Chapter 149What's Wrong?
"The documents — We've finalized all of them!!!"
"Alright!!!"
The Vice President of the Cultural Festival Executive Committee, Kimura-senpai, cheered happily. In response, the other senpai-s raised their hands in the air with cheers so loud that they nearly knocked over their tables. If there had been documents in front of them, they probably would have let themselves go with the force of the moment.
The President of the Cultural Festival Organizing Committee, Hasegawa-senpai was in tears. Looking back, Senpai was immersed in her work every day, as if she was thinking hard about it. Maybe it's because I've been observing her for a long time, seeing her show her emotions like that, makes me want to cry too. After this hard struggle with this enormous amount of work, when we were finally able to finish early, I said to myself, "Eh? Isn't there anything else we can do?" But, seeing everyone so happy like this, made me realize once again, that we had succeeded.
"Thank goodness! Natsukawa!"
"...Yeah...!"
Sasaki-kun raised his palm towards me. Although he looked very serious, he put on an innocent smile, as if it was the opposite of his usual seriousness. I was happy to see Inoue-senpai and Ogawa-senpai at the back of the room, who were happy to see us with our hands clasped in excitement. I high-fived Sasaki-kun in response.
I looked around me. There had been a few things that had made me uncomfortable throughout the preparations for this Cultural Festival, but now that we had arrived here, I found that not a single seat was empty. Especially since the change in approach to the way the Cultural Festival Executive Committee works, everyone seems to be looking forward to the future. The third-year senpai-s in particular, were looking forward to their last Cultural Festival of the year. — Unlike the other students, they seem to have a different way of approaching this Cultural Festival. I don't think there's any reason not to try harder here.
"...Oh, Wata-ru?"
As I looked around me, I found the Assistant of Student Council Officers, Ishiguro-senpai and Wataru, inconspicuously passing by the back of the classroom so as not to be noticed. I thought they were just as happy as everyone else, but they both looked relieved and walked out of the classroom carrying their laptops.
But still, there was something...
During the School Visit Trial during the summer vacation, I caught a glimpse of Wataru's face as he was seriously working on his assignment. In this case, I now understood that this was Wataru's "work mode". Especially in recent weeks, he seems to have shown this transition in full capacity. Although he was always the one who stood out at first, it was Wataru who was guiding the first-year students, leading meetings, and asking all sorts of questions, at least in the final moments of preparation for the Cultural Festival. Despite his status as an "Assistant of the Student Council", he was neither a Student Council officer nor a member of the Cultural Festival Executive Committee.—
I looked at the third-year senpai-s again.
They all had their reasons. Although there was no end in sight, I don't think anyone among them had any choice but to ignore the task at hand from the start. Even the second-year senpai-s, I can feel their strong desire not to ruin this fun Cultural Festival.
Well then — what about me?
I'm proud of my "sense of responsibility". I didn't want to waste what had been entrusted to me. I learned from my family's hardships during my middle school days that no matter how difficult my responsibilities were if I kept working hard at what was in front of me with all my heart, I would surely be rewarded one day. I learned from experience... ...I should have done that.
I feel troubled.
Some senpai-s throw their responsibilities away. And from my perspective as a first-year student, I think I also have the same opportunity to escape this responsibility. Even if I did it once, I'm sure that the President of the Cultural Festival Executive Committee, Hasegawa-senpai, and the other senpai-s probably wouldn't complain. Even so, the reason I was able to hold on to my responsibilities without losing my self-respect was because I wasn't alone. Unlike "back then", this time there were people who were in the same position as me even though we were in a difficult situation. With that as my supporting factor, I somehow managed to compensate.
Although — Wataru got dragged into this?
At first, I thought it was for his Big Sis' sake. When the Cultural Festival Executive Committee is in trouble, the Student Council is also in trouble. When things go wrong, we might be blamed by the students, but it's the Student Council that will be blamed by the school. They will be severely reprimanded for not realizing it earlier. I guess he did his best to prevent his Big Sis from being in such a position, so he was willing to drag himself along by taking the position of 'Assistant of the Student Council'.
'—No, that's not it, though? I'm not doing this for the sake of the Student Council or you, Big Sis.'
Wataru said so very clearly.
If I were Wataru, I would think that being a member of the Cultural Festival Executive Committee would be troublesome. So why should he put so much effort into helping out in the Student Council and helping out in the Cultural Festival Executive Committee?
Perhaps — he doesn't have a special reason?
This is not an impossible story. Although he looks like he's struggling with things he's not interested in, I think he has a personality that tends to get carried away. Even if it's not his Big Sis, it could be because someone from the Student Council asked him to help out. If he's just doing it for no particular reason and it's not impossible for him to take it for granted, then I can understand it.
But that... ...it's too amazing.
Could he have done it without trying too hard? Did he do it because he could? We, the members of the Cultural Festival Executive Committee, were at a loss as to what to do. Judging from what I could see on the senpai-s' pale faces, I realized that we had reached a point where we could no longer go backward if we wanted to change the way we did our work, and the only way left was to continue doing the work the way we had done it with all our hearts and see it through. It shouldn't be a problem that can be solved easily. It would have been impossible if he hadn't tried so hard after all the things he had done. There must have been a "process" for him to figure out what caused it and how to resolve the situation.
Did he just try his best?
I won't be able to do it. It's impossible. I need a reason from him. When I was in middle school, my family might have fallen apart if I hadn't tried my best. If I could please them, I'm sure my kind-hearted mom and dad would probably laugh and forgive me. However, I can see the other side of their fading smiles. If I remained spoiled, there might not be a bright future waiting for me. That's why I was able to do my best. No matter how difficult the responsibility is, I will do my best to protect my parents who love me and my beloved little sis.
If it wasn't like that — I would've been ruined.
If only Dad hadn't been so tired, I probably wouldn't have been able to endure the days I spent studying. If only Mom hadn't been working part-time, I probably wouldn't have thought of doing most of the household chores myself, and I wouldn't have been able to do them independently. If only I didn't have to do everything to keep Airi happy and smiling, I would probably come home less often and prefer to hang out with my friends. I don't think he would be able to go to such lengths without asking for anything in return, just out of the goodness of his heart.
—What if that idea was wrong from the start? ...was wrong from the start?
I'm confident in my studies. I'm also good at sports, I became good at it when I interacted with the energetic Airi every day. Right now, I'm also capable of repairing anything, even worn-out clothes. After doing a lot of household chores, I also learned how to cook. If I'm suddenly asked to cook dinner in a short amount of time, I think I can do it. But that's—
"..."
What else can I do?
Is everything I've learned and developed useful for anything? Did I not take advantage of my position as a first-year student? Did I ever assume that someone else, the senpai-s, would find the solution and lead myself to it without my efforts? I wondered if there was anything from my efforts and experiences back then that I could utilize in this Cultural Festival Executive Committee.
Could it be — I was just a useless person, who only provoked the senpai-s and made the situation worse. It's Wataru who has done extraordinary things.
"—...-tsukawa. Hey, Natsukawa...?"
"Eh...!? Wh-What? Sasaki-kun."
"What, why...? ...We've disbanded for today."
"Oh... ...Is that so?"
When I looked up, everyone had already started to clean up their laptops and put their stationery into their bags. This conversation developed while I was thinking about it. Naturally, when I looked around me, Wataru was no longer there.
"Well..., Natsukawa."
"...? What's wrong, Sasaki-kun?"
"No, if you have more time... ...I guess. If you don't mind, why don't you come and watch the Soccer Club this time? There's still time for it."
"Eh? But...—"
When he said "this time", it was probably referring to the time he asked me after we finished guiding the School Visit Trial during the summer vacation. At that very moment, Sasaki-kun invited me to come and watch the Soccer Club. Unlike before, this time I had finished working as a member of the Cultural Festival Executive Committee until the last minute before I left school, so I still had time. But—
Two senpai-s appeared behind Sasaki-kun. Although the two of them have started participating in the Cultural Festival Executive Committee meetings again, I haven't spoken to Inoue-senpai and Ogawa-senpai anymore since last time's incident. There's also the possibility that I'm still considered the "first-year student they don't like". I was worried that I would ruin the atmosphere if I followed them to the Soccer Club.
"Senpai – Is it okay if I ask Natsukawa to stop by the Soccer Club?"
"Eh—?"
Maybe I'm the one who tends to get carried away.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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