The Former Swordmaster Who Pretends to Be the Worst, and the School’s Top-Ranked Chairman’s Daughter Who’s Way Too Sweet in Public, It’s a Real Problem
“Hmm… So, Class A of the first year will be the ‘Maid & Butler Café,’ then.”
“Yes. As for what we’ll need for that—”
A meeting of the event coordinators is, essentially, a discussion aimed at minimizing overlap.
Although the school specializes in magic, in addition to the performances organized by grade level, there are also cases where clubs put on their own acts. Whether it’s food stalls, haunted houses, or some kind of play—if it’s popular, competition is inevitable.
“I see. …For this year’s Seihou Festival, there aren’t many other classes opening cafes. You’ve managed to set yourselves apart, so it doesn’t seem like there will be any major issues.”
“Really?!”
But it seems we’ve been lucky this year.
As Senpai checked the documents and made that remark, Rika must have been incredibly happy. Her voice quivered—which was rare for her—as she confirmed it. Technically, I’m the one in charge, but she was the one who originally wanted to take the lead.
I might as well just leave the details to her.
“Well then, next up… Class F?”
“Y-yes!”
And so, it went surprisingly smoothly.
As soon as we finished checking on our class, the conversation turned to the other class that had been summoned—Class F, led by Takanashi. When the senior asked while wiping his glasses, my usually carefree friend answered, looking unusually nervous.
“Um, Class F of the first-years… um, we were thinking of making an exhibit.”
“An exhibit, huh? Like what, for example?”
“W-well…”
When asked for specifics, Takanashi scratched her cheek with a slightly troubled look and averted her gaze.
Then, as if she’d made up her mind, she said:
“Our class is thinking of using ‘expressing gratitude to our families’ as our theme…”
Her voice was weak, and the second half of her sentence trailed off almost inaudibly.
I wondered if she had something to feel guilty about, and I thought about it for a moment. Then it suddenly occurred to me that her background was rather unusual.
That’s right.
She acts so naturally that I’d almost forgotten, but Takanashi is a “designer baby” created by that Nishimiya. For a class like hers, a theme of “gratitude toward family” would be far too cruel.
“……I see. Not a bad idea. But if that’s the case, we’ll have to invite guests from outside the school.”
“Huh…?”
Of course, Necro Senpai had no idea about those circumstances.
So, in line with his role as the committee’s coordinator, he told Takanashi this.
“Inviting students’ families onto campus requires caution. If we just let people in at random, the risk level goes up.”
“Y-yeah, you’re right…”
“Therefore, we need to know in advance how many people will be coming.”
“…………”
It was a perfectly ordinary conversation, but every word was painful for my troublemaking friend.
I felt a strange tingling sensation somewhere around my chest—
“As for managing that, can Takanashi handle—”
“—Ah, come to think of it, Senpai! What happens in the case of guests?”
“Aragaki…?”
—I couldn’t help but interrupt like that.
Of course, Takanashi wasn’t the only one taken aback by the sudden question. Rika, sitting next to me, looked just as surprised, and Necro-senpai was staring at me with a look of surprise as well.
After pondering for a moment, he replied.
“Guests, huh. The committee and the school are supposed to coordinate on that.”
“In that case, wouldn’t it be better if they just handled it there…?”
“…Hmm.”
In response to his words, I suggested that a bit hastily.
Then, Senpai thought for a moment and said,
“…You’re right. It would be more meaningful for the students to focus on the production, wouldn’t it?”
“Y-yes, of course…!?”
Even though it was practically a mutter, I gave a loud nod in agreement.
That seemed to solidify Senpai’s decision.
“I appreciate it, Aragaki. Thanks to you, it looks like we can improve the project even further.”
“N-no, not at all…!”
After thanking me, he looked back down at the documents.
Then he began discussing the finer details of the budget with Takanashi.
“Phew…!”
After acknowledging that, I finally took a deep breath.
I sat down and buried my face in the desk. Then, Rika, sitting next to me,
“Saito-kun, that’s just like you. You covered for Takanashi-san, didn’t you?”
Perhaps because she knew the situation too, she asked me that right in my ear.
I nodded as I lifted my face and let out a sigh.
“Yeah, that’s right. The circumstances are pretty different for us and her. I just couldn’t rest easy unless I gave her a helping hand.”
“Hmm…?”
After I replied, my childhood friend said, sounding convinced.
“Saito-kun, Takanashi-san must mean a lot to you, huh?”
“Well, of course. She’s a teammate—”
“Ei!”
“—Yow!?”
Just as I was about to reply,
for some reason, Rika pinched my side with all her might. Completely caught off guard, I let out a ridiculous yelp.
Takanashi and Necro-senpai turned their puzzled gazes toward us.
After returning their looks with a wry smile, I whispered to my childhood friend.
“W-what the hell are you doing!?”
“Eeh? I don’t know!”
She said that with a somewhat brusque attitude.
I had no idea why she was acting that way, so I could only stare blankly.
“…Seriously. You’re so clueless, aren’t you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean…?”
She whispered that to me with a smile, but I still didn’t get it.
According to Rika, I’m clueless, so all I could do was tend to the spot she’d pinched—harder than I expected…
Maiban