Volume 1 - CH 3.3

It was the morning of the anniversary first general work of the Cultural Festival Executive Committee, which is celebrating its 59th generation this year. The start time was 9:00 a.m., so I opened my door at 8:30. And the next moment I closed it. Seconds later, the intercom rang with the sound of banging on my door.

“Stop it, you’re disturbing the neighbors.”

I slowly opened the door to find Miyajima Shiho, a girl who had just come out of the room two doors down from mine at exactly the same time as I did, standing there with her dissatisfaction evident. Her hair was still in place because of the shortcut, but the clothes she was wearing were a little more casual than usual.

“Why did you go back?”

“Somehow?”

It was a deception, but I think anyone would feel somewhat awkward meeting an acquaintance after they sleep over so early in the morning. However, even Shiho would not feel comfortable if I had to run away as soon as I saw her.

“My bad. It just happened.”

“You must have been embarrassed to see a cute junior in the morning.”

“No, I don’t.”

I don’t deny that she has a good appearance.

“Makki-san, do you know the Japanese word for “lip service”?”

While treating Shiho who seemed to be dissatisfied with the situation, I started to go down the stairs and saw another familiar face ahead of me.

When the cute junior I had met this morning noticed me, her face lit up and she bowed her head politely.

“Ah! Makimura-senpai, Shii-chan. Good morning.”

“Good morning, Misono.”

If you’re arranging to meet Misono, say so first.

“Good morning, Misono. I just got out of the house and Shiho was there.”

“Sounds like an excuse for cheating.”

“Right.”

Shiho said it nonchalantly and Misono smiled bitterly, and the two girls agreed. In fact, I agree with them, although I have never been cheating. I’ve never had true love in the first place.

“Definitely not. Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

“Before that.”

“Hmm?”

Shiho grabs both of Misono’s shoulders and pulls her to herself as Misono nods and tries to line up next to me. “Shii-chan?” Misono tilted her head, but in the end, she did not resist and moved to the area diagonally in front of Shiho.

“Look. You’ve got two girls in front of you who are dressed differently than usual, and you’ve got nothing to say about it?”

Shiho is wearing three-quarter sleeves and jeans, an outfit that is relatively similar to her usual attire, but as I thought before, she gives off a slightly casual impression. Misono, on the other hand, usually wears a one-piece dress, but today she is wearing a tunic blouse, jeans, and sneakers. Her hair is not pulled back, but it gives a very different impression. Shiho is looking at me with an air of dignity, while Misono is glancing at me and implicitly asking me to tell them what I think of them as soon as possible.

In general, I think it is a good impression to compliment a woman who is dressed differently than usual, and I would like to do so emotionally, especially to Misono. However, it is quite difficult because I have no such experience. And since they are both dressed for work, I wonder if it is easy to praise them, considering that their normal attire is more like a girl’s outfit which they are put more effort about it.

“…… Looks like it’s easy to move around.”

“No good, this guy. Right, Misono?”

“Eh……but it’s for work, and it’s important to be easy to move around.”

“……Thank you”

Misono’s eyebrows were slightly down as she follow up on my lack of thoughtfulness.

The committee room of the Cultural Committee is located on the second floor of Shared building G, which is relatively close to the main gate. This is a slightly remote location in the group of shared buildings, and since classes are almost never held except in the evening, there are few students coming and going during the daytime, and on weekends, people do not pass by. Therefore, it is in a very good location for Bunmi, where it is not too much of a nuisance to open a store for our work.

Walking slowly with Misono and Shiho along with me, the time is 8:40. About 20 people had already gathered at the plaza in front of Building G, the meeting and work area.

“Hey Maki. Are you coming to work?”

Sane asked me as if he could speak for everyone who saw such a situation in which an unremarkable sophomore appeared with two cute juniors. I think he read the atmosphere and gave me a chance to explain myself.

“Idiot. We just happened to be together there.”

I’m not lying. It’s just that my interpretation of “there” is a little wider, we didn’t arrange a meet-up, and we just happened to see each other. I left Misono and Shiho’s side as I headed toward Sane and Doku, a group of first-year boys and girls gathered around them and started talking to them.

“Your outfit today is also nice.”

I heard a boy’s voice behind me saying those words, and I was impressed with that kind of approach. I would use it the next time I had the chance. I just couldn’t look back, even though I was curious to see how Misono reacted to such a compliment.