Before the guys could step any further, they get a chill as Touma steps behind them.
Touma "Hey."
He says intimidatingly as they slowly turn around and look up to see him glaring at them. They yell in fear before bowing and running back down the alley.
Thugs "We're very sorry!"
Touma watches as they run away in fear. Chizuru exhales as she calms down and puts the cat down.
Chizuru "Touma… Thank you."
He then sweats and holds his chest.
Touma "He… He had a knife. That was scary…"
Chizuru giggles a bit as Touma calms down. The cat then rubs itself against his leg appreciatively. Touma smiles and crouches down to pet the cat gently.
Touma "You're a brave little guy, aren't you? Good job."
He says softly as he pets the cat. Chizuru notices him talking openly to the small cat.
Chizuru "You talk to small animals often, don't you?"
She asks softly. Touma just smiles and nods.
Touma "I-I think they're super cute a-and they make me feel less scary. Because if t-this little guy isn't scared of me, why should anyone e-else be?"
He doesn't take his eyes off the cat as he pets it. Chizuru is slightly surprised for a moment but smiles warmly. Then her eyes grow wide and she smiles widely.
Chizuru "Wait, Touma! You were just talking to me!"
He looks up confused.
Chizuru "Just now, you were telling me about how you feel without stopping or hesitating!"
He gets a surprised look when he realizes that too.
Chizuru "Maybe… that's it. Maybe you just need to be yourself. Don't try to hide how you feel or what you want to say to anyone. Don't try to pretend to be someone you're not. I think you've been trying to act "proper" for everyone else and try to be something you're not. But since you're so nice deep down, you just need to act natural and not hide from others. Just say what you're thinking and I'm sure it'll come out!"
Touma "Well… I… Um…"
He begins to stutter and blush while rubbing the back of his head. Chizuru smiles and sighs a little.
Chizuru "We'll… keep working on it. At least for now I think we figured out how to help you."
She then smiles warmly at him and he stops stuttering but blushes more as he sees how cute she is. His eyes shine as he admires Chizuru. She stops giggling and turns away from him.
Chizuru "Come on, we should probably get home."
Touma "R-right!.."
He says as they continue down the street while the cat they saved stares at them before meowing and running off.
In the clubroom, the group is making their way in and settling down as Chizuru walks in with Touma behind her. He is nervous and sweating a bit.
Haru "Hey Touma my man! Good to see you!"
He says with a wave of his hand. Touma smiles a bit at the friendly gesture and nods.
Chizuru "Guys, I think we've had a breakthrough. Buuut I think Touma should be the one to tell you."
Everyone is surprised as they all look at him. He gets nervous some more and lowers his head. He then looks slightly at Chizuru who gives him an encouraging look. He takes a deep breath and exhales before speaking.
Touma "I… I appreciate your h-help but… I think…"
He hesitates for a moment before he lifts his head and confidently says.
Touma "I think I like Chizuru!"
They all stare at him confused as his eyes grow wide and he blushes.
Touma "Wait! No, I… I think I like Chizuru's way of helping me… S-she's… got a different…method…"
He begins to droop as he speaks. Chizuru smiles and sweats as she pats him on the back.
Chizuru "I think that was good enough for today."
He sits down as Hisana and Haru playfully pat him on the back.
Chizuru "I think it'd be best if we simply encourage him to speak his mind rather than do things he doesn't want to do. He has the speaking skills in there somewhere, he just has to get used to using them."
Hikigaya "I was gonna say, back during the Sports Festival, I could've sworn he was doing just fine."
Touma "That was d-different…"
He says under his arms with his head on the desk. He lifts his head with his eyes closed.
Touma "My sister was there a-and we had a job to do… I didn't w-want to get in the way…"
He puts his head back down as Chizuru motions towards him.
Chizuru "See? He can do it, he just needs some encouragement!"
She says with a smile. The others smile and nod.
Kitaro "Sounds good to me. Big guy just needs to speak his mind more. Seems simple enough."
He says while leaning back in his chair.
Sugawara "So does that mean we can mark this problem as a success?"
Suddenly, the clubroom's door swings open. They all turn sharply to look as a tall figure stands in the doorway. Principal Ai then steps in.
Principal Ai "I have come for my final inspection."
Shiori sweats nervously as she steps further in and looks around.
Principal Ai "I have heard about your stall during the Club Festival. You even made posters. Well done."
She smiles and looks to the other side. Everyone sits quietly and nervously as she inspects.
Principal Ai "I can see you've made quite a few clubmates. More than what I required. Good job."
Mormo "Who even is this broad? Coming in here and judging us-"
Suiyoubi quickly covers his mouth as Principal Ai turns and looks at her. Suiyoubi smiles nervously as she quickly hides Mormo in her back. Principal Ai smiles.
Principal Ai "Should I count the talking bear as another member or only a half?"
Mormo gets angry and breaks free of Suiyoubi's hands and runs around to face Principal Ai.
Mormo "Listen here sister! I ain't just a half member! I'm a full time support member on this team! I'm more of a member than that guy!"
He points his plushy arm at Tsuki in the corner.
Tsuki "Hey."
Mormo "So yes, count me as another member. If you don't, oooh boy! Will I feel sorry for you."
He crosses his arm and turns away from her. She stares in silence for a moment before smiling.
Principal Ai "You're awfully cute, aren't you?"
He looks back, blushing a little before getting angry.
Mormo "Don't patronize me!"
Principal Ai "Anyway, I had little doubt that you would be able to accomplish the first two requirements with ease. What I'm really here for is to hear about your problem solving. Have you met the required amount?"
She stares directly at Shiori who sweats.
Shiori "Y-yes we have."
Principal Ai "Expound."
Shiori "Well, on the day of the Club Festival, we got our first client. It was Suiyoubi. She had lost Mormo so we spent the day trying to find him and eventually did, as you can see."
Suiyoubi smiles as Mormo nods confidently at Principal Ai.
Shiori "Then we helped Mr. Goda achieve his goal in the Sports Festival. He wanted to win his first festival as a teacher and although we didn't win, I talked with him after and he said he was very satisfied with what we achieved that day claiming he felt like a winner anyway."
Principal Ai smiles and nods.
Shiori "And finally, so far, we have Touma. He came to us seeking help to improve his communication skills. And we have just succeeded in helping him with that too."
Principal Ai turns and looks at Touma. He gets nervous and looks away.
Principal Ai "Is that true? Do you think they have helped you?"
Touma looks up at Principal Ai and hesitates. He then nods.
Principal Ai "Go on. If they have really helped you then I'm sure you can say it to me."
The others look nervous as Touma sweats. After a moment of hesitation he speaks.
Touma "Yes. I think t-they have helped me…"
Principal Ai stares at him for a moment before smiling.
Principal Ai "Good enough for me."
They all sigh in relief.
Principal Ai "It seems you have done well to meet my requirements. You no longer have to worry about dissolvement or anything or the sort The Helpers Club is now complete."
They smile and high five each other before she speaks again.
Principal Club "But don't think this is time for you to just slack off. The student body president will ensure that you all continue your best work for your fellow students. Understand?"
Hikigaya and Shiori nod as she smiles back.
Principal Ai "Good. Now, carry on. Don't let me distract you."
As she leaves the room, she stops in the doorway and turns around.
Principal Ai "Oh, and Shiori, Hikigaya."
They look at her.
Principal Ai "Do keep up the good work. I look forward to seeing your progress."
She smiles before leaving.
Another day, the school day comes to an end as the group all packs up their things and get ready to leave. Sky, the girl dressed in a cape and headband, notices them getting up and leaving. She quickly finishes writing something down then quickly throws her things in her bag. She grabs it and tries to get up fast to follow them but her cape gets caught on the desk and she falls over. She snaps back up to try and yank her cape off of her desk but the group is long gone. As they walk out of the front gate area, they hear someone calling them from the second floor window.
Sky "Hey guys! Wait up!"
They turn to see Sky opening the window and putting her foot on the frame.
Kitaro "Oh this is gonna be funny."
Suiyoubi "Should we do something?"
Hikigaya "No, no. I want to see where this is going."
Shiori rolls her eyes as she steps closer to the window and Sky seemingly getting ready to jump down.
Shiori "Hey, I don't know what you're doing but if you're trying to get down, I suggest you take the stairs!"
Sky "No, don't worry! I've done this a million times!"
Shiori shakes her head as the others watch in awe as Sky jumps out of the window with perfect form as her cape flies in the air. As she falls through the air she begins to spin forward with elegance and the group is surprised by her skill in the air. She spins before hitting the ground at full speed and tumbling over before sliding on her face in front of the group.