A pissed-off Nee-chan was terrifying. Back in middle school, there had been a truly awful period where she’d let her emotions explode, but ever since she entered high school and adopted her current persona, her anger had turned silent. Her movements would slow down. The way she’d drift toward you with slow, deliberate steps was nothing short of nightmare-inducing.
"……In any case, she seems to have an inkling about the situation. Kaede has been unusually harsh with Hasegawa since the very start of the Cultural Festival preparations. I wondered why, but after looking into it, the pieces have fallen into place."
"Excuse me?"
You didn’t have to be a popular guy to understand that. A woman’s "inkling" was as good as "certainty." If I were to tell her, "Actually, your hunch is right on the money," it would be a disaster. She’d start walking slowly out of the Student Council Room while cracking her knuckles. No matter how much you ran, she’d just keep stalking you at that same slow pace—it was seriously haunting. She was like a Tyrant from a survival horror game.
"…………So, basically? What’s the actual problem?"
"The total number of workers is sufficient. However, we lack the personnel on the Kouetsu High School side to actually manage them. Hasegawa likely has her hands full just dealing with her own internal team."
"Um……"
"—In short, we need someone else to act as the bridge between the external collaborators and the Kouetsu students on the ground."
I finally understood once Ishiguro-senpai rephrased it. Even if we secured external help, someone had to tell them exactly what needed to be done. If that workflow wasn't established, then no matter how much money we spent to gather people, they’d just be a disorganized rabble.
"To achieve that, we naturally need close coordination with the Cultural Festival Executive Committee—and by extension, Hasegawa Tomoka. However, the Student Council is busy enough as it is, needing to process all the delayed documents and data immediately."
"But in this specific instance, we feel there’s a risk in letting Hasegawa and Kaede interact. Your sister's decisiveness and fortitude are exceptional, but she has a blind spot when it comes to the feelings of 'incompetent people'—or more accurately, people she considers 'useless.'"
"Huh……?"
Nee-chan couldn't understand the feelings of "incompetent people"……? That couldn't be right. I mean, she had me for a brother, didn't she? I didn't think it was possible for her not to understand.
"Um, isn't Nee-chan fairly tolerant in that regard? She's been looking at me her whole life, so I’d think she's used to seeing a total failure who can't get anything right no matter how many times he tries……"
"………? What are you talking about? You have the technical skill to handle actual administrative work for the Student Council; even Shinomiya seems to rate you highly. Besides, lately, Kaede has a habit of bringing you up as a benchmark whenever she scolds someone."
"Huh……?"
"『Even my brother can do it.』 That’s become her favorite catchphrase lately. Yuudai gets the brunt of it. It sounds like it really hits him where it hurts."
Yuudai…… he meant Todoroki-senpai. Wait, what? She’s using me as a benchmark? And "whenever she scolds someone"…… don't tell me she's saying that to upperclassmen who have absolutely nothing to do with me……? I'd seriously hate being loathed behind my back. Besides, is that even supposed to be a compliment……?
"Furthermore, unlike Kaede, you’re likely suited for negotiations, and you even gained the know-how to function as part of a team through your part-time jobs back in middle school. In what way are you an 'incompetent person'?"
"No, it's not like I'm some master negotiator or…… wait! How do you even know about that!"
"Now that I know Kaede has a younger brother, there was no way I wouldn't investigate him. Honestly…… despite having never breathed a word about you until now, she’s become like this the moment your existence came to light."
"………………?………………?…………"
"Sajou's younger brother…… just let it slide……………"
I was seeing stars as words were hurled at me one after another. Ishiguro-senpai was pressing a hand to his forehead. Did he just take a mental bullet for me?
"At any rate, we would very much like you to take on that role."
"W-Wait a minute!"
No way, what were they talking about? You've got to be joking! Why would I willingly sign up for such a massive pain in the ass? Don't give me that "would like you to take on" crap. I’d just be used as a glorified errand boy.
"Look, to be perfectly blunt, the only reason I help the Student Council is because my sister's unreasonable demands actually turned out to be convenient for me, or because I get a delicious lunch box in exchange. I only do it because I can keep things casual. If it weren't for her, I would have refused from the start. On top of that, you're telling me to take responsibility for a job I have no obligation to even touch?"
I ended up complaining in all seriousness. I probably sounded like an impudent brat talking to my seniors like that, but I didn't think I was wrong. Just because of my connection to Nee-chan, what obligation did I have to inherit such a mess? I wasn't an Executive Committee Member, nor was I an official Student Council officer……!
"…………Fine, you're free to refuse."
"……Eh?"
"But are you truly okay with that? We could probably find a replacement eventually, but we have no immediate prospects."
"……Huh?"
I was caught off guard by how quickly Yuuki-senpai backed down. Stunned, I found myself asking back with a blank expression, failing to grasp the meaning behind his question.
"I believe I told you: 『Now that I know Kaede has a younger brother, there was no way I wouldn't investigate him.』"
"Yes……"
"Sajou Wataru—why did you acquire that level of ability? Why were you working part-time jobs even as a middle school student……? Why did Kaede spill her heart and grieve before the summer vacation……? And why did you help the Executive Committee three days ago after finishing your work for us?"
"T-That’s……"
The profiling was so thorough I couldn't even find a retort. What had happened to my privacy? It's not like he had a monitor in his room to surveil me twenty-four hours a day, right? If I was being scrutinized this much, what was he doing to Nee-chan……? Was this guy dangerous?
"I don't intend to go out of my way to spell it out and confront you with it. Nor do I intend to do anything spiteful if you refuse. However, let me ask you once more—are you truly satisfied with that outcome?"
"……"
A troublesome task was being shoved onto me. But in the center of that trouble was a person whose suffering I could never simply ignore. A person I loved, someone who would remain out of my reach no matter how much I chased after her.
What I had decided was that I would still chase her and wish for her happiness. Even if I wasn't the one by her side, if I could see her smiling from afar, then that was enough—I had sworn that to the Goddess knowing full well my heart would ache. I was supposed to be…… keeping that vow. Ever since that day. Even now as we spoke. And from here on out, too.
"—It’s not okay."
"Then what will you do?"
"I’ll do it. Please, let me do it."
I was such a gullible small-fry, easily swayed by my own emotions. Yuuki-senpai had probably told me all of that from the start with this exact intention. I guess he didn't just talk a big game about romance for show.
Even so, if falling into this trap was the best way to keep my vow to the Goddess…… If it meant Natsukawa, who cared so much for her sister, could go home earlier and have more time to spend with Airi-chan…… then so be it.
"—Then it’s settled."
"………I will never understand this thing called romance," Ishiguro muttered.
"Don't be like that, Ishiguro. Even I had a similar phase. To the point where every girl's face looked exactly the same to me."
"I can't even look girls in the face to begin with."
"……Maybe you should try to fix that?"
Should I have been annoyed that he'd manipulated me, or grateful that he'd pointed the way? Either way, I knew Natsukawa was struggling, and I would have stepped in sooner or later anyway—if anything, I probably owed him one.
"More importantly……… won't that woman get angry about this?"
"There's no need to worry. It’ll be settled as long as I take two or three punches from her."
"………I really don't understand romance."
"Heh……"
With the discussion concluded, Ishiguro-senpai handed me a printout. The upcoming plan was written in meticulous detail. It felt incredibly aggressive. Whether we could actually pull it off would depend on my performance as well.
Yuuki-senpai added a final note.
"Wataru, I want you to head to the Executive Committee’s classroom with Ishiguro. Coordinate with the team Renji set up."
"This is really happening, then…… Understood. I look forward to working with you, Ishiguro-senpai."
"Yeah……… Calling you 'Sajou's younger brother' is getting a bit old, so I'll call you Wataru as well."
"Understood. Then I’ll call you Ken-senpai too."
"Actually, my name isn't Ken……"
……Eh?
I looked back, and there he was.