Chapter 82: Smiles

JULY 26, 2021 6 COMMENTS

　After school.

　As I was preparing to go home with Shi-chan today, Niijima-kun came to her, just like yesterday.

“Hey, Saegusa-san.
We’re supposed to discuss the continuation of yesterday’s discussion with the entire team working in customer service today, are you coming?”

　And as expected, Niijima-kun invited Shi-chan to the meeting today.

　Since my group in charge of cooking had already decided on most of the things to do yesterday, we didn’t have any plans to get together and discuss them today.

　Shi-chan, who was suddenly invited again today, looked at Niijima-kun and me alternately as if she was in a bit of trouble, and opened her mouth.

“Let’s see, I feel like we’ve done most of the talking yesterday, what are we going to do today?”

　I guess she didn’t want to be the only one not participating in the preparations for the festival.

　Still, Shi-chan was aware that the customer service staff had already discussed the matter as well as the cooking staff, so she asked Niijima-kun a question as if she was still a little troubled.

“Ah yes.
I want to organize everyone’s time schedule this time.
I’m the only guy in charge of the project, so it’s a little difficult to get around.”

　Niijima-kun smiled as if he was troubled.

　From my point of view, I felt like he’d done a good job of making sure even though he was the only guy in the group, he was doing it to prepare for the festival and there was no way an outsider could interfere.

　I wanted to go home with her today, but if it was to prepare for the festival, it would be impossible for Shi-chan not to participate, so I smiled at her as if to say it was okay.

　Besides, we don’t have the kind of relationship that can be affected by our differences anymore.

　Thanks to what Shi-chan said to me yesterday while crying, I already have a strong confidence in my relationship with her.

“I see, then I’m—-“

“I’m sorry, I’ll pass today.”

　Just as Shi-chan was about to say this, Mikitani-san, who was sitting in front of me, interrupted the conversation.

“I’ve got a part-time job now, and there’s still time, so why don’t we discuss it in the next homeroom?”

“Eh? N-no it’s is better to do it now”

“Fuun.
Well, that may be true, but everyone has their own schedule, don’t they? Some of them can’t come because of their club activities, but we can’t set a schedule just for this.

　Niijima was at a loss for words when Mikitani-san said the right thing.

　It is true that, like Takayuki, who went with Shimizu-san to the club activities, some of the girls in charge of customer service had already gone to the club activities and were not seen in the classroom.

　In this situation, it would surely cause dissatisfaction if the schedule was decided by the remaining people alone.

“L-look! Since I’m the only guy here, I wanted to talk to you about that too!”

　When Mikitani-san said that, Niijima changed the subject as if he had just thought of it.

“What is it that only men can do?”

“Well, I’m going to be serving customers as well as keeping an eye on the girls, but I can’t stay here all the time, can I? That’s why I wanted to decide early on who’s going to be there at what time.”

“Fuun.
If that’s the case, then the problem is that you’ re the only guy in the room, isn’t it?

　For some reason, Mikitani-san, who smiled at me, turned her gaze toward me.

I had a pretty good idea what Mikitani-san was trying to say.

　And that must have gotten through to Shi-chan.

　When Shi-chan and Mikitani-san exchanged glances, they both smiled at each other.

　And then.

“Then let’s get Takkun to help us, okay?”

“Agree~!”

　When Shi-chan suggested this to Niijima-kun with a smile, Mikitani-san raised her hand in agreement with a deliberate laugh.

“But Ichijo-kun is in charge of cooking, so he’s busy, right?”

“Well, no, it’s just the preparation that’s hard for us, but the rest is easy.
We only have one frying pan for the day.”

　I’m not lying.

　The rest of the time, to be honest, I was too lazy to do anything else.

　In fact, the only person who would have a hard time on the day of the festival would be the person in charge of customer service.

　Well, it’s for the good of the class, and to be honest, I’m happy to be in charge of the same customer service as Shi-chan, so I decided to take it on.

　I’m not going to leave Niijima-kun in sole charge any longer, after all.

“It’s settled then! We can still borrow the costumes of the male staff, Ichijo!”

　When I said that, Mikitani-san laughed and slapped me on the back.

　Shi-chan seemed to be very happy to be placed in the same position as me.

“So, now that Kengo’s problems are solved, I’m going to go to my part-time job!”

　Mikitani-san winked at Shi-chan and me, saying, “See you later!” and walked out of the classroom.

　The other girls, who had been watching the exchange between us, broke up and said, “Well, that’s enough for today.”

“Well, let’s go home too.
See you later, Niijima-kun.”

　Shi-chan also said this, and picked up her bag.

“I-I want you to wait!”

　But Niijima-kun was a little impatient to talk to Shi-chan.

“What is it?”

“What is your relationship with Ichijo-kun, Saegusa-san?”

　Niijima-kun put such a question to Shi-chan straightforwardly with a pained expression on his face.

　I’m sure that he suspects that Shi-chan and I have a relationship.

“It’s a secret.”

“Eh?”

“Let’s go, Takkun!”

　But Niijima-kun’s question went by without a hitch as she smiled in idle mode, and Shi-chan came right up next to me and smiled again, asking me to go home with her.

　The smile on her face was different from the one she had just given Niijima-kun.

　She was so beautiful that I couldn’t help but admire her smile.

　I was a little taken aback by her clarity, but I replied “yes”, and we walked to the door together.

“Secrets….that means…….”

　And then I heard such a muttering voice from Niijima-kun, who was left behind.