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The reactions of the students, filled with astonishment, confusion, and a hint of anger, as they raised their voices, stood up, and approached, need not be described.
However, not a single student on their side dared to step over to our side of the desks.
The first to intervene and stop their words and actions was Koizumi.
“I’ll explain for those who haven’t stepped forward as an executive committee member. This activity started with Shinra-kun alone gathering people. I’d appreciate it if you refrain from voicing changes based on personal feelings.”
He said with a cold stare and tone that one wouldn’t expect from his serious and gentle demeanour, causing several students to fall silent. It’s surprisingly intimidating when kind people occasionally show a strong attitude.
Even the nonchalant athletes seemed affected.
Next to speak up were Miura and Shiraishi.
Their words were more straightforward than emotional.
“You don’t have the authority to appoint or change the executive committee leader. Even elementary school students would understand that if they think about it properly.”
“Moreover, the seniors who should be setting an example for their teammates as club leaders causing disruption to school events based on the evaluations of those around them or their personal impressions is the real problem here. Whether the Student Council made the right choice is an issue that cannot be ignored.”
Miura, who voiced the criticism I wanted to express, and Shiraishi, who couldn’t engage in a back-and-forth conversation over the phone, demonstrated remarkable adaptability in observing the flow of conversation in person. It’s characteristic of Shiraishi to emphasize and exert pressure by mentioning the Student Council. I admire that.
As for Hino-kun, I had expected him to remain silent, but he also clearly expressed his rejection. The reason was his self-centered words that slipped out of his mouth.
“He has red hair and a striking character, but…”
“So, you were thinking about that…”
The barely audible murmur would only reach those nearby. Therefore, no one could blame Koizumi or Miura, who were visibly shaken. Even if someone could, I couldn’t.
Indeed, Maeda has red hair, he’s a male student, and he’s also physically fit, likely because of being in the sports club. Apart from having many friends, he fits the bill perfectly.
However, what surprised me was that Nakayama also reached the same conclusion.
She belongs to the other side, if asked to choose between the two.
The three castes existing in the school: the sports clubs, committees, and social circles. Nakayama is a student in the upper echelon of the social circle caste based on friendship relations.
The conditions I offered for joining the executive committee also included sweet words about spending time with Yuuto. I assumed she wouldn’t deny or confirm, but she caught my gaze and casually waved her hand.
“I mean, we don’t have enough time to start from scratch now, you know? We’ve just barely got a clear outlook, so it’s not joke.”
“…More importantly,”
Maintaining an attitude of not probing into the other party’s feelings is because she belongs to a different caste from them.
While Maeda and Iida may have wide circles of friends, there’s still a bias. The community among those who do sports.
On the other hand, Nakayama belongs to the entire school community. There was never a need to hesitate from the beginning.
Many male students find it difficult to show a strong stance to female students. However, considering that there are also many female students on the other side.
The moment they incurred resentment, but before speaking, they would fall silent.
“Maeda and Iida seem to have misunderstood, but I’m just helping out because Minato said he’s going to be the executive committee leader. I don’t intend to cooperate if you’re going to take over and execute it.”
She said with a smile. A smile, even to the point of being thorough, can sometimes instill fear in the opponent. Behind that expression, there might be a sense that she incurred great anger.
If the opponent is a prince charming whom many female students admire, there were even students who turned pale and began to explain.
Yuuto is not the prince charming that female students idealize.
He’s a high school boy around the same age.
If they misunderstand him as someone who bets everything on selfless service, then it’s no wonder they say love is blind.
I don’t know the ratio of those who support Shizuku and Kirasaka among the male students, but Kirasaka, who sees the whole picture, dismissed it like this.
“This is a gathering by Shinra Minato to send off the seniors, and those who are in a flirtatious mood like at a mixer are not welcome.”
She calmly and dispassionately stated the fact, and many male students shrunk back and fell silent under her icy, prickly gaze and atmosphere, which she hadn’t directed intentionally for quite some time.
The Ice Queen—she used to be called that by many students.
Certainly, her demeanour has softened, and her smile has increased. However, there’s no doubt that the blade within her hasn’t dulled.
The last one to maintain his opposing stance until the end was Maeda.
He stood up, slammed his hand on the table, looked at all of us, and finally stopped at Shizuku.
“Someone who doesn’t even have friends, let alone seniors they’ve been indebted to, being the executive committee leader? Shizuku-chan might be helping out because she’s childhood friends with someone, but nobody’s going to celebrate or be happy for this guy—”
“Maeda-san?”
Maeda’s words were cut off by Shizuku’s soft voice.
The students sitting behind him closed their mouths, seeming to realize something.
However, Maeda, who was getting heated up in his soliloquy, didn’t notice it in that instant.
He crushed the possibility of becoming close to them again during his remaining year of school with his slip of the tongue.
Shizuku remained unchanged, as always.
With her calm and elegant demeanour, and her voice like a bell that captured the hearts of many male students.
She showed merciless rejection.
“I find you very unpleasant.”
“Huh…?”
“Being called by name by someone I’m not close to, the lingering gaze, and the imposition of values… everything is unpleasant. Please leave.”
The words that came out of Shizuku’s mouth were far from what I had expected. Maeda seemed like he wanted to say something, but his expression seemed to say otherwise.
However, there was not a hint of joke on her face.
It was genuinely, truly her words.
Understanding the situation, I called out to Maeda, who seemed unaware even now, almost as if hitting him with my words.
“As Maeda said, I don’t have senior friends, and few students even know me. But, there are people I’ve been indebted to. It wouldn’t sit right with me if those people left for their new lives without any thought for their juniors when they graduate from high school. That’s all.”
In the stagnant time, Shizuku was the first to try to move time forward somehow.
The encounter with Kirasaka, who filled the missing cogwheel of coincidence as she sat next to me.
And Hiiragi Akane, who brought change to my unchanging daily life after that encounter.
Standing dignified at the school gate, welcoming the students, although at the time I thought it was a symbol of disaster, looking back, it was a turning point in life.
A busy and responsibility-laden organization for what seems like just a student activity.
The sense of being out of place was beyond words.
But, it was not a bad time. At home, at school, in those days where I felt like I had no place. The one who provided a definite place for me, even if by chance, was that senior.
Only one senior, but a senior to be sent off.
So, whether I want to do something to be pleased or not, I will create a farewell party that will satisfy her.
In that process, I denied the repeated simple task of the formula, because there is a condition that will satisfy her and satisfy many students.
“Even if Maeda and others had prepared, assuming there was more time, it would probably end up being something that is less appreciated than what we can provide.”
“That’s why! Why do you always act so high and mighty…?”
Eyes containing various emotions glared at me with the strongest intensity of the day. There’s no basis for it, but I have confidence in stating it.
The condition to please Hiiragi Akane is to make the farewell party one that many students will enjoy.
Their farewell party is a celebration that we can enjoy as well as honour the seniors we’ve been indebted to.
That’s why there are about three essential members in the group.
Sharing the same time, sharing the same struggles, and ultimately relying on them.
That’s why I can’t agree.
We don’t need to enjoy the process.
Feeling satisfaction and joy can wait until everything is over.
An organization that requires the greatest satisfaction and happiness from the process has already lost sight of its purpose.
“The executive committee that includes Shizuku, Kirasaka, and Yuuto.”
The word spread, and people gathered for the executive committee. It’s like they’re the main attraction.
The events they plan end up being exclusive affairs. They’re full of energy and cheer, typical of sports clubs, and many students find them incompatible.
Their eyes don’t see the quiet students who quietly go about their school life. They affirm that it’s right to spend time cheerfully and loudly in bright places.
There’s no right or wrong way to spend school life. But it’s the top-ranking students who dismiss spending time quietly as gloomy and boring.
“If you want to have a fun farewell party with your friends, do it at the after-party. Then there’s no way I, who you hate, would participate.”
That’s the end of the discussion.
With that meaning, I stood up, opened the door at the front of the room, and stood next to it.
The students sitting opposite me realized what my actions meant, and it didn’t take them long to realize that they were being asked to leave.
With spiteful expressions, sighs, and a few casual foot taps, I graciously accepted their warm farewell greetings and continued to stand in front of the door until the last student left.
Finally, looking into Maeda’s eyes as he left, it’s safe to say that their group’s likability further decreased.
Whether it would escalate into childish bullying or not, let’s leave it to their mental age. Indirectly, this issue may have been caused by the impression I’ve created among those around me.
So, I took on the task of fixing the desks in the classroom, organizing the documents, locking up, and cleaning up, while allowing other students to do as they please outside the classroom.
Most of the student council members are probably back in the student council room, continuing their work.
Shizuku, Kirasaka, and Yuuto might be waiting outside the classroom.
Meanwhile, only Nakayama remained in the classroom, helping me clean up my PC and the rest of the mess.
There aren’t many words exchanged, but the atmosphere isn’t particularly tense either.
In that silence, Nakayama asked a question that seemed to have been bothering her since our previous conversation.
“Why did you say it like that in the end? You could have found a better way to phrase it and avoid ending on a sour note, couldn’t you?”
“…”
Her body and eyes turned towards me, and our gaze met without wavering.
Why did I phrase it like that…?
It felt like that was the usual way I spoke, but it certainly ended up leaving words that would sow discord.
The answer is already within me.
“Because today, almost everyone who came to this sewing room… well, except for Machida, was wrong.”
To call it a mistake… there’s no definitive right answer to this issue.
That’s why people end up making mistakes.
They can’t recognize what’s right, and they can’t admit it.
As Nakayama looked at me with interest, I sighed and looked up at the ceiling, almost as if it were a habit.
BrutalBot Tl 