1. Yet again, Shizuka Hiratsuka gives new orders.
As the cultural festival came to a close, we moved deeper into fall.
The skies were clear, and the wind against my cheeks was cooler than it had been.
The hallway that led to the special-use building was empty. It was chilly enough to be unpleasant, so I put on my blazer again. In the silence, the only sound was my slow footsteps.
Fall passed quickly in this school.
Coming up after the cultural festival was the sports festival, and then there would be the school field trip. The fall schedule was particularly jam-packed for those of us in our second year of high school, and the succession of these three events would probably be a peak teen experience.
Maybe that was why our class—our grade year, even the whole school—seemed almost silly and giddy.
And teenagers already come off as pretty silly and giddy to begin with. Now they were even more worked up. During the cultural festival, the whole school (minus me) comes together, while for the sports festival, enemies and friends all mingle (minus me), and for the school field trip, friends will gather (minus me) to illustrate another glittering page of their youth. Ugh, what's me minus me? I guess zero, which also just so happens to be the number of school events where I've been part of the group. Incredible.
When I opened the door to the clubroom, a sweet smell wafted out, although that wasn't what drew me here.
"Oh, Hikki. Yahallo!" Noticing me come in, the girl cheerfully raised her hand, and her hair bun bobbed a little on her head.
Yui Yuigahama. She's in my class and in the same club as me. She looks like such a modern high school girl, you wouldn't expect her to be casually talking to me, but she wound up settling down here at some point. She's puppylike—or more of a tanuki, really, in terms of how she acts.
The desk in front of Yuigahama was crowded with an array of snacks. It looked like she was in the middle of after-school teatime.
Steam was rising from her mug, and a girl was about to pour black tea into the plain teacup set beside it.
The girl holding the teapot swept back her long, glossy black hair with her slim fingers. Her composed profile was like white porcelain, and the slanting rays of the setting sun colored her in a faint crimson, like the tea.
I don't really know anything about etiquette, but Yukino Yukinoshita's gestures gave me a sense of the quality of her upbringing. I could even be convinced if someone told me she was descended from aristocracy.
Once she was done pouring, Yukinoshita sat down gracefully. "Well then, let's enjoy the tea," she said, and Yuigahama put her hands together.
"Thanks!"
"You're welcome."
There was something about their exchange that was like playing house, but together they made a picture too elegant for me to tease them about it, so I refrained. If there was one thing that didn't belong in the clubroom at that moment, it would definitely be me.
Guess that's why there's no tea set out for me? Could you not subtract me from this equation, too? This was just like that temporary job I did not too long ago as concert staff, where my lunch had been the only one missing chopsticks. I had worried I'd be forced to eat the meal Indian-style. Luckily, there had been a convenience store nearby, so it all worked out in the end, but… Damn you, administrative staff.
"Oh, some for Hikki…," Yuigahama said after bringing the cup to her lips and taking a bite of a homemade-looking muffin.
Yukinoshita must have noticed then, too, as she gently set her cup down on her saucer. Her gaze darted around, checking over the desk. But of course there was no convenient extra cup.
I didn't need their worry or concern, though. A loner is prepared at all times—since generally speaking, nobody'll help them. "Oh, I've got my own."
I yoinked a drink out of my bag decorated in the signature black and yellow of warning tape. It's already at climax from the moment you start drinking it—yes, it's MAX Coffee. But after every max must come a fall—people like me falling over themselves get more.
I sat in my usual seat and popped open a Max can (a can of MAX Coffee, of course). When it's gone perfectly lukewarm like this, the sweetness of the condensed milk has a real punch to it, and connoisseurs prefer it like this. And considering the high sugar content, I wouldn't be surprised if the SDF were to adopt it as official rations, someday.
If you're ever stranded—MAX Coffee. You should take it with you whenever you head out into the wilderness.
Once we all had our drinks in hand, Yukinoshita suddenly pulled out a laptop.
I'd understand if we were still on the Cultural Festival Committee, but I couldn't really guess why Yukinoshita would have to carry around that laptop now, and I gave her a questioning look.
You know, there's something lewd about the word laptop. Sounds like something that would go on at a shady cabaret club. Fun fact: Pulling out your laptop even when you're at a shady cabaret club is one of the top ten signs of overwork. I don't wanna get a job…
While my mind was off somewhere else, Yuigahama was munching away on a muffin and curiously watching what Yukino was doing.
"Why d'you have that, Yukinon?" Yuigahama asked.
Yukinoshita turned on the laptop, and as she waited for it to boot up, she replied briefly, "Miss Hiratsuka made me take it. She said it's for our new activity…" Apparently, there had been no mention of what that activity would be.
The computer seemed rather old, considering how long it was taking to warm up. While she waited, Yukinoshita put her hand to her jaw, patiently watching the screen in her usual thinking pose.
Yuigahama and I peered at the computer from behind her to see that the only thing on the bland, default wallpaper was a text file labeled Read me!
I didn't see any other documents that seemed to have anything to do with our task. With a swipe and tap of her finger, Yukinoshita clicked the file.
To the members of the Service Club:
Your new activity as the Service Club will be to offer consultation through e-mail, titled:
The Chiba Prefecture–Wide Advice E-mail
I ask that all members invest their most sincere efforts in resolving the issues of consultees.
From the Service Club advisor,
Shizuka Hiratsuka
We all had our various reactions to this basic message.
"…I see. I understand the gist of it. Essentially, we need only reply to consultation e-mails we receive with the appropriate advice. But would we even get much of anything…?" Yukinoshita seemed more concerned with the system than the content, scrutinizing the text repeatedly.
Yuigahama, on the other hand, went wide-eyed. "Whoa, was Miss Hiratsuka ever this proper…?"
That's what surprised her? Well, I guess that's typical Yuigahama—or for short, Typicalhama.
"Oh, she's always like that over e-mail," I said. "It's shocking, though, considering what she's normally like."
"Is that ri… Huh?" After a contemplative pause, Yuigahama did a double take.
Well, I could understand her reaction. Normally, Miss Hiratsuka is kind of blunt, or, like, bludgeoning, blasting, or a Blastasaur… At the very least, you get absolutely no sense that she can be mannerly, wholesome, or sincere.
"I guess this means she's actually a proper adult," I said, and Yuigahama and Yukinoshita both gave me questioning looks.
"…You're talking as if you exchange messages with Miss Hiratsuka regularly," Yukinoshita said, her tone chilly. Quietly folding her arms, she impaled me with her sharp, piercing gaze.
But it really wasn't anything worth getting suspicious over. "I wouldn't say we're exchanging messages. It's more accurate to say, like, she sends me e-mails. Like spam from a mailing list, or notifications from Amazon or McDonald's and stuff like that. Sometimes she sends me these really long things."
"…Noted. Not that I care," Yukinoshita replied briefly before turning back to her laptop. The sound of her clacking on the keyboard seemed particularly loud.
From behind that sound came a quiet voice. "Long e-mails… I think maybe I just came up with something to consult about…"
Miss Yuigahama there muttering to herself all alone is a little scary… Oh, I'd like to know a way to avoid those superlong e-mails, too, you know? If I don't reply, she actually calls me…
While I was thinking about writing an e-mail to ask for advice, too, the sound of Yukinoshita's typing stopped. "We've received one already," she said.
"Oh, we actually got something? Lemme see." Yuigahama circled around behind Yukinoshita and draped herself over the other girl's shoulders. She's so unperturbed by physical contact—truly a member of the queen bee's posse.
"…You're heavy," Yukinoshita muttered.
What exactly was adding that weight, I wonder? Well, though I have boundless interest in the topic, I got the feeling inquiry into the matter would lead to bad things happening to me, so I chose to ignore that statement and asked, "What'd we get?"
"Um…from someone with the alias Homoo… That's a weird emote." Oh. I know who sent that.
"You don't have to read that," I said.
Yukinoshita, sitting in front of the computer, must also have been of the same mind, as she put her hand to her temple as if she had a headache and gave a little sigh. "Yes, I think I know what this is…"
"J-just give it a look! Come on, I'll read it out loud!" Yuigahama tugged on Yukinoshita's sleeve.
Yukinoshita seemed a bit annoyed but apparently couldn't resist her puppy dog–style begging. She took Yuigahama's hand and pushed it away as she said, "All right, all right, stop tugging. I'll give it a listen, but I make no promises beyond that."
"Okay! Here we go!" With a little um, Yuigahama read out the rest of the e-mail, and Yukinoshita reluctantly adopted an attentive pose.
She's so soft on Yuigahama. What is this, Comic Yuri Hime? While I was zoning out in a rather pleasant mood, watching their YuruYuri relationship, Yuigahama continued to read aloud.
Request for advice from alias Homoo:
Since the cultural festival, the relationship between two boys in my class (H. and H.) has piqued my interest.
They're both so hyperaware of each other, it's too shippable! HxH is just filthy! So filthy! Ngh, don't ever stop.
I hope their relationship deepens, but the place they're at with each other now is really doing it for me, so I can't make up my mind. Which way should they take this?
Shippable? Is she going to send us somewhere?
And, like, just what can't she make up her mind about here…? And why'd she bring up HxH? What does Hunter X Hunter have to do with this?
While I was dragging my hands down my face, Yuigahama was smiling awkwardly. Yukinoshita, for her part, was no longer even listening to this query and had returned her full attention to the paperback in her hands. I understand not wanting to get involved in this, but maybe that reaction is a bit much.
Meanwhile, as Yukinoshita committed herself to ignoring this, Yuigahama looked at the computer screen, my face, and back again, seeking my opinion. "Wh-what do we do about this…?"
Don't ask me. Talk about a certain sudden plot twist for these boys…
"Uh, don't ask me… Whatever you do, it's like this is basically a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation…"
"And we're all damned to listen to this, aren't we…?"
That was a pretty good one, Yukinoshita…
Yukinoshita turned a page of her book and focused a direct stare at both of us. "Does a way to resolve this even exist?" she asked.
Yuigahama hmm'd and considered, but after a moment, she said, "…No. Sorry, Hikki," apologizing with genuine sincerity.
What's with this serious vibe? Don't apologize for this! "Hey, could you guys stop assuming Mr. H. is me?" I knew it was, but I couldn't publicly acknowledge that. I had to protest.
That didn't seem to be enough for Yuigahama, though. "But Hina's always talking about it…"
She's always talking about it, huh…? They say that being the subject of conversation when you're not around is proof of popularity, but I was not glad at all—in fact, isn't this a form of backbiting? And I'm very familiar with that. Regular backbiting would actually be preferable.
Yukinoshita tucked a bookmark into her paperback and closed the book. "But there's no way Hikigaya could have a close relationship with anyone, so the issue here is basically nonexistent."
"Ohhh!" cried Yuigahama. "Okay, then let's call that resolved!"
The both of them went for their teas again as if to say, Well, that's over and done with.
What the hell? It's nice that you're rejecting the HxH theory, but you're also rejecting who I am as a person.
"…So you've resolved it, fine, but what now? Shouldn't you reply to the e-mail?" I asked, and both of them put a knuckle to their lips and considered.
"Oh, right…," said Yuigahama. "She's asking for advice, so we've got to reply."
"Well then, Hikigaya. Go ahead."
"Why me…?" It was true that I was closest to the computer, but was it, like, one of those rules? Like whoever gets out of the kotatsu has to be the one to get oranges? What is this, my house?
I glared at the two girls with the rotten eyes of a man as grumpy as he can get, and Yuigahama scrambled to find a reason. "I—I mean, you're good in Japanese class, Hikki!"
"Yukinoshita gets better grades than me, though…"
Ultimately, I'm third in our grade level. First place is Yukinoshita. And she's above me in all the other subjects as well, so I can't even be frustrated about it; it's more like I'm impressed. Like, whoa. Amazing.
But the fact that I don't get frustrated about it means I will get mad about it—because when it comes to grades and competition, she'll give me these smug, triumphant looks.
Even now, her eyes were closed, and she was smiling slightly. Though her expression was peaceful, the way she brushed back her hair was full of confidence. "Hikigaya, the important thing isn't grades."
"So then what is it?"
"Earnestness…though that's not something we can ask from you, is it…?" Yukinoshita replied immediately to my question, but as she approached the end of the sentence, each word grew more doubtful, and creases formed between her eyebrows.
What's more, even Yuigahama folded her arms and thoughtfully considered with a hmm. "Eagerness? …Doesn't have that, either."
"And communication skills are also a no… Say, Hikigaya, what are your redeeming qualities?"
"Don't ask me like you're confused." And what really gets my goat is that her confusion makes her really cute…
I've got tons and tons of redeeming qualities, like, you know, um, well…being full of familial love and stuff. If I said that, though, they'd accuse me of having a sister complex again, so I wouldn't… Oh, there it is. My redeeming quality is my ability to learn these lessons.
Though it's a negative growth ability that progressively increases my social withdrawal…
As I was hanging my head a little over my admittedly high levels of misery, Yuigahama attempted to backpedal. "Oh, but, but you seem like you'd be fast at writing essays!"
Yukinoshita also nodded. "Indeed. Not engaging with it seriously may mean it requires less time for you. Your hands are fast, Hikigaya. Isn't that nice—we've found something good about you."
If she was gonna say that to me with such a bright smile, I had nothing to say in reply. I decided to sigh and obediently do as told. "…Fine. I'll reply to the e-mail."
Well, of the three of us, it actually made the most sense for me to be the one to respond. Yukinoshita would probably write something harsh, and with Yuigahama, I think she'd wind up saying something silly.
I pulled the computer close to me and began typing a message.
Response from the Service Club:
We wonder if by some chance this HxH is entirely a figment of your imagination?
We could be entirely wrong, but please consider the possibility. The Chiba Prefecture–Wide Advice E-mail can only convey information via text, so please consider this the limits of the medium.
I slammed the Enter key with a SMASH, sending off such a great reply, you'd think I was a pro psychiatrist. Maybe it was the sense of satisfaction there that made my lukewarm MAX Coffee taste so good.
As I was thinking, One job down, there was a ding as another window popped up.
"We got another one," I called out to the girls, who were at that moment refilling their cups.
"Then you read it to us, Hikki."
The laptop wasn't very big. Instead of moving it over to them, it'd be easier for me to just read the message aloud. "Sure. It's from the alias It's your big sister."
The moment I said that, Yukinoshita's hands froze, the teapot hovering over her cup. "…I think there may be no need to read that."
Her reaction also led me to infer who had sent the e-mail. Yeah, that seems like something she'd do…
"Wait, so we're taking e-mails from outside the school?" I asked. How the heck were people getting notified about this?
While I shuddered, Yuigahama's head turned back and forth as she looked over at me, then Yukinoshita. It seemed she still didn't get who'd sent it. She tilted her head, making thinking noises, then clapped her hands. "Ohhh! It's Haruno!" Correct.
"Well, this is what she does. If you really think about it, we shouldn't be surprised at all by this point…"
So Yukinoshita said, but that was just scary. Exactly how involved is Haruno with her little sister—hell, how much time does she have on her hands?
"…Guess I'll read it anyway," I said.
Request for advice from alias It's your big sister:
Yahallooo! Listen, listen!
Lately, my little sister has been so cold to me. >_<
I want to be closer with her! Help me out here.
Thanks in advance, Hikigaya!
"…"
Yuigahama and I were both speechless. Haruno had even picked me out specifically, too…
After I finished reading, Yukinoshita seemed very testy as she turned the page of the paperback in her hands. "We can't be close as long as she's sending e-mails like this. Perhaps she should amend such behavior, first."
That was coming straight from a concerned party, so I figured I could take that as the answer.
I typed in what she said, but I also translated Yukinoshita's rather harsh wording into common parlance. It'd be a real hassle if this brought up further quarrels. Listen, this is Service Club work, okay? Do that kind of thing at home.
"Guess it's something like this…," I muttered to myself (my special skill) and looked at the text I'd composed.
Response from the Service Club:
It seems that your knowing every single thing your sister is doing and meddling in her business is the primary reason for her distaste. We suggest reflecting on your own behavior again.
As I was reviewing it, Yuigahama silently stood and sneaked over to me.
You need something? I asked with a look, but she put her index finger to her lips with a little wink to let me know this was a secret.
Standing beside me, she bent over a bit to reach out and tap on the keyboard. With every letter she typed, her pinkish-brown hair swayed and sent a whiff of her floral perfume toward me.
Wahhh… She's so close…
I automatically leaned slightly away. Even if Chiba is famous for its melons, I think those melons are a little dangerous…
As I remained frozen there, wondering what she meant to do, it turned out she was adding more to that e-mail.
…That's what Yukinon says, but I think she's softened up, compared to before. I think you should try waiting a little bit.
Reading that addition at the end, I couldn't help but smile. It was so very like Yuigahama to write that. Although, I wasn't confident it would persuade Haruno to give Yukinoshita some space for the time being.
But still, through the course of the cultural festival, I think there's been some progress in the relationship between the Yukinoshita sisters—even if it was only a little. I'm sure Yukinoshita felt the same way.
I don't know in what direction that progress is taking them. I still don't know what's actually between the two of them, and I'll probably never know. That's why this was all we could say right now.
Once she finished reading it over again and checking it, Yuigahama laid a gentle hand on my shoulder.
Taking that as my signal, I sent the e-mail.
Just as the number in the sending queue turned to zero, a 1 appeared by the in-box. It seemed another e-mail had come. I clicked straight to it, opening the unread message.
Then Yuigahama said, "Oh, it's from Yumiko."
Indeed, under Sender was written yumiko . The star aside, if you were talking about any yumiko in this school, the first to come to mind was Miura.
"Going with her real name, even here, huh?"
"Yumiko's pretty bold… Ah-ha-ha." Yuigahama smiled with some chagrin.
She is the queen, after all. As the apex predator of the school food chain, she lacks any defensive instincts. Well, that's no problem, since at this school, about the only thing likely to harm Miura is an irregular presence such as Yukinoshita.
But this was pretty dangerous. This was just within the school, so it was fine, but in our information-reliant society and on the Internet, exposure of personal data is risky business. Once, when I was in middle school, my e-mail address and cell phone number were posted on some kind of dating site, and I made lots of Internet relationships and got freaked out by fake bills. That was really scary.
Though I didn't have to fuss over it, I figured I might as well inform her of that danger. "Yuigahama, writing your real name online often doesn't end well, so you should let her know that."
"Huh? It's fine for this kinda thing, isn't it?"
"Well, this isn't so bad. But she's got to keep it in mind, or it'll escalate."
It's just my name; it's just one photo; it's just one thing that happened today. But even if each one of those things isn't a big deal, if you put them all together, it's easy to identify you.
When I explained this sort of thing simply to Yuigahama, Yukinoshita closed her book and nodded appreciatively. "You really are an expert in the realm of risk management… You don't even use your real name in class. Credit where credit is due."
"It's just that they don't remember my name, though," I shot back, and Yukinoshita gave me a chastened, apologetic expression.
"Oh my, really…? I'm sorry, Hickory Stick."
"Yukinon, I don't think anyone would mess it up that bad!"
"That's right." I nodded. "I'm nowhere near as pleasant as Hickory Sticks."
"Even your comeback is sad!"
Oh, I'm not hurt at all, really. I really am used to it at this point, I guess.
"More importantly, what does Miura's e-mail say?" Yukinoshita straightened in her seat, facing us once more.
Oh, you suddenly care?
But Yuigahama didn't seem particularly bothered, as she popped over to peek at the computer and read it out loud. "Um…" Request for advice from alias yumiko :
Sagami's being kinda annoying.
Now that's straight talk! A straight one-game match! Producer! Geez, talk about a head-on fight—are you Cure March or something?
Yuigahama smiled awkwardly at it, too. "Ah, ah-ha-ha… But this is kinda sorta not like Yumiko."
"You think? Seems typical for her." In fact, I get the impression she'd be fine with saying far worse.
"It's true; it doesn't seem like something she'd do." A dissenting opinion came from an unexpected source. When I requested an explanation with a look, Yukinoshita pushed her hair off her shoulders and replied, "She would usually say that to the person's face, wouldn't she?"
"Oh yeah. I guess that's true. You're like that, too."
"Please don't compare us." Yukinoshita looked away in sullen displeasure.
I feel like there's not much difference, but there clearly was to her. She gave me a bit of a glare—guess she was more put off by the comparison than I thought. "Besides, I haven't been saying much lately—since certain individuals aren't at all affected by anything I say."
"Ah-ha-ha, Hikki's pretty hopeless, huh?" Yuigahama agreed with an exasperated smile.
But Yukinoshita sighed a little. "You too."
"You've given up on me, too?!"
…You do realize you're still saying these things straight to our faces.
Well, I'm not a fan of insulting someone to their face, myself. But man, Miura and Yukinoshita really are alike. They're totally opposite in type, but maybe their fundamental nature is fairly similar. That's exactly why they clash so hard.
Girls are complicated. As I was mulling over these thoughts and fiddling around aimlessly on the computer, I noticed the e-mail from Miura was longer than I thought. "There's more here, guys."
"Huh? Oh, you're right." Yuigahama also took a good look at the screen.
Yukinoshita prompted with her gaze for Yuigahama to read the rest.
She's, like, depressed or something. She's being a downer and making things awkward.
It's annoying.
After listening to Yuigahama read it aloud, Yukinoshita folded her arms casually. "…In other words, she seems unhappy, and Miura is concerned?"
"I think so. This is kinda like Yumiko." Yuigahama smiled warmly.
That smile even made me sorta feel like Miura might almost be a good person.
It was true now that I thought back on it. Even after Miura and
Yuigahama's confrontation in the classroom a while ago, and after Yuigahama had joined the Service Club's side during the tennis match, Miura had continued to stay friends with her. I think that would typically be impossible. A grudge based on intra-caste factional conflicts will continue in perpetuity, and if things come to a head, then afterward, whoever failed to seize power would have no choice but to leave. They'll associate with the next rank down, and if they can't even fit in there, then conventionally, they'll be forced to walk the path of the loner.
Why was Yuigahama still a member of the upper crust? Her own communication skills were part of it, of course. Maybe she was also receiving quiet support from Hayama, who hates conflict. But more than that, I believe the biggest factor is Miura's personality.
Tolerance is required of one who would be queen, particularly tolerance to avoid getting caught up in unimportant matters. From that angle, I can start to see the reason she reigns as queen.
…Which is why, actually, this e-mail was probably not out of kindness or anything—she must have her own complicated feelings about it:
She finds it genuinely annoying, but she's also concerned, but it's annoying, and directly addressing it herself would be annoying. What the heck, that's so convoluted and annoying.
Yukinoshita, after a span of deep reflection, suddenly unfolded her arms and asked Yuigahama, "How has Sagami actually been?" "Hmm, um, how should I put it…?" Yuigahama was evasive.
I finished for her. "Well, she is annoying. She's generally been acting fine, but it's like everyone else is tiptoeing around her. Or more like she's forcing everyone to be all careful around her…"
"That would be pretty obnoxious." Yukinoshita's expression was disapproving. And this was her reaction just to hearing about it. It was way more obnoxious for us, being in the same class as Sagami.
Everyone's caution around Sagami was probably the cause of the bad atmosphere.
"…The solution—," Yukinoshita began, but I cut her off.
"Oh, don't worry about that. It'll end soon enough."
Yukinoshita shot me a questioning look. "What do you mean?"
"The cultural festival only just ended, so this is just some of the lingering effects. It'll go back to normal eventually."
After a moment of silence, Yukinoshita slowly began to speak, probing. "By lingering effects, you mean the incident with you during the cultural festival?"
"Probably. You can tell by the class vibe."
Yuigahama pouted a little—she didn't agree or disagree. She simply looked a little unhappy. That reaction made me even more certain.
Sagami's clique really was spreading around half-truths about me— about just how nasty and cruel Hachiman Hikigaya was.
It was like they were doing anti-Hikigaya lobbying, so to speak. I'm used to attacks of that nature, but it's still uncomfortable. I'd have rather they ignored me completely, but when they were right where I could see them, hovering and buzzing on about me like mosquitoes within my earshot, it was a little aggravating.
But the saving grace was that Miura also found that annoying. If you're going off my life philosophy, which is that the enemy of your enemy is your friend, that made Miura my ally in this. No way, man, Miura's becoming my friend?! She's such a good person! So nice! I could start liking her! Not that I ever will!
This secret gratitude toward Miura made me feel almost like her coconspirator. While I was processing that, I heard a shallow sigh next to me. "But those things feel bad, you know…? Nobody likes hearing all that mean stuff…"
Glancing over, I saw Yuigahama staring at the floor. I couldn't see her expression—I could only see her lightly squeezing the hem of her skirt.
"Yuigahama…" Yukinoshita said her name gently, matching Yuigahama's quiet tone.
That seemed to snap Yuigahama out of it, and she lifted her head with a jerk. "U-um! I mean, it sucks to hear people bad-mouthing anyone, you know?"
…Well, you know, she's a nice person. I'm not. "I enjoy hearing it, though."
"Then you're a jerk!" Yuigahama cried.
But Yukinoshita was calm. With a smile, and a little more slowly than usual, she said, "Hikigaya doesn't entertain himself with unkind gossip, though."
…Oh, hey, could she be nice, too? I was surprised at her unexpected defense.
It seemed Yuigahama shared my surprise. After a pause, she nodded. "Th-that's right. Hikki's rotten, but he's—"
She was swiftly cut off by an icy voice. "I mean, there's no one for him to gossip with."
"You're making me sad!" Yuigahama wailed tearfully.
Hey, I'm the sad one here, though? What the heck, my heart was almost warm for a second.
"But it's true, isn't it?" Yukinoshita smiled at me. A smile of ice to finish me off.
"You're basically right, so I can't say no…" Yeah, that's all I got. Come on, how great a Hikigaya inspector is she?
I gave her a rather exasperated look, but instead of sparing a thought for my feelings, she cleared her throat lightly and moved the conversation along without so much as a by-your-leave. "At any rate, let's learn a little more about Sagami and her friends' behavior, as well as the situation within Class F, before we deal with this appropriately. I could speak directly with her, but that would likely just worsen things…"
It seemed Yukinoshita meant to take some sort of specific action in order to resolve this, but I didn't see much point. "This kind of thing resolves itself if you let it be, so I don't think we have to do anything.
It's functionally harmless."
In my opinion, all the tiptoeing around Sagami was temporary. This fad was still going strong only because not much time had passed since the cultural festival. She was just looking for someone else to attack, someone more pathetic, to distract herself a little from her recent embarrassment. It would be foolish to do all that work over something that would come to an end anyway.
But it seemed Yukinoshita did not agree, and she looked me straight in the eye. "…It's not harmless."
"Y-yeah! It does suck when the vibe is bad in your class, right?" Yuigahama also hastily agreed.
If both of them were on board, then I couldn't do anything. If that was the majority rule, I would be forced to go along with their decisions. "…Well, whatever," I said grudgingly.
Yukinoshita nodded in satisfaction. "Well then, first, let's see how Sagami and the others are doing and search for a solution."
But despite her proposal, school was already over. Sagami and the rest would have gone home long ago. "There's nothing we can do today," I said.
"True… It's about time to go, so let's call it a day."
We all stood from our chairs, tidying up our things and getting ready to go home.
The Service Club's activities that day had been to brush off Ebina's fantasies, to recommend Haruno maintain the current situation, and to figure out what to do about Miura's e-mail, but we'd have to get to it later. That's a lot of nothing. I'm almost proud of us.
As I was thinking, Oh man, this club, Yuigahama heaved her bag over her shoulder with a spurt of enthusiasm. "Okay, let's work hard on this tomorrow!"
Let's work hard tomorrow. That's a good line. I think it's so wonderful, I'd like to say it every day.
2. We meet Meguri Shiromeguri once more.
The eyes say as much as the mouth—or so they say. But to be more precise, the eyes are way more loud and annoying than the mouth.
Class was over, and it was time for SHR, and then we'd be going home. In elementary schooler terms, this was the day-end circle. SHR as an acronym is frankly incomprehensible. When I first heard that term, I didn't think it meant 'short homeroom'; I thought it was like a race that went all across the North American continent or something.
I could feel people staring at me again today, and I glanced backward. Since normally nobody ever pays attention to me, I have a sixth sense for it like this. Wow, that's a sad habit.
Upon turning around, they were there. Girls from my class. Whoa, am I suddenly popular or something? I began to think, but of course that wasn't what was going on.
Their eyes, narrowed and curved like crescent moons, held contempt and scorn, and I looked away again. Then I heard a short, shrill laugh.
The back of my neck stung with their looks of mixed hate and curiosity.
Those looks were not coming from the girls at the top, headed by Miura, but rather the clique ranked one below them. Their key figure was Minami Sagami, who had spent another day moping and sighing. I'm so hurt; I feel so awful.
Though it wasn't enough to call this a cause for dispute, there was a slight rift between myself and Sagami. Well, there's a rift between me and the majority of the people in the school, but this wasn't your average lack of connection. Our rift was born from pure emotion, from spite.
And it was the biggest pain in the butt.
If we'd been perfectly ignoring and not acknowledging one another, if we just had nothing to do with each other, then we could have maintained a constant distance on both ends with no eventual point of contact.
But once feelings have changed your positions, things are different. Even if you distance yourselves, you're bound to clash again, eventually.
If you hate someone so much that you don't want to get involved with them, then your best bet is ignoring the hell out of them. That form of ostracism is as natural as breathing: the ideal. There's a knack to hating someone.
Everyone started leaving their seats, ignoring the announcements coming from the homeroom teacher.
They all did their own things: Some immediately dashed out of the classroom, some started up a momentary conversation with those next to them, and some slowly got ready to go.
As for me, I stayed in the classroom, playing it cool and pretending I really did still have something to do so I could gather information about that e-mail from Miura.
Now that school was done, the place was smelling even more like teen spirit.
Of the crowd, the ones gathered at the back of the class—Hayama and Tobe, plus Miura's clique—were playing out that very standard cliché.
"Then I'm going to my club," said Yuigahama.
"Yeah, see ya. Oh, Yui. I'm going shopping on Saturday."
"Yeah, okay. I'll definitely come with. See ya," Yuigahama replied, skillfully completing Miura's statement.
Actually, Miura's invitation was pretty damn sucky… That's practically something I would do. Well, she's the queen, so that's how it goes. So wait, doesn't that mean I'm basically like a king? *With no clothes, though.
Yuigahama waved casually at Miura and her friends, then left the classroom. She had to be heading to the clubroom. Watching her go, Miura seemed rather content. Apparently, Miura had accepted that Yuigahama was in a club. It seemed when you spelled out your intent clearly, Miura could be understanding, too. I had completed another lesson in the study of Miura.
Once Yuigahama was gone, Miura leaned against the wall like a queen bee with Ebina at her side. Hayama's group also had to go to their club, so that was probably why they were already packed up and ready. After some chatting, they'd probably leave.
The classroom had one door at the front and one at the back.
Inevitably, Hayama's group would be seen by anyone exiting from the back. The others in the class would exchange good-byes and maybe a few words of conversation with Hayama and Miura's group as they passed. What is this, the daimyo paying their respects on the way out of Edo?
But that sort of thing was just for those who were friendly with their clique. The ones who weren't particularly on close terms with them would disappear softly through the door at the front.
Yet another left the classroom. That was Kawa…saki? Yeah, it was probably Kawasaki. What, does she have another after-school job or something?
As she passed by me, Kawasaki suddenly accelerated into a brisk stride, then practically a jog. And then once she was a certain distance away, she returned to her usual languorous pace.
When she got to the door, she glanced back. Her eyes met with mine, and she made an Urk! expression as if her words were stuck in her throat, bowed her head an inch, and marched off abruptly.
Guess that was her version of a farewell. What an idiot. Just say bye when you pass me.
After Kawasaki left, I zoned out for a while. Then Sagami and her friends passed by at the front, probably using that door to avoid Miura and her friends. That fact made it obvious Sagami had a distaste for Miura.
That aversion really was rubbing Miura the wrong way. Just as it had been with Yuigahama, what pissed off Miura the most was a cagey attitude.
That observation was enough of a start. Basically, if Sagami started acting in a way that didn't irk Miura, then the problem would be resolved. The question would be how to accomplish that.
Well, the most effective strategy would probably be to run out the clock. In other words, they just had to leave each other alone until they wouldn't be in the same class anymore. Or so I'd say, but since Yukinoshita wanted something done quickly, I guess we can't do that…
Anyhow, as I ruminated over the information I'd just confirmed, I decided to head to the clubroom at a lazy stroll.
It was another peaceful teatime in the clubroom that day. At this rate, we'd be starting a band soon.
When I stepped into the room, the girls were already seated and leaning together in front of the computer. They were drinking black tea as they reached out for snacks, expressions pensive as they looked at the screen.
I sat down in my usual designated seat and sort of watched as they chatted about various things.
As far as I could tell, there was no tea for me, so I slurped on the hot, hot MAX Coffee I'd bought before coming to the clubroom.
This time of year, deep in fall and heading into winter, is the season of MAX Coffee. MAX Coffee is also great when spring has just passed and summer is approaching. In fact, MAX Coffee is great year-round.
The teatime snack that day was nure-senbei, a well-known souvenir from Choshi in Chiba. The official ones from the train stations in particular are probably the most famous. Chiba is known as a rice hot spot, and the prefecture is also a well-known producer of soy sauce. Chiba rice with soy sauce. Rice and soy sauce are the dreeeeeam (dream) collaboration.
…Well, if you asked me Does it go well with MAX Coffee? I suspect I'd be compelled to reply …I love Chiba, so! with a brisk smile.
As I was licking my lips over Chiba specialties (abbreviated as licking Chiba), Yukinoshita folded her arms with a hmm. "Now then, what do we do?"
Yuigahama also sounded like she was deep in thought. "Ohhh, about this, huh?"
It seemed the aforementioned new activity—the Chiba Prefecture– Wide Advice E-mail—was causing concern for them.
Request for advice from alias Megu Megu:
I'm looking for ideas for making the sports festival more fun.
Also, since this is my last year, I absolutely want my team to win!
Nibbling at my nure-senbei, I read the message and was a little surprised.
…This is the first normal e-mail request for advice we've gotten. And, uh, my surprise at that kinda makes you wonder what's up with this club, huh?
"The sports festival…" Yukinoshita breathed a melancholy sigh.
"Ohhh, it's already that time, huh?" Now that I thought about it, in our day-end homeroom, I'd been put on the red team.
Lately, it seems a lot of sports festivals and athletic days are held in spring or early summer, but at our school, the sports festival is in fall. Once it's over, the season finally turns to winter. Though for us second-years, the school field trip is waiting right after that.
Either way, for students, the sports festival is a big event, and for those who celebrate their youth, it's an event they look forward to. For the jocks in particular, this is the time when they can show off their skills to the girls. If I could pull off something cool, I could get a girlfriend, too… is a delusion familiar to more than one or two boys.
But it seemed that many girls—Yukinoshita specifically—were not impressed by that, and her eyebrows came together in annoyance. "…I have never liked the class vs. class relays."
Ohhh, I remember that. They make you do that in middle school, huh? "Yeah, there's a pressure that's hard to describe." The memory brought back the emotions of the experience, and I agreed immediately.
Yuigahama nodded and added, "I'm not very fast, so it was tough."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, "and you get those guys who actually get mad and start swearing when someone passes his classmate, like Nagayama from soccer club…"
"Who's that?! Why are you naming people?!" Yuigahama's head jerked toward me in surprise.
You don't know Nagayama? He was in my class in middle school. Well, it'd be scary if you did know him. Geez, I hated that guy, but he probably hated me, too.
He wasn't the only thing I hated, though. Because of the term class vs. class relay, my folder of trauma is packed with gigs and gigs of data.
"And then there's the girls who hate taking the baton from me. Why do they go out of their way to be like Eugh, no way… in front of me? Is it a tsundere thing?" No matter which way you slice it, I'm forced to assume they say it because they want my attention. Is this that thing where you bully someone because you like them? So what you're saying is this actually means I'm super-popular. Or not.
When I started smiling at my own misfortune, Yuigahama gave another awkward laugh. "Ta-ha-ha… No, that's…"
Ngh, that hint of pity in her gaze hurts… Sometimes kindness and consideration can be painful.
"I think he understands, so I'll make no comment. Just that when a girl is acting as if she hates you, odds favor the possibility that she truly does hate you."
You know, Miss Yukinoshita—harsh realities can be hard to accept when they're just thrown in your face. Were you aware? "You did just comment. Look up the meaning of comment. Also, if we're talking about sports festivals, then you know…"
"He's got more…" When I tried to continue, Yuigahama smiled a little stiffly.
You fool, of course I have plenty of memories of sports festivals. "I do. I think this is just something boys do, but when you're doing gymnastic formations, if you're short one, then you do it with the teacher—when you don't even have enough to do the fan."
I had about eighty thousand mental Hachimans in my brain agreeing with me like, Yeah, yeah, but this must not have rung a bell for either of the girls, as they were giving me blank looks. Girls don't do gymnastics formations, so I guess they don't get it…
"But anyway," I continued, "for group exercises, and not just the fan, I generally got partnered with the teacher. And thanks to that, I was constantly getting people staring at me on sports days."
"I feel sorry for your parents for seeing that…" Yukinoshita rubbed her temple with a sour look.
Thank you for being considerate of my parents, but you don't need to worry. The sight had actually made my parents burst out laughing, and then they completely forgot about me, occupying themselves with taking pictures of Komachi. This is what it's like, being a big brother…
I sighed at myself with a self-deprecating phew. About when all this nostalgia started to get me down, though, I heard a short, rhythmic tap, tap. It hadn't been that forceful, but in the quiet room, it was particularly audible.
We all looked toward the door.
"Come in," Yukinoshita called out, and a familiar girl came in.
"Pardon meee." She had a fluffy, pleasant air about her, and with every turn of her head as she looked around the clubroom, her two braids trailed behind. Her braids were secured with hair clips, and the gleam of the sunset on her smooth, pretty forehead made me think of her bright, cheery personality shining through.
Meguri Shiromeguri. She's a third-year, one year older than me, and the student council president at Soubu High School. Yukinoshita and I knew her from when we were on the Cultural Festival Committee.
When Meguri was done curiously gazing around the clubroom
("Ohhh!"), she gave us all a bright grin. "Um, this is the Service Club, right? I sent you an e-mail earlier asking for help with the sports festival, but I thought it would be best to ask you directly…so here I am," she said, and our eyes all turned to the computer screen.
Megu Megu.
I get it. So the e-mail Meguri sent must have meant this. The part about the sports festival being her last also fit perfectly, too.
"So the one who sent this e-mail was…" When Yuigahama looked back and forth between the computer and the student council president, Meguri pointed to herself.
"Yep, I think that's me," she said, ambling up to us. "I want to make it just as exciting as the cultural festival was. Would it be possible to ask for your help, Yukinoshita, and…um…?" There, Meguri glanced over at me and got stuck, making a difficult Uhhh expression.
In an attempt to be subtle, Yuigahama muttered, "Hikigaya. It's Hikigaya."
When Meguri heard that, she clapped her hands. Then she threw a gentle smile at Yuigahama. "Oh, you're Hikigaya, right. And…" Her bemused expression returned as she glanced at me.
Realizing she'd been misunderstood, Yuigahama hurriedly corrected her. "No! I-I'm Yuigahama! That's Hikigaya."
"Ohhh, I see." Meguri nodded her understanding.
"Yeah… Um, if you call me, er, Hikigaya, or whatever, that's, uh, embarrassing…" Yuigahama faced away, her voice getting quieter and quieter. You could hardly hear her at all anymore.
Yes, indeed, I'm also very embarrassed just hearing this, and I don't know at all how to react.
"A name you don't want to be called? Just like the emperor. As expected from Hikigaya…" Yukinoshita nodded, impressed.
Stop iiiit! No name-related teasing! And stop calling that guy Kondou "Condom"! With me, I just get called stuff like Hikki, but if you sit down and think about it, that's pretty mean, isn't it…?
"I'm sorry. I'm not very good at remembering names…," Meguri said with a despondent, apologetic slouch.
Yukinoshita added kindly (and matter-of-factly), "Don't worry. It's just that he's good at being forgettable."
"It's weird for you to say that, though? Not saying you're wrong, but…," I said. In fact, when people are calling for me, they most often go like Um or Hey, you, so I can't even know for sure if they remember my name or not.
"No harm, no foul, then, wouldn't you say? Plus, you're good at making yourself go unnoticed, too." Yukinoshita smiled brightly. I have no idea what she meant by then, and she even added a plus there, too. Still, I couldn't deny facts, however regrettable they were.
"Th-that's not true at all!"
But the denial came from an unexpected source as Yuigahama cut in between Yukinoshita and me. "He's all alone in the classroom, so he actually sticks out like a sore thumb!"
"Was that supposed to be a defense…?" That wasn't defending me at all. What's the point of driving me into a corner like this? Are you fishing now?
"Ah-ha!" Meguri suddenly laughed as she watched our exchange.
Then she took a step toward me, closing the distance between us. "Hikigaya."
Hearing my name called from short range made my feet retreat a step. "Y-yes?" I replied.
Meguri nodded. "Hikigaya, huh? Okay, I've remembered it now. During the cultural festival, when we were short on people, you did a lot of good work for us, so I'll be counting on you."
When she smiled at me so innocently, her inability to remember my name felt like less of a big deal. I mean, it's normal for people to get my name wrong anyway.
More important, I was touched, if only slightly, that she'd remembered my efforts during the cultural festival.
But it was still also embarrassing.
Though our faces were at close range, it seemed Meguri wasn't bothered by such things, as her fluffy smile remained unchanged.
So I was the one to turn away. "Y-yeah… Well, I'll give it a shot…"
And as my gaze shifted, it landed on someone with a bit of a pout.
"Hmurg…"
What are you, a puffer fish? Did a predator show up?
Behind the grumpy Yuigahama, I heard a terribly cold voice. "Shiromeguri, I don't mind if you leave that be, so tell me more about your request, please."
It's gotten pretty chilly lately, huh…? Her tone really brought the seasonal weather inside.
At her remark, Meguri's eyes lit up with recognition, and she clapped her hands. "Oh yes! What I wanted to talk to all of you about was ideas for exciting events for everyone at the sports festival. Something that'll really wow the crowd, make their eyes pop!" Meguri stuck up her finger and began to explain.
"Eye-popping events…" In my head, I imagined a youkai that was just an eyeball running around yelling in a shrill voice. My hair just about stuck up to become an antenna.
These vague requests tend to give you silly fantasies like that. If I'm gonna make a comparison, it's kinda like when you're at your parttime job and you have nothing to do, and an older employee says, like, Talk about something interesting. But then when you do talk about something, he'll say, Boring. Never mind, you know? And if you say you don't have any interesting stories, then he'll be like, You're so boring. What do you want me to do? The guys who start those conversations are usually the boring ones.
Well, I don't think Meguri's that kind of person, but this discussion was a little lacking in specificity. I didn't really understand what we were supposed to do.
It seems I wasn't the only one thinking that, as Yuigahama raised her hand a bit, hesitantly. "What's that?"
Beside Yuigahama, Yukinoshita gently folded her arms. "Oh yes, what did we do last year…?"
"Oh, now that you mention it, I don't remember…" I tried digging through my memory, too, but nothing of the kind came up. I have a vague memory of spending the whole time sitting in my chair and zoning out. I think I was in some kind of competition, but I really don't remember.
The only thing I did remember was how the guys from the sports clubs had been saying stuff to each other like It's such a drag to have to do a sports festival, even in high school, huh? and For real, man, and then once the competition actually started, they got super into it and had a whole lot of fun. And on the way back, they'd given the girls high fives, too. Meanwhile, I'd just been staring at the girls' high socks.
When I failed to remember anything about the all-important attention-grabbing event, Yukinoshita offered me a pitying sigh. "They do say people suppress memories that are too painful…"
"Could you not treat old sports festivals like my dark past? I mean, if I could forget about it this easily, then there isn't any trauma there. Come on. And if you don't remember, either, then you're the same."
"Sometimes forgetting it is how you move on," she said with a smug look for some reason.
"Hey, why are you acting like that's some philosophical discovery? You're not saying anything wise here."
"Ah, ah-ha-ha… B-but I don't remember it well, either." Yuigahama joined in with us, trying to be nice.
But in your case, it's like—I think you just forget stuff.
Meguri's shoulders slumped listlessly when she realized all three of us had completely forgotten the big event of the previous year. "So you don't remember it after all… We had a "cosprace"… We raced in cosplay…"
A cosprace… That does sound familiar…, or so I thought, but was that Comp Ace?
I didn't remember after all. But I'm sure I observed it at the time, and I'm sure I was scowling at the popular kids chattering, giggling, and squealing over each other's cosplays. I still feel that way, even now.
Even after having the event explained to them, Yukinoshita and Yuigahama were both tilting their heads like, Huh?
Meguri smiled weakly. "I see," she muttered, and then she pulled herself together with renewed determination. "It's so boring every year, huh? That's why I wanted to do something big this time." She looked at us, eyes gentle, but also overflowing with spirit.
Yuigahama and Yukinoshita must have been overwhelmed by her enthusiasm, both taking a step back.
"O-okay…"
"I understand. In that case, when do you need our ideas…?" Yukinoshita asked.
Meguri grabbed her hands. "About that, there is a Sports Festival Committee, so wouldn't you be able to consider it there?"
"What? Uh, I wouldn't mind, but, um, why did you…? Could you please…let go of my hands…?" Yukinoshita was stunned by the sudden attack of personal contact. Normally, she's all touchy-feely with Yuigahama, so I'd thought she'd be used to that, but it seemed that was not the case. I guess it's less that she's used to touchy-feely behavior and more that she's just used to Yuigahama.
Despite Yukinoshita's protests, Meguri made no move to withdraw her hands. In fact, she took another step closer. "The truth is, we still haven't picked a chair for the Sports Festival Committee… So, Yukinoshita, could you?"
With Meguri's intent gaze on her, Yukinoshita's cheeks reddened, and she shrank back. But it seemed she did have just the slightest energy left to resist, as she gently withdrew her hands from Meguri's. "I decline."
"Oh, I thought so…" Meguri's head slumped listlessly in disappointment, but she didn't push any further, backing down completely.
But then her eyes flashed, and next she turned to Yuigahama. "What about you, Yuigahama?!"
"Huh?!" With the offer suddenly thrust toward her instead, Yuigahama leaped up, then waved her hands no at a super-high speed. "Huh? Huh? I—I can't!"
"Yeah, huh… I couldn't just bring this up out of the blue, huh…?" Meguri's shoulders dropped, and she smiled weakly.
Yuigahama drooped a little, too, pained by her disappointment. "I'm sorry…"
"No, don't worry about it. I was just thinking I'd be glad if you would take it on for me. Thanks for your concern," Meguri said, gently stroking Yuigahama's head. The sudden gesture startled Yuigahama, and she yelped a little. But Meguri ignored that and continued petting her.
But it was a pretty big problem if the committee chair wasn't decided yet, at this stage. Wouldn't that cause management difficulties?
It seemed Meguri, of course, also had a sense of the impending crisis. She drew her hand away from Yuigahama's head and folded her arms with a hmm, leaning all the way over to the side as she closed her eyes. "But we can't go without a chair, you know… Now that it's come to this…"
Now that it's come to this… I considered the matter, too, and that was when an idea struck me. Now that it had come to this, I mean, judging from the way this was going, wouldn't the baton come around to me? Since Yukinoshita and Yuigahama got asked, then naturally, I'd be next, right…? If she takes my hands or pets my head, I have zero confidence that I can refuse. This is bad, this is bad…
I was trying to come up with a way to avoid this somehow, but before I could, Meguri came to her conclusion. "Now that it's come to this, I've got no choice but to do my best and search for ideas," she said with a nod-nod.
…H-huh? I'm right here! There's someone here you haven't asked yet! Look! Me! Me!
…What about me?
But of course, the call of my heart would not reach her. It seemed Meguri had already resolved the issue of the chair. Ngh…I wanted to have Meguri pet my head… Because, you know, I have a younger sister, but not an older one. So you just start wanting stuff like that, right…?
As I was mulling over the dregs of my desire, scattered in vain, I heard Yukinoshita mutter, "You haven't decided on a chair…" I looked over to see she had her hand on her chin, considering. It appeared she had her own ideas about this. She jerked up her head abruptly to address Meguri. "Might anyone do that?"
The sudden question made Meguri blink. But she instantly understood what it meant, and she answered, "Huh? Well, we couldn't have quite anyone. I was thinking it would be good to have someone reliable, someone I could entrust things to."
That line of reasoning implies I'm not reliable or someone you could entrust things to, though…
Well, they were entrusting the role of chair. So of course it'd be best for it to be someone of character. That being the case, it made sense that she wasn't addressing me.
But it seemed Yukinoshita's opinion differed, and she quietly shook her head. "No, I don't mean as an issue of character. I'm referring to their qualifications, or if there's a limitation to the organizations they're affiliated with."
It seemed they weren't quite talking about the same thing. After Yukinoshita restated the question, this time, Meguri caught what she intended. "Oh, is that what you mean? Then that's no problem. Actually, we did solicit for candidates. But there were no volunteers at all…"
"So you were looking for people? I had no idea." Yuigahama made a sound of casual surprise.
Meguri staggered a little with an uuurk.
Well, she was basically saying to her face that she'd heard zilch about all their efforts… The lack of malice in Yuigahama's surprise just made it worse.
Swaying like she was about to crumble, Meguri began a postmortem meeting with herself on the matter. "She didn't know, huh…? Of course… Maybe the problem was our method of notification… We did post bulletins, and we wrote it on the school website and distributed printouts and had the teachers tell people, and I updated my personal blog…"
Huh, I don't know anything about your blog, though. Is she an idol or something? Is she gonna dig a hole to bury herself in?
"Ah, um, I'm sorry! Er—I…don't look at that sort of thing at all! I don't know where the bulletin board is—Oh, but, but I'll be sure to look at it from now on! S-so…" Yuigahama was trying so hard to smooth things over.
But Meguri gently lifted one hand, stopping her from continuing.
With a swipe at her eyes, she smiled. "It's okay, it's okay, Yuigahama.
The problem was with how we got the word out. We'll also be using Twitter from now on."
"Dude, that's not the issue here." The remark left my mouth before I could stop it. What a way to speak to your elders! I thought, but I was kind of getting the feeling it was okay to treat her like this.
Meguri didn't actually seem bothered, either. "Hey, we're starting to use LINE, too!"
Uh, like I said… I do think that positivity is very nice, but, uh…
"There's no need for that, Shiromeguri," Yukinoshita said, slightly exasperated. Then she lightly pressed her temple and breathed a short sigh.
"What do you mean?" Meguri cocked her head.
Yukinoshita replied to her question plainly. "There's one person
suited to the job who I would recommend."
"Huh? Who, who? Tell me about them!" Meguri was deeply interested and enthusiastic.
For her part, Yukinoshita spoke slowly, as if gathering her thoughts. "Someone has experience in a similar position, is also fairly socially ambitious, and is fixated on jobs with status—and motivated, I would say."
"Yeah, yeah. That's good, someone with experience and motivation," Meguri interjected with enthusiasm, picking up on the parts that sounded good, but I couldn't share in her blithe excitement.
Someone who fit the description from Yukinoshita's hints rose to mind. I'm good at trivia. I'm so good that if you asked me how to spell "icup," I'd answer perfectly and get laughed at. Seriously, what the hell is with that culture?
This excellent brain of mine led me to the answer. And it was not a very good answer.
"Hey, Yukinoshita. Wait… You're not suggesting…?" I said to her.
She could tell that I'd figured it out, glancing over at me. Surreptitiously, she mouthed, "Correct."
Her lips are so shiny, I thought for a wasted second, but more importantly, disappointment and resignation just barely won over inside me. Just barely?
Yuigahama and Meguri still didn't get it. Seeing the exchange between me and Yukinoshita, they looked confused. But once they heard the answer, they'd probably react the same as I did. Just without the shiny lips part.
"Tell me, Yukinoshita," Meguri insisted.
Yukinoshita turned back to her. "From Class 2-F, the chair of the
Cultural Festival Committee, Minami Sagami."
"What?!" Yuigahama was the one to cry out in surprise. She never saw it coming, I guess.
Meguri was also surprised, but her expression gradually chilled. "Ohhh yeah. I—I see…but I don't know…"
While Meguri struggled to say anything at all, I decided to question
Yukinoshita's motives in her stead. "What are you playing at, Yukinoshita?"
"It's just the same as overcoming trauma. When you lose something, the only way you can make up for it is with something of equal or greater value. Am I wrong?" she said, and that made sense to me. Yeah, she's the type of person who would shove someone who can't swim into the pool and call it practice.
In other words, she meant that through making Sagami the chair for this sports festival, she'd regain her confidence and possibly improve her reputation with others.
If this went well, we'd be able to fulfill Sagami's desire for recognition, and her frustration would be no more.
And thanks to a chain reaction, the awkward atmosphere of Class 2-F would be slightly improved, too, since the main cause of said atmosphere was Sagami. Well, I can't deny my presence had also been making things worse.
"But is it worth going that far? It's just Class F…"
"It is," Yukinoshita cut me off sharply. I could sense her strong will in the severe look she turned my way.
Well, if she was that determined, it'd be difficult to convince her otherwise. Difficult and a headache. Besides, it wasn't like
Yukinoshita's explanation wasn't convincing. She had a fair point.
But all she'd managed to convince me of was her reason for recommending Sagami—or I would say, why you'd recommend her if Sagami was your main focus. The problem was, what if you considered the role of chair to be your main focus?
And that was the area where it seemed Meguri could not agree. "Hmm, Sagami, huh…?" she muttered with a grim look.
Then Yukinoshita chimed in to reinforce her proposal. "I believe giving second chances is an important part of helping people grow."
"That's right, yeah. I think so, too." In response to Yukinoshita's opinion, Meguri closed her eyes and gave a big nod. "But it is a real job, so we'll be in trouble if she doesn't put her all into it." Her eyes were saying, We can't let her do something like last time with the cultural festival. Her attitude was gentle, yet also firm. That was different from the usual fluffy and rather absentminded vibe she usually had. She had the gravity of a student council president.
"…" Though it wasn't enough to call intimidating, Meguri's serious look made Yukinoshita go silent.
It was true that, as Meguri said, Sagami had a poor record. Her sabotage and abandonment of responsibility during the cultural festival was not acceptable behavior in a leader.
"I don't agree, either," I said.
People don't change that easily. If they could change based on words of gratitude, kind compassion, or cheap expressions of determination, then the world would be overflowing with transforming superheroes.
Though I can't say for certain, I doubt Sagami has grown as a person through her failure during the cultural festival. If she had, then she wouldn't have been so hostile to me, for one thing, and she wouldn't be forcing others to sympathize with her.
People don't really change. But if they can, there's only one way to go about it: to get hurt through bad experiences over and over again until wounds are indelibly carved into your heart—and then it's just that the impossibility of escaping that pain leads to changed behavior.
Sagami has still not reached that territory. Therefore, we should not leave the position of chair to Sagami.
"I wonder about Sagamin… If things wound up like before…"
Yuigahama's worries were well-founded. I figured we could expect a similar outcome.
"That won't happen. I won't let it happen," Yukinoshita declared, full of confidence.
But from where I stood, I sensed something dangerous in Yukinoshita's confidence. "Don't be stupid. If we end up with another cultural festival, then there's no point. Are you gonna work until you drop like last time?" I said.
Yukinoshita's mouth hung open and froze there.
"…What?" I asked.
"Ah, oh, nothing… I was just a little surprised," she muttered quietly, and then she blushed and cleared her throat with embarrassment. "Your worries are unfounded. The sports festival is a closed event, and the schedule is only one day. That makes it a smaller workload than the cultural festival, so there would be less for me to do. I think it should be manageable enough for Sagami," Yukinoshita explained eloquently.
Yuigahama and I offered uh-huhs as we listened. But then Yuigahama froze. "But, like, that's assuming you'll be handling everything perfectly, Yukinon."
Before Yuigahama's glare, Yukinoshita was struggling to find a reply. "Yuigahama…but there is the matter of the request, and the e-mail from Miura…" The sudden introduction of these other topics kind of sounded like she was making excuses.
Yuigahama groaned a low murghhh before sighing in exasperation. "Agh…" Then she jerked her face up and smiled at Yukinoshita. "I'll help, too. This time, be sure to rely on me, okay?"
"Yuigahama…," Yukinoshita murmured, obviously relieved. "Thank you…"
"Hey, it's totally fine." Yuigahama took a step toward Yukinoshita and came up beside her. She gently took her hand, and they felt each other's warmth. How beautiful it is to have good friends.
I was completely left out of this, gazing from a distance upon this friendship that you could mistake for something more.
Meguri, the other one watching, sighed. "If you're going to help, Yukinoshita, then maybe it would be all right…"
She sounded relieved. But it could also be said that trust was what had given rise to the cultural festival fiasco.
"I'm not so sure about that. It's not like she's perfect, either, so I don't think you should overestimate her abilities." With that casual objection, I gave Meguri a look.
Meguri responded with a smile. "I think it'll be okay. Yuigahama will be with her, too."
True. If you have an encouraging motivator right in your face, of course you can worry less. Yuigahama was sure to be with Yukinoshita this time, supporting her through the whole thing, so Yukinoshita wouldn't make herself sick again. And if Yukinoshita was in top shape, she should be able to move the sports festival along without a hitch.
"…Well, I guess so," I answered.
Then Meguri leaned in close to my ear and added softly, like she was letting me in on a secret, "Besides, you'll be with her, too, right?" Her voice tickled my ear. The sensation and sweet scent made me freeze up, and Meguri darted away again. With a gentle smile, she awaited my answer.
"…Well, it is my job." Unable to look her straight in the eye, I turned my gaze out the window. But I could hear her laughing pleasantly.
"Okay! Then it's settled!" She clapped twice, and once she'd gathered all eyes on her, she declared in a sonorous voice, "Let's try asking Sagami about this. Maybe Yukinoshita and I should talk to her?" she suggested.
"Yes, let's go tomorrow." Yukinoshita nodded. But Yukinoshita doesn't have the personality for that… "I-I'll go, too!" Yuigahama insisted.
Making up for that deficiency would be, well, Yuigahama's job, I guess. Yeah, there should be no problem this way.
"Okay, I'll see you again tomorrow. Thanks!" Meguri said, turning around. But right when she was about to leave the room, she gave a cry ("Ah!") like she remembered something and whirled back around with a swish of her skirt. "By the way, what team are all of you? In
this school, all the classes get divided in half, right? I just wanted to check—I'm on the red team."
That reminded me that in the request e-mail from Meguri, it had also said she wanted to win, because it was her last year. That had to be why she wanted to know.
What team you were on wasn't exactly classified information, so I answered first.
"Red," I said, then glanced over at Yuigahama.
"Red." Yuigahama looked at Yukinoshita.
"Red." Yukinoshita looked at Meguri.
The chain of red team declarations was done just like roll call. Apparently satisfied, Meguri clenched an enthusiastic fist. "Same as me. Great! Then let's all aim for victory and do our best! Whoo!"
We were all unable to keep up with her sudden and bold statement of excitement, exchanging looks with each other. Why is she so into this…?
When we failed to reply, Meguri pumped her fist again. "Let's do our best! Whoo!"
…Ah! O-oh crap, I know what this is. It's the same as the king in Uptaten Towers in DQV, or the lady presenter in a sentai stage show. You have to answer here, or you'll get stuck in a never-ending loop.
It seemed Yuigahama had also felt the same vibe, as she immediately gave me a look.
"Y-yeah…" This really was a little embarrassing, so I raised a hesitant hand like a lucky cat waving in response.
This satisfied Meguri, and she finally left the clubroom.
…I dunno, man. Just, what?