CH 86

Shotoku Taishi, whose achievements were once the subject of textbooks, has been falsified, and now even his existence is being erased.

The gap in historical understanding between generations is only widening, but even so, the past does not disappear and the facts remain as facts among the people involved, even though such romantic notions as Sakamoto Ryoma did not actually do much are being debunked one after another.

Regardless of how they are portrayed in later generations, there are many things that we, who live in the present, cannot and must not forget. It was at the age of 16 that Yukito Kokonoe realized that this is what it means to live as a human being, that this is what life is all about.

“Listen to me, Sensei. Sincerity must be shown in attitude, not in words. So, please participate in the opening act of the MISCON as a mini-skirted cat ear maid.”

“Please wait!　Even at the current state, I am at my limits!　I have the dignity of a teacher. If I were to stand on stage dressed like that, I don’t know how my students would look at me in the future. ……”

There is nothing better than to have the best people selected to make the beauty contest more exciting. The plan was to warm up the venue and then introduce the final weapon, Natsume, to snatch the championship in one fell swoop.

“I think it’s good to be friendly.”

“Friendly with what!　How old do you think I am?!　When I get together with my relatives for New Year’s, my nieces and nephews call me “auntie” and I have to give them New Year’s money?!　Even my skin gets roughed up quickly if I don’t take care of it, and I hate, hate, hate my youth and exfoliation!”

“I understand. Then you can wear knee socks on one leg. Let’s be asymmetrical and take them by surprise!”

“What did you just say?!”

I gently encourage Sanjoji Sensei, who is in the midst of her earliest years, by using her age as a shield.

“Himiyama-san would be happy to wear it.”

“Of course.”

Himiyama-san replies with a smile.

“Misaki-san is still young. ……”

“My mother would wear it with enthusiasm.”

“Of course.”

Mom is very excited and affirms it.

I am Yukito Kokonoe, a man who does not tolerate gossip. As long as my mother is satisfied, I can’t use age as an excuse.

“Sekka-san would have worn it from the beginning.”

“Of course”

Sekka-san proudly nods her head in affirmation.

Every time I go to Sekka-san’s house and open the front door, I am greeted by her unexpectedly dressed. Each time, I want to run away, but she blocks my way with her skillful footwork. They say you can’t escape if there is too much difference in level, but what level is she …… I think she’s a gold star.

“My sister would rather wear nothing.”

“Of course”

“Is that not strange!?”

She makes a shocking revelation.

She completely debunked me. But, “debunking” has become popular recently, but it’s not really debunking at all, is it? There’s no point in arguing, it’s not even an argument, and I don’t even know the parties involved or what their positions are. It’s honestly ridiculous to be told that the argument has been broken. ……

The morning session of the gymnastic festival was over and it was time for lunch. I decided to eat with my mother and the other students in the cheering section. We had hit it off at the class visit, and the Class B parents’ table was lively.

As expected, Class B won hands down in the midterms. The difference between the two groups was so great that there was a huge roar of excitement.

The driving force behind the breakthrough of Class B was the fresh handsome man for the boys and Shiori for the girls, but the continuous reinforcement of all classmates had spread to unexpected places. Takahashi (older brother), a member of the soccer club, seems to have finally won the first regular spot for first-year students. His physicality has been strengthened, and he no longer loses to third-year players of superior physique.

The atmosphere at the gymnastics festival, where victory or defeat had already been decided in the morning, was almost dull, but the hot-blooded Senpai and the athletic clubs of the other classes were agitating, saying, ” We can’t just let Class B do whatever they want!” The result was that the festival was shifting to an anomalous gymnastics festival with the aim of defeating Class B.

“Then, would you go?”

“Kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!”

After persuading a frustrated Sanjoji-sensei who chewed on her handkerchief, I ate my lunch box that my mom made for me. I’m sorry to say that I’ve hardly worked this gymnastic festival, but I ate well.

“We’re totally heeled.”

“It’s too late for them to realize that we’re enemies now. The victory or defeat is already decided before it begins.”

The fresh-faced babyface look puzzled, but in order to win the gymnastic festival, we had been training hard from the end of the summer vacation until today’s performance. This result is only proportional to the amount of effort we put in. It is something to be proud of, and to be resented is out of character.

“What are you going to do now, Yukito?”

“If we win the next cavalry race, that will be the end of it in terms of points, but there is a possibility that they will change the last relay to ten times the points because we overdid it.”

“Wouldn’t that be unfair?”

“Fairness is a lie. Bribes are inevitable to invite international sports competitions, and once they start, doping, suit violations, and even gender falsification are common. If the athletic festival ends without success, they may change the rules at any time.”

“…… might not agree with that.”

Hinagi’s cheeks are puffed up with pukes, so I poke them with my fingers and crush them.

“We did our best. We will win.”

“Right, ……. We all worked so hard together like that. This is one of our new memories. This is how we gradually build up our history, regain trust, and although we’re childhood friends now, someday–“

I’m not so insensitive that I don’t know what comes next unless I put it into words.

There is no more shade in Hinagi’s carefree smile. A relationship that was once broken, a history that should have been discarded. This childhood friend is trying to build it up again. Stronger than before, so that it will never collapse.

“Ah, this octopus sausage is delicious.”

The nape of my neck tingled. If I stand out like this, there must be people who don’t think well of me. There is a hint of hostility mixed in with the gazes that are focused on us. While conversing with Hinagi, I somehow sensed a premonition of trouble.