Where there are encounters, there are also farewells. The youth of today clutch the experiences they've cultivated to their chests and move forward, even while harboring anxiety for the day they might meet again. A temporary parting—I felt a tinge of loneliness at the sentiment and quietly looked up at the ceiling.
"Now then, summer vacation begins tomorrow."
I would probably be too excited to even wake up in the morning. A total sleep-in.
The arrival of summer vacation was a monumental event. I was going to play games like crazy while ignoring Nee-chan, who was busy with her cram school. It might be surprising, but the secret to successfully enjoying a long break like this was to wake up early every morning. It made each day feel longer. I didn't mean waking up as early as I did on school days... waking up around eight or nine was the sweet spot for a no-good guy—as per the no-good guy himself.
If I was going to spend the day without exercising, it was best to combine breakfast and lunch into a single brunch. The only people allowed to maintain their weight while eating three full meals a day were those with gastroptosis or those who actually exercised. Above all, the word "brunch" just sounded classy. I loved it.
While I was constructing a sinful platinum plan in my head, the Grade Supervisor finished his speech on the stage. Honestly, wasn't the principal usually the one with the shortest speech? It was always the teachers who grumbled and scolded you, like the ones in Student Guidance or the Grade Supervisors. Those guys would get mad at the entire student body even when we hadn't done anything. Actually, I was impressed the principal could find anything left to say at the very end. Didn't they run out of material after everyone else said what they wanted? You didn't have to force yourself to say something profound, you know.
As I was feeling a bit of pity for the principal's position, our Student Council President, Yuuki-senpai, stepped up onto the stage. I could tell the girls around me were stirred up just by the sound of their sighs. As usual, he had sharp features—well, his chin was particularly small. And to top it off, he was fully aware of his own handsomeness. Apparently, even a senior like him had a wild phase in his youth, but now I could only imagine him as a sophisticated adult. If I had that face, my personality would definitely have turned out rotten.
"Next, an announcement from the Student Council," MC Kamata—the Classical Japanese and Chinese teacher—announced as the moderator, and Yuuki-senpai began to speak. It seemed to be about an event starting in the second semester.
"In preparation for the cultural festival, the executive committee members will be required to come to school three times a week during summer vacation. We ask for your cooperation to make this the best cultural festival possible."
Cultural Festival Executive Committee Member... That sounded like another pain in the neck. It seemed that, starting from the second semester, all students would be required to belong to some kind of committee. That would be decided on the first day of the second semester, but it looked like the Cultural Festival Executive Committee was being chosen today. The merit was that once the festival was over, your duties were finished. You didn't have to continue for the rest of the year like you would with other committees.
Shinomiya-senpai was pushing me hard to join the Disciplinary Committee, but I wasn't sure what to do. No matter what I chose, it would be a hassle, but since I’d been invited, maybe following her lead was worth considering...
Well, I’d decide based on my mood at the time.
"Who wants to be a Cultural Festival Executive Committee Member?"
My homeroom teacher, Ms. Ohtsuki, asked in a deliberately bright tone. "What a pain." Everyone must have been thinking the same thing, as no one answered her question. They all tried their best to avoid eye contact with her. After about five seconds of silence, the teacher’s expression soured.
"If no one's volunteering, I'll have to narrow down the candidates myself."
The class stiffened. I wasn't the only one who snapped my head up. I had a bad feeling about this, but I couldn't risk standing out by speaking up carelessly. Somehow, I could predict exactly what the teacher was going to say next.
"Alright, everyone who isn't in a club, stand up!"
Guh. Well, yeah, that made sense. That’s how it usually went. People in clubs had practice and tournaments. It was the way of the world that jobs got passed off to the people with free time, inside and outside of school... I had no choice but to accept it.
Thinking it was useless to resist, I slowly stood up. Following me at the front, I heard the sound of chairs being pulled out from the seats next to me and elsewhere. Looking back quickly, six people, including myself, were standing. I knew about Natsukawa, but I was surprised there were so many people who weren't in clubs.
Next to me was... Ichinose-san, who was always engrossed in reading. I hadn't talked to her much, but well, tough luck. She probably would have joined a Literature Club if we had one, but at our school, it was basically a phantom club... Blame the era, young lady. This isn't an age where being a Higher Idle is permitted.
Everyone else looked relieved that they didn't have to do the annoying work. I felt a surge of irritation at the guys looking up at us with smirks that said, "Hehe, tough luck!" You guys seriously better remember this if I ever learn how to use a Kamehameha.
"Hmm... I guess we'll do rock-paper-scissors~"
"Just make it Sajou already!"
"Yamazaki. Yamazaki, you... Yamazaki."
Was there nothing I could throw at him? Doesn't the Track and Field Club have a shot put I could borrow?
As I looked to my side to glare at Yamazaki, Ashida nudged a black volleyball bag hanging by her desk with her knee, as if to say it was available as a projectile. I didn't expect her to actually recommend it. I couldn't hide my agitation. What, is it okay for me to use it? I'm borrowing it, okay?
"Oh! Is Sajou-kun going to do it? I mean, you are free, right!"
"Ah, I'm still recovering from being sick."
"You're already bette—"
"Alright! Rock-paper-scissors time!" I shouted.
"Eh!?"
Sensing danger, I raised my voice in the classroom for the first time in a while. I couldn't let this opportunity slip away. From now on, I was MC Sajou... I would destroy this atmosphere before they could box me in! There was no way I was becoming a Cultural Festival Executive Committee Member! A leisurely and comfortable summer vacation was waiting for me! I was going to be... a Higher Idle in an air-conditioned room!
"I—I thought you'd been behaving lately...!"
This was no time to worry about not standing out; my summer vacation was on the line. I absolutely could not let this be decided by the "vibe." I could accept it if the decision was made through a fair process. Well, even if it wasn't exactly fair at this point.
The six members of the Going-home Club gathered at the front of the classroom. God of rock-paper-scissors... give me strength!
"I won't lose," I muttered.
"If you hate it that much, you should have just come up with a better excuse..." Natsukawa sighed.
"No, well, cheating is..."
"You're surprisingly upright about that..."
"Ah, we need one boy and one girl, so split up and do it," Ms. Ohtsuki interjected.
"Eh."
While I was responding seriously to Natsukawa's exasperated words, the teacher dropped a bombshell. I froze. On our side, there were only two guys. How cruel.
The four girls, including Natsukawa, moved away from me and Tabata. Ichinose-san didn't let go of her book even now. She really loved those... Naturally, someone like me talking to her would just be a nuisance.
Pulling myself together, I faced Tabata.
"Tabata... how many months has it been since we last spoke?"
"Who knows..."
Tabata—he was an ordinary guy. He was a great reference for me since I aimed to be ordinary, but Tabata seemed more like the type who suffered because of his ordinariness. He looked like the "Yes-man" type who would just nod if someone pushed a job onto him. I felt like things would turn out well if Tabata and I merged. I’d absolutely hate that, though.
"Let's do this fair and square—"
"Let's just do it quickly."
"My bad."
O-Ordinary...? Wait, was he actually a bit of a cynical type? Now that I thought about it, I didn't have much of an impression of him talking to anyone. He was more the lonely type acting like he was solitary. He must be pretending to like being alone while actually feeling lonely. If I approached him in a friendly way, he might be surprisingly easy to win over. He wasn't a Yes-man at all. Man, I'm terrible.
I steeled myself and prepared for rock-paper-scissors. Even if I went in with high energy, he'd probably just find me annoying, so I’d do it quickly. Here goes—rock, paper, scissors!
"Right. Well, Tabata, I'm counting on you."
"..."
Sorry, Tabata. This was a battle I couldn't afford to lose. It's too bad, but since you lost, you have to back down gracefully. You can't ask for a rematch, kid.
"I have cram school and stuff, though," he muttered.
"Hey, don't say that after you already lost..."
Seriously, I wondered what was up with this guy. When I countered him, Tabata backed down quietly, went to the teacher, told her he'd been chosen, and returned to his seat.
Um, could you not act like that? It leaves a bad aftertaste. Let's talk a bit more...
"Alright, for the girls, it's Natsukawa-san."
Oh.
Hearing Ms. Ohtsuki's voice, I turned around to see Natsukawa, surrounded by the other girls, smiling a bit regretfully. She was being cheered on with "Good luck, Natsukawa-san," and she was responding with a polite thank you. That was the kind of atmosphere I wanted, but couldn't you have done something about it, Tabata? What—T-That guy...! Now that Natsukawa was chosen as the girl, he looked a little happy!
Guh, well, I guess it couldn't be helped. Since I beat him, there was nothing to be done. I’d just stay quiet.
The event that gives teachers stomach ulcers concluded smoothly with Tabata for the boys and Natsukawa for the girls. Just as I was feeling relieved at not having been forced into an annoying role, that guy spoke up.
"Tabata, you said cram school is tough, right? Want me to take your place?"
Sasaki. The guy sitting near Tabata suddenly spoke up, offering to take over as the Cultural Festival Executive Committee Member.