Main Story – Chapter 3: Culture Festival Preparations

Summer vacation passes by in a flash.

I spent most of August practicing for the national tennis tournament. Zomu-kun was struggling with the handover as the new generation took over the soccer club. Mi-chan and Omori-kun were cooped up in summer cram school.

We had planned to go to the Sumita River fireworks festival, but unfortunately, it was canceled due to bad weather this year, so we just ended up watching old footage on TV.

In the end, the only trip we all took together was to Summer Park. Other than that, we just hung out at our usual family restaurant near school or went shopping for clothes and trinkets at our favorite stores, and just like that, our third year of middle school summer came to an end.

—And then came September.

The school plunged into the culture festival preparation period.

“Yeah, yeah, that’s it! Just a little louder now!”

We were in the gym, in front of the stage.

I shouted, using my rolled-up script as a makeshift megaphone.

“Stop! Your movements are a little too plain! Can you use the whole stage?”

“You got it, Director! Alright, set props back to one!” Zomu-kun, the lead actor and team leader, waved in response and then gave instructions to the backstage crew.

As everyone gathered on stage in a flurry of activity at his command, I sat down with a sigh in a folding chair and quenched my parched throat with some water.

—At our school, Akagawa Academy, the culture festival has a time slot for stage performances.

It’s mainly a showcase for the brass band and light music clubs, but it’s also a tradition for a few volunteer groups to put on their own shows, like bands formed with friends or comedy routines.

And this time, our class, 3-A, decided to perform a 30-minute mini-play.

“Hah… I’m so nervous,” Matsun—or Yuina Matsubara—who was waiting for her cue next to me, suddenly muttered anxiously.

Matsun is the lead actress for this play. She’s always loved theater, but since our school doesn't have a drama club, she’s always just been a spectator, constantly saying, “I’d love to try acting someday.”

So, thinking it was a good opportunity, I recommended her, and with everyone's approval, she was chosen for the leading role.

“But Mei… are you sure you didn’t want to be the lead?”

“Hm? What’s this all of a sudden? I told you, this role suits me better.”

I replied, tapping my hand with the script.

Of course, I’m still a girl, so it’s not like I don’t have some longing for the words “lead actress.” But I was the one who proposed the project, so it only makes sense for me to take responsibility for it.

Of course, if there was someone else better suited to direct, it would be a different story. But our class is full of actor types, and it goes without saying that it’s best for everyone to be in a position where they can maximize their own strengths.

“But… I still think you would have shined more as the lead, Mei. Especially since the male lead is Nozomu-kun.”

Hmm, haha.

Well, there was also the fact that because the male lead was Zomu-kun, it was better that I didn’t do it…

As I scratched my cheek with a vague smile, Matsun continued, her face still anxious.

“I’m not that cute, I can’t remember my lines, and I keep messing them up… Maybe I’m just not cut out for acting. And when I think about what would happen if I messed up during the real performance—”

“And cut!”

I slapped my script shut to interrupt her and looked into her eyes.

“You’re the one who found this script in the first place, right, Matsun? You’ve always said you wanted to be the lead in a romance play.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. You’re perfect for the part, and you’re getting better with every practice. We still have time to prepare, so let’s just take it one step at a time, okay?”

“…Okay,” Matsun said after a moment of silence, giving a small nod.

“Uh-huh, uh-huh,” I nodded back and placed my hands gently on her shoulders to reassure her. “Don’t worry, this genius director will guide you to perfection! After all, it’s MEI!”

“…Haha, that’s so lame.”

Relieved to finally see her smile, I turned my attention back to the stage.

“Alright, let’s continue! Zomu-kun, are you ready?”

“Yeah!”

I guided Matsun to the wings and then returned to the director's chair.

Phew… It seems like the recent string of mistakes has made her a bit sensitive. She’s a bit of a worrywart by nature, so maybe that’s getting the better of her.

I watched the classmates bustling about on stage and thought calmly.

—Realistically, we haven't yet reached a level where we can do a full run-through.

We’re about halfway through the preparation period, but it’s getting to the point where it will be tough if they haven’t mastered the basics like lines and movements.

Of course, everyone is working hard and not slacking off.

So what we're lacking is simply practice time.

…Maybe taking on a play was too much after all.

At the culture festival, all classes run a food stall as a common activity. This is treated as the main event, an inter-class competition like the ball games, and every year, every class takes it very seriously. Normally, that alone is enough to keep everyone busy, and classes don't usually do stage performances as well.

But this time, a friend from the student council came to me in tears, asking for help because they were one group short of participants, and I couldn't bring myself to say no.

Everyone was enthusiastic when I proposed it, and there were no objections, but… it ended up being more work than we expected, and now we’re working full-tilt not just after school, but in the morning and during lunch breaks as well.

Because we’ve allocated so many people to the drama team, I hear that the food stall team’s progress isn't going well either. The leader of that team, our vice class representative Tatsuki, is in the brass band, and it seems like balancing that with club practice has been tough. It’s become obvious just how tired he is.

Hmm… maybe it's time to rethink our structure.

I thought it would be more efficient to have each team focus on their own tasks, but it seems that's not going to work. It might be better to unify the chain of command at this point and make it possible to allocate personnel more flexibly.

Fortunately, I still have some capacity. I’ll take on the management of the food stall side in parallel with directing the play.

The budget is also tight, so I'll need to adjust that and redraw the schedule. It's probably a good idea to start planning the after-party soon, too. And I want to take care of everyone's mental well-being.

…Yeah. My sleeping hours might get a little shorter, but it’s not impossible.

If sacrificing my skin is all it takes to solve the problem, then it’s a small price to pay. Everyone is working so hard, so I have to do everything I can, too.

Besides, the sense of accomplishment when we pull it off will surely be amazing.

Everyone will be completely satisfied, and they’ll be able to smile with a greater sense of fulfillment than ever before.

—…

Yeah. This can’t be a strange way of thinking.

“—Positions set! We’re ready to start!”

“Ah, okay!”

Oops, no time to let my guard down. Right now, I need to focus on improving the quality of the play.

“Alright, Scene 12, take three! Action!”

I simulated the upcoming movements in my head and slapped my script to signal the start.

◆

The next day, after school.

Before starting today's activities, I immediately announced the new structure I'd come up with.

“—To sum it up, the plan is for everyone to basically follow the schedule I just handed out, but on any given day, I might ask you to help out a team that’s short on hands. I’ll be the one giving out instructions on who helps with what, so please be sure to check the class LINE group regularly.”

A chorus of “Okay!”s came from around the classroom.

“Also, if you have any questions or if any problems come up, just bring them to me, and I’ll figure something out! Thanks, everyone!”

This time, a few chuckles rippled through the room.

Good, the class atmosphere is as good as always. As long as I can coordinate things perfectly, it looks like we can keep pushing forward.

“Uh, um… Kiyosato?”

I noticed that Tatsuki, the former leader of the food stall team, had his hand hesitantly raised.

“Yeah? What is it, Tatsuki?”

“About this new structure… does this mean I’m not needed anymore?” he asked, his face glum.

Tatsuki, or Arata Takaido, is the class entertainer. He’s an endearing, comedian-type of guy who often makes everyone laugh by doing impressions of famous comedians.

He seems carefree because of his lighthearted demeanor, but on the inside, he’s quite sensitive, and I hear he often gets an upset stomach from nerves before a club competition.

I continued, consciously using a gentle tone to reassure him.

“Not needed? Of course not. I heard your club is at its peak right now and you’re really pressed for time, right? It’s hard to balance both, isn’t it?”

“Well… yeah, but…”

“This new arrangement takes that into account. I mean, it would be terrible if you got sick from overworking yourself.”

Tatsuki looked down, his face clouding over awkwardly.

Tatsuki was never really the type suited for a management or leadership role. In fact, in our class, the only ones who can really handle that sort of thing are me, Zomu-kun, and Mi-chan, but only for backstage stuff.

But Zomu-kun and I were both assigned to the play, and I had put Mi-chan in charge of costumes. I had only asked Tatsuki, taking advantage of his title as vice class representative and ignoring his actual aptitude.

Sensing the slightly awkward atmosphere, I grinned mischievously.

“Besides, don’t worry! From now on, I’m going to have you do a ton of the toughest manual labor! And running errands!”

“What?! That’s just being an errand boy!”

“You could say that!”

My lighthearted quip drew another round of laughter from my classmates.

Good, I think that lightened the mood a bit.

This time, I smiled gently and continued.

“Thank you for working so hard up until now. So please, rely on me when things get tough. Okay?”

He had already done more than enough just by working so hard without a single complaint. Now it was my turn to properly reward that effort.

Tatsuki kept his head down and mumbled something under his breath for a moment.

Hmm…?

“Well, if you say so, Kiyosato. From now on, I’ll do my best as the Minister of Miscellaneous Chores!” he suddenly blurted out in a joking tone.

A wave of laughter erupted from the class, brightening the atmosphere.

Haha, that’s it. Tatsuki’s greatest charm is his ability to be a mood-maker.

I clapped my hands to get everyone’s attention.

“Alright, if there are no other questions, we’ll start with this system from today! The drama team will practice in the gym during our assigned time, as usual. The rest of the time, you’ll be reviewing your lines in an empty classroom. The food stall team, I have some things I want to share, so please stay here.”

With everyone’s agreement, I temporarily dismissed the class.

As the classroom suddenly grew noisy, I returned to my seat.

Alright, time to switch gears. The next document is…

“Mei.”

Just then, Zomu-kun came over.

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“Are you sure you’re gonna be okay, taking on all that stuff?”

His voice was tinged with concern.

Zomu-kun is always so kind in these moments. He’s usually not like this at all, but whenever someone’s in trouble or having a hard time, he always shows his concern.

I appreciated the sentiment, but this time, it was an unnecessary worry. It wasn’t hard, aside from the toll on my skin.

I made a muscle and answered jokingly.

“Easy peasy. I’m the invincible Mei-chan, after all! This is a piece of cake.”

“Jeez… You always take on everything yourself like that, Mei.”

…Oh?

“Well, can’t be helped. I’ll help out too!”

His reply, delivered with a weary look, made my eyes go wide.

Wait, did he not understand what I was saying?

“I can’t do any of the brainy stuff, but it’s not cool to just let you do all the hard work, Mei.”

“Um, well. It’s okay if you just focus on the play for now, Zomu-kun! More importantly, hurry up and learn those long lines of yours.”

“Of course, I’m not gonna slack off on that. That’s a given.”

“Haha, hmm…”

That’s strange. Normally, he’d get the hint with this kind of tone.

Does he think I'm just putting on a brave face? Did I overdo the joking tone?

I shifted my tone to be a little more serious and opened my mouth.

“Um… I’m really, truly okay. The coordination is mostly just checking on everything, and there’s almost nothing you can help me with.”

“No, no, there have to be little errands and stuff, right? There’s nothing wrong with splitting up that kind of work, is there?”

…Mmm. He seems unusually determined.

Of course, I’m grateful for his offer to help. But Zomu-kun is the leader of the drama team, and considering he needs to take charge when I’m not there, it’s better if he doesn’t get involved in the overall management.

And—.

I glanced around, and I could see a few of the girls furtively watching us.

To be honest… I wanted to minimize the opportunities for Zomu-kun and me to be seen together alone during the culture festival.

The culture festival always seems to have a romantically charged atmosphere. There are a lot of people, both boys and girls, who are determined to confess to their crushes during this time.

I could sense that feeling among the girls in our class who have a crush on Zomu-kun.

And even if that weren’t the case, Ririko-chan already has her eyes on me, so I should avoid any actions that could be misunderstood. It would be very bad if people misunderstood and thought I was abusing my position as the overall supervisor to flirt with him.

And—.

There’s no guarantee that Zomu-kun himself wouldn’t get swept up in that atmosphere.

That’s the one thing I have to avoid.

I thought for a moment and then spoke.

“…Okay. Then, when I need help, I’ll be the one to ask. So until then, I want you to focus on the play.”

I said it with a little more force than usual.

Zomu-kun's concern was born from goodwill, and it pained me to brush it off so bluntly.

So for now, I’ll accept his offer, and then I can just arrange things so we don’t have any opportunities to be alone together. That should cause fewer problems than a flat-out refusal.

Zomu-kun seemed to accept this, and he struck a dramatic, saluting pose.

"Roger that, Director! Alright, guess I'll get to memorizing!"

"You got it! Oh, and I'll be testing you later, you know. You're buying me a juice for every mistake."

"Eh? Isn't that a little harsh...? And besides, you'll get f—"

"Did you say something?"

"IT WAS NOTHING."

Okay, back to normal.

I uncurled my fingers from their claw-like shape and watched Zomu-kun leave, letting out a small sigh.

Right, now for those printouts.

"...Hm."

Just then, my eyes met with Oomori-kun's in the seat behind me.

I smiled and gave a little wave, but Oomori-kun just stood up with a blank expression and walked out of the classroom.

Hmm...

Yeah... I really do feel like there's been some distance between me and Oomori-kun ever since the pool.

He acts the same when we're in a group, and he's always had a bit of a grumpy face, so in a way, it's business as usual.

But then there are little moments, like just now, where I feel like he's avoiding me.

The only thing I can think of is... that conversation we had on the Ferris wheel, but—

"Hey Kiyosato, you coming?" "We're wasting time!" "Hurry, hurry!"

"Ah, sorry, sorry!"

Urged on by everyone, I shook my head to clear away the distracting thoughts.

...In any case, what I need to do remains the same.

Do everything I can to make everyone smile, so we can all laugh together.

Setting aside my own feelings, there's absolutely no way that can be the wrong thing to do.

Right now, the most important thing is making this culture festival a success!

Steeling my resolve, I pulled out a stack of printouts.

◆

—The next day, after school.

With the new system in full swing.

I was making the rounds to each team, clipboard in hand, giving out various small instructions.

"Heeey, Mi-chan!"

I called out in a loud voice as I entered the home economics room, waving my hand.

The clattering sound of a sewing machine stopped, and Mi-chan peeked out from a table in the center of the room by the window.

"Mei? What's up?"

"You got a minute?"

I walked to the center of the room, my eyes glancing at the fabric under the sewing machine.

The costume team was large, with five members, and I'd put Mi-chan in charge of them.

Our play is a contemporary drama, so we don't need any special costumes, but our food stall is a maid cafe, and the preparations for that are time-consuming. On top of that, we splurged on the food for the stall, so our budget is super tight, which means we have to do things like hemming and making accessories ourselves.

After waiting for Mi-chan to come over, I looked down at my clipboard.

"Okay, so. I want to cut the budget down as much as possible, even now, and I was thinking of reducing the number of costume pieces... Is there any way we can make do by just hemming things?"

"I figured you'd say that, so I picked out designs with that in mind from the start. On the day of, we can just use safety pins for quick adjustments."

"Whoa, you're the best!"

Man, Mi-chan is so on top of the little details. I'm so glad I left this to her!

"I'm making the headbands now. We're on a tight schedule, but these would cost a decent amount to buy, right?"

"You're perfect. I love you!"

"Hey, don't just hug me!"

She pushed me away, and with a surprising amount of force, too. That stung a little.

"...So, is that all you needed?"

"Oh, and about the fabric you said you were short on, I asked Zomu-kun and Oomori-kun to go on a supply run, so it should be here soon. Also, I'll be collecting the receipts for small things like thread and buttons later, so could you gather them up for me first—"

As I continued explaining, I felt Mi-chan's attention suddenly flicker to something behind me.

Hmm...?

"Right, right, everything's fine here. Don't worry about it."

But the glance was gone in an instant, and she gave me a solid reply.

Was I imagining things...? Oh well.

Anyway, the costume team is running smoothly. The cooking team is probably next.

As I excitedly checked off the task on my list—

"Well, well, look how much fun you're having."

Suddenly, a voice echoed from a table to my back left.

"...Ririko-chan?"

I turned to see Ririko-chan and the other girls from Class B on the other side of a sewing machine.

Ah, I see... Now Mi-chan's reaction makes sense.

From the looks of it, they were preparing costumes just like our class. If I remember right, they're also doing a maid cafe.

Ririko-chan continued with a snicker.

"But it looks sooo hard. Doing a play on top of being this busy... So typical of Class A."

Ugh, so she finally decides to talk to me, and it's just to be sarcastic...

Usually, she just ignores me, so maybe actually getting to have a conversation is an improvement. Though I feel like both are pretty much the same...

Whatever the case, I can't just ignore her now that she's spoken to me. I need to be careful to respond in a way that won't upset her.

"Ahaha, it's definitely a lot of work. But it's also a ton of fun!"

"It'll be sooo lame if you fail. Are you really sure you're gonna finish in time?"

"Of course! We're all working hard to make sure we do. But if we do happen to fail, I guess that would be the fault of the class rep—the leader."

"...Oh, okay."

Apparently dissatisfied with my series of answers, Ririko-chan scowled and turned back to her sewing machine.

Whoops, did I mess up? For some reason, I can never seem to handle Ririko-chan properly...

As I scratched my cheek and casually watched her group, my eyes fell on a paper bag nearby, overflowing with a massive amount of fabric.

Looking closer, I saw stacks and stacks of what looked like paper patterns on their table—far, far more than we had.

Wait, no way—?

"Wait, are you guys making all your costumes from scratch?!"

Ririko-chan reacted to my surprised outburst.

"...What if we are?"

"That's amazing!"

I let out a sigh of pure admiration.

I'd heard rumors that Ririko-chan was a stylish girl who was always checking out the shops at Maruhachi and Ura-Sando. And it was true—from the way she customized her uniform to her nails, she put more care into her fashion than anyone.

But I never imagined she could actually sew, too. I don't know anything about dressmaking, but even to my amateur eyes, making something like a maid outfit from scratch looked incredibly difficult.

My own eyes sparkling, I continued.

"A maid cafe with completely original costumes... That alone makes me super curious."

There are a few classes doing maid cafes. In our case, we decided the costumes were a lost cause and focused on the food instead, but there's a limit to what we can serve, and the downside is that people won't know how good it is until they try it.

On the other hand, you can tell if a costume is good just by looking at it. If they can differentiate themselves from the cheap, ready-made stuff you get at a party store, that alone should draw a lot of attention.

Besides, the judging for the stalls is based on a popularity vote, not sales, so I think focusing on appearances is the smarter strategy.

They might just be our toughest competition... Maybe we should rethink our own strategy a bit.

I nodded to myself, lost in thought.

And then.

"...Hah."

Ririko-chan let out a sudden breath.

"Would you stop with the backhanded compliments?"

"...Huh?"

Backhanded... compliment?

As I stood there, unable to immediately grasp her meaning, Ririko-chan's face hardened and she shot to her feet.

"It's not like we can beat Class A with you in it anyway, okay? Sorry all we can do is try and fool people with our costumes!"

"W-Wait a minute. That's not what I meant at all..."

Wh-Why did she take it as a sarcastic remark? I didn't mean it with that kind of nuance at all.

"Um... Our class, we never even had the idea to make our own costumes. So I just... genuinely thought it was amazing. I really do."

I said, looking Ririko-chan straight in the eye to sound as sincere as possible.

But Ririko-chan's face just twisted in disgust.

"...Seriously, how are you so naturally condescending? You're so annoying."

Condescending?

How could she possibly interpret what I just said that way...?

"No, that's not it. I never meant to—"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, I'm done. What a waste of my time talking to you."

As I stood there, unsure how to respond, the area around us began to stir with noise. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Mi-chan's face clouded with anxiety.

This is bad... People are going to think we're fighting. If I let things get this tense over something like this, it won't be good for anyone.

...Anyway.

It's a fact that I made her uncomfortable. I guess I have no choice but to apologize and hope she'll drop it.

Just as I made that decision and was about to lower my head—

"You started it, so what the hell are you talking about? You're such a pain."

Suddenly, the back of a dress shirt appeared in front of me, and those words reached my ears.

I looked up with a dazed expression, and there he was—

"Oomori-kun...?"

Oomori-kun was standing there, holding a paper bag full of fabric.

From behind him, Ririko-chan's voice piped up.

"...Oh? Asahi, I didn't know you were on costume duty, too."

"You don't want to get involved, right? So why are you still talking?"

"............"

Is he... sticking up for me?

Even looking up from here, I can't see his face. All I see is his back, standing like a wall between me and Ririko-chan.

No, there's no doubt. The moment he sensed trouble, he jumped in to help.

His thoughtfulness sent a warm pang through my chest.

—No.

But still.

"...Thanks for the supply run, Oomori-kun! I'll take this!"

I snatched the paper bag from his hand and patted him on the back.

"There, it's fine now! You should hurry back to prop duty!"

That approach of his—

It's the kind that leaves no one with a smile.

At my words, Oomori-kun turned, just his upper body, to face me.

His expression was half anger.

The rest was pure exasperation.

"Kiyosato—"

"Ririko-chan, sorry for interrupting you, too!"

I cut him off, pretending not to notice, and headed toward Mi-chan, the paper bag rustling in my hands.

...I'm sorry, Oomori-kun.

I appreciate you sticking up for me, I really do.

But your way would leave Ririko-chan with no way to save face. I'm not completely blameless here, so we can't just make her out to be the villain.

I dropped the bag on the table next to Mi-chan with a thump.

"Here you go, Mi-chan. The extra fabric I mentioned. I'll leave this with you."

"..., right."

Mi-chan, who had been looking down with her lips pressed together, looked up at me.

Her face, for some reason, was a blank, emotionless mask.

—...?

"...Thanks, Mei. Leave the rest to me."

"Ah, yeah..."

The expression was gone in an instant, replaced by her usual gentle smile.

What was that?

Why did she make a face like that just now...?

"You should hurry on to the next team. If you stay here, you'll probably just get hassled again."

"...Got it."

Feeling a pang of reluctance, I headed for the exit next to Ririko-chan's table.

Mi-chan's right... It's not good for me to hang around here. I should leave before I stir up any more trouble.

"—Ah, Mei!"

"Whoa!"

Just as I was about to pass by Ririko-chan, Zomu-kun, who I assumed had also been on the supply run, popped out in front of me.

Yikes, you scared me... So they came back together.

I looked up at the tall figure blocking my path.

For some reason, Zomu-kun's face was etched with a look of panic.

"That whole thing just now... You didn't do anything wrong!"

He suddenly declared in a voice loud enough to echo through the room, and I flinched.

"Huh? Z-Zomu-kun? What are you saying all of a sudden..."

"I mean, c'mon... No matter how you look at it, Ririko was the one in the wrong. She's the one who should be apologizing—"

"—!"

"Zomu-kun!"

Sensing Ririko-chan gasp beside me, I raised my voice and cut Zomu-kun off.

I looked at a stunned Zomu-kun and spoke with a sharper tone.

"Let's not do this. I'm fine, so... okay?"

Zomu-kun swallowed his words and awkwardly turned his face away.

Why would Zomu-kun suddenly start blaming Ririko-chan like that...? He never does things like this.

I felt a growing sense of unease at everyone's strange behavior and tightened my grip on my clipboard.

...Anyway, the best thing for me to do right now is leave. I need to go.

I slipped out of the room through the gap in the doorway.

—But just as I was leaving.

"—Seriously, always putting on such a pristine face. Let's hope you don't come to regret it."

Muttered under her breath.

Ririko-chan's words, devoid of any emotion.

Their meaning—at the time, I didn't understand it.

◆

For a while after that, we threw ourselves into our preparations.

Despite the killer schedule, everyone kept up, and both the food stall and the play were progressing more or less on schedule.

Before I knew it, we were less than a week away from the main event, right in the middle of the final spurt.

Everyone was at their peak of exhaustion, but if we just held on for a little longer, everything would work out—

And it's at times like those...

That trouble decides to strike.

"—We're short on ingredients?"

It happened while we were in the classroom, checking the food supplies for the stall that had just been delivered.

The sudden revelation sent the room into an uproar.

"What? What are we missing?" "Sugar!? Of all things, that?!" "W-Wait a minute, we can't make anything without that!" "Hey, hey, hey, what are we gonna do...?!"

"Alright, alright, alright, calm down, you guys!"

Zomu-kun clapped his hands, trying to quell the chaos, but no one seemed to be calming down. They were probably just one step from the finish line, and this huge problem made all their anxiety boil over.

"What do we do...? Even if we put in a request now, it won't make it in time..."

Mi-chan, who was checking the management sheet next to me, looked at me with a troubled expression.

Forcing myself to stay calm, I questioned the girl from the food team who had delivered the shocking news—Kamiizumi Mio-chan.

"Um... You did submit the order form to the student council, right?"

By the time I'd taken over management of the food stall team, the order for all the necessary ingredients had already been placed.

From what Takky told me, they'd left it to Kamiizumi-chan, whose family owns a cake shop, to handle everything—

"About that..."

Kamiizumi-chan answered, rubbing her red, swollen eyes.

"It seems... I forgot to turn in one of the forms..."

—!

A new wave of shock rippled through the classroom.

"You forgot?!" "Are you serious?!" "And you're telling us now?!"

Ah, I see... so that's why she's been so down these past few days...

I clenched my fists tightly, regretting that I had just assumed she was tired.

Kamiizumi-chan is a quiet girl, and a bit timid. She probably wanted to say something but couldn't bring herself to do it.

"Honestly, you...! Why didn't you say something sooner...!"

Next to her, Kamiizumi-chan's close friend—Komaba Rin-chan—was raising her voice, her anger still simmering.

Komaba-chan is on the cooking team and has a lot of "girl power," even making her own bento lunch every day.

She's also someone who values cooperation, so she's strict about any actions that disrupt the group's harmony.

It seemed she had only just learned the truth herself, and it looked like they'd had a huge argument before coming here.

Kamiizumi-chan's eyes welled up with tears again, and she covered her face with her hands.

"B-But...! I thought maybe my family's shop could provide it...!"

"You can't just do that without the student council's permission! Why do you think we go through the trouble of applying and having them buy everything for us in one go?!"

"A-And... everyone's working so hard, I didn't want to hold them back..."

"That's why...! This is obviously way more trouble! You idiot!"

"U-Uuuu...!"

"Okay, okay, okay, calm down, calm down."

I soothed the heated Komaba-chan and then declared confidently, in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear:

"It's fine! For situations just like this, there's a loophole called a 'personal purchase application.' Someone on the student council taught me about it!"

"I know about that! But it's not like we can get any more money now!"

"Heheh. Actually, just in case something like this happened, I made sure we had a little extra budget stashed away."

"Huh...?"

Komaba-chan's mouth fell open.

Our classmates all looked equally shocked, their faces saying, "Wait, seriously?"

"M-Mei-chan... is that... true...?"

I pounded my chest, looking at the stunned Kamiizumi-chan.

"It is, it is! I already accounted for an accident like this!"

Then, I gave her a gentle, reassuring smile and pulled a handkerchief from my pocket.

"So don't cry. I'm sorry, I should have noticed sooner."

In reality, it was my fault for not double-checking when I took over management. Everyone was working at near-full capacity; I should have operated under the assumption that mistakes would happen.

"Mei-chan...! I-I'm so sorry, I really am...!"

"No, it's okay. Thank you for working so hard on your own until now."

I could feel the relief wash over the other students as they realized the situation wasn't fatal.

Phew. That should settle things down for now...

"—Hey, Kiyosato. Didn't you say we didn't have enough budget?"

But then.

This time it was Komaba-chan, her face still unconvinced.

"That's why we were pinching every penny. If there was extra, we could have made more things."

"Ah, well... I said extra, but that's not exactly right. It's called a contingency fund. It's just common sense for events like this to have some money pooled just in case. If we didn't end up using it for anything, I was going to put it toward the wrap party."

"...I don't really get it, but why did you hide it, then?"

"No, I wasn't trying to keep it a secret! It's just that talk about money is boring for people who aren't interested, you know? So I just figured I'd answer if someone asked."

"Oh, okay..."

Komaba-chan, still looking dissatisfied, turned away with a huff.

She's always been strong-willed, but she's being particularly harsh today. It's probably her strong sense of responsibility and the stress of the event getting to her.

Hoping to convey at least a little sincerity, I bowed my head deeply.

"I'm sorry. You're right, you're the head of the cooking team. I should have told you beforehand."

"...Whatever. It's not like you ever do anything wrong, Kiyosato."

Komaba-chan said bluntly before storming off.

It's probably best to leave her be for now... I'll follow up with her once she's calmed down.

I shifted gears and spoke to Kamiizumi-chan to figure out our next steps.

"Alright, we don't have much time, so can you tell me what we need to buy? I'll submit the request to the student council and get the ingredients myself."

"What...? B-But this is my fault, I should do everything..."

"Don't worry, don't worry, being the person in charge for times like this is what the class rep is for! You can leave it to the super-middle-manager Mei-chan. For now, Kamiizumi-chan, could you just double-check that we're not missing any other ingredients? Everyone else can go back to their tasks, too!"

With that, I more or less forcibly took over the cleanup and brought the matter to a close.

—Okay, this time, it's really settled.

As I let out a sigh of relief, Mi-chan's worried voice called out to me.

"Mei—"

"Hm?"

"...No. It's nothing."

But she stopped whatever she was about to say, handed me the management sheet she was holding, and returned to her post.

Hmm, haha. I wonder what that was about?

As I tilted my head with an oblivious expression, Oomori-kun, who had apparently been silently watching the whole thing unfold, walked past me without a word.

...Or so I thought.

"Liar."

He whispered.

Leaving that single word behind, he walked out of the classroom.

...Man, everyone's so scary today.

I shrugged and looked at the management sheet he'd handed me to check the amount of sugar we were missing.

—Right, then.

I wonder if my allowance will be enough...

◆

—After school.

After drama practice had ended.

"Ugh, this is kind of a pain!"

Working alone in the classroom on the application forms, I grumbled as I stretched my back.

I get that we have to be careful since it's food, but do I really need to write down the manufacturer and which supermarket I'm buying it from? It's not like it's a perishable item...

But if it gets sent back, we'll lose time, and I don't have the luxury of asking questions at a leisurely pace. I just need to fill this out somehow and get it approved first thing tomorrow morning.

As I was thinking that, I looked outside and saw that the sun had already set and it was pitch black.

The sounds of work that I'd been hearing from all over had faded without me noticing, and now the distant clatter of shoe lockers opening and closing echoed in the silence.

"...Whoa."

No wonder. It was already past the official time to leave school. I'd planned to finish up quickly and go home, but getting sidetracked with other little tasks had made me late.

Things are a little more relaxed during the culture festival season, but a teacher on patrol would probably be here soon. If I get a warning, I'll have no choice but to leave, so that's my time limit. I still have other things to do, and I really don't want to take any more work home.

I pressed a hand against my growling stomach and took a sip of water from my bottle.

Normally, I'd be munching on a snack, but... a quick calculation told me my allowance was about to be completely wiped out, so I decided to stave off my hunger with water from the drinking fountain.

No, wait, let's look at it this way. This is a chance to go on a diet. If I think of it as a trial to shed some pounds, I should be able to endure the hunger!

My stomach protested my newfound resolve with a "grrrrowl," but I ignored it and turned back to the paperwork.

Okay, manufacturer name, manufacturer name... I wonder if a search will turn anything up.

—Clatter.

Just as I started searching on my phone, the sound of the classroom door sliding open echoed through the room.

Ugh, the teacher's early today!

"Ahaha, I'm sorry! I'll leave right n— huh?"

As I hurriedly tried to clear my desk, I realized the figure was wearing a school uniform.

Hm...?

"...Oomori-kun?"

And there he was—Oomori-kun, standing alone, a plastic bag in his hand.

"Oh, the prop team is still here? Don't tell me there was some kind of trouble?"

I asked, blinking.

Oomori-kun didn't answer my question. He walked over in silence and dropped the bag he was holding onto the desk next to mine with a rustle.

"A little something for you."

"...Huh?"

I glanced into the open plastic bag.

Inside were a few snacks, like chocolate and cookies.

...Um.

"What is the meaning of this...?"

"You covered the cost of the mistake with your own money, didn't you? You really are a pushover to the very end."

He'd hit the nail right on the head. I swallowed hard.

"...Don't be silly, of course I didn't do that."

"Lies."

"It's not a lie..."

...So that's what he meant by "liar" earlier.

Knowing it was pointless to try and deny it, I still talked back, feeling vaguely dissatisfied.

"Um... you don't have to worry about it. I'm not hungry or anything."

"Yeah, right. That's a bit of a stretch when your stomach's been growling loud enough to hear outside."

"What, no way!?"

"Way."

"You're lying!"

Whap! Without thinking, I hit Oomori-kun with a rolled-up printout, just like how I'd jab at Zomu-kun.

Oops, that was impulsive. Hmm, maybe I'm a little tired, too.

As I lightly bopped myself with the printout-punch, Oomori-kun sat on the desk next to me and popped open a can of coffee. It seemed he was planning on staying.

Still, he's so sharp... Oomori-kun. I thought Mi-chan was the only one who could see through my lies.

And on top of that, he saw through my reaction and teased me about it. I'm not used to that, so it left me feeling a little flustered.

But still—

I looked up at his silent form as he brought the coffee to his lips, and a small smile escaped me.

First with Ririko-chan the other day, and now this... you're a really kind person, aren't you, Oomori-kun?

I'm sure he helped Mi-chan out in a similar way back then. It was kind of funny how he was so capable at everything, yet so clumsy when it came to showing he cared.

He should really let people see this side of him more. It's a real waste to only show this kindness to such a select few.

"...Oomori-kun. Why did you help Mi-chan?"

"Huh? ...What's this all of a sudden?"

Oomori-kun turned to me, his face suspicious.

The thing I tried to ask about before but couldn't... Maybe now I can get some answers.

"You know, that time with the library committee, you helped Mi-chan when she was in trouble, right? I bet it was just like this."

"..."

"I was just a little curious... why you did it."

As he'd said before, Oomori-kun is harsh with "people who don't matter."

The fact that he helped her means Mi-chan didn't fall into that category. If I can find out why, I might be able to get a sense of what he's really thinking.

Oomori-kun's expression returned to its usual blankness. He glanced at me once, then spoke.

"...It was just that Shinagawa's argument made more sense, and it pissed me off that the others were hiding behind lame excuses and spewing nothing but sophistry."

He said, taking a sip of coffee.

"I figured a type like Shinagawa would just get swept up by the crowd and change her opinion, but she refused to back down. That's what got me interested."

"...Hehe, I see, I see."

So, in other words, he liked Mi-chan's strength of will.

Some people might call it being stubborn, but I also think that's Mi-chan's greatest charm. It means she has something important that she's not willing to compromise on.

And the fact that he recognized that meant he was evaluating Mi-chan fairly.

That, more than anything, made me happy.

"But—that was all because of your influence, Kiyosato."

"...Huh?"

And just like that—

The conversation suddenly turned to me. For a second, I was at a loss for words.

"I had a vague feeling something was off, but she seemed pretty normal otherwise."

...W-Wait.

Just wait a second.

"Um, you know, I have nothing to do with it. Mi-chan has always been an amazing person like that."

"But you're the one who brings it out of her, right?"

Startled, I looked up.

Oomori-kun snorted and continued.

"I only realized it after we ended up in the same class, but you're always there to back her up, every time something happens. Like, 'that's what's good about her, that's her charm'."

"Well, that's true, but..."

"Even a trait that might normally be controversial becomes acceptable because 'the great Kiyosato approves of it.' It lets her show that side of herself without fear. It's like having the seal of approval from someone capable."

"N-No, that's not it at all. It's not like that—"

"That's just doping, in other words. A strength she can only show when you're around... that's not her own strength in the truest sense of the word, is it?"

Oomori-kun stated it plainly, as if he were just reporting the facts—

"I'm not a fan of people who have to be coddled and carried all the time. It's like, we're not kids, you know."

He declared in a cool voice.

His words, a complete contrast to his kindness from moments before, made my chest tighten painfully.

"Why...?"

"?"

"Why do you think that way... Oomori-kun?"

The compassion that should have been at Oomori-kun's core... it couldn't have been a lie. So how could he be so cold at the same time?

At my question, Oomori-kun was silent for a moment.

"...It just pisses me off when capable people get dragged down by others."

He placed the empty can on the desk with a clatter, a hint of irritation in his voice.

"It's always the capable ones who get held back by the ones who can't keep up. And in the end, they have to stoop to the level of the less capable. That's just a waste, isn't it?"

"..."

"Is there any need to babysit others to the point of self-sacrifice? You should just leave them be."

—Ah, maybe.

As the words, laden with pent-up frustration, spilled out of him, I had an intuition.

"You find it a pain too, don't you, Kiyosato? Cleaning up after incompetent people like this."

Oomori-kun spat out, almost mockingly.

He must have... gone through something like that himself.

Once, he must have shown that kindness to many people, only to have it go unrewarded. Eventually, he must have started to shun any involvement with others.

So I can understand what he's trying to say, and I don't think he's wrong.

But...

I—

"That's not true."

If I think like that, then no matter how hard I try...

I don't think anyone can truly smile from the heart.

"That's not true. What I'm doing is absolutely not wrong."

And so, I stated it clearly.

Even more firmly than I had on the Ferris wheel.

"...Why don't you get it? That's what's not normal."

Oomori-kun scowled, unable to accept it, and ran a hand messily through his hair.

"I mean, paying for someone else's mistake out of your own pocket is obviously weird."

"It was my mistake. I'm the one in charge."

"That's sophistry. If you had done it from the start, this wouldn't have happened."

"I'm the one who delegated it, and I'm the one who failed to check. So it's my fault."

"...What are you trying to be, some kind of savior?"

Tch. Oomori-kun clicked his tongue, his face a mask of open displeasure.

His anger was all for my sake. His words were harsh, but I knew that underneath it all was a concern for me, so I wasn't angry.

—...

...Concern... for me?

"You'll never get any thanks for continuing like this, I guarantee it. The people around you don't even realize you're helping them."

Concern, concern—

Wait... wait a second.

Why is Oomori-kun this concerned about me?

Is it because I'm one of the "capable" people he mentioned?

Is he seeing himself in me, worrying about where I'm headed?

...Is that really... the only reason he would go this far?

"Besides, no matter how capable you are, Kiyosato—"

"O-Oomori-kun!"

I blurted out, forcibly cutting him off.

Somehow... I had a bad feeling.

It wasn't good for this conversation to continue.

"I'm... fine. So just, leave me alone."

I looked him straight in the eye again and pleaded, my tone uncharacteristically sharp.

...Please.

Please, just back off.

I have a really... really bad feeling about this.

So, please.

—...

"...No."

"Why w—"

...ouldn't you?

As I impulsively tried to ask.

—If you go any further, there's no turning back.

And with a shudder.

I sensed the truth.

"I-I'm sorry! I'm... I'm going home!"

I shot up, sending my chair clattering backward.

Without waiting for Oomori-kun's reaction, I clutched my unzipped bag to my chest.

Without a second glance, I fled from the room.

"Hah, hah, hah..."

I ran, and ran, down the dim hallway.

My heart hammered against my ribs, and my breathing grew ragged.

—It's not true.

I want to believe it's not true.

"That... that's the one thing that can't happen...!"

—Oomori-kun's...

What lies deep in his heart.

At the same time he scoffs at the idea of babysitting others...

Is the series of actions he's taken to try and protect me.

The hidden feeling... at the root of it all is—

"But then... Mi-chan...!"

—Romantic feelings... for me.