Before class started, Kawakami noticed Ren approaching the classroom, held her hand to her chest, and let out a sigh of relief.
"Amamiya, a moment?"
"Yes, Sensei?" Ren answered politely as the teacher motioned him toward the staff room.
"Follow me for a moment."
"Joker... do you think?"
"No," Ren whispered back as Kawakami led him forward.
Briefly pausing for the principal to pass, Ren noticed a familiar orange-haired girl following along and listening to his spiel.
"Oh, and this is the student I told you about," the principal said suddenly.
Ren opened his mouth to tell him that it wasn't his place to reveal such things, but before he could—
"Oh, hello again!" Orihime said brightly. "Thank you again for your help on the train."
"It's... no problem," Ren said awkwardly, his anger fading rapidly.
"You've met?" Kawakami asked, looking between the two.
"Like she said, on the train," Ren reluctantly revealed.
"It's enough time to get to know someone."
Ren was rendered speechless by her attitude.
'I just can't get mad at this girl,' he sighed, not even noticing that Orihime had purposely brought it up to stop the conflict before it happened.
'She is sharp,' Morgana thought.
There was a moment of silence before the principal coughed lightly and said as he walked away,
"Well. Remember what I've told you. Let's continue on. Kawakami-sensei, thank you for looking after him."
Leading Ren into the room, Kawakami suddenly looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"You didn't hit on her, did you?"
"Huh? Why would I have done that? It wasn't even really help, honestly," Ren said, confused.
Kawakami instantly deflated.
"Right, you're like that."
Ren tilted his head.
"Anyway, talks of your expulsion are cooling down," Kawakami began quietly. "It's actually quite a relief."
"What changed?" Ren asked, despite knowing it was likely a result of Kamoshida's behavior.
"Kamoshida-sensei," Kawakami said with almost painfully obvious disgust, "was the main instigator of the whole thing. You don't cause any problems, and you do your work despite using your phone constantly. The other teachers really don't have a reason to expel you."
"So they were just placating an idiotic asshole."
"Pfft. Language," Kawakami said while trying to keep a straight face.
"It's nice to meet you, everyone! My name is Orihime Inoue! I hope we get along!" the transfer student said with a blinding smile to the classroom.
"An angel..."
"I wonder if she's single..."
"Her boobs are huge!"
"QUIET DOWN!" Kawakami snapped. "Did you all just enter puberty?"
"And you," she said, pointing to the girl who made the vulgar comment. "Office. After class."
Ren was once again struck by the sincerity of this girl.
"Inoue-san, please take a seat in any of the free chairs."
"Hmm, okay, Sensei!"
Orihime walked between the desks to choose a seat when she noticed Ren spinning his pencil around his finger and looking bored.
"Hello, Amamiya-san!"
Ren blinked, dropping his pencil.
"Hello?"
"Do you mind if I sit here?" she said to Ren and Ann, pointing to the seat beside them. "I don't have textbooks yet, so I have to share."
"You can share with me, Inoue-san!" Ann said.
"Oh! Thank you so much!"
Meanwhile, the class was buzzing again.
"She knows the delinquent?"
"I hope it isn't like a bad doujin..."
Kawakami gave up on managing the class and tiredly began her lecture.
---
Ann was having a blast. Orihime was a breath of fresh air after all the trouble lately. Not only did she ignore the rumors about Ren and Ann, she was genuinely kind. Ann was sure that Shiho would love her to bits.
"I'm hungry!" Orihime suddenly declared.
"Would you like to have lunch with my best friend and me, Orihime-san?"
"No need for honorifics," Orihime answered gently. "Just call me Orihime, and I'll call you Ann."
Ren simply listened with a smile.
"I'm glad Lady Ann is so cheerful right now," Morgana said as they walked down the hall looking for Ryuji.
"I am too. She deserves it."
'So do you, Ren...' Morgana thought with an inward frown.
Ren and Morgana's conversation was cut short by a huff from Orihime.
"Why did you leave the kitty in your bag?" she asked with an angry face that didn't look intimidating at all, but actually extremely cute.
"Ann, is this creature from an anime?"
"Don't be an ass, Ren," Ann laughed. "Come on, Orihime. Girls-only lunch. Ignore them. Morgana likes it in the bag."
Ren just chuckled as they walked away from him. He followed not long after.
---
School ended smoothly, Orihime split from the group saying she needed to call her bestfriend, or she would come charging from their hometown to Tokyo. Shiho laughed loudly when he found out that Orihime's friend was the famous Tatsuki Arisawa.
"Please introduce me! I want to learn martial arts so badly, and she is a national champion!" Shiho excitedly asked before blushing and apologizing.
The group laughed at her enthusiasm.
---
Arriving at Leblanc, Ren was shocked to see Orihime there eating a bowl of curry.
Sojiro was staring at her in shocked silence.
"Sojiro?" Ren said to his caretaker. "You okay?"
Ren knew how overwhelming this girl was. She was always extremely optimistic and smiling. He knew such people were usually actually extremely depressed...But this girl… It felt to him like she was being genuine.
"Hello Ren! I got lost!" Orihime cheerfully said.
"She...poured the coffee into the curry directly.." Sojiro muttered.
"Ren do you have Melon bread left from lunch?" She asked with a smile.
---