Chapter XLIV: The Meeting
The night settles gently over the city, and it's the kind of night that feels alive rather than quiet. Streetlights hum, windows glow, and inside bedrooms and living rooms, phones light up with familiar names and inside jokes. At the Furukawa Residence, Ryujin's phone vibrates on his desk just as he is halfway through folding his uniform for tomorrow. He doesn't even need to look at the screen to know what it is, as he smiles and shakes his head.
It's the Brofist Squad. The group chat comes alive the way it always does and suddenly, loudly, and without warning.
Inoshiro (MrBeast): *sends meme* A badly edited clip of Gandalf raising his staff, text plastered on top: "YOU SHALL NOT PASS... THE EXAMS WITHOUT REVIEWING."
Ryujin exhales a laugh through his nose as the notification sound repeats almost immediately.
Hageshi (PewDiePie): "Wrong fantasy universe, but okay."
Then another notification pops up.
Hageshi (PewDiePie): *sends meme* A picture of Dumbledore with sunglasses, captioned: "When you say 'Expelliarmus' but you actually mean 'I didn't study.'"
Okaki (Kwebbelkop): "HAHAHAHA WAIT—"
Before anyone can respond, Okaki floods the chat.
Okaki (Kwebbelkop): *sends meme* Pepe the Frog dressed as the Grinch, clutching a sack labeled Assignments.
Okaki (Kwebbelkop): *sends meme* Big Chungus edited into a classroom chair, captioned:14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1btNbXrij1
"Me sitting confidently after guessing everything."
Ryujin laughs out loud this time, the sound echoing slightly in his room. From the living room, his mother calls out.
"Ryu, what's so funny?"
"Nothing, Mom!" he replies, still smiling. "Just... group chat stuff."
The phone vibrates again.
Miran (Ninja): *sends meme* Levi Ackerman spinning with blades out, text reading: "Teacher: This is easy." Student: exists
Then another.
Miran (Ninja): *sends meme* Seven Deadly Sins characters sitting around a table.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48ZFa8VpXi
"Group project when no one replies."
Haruto (Jacksepticeye): "This is why humanity hasn't evolved."
Inoshiro (MrBeast): "And yet, here we are."
Another name pops into the chat.
Hokusei: *sends meme* A blurry image of a cat staring intensely at a calculator.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5Cgkvsuas
"Me trying to understand math at 3AM."
Ryujin finally joins in.
Ryujin (Markiplier): *sends meme* PewDiePie doing a dramatic brofist pose.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldQuhg5n7o
"No matter what happens, BROFIST!"
Almost instantly,
Hageshi (PewDiePie): "Approved, my brother!"
Haruto (Jacksepticeye): "Brofist certified."
The chat scrolls endlessly, memes stacking on memes, references colliding in glorious nonsense. But between the jokes, something practical sneaks in, the way it always does.
Inoshiro (MrBeast): "By the way bros, did anyone get the notes from Dr. Ruma's class?"
Ryujin (Markiplier): "I uploaded mine earlier. Check the files."
Miran (Ninja): "Got it. Thanks."
Okaki (Kwebbelkop): "Don't forget the worksheet for Kantano-sensei."
Hageshi (PewDiePie): "Oh that, lemme just check. What is the importance of cooking food? Essay, yeah I have already done it."
The Brofist Squad is chaotic, but efficient. Memes flow freely, but assignments and reminders weave between them like invisible threads holding everything together. Then Haruto sends a message that shifts the tone slightly.
Haruto (Jacksepticeye): "Tomorrow's PTA meeting... your parents going?"
One by one, replies appear.
Hageshi (PewDiePie): "Yep. Mom already cleared her schedule."
Inoshiro (MrBeast): "Dad's going. Oh wait no, it's going to be my mom."
Okaki (Kwebbelkop): "Both parents for me."
Miran (Ninja): "You know who else is going to the meeting? My mom! Lmao"
Ryujin (Markiplier): "It appears that all of our mom's will be going."
A string of thumbs-up emojis fills the chat.
Haruto (Jacksepticeye): "Good. No one's getting left behind."
Ryujin sets his phone down on the bed and finally reaches for his pajamas. The day catches up with him all at once—the laughter, the classes, the announcement, the weight of anticipation sitting quietly in his chest. He's halfway through changing when his phone lights up again. But this time, it isn't the Brofist Squad. It's Saki.
His fingers pause. He picks up the phone.
Saki: "Hey. Sorry if I'm bothering you, Ryujin."
Ryujin smiles unconsciously.
Ryujin: "You're not. So, what's up?"
Saki: "I just wanted to ask about the homework for tomorrow. And... um, is your parent going to the PTA meeting?"
Ryujin: "Yeah. My mom's going."
Three dots appear. Disappear. Appear again.
Saki: "That's good. My grandma's going for me."
Ryujin nods slowly, even though she can't see him.
Ryujin: "That's nice."
There's a brief pause, comfortable and warm.
Saki: "I guess tomorrow's kind of important."
Ryujin: "Yeah. It feels like it."
Saki: "Good luck."
Ryujin: "You too."
He sets the phone down gently this time, heart beating just a little faster than before. He finishes changing, turns off the light, and lets the quiet of the night settle around him.
Morning arrives earlier than expected. The campus buzzes with unfamiliar energy as parents step through the gates, some holding folders, others clutching forms, all wearing expressions that blend curiosity, concern, and quiet pride.
Ryujin walks beside his mother, matching her pace as they head toward the Sadalmelik Building. Inside, the classroom feels different. Taller figures occupy the chairs. Voices are lower, steadier. Parents fill the room that usually belongs to students.
Ryujin spots familiar faces—Hageshi's mother speaking animatedly with Inoshiro's mother, Okaki's parents sitting side by side, Miran's mother nodding thoughtfully as she listens to a teacher. Saki sits a few rows away with her grandmother, the older woman upright and dignified, hands folded neatly on her lap.
At the front of the room, Hajime stands confidently.
"Good morning, dear parents," he begins. "Thank you all for coming."
The room quiets.
"This meeting concerns the upcoming field trip for the Special Power and Defense Class."
Murmurs ripple through the room. Hajime continues, outlining the purpose, the itinerary, the educational objectives. He speaks clearly, calmly, leaving little room for confusion. A man near the front raises his hand.
"Yes, Sir?" Hajime acknowledges.
"I'm Dr. Yoshimochi," the man says. "Arita's father. Will this be an overnight trip?"
Hajime shakes his head. "No. It's a one-day trip."
He gestures lightly as he explains. "The students will depart at dawn, around four in the morning. They'll return to the city between ten and eleven in the evening."
A few parents exchange glances.
"The following day," Hajime adds, "there will be no classes."
Relief ripples through the room.
"Students are advised to bring their own lunch, pocket money, and necessary personal items," he continues. "We want them comfortable, but prepared."
He introduces the accompanying teachers one by one.
"Mrs. Sato will be joining us, as this trip ties directly into the students' ongoing projects."
Mrs. Sato gives a polite nod.
"Shinse will also accompany the group."
Shinse raises a hand briefly.
"And Dr. Aoshima," Hajime says, glancing toward the back of the room.
Dr. Aoshima inclines his head slightly, eyes thoughtful.
Questions follow—about safety, transportation, supervision. Hajime answers each one patiently, thoroughly, until the room settles into understanding.
Eventually, the meeting concludes. Parents stand, conversations resuming, chairs scraping softly against the floor.
Ryujin's mother squeezes his shoulder gently. "Sounds exciting," she says.
"It is," Ryujin replies.
Outside, the campus returns to its usual rhythm. But between the buildings of the Aquarius District, unseen by students and parents alike, a figure lingers in the shadows.
A hooded man stands still, watching. He lets out a quiet laugh, low and sharp, barely audible.
"Interesting," he whispers.
The word dissolves into the air, swallowed by the hum of the university—unnoticed, but not insignificant.
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and then Add to home screen.