Volume 3 - CH 3

Instagrammers were making a fuss over their convenience store ice coffee latte, with the milk and dark brown color creating a gradation, so I tried to replicate that at home. Checking the recipe online, I prepared a glass, and while getting the ice, I chanted.

“Come forth, Ice Meteor.”

Ice filled the glass, with a GaeBolg sticking out in the middle, as I poured the Milk of the Beginning into the glass, together with hot coffee right after that—Perfect. It’s not that big of a gradation, but like water and oil, coffee and milk created a clear separation. It’s not even cafe latte, but just milk and coffee in the same glass. You bastards…this looks like the sun and moon next to each other.

“Combine.”

I stirred around the ice, mixing the two ingredients. Finally, I created the cafe latte I’ve always known from the convenience store. My excitement grew, like it would during summer break. To celebrate this, I decided to take a picture of it, creating a stage with a plastic cocktail stirrer—only for a hand to grab the glass.

“Thanks.”

“Big Sis, not now, please.”

“Make one for me.”

“Your wish is my command.”

Now that I made it once, it’s no biggie anymore. I repeated the same procedure, starting with an Ice Meteor, followed by the GaeBolg and Combine, only for me to look at my side, where I received a headshot from a gaze colder than ice.

“Here you go.”

“Mm.”

The reason I immediately listened to her orders without rebelling is not because I am submissive towards her. Instead, this is…a reflex, that’s right. Just like you’d reflexively close your eyes if something blasts towards you, whenever Big Sis raises her chin with a demanding gesture, my body just moves naturally. Oh my, she’s got full control over my soul now…

“You sure are taking it easy today. Normally you’d be either at school or cram school.”

“So what? Am I not allowed to be home?”

“Hey, calm your leg, no kicking.”

What a fearful person she is. And, her clothes are as crazy as always just because she’s at home. Are you some young lad out hunting insects? Are you even wearing something beneath that? Did she lose all her embarrassment at such an age? I feel like she might just grab her insect hunting net and rush out of the home. As I was thinking that, I realized that she was practically staring at me, while stirring around her coffee with the straw inside.

“What are you looking at…So embarrassing.” I fidgeted awkwardly.

“The day after tomorrow, can you come to school and help the public morals committee?”

“Um…can’t you maybe start from the very—Eh? The public morals committee?”

Why them? Big Sis is in the student council, right. Does she actually have control of the public morals committee as well? Also, why at school?

“The day after tomorrow? Why do I have to come to school?”

“6th of August, the third-years are at school, showing the potential new first-years how our school works.”

“Oh yeah, we had that…So, what? What does that have to do with the public morals committee?”

Not to mention that things are 100% awkward between me and the dear public morals committee president right now. I really don’t want to work, nor do I want to lose the radiance I hold right now. Not to mention that I already declined the invitation to the public morals committee.

“The school visit, you know. Public morals committee was given reigns on that.”

“Eh? Weren’t the teachers supposed to handle that?”

“The general framework, yeah. But, the current students are the ones doing the hard carrying. This is what last year’s student council decided, and Rin got it all pushed on her.”

Last year…When the school supported students from families that belonged to the ‘West Side’, huh.

“What about the student council?”

“Already way too busy. Anymore than that, and we’d be carry-over.”

“That’s some awful carry-over.”

More and more work, huh. That sounds like hell. Rather than being the institution of students, the student council feels more like an average business. There’s not even any employee welfare…

“Why me…”

“I don’t want to keep my debt with her.”

Are you two actually friends? Well, I don’t see Big Sis doing much towards that friendship. Ahh, my chest hurts when I think that Shinomiya-senpai is the only one who thinks of them as friends…I wonder what they’re talking about if they’re alone…Now I’m a bit curious.

“Rin’s been constantly talking about you as of late, so do something about it.”

“Huh?”

“I’m saying that you don’t want to carry some weird reserves. What kind of reaction should I have if a girl my age is close with my younger brother.”

“……”

Am I just…subconsciously pushing it all off onto Big Sis? I guess it must be a lot of pressure to be busy with work and have such a…interesting…Senpai constantly talking to you. Also, Senpai is pretty sensitive when it comes to that, huh. If I left this alone, I feel like it’d turn even more of a bother.

“Alright, I just have to help out, right? I’ll charge in like I was charging at an enemy.”

“I’m pretty sure she’d be happy about that. I doubt she wants to be hated by you anyway.”

“Stop, it’ll just make things more awkward for me.”

“To Rin, you’re probably put between me and her.”

Eh, really? She’s not treating me this way because I’m Big Sis younger brother? Don’t tell me…Nah, no way. Big Sis is just trying to get on my good terms and have me treat her to something. But, well, when it comes to a man like me, one or two older girls are no…Wait, I’m not telling you anything, you bastard. I’m the king of failed love, remember.

*

“Ah, Shinomiya-senpai?”

‘Huh…? Eh, who…A man!? What about Kaede…!?’

“She’s sleeping next to me.”

“Don’t go acting like a boyfriend.”

“My ears! My eaaaaaaaaars! You’re going to pull them off! It hurts!”

‘Eh!? Sajou!? Why are you…!?’

After being asked by Big Sis to help Shinomiya-senpai, I blindly agreed. At first, I was hesitant, wondering if some normal spec high school boy like me could even be of much help, but I’ll just believe in her judgement for now. I used Big Sis’ phone to give Shinomiya-senpai a call, which apparently surprised her quite a bit. Is she really trained in Spiritual Arts? Ah, Big Sis, did you not hear my ears rip just now?

“It’s been a while, Shinomiya-senpai. I wanted to talk with you about something, so I borrowed Big Sis’ phouchouchouch!”

‘A-Ah…Is that so. Kaede, let him go. So, what did you want?’

Thankfully, my ears were finally freed again. I seriously thought she’d rip them off me. I was just joking around to lighten up the mood, but now my ears feel like they’re burning up. Anyway…wait, my earlobes feel longer than before, or is that just me.

“The day after tomorrow, the middle school students are stopping by for a visit, right? Let me help you out, Big Sis already has enough on her plate.

‘W-What, that’s what you were on about…Don’t worry about it, we from the public morals committee can take care of it.”

What…? She just kindly rejected my offer? Your friend is saying so, dear sister, what do you think about that? I think that, personally, we should just take her up on her kind words, and—Ah, I get no saying in this? Alright, alright, I get it. Don’t you worry, through talking with that Onee-san over the past few days, I’ve acquired an ‘Adult’s leisure’, you know! I know how to make an encounter work and not awkward. I will overcome this, and become a true adult!

“No need to hold back. Personally speaking, I’d like to meet Shinomiya-senpai as well.”

‘Wha—XSANJFOWGSQ—’

H-Huh? That’s not the reaction I expected? I was expecting something like Sasaki-san would say, anything along the lines of ‘Again with your jokes~…Not to mention that she was speaking so fast I couldn’t even pick up what she said. Big Sis? Why are you giving me such a shocked reaction? As a member of society, I know how to do a bit of lip service, okay? Are you that surprised? Eh, why do you look angry now? Also, what was that loud crash just now?

“Um…? I just heard something break, but…are you okay?”

‘Y-Yes, I’m fine…But more importantly! What are you blurting out like it’s nothing!’

“Don’t mind the prank of a lowly man like me. Rather than that, do you not have anything for me to do? Because of you, Shinomiya-senpai, everybody thinks of the public morals committee members as a place for girls to gather, so you probably need some assistance when it comes to physical labour, right?”

Together with their usual duties, the student council is responsible for a lot of events. That would mean that the public morals committee must be in a similar situation. That’s probably what I should look at the most.

‘Prank…Well, fine—Actually it’s not fine, but I’ll ignore it for now. I will at least praise you for your mindset of wanting to help us. If you are that adamant, then…That’s right, could you maybe help with the carrying? It’d be very reassuring.’

“I see…That sounds like a man’s job.”

‘What, you don’t like it?’

“Oh no, it’s fine. If I can help you out, I’m happy.”

I’ve been training my muscles a lot lately because of me carrying books and other stuff at the bookstore, and it seems like my time to show it off has come…I don’t know about some reserve or whatever, but Neo Me is here to rock it, so communicating with someone older than me is easy peasy!

Ah, I guess it’s more on the ‘debt’ end now. Big Sis sure is stiff when it comes to the weirdest things…I guess me being unable to give anything to this trade shows how I’m not fit to become a hottie…Maybe my face didn’t have anything to do with it after all?

“Ahh, we really are siblings…”

When I looked to my side, Big Sis was mumbling something to herself, scratching her head. No clue what she’s on about, but apparently she saw some resemblance between the two of us. You don’t need to act so bothered by it…

‘Kaede! Kaede! Can I take it that we’re good now!?’

“Yeah yeah whatever. Just do however you please, I don’t care…” Big Sis responded while stirring up the ice in her pseudo ice cafe latte, clearly bothered by the situation.

At the same time, Shinomiya-senpai seemed like she got the wrong idea about something. I didn’t expect them to have this kind of relationship to be honest. I feel like Shinomiya-senpai would be the one exhausted at Big Sis’ attitude…However, you’re way too naive, Big Sis…This isn’t enough to show your older sister strength, Sajou Kaede! I am always shown an even greater older sister strength! Compared to her overwhelming power, yours is but a small drop in the ocea—Ah, I’m sorry, don’t drink my coffee.

*

Why is the 6th of August a day for the third-years to head to school? In order to explain that, we’d have to jump back to the wartime, but for Kouetsu High, it’s just a convenient reason to have all the third-years who are bothered by school to have them come there. Well, high school itself isn’t exactly compulsory education either.

“So…it’s been a while, Sajou.”

“Hello. Can I just ask? Why are you acting so awkward now? Are you worried about what happened at your home before? I don’t particularly mind.”

“W-What…!? So that means you’re willing to join the public morals committee!?”

“Never said that.”

I really can’t relax my guard for even a second. When I arrived at school after quite some time, Shinomiya-senpai immediately came to greet me. It seems like a part of the third-years were pouring time into the school visit preparations aside from normal classes. She really called out to me with an awkward greeting…But personally, after sleeping one night over it, what happened at the dojo didn’t even matter that much to me.

That’s just how people operate, really. When I’m slurping down my miso soup before work, I even forget my name at times. Still, despite feeling bothered by it, she really got back on track quickly…It’s like she’s an excited child on Christmas Eve.

“I heard from Big Sis, but it really isn’t anything big. Do I look like that petty of a person?”

“Really? I was worried that maybe Kaede or Yuyu would come to hate me because I messed up with you.”

“I see, I see.”

At least she’s quick to confess her own feelings. Leaving aside the importance of my existence in this school, if Shinomiya-senpai was worried that loli girl Inatomi-senpai would start hating her for that, then she really is delicate towards the smallest things…Well, she deeply adores Inatomi-senpai after all.

“Well, spiritual arts doesn’t have much to do with physical labour, so even someone inexperienced like me would be able to help, correct?”

“S-So you do hold a grudge!”

“I can joke about it exactly because I don’t, you know.”

Alright, I get it. She’s weak against cynical people, right. Makes sense that she felt a bit clumsy when we first met. I don’t know how she managed to correct Big Sis in her old days, but for now I should just focus on the work.

“We’re starting with a meeting, right? Let’s go, and get that done.”

“Y-Yeah…Still, you sure are motivated.”

“Being used appropriately fits perfectly with my personality after all. I feel like most of my income in the future would originate from overtime pay.”

Or it’s just that people of my level are best fit for that kind of stuff. Well, I’ve been raised to develop that kind of mindset after all.

“I won’t call it appropriately, but…Whatever, follow me.”

“Yesh.”

Honestly speaking, I was feeling a bit awkward myself. But, I wonder why, being able to meet like this after some time, it allows me to properly sort out my feelings. I just gave Senpai an average smile, receiving back a wry smile. For some reason, she was cursing me like a hottie.

*

The public morals committee office was located on the second floor of the north building. Walking past some other classrooms on the way there, I could see people working as well. According to Senpai, they were used by the culture festival execution committee members, and next to it was a meeting room for the school visit, even deeper than that, the real public moral committee office.

When I asked why there was a need to separate the public morals committee, I was told that because of necessary equipment and material, they were split in two groups to enable better usage. It might be a bit late to say that, but the public morals committee has more members than I initially thought.

“Been a while, Sajou-kun~!”

“Hello, you two.”

Arriving at the public morals committee office, I was greeted by Inatomi-senpai and her guardian puppy—Mita-senpai. Compared to Inatomi-senpai’s energetic greeting that made me want to hug her on the spot, Mita-senpai just crossed her arms as she looked at me. I really wanted to sit on those. And, I remember how she used those arms to put me in a head lock back before summer break started. I wonder, whenever I look at Senpai, my hand just naturally moves to the back of my head.

With these members, we headed to the meeting room.

“Are you the leaders for the middle school students?”

“Me and Yuyu are a single person. Can’t leave her alone, or I won’t be able to calm down…” Mita-senpai answered.

“Ahh, that makes sense.”

“D-Don’t just agree with her…” Inatomi-senpai retorted.

I mean, I’ve seen what even middle school students are capable of when I met Sasaki-san. If you threw a mascot-esque existence like Inatomi-senpai in there, I can see what would happen. Middle school students work together at the weirdest times to ‘take’ down an enemy after all.

Well, people have their own strengths and weaknesses, Senpai. That’s why, keep—I mean, stop pouting while hitting me on my chest. Crap, I keep wanting more than that.

“We have other culture festival committee members and normal students take care of the guiding around. I think that we also have someone from your class helping…”

“Eh?”

The door was half-opened, and I could take a peek inside. Several long tables were arranged to form a U, and looking at the various students sitting around the desks, I felt all the air vanish from my lungs.

“Only pieces of art everywhere…This is bad for my heart, so can I just leave?”

“Don’t be like that, isn’t that girl over there the person who visited you before when you had a cold?”

“Eh?”

Tracing Shinomiya-senpai’s finger, I spotted an all-too-familiar beauty in the rows of other handsome students. It turned out to be none other than Natsukawa. Ahh, she’s as beautiful as always…I feel like she has a bit of a tan. Well, she does have to go to school two times a week. And, this very Natsukawa was now having a comfortable time talking with a normie next to her.

“…!”

It’s Sasaki. Not the good Sasaki-san, but Sasaki. Because he’s a good student at school, with the looks to back it up, it made sense for him to be invited here to show the middle school students around. Doesn’t make this uncomfortable feeling in my chest any better though. Well, pressing it down will work eventually.

Oh yeah, half a month passed since Sasaki basically declared war against me. Two times a week, the culture festival committee members are here to work. Going from that, this happened five times already, so I guess that beyond their team work, they must have gotten much closer. At the very least, Sasaki won’t let this chance go to waste, I bet.

“…I don’t wanna get in their way, and I don’t have anything to say either.”

“Hm? I see.”

“Yes.”

“Then, just take a seat over there.”

Right. I should have figured Natsukawa would be here. And since Shinomiya-senpai is here, it means that I need to help with the work here as well…Ahh, this sucks. In the end, Shinomiya-senpai shoved me into the classroom, so I passed by the teacher’s desk, and sat down on the public morals committee side of the room. A large male Senpai from the morals committee gave me a ‘Who?’ gaze, but I skillfully ignored that. Well, it makes sense that he’d be curious. And I feel even stronger gazes from a different direction

……Sup.

Natsukawa looked at me in shock, whereas Sasaki gave me an evaluating inspection, so I nodded and greeted them both. I really wished they wouldn’t see me here, but it can’t be helped. I tried to convey to Sasaki that ‘I won’t be getting in your way’, but he’s still glaring at me.

“—Is everyone here? Then, let’s get this meeting started.”

*

Regularly, the public morals committee is awfully diligent. Yet, thanks to the current president Shinomiya-senpai’s influence as more of a prince than anything, more girls arrived. Then again, they’re pretty much splitting up boys and girls. What’s troublesome is that a lot of the girls pretty much had the boys take over their work. At this school, being part of the public morals committee member is something like a status for girls.

Last year, when Shinomiya-senpai became the president, with all the girls rushing in to join, the comparative number of boys went down drastically, which is why they were looking for more. That is the current problem of this. That’s why, as I was responsible for the transporting and carriage, I was looking at the people in the same group.

“Um, you are the person Shinomiya-senpai brought with us, right? Nice to meet you.”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

The black dot in the public morals committee office, a large and fleshy third-year, known as Ichinose-senpai……Wait, Ichinose? That coincidentally is the same name as a certain literary girl’s who just so happens to be sitting next to me in class. Their difference in build is terrifying…Not to mention that Ichinose-san is always hiding her eyes with her bangs.

This Ichinose-senpai here feels like a peaceful bear instead. His grin is just healing, and I can see him turn into a male mascot of the public morals committee. It feels like I can actually rely on him. The part of him being a black dot was exactly as I mean it, as he’s literally the only male student in the public morals committee. That’s why even the carrying group consisted mostly of girls. I can already see my bones breaking.

“Sajou-kun, was it? We don’t have many boys, so I’m counting on you~”

“Counting on you~”

“Ah, yeah, same.”

The two Senpai girls gave me a curious gaze, and tapped me on the shoulder. What is this, some distinct culture? Does Ichinose-senpai usually get this much body contact? I’m feeling a bit jealous here, so maybe we could switch only during the times you’re not really busy?

*

“We’ll be playing a PV introducing the school in the gym hall, and we need precision equipment for that. Same goes for all kinds of other objects which are pretty tough for the girls, so you’re a big help, Sajou-kun.”

“It’s fine, this is why I’m here.”

“I kind of feel bad, but thanks anyway.”

A Senpai I haven’t ever met let alone seen before was giving me instructions. She was part of the public morals committee before Shinomiya-senpai became the president, so she’s pretty diligent. The part where she feels bad for me is pretty likable. I can definitely respect her as a Senpai.

It might be obvious, but I was paired up with Ichinose-senpai. We were tasked with carrying the precision equipment and other big tools needed. Seems like something only boys could carry as well. What if I wasn’t around? Ichinose-senpai would be going through hell.

“Um…do you really only have one boy?”

“No, we actually have another third and second-year, but…they can’t really deal with this girl-heavy atmosphere, see…”

Holy crap, I totally get it. If I was in the public morals committee like them, I might skip out entirely. This situation really can’t be helped. Seeing Ichinose-senpai give me a troubled smile, I felt an odd burning passion flame up inside of me, and the work started with that. What’s most important is that we might be walking past middle school students in the hallways, so we need to be careful to not bump into them and damage their clothes.

I don’t know for what reason the other Senpais joined the public morals committee, but receiving that kind of an anguished expression from girls is even more of a boost, or something along those lines. I know that there’s no real reward, but it gave me this sense of duty that I definitely needed to help out. Men really are simple.

“—Let me hold that.”

“Eh? Ah, thanks.”

I was trying to act tough by bragging about my part-time work, but it seems like it was a good bit of training at least. I can carry more and more books by the passing days, so I guess men surely get muscle quite easily. Before, I was training a lot for the sake of appealing to Natsukawa, so I guess I’m just getting back some of the muscle I had.

“—Ah, Senpai, there’s some steps there.”

“Got it, let me lift it up!”

“Aye. One, two—!”

Normal routine tasks really are the easiest. I’ve been practicing organizing and assorting of documents and data with my part-time work, but with this kind of work I don’t have to think much, and just use my raw strength, together with the motivation to actually help other people, so it’s just more relaxing for me. Maybe physical labour with a low wage is the best for me.

“—Hey, first-year boy over there, could you take care of this as well?”

“Yup!”

I went back and forth between the gym hall and the second floor of the north building. I was starting to sweat a bit, slightly out of breath, but this is about what I expected. Because Ichinose-senpai is trained in this kind of work, he didn’t break a sweat in the slightest. Even worse is that he actually seems like the culture type rather than the sports type, so I feel even more motivated.

“—Ah, can you take care of this as well?”

“Yep.”

I don’t know if you could phrase it that way, but I was single-mindedly focusing on straining the muscles in my arms and waist, as I conducted my work. Of course, by the time we finished our work, the ones sweating the most were Senpai and me. It’s honestly a bit demotivating to think that we’d be stepping in front of the middle school students in these sweat-drenched clothes.

Since we got a short break, I headed to the school shop, bought some cheap towel that I forgot to bring, as well as some odor-resistant body wipes, and headed to a water area outside to pour some water over my head after taking off my shirt. After drying my head, I wiped my body off with the body wipes, I removed as much sweat stench as possible. Taking a shower and changing my clothes would be faster, but I can’t use that right now…

When I returned to the gym hall, the carrying group switched to the arranging group. Since I won’t be of much help in that, I just helped deliver some small necessities from point A to point B, like a magic pen or gum tape. Damn, I really am fit to be an underling huh, I actually want to cry now.

After all the work was done, I retreated, and both groups who had finished their respective parts were now lounging in the public morals committee meeting room. The advisor of the public morals committee had electric fans they could offer us, so I helped Ichinose-senpai bring them over. With five machines, I took care of three as the junior I was, but compared to everything else I carried, they were like feathers.

On top of that, after that whole incident with my cold, I got to know the school nurse a bit more, so I received some ice bags from her. After carrying everything over, my job was basically done. Distributing the ice bags to the other Senpais, they put it into towels, and put it around their necks…Hmm, what an erotic gesture. I want to take a picture of that…especially with the fan directed at them…Hold on, they’re not wearing undergarments? Isn’t this pretty bad as the public morals committee?

I cleared myself of any wicked thoughts, and joined Ichinose-senpai in front of the fan, being hit by the cold—being hit? Yeah, no, not happening. He’s getting all the air. Well, I already freshened up, so it’s no biggie.

“Ah, hey, first-year. You’re Sajou, right?”

“Eh, yes.”

“Good work. You really helped us out. You’re a good junior.”

Two Senpais walked towards me from the opposite end, offering me a split ice bar. Hey now, that makes me feel like we’re a couple…Could you call me over next time as well? I’ll definitely work a lot. Thinking about stupid stuff as always, the two Senpais laughed heartfully, and walked past me. It seems like her way of praising me was pretty fun, judging from the ‘What do you mean “Good junior”, lol’. I’d love to hear more about that as well.

I was too exhausted to bother thinking about that, and sat on the floor, when another Senpai who belonged to the carry group came towards me—Eh, not Ichinose-senpai?

“Thanks a lot for today, Sajou-kun. Of course, the same goes to you, Ichinose-kun.”

“Don’t worry about it, I’ve been in your care as well.”

“You know, our girls tend to slack off a lot, so they just pushed everything onto you that they couldn’t be bothered with.”

“Eh?”

Pushed onto me? Really? I just walked back and forth between the gym hall and here, so I didn’t even realize that. I was just focussing on my work after all…And, I honestly didn’t want to hear that either.

“Because you were just diligently accepting all of the work, they kinda felt bad towards the end. Everyone talked about how nice of a boy you are.”

“Eh, well, I’m glad I could be of help.”

Right as I felt the urge for revenge burn up inside of me, I received words of praise. Because of this sudden development, I felt my body become all itchy. It’s rare for me to get this much praise after all. But…hearing how nice of a boy I am shows how they’re not even really conscious of me…

“Because you were brought here by Rin, and are Sajou-san’s younger brother, we thought this was just plain favoritism, but I was jumping to conclusions. Here, have this.”

“Eh?”

She put some nourishment jelly on my hand. With this sudden reward, I could only nod along. What’s going on today? Was my horoscope that good for me? I’ve never been valued this highly before…Is this…my popular time?

“Ah, Ichinose-kun, so…once we’re done today, can I come visit your place…?”

Oh, what an abrupt development.

*

“Aren’t you on fire today, Sajou.”

“……Yeah.”

During the time we waited for the next route of action, the failure of a human being that I am was forced to watch a single page of youth unfold right in front of me at close distance. The jelly I held in one hand was already melting away. If Shinomiya-senpai had taken only a bit longer, I might have slammed the jelly on the floor.

“Ah…are we already past noon? I passed them a few times, but what about the middle school students?”

I was wondering why I wasn’t seeing anybody, but I guess they all went to eat lunch, huh. I didn’t have anything yet, but…Well, I have this jelly, and I don’t feel particularly hungry either.

“Yeah, they’re all gathering at the gym hall right now. In a bit, the 45min video will play, and then Yuuki and I will give a few words…and then it’ll be time to clean up.” She must have seen me in my current state, and found herself unable to say it directly.

It’s true that it was tough physical work, but something felt off about Shinomiya-senpai disregarding that.

“You don’t need to feel so apologetic, Senpai.”

“Well, I heard from Yuri. You got a lot pushed onto you, right.”

Who exactly is Yuri-san? The person who had control over the carry group?

“I…I mean, aren’t you looking down on a boy like me a bit too much? I have much more endurance and strength than you think, you know?”

Though I definitely don’t feel like working myself to death. However, with a bit of a break, I’ll get some strength back, so once it comes down to cleaning up, I’ll be of help again. Even if she’s a Senpai, I can’t exactly relax longer than a girl, or I’d just be lame.

“I see…then, I’m counting on you in the afternoon as well.”

“Yes—Eh?”

Shinomiya-senpai showed a gallant smile, and right as I wanted to look after her as she passed me, she put her hand on my head, her fingers going through my hair. No seriously, what is this about!? Hold on hold on hold on, what just happened. Why is she gently rubbing my head like that? And, I really can’t see her as a gentle type like that…Seriously, what?

“S-Senpai, what are you doing. Stop it, will you.”

“Fufu, sometimes it’s not that bad to spoil someone except Yuyu.”

“Please be mindful of your surroundings. They’re getting noisy. They’re staring at us, Senpai, so please just quit it.”

“I know.”

So she was aware of it? Well, at least she put her hand away now. Probably got myself a lot of hate from her fans though. Imagine the great Rin-sama touching the sweaty head of a random boy, that’s why I wish she wouldn’t do that in public…

“—I’m quite jealous of Kaede.”

…Seriously.

*

The impact of that single phrase was unimaginable, as the other Senpais suddenly came rushing towards me. Was she aiming for this…? That’s actually pretty terrifying. And after a short while, I finally understood their treatment towards me.

“That reminds me, are you not visiting the meeting room next to this? There must be students from your own class, right. You need to take care of your friendships.”

“Sajou-kun, want to eat a pudding?”

“You haven’t eaten lunch yet, right? Want a hamburger? I’m on a diet right now.”

“………”

You folks as well? Am I your younger bro—No, cousin? Either way, this isn’t the normal attitude you would take towards a random boy you just met today. If they were at least a bit embarrassed…Hey, Mita-senpai? Don’t just hand me your used chopsticks like that.

“No need for that, really. They got their own workflow going, so I don’t want to break that apart.”

“Yeah, that makes sense…It’s an ensemble of beauties and hotties after all.”

“Did you really just say what I think you did? Go and eat that hamburger.”

Get fat for all I care. Get fat, lift up Inatomi-senpai during a hug, and feel despair. If I went to that meeting room, I’d probably lose all my confidence in life and die a horrible mental death.

After waiting for the break of the guiding group to end, all students gathered in the gym hall. Almost as if to welcome us, the already present students opened up a line in between, gathering at the sides of the gym hall. To the side, the public morals committee gathered, so I joined in, and looked at the faces of the middle school guys…School uniform…sailor…blazer…school uniform…Yeah, no way to guess the school like that. From a distance, the colors look way too different.

It seems like the middle schoolers themselves were curious about our school’s guys. Now that I think about it, the guiding group was composed of the elite, right. Seeing people looking average must be like they walked into a different world. Bet some of the guys are checking out the girls here.

A Senpai from the broadcasting committee joined us, and started playing the 45min intro video of our school. The already students at this school, like me and the other Senpais, were watching the middle school students with gentle expressions, and time passed.

Once that was over, Yuuki-senpai, as the representative of the student council, stepped on stage. Looking over at the opposite side of the gym hall, I could see the folks from the student council. Hey, Big Sis, no yawning!

“To all you middle school students, welcome to Kouetsu High School. I am Yuuki Hayato, the current student council president—-”

With the appearance of an unparalleled handsome and tall person like Senpai, the atmosphere in the hall changed. I could hear most of the female Senpais around me letting out a bewitched sigh. I wonder how it must feel to be him, spending only a single day. Just once, I want that kind of face and height.

The middle school students let out roars of cheers and applause, only suppressed by the teachers. I wonder if they would have screamed for an encore if not for that. Following that, our public moral committee’s president Shinimoya-senpai stepped to the front—Wait, did I just say ‘our’? I’m not even part of them…

Unlike with Yuuki-senpai’s arrival, time felt like it was frozen. I guess most of the normal guys like me have no more HP left. Me? I’m in the early stages of decay.

“—I will guarantee a healthy and welcoming student life for all of you, as the public morals committee president. And, I am looking forward to seeing all of you choose Kouetsu High School.”

Since she’s dealing with juniors, she dropped a polite speech. And, although nobody raised any cheers as before, I could hear singular muttering like ‘So cool…’ or ‘A prince…’ etc in the audience. The girls presumably already became her fans. She gains more just by standing in front of people after all…Did you know, she rubbed my head before. Ahh, I can’t ever wash my head…

The guiding group’s work ended with the presentation of our school’s top idols. All that was left was for the third-year Senpais to be freed, and the middle school students to take a look around school. Why are they getting all the bonus stuff? I didn’t get any of that back when I was in middle school.

*

After the middle school students left, I was part of the carry group to put away the chairs inside the gym hall. Since Natsukawa and the others were here only to guide them around, they were freed from this as well. She and the other culture festival execution committee members now returned back to their normal work. In the distance, I could see Natsukawa and Sasaki walking next to each other.

Either way, after finishing the rest of the work, I’ll be free, so I’ll get this done and get some praise from Big Sis.

“—Did you properly work?”

The temporary school visit execution committee was disbanded, and I was sitting in the almost empty public morals committee office. At that moment, the honored student council vice-president came towards me with some grateful words. Can I just slap her with my palm?

“Worked hard enough to get some rewards at least.”

“…I see. Good work.”

“Huh? You not gonna meet Shinomiya-senpai?”

“I’m fine.” She said, sounding like it’s none of her business.

I wonder why she would be so nonchalant and dry about this. She really doesn’t seem to be assertive…Maybe she doesn’t want to meddle much like me.

“What about you? Not gonna visit your neighbours?”

“Eh?”

“What was her name? Natsukawa-san, right? She’s there.”

“Nah, I’m good. They should have their own set of problems.”

Even if I went over there to heal my exhaustion, depending on what I see inside there, I might just die instead. I see, you have these kinds of emotions when returning dry words. I guess Big Sis has her own share of worries.

“Problems…? As the culture festival execution committee, during summer break you only have to fill out some documents. Easy peasy.”

“Really?”

“Yup. So, at least show your face over there.”

Big Sis left behind the same meddlesome words she seemed to have avoided before…Even though she was so dry in regards to Shinomiya-senpai…Well, thinking about it, she dispatched me here to get some old debt done…Man, I really don’t get her.

“Sajou-kun, you really are the vice president’s younger brother…”

“Hm? Is there something weird with Big Sis?”

“Not exactly weird, but…Unlike Shinomiya-senpai’s cool attitude, she has…a lot of fighting strength?”

“Fighting strength.”

That’s not an answer I expected from a female Senpai like her. But, at least it’s honest, I guess. Not to mention that I can totally see what she means. At the very least, the sighit she shows me at home couldn’t be further removed from being cool and dignified.

*

“Sajou-kun, thanks a lot for today.”

“No no, you were plenty cute yourself today, Inatomi-senpai.”

“Ehehe, don’t tease me like that~”

“You. Dead meat if you dare to hit on Yuyu.”

“If you want to fight me, then you have to get through Big Sis first.”

“Urk…Coward!”

Am I? While being insulted by Mita-senpai, I packed up my things. With this, my role for today was supposed to be over. Shinomiya-senpai has her own position, and can’t leave just yet. I was wasting some time by talking with my Senpais, but…I guess I’ll just go home.

“……Eh?”

You kidding me? I thought that Mita-senpai and the others were done, but color me surprised. The third-years of the public morals committee instead opened up documents, and continued their work. I was assaulted by a feeling of guilt and utter exhaustion.

“Um, you still have more work?”

“Of course. Summing up the visitors and summarizing the survey. After handing this in, we’re done.”

Wow, that sounds like a massive pain…Mita-senpai must have seen my reaction, because she poked her finger directly at my collarbone. Well, I didn’t have any excuse. But, if it’s just doing that, I might be able to help…? I know how to work a PC after all.

“…If you have an open PC, I can help.”

“E-Eh…? It’s fine, you don’t have to go that far.”

“Do you have a template from last year? I can at least fill out the files.”

“…If he’s that adamant on it, let’s have him help, Yuyu.”

“Y-Yeah…”

They did have some laptops left to use, so it’s probably a problem of being able to use them instead of sheer numbers. I guess my part-time work really is coming to pay me back.

“Are these the documents?”

“Yeah, but…are you really sure about this?”

“That’d make it faster for everyone, right?”

“Yes…”

I sat down next to a second-year Senpai who was looking over the documents. On the laptop’s desktop I could see similar files that have about the same structure, so I followed that example as I started typing on the keyboard keys. This sure feels nostalgic…It’s been ages since I touched a PC with this kind of work.

“Huh…Eh, they came from 13 schools? Did we have that many around here?”

“We’re a high-level school after all. The cram school I attended in middle school, I was told that this is like the second or third ranking school in terms of deviation ranking…Ehehe.”

When I let out a surprised voice because of the numbers I was looking at, the second-year Senpai gave me an energetic response. Man, she really is friendly. This innocent feeling I’m getting from her is so cute. While exchanging a few words, I progressed with my work. I was having a bit of trouble with all the sheer numbers, but this is easy peasy compared to my part-time work back then. Creating graphs with the numbers, pasting them onto the other documents, if I didn’t work back then, I wouldn’t even know about all of these abilities. Maybe that hell back then wasn’t so bad after all. I want to praise myself, for once.

Around an hour and a half passed, with occasional conversations to motivate me, I finished confirming the final file, and after getting the okay, I let out a sigh. At the same time, everybody else just collapsed on their desks. The exhaustion must have been built up.

“Finally over…I want to eat something sweet…”

“Ichinose-kuuun…”

“Wah, eh, Yuri-chan…?”

That sure is poison to the eyes of a loner like me…Could you stop inflicting even more damage to the people around you? Makes me want to escape with a stolen bike.

“…In the end, Shinomiya-senpai never came back.”

“She must have it even more rough. She’s probably in a discussion with our principal and several teachers from different schools.”

“She won’t go bald from that, right.”

“She most definitely won’t.”

Hearing that, I really feel blessed by having my work finished with just this. Talking with the all-so-importants must be hell…Need to make this a reference for my future job.

“Any other work to do…?”

“Nothing. We finished our daily work as well. All that’s left is for us to disband. Maybe Rin-san went home already?”

“Then, have some nutritional jelly as a reward.”

“Are you still holding on to that? It’s gotta be all warm and gross now, so don’t you bring that near me.”

Well, I was forced to look at something that made me lose all appetite. And I definitely won’t be eating that until I let it freeze in a fridge for a while. Hence, I’ll just be taking it home~ Behind Mita-senpai, who I was talking to right now, Inatomi-senpai was lounging over the desk. She only raised her head a bit, and let out a very…suggestive groan with a crumpled face.

“……”

“You just thought ‘I want to sit on her lap’, right?”

“N-Not at all? What are you saying Senpai, there’s no way I’d be thinking something so lewd…!”

“You’re panicking too much.”

H-How did she know…I wasn’t planning on doing it, so what’s the big deal! Don’t look at me with such a judgemental gaze! Ah, wait…!? She put Inatomi-senpai on her own lap! Damn it! What a blessing for the eyes!

“So, I think I was looking down on you, Sajou.”

“Eh?”

I was agonizing over this wonderful sight, when Mita-senpai’s sudden comment took me by surprise. No but, seriously? What is going on today? Is this some blessing from the gods? Are there hidden cameras anywhere?

“Well, I thought that Rin-san was just prioritizing you on a whim and because you’re Kaede-san’s younger brother, so I was jealous of you as a fellow junior, so to speak. But, I turned out to be wrong.”

“Urk…I-Is that so?”

“Yup. How do I say it…you’re pretty fun. Like, I just want to talk to you when you’re around? Not to mention that you were working really hard today, so it made sense why Rin-san evaluated you this highly.”

“R-Really now? You too…when you were giving out orders in the end, you were really cool.”

“Fufu, is that really praise a girl would be happy to hear?”

“Ah, well, um…”

Excuse me, but I can’t focus on our conversation if you suddenly rest your chest on Inatomi-senpai’s shoulders…

*

In the end, I wasn’t able to meet Shinomiya-senpai again, so everybody but her went home. Since Mita-senpai and the others had business with the other girls from the public morals committee, they swiftly left. As for me, I took my time, and leisurely made my way home. Normally, I’d feel a bit melancholic and cold, but today…was just full of positive stimulation, the sweltering hallways had me feel at ease even. It makes me feel like normality returned.

On my way to the shoe lockers, I walked past the culture festival execution committee’s meeting room, which was right next to the room I had been working in until now. The door was just open wide enough for me to take a peek inside. In the midst of the silence, there were still people working. Not expecting such a serious working mentality, I was looking at them in appreciation. Of course, my gaze naturally wandered towards two familiar faces.

“……”

Sitting next to each other, they were exchanging a few quiet words, looking at each other as they progressed with their work. They seem to be getting along just fine.

—Phew, crazy. Rather than putting my jealous heart into any expression worthy of being painted a picture, I was just merely admiring the sight. This emotion sinking deep into my chest, despite it being painful before, it’s different now. It’s like I threw away all self-control and just melted away in the summer heat. See, I can do it if I want to.

“…Such luxury.”

Looking at my recent behaviour, a voice leaked out of my mouth. Despite it normally being pretty hard to meet people from school during summer break, I’ve actually achieved that. Not to mention that I got to meet so many nice Senpais, and even a kind Onee-san who’d spoil me. How am I in any position to complain? That’s why, it’s not good to prioritize my own greed. Watching any more than that will just be poison for the eyes.

My ‘Today’ ended. That’s why, I’ll act like I didn’t see anything. That way, I might actually be able to have a comfortable dream.

*

Assaulted by self-loathing and raw exhaustion, I lost the strength to actually go home. Instead, I sat on a bench in the courtyard, thankfully hiding me from the sun. The southern breeze sure was warm, but the parts I wiped dry with body tissues felt cool thanks to that. I might just fall asleep like that…No no no, I can’t.

When I looked at my surroundings, the middle school students were gleefully walking around, checking out the various clubs. Being seen like that would just be embarrassing, so I should muster up the strength to go home.

“Ah, my ass is sweaty—Huh?”

I pushed up my body to rub my drenched behind, which had my excitement and motivation drop in an instant. After all, in all of the moments I would let down my guard, it had to be now. When I looked up, I was greeted by an odd scenery. There was a single beauty storming out of the entrance of the school building. Her wavy reddish-brown hair swayed in the wind, and while running, she observed her surroundings.

She’s alone. Normally, I’d be dashing towards her just to get a few words. And yet, I found myself thinking ‘I don’t want to meet her’, and my body urged me to hide myself, which miserably failed as I just stood there, frozen. Naturally, with her looking around, it didn’t take long for her to find me.

“Eh…?”

No, hold on, she’s coming over here. Not to mention with such a serious face. Ah, how cool…I might fall for her. Oh right, already did. I’m sure I must have shown a dumbfounded expression. She stopped a bit further away from me, and spoke up with a baffled tone.

“—What are you doing?”

“…Stretching my hips?”

In my first summer in high school, when I was in the middle of my adolescence, I blurted out embarrassing words that made me sound like an old man.