The Gal Next to Me Is Trying Too Hard to Make Me Fall in Love With Her
The midterm exam results were announced.
I was anxious about the exam because of various things that happened right before it, but fortunately, I ranked sixth in my grade. Considering that I ranked tenth last time, it’s a pretty good result.
Incidentally, Amagi, despite being in poor health, won first place again this time. Naturally, she got full marks in all subjects. … No, really, what’s going on?
Anyway.
With the exams over, we entered the preparation period for next month’s cultural festival, and the school was suddenly filled with a festive mood.
“So, does anyone have any ideas for our class’s performance?”
After school.
Under the guidance of the class president, we began deciding on our performance for the cultural festival.
“Yes!” “Yes, yes!” Hands shot up one after another.
Our class is pretty united, and since everyone gets along well regardless of gender, it’s already looking pretty fun.
Ideas like the usual haunted house, a play, or a casino were flying around freely.
As for me, I naturally remained silent.
I’m not the type to speak up in situations like this.
…Besides, I’d be afraid of saying something stupid.
It’s always been that way.
I’m fine with letting everyone else decide and just enjoying myself in the corner. If I don’t have a role, that’s fine, and in fact, it’s more relaxing not to be given any responsibility.
“Based on the opinions so far, about 80% of people want to do something related to food and drink. So, let’s decide on the food and drink category.”
Under the chairperson’s leadership, the discussion proceeds smoothly.
In the end, it comes down to a café or a festival food stall, and the class is clearly divided into two camps.
“Definitely a café! It’d be fun to serve various foods, and it’d be interesting to have the guys dress up in women’s clothes and serve customers.”
“Why is it assumed that we have to dress up as girls!? Anyway, the food stall is definitely better! The profits from the cultural festival can be used for the after-party! If we narrow down the menu and make it easy to eat while walking around, the turnover rate will increase, and we’ll make more money to go out for barbecue afterward!”
“Turnover rate… Is that something to worry about at a cultural festival?”
“Of course it’s important! Making more money is definitely more fun!”
The classmates exchanged opinions.
They want to make various things and have fun—this is the café faction.
They want to eliminate waste and focus on the numbers—this is the festival food stall faction.
The committee chair listened to both factions’ opinions with a nod and clapped her hands.
“I think the compromise is to have a few stalls with different menus. Like a frankfurter stall or a fried chicken stall. We can expect a decent profit from that too.”
The festival stall faction looked satisfied with this.
However, the café faction raised their hands in dissatisfaction.
“Frankfurters and fried chicken are just grilled and fried. Is that interesting? Let’s at least have stalls selling kebabs or crepes!”
“Doing all that would be pretty tough. We should focus on one thing.”
“Then let’s do crepes! We can make lots of sweet and savory ones, which would be fun!”
“But the ingredients alone would be pretty expensive. We’d have to rent equipment to bake the crepe batter…”
They almost reached an agreement, but it quickly fell apart.
Based on the flow of the conversation, they needed something that was easy to cook, gave them a sense of accomplishment, and was profitable.
Hmm, this is difficult. I have a feeling this discussion is going to take a long time.
I wish they would just decide on something already…
“Ah!”
One of the girls exclaimed.
“Let’s have Saeki-kun come up with the menu!”
Just because we can’t decide, are we going to push it onto one person?
Well, maybe that’s not a bad idea. It’s better for one person to have the final say than for us to keep going back and forth.
That’s a big responsibility. I couldn’t do it. I’d probably throw up from the stress.
Wait, is there another Saeki in this class besides me…?
…Huh? Isn’t he here?
“Come on, Saeki-kun is a great cook, right? He always makes Amagi-san’s lunch!”
“Wow!” “That’s amazing!” Everyone’s eyes are on me.
How do the people in my class know about my lunch…?
…No, of course they know. Amagi-san is famous, and she talks about everything.
“Besides, I heard that you live alone and earn your own money for food, and you’re good at calculating costs, right? You’re good at studying, too, so you’re definitely the right person for the job!”
“No, I…”
“That’s amazing, Saeki! Thank you, I’m really happy!”
“I-I said..”
Respect and expectation.
The weight of everyone’s gaze was too much for me, and I couldn’t even speak up.
I looked to Subaru for help. She’s so popular, she’ll definitely figure something out.
…Oh, no.
She had to go to work, so she left right after class ended.
“Then, I’m sorry, but can I ask Saeki to help with the menu? If you have any problems, let me know right away. I’ll do whatever I can.”
“…………Yes.”
Faced with the chairman’s words, I, with my weak will, could only nod.
The applause feels heavy… This is bad, my stomach is really starting to hurt.
Why am I going through this…?
Maiban