Everyone headed off to their assigned tasks, leaving only Uesaka-san and me at the Headquarters Tent to handle guest relations.
Sara-san and Hanako-san had gone out on patrol together, so I wouldn't be able to see them again until the next shift change.
I did feel a bit of regret that we had so little time to spend alone together during the long-awaited School Festival, but I gave myself a pep talk, reminding myself that Sara-san surely felt the same way.
To be honest, even though it was called "work," there wasn't much to do here unless something specific happened. At most, we would answer questions from guests, give directions, or handle the occasional school official who stopped by.
"Oh, I think someone else is here..."
"A school official, perhaps?"
It wasn't exactly what I'd call frequent, but cars did stop in front of the school gate like this from time to time. Taxis and ordinary cars were one thing, but an obvious luxury vehicle like the one stopping now was highly likely to be someone important associated with the school.
In that case, we would naturally need to guide them or go fetch a teacher.
"My, if it isn't the Former President and the Vice President. Good day. Thank you for your hard work."
"Ah, Kusuhara-san. Hello."
"...Hello."
The one who poked her head in with a nonchalant expression was the stuck-up woman.
I hadn't had an opportunity to see her since the last incident, but I considered our relationship to be one of complete hostility. She likely felt the same way. And yet, she had a lot of nerve to come here so calmly and speak to us so snidely.
Compared to when we first met, she was clearly wearing a forced sales smile... though it didn't really matter to me.
"What brings you here?" Uesaka-san asked.
"I'm here to pick someone up."
"Pick someone up?"
After saying that, the stuck-up woman started walking toward the car parked at the gate. Someone was currently stepping out of the vehicle, and as I watched, she joined up with them. So the car belonged to her guest.
"They don't look like her parents. An older brother or a relative, perhaps?" Uesaka-san mused. "Or maybe a fiancé, like you two?"
"Who knows? Either way, I'm not interested. It could be anyone."
Oops, my true feelings slipped out. Well, whatever.
But from what I could see from here, the person looked quite young, so they probably weren't her parents. It was hard to imagine her having a fiancé, so the remaining possibilities were a sibling or a relative... though I really didn't care.
More importantly, I just wanted her to leave once she was finished with her business.
"It looks like they're coming this way," Uesaka-san noted.
As if to spite my wishes, the two of them walked straight toward us. The man was gesturing as if explaining something, glancing over at us... they were definitely coming here.
"Hi there, hello."
"Hello."
"...Hello."
The man raised his hand in a greeting, putting on an air of blatant, manufactured charm.
He was dressed sharply in a suit, and though he was young, he was definitely older than us. Maybe twenty years old or so? The way the stuck-up woman was clinging firmly to his arm made them look more like a close pair of siblings than lovers.
That was the impression I got.
However, more than that, his smile looked strangely unpleasant to me. It might have just been my cynical perspective, or perhaps it was an intuition born from experience.
"Allow me to introduce him," Rena said. "This is my cousin, Yutaka Kusuhara-san. He's the Sales Manager of our company."
"Nice to meet you. Thank you for always taking care of Rena," Yutaka said.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Uesaka. I'm technically the former—"
"Ah, I've heard. You're the Former Student Council President, and you over there are the current Vice President, right? We probably won't meet again, but nice to meet you regardless."
"...Nice to meet you too," I replied.
Even if some leeway was expected since he was older, I already had a bad impression of him after just this small exchange. Considering he was Rena's cousin, it made perfect sense.
By the way... did he just say "our company"?
"Nice to meet you," I continued. "There are various events being held today, so please take your time and enjoy yourself."
"Thanks, I intend to do just that. But the main event is seeing Rena win her second consecutive victory at the Miss Con tomorrow."
"Oh, Brother, you're getting ahead of yourself."
"No, no, just like last year, you'll be leading the pack again this year, won't you? In fact, the people who join in despite knowing you're participating are either overly optimistic or just... ah, maybe they're just doing it for the memories. That would make sense."
As I watched this farce unfold with a cold stare, Uesaka-san suddenly shook his head at me, giving me a meaningful look. Was he telling me not to get angry?
I didn't intend to be that short-tempered... though I did feel like telling them they should start thinking of words of consolation for her loss right now.
"W-Whoa, what is that...?"
"Wait... are you serious!?"
Just as I was thinking that, a loud stir suddenly erupted around the school gate. I turned my eyes toward the source of the commotion to check the cause.
"Someone actually pulled up to a place like this in a limousine!?"
"Wait, that's standing out even more than my brother... what is that!?"
It was a luxury car that was far too familiar to me—a pure white limousine of extraordinary length. It pulled up alongside the school gate, and from this position, the car seemed to take up the entire entrance. The sight was so flashy and over-the-top that I couldn't help but be transfixed.
Eventually, the driver and a man in a suit from the passenger seat got out and respectfully opened the rear door. Of course, the person who stepped out was...
"What!? T-That is!?"
"N-Nishikawa-san!?"
"...W-Why is that woman here!?"
Nishikawa Eri stepped out of the car with a leisurely, elegant grace.
The reactions to her arrival were all surprised, but split three ways in an easy-to-understand manner. Uesaka-san was simply delighted, while the cousin suddenly began to smirk in a slimy way. Was he an acquaintance of hers?
The worst reaction came from Rena. It was natural for her to know Nishikawa-san, but she wore an overtly displeased expression. It felt similar to the hostility she directed toward Sara-san—probably for some petty reason.
Nishikawa-san, drawing the undivided attention of everyone present, said something to the driver and then looked toward us, giving a small wave.
Just as I was about to wave back, Yutaka suddenly stood in my way to block me and started waving vigorously at her.
Who did this guy think he was?
"Haha, Nishikawa-san is the same as ever..." Yutaka chuckled.
"Hehe, it seems Nishikawa-san remembered me well..." Uesaka-san whispered.
""!?""
Realizing they had both said her name at the same time, the two of them snapped their heads toward each other. They glared at one another, frozen.
"You... aren't you being a bit overly familiar?" Yutaka asked coldly.
"I had a connection with her back when she attended this school," Uesaka-san retorted. "Rather, since you're saying that to me, you must have an appropriate relationship with her yourself, don't you?"
"I have been formally introduced to her. Besides, that wave just now was clearly meant for me—"
"That wasn't for you, was it?"
"That's my line!"
The two of them didn't look away, continuing to glare at each other while engaging in a war of words. It was my first time seeing Uesaka-san show his emotions so openly.
Was Nishikawa-san really that popular with them? Well, considering her looks and status, it wasn't surprising.
By the way... I felt a bit bad for Uesaka-san, but the wave just now hadn't been for either of them.
It was for me.
"W-Whoa, isn't that Nishikawa-san!?"
"No way! Does that mean the legendary trio is back together!?"
"This is crazy! Is she going to be in the Miss Con tomorrow too!?"
The crowd began to buzz as more people noticed her. Even though I hadn't heard much about her past at the school, scenes like this made it clear that Nishikawa-san had been just as popular as Sara-san.
"...She's as annoying as ever," Rena muttered under her breath. I ignored her.
Nishikawa-san saw off the limousine and started walking leisurely toward us. She was called out to along the way and responded cheerfully as she approached.
As she reached the tent, the idiot cousin standing in front of me wore a triumphant expression. He cast a glance at Uesaka-san with a disgustingly fake smile.
"It's been a long time, Nishikawa-san. Today is a truly—"
"Good day, Takanashi-san. Could it be you were here to welcome me?"
Nishikawa-san slipped right past him as if he were invisible and came straight to my side.
I suppose that's what they call a "served him right" moment.
"Welcome, Nishikawa-san. Actually, I'm just on duty at the Headquarters Tent right now."
"Takanashi-san, in times like these, a gentleman's etiquette is to say yes even if it's a lie."
"In that case, yes, I'm here to welcome you, Nishikawa-san."
"You only said that because I told you to... honestly. I won't ask you to be like Sara, but couldn't you at least treat me with a bit more care?"
"I'm just joking. You're very welcome here."
"Fufu... thank you."
Nishikawa-san laughed with a mischievous smile.
It was something I'd felt when we went to buy the ring the other day, but being able to trade quips like this was comfortable. Nishikawa-san called me her best friend, and I felt the same. It felt like we could interact even more casually now.
"Fufu..."
"What is it?"
"No... it's just that I've never found it fun to trade quips with a man before. I just found that thought a bit funny."
"Haha. What a coincidence. I was thinking the exact same thing."
It was nice to know she felt the same way I did.
"E-Err... um, sorry to interrupt your conversation..."
Suddenly, a sheepish-looking Uesaka-san joined in. With a dry, awkward smile, he looked back and forth between me and Nishikawa-san.
Oops. I might have forgotten about Uesaka-san for a second.
"Ah, my apologies. It's been a long time, Uesaka-san. I'm glad to see you're doing well."
Nishikawa-san finally noticed him and gave a polite bow. Her greeting was accompanied by a clear sales smile.
"N-No! The same to you. It's been a long time, Nishikawa-san. You look as beau—as well as ever."
For the usually calm Uesaka-san, his voice was unusually high-pitched. He was clearly nervous. This was not the man who had calmly set a trap for me earlier.
"Thank you for your help back then. I'm sorry I couldn't give you a proper farewell when I transferred schools."
"N-No! Not at all! I'm just happy to be able to meet you again!"
"Fufu, I'm happy to hear you say that. Unlike last year, I've come as a guest this time."
"Y-You are more than welcome!"
He was just repeating what I'd said earlier, but I decided not to point that out.
Even so, his reaction was far too easy to read. If one knew the usual Uesaka-san, the difference was stark. Why didn't Nishikawa-san notice?
Ah... could it be that Uesaka-san had always been like this toward her? If so, she would think this was just his normal behavior.
"B-By the way, today—"
"Ahem, m-might I have a moment?"
The cousin had finally rebooted. He was trying to maintain his dignity, but his expression was visibly strained.
"Yes, what is it?" Nishikawa-san asked, tilting her head curiously.
"Um, Nishikawa-san..."
"Excuse me, you seem to know who I am, but... who might you be?"
"!? W-We met at the Sawa Group party last year..."
"...Ah."
"D-Do you remember me—?"
"I'm sorry, there were so many people I greeted at that party."
"Ah... I-I see..."
The cousin looked utterly crushed. Since he had been so full of confidence, I'd thought they were actually acquaintances. To think he assumed they had a rapport just because they'd exchanged greetings once...
"Wait a minute, Nishikawa-san! Isn't that a bit rude to my brother!?" Rena snapped.
"...Ah, it's been a long time, Kusuhara-san. Did you two come as siblings?"
"Cousins! More importantly—!"
"Even if you call it rude, I did apologize," Nishikawa-san said smoothly. "Besides, let me tell you, when you greet a hundred or two hundred people in a single night, it's impossible to remember every face and name from such a brief encounter. Aside from those I absolutely must remember, most people are those I have no further contact with. Or are you saying that you are capable of remembering everyone after just one greeting? You were at that party too, so can you name every single person from our side that you greeted? If you can, I have some questions for you."
"!?"
She left them without a leg to stand on. Rena fell silent instantly under the weight of Nishikawa-san's sound logic. Honestly, what she was saying was perfectly normal.
"Ah, more importantly, Uesaka-san," Nishikawa-san said, turning away from them.
"Y-Yes!"
""More importantly!?""
Rena and Yutaka took additional damage from the dismissal. The cousin slumped his shoulders, though he was still shooting looks of pure hostility toward me.
"Would it be alright if I borrowed Takanashi-san for a little bit?"
"Eh... Takanashi-kun...?"
"Yes. Takanashi-san, would that be alright with you?"
"I don't mind..."
Since things were quiet at the tent, I sent a look to Uesaka-san to check if he was okay being left alone. He looked extremely disappointed, and he cast a glance at me that seemed to hold some sort of hidden meaning.
Please don't misunderstand; I have Sara-san.
"I-I understand. It's fine here..." Uesaka-san sighed.
"Thank you. Well then, Takanashi-san, shall we go?"
"Roger that."
Once she saw me nod, Nishikawa-san started walking ahead, but she stopped almost immediately.
"That's right... Kusuhara-san?"
"W-What is it?" Rena asked.
Nishikawa-san spoke to the stuck-up woman with a casual, yet incredibly cold tone. It was the attitude of someone looking down on an inferior, making the gap between her and Rena feel even wider.
"There's nothing wrong with having confidence in yourself... but overconfidence will be your ruin, you know?"
"!?"
Leaving behind that meaningful remark, Nishikawa-san started walking again. I followed her, casting a quick glance back.
Rena was standing there silently with her head down, unable to say anything, while her cousin glared at me with blatant enmity.
Sigh... I really hope this doesn't turn into something troublesome.