I wonder why August 6th is a school report day. To explain the reason, you’d have to trace the story back to the middle of the war, but for Kouetsu High School, it seems it’s nothing more than a convenient excuse to make the third-year students—who generally find school a hassle—show up. Well, it’s not like high school itself is part of compulsory education anyway.
“It... It’s been a while, Sajou.”
“Hello. Why do you look so incredibly awkward, Senpai? I’m not even thinking about what happened at your place anymore.”
“Wha—!? Does that mean you're actually joining the Disciplinary Committee?!”
“No, that’s definitely not it.”
She never misses an opening.
When I showed up at school for the first time in a while, Shinomiya-senpai was there to meet me at the gate. Apparently, some of the third-years were spending their time preparing for the Trial Enrollment instead of attending classes. A lot of logistics go into these events.
She spoke to me with visible discomfort, but... to be honest, I’d mostly stopped caring about what happened at that dojo the moment I woke up the next day. Humans are just like that; when I’m sipping miso soup before work, I practically forget my own name. For someone who was so worried, isn’t her transition a bit too fast? Talk about a quick cleanup; you’re like a shopping district the day after Christmas.
“I heard from Nee-chan. I didn’t think you were delicate enough to worry about my mood. Do I really look like that much of a threat to you?”
“Is that so? I could see a future where I incurred your displeasure and ended up being hated by Kaede and Yuyu...”
“Well, I guess you would worry about my mood then.”
When I threw that verbal jab, she confessed her remarkably honest and personal reasons. Setting aside the extent of my own importance, if she could envision a future where she was hated by the senior mascot, Inatomi-senpai, then I could understand why Shinomiya-senpai had become so sensitive. She really does adore that girl...
“Well, I don’t think Seishindo or whatever has anything to do with manual labor. Even an inexperienced guy can be useful, right?”
“Y-you really are holding a grudge after all!”
“I’m only making jokes like that because I’m not holding a grudge.”
Ah, I see. Since this person is so straightforward herself, she’s vulnerable to people who stand at an angle, isn’t she? Between this and our consultation when we first met, I can really feel her clumsy side. I don’t know how a senior like her managed to tame my sister back when she was in her flashy phase, but for now, let’s just get to work.
“We’re supposed to have a briefing in an empty meeting room this morning, right? Thanks for meeting me. Shall we go?”
“O-oh... You’re surprisingly energetic.”
“Being used to a moderate degree suits my nature. I’m the type who’ll earn my keep through overtime pay in the future.”
It’s not just that it suits my nature; I think that’s just my station as a human being. I’ve got the face of a youngest child who’s perpetually forced to run errands by his older siblings. Well, I suppose that’s how I was raised, after all.
“That’s not what people call ‘moderate’... Oh well, come with me.”
“Sure thing.”
To be honest, I should have been feeling awkward too. But I don’t know, once you actually meet face-to-face after a while, your heart has a way of settling.
When I gave a casual smile to the taken-aback Shinomiya-senpai, she returned a weary, wry grin.
For some reason, my skill for cursing handsome men activated.
◆
The Disciplinary Committee's base of operations was assigned to a classroom on the second floor of the North Building. As we walked down the hallway, I could see that several other classrooms were also buzzing with activity. I was told that the Cultural Festival Executive Committee was already moving, and next to them was a meeting room opened specifically for this Trial Enrollment, followed by the actual Disciplinary Committee headquarters further down.
As for why it was necessary to create a separate space from the Disciplinary Committee room, it was essentially to store the necessary supplies and equipment, and to allow meetings to be held simultaneously when the group split into two teams. It’s a bit late for this, but the Disciplinary Committee has more members than I realized.
“It’s been a while, Sajou-kun!”
“Hello, you two.”
Since we were already acquainted, I joined up with Inatomi-senpai and her guardian-like presence—Mita-senpai—at the Disciplinary Committee classroom. In contrast to Inatomi-senpai, who was so energetic I almost wanted to pick her up, Mita-senpai was looking at me coolly with her arms crossed. My eyes reflexively threatened to drift toward what was resting atop those arms. Then, I remembered the time she put me in a headlock in the cafeteria before summer vacation. Strange, isn't it? Whenever I see Mita-senpai, my hand instinctively goes to the side of my head.
We headed toward the meeting room.
“Are you two guiding the middle schoolers?”
“Yuyu and I are a set. If I leave this girl alone, who knows what’ll happen to her...”
“Ah, that makes sense.”
“P-please don't be so easily convinced...!”
Just the other day, on the day I first met Sasaki-san, I saw firsthand how rowdy middle schoolers can be. It’s easy to predict what would happen if you threw a mascot like Inatomi-senpai into a crowd like that. I can practically see the middle schoolers wandering off and disrupting the group while she tries to keep up.
People have things they’re suited for and things they aren’t, so it can’t be helped, Senpai. So please, puff out your cheeks and hit me more cutely—wait, I mean, don't hit me. Damn, she’s so cute I find myself wanting to tease her.
“We’ve also recruited guides from the Cultural Festival Executive Committee and the general student body. I believe there was someone from your class as well...”
“Eh?”
Since the door was half-open, I peered inside. In the meeting room, long desks were arranged in a large U-shape. Looking at the students seated in their respective spots, the air hitched in my throat.
“It’s nothing but beauties... This is bad for my heart. Can I go home?”
“Now, don’t be so cynical. Wasn't that girl sitting over there the one who looked after you when you were sick?”
“Eh.”
Looking where Shinomiya-senpai pointed, there sat a beauty so stunning she could topple a kingdom. Needless to say, it was Natsukawa. She was beautiful today, as always... Did she get a bit of a tan? She seems to be coming to school twice a week.
That Natsukawa was talking quite amiably with the handsome male student next to her.
“...!”
It was Sasaki. He’s got the looks and the air of an honor student, so I can understand why he’d be selected as a guide for the Trial Enrollment. Not that my faint emotions were satisfied with that, though. Well, I can suppress it easily enough.
Ah, that’s right. It’s been nearly half a month since the day Sasaki declared war on me...
During summer vacation, the Cultural Festival Executive Committee meets twice a week. They’ve already met about five times, so in that time, Sasaki must have deepened not just their teamwork, but their friendship as well. At the very least, Sasaki has a proactive reason to pursue her, so there’s no doubt about it.
“...It’d be bad to disturb them, and it’s not like I really need to talk to her.”
“Hmm? Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Well then, go ahead and take an empty seat.”
I figured.
Even if I’m just part of the transport crew, I’m still involved in today's Trial Enrollment event. It only makes sense that I’d participate in the same briefing. Shinomiya-senpai said that naturally, I needed to be among them. Sigh, are you serious...
Almost pushed in by Shinomiya-senpai, I entered the room, passed by the teacher's podium, and took an empty seat on the Disciplinary Committee side. A large senior from the committee gave me a "Who is this guy?" look, but I decided to ignore it for now.
Actually, I am worried. I can feel an intense gaze. I probably don't even need to say where it's coming from.
...Yo.
I greeted Natsukawa, who was looking at me with a surprised face, and Sasaki, who was staring at me with a serious expression as if evaluating me, with a slight nod. Honestly, I didn't want to be spotted, but this couldn't be helped. Well, as for Sasaki, as long as I can convey the intention of "I'm not going to get in your way" at some point, it should be fine. Hey you, stop glaring for a second.
“—Is everyone here? Then, let’s begin the preliminary briefing.”
◆
Normally, the Disciplinary Committee is supposedly a massive pain to be in. Despite that, because this generation has a princely figure in the form of Shinomiya-senpai—in a Takarazuka sort of way—there was a flood of female students wanting to join. In the first place, they really should have split the capacity between boys and girls.
The particularly troublesome part was that there were many cases where girls who didn't make the cut would ask the boys in the committee to switch places with them. In this high school, belonging to the Disciplinary Committee has apparently become a status symbol for the girls.
Last year, Shinomiya-senpai took on the title of Disciplinary Committee President, and without being able to properly handle the influx of girls, she ended up taking in mostly females, resulting in a shortage of male labor. That is the problem currently facing the committee.
As such, as a member of the transport team, I bugged my eyes out at the members of my own group.
“Um, you’re the helper for President Shinomiya, right? Nice to meet you.”
“Ah, nice to meet you too.”
The lone male in the Disciplinary Committee, a large and plump third-year senior, Ichinose-san. ...Ichinose? He has the same surname as the literary girl in the seat next to me, but is that just a coincidence? Their physiques are so different there's not even a hint of a resemblance... Besides, that Ichinose-san has long bangs and you can't really see her face anyway.
This Ichinose-san had a gentle, bear-like atmosphere. His smiling expression seemed to be his default, and I got the feeling he could function as a mascot even when surrounded by girls. In a way, he actually seems quite reliable.
When I said "lone male," I meant it literally; Ichinose-san was the only boy in the Disciplinary Committee before I showed up. Because of that, the transport team was also mostly made up of female students. No matter how you look at it, this seems like it'll be back-breaking work...
“Sajou-kun, right? We're short on men, so we’re counting on you~”
“Nice to meet you!”
“Ah, yes. Nice to meet you too.”
The female seniors looked at me with curiosity and patted me on the shoulder as they passed. What is this, some kind of unique committee culture? Does Ichinose-san usually get this much physical contact? I'm a little jealous, so could you switch places with me, but only when it's not busy?
Pat, pat.