Chapter 152Even If It's Scary
I apologized to Sasaki-kun and left the soccer field. I was impressed by his face as he gave a small smile and nodded his head, as if saying, "I see.".
At the end of the Cultural Festival Executive Committee Meeting, Wataru left the classroom feeling as if he still had work to complete. If that were the case, he would still be in a nearby classroom or perhaps the Student Council Office. It had been more than an hour since then... ... he may be still at school.
—Will I go to meet him?
Although I had taken good steps, strangely, my steps felt slow. The pressure of questions to myself kept popping up inside my chest. Even if I met him, I would probably get in the way of his work. Even if I asked Wataru, I probably wouldn't get the answer. Is now the right time for me to make a move? Perhaps it would be best if I waited until I had calmed myself and my mind.
This might indeed seem disturbing. It might be troublesome. On the contrary, it may not seem so at all.
I didn't think about anything during the School Visit Trial during the summer vacation. By the time I had finished doing my duty, Wataru was gone, and I felt disappointed and lonely, then I saw the back of his familiar figure, and without realizing it, I was already running fast to meet him.
A feeling I didn't have at the time. I was afraid that if I asked Wataru, I would hear the answer to what he was thinking. Right now, I didn't dare to give in to my impulses and run without thinking.
"...Oh..."
As I had expected, Wataru's shoes were still in the shoe locker when I arrived at the entrance. Wataru of course wasn't a member of any clubs... ...but because of that, he must still be at school and doing some work, like the ones I've seen in the Cultural Festival Executive Committee's classroom.
I went to the Cultural Festival Executive Committee classroom. It was quiet in the corridor now and there didn't seem to be a single student in sight. Even so, the classroom doors were closed and locked. Wataru is no longer here. Then—.
"Is it possible that he's in the Student Council Office...?"
The Student Council Office... ...I knew where it was because it was surrounded by classrooms. But still, I had never been there before. I don't know what activities they do or how difficult their jobs are. But I do know one thing, which is that Wataru's Big Sis is the top girl in this school as the Student Council Vice President. Among the girls, she was an object of admiration in the sense that she was surrounded by other Student Council officers. Come to think of it, Wataru was the little bro of an outstanding big sis...
The Student Council Office was on the third floor. I could hear that some people were talking from inside. The door wasn't transparent, so I couldn't peek at what was going on inside, probably because the structure of the room was built differently from the other classrooms. However, even if I could listen carefully, I could hear the big sis' voice calling Wataru. I was so grateful to be able to hear the only girl's voice like that.
...But what should I do?
This will probably be my first meeting with the Student Council officers. Because the one and only Student Council officer I've ever talked to is Wataru's Big Sis. It would be weird if I said excuse me, walked into this room, and dragged Wataru out. It's not about bravery or anything like that. I think it would create a strange atmosphere.
"...Ugh..."
♦
The Student Council Office - There is an atrium corridor leading out past the Student Council Office. There was a staircase leading from the first floor piloti to the roof. The glass doors leading to the school building were left open, so if anyone came out of the Student Council Office, I would be able to hear them from nearby. I decided to sit in the center of the stairs leading to the rooftop and wait for Wataru to come out.
The Student Council Office was filled with the sounds of the people who were talking earlier. It was as if they had started concentrating on their work, but the voices I could hear from inside were much quieter. I heard that the Student Council Office is much busier than the Cultural Festival Executive Committee these days. Maybe they don't have much time to chat anymore.
The Student Council. The student's representatives. At least it's not something you can take lightly. I've heard that a lot is going on in this school in particular. I don't think the heavy responsibility placed on them is worth compared to being a member of the Cultural Festival Executive Committee. In that kind of place, Wataru's Big Sis is the only one in her position, the Student Council Vice President, even though she's a girl.
I envy her.
I don't want to be the Student Council Vice President, but I want to be like her. A girl who was good at her job, reliable, and honest to herself. I didn't get any impressions of her from the stories I heard from Wataru that gave that kind of image, but seeing her standing proudly on the stage in the gymnasium whenever there was a school event, I thought she looked cool. What's more, her little bro is Wataru, and he's been Wataru's Big Sis ever since they were little — Oh, no, just now, hmm.
I wonder if the admiration Kei has for Shinomiya-senpai is similar to this admiration. If I were that kind of girl, I might have been able to be much more helpful in the Cultural Festival Executive Committee. I might have been able to help Wataru more. I wish I could be more confident like that—.
"More..."
"—Eh?"
"Eh? Oh..."
Our eyes met. Her honey-brown hair and short skirt. While I was sitting here, there was someone I also admired and was thinking about. The girl who was holding a cardboard box containing posters, Wataru's Big Sis — Sajou Kaede-senpai was standing right in front of me and she was looking at me with a surprised expression on her face.
"'More', huh...? ...Eh? Excuse me, is something bothering you?"
"No-No, though...! It's not like that... ...I-It's nothing, okay! Never mind!"
"I-Is that so...?"
"Y-Yeah..."
She looked at me strangely. She looked at me strangely.
I could feel the blood running down my face. I can hear the sound of something ending up inside me and falling apart. This is probably the thing that makes me want to pass away the most this year. No, of course not, I can't leave Airi and pass away first. I even have not been filial to my parents either. I can't die here, in a place like this.
"—Kaede-san? Is there someone there?"
"No, I mean, yeah. Who are you again...? ...Eh? Wait a moment. Wait, eh? You're Natsukawa-san... ...aren't you?"
"Y-Yeah..."
Her fellow Student Council member, a bespectacled senpai appeared from behind the Big Sis. He was holding a small ladder in his hand. If I'm not mistaken his name was — Kai-senpai. He was a second-year senpai and he was often talked about among the girls. This boy seemed to be the object of their admiration as well. Come to think of it, thinking about this makes me even more embarrassed.
"Eh, your face looks cool... ...No, that's not what I meant. What are you doing sitting there like that?"
"Um... ...I'm just waiting for him here..."
"'Waiting for him here.' huh...? ...Eh? Wait, is that the case?"
"Yeah... ...I'm waiting for Wataru... ...Wataru — Eh!?"
I answered with a broken heart, and then I realized.
The Big Sis was standing right in front of me. That meant she had just opened the Student Council Office and walked out. I was lost in thought and didn't notice the voice at all. Before I realized it, I was too busy thinking that I couldn't hear the voices around me.
"U-Um, Wataru..."
"But Wataru went out before us, though..."
"Eh—?"
"Oh, okay, wait a moment, I understand. I'll bring him back soon. Just wait for 40 seconds — No, wait for another 10 seconds, okay! Seriously, if he doesn't show up—."
"Eh!?"
Wataru had left the Student Council Office first. In other words, he wasn't in the Student Council Office anymore. While I was in shock, the Big Sis took out her smartphone and started operating it. I heard a few disturbing words and couldn't help but raise my voice.
"—If it's about Sajou-kun, he should still be in the Cultural Festival Executive Committee's classroom."
"...!"
"Eh, Takuto, are you serious?"
"Yeah. He said that he forgot to return his laptop earlier and Ishiguro-kun gave him the key to the room. I guess he still hasn't left school yet."
I couldn't help but stand up when I heard those words. What am I going to do while the Big Sis keeps her smartphone? She asked me with her eyes. Her eyes, which seemed to have the impression of being annoyed, were slightly rounded with a hint of a happy expression. Her eyes, which turned purple when reflected by light, were exactly like Wataru's, and I couldn't help but stare at them.
"Um, I..."
"Oh—, well... ...Yeah. He's a troublesome little bro, but I'll leave him to you. He's not very sensitive, but he listens to everything I say. Use that child as much as you like."
"Huh? —E-Eh?"
Naturally, I almost tried to reply, but then I realized that the message was too strong. I'd heard about the naughty scenes she'd done to her little bro, but ever since Wataru fainted, my impression of her was that she'd been a 'kind big sister'. Anyway, I wondered if that's how she felt when she was confronted with her recovered and energetic little bro she knew so well.
"—Um, you see... ...I showed you my scary side a few days ago. I'm sorry, that's all."
After saying so, the Big Sis immediately turned her face away and walked towards the West School Building. Kai-senpai, who followed behind her, smiled slightly wryly at me and gave me a nod as if to say goodbye.
"Her scary side.". Was she talking about the time she dragged Ishiguro-senpai and Wataru out of the Cultural Festival Executive Committee classroom and tried to get them to quit their work a few days ago? The Big Sis' mood at that time was really scary. But still, I could sense that she was worried about Wataru in every word she said. I respected her, but I didn't hate her either. Besides that,
That's why — I'm curious as to why Wataru is trying so hard.
With gratitude in my heart, I returned from that school building and headed towards the school building where the Cultural Festival Executive Committee classroom was located. Unlike before, this corridor was darker, probably because the sun had set, and the light coming in was no longer white.
The corridor with the classroom I was looking for was located. Just like before, the room was quiet and still so there was no noise and no one around me. All I could hear was the voices of the club members echoing in the distance. I almost wondered if Wataru was somewhere in this room.
Even so.
"—Oh!"
The back door of the Cultural Festival Executive Committee classroom opened.
I took one step at a time and moved to it. The carpet illuminated by the orange-colored light from the window seemed to be leading me. As I got closer, my body became cold with tension, my steps slowed down. From somewhere, the early autumn wind, warmed by the sinking sun, pushed my back.
I'm scared. I'm scared, but I'm curious. I wanted to meet him.
The classroom I saw was almost enveloped by the darkness of the night and was beginning to fade. The dust trapped under the orange-colored light shining obliquely had turned into glittering, flying particles. This was a new sight for me, as I had never joined any club activities in middle school or high school, nor had I ever stayed at school until close to the last time students left the school before.
Near the window of that classroom, there was a boy who was alone.
"—Why, Wh—... —Heh?"
"Oh..."
He got up from his desk and noticed me. The faint smile on his face turned into an expression of surprise. His eyes opened wide, which I saw, had the same color as his Big Sis' eyes.
Right before that, — The side figure I saw for a moment was strangely engraved in my mind.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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