The second Cultural Festival of my high school career drew to a close as the bonfire finally flickered out.
Perhaps because the "normies" had burned through all their energy along with those flames, the school's atmosphere shifted from the rowdy festival air back to a quiet, exhausted stillness.
We headed back to our classroom for final homeroom. Everyone was so wiped out that we decided to leave the prop cleanup for tomorrow, heading home immediately after being dismissed.
"Well, I've got an Executive Committee meeting to get to," Yuria announced.
"The Track and Field Club is meeting too, so I'll be going ahead, okay?" Kuroki added.
With Yuria heading to the Executive Committee and Kuroki off to her club, they both hurried out of the room.
Even on a day like this, the Track and Field kids still had to meet for their upcoming competition... I swear, athletic clubs are the absolute worst.
(Guess it’s time for me to head out too...?)
Just as I grabbed my bag and stood up, Miyama, who was sitting in the seat in front of me, spun around.
"Ryouta, Ryouta! Let’s walk home together!"
"Huh? Oh, sure. I don’t mind."
Since neither Kuroki nor Yuria were around, I ended up walking home with just Miyama.
By the time we stepped out of the school building, the moon was already hanging high in the night sky.
It was past seven in the evening... It had been a long time since I’d left school this late.
"That was so much fun, wasn't it? The festival, I mean!" Airi chirped.
"In your case, Miyama, I think 'delicious' fits better than 'fun.'"
"Hey! What’s that supposed to mean? You’re making it sound like Airi did nothing but eat!"
Well, you did do nothing but eat... didn't you?
"But the food at the festival is so cheap and tasty. I wish we could have a festival every day!"
"The people actually making the food would probably die if you did that."
"Airi kind of wants to do a food stall next year!"
She definitely just wanted a reason to eat more... but I suppose it’d be better than another play.
"Actually, scratch that! I want to do another play after all!"
"I am never doing a play again," I said firmly.
"Ehh! Why not? Let’s do it! It was fun!"
"Because since this one was such a success, the class is definitely going to want to stick with the gender-swapped theme. If that happens, I’m 100% going to be forced into the Princess role again."
Extroverts are the kind of creatures that live for those kinds of gags.
I’d managed to pull off the role reasonably well this year, so it was a given that people would start thinking it’d be hilarious to make me the lead again next year. That was exactly why I couldn't let another play happen.
"No way... but Airi really wanted to be the Princess next time..."
"Is that so? Well, if you’re the one who suggests we stop the gender-swapping so you can play the Princess yourself, I’ll back you up."
"Really!?"
If we scrapped Kuroki’s gender-swapped idea, I wouldn't have to be the heroine, and Miyama would get her wish. It was a total win-win.
If that happened, I could just slack off as a stagehand... That’d be way easier than a lead role.
"Okay! Then Airi will be the Princess, and you have to be my Prince, Ryouta!"
"Yeah, sure, leave it to—wait, the Prince? Me!?"
"Yep! If Ryouta plays the Prince, Airi will make sure everyone else is on board!"
"Whoa, hold on! Why does it have to be like that?"
"Because Airi doesn't want to do it if Ryouta isn't the lead! If it’s some other guy, then Airi won't do it!"
"Wh-What are you even talking about?"
I didn’t quite follow her logic, but she seemed hell-bent on getting me back on that stage. Maybe she just felt more comfortable acting opposite someone she was used to talking to... but she really needed to consider my feelings, too.
"L-Look, we don’t even know if we’ll be in the same class next year... but fine, I’ll consider it."
"Really? Yay!"
"I said I’d consider it."
Between the Vice President thing Kuroki asked of me and now this, my list of "things I'm putting off" just kept growing... Good grief.
"Together... with Ryouta... Hehe."
It was hard to see in the dark, but Miyama’s cheeks looked remarkably flushed.
"Oh, right! Ryouta, about tomorrow after school..."
"Yeah?"
"Can I... come over to Ryouta's house?"
"Huh? My house? Where is this coming from?"
"Is that... a no?"
It wasn't that it was a "no," but... Miyama wanted to come to my place? And this time... she’d be alone.
"I mean, if you’re okay with a house like mine..."
"Yay! Then let’s walk home together tomorrow after school too, okay?"
I couldn't believe it. To think Miyama actually wanted to visit my house...
(First that near-miss with her chest before the play, and now this? Does this mean Miyama is... into me? Is she making a move?!)
With my heart racing with anticipation, I welcomed Miyama into my home the following afternoon... only for reality to hit.
"Aaargh! I don’t get this one, or this one, or even this one!"
"............"
"Ryouta, hurry up and help me! Teach Airi the answers!"
"............"
It... it was a study session. Of course it was!