[Warning 15+]
Part Five
―Even If, I Can't Treat You with That Same Energy Anymore
Chapter 176
What the Heck Am I Doin'?
―Even If, I Can't Treat You with That Same Energy Anymore
Chapter 176
What the Heck Am I Doin'?
A little while after school had ended.
In the thinnin' crowd of the school buildin', energetic shouts echoin' from the athletic field and gymnasium resounded.
"Um, is this good?"
"Yeah, it's fine. Thank you for fillin' it out right here. The Manga Research Club is doin' a Club Magazine Publication and Illustration Exhibition, right?"
"Yeah, should be the same as every year, I guess."
"Then I think there's no problem. Thank you so much for writin' up the documents right away."
"...Oh."
Haruki smiled sweetly and left the art room.
Then, from behind Haruki, she heard the reluctant-soundin' voice of a Manga Club member who had been tryin' hard to keep her there, causin' her to furrow her brow just a little bit.
In Haruki's hand were a few printouts.
Things Haruki was handin' out as part of her help for the Student Council.
Haruki started drawin' red lines through the Manga Research Club on the list she got from Shiroizumi-senpai.
"Next up is the Drama Club in the Second Sewing Room..."
Huu, a sigh escaped Haruki's lips as she walked alone through the quiet school buildin'.
Although there was a Club Buildin', since it was attached to the athletic grounds, almost all of it was used by Sports Clubs.
Like this Manga Research Club, many Cultural Clubs used special classrooms as substitute Club Rooms.
Lookin' toward the window, Haruki saw the Baseball Club active on the ground. Oh, so that's why the Soccer Club has the day off today, she thought, rememberin' Kazuki.
Then, Haruki noticed her own reflection caught in the window glass.
A school uniform worn neatly without a single gap, long and glossy black hair. And a face with a faint smile plastered on like a mask.
A far cry from how Haruki looked back when she was in Tsukinose as a child.
And Hayato wasn't by Haruki's side.
That fact made Haruki acutely aware of how truly alone she was.
Suddenly, Haruki thought of her childhood buddy (Hayato) who had gone off to work his part-time job.
Right about now, Hayato was probably workin' together with Kazuki, Iori, and the others, runnin' around frantically.
But Haruki wasn't there with them.
"....What the heck am I doin'?"
Haruki's chest was in a turmoil, and a sense of cowardice slipped out of her mouth as words.
Volunteerin' to help out with the Student Council in the first place was somethin' Haruki offered to do herself.
The goal, of course, was joinin' the Student Council.
It's not like Haruki had some grand ambition to become the Student Council President or anythin'. She just wanted the title of belongin' to the Student Council.
In reality, if it's general affairs in this High School's Student Council, you could join anytime as long as you had recommendations from three current officials.
Belongin' to the Student Council wasn't just Haruki's idea of bein' a good kid, but it was also a calculated move—figurin' it might give her a slight edge in university recommended admissions or scholarship screenin'.
Still, that calculation was undeniably appealin' when calmly lookin' ahead to further education.
However, if Haruki joined the Student Council and got seriously busy, her time with Hayato would probably decrease.
That fact was makin' Haruki hesitate about joinin' the Student Council.
Suddenly, Saki's face popped into Haruki's mind.
With pale hair and skin, possessin' a fragility that made it seem like Saki'd dissolve and vanish into the sky if the wind blew, yet—contrary to her appearance—a girl with a solid core who had plunged fearlessly into the big city.
Just as Haruki thought—if it were Saki—Haruki violently shook her head.
"Alright, let's get this wrapped up quickly!"
Haruki blurted out words to psych herself up, patting her cheeks repeatedly as she walked forward, when she suddenly felt an impact right in front of her.
"Wh-!? S-Sorry, I wasn't really lookin' ahead just now..."
"My bad too, I was in a rush... ...Oh, you are..."
It seemed Haruki had bumped into someone around the corner of the corridor. She hurriedly bowed her head in apology.
The other person seemed to have been careless as well, raisin' an apologetic voice, but gradually her expression turned sharp and hostile.
"...Gh!"
"..."
Wonderin' what on Earth was goin' on, Haruki looked up and gasped.
Standin' right before Haruki was a female senpai with a glamorous vibe, her soft, long hair braided and styled in a half-up do. It was a stunnin' beauty that would command attention anywhere and leave a strong, lastin' impression.
Naturally, Haruki knew who she was, too.
Takakura Yuzu.
Havin' caused a massive stir in the Beauty Pageant at Last Year's Cultural Festival, Yuzu's name echoed even among the first-years like Haruki.
And speakin' of recent rumors surroundin' Yuzu, the memory of her gettin' dumped by Kazuki was still fresh.
That rumor had undoubtedly spread firmly not just among the first-years, but the second-years too.
...Along with the rumor that Kazuki, the boy who dumped Yuzu, had been dumped by Haruki.
Takakura Yuzu narrowed her fiercely determined eyes, glarin' at Haruki with a piercin' gaze.
Haruki's face stiffened, her mouth twitchin'.
"You're Nikaidō Haruki-san from the first year, right?"
"...Yeah."
And then, Yuzu narrowed her eyes sharply.