"I will be serving as your guide today. My name is Sasaki Takaaki. It's a pleasure to meet you all."
"And I am Natsukawa Aika. It’s a pleasure to meet you."
In front of the school entrance, I held up a sign displaying the name of a middle school as I lined up the visiting students. For many of them, there probably wasn't even a year's difference in age between us. Only six students had come from this particular school, but several of the boys were quite large—too large for me to comfortably act the part of an authoritative senior. I felt a little overwhelmed.
I suppose this was the "free appeal" time for Sasaki-kun and me. Since the tour route was predetermined, we walked at a leisurely pace, explaining the school’s culture, the various classrooms, and the facilities. I continued the tour while emphasizing features that were more advanced than what they had in middle school, mixing in a bit of exaggeration for effect.
"Hey, hey, Natsukawa-san, was it? What middle school did you go to?"
"Eh?"
During the walk, a boy with hair spiked into points with wax approached me to ask a question. I involuntarily flinched at his attitude; he didn't act like he was speaking to a senior at all.
"Right. Let’s try to keep the questions relevant, shall we?"
"Huh...?"
"Um..."
As the boy pressed closer, Sasaki-kun stepped in to intervene. I could tell from his expression that he was annoyed by the boy's confrontational attitude. Behind him, the other middle schoolers stood by helplessly, looking restless and uncertain.
This won't do. I have to show them that I can act like a proper senior. What would Shinomiya-senpai do? What would Kei do... or what would Wataru do?
As those faces flashed through my mind, I realized that every one of them was someone who didn't hold back.
"A boy like you isn't needed at this school."
"Huh?"
"I said we don't need you. Didn't you hear me?"
Like a clerk dealing with a customer, he probably thought I wouldn't be able to talk back to him. From Kouetsu High School's perspective, they wanted to increase the number of applicants as much as possible, after all.
Even so, this was the popular Kouetsu High School. It might have been a bit of an overstatement, but the school was close to residential areas, the tuition was affordable, and on top of that, it was a preparatory school that was excellent for university entrance exams. When I thought about it like that, it seemed like applicants would flock here even if we didn't go out of our way to provide these tours.
That was why I felt there was no need to be polite to a boy like this.
"Setting this boy aside... I'll make sure the rest of you get a proper tour. Now, follow me."
I emphasized that one person’s bad attitude wouldn't ruin the reputation of their middle school as a whole and resumed the tour. I gave the slightly stunned Sasaki-kun a nudge on the back and moved forward as if nothing had happened. In situations like this, the one who panics first loses. I was scared, but Sasaki-kun was here with me. I just had to do my best for now.
Adopting a resolute stance, I glanced back to see the boy in question following us in awkward silence.
"...Natsukawa, I didn't know you could talk like that."
"I'm always like that with a certain someone."
"..."
I said it on impulse. I didn't name names, but I was sure he understood. After all, Wataru had been on good enough terms to talk with Sasaki-kun since the beginning of the first semester. More importantly—though I hated to admit it—the back-and-forth between Wataru and me had apparently become something of a local legend.
...I wonder what Wataru is doing right now.
"Excuse me! This school's uniform is so cute!"
"Yes, it is. That’s actually one of the reasons I chose to come here."
I continued the tour, mixing in some "proper" small talk along the way.
The school information I had memorized from the documents was easy to remember because some of it actually piqued my own interest. Thanks to that, I was able to explain things about classrooms I hadn't even used yet quite fluently, and the tour proceeded smoothly.
"That’s about it for the school grounds. Does anyone have any questions?"
"I do—"
I got a few questions from both sides... but Sasaki-kun only received questions from the girls, which made me smile wryly. I suppose it couldn't be helped, given how handsome he was. Perhaps the younger boys also had things they wanted to ask, but they stayed quiet—maybe because they felt a bit envious of Sasaki-kun.
After answering several more questions, we broke for lunch. I guided the students—both those who had brought their own meals and those who hadn't—to the cafeteria, which was reserved exclusively for the event today, and showed them to their designated seats.
"A video introduction will begin in the gymnasium starting at 1:00 PM. Please make sure you finish eating and move there by then. Be mindful of the time."
"Our role as guides ends here. After the presentation is over, you're free to check out the club activities or head home. It’s free time, so feel free to explore as you like."
"Yes! Understood!"
Our duties were officially over. All we had to do now was return to the conference room for the Trial Enrollment, eat our own lunch, and make our way to the gymnasium forty-five minutes after the video presentation for the middle schoolers began. It had only been a short stint of work, but I felt mentally exhausted.
"Dealing with middle schoolers is harder than it looks."
"Do you think so? I thought you were quite the hit, Sasaki-kun."
"Well, yeah, I guess... but the guys, you know."
"Ah... right, I see your point."
The male guides, including the seniors, were all good-looking, which probably made the middle school boys—who were at an age where they wanted to act tough—feel a bit self-conscious. Still, if they were going to act like that... they weren't going to leave a good impression on anyone.
When we returned to the conference room, nearly ten seniors were already there. I felt a wave of relief knowing we weren't the only ones who had finished our tours early.
I glanced over at the seats where the Disciplinary Committee had been sitting, but none of them seemed to have returned. The chairs had been organized and were stacked several layers high at the edge of the room. Were they not coming back at all...?
"So, Natsukawa, where should we eat lunch?"
"Eh—"
Are we eating together? A genuine question popped into my head, but following the flow of the conversation, it seemed like the natural thing to do. Normally, if Sasaki-kun and I didn't eat together, we’d both end up eating alone. Then I realized that this situation didn't just apply to us. I wondered if Wataru... would come back here.
Sasaki-kun had brought a lunchbox just like I had. The moment he unwrapped it, an awkward look crossed his face. He turned his back to me slightly and seemed to be doing something to his food with his chopsticks.
"Sorry, it's just... there was a message..."
"Oh, I see."
Peeking at his rice, which he had stirred up a bit, I saw bits of light-pink soboro scattered around. On top of that, some long, thin strips of tamagoyaki that appeared to have been shaped into characters were being broken apart. I realized that it must have been decorated to look quite cute originally.
"Hmm, that seems like a bit of a waste."
"I-It's embarrassing. Please, just read the room."
Seeing Sasaki-kun acting so flustered felt like a new experience. I had always imagined him as someone cool who handled everything flawlessly; seeing him this shaken was a first. I suppose this was how he acted at home.
I opened my own lunchbox and began to eat. We had shared meals like this a few times since summer vacation started, and Sasaki-kun always had new stories to tell me. I’m not much of a conversationalist myself, so I was truly grateful that he took the initiative to talk to me.
Still, I didn't think he needed to force himself... sometimes, I felt like he was desperately trying to keep the conversation from dying. Even if he didn't go to such lengths to be considerate, I wouldn't have minded.
"..."
I kept looking toward the entrance of the conference room. Even after sitting there for a while, there was no sign of Wataru or the rest of the Disciplinary Committee. Perhaps they were taking their break somewhere else.
In the end, Wataru didn't return even after we had finished our meal.
At the direction of a senior from the Disciplinary Committee, we moved to the gymnasium. Inside, the visiting middle schoolers were seated in rows organized by their respective schools. As we were led toward the front on the left side, I noticed the Disciplinary Committee members standing further ahead.
—Ah, Wataru...
Only about three people away, I saw that familiar profile. Wataru was watching the video playing at the front, occasionally glancing over at the middle schoolers to check on them. It was rare to see him with such a blank, serious expression, so it felt a bit fresh.
...Wait?
Watching Wataru from a short distance, I realized something. Did the Disciplinary Committee have very few boys? Aside from the large senior standing next to him, I couldn't see any other males. Looking closely, he was practically surrounded by girls. For a split second, I almost suspected—unfairly, I'm sure—that he had joined the committee with some sort of ulterior motive.
When the video ended, Yuuki-senpai, the President of the Student Council, took the stage to give his greeting. A collective stir ran through the middle schoolers the moment he appeared. It was understandable; Yuuki-senpai was even more "sparkling" than Sasaki-kun. I had seen him several times since enrolling, but he was so perfect that I sometimes doubted he was a real person. I wondered how Wataru's sister could manage to stand next to someone like that. If it were me, I think I’d just wither away from the pressure.
Next, Shinomiya-senpai stood up from the front of the row I was in and headed for the stage. She walked up with total confidence, her long black ponytail swaying behind her. She completely dominated the room with a cool, commanding speech—honestly, her and the President’s roles felt like they should have been reversed—and then gracefully left the stage after leaving everyone with a few warm, inclusive words.
...S-So cool...
Without realizing it, I had pressed my hands together against my chest as if in prayer. It was no wonder she had so many fans. I could see why Kei was such a devotee. It had been a purely unconscious reaction. I wished I could carry myself with that kind of dignity. My admiration for her was becoming just as strong as Kei's.
I must have been in a daze for a while. By the time I snapped out of it, I was watching the middle schoolers file out of the gym. A lingering sense of awe remained in my heart, leaving me feeling a bit lightheaded. I only returned to reality when one of the Disciplinary Committee seniors clapped their hands.
"Alright! Everyone is dismissed!"
"Okay!"
Our duties were officially over. It seemed the Disciplinary Committee would be handling the cleanup. I wondered if I should offer to help, but no one reached out to us. If they had enough people, I suppose it was fine.
"...Um."
Wataru was... still there. He was helping some other seniors lift some heavy equipment on the stage. He was in the middle of some serious labor, and the atmosphere didn't seem right for approaching him. Seeing him work so diligently like that, he looked—just for a fleeting moment—actually quite cool.
"Natsukawa, let’s go."
"Eh? O-Oh, right..."
Looking around, I saw a senior from the guide group who was kindly offering to help with the cleanup. I thought about doing the same, but then Sasaki-kun called out to me. With the majority of the students already heading back toward the school building, I didn't have the courage to volunteer as the lone first-year.
"—Ah..."
I took one last look at Wataru, and an indescribable feeling welled up inside me. In the end, despite seeing him for the first time in a while, we hadn't exchanged a single word. Could it be... was this really how it was going to end?
With a faint sense of loneliness clinging to my heart, I turned and left the gymnasium.