Chapter 141For Whom?
"—That is the reason why we decided that we should cooperate with external collaborators... ...even with companies that also involve Hanawa-senpai's family. Before the preparation of each class begins, there is no other way for the Cultural Festival Executive Committee to complete this activity on time than that. This will hopefully leave you with more free time. I think this is the most suitable way to add value to this Cultural Festival."
Why? Why?
Those questions kept popping up in my mind before I could think of any reason. It was true that Wataru did have a big sis in the Student Council... ...but did that mean he would be so willing to help her to this extent?
—Whatever doubts I had were drowned out by the intensity of this story.
I was surprised when I heard the story. I had always thought that the delay in the preparations for the Cultural Festival was entirely due to the incompetence of the Cultural Festival Executive Committee itself. However, when he unraveled everything, it turned out that there were a lot of factors that triggered the delay in the progress of the work. In particular, this was the first time I heard that there was a dispute between last year's Student Council and the current Student Council.
"The most troublesome thing this time is that it is beyond the discretion of the Cultural Festival Executive Committee President, Hasegawa-san. The Student Council decided that the problems of the past and the way tasks were done as directed by Oneda-sensei were things that could not be corrected by the position of the Cultural Festival Executive Committee President herself."
Ishiguro-senpai spoke so calmly without hesitation. His neatly styled haircut and dark complexion gave the impression that he was more of a student than an adult who could work with a good work ethic. He does seem like a very reliable senpai, but I wonder what kind of person he is... ...I didn't know that Wataru had such a senpai. I wonder if this has something to do with his Big Sis again...
"..."
Wataru stood up and fell silent beside Ishiguro-senpai. He never interrupted his senpai's explanation at all, and I still wonder why he's here. What can he do as a first-year student like me...? ...As I imagined that he would become just like me, I became anxious.
♦
"—So, the files you need are in that folder over there. Just copy and paste it in the same place, rename it to match the one in the example, look at the documents you've collected from outside, and just type in the information you need."
"Um... ...I'm sorry. I just wanted to ask you something."
"Oh, that's—"
"..."
Wataru gathered the first-year students in this classroom and gave them an explanation. Perhaps our work descriptions are different from our senpai-s', but they are very simple. However, if you assume that all of these works must be done by handwriting, I think that the time required might be completely different.
As I watched him act with dignity — or rather, in the same way as usual, I realized that my mouth was half open. I didn't know how long my mouth had been open like that, so I quickly closed my mouth.
Wataru was talking to a student from another class. Wataru is teaching something to the other students. Wataru roughly held his laptop with one hand, with a practiced hand. Instead of using the mouse, he moved the cursor by touching the bottom of the keyboard with his fingertips. For some reason, my eyes were more drawn to Wataru's hand movements than the screen he was explaining.
Everything was the Wataru I didn't recognize.
"Oh—... ...how are you guys doing over there? Are Sasaki and Natsukawa okay?"
"O-Oh..."
"Hmm..."
"I see."
When my name was called by him, I immediately looked up from staring frantically at his hand. I made eye contact with Wataru. For some reason, I felt very guilty for staring at his hand for too long, and I couldn't help but turn my face away. I hated how rude I was being to myself, so I could only nod, trying to capitalize on Sasaki-kun's response.
However, I still wasn't satisfied with my actions just like that, so I simply said what was on my mind without thinking.
"Well... ...W-Wataru, what are you going to do...?"
"...Some of you may have already realized this when I explained it, but the first-year students will not be directly involved with what Ishiguro-senpai calls "external collaborators". We've given them the materials and data we need, so all we have to do is share information about the progress of our work and... ...Then I have to present our work to the Student Council. I guess I'm just... ...act as a bridge?"
"O-Oh, I see..."
That was a very straightforward answer. I felt very frustrated because even though I had asked the question myself, I couldn't even respond properly. I don't know why I felt nervous. If this was just mere awkwardness, then I should be able to treat work matters as work.
"—Well, let's use the remaining time to hurry up with our work. Oh, the mouse is in the cardboard box over there, so feel free to take it."
"Oh..."
Starting with Wataru's words, everyone took their seats and began using the laptops to work on their respective work. Each of them made a different happy smile on their faces. That's because it's not like we were working endlessly like a marathon with no finish line in sight, right now we can already feel the end and we know exactly what we have to work on. That's how I feel, from everyone here.
"I'm starting to feel safe now."... ...Although I feel happy about that, I can still feel a dissatisfaction in my heart that has not been completely resolved. I knew that I was greedy. But still, inevitably my body seemed to say "Yeah, it's time we split up" at that moment.
"Wataru... —Kya."
"...Um, yeah... ...What's wrong?"
"Oh, U-Um...!"
As I ran towards him, Wataru noticed earlier than I expected and turned around. I panicked and tried to stop in a hurry, but my arm that was trying to grab his arm managed to slip away and I ended up jumping at him from the side. I could directly feel "Wataru's body scent", which I remembered from long ago, and I rushed away.
(Oh—!)
Because I was ashamed of what I had done, the "me" in my heart, which was different than the one in my mind, screamed silently. My face heated up even more. As I looked up in fear, I found Wataru responding, but he turned his face to the side and tried to hide his expression with his hands. It was all very obvious, and the heat on my face increased even more.
"Um — You're okay, aren't you...?"
"I'm okay, huh... ...Oh."
What do I mean by "I'm okay"...? ...I asked myself, but I didn't understand what those words meant. At the very least, I wasn't just asking about the activities of this Cultural Festival Executive Committee.
Even though his question was vague and ambiguous, Wataru looked up diagonally as if he was thinking about it for a moment, then he looked at me and responded.
"You're okay, aren't you? I can't be sure."
"Gosh... ...What do you mean by that?"
Wataru giggled and headed to his seat which was in the opposite corner to mine, looking like he didn't mind anything. There was still something I wanted to ask him. But still, hearing those words come out of him for now made me feel calm.
"Phew..."
Maybe it's not the time for me to worry about others. Come to think of it, Wataru was still the "usual Wataru" from the first time he appeared. He hasn't shown any signs that he's feeling anxious. Maybe I'm worried and feeling anxious myself. I need to calm myself down a bit.
I accepted the mouse he gave me and I sat down facing the laptop screen. Sasaki-kun was quietly working on the work as described. I'm not used to using a laptop, but I've often searched for videos on the Internet, so I think I can fiddle with this keyboard just fine. Like Wataru told me, I double-clicked the folder on the first screen and checked its contents.
"..."
Wataru's face always comes to mind whenever I remember the steps. It was none other than Wataru who explained to us how to do it. I may not have listened carefully, but somehow, every word he explained to us came back to me in the form of Wataru's voice. I was good at remembering many things at once, but I don't think that was the only reason.
I opened the prescribed file and read something on the screen. I see, I think this will be easy work, just typing in the contents of the document I received. I don't need to use my mind too much. As I looked at the files and the screen alternately, I found myself thinking of something I hadn't asked Wataru yet.
Why the hell was Wataru helping here in the first place...?
No, I think he could be said to be helping the Student Council rather than the Cultural Festival Executive Committee. If I'm not mistaken, he said earlier that he was a "temporary assistant" to the Student Council Officers, so that's probably what happened. So, he came here to help his Big Sis who is a Student Council officer...?
"...How irritating."
Unconsciously, I said those kinds of words in a low voice.
Every time Wataru told me about his memories with his Big Sis, I felt envious of them. Wataru's Big Sis came to him when he was in the infirmary when he was not feeling well. ...And Wataru helped his Big Sis in this way. I've only heard weird stories about her from her little bro, but when I see these siblings supporting each other like this, I think it's a bit strange.
TL Note: Trivia: This chapter was released in 2020, and it's the second time when the Author tried to promote the release of the Light Novel Volume 1. I think it's a good opportunity for me to promote the Official English of the Light Novel Volume 1, it's not out yet, but you could purchase it on pre-sale by clicking here:
https://www.monogatari-novels.com/the-dreaming-boy-is-a-realist-vol-1/
You could support the author and the illustrator by purchasing this physical and digital version Official English version of the Light Novel Volume 1.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
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