Chapter 143What If...?
"—That's all about the extent of the adjustment and recognition. We apologize for any inconvenience, especially to Hanawa-senpai's team."
"There's no need to worry about that. This is my responsibility too."
"By the way... ...I heard something like that from Yuuki-senpai, is it true?"
It's still a mystery why Hanawa-senpai is in a position to say "There's no need to worry about that", anyway... ...I don't think he can highlight the other team, can he? First of all, he just fell in love with Hasegawa-senpai, the Cultural Festival Executive Committee President, didn't he? What the heck does he mean by, "It's also my responsibility because I'm loved by her"? I'm not sure if that's enough to drive the actions of an adult who has nothing to do with it. Those handsome and polite boys from K4 are really on a different level.
I guess they're called... "Hanawa System Solutions", right? It's a pity that they had to put their staff to work as a separate unit to help the students. Well, if their work in helping the students was paid, then there shouldn't be a problem. They are also paid, right? I don't know much about it since it's a story in Hanawa-senpai's family company. If they want me to do it for free, I will boycott them.
"Then, please take care of that one for me too, okay? Sajou-kun."
"Yeah, I'm just acting as a liaison, anyway, and Gou-senpai is the most instrumental in running this team here, so there shouldn't be any problems. First of all, Hasegawa-senpai, the Cultural Festival Executive Committee President, is also here."
"Originally, I think Renji-san should also be here, though... ...But we can already hold meetings like this, and we can even share information through the screen in chat, so I don't think you need to be here anymore."
"Hahaha... ...I feel bad when you say that, but as someone who unilaterally knows President Hasegawa's heart, I can't go to her with a blank face."
"Eh?"
Eh? Does President Hasegawa not know that her feelings have been revealed? Well, if that is added to the cause of the problem now, it means that someone made Hasegawa-senpai say "I like Hanawa-senpai"... ...That is too dark for a story. It would be scary if it turned out to be true that Hasegawa-senpai's friend leaked it. Come to think of it, they didn't mention this at all in today's briefing. That's right, it would be a shame if it became known.
"In that case, please take over the rest. If you are still here, please say hello to Hayato. Kaede... ...I don't think she knows anything about President Hasegawa's situation yet, so watch out for her."
"I'll tell Hayato-san myself. I'll pay a visit to your house later."
"Yeah, Big Sis won't go out of her way to ask me, will she?"
The meeting ended with each of us reminding the other of that sort. After I confirmed that Hanawa-senpai's icon had disappeared from the group meeting created in the chat, Gou-senpai and I also closed the chat and leaned our backs against the backrest.
"...No, I feel nervous. I never thought that there would come a time when I would meet people who work, even though they are all Hanawa-senpai family members. I think I'll be less nervous if I meet them in person and talk to them."
"Renji-san is like a boss to me too... ...If I displeased him, he would immediately report it to Hayato-san as well."
"...I didn't ask you many questions, but only today I was able to understand a bit about Gou-senpai's position."
I don't understand, but I don't think they're just a senpai and a kouhai who are close, they've become like an employer and an errand boy because of their family relations. From what I've heard, it seems like there are other students similar to them somewhere. For example, people who dig up information about Hasegawa-senpai.
"—From now on, this will be your role too. From now on, you'll probably have to get ready for your own classroom's Cultural Festival preparations, so I don't intend to leave everything to you, though... ...But I'll also ask you to do the same, Wataru."
"Okay. Well, I've seen something similar from the side. I think that's fine."
"If you have already seen something similar from the side, absorbed it, and made it your own in the present, then I think you can call that an 'experience' from the past... ...Well, as long as you say it's okay for you, then it's okay for me too. Let's leave it at that for today."
It seemed that the Cultural Festival Executive Committee had finished and the members of the Cultural Festival Executive Committee were on their way home from school. I couldn't hear a single sound from the next classroom, and the only students left in school at the moment were me and the Student Council. It was almost time to go home.
When we returned to the Cultural Festival Executive Committee Classroom, I put away my laptop, and Gou-senpai quickly packed up his luggage.
"I'm sorry, but I still have "today's work" to complete. Can I leave the key to this room with you and leave it for you to lock up this room?"
"Whoa, are you serious...? What kind of daily mission is that? Aren't you working like a normal office worker?"
"It's more like Hayato-kun's work than mine. I'm his assistant."
Rich families. Great people. Yuuki-senpai and Hanawa-senpai, who fall into that troublesome category, must be living in a world that I can't understand. In that case, Dad must be someone who can do things well. A while ago, it didn't make sense to me when I heard that someone would refuse a promotion or recommendation, but now I understand. I think that when you go out into society, the salary you'll receive is proportional to the amount you have to go through, right? Even though we've been working a lot of overtime. Wait a minute? Eh? I'm talking about high school students right now, right?
"See you later."
"Okay, see you later, and good luck."
After saying a few words, Gou-senpai quickly left. As the area became silent, the work mode inside me turned off. Suddenly, a sense of exhaustion came over me. I was packing up my luggage, but I think I want to take a rest for a while...
It's already early fall, but it's still too early for the sky to become dark. It's already very late outside, and the light coming into the classroom is as orange as ever. No, or would it be more poetic to say that the sky was orange? How about I just call it the color of the setting sun? Something about that would be the coolest.
The view outside from the third floor of the school building was beautiful at dusk, but I didn't think the view of the city outside the school grounds was that impressive. Instead, the view of the classrooms at night from the end of the window is more impressive. You can't see this kind of scenery unless you stay late at school.
I've indeed been in school for ten years, including elementary and middle schools. However, it seems like this is the first time I've seen such an early scenery. That's right because I joined the Go-Home Club. Normally, I wouldn't be working overtime at this school. If I joined any club activity, I would probably get used to it, right?
"..."
Come to think of it, I was reminded of my middle school days. I started to learn that I couldn't just say whatever I thought, and since the people I hung out with almost all happened to be in the Go-Home Club, I joined them too. Thanks to that, while the people around us spent their after-school time chatting and participating in their club activities, we were more able to do whatever we wanted, such as playing games, reading manga, or even working part-time.
What if the people I was hanging out with at that time were people who joined one of the club activities?
What if I had never met Natsukawa?
I'm sure I probably would have joined some club activity, gotten along with the people there, and continued in it until I continued it in high school with a particular interest. I probably would have been much more athletic than I am now, and I probably wouldn't have had the chance to meet Natsukawa. Of course, I probably wouldn't have had the experience of working part-time, so I might have been more childish than I am now in terms of talking to adults. Of course, I wouldn't have gotten into a high school that was such an advanced preparatory school, but I would have gotten into a high school with lower standards, and I probably would have gotten a girlfriend.
I probably wouldn't be involved in this Student Council duty. I realize that I'm a person who is easily swayed by various things, and depending on the situation, my personality might be completely different from what it is now. I'm sure it would probably be very interesting to meet myself from an alternate universe. I couldn't help but think about this.
"..."
I picked up my smartphone and stopped. Taking pictures of everything in sight, and uploading and posting them to social media wasn't a bad idea. However, I didn't think that if I shared the photo publicly, I would get any more satisfaction than I was feeling right now.
"...Let's go home."
Even if I was alone in a place like this, it would only make me think of many things. This was not the right time. My role in this has just begun. I'll think about this more later. I can't let this change of motivation get in the way.
However, if "that time" has come. It might not be a bad idea to come back here to haunt my teenage years like this.
I laughed as I saw my reflection in the corridor window moving slower than I expected.
Author's Note: Self in the mirror ≠ Self in selfie.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Special Thanks to Our One and Only Monthly Supporter: Mr. Ads.
Follow Our Official WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRa6nHCsU9OAB0U370F
Read in other languages: