, but it held the name of a student out front instead: Hayashi Ruota.
"Ah, one of the Gaming club members…" The tired eyed third year said, peering over the side of some large binder. "Did that idiot inform you that its been shut down then? I'm sorry about that, I was too busy to send someone else."
"Ah, so that's what the club was…" Ren mumbled, though he wasn't surprised. "So uh, how do I find the other clubs in the school? I heard some were moving around, so…"
"Is that what you came here for? Hm, most of that information should be on the school website, you know?" They replied.
'N-Not that again…' Ren sighed. He might have to bite the bullet there and ask for his password or something eventually…
But then the senior moved to pull open a laptop, and within a minute something came out of the nearby printer and handed to him.
"Here. This should tell you most of the club's chosen rooms; should be an alright starting point. I'll do that much for you since you did me a favor."
"Oh thanks…!" Ren said as he took it. "Wait, what do you mean by favor?"
"Of course: your being absent from the club for two weeks." They explained in a sluggish drawl. "The club going under the minimum of five members meant I could cut it… I couldn't have gotten rid of it otherwise, so you've been a major help." They thanked. It was an undermined sounding tone, lacking depth, and Ren could only place it as feeling rather stiff.
"Oh… I guess no problem?" Ren replied, feeling a mix of befuddlement muddled with indifference. At least someone got some use out of him being sick or injured for the past two weeks. Though, why was he so happy about cutting a meaningless club? He didn't really understand and didn't care to pry into it.
"Ah before you leave…" The club monitor suddenly spoke up. "That fool didn't say anything weird to you did he? I suspect he's been spinning tales again. That guy, he just wants to keep his gaming addiction intact, so don't let him get you wrapped up in his twisted head. He's desperate right now, but he wouldn't be in trouble if he wasn't lazy and found you properly, so it's better to let him reap what he sowed."
Ren nodded, remembering that he really did say a lot of weird things. But he had no clue which of them he could be referring to and he didn't ask: he had been suspicious enough by admitting he didn't check the school site. At the very least the part about needing a new club was correct.
Ren left the office otherwise having a fine impression. That weirdo Kizuki or whatever must have been exaggerating at least some things. This school was giving kids superpowers: he doubted his mission was related to that guy who lost his club.
Ren found his ways into the back fields of the school, where the people running track were still in the middle of their practice. It was a part of the school he had yet to see, reminding him that this place had too much to uncover. There were a few clubs around this area, so it was a good place to start.
He had a notepad ready to keep track of names in his hand with a wide grin, bursting with determination.
"So you want to join the literature club?" The student at the door asked.
"I mean… well, could I see the sign up sheet?" Ren asked nervously each time, hoping if he got the sheet he could read the names on there and cross check them from his notes. All the students would do so, seeing the eager look in his eye and believing he was really interested, telling him all the things the club had to offer and how often they had to come around. The reality was that his eyes were planted on the sign up sheet in front of him for very different reasons.
'20% of the names I saw in the volleyball club I recognized as Alphas! I bet the numbers will be higher once I get a full count of which students are in what group!'
Oh course, he was also considering what club he would have to join. He really didn't care much for anything in particular, just whatever would take the least of his time.
"What's the minimum to show up?" Ren would ask bluntly after he analyzed the sign up sheet. But even there he was also getting vague responses.
"Uh, a few times a week I guess?" The Astrology club student said confusedly.
"Yeah but, what about hours in the club?"
"Hours? Well whatever gets us the best angle… " they replied, thinking of later hours for a good sight of the stars.
Ren tutted, thinking they were being purposely obtuse but clearly aiming for long hours like that guy Hibiki or whatever said. So that part was true.
Some clubs just weren't as welcoming to him at all.
"Sorry but... You just don't seem fit to join the Sumo club, junior." The student at the door answered.
Ren frowned. This was new. He was sure, when he was in school even if you were terrible at a sport they'd still let you join, it was just unlikely they'd put you on the team lineup. What was the big deal?
"What's wrong with me joining?" He challenged, teeth gritted.
The student recoiled back. "Well you're... Too small. You'll be crushed by some of the others..."
Ren could hear a string snap in his mind, and his nose flared.
"Then I'll get crushed!" He raised his voice. "How else am I gonna build muscle if I don't get a few bruises, huh?! What kind of discrimination is this, kid?!"
The student blanched. "Kid?! I'm your senpai aren't I!?"
"As if!" Ren shouted, about to scream that he was actually beyond his senior and he should be calling him "sir" not "Junior"! He was at LEAST 3 years older than every kid here, after all!
"Cut it out!" A taller student growled, approaching and leaning down at him, glaring down with teeth bared.
"I think, it's better you just beat it, pretty boy." He growled.
Ren stood his ground, unrelenting. Like calling him names would stop him!
The taller student raised an eyebrow, looking him over before leaning down even more.
"Just because you got good willpower doesn't mean you can make it in the Sumo club, beta." They snorted and waved their hand dismissively. "Listen, this club had been Alpha exclusive since the school's practically's been built for a reason, but now we're already stuck dealing with average betas who force us to hold back! So we're not going to deal with one who doesn't even have enough meat on their bones to chew on!! We don't take weaklings."
Ren felt offended, even if he felt something similar about this body he was in.
'Come on, he's not that skinny!'
He would be angry, but the upperclassman's words intrigued him more than angered him.
His eyes lit up instead.
"So, it's been Alpha-exclusive since the school was made?" He asked excitedly. "When would you say that was, just to stay up to date! When and why did you have to stop, was the beta group introduced or were they always there?"
The two students were caught in Ren's frenzy, suddenly struck flabbergasted by the overly eager junior.
"...S-Should go to the school library for that sorta information, right?" The taller student growled.
Ren scoffed irritatedly. "Those are out of date." He huffed. He remembered the north wall, he didn't trust them for information anyway.
"W-Well," the other student hurriedly tried to settle the situation. "If you're looking for answers, how about the gender studies club? That might even be a better fit for you?"
Ren tilted his head. "Gender studies? What's that got to do with anything?"
The sitting student covered his forehead with his hands as if he was getting a headache.
"Just get lost." The tall student said, before walking back inside.
Ren did leave, disappointed they didn't give him any answers. It was a good thing they distracted him, he might have actually joined the sumo club. He still did need to find a club that didn't eat too much of his time, and the sports clubs were sure to do just that!
"Takeshita-kun!?"
Ren stopped in his tracks and turned around, seeing Kokichi stomping down the hall towards him. He gulped then quickly dipped behind a few obnoxiously tall students and dipped his head as he navigated through the crowd.
"Takeshita? He was just here wasn't he!? Hey, have you seen a dark-haired omega around here?" He heard Kokichi say in the distance.
The crowd soon dwindled out and Ren breathed a sigh of relief. That guy might try to drag him back to Ruota and force him to help him; he didn't want to deal with his troubles.
Ren suddenly stopped walking. In the distance, he could hear the muffled sounds of various clubs going about their activities. From this angle, he could see the entire hall as stretched from one end of this school building to the track outside, and more down to the acre of courtyard. The crowd of students in uniforms, the ambient sounds of conversation and instruments and laughter.
For a moment, It all made Ren feel nostalgic. Well he had gone through high school before, and he closed his eyes trying to bring up a clear memory. Ren took a deep breath, as the memories started to appear, a distorted shimmering image through a fog, a mirage reflecting from the surface of his mind. The image of his old school life was-
"Get the hell up!"
Ren flinched and his eyes shot open at the bellowing voice in his right ear. He turned to see a tall red-haired student barking at a pair of stricken-looking students.
"This is not your personal place to lounge around! Pick up your trash or I'll do more than send you to disciplinary!!" The student barked.
"But Senpai, we-" one of the stricken student stuttered.
"What's your issue; we're just watching the track team practice!" The other raised their voice.
"Your presence is disrupting their practice! Now you'll know what that means if you don't scram!"
Ren huffed as he watched the two students pick up their things and rush off. They didn't look like they were disturbing anything, must be some real stick in the mud, and he broke his concentration!
Ren startled when someone then rushed past him in a hurry. He watched the student stomp past with a nasty smirk on his face that left Ren with a fuming sneer. The kids are rude here too! He hoped that jerk got the weakest powers!
Ren sighed, and decided to move on. He was wasting time!
He continued to walk around, wondering where to continue documenting sign up sheets. He had gone through nearly all of the sports clubs, should he move onto the next area? It seemed like less active a club the less likely Alphas were in them, so should he check out the rest of the liberal arts now? He still needed a club to join…
Ren then spots a sign on a door he was passing and comes to a stop. The words on the sign…
"Gender… studies club? Huh." Was all he said. The sign, besides the words, had three symbols on it.
'Interesting, they kinda look like English letters... But the A and B look funny, and what's with the curvy one?' He pondered. Kinda like a horseshoe?
Actually, that last one looked familiar too... Had he seen them around the dorm house, maybe? He wasn't sure where though.
Ren just had to ask them what it meant. If those sumo club kids thought this club was related to the reason why Betas were introduced to their Alpha exclusive club, then he might as well investigate.
We walked up to the door and knocked. No one answered. Ren furrowed his eyes. Empty? That was kinda unusual, right? There was a lot of importance put on minimum club time so, no one being there…
But then, Ren stops. He hears the sound of… Crying? He presses an ear to the door. It was definitely coming from inside.
Ren pulled at the sliding door and found it wasn't locked, so he peeked his head inside. There was nothing unique to say about the room, it was a basic of a club room as they come, maybe with too many books. He wondered if he had imagined the crying, and if could find the sign up sheet really quick while he was here.
But then he heard it again. It was coming from the door of the other room adjacent to this one, not in a club room but rather a storage room, the sliding door cracked open. Ren peeked through a gap in the door.
There was a student sitting on the ground sniffling. Another student crouched beside them patting their shoulder.
"It'll be alright."
"Like hell! He'll blab the whole thing to the dorm tonight. It's over."
"Hey, look on the bright side. You won't have to stay in that dorm much longer, right?"
The student on the ground glared up at the other in response.
Ren crossed his arms and looked away. He was pretty used by now to eavesdropping on other students, but this seemed pretty personal... He shouldn't keep listening.
"They won't just move my dorm, they'll kick me out of the club!" The sniveling student weeped.
"It's crazy they can still just get away with not letting omegas in some clubs, isn't it?" the other student said calmly with a sigh. "The student council doesn't do anything about it."
Ren twitched. That group discrimination again?
"If only that senpai wasn't such a jerk to omegas. Whenever they have issues he doesn't do anything about it himself..." The sitting student growled. Hearing them not sniffling, they sorta sounded familiar...
'A class hierarchy?' Ren thought. Suddenly, Ren felt he had read something like this somewhere. Stories where the strong treated the weak poorly just because they could. He remembered the protagonist of the story had risen from being weak and beat up the stronger ones, helping the other weak ones gain strength to fight on their own usually by helping them gain confidence.
Ren felt a wave of inspiration, raising a fist high into the air. They couldn't mistreat this student just for being weaker! No way! If he could almost convince that sumo guy to let him join their club, then this student could do the same! He'd fight for the weak!
Too busy on his internal righteous escapade, he didn't listen to the next part of their conversation.
"You don't even like that club. You're just in it because of someone, aren't you?"
The sitting student blushed. "W-Who told you that?"
"Sorta a guess?" They chuckled.
"...what do I do once he finds out I'm actually an omega? He's never shown interest in omegas, what if he doesn't-"
RIght then Ren pulled back the door to the room with a clatter, the light from outside entering the dim room.
"I'll help you out, kid!" Ren beamed. Then, he jolted. "Hey! You're the weak kid that was holding the sign yesterday!"