Oregairu Vol.11 Chapter 4

Vol 11 Chapter 4

[And so, the joys and worries of the guys have begun. (Girls are included too)]

A few days have passed since that hectic consultation.

During this period of time, the Service club did not do anything in particular. All we did were to give a few advice here and there to Isshiki who came by from time to time.

On the other hand, Isshiki herself seemed to be carrying out her work diligently. Even when school has ended, of the several occasions that I saw her, most of the time she was rushing here and there from place to place.

Incidentally, the vice-president would also be carrying a large stack of documents, looking downcast. Also, I would frequently catch a glimpse of Secretary-chan urging him. “Who do you think I am, give me some work to do vice-pres.” Hello people, seems like Secretary-chan is someone who generally treats all guys harshly.

Anyway, since today was the actual day of the event, all the members of the student council were busy working as usual. It was totally different from the Christmas event back then.

A great deal of noise could be heard coming from the community center near the train station. Although it was still early, but at any rate, coming here today was to help them out. And no, I am not talking about myself, I was referring to Yukinoshita.

Therefore, I am going to take my time going to you, community center. Although I did come here once during Christmas, nothing much would have changed in this short period of time.

Parking my bike at the nearby carpark, the three of us walked together to the community center with a feeling of familiarity of the place.

I could see the members of the student council bustling here and there, following Isshiki’s lead in preparing for the event.

Just as we were looking at the scene from the door, Isshiki noticed us and walked briskly over to us. She was hugging a bundle of paper with stuff written on them.

“Ah, senpai. You are really early.”

“Yup.”

Following that simple greeting, Yukinoshita and Yuigahama, who were behind me showed their faces as well.

“Hello, Isshiki-san.”

“Yahello~! Is there anything we can help with?”

Hearing Yuigahama’s question, Isshiki cocked her head as she tried to think of something.

“Hmmm. Ah, this, help me to stick this up. Just paste it at the entranceway, I will leave the finer details to you.”

Saying that, Isshiki passed us a giant B2-sized paper that looked like it was made in a hurry. Well, although it’s supposed to be a poster, it really just looked as though someone had used a multi-colored pen to write some stuff on it. Apart from the information written on it, someone had also drawn some graffiti-like illustrations, such as hearts, or chocolates or emoticons, on the paper. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that a gigantic hand had written pop-up letters on it.

Even though the poster appeared to be done in great haste, it didn’t look that bad overall.

The problem was the content written on the poster.

[People with no experience are welcome! No quota! An ‘at home’ atmosphere! Useful know-how for the future!]

This, no matter how I looked at it, it looked more like an advert for a black company…… ‘At home’ atmosphere, this way of putting things gives off the impression that it was going to be an extremely harsh place with the exception of one’s family. (TL: Because ‘at home’ -> your family)

"If you just want to get the posters pasted, it's ok to leave the job to us."

Yukinoshita said so anxiously, but Isshiki looked up at the empty sky, placed a finger to the bottom of her jaw, and paused for a bit, seemingly in thought.

"Ah- ......No, the event place seems to be in a big mess right now, I think I shall put up the posters as well."

This was the reason that she came up with after thinking so long? This girl just wants to slack off...... I thought as such, and of course, the two of them seemed to be thinking of the same thing as well.

"......A, ahaha. Rea, reason seems to be a bit weak."

"Isshiki-San, there's no reason why you can't go back?"

Yuigahama laughed bitterly whilst Yukinoshita smiled frigidly at her.

"It's, it's not what you guys are thinking in the least. I mean, there's really nothing much to do in this event."

Then, why is it that...... When I look at her questioningly, Isshiki sighed as though she looked quite tired.

"Aren't the ratio of the boys and girls in the student council 1:1? Also, it seems like secretary-chan and Vice President are getting along very well? In addition, that, ......, ah, un, well, a lot a lot of things ~ ☆"

With those vague words, she laughed and tried to brush off the awkwardness. How infuriating it is that she just cuts off her words mid-sentence, but she's safe since it's so cute.

"......?"

"Ah, a......, I see now."

Yukinoshita tilted her head, and didn't seem to understand what Isshiki was talking about. Yuigahama seemed to have a better grasp on the situation from the information relayed to her. I too, had more or less understood it.

What was troublesome, was not the contents of the job but the human relationships involved. This commonly happened in the working world.

I had quit my jobs before over this. Indeed, I just couldn't stand it any longer.

A shop manager started going out with a high school girl. Then, that girl went on to two time him with a new handsome guy that just came in. As a result, the manager bullied the guy. This sort of workplace was really unbearable. So done with it......

...... Well, this sort of thing happens in every community. Really, it happens everywhere.

Since this was commonplace, it was something that everyone knew about.

Yet, no one had the best solution to it.

As I nearly descended into deep thought over this unsolvable problem that no one else seemed to see, I was jabbed sharply in the back.

"So, hurry up and paste it already! If you can, do it slowly!"

"You sure are eager to waste time. Although it doesn't really matter, it's getting cold outside so I really want to hurry up and get this over with."

Walking to the outside that was separated by only one glass door, the cold air slowly invaded my body, making me shiver uncontrollably.

Looking up at the sky, the brightness left behind in the sky still had the glow of the midday, indicating that there was still some time to go before evening.

The breath exhaled out turned into white mist and disappeared into the heavens. My eyes followed them, trying hard to see where they disappeared to.

X                                                                         X                                                                            X

After spreading out the poster, we felt about the place trying to see where we should place the poster.

Compared to the few days before, the wind was comparatively weaker now. Thanks to that, the light paper would not be easily blown about.

As we were readying the paper, Isshiki came back from the convenience store carrying some plastic bags, having bought some cellophane tape.

"It's really as cold as I thought it would be. Here, have some."

From the plastic bag, she retrieved some bottles of black tea, which she probably bought together with the tape. Then she distributed it to both Yukinoshita and Yuigahama.

"Thank you."

"Whoa-, so warm."

Taking it from her, Yukinoshita grasped the bottle with both her hands whereas Yuigahama snuggled the bottle to her face, trying to feel the warmth from it.

"Here, Senpai as well."

"Oh-"

What I received was a can of MAX coffee. This girl sure knows me well.

Opening the can, I drank a mouthful and sighed deeply unintentionally.

The sky was clear, with no clouds to be seen for miles around. It was definitely going to get cold tonight.

It was really quite surprising how the clearer the sky was in the day, the colder it got in the night.

However, upon giving it further thought, this was not really that surprising. This was quite acceptable if one understood the concept of cooling through radiation.

Or possibly, to put it more bluntly and vaguely, it wouldn't be that surprisingly once you realized that winter = cold.

Contrary to expectations, the senses of humans were truly unreliable. The senses of humans were formed through their perceptions, memories as well as misconceptions.

Although I would say that, whether it was clear or dark, this coldness would not change. I grasped the can of MAX coffee tightly to warm my hands before getting to work.

First, was to paste one of the posters on the glass window at the community center entrance.

"Here."

“Thank you.”

Yuigahama passed me the poster, and the four corners of it had already been taped with cellophane tape. The only thing left was to press it against the wall, and knock the tape portion to stick it there and we would be done.

In order to make it more visible, I decided to shift it slightly upwards and so, I started to tip-toe.

“Is this ok?”

I turned my head back to seek their confirmation, and Yukinoshita, who was standing a few steps back looking at my work shook her head slightly.

“It’s slanted.”

“Really? Isn’t it how it’s supposed to be?”

Re-assessing the poster that I had pasted, I didn’t feel that it was slanted horribly in the least. As I tilted my head in doubt, Yukinoshita let out a short sigh all of a sudden.

“It was originally slanted anyway, perhaps to you, it did indeed look that way.”

“Oh, that’s so believable…… No, I think that you are one of those twisted-types as well? Speaking of which, what is this ‘correct’ even supposed to mean?”

Turning my head back slightly and asking her, Yukinoshita brushed her hair from her shoulders and stared at me.

“There exists no basis in this world which can tell us whether something is correct. The only thing that exists is people’s definition of correct. What am I saying here applies to you, so do as I say and shift it slightly downwards to the left.”

“What you are saying now is twisted as well. Right then, how’s it now?” [1]

“I guess it’s all right now.”

After getting Yukinoshita’s approval, I guess I should do the next poster similarly as well. The next poster is going to be pasted at the notice board facing the road. I took the poster and started moving, and once more, tried to feel about the place where the poster should be pasted.

In response, Yukinoshita followed after me. Yuigahama too kept up with Yukinoshita with quick steps and Isshiki, for some reason, walked at a brisk pace as well, walking along with the two by their side.

“Hikki, a little bit upwards, upwards!”

“It’s too far up. Move it down a little.”

“Eh, instead of doing that, wouldn’t it be better if you moved it to the left a little first?”

……Un, you guys. Let one person give the instructions, would you?

All this about up or down or left-right left-right. Putting up the poster by following their instructions gave me the feeling that I was inputting the KONAMI code (A thought that was just like an elementary school student.) However, elementary school students now surely have no idea of what the KONAMI code is.

“Let’s leave it like this. Shall we go paste one more?”

I slapped the poster that I was done pasting, and ensured that it was stuck properly before turning my head back to them. Isshiki shook her head as she clasped the cocoa can with her hands that were hidden by those overly long sleeves of her shirt.

“Well-, this will do. There won’t be a lot of people here. This is more or less just a sign to show that there is such an event here.”

Is that so…… Well, if one only planned for friends and acquaintances to come to this event, then indeed, this would suffice. Furthermore, things such as signs were surprisingly important. Even if the world we live in today was a convenient one whereby we could search for the location of events through our phones, there are still those times where one goes “Is this really the place? It would be embarrassing if I got it wrong so I should just go back”. Signs are important! It was all thanks to these signs that I had given up on the job interviews several times!

Although I think that, I did wonder what sort of people would come to this event today…… Our job only extended to helping out till the day of the event. I had no understanding of the nature of the event.

Miura and Ebina-san who came to consult us, as well as Kawasaki, said they would definitely be coming as well. Other than them, Hayama, who was in charge of taste-testing would probably bring along…… As I was thinking of all this, a familiar figure came walking across from the pathway.

Yuigahama who noticed the figure waved her hands in a grand manner.

“Ah, it’s Hina and them. Yahello!”

“Hello hello. I will be in your care today.”

Seeing the traffic light change from red to green light, Ebina-san ran across the street. The person who was running beside her, was Tobe.

“Cheerios!”

What’s up with that greeting, was he some kind of sausage? [2] He was more pumped up than usual, probably due to the event. Ebina-san started to chat noisily with Yuigahama as well.

As I was thinking that Tobe was just as annoying as always, Miura, who had followed behind them, seemed much quieter than the others.

Miura glanced occasionally at the existence at her side, and at times readjusted her bag position and at other times, played with her hair. She seemed unable to calm herself down.

Well, that can’t be helped. After all, she’s going to be giving that guy chocolates to eat later.

Although I had no idea what she said to be able to invite him, Miura seemed to have succeeded at inviting Hayama out to this event.

Anyway, she has gotten past the first stage. Now, all Miura needed to do was to make her own chocolates and that would settle her request. I couldn’t help feeling relieved and so, picked up the can of MAX coffee at the bottom of the stairs, and drank from it slowly. Then, came the sound of hurried footsteps.

At the next instant, Isshiki came into my line of sight.

“Ah, Hayama-senpai! Thank you for coming today.”

Saying that, Isshiki immediately went to stand beside Hayama. Even though Miura gave Isshiki a sharp glare, Isshiki warded off that glare with a radiant smile of her own. Ah ah, a new obstacle for Miura has appeared……

“Ya, Iroha. ……Ah-, was it really a good idea for me to come here? I have never learnt how to make sweets, so I don’t think I would be of much use.”

Hayama, who was now trapped between Miura and Isshiki had a troubled smile on his face. Thereupon, Miura struck his shoulders lightly.

“Is there a need to worry over some things? I mean, it’s more than sufficient for Hayato to just give his opinions……”

“Exactly that-. Well then, we will leave the taste-testing to you!”

Both Miura and Isshiki tried to refrain Hayama from leaving, or perhaps it could be said that they were trying to lure him in with their shy and bashful voices. Hayama, smiled his usual invigorating yet bittersweet smile.

"Anyway, let's go on in."

"Indeed, we still aren't done with the preparations."

Both Yukinoshita and Yuigahama nodded their heads at each other as though confirming something, and Ebina and the rest followed behind them tightly into the community center.

Hayama too, whilst still trapped tightly between Miura and Isshiki, and followed behind as well.

As I observed them and drank big gulps from the can of MAX coffee, a few random thoughts ran through my head like,"That guy is sure in some serious trouble, ahaha."  My eyes met with Hayama's all of a sudden.

"Hey."

With a short greeting to me, Hayama used his eyes to urge Miura and Isshiki to go on ahead without him.

Both of them tilted their heads in puzzlement as they proceeded to the hall. After sending them off with a gentle smile, Hayama glanced at me.

"Hikigaya, are you going to be tasting the food as well?"

"Well, probably."

"......So it's like that"

Hearing my answer, Hayama narrowed his eyes. He seemed to be having trouble enduring something before a small laugh escaped him.

"What......"

His eyes looked at me as though he had seen through everything, and his smile had a trace of pity in it.

That look and the way he spoke made me feel the way I felt when I saw him face to face, irritated and annoyed.

Because of that, the voice in which I would reply him was rather sharp.

Thereupon, Hayama shrugged his shoulders and shook his head slightly. His expression was meek. That curious, mature air that he was giving off just now had disappeared.

"Ah, nothing. I think that you are really suited for this job."

"Huh?"

"You like sweet things, right?"

Hayama spoke in a teasing manner and pointed with his finger to the can of MAX coffee in my hand. No, well, I do indeed drink MAX coffee quite frequently......

"That's why." Hayama added on softly, before sauntering off towards Miura and Isshiki who were waiting for him at the hall.

Whoa, that was dangerous. I was nearly moved by the fact that Hayama-kun knew what drink I liked in that instant. Although I most definitely won't.

......Rather, I wasn't really feeling that great. If I didn't come up with these sort of pointless jokes to distract myself, I would find myself thinking about all sorts of other things. This was probably the same for Hayama as well. Hence, he had probably chosen those topics to talk about on purpose, and then evaded them just as skillfully as well.

Drinking the rest of the MAX coffee in a single gulp, I gripped the can tightly, even though I know that I would be unable to crush it flat.

Well, at least the work with the posters were completed.

Even though I have yet to see the work that needed to be done inside the community center, I couldn't just stand here and watch, I have to at least do something.

And so, my next job is about to begin......

X                                                                  X                                                                          X

Although I had resigned myself to the fact that I had to do something, but I would never have thought that the job awaiting me would be physical labor.

There were cardboard boxes, both big and small, placed in the middle of the hall. It seems that these boxes contained the chocolates, sugar, baking powder and other similar materials that Isshiki and the student council had prepared.

My current job, was to shift all these to the cooking room on the second floor.

Although it was a good move on their part to have someone deliver all these here, but I wished they had asked them to just help out a bit more and moved those to the second floor...... Well, at least I wasn't asked to accompanying them when they went shopping for all these.

"Alright, let’s shift this as quickly as we can."

Tobe rolled up the sleeves of his shirt and with all his might, lifted up the box. The next person to take another box would be me, then the Vice President. This selection of people, no matter how I thought about it, it was definitely Isshiki Iroha's selection...... Another name would be the list of Isshiki Iroha's victims. Incidentally, it should be noted that Hayama-Senpai was totally exempted from this physical labor.

Hugging a box full of materials inside and proceeded to climb up the stairs with a great deal of effort.

"GG. This feels unexpectedly heavy."

Tobe, who had taken the lead in this chore with a high spirit, now approached the stairs with his back swaying left and right as though he had finally realized the weight of the box. Unintentionally, he muttered a "Iyo" sound as he readjusted the box.

Thereupon, the Vice President who was behind me spoke in apologetic tones.

"Sorry, because there are too few guys who can help out with this, so you two are already a very big help in this."

"Eh, it's really nothing......"

"Indeed. Well, I am already used to this sort of thing."

Tobe turned his head to look at us with a fair bit of strength, as though trying to swing his hair away. Then, he smiled broadly. Uck, annoying.

Too dangerous keep your eyes peeled to the front or you might just skip and fall. Also, cut your hair.

However, Tobe was a good natured person in the sense that he is willing to let Isshiki boss him about. The Vice President as well, or maybe he was being tasked to do such arduous chores because he looked too weak to fight back. This is that what again, some series about gathering three people to become a worldly wise man. Perhaps this could become a weapon to defeat vampires. [3]

The three of us expended our energy to shift the boxes and at long last, arrived at the cooking room.

As Tobe was hugging the boxes along, he managed to skillfully open the door with his elbow.

Yuigahama and Yukinoshita were already inside. They were spreading out the cooking utensils as well as setting each of the tables.

Miura, Ebina-san and Hayama as well were following the directions of the student council and helping to set up the tables as well.

Anyway, we decided to first go to Isshiki to find out where to put the boxes.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Hearing Yuigahama's words of appreciation, we dropped the boxes on the floor with a thud. Then, Yukinoshita came over to inspect the contents of the box.

"Thank you for your trouble. Isshiki-san, has the ingredients been divided into small portions for everyone yet?”

“Yes yes. All that’s left is to distribute these small portions to each table and then we’ll be okay.”

Isshiki answered as she nodded her head, counting the boxes.

“Seems like everything’s here. Then, let’s open up the boxes and distribute it.”

Receiving Isshiki’s cue, the Vice President carried up a box excitedly and went over to Secretary-chan’s cooking table.

Both Tobe and I bent our backs forward for the present, and began the job of unsealing the boxes.

Hearing people bustle around as they make preparations for this and that as we opened the boxes, it gave off the atmosphere that the event had already started. The person who could truly understand this was probably Tobe. He was shaking his hair about incessantly, seemingly in good spirits.

“As expected, events like these really get you pumped up. Ah, Irohasu seems to be quite the student council president now.”

“Yes duh, I AM the student council president. However, I still do my job as a manager normally too. When the weather’s warmer, I will go and attend club activities.” (TL: If you forget, she’s the soccer-club’s manager.)

No, go and attend it even if the weather’s cold, those club activities……

Hearing Isshiki’s cheerful response, Tobe laughed as he gave a thumbs up and winked. He’s really getting on my nerves.

Then, after opening the boxes without much of a hitch, we retrieved the chocolate mix and other ingredients that were going to become the main food ingredients of today.

Looking at them, Tobe seemed to have thought of something as he murmured.

“Ah, the chocolates look really delicious. I really want to have a taste.” [4]

“Huh?”

Even though Isshiki was now speaking to him in a cold voice and looking at him as such, Tobe didn’t seem to mind in the least. On the contrary, he took a small breath, and his face tensed up as though having decided on something.

Then, he stood up and took a good look at his surroundings, before waving his hands at us indicating for us to gather.

“What? Some secret you want to tell us?”

“It’s not really convenient to say it now……”

Yuigahama suddenly stuck her head into the group, a look of interest on her face. Yukinoshita was also somehow dragged here unwillingly by Yuigahama. Then, the formation now was that of a circle. Don’t tell me, that with this formation, we were going to fire our engines and take off? [5]

Once again, Tobe played with his hair at the nape of his neck and curled his hair with his fingers. Although he seemed to have his misgivings, he still opened his mouth shyly to speak. Oi, this isn’t cute at all.

“Ah, no, how do I put it? Isn’t today supposed to be about making chocolates. Then, after thinking about it, I thought it was possible for me to do something on my part……What do you guys think?”

What do you mean by what do we think. This is not some kind of CM about that rice bean snack…… We are not the mothers here. [6]

Anyway, whenever you tried to hit on her, you would either get blocked or she would evade you. If you are really serious, you should be even more low-profile. What’s up with your ‘If a little push won’t do it then I will just shove you to the ground’ sort of behavior…… Such an extreme sort of guy was so rare that it sets my heart racing just to see one!

However, I seemed to be the only person who was moved by this. The girls’ reactions were extremely slow.

“……Ah, anyway, that is to say you want to appeal to her so that you can get some chocolates?”

Seeing that no one had any response, I had no choice but to be the one who summarized whatever he had said. With a swish, Tobe pointed his finger at me directly.

“That’s what I mean! Well, the gist of it is like that anyway?”

Hearing that, Isshiki gave a look of disgust.

“Although I don’t know who you are targeting, but I feel that it would definitely work contrary to what you believe will happen. Trying to show off your appeal to get chocolates is fundamentally disgusting. Better to be low-profile.”

“Oh, oh……”

Irohasu was so sharp…… Tobe had nothing better to say in return, and so began to search around for a person who could resolve this awkwardness.

Then, Yukinoshita answered his expectation. With her hands at her jaws, she cocked her head, and came out with a conclusion after giving it some serious thought.

“But, what Isshiki-san just said makes sense as well…… If one could always see this energetic guy whining here and there, it would indeed be quite depressing.”

“……”

Tobe was completely speechless after having his plans being flat out rejected. Then, why was Irohasu saying “I know right” sweetly to Yukinoshita-san as she leaned against her shoulder……

Just as I was thinking ‘this response was too pitiful’, Yuigahama groaned.

“A, Un…… But, if the other party were to make it seem like they don’t want it at all then that would be a problem as well……”

“Wouldn’t it!?”

His mood seemed to have changed all a sudden, and with his vigor restored, he snapped his fingers. Then, in response to that, Isshiki’s harsh voice came again.

“No no no, what Yuigahama-senpai meant was those situations in which the other party had already intended to give away chocolates. Hence, Tobe-senpai’s situation is different.”

“Is that so……”

Having had so many ‘No’ thrown in his face, accompanied by the waving of their hands, even Tobe seemed dejected.

However, the possibility of it happening was not zero. Although there weren’t clear evidence of that, Ebina-san showing up at this event to make chocolates was sufficient proof that she had changed a little. Of course, this might be only because she was accompanying Miura here, but I had no idea of the exact reason.

It was because of such vague situations that I felt that this event would really be effective.

“Well, if (she) made it with her best efforts, then letting someone taste it for (her) wouldn’t be that much of a problem, although I aren’t really sure of that. Anyway, let’s just move this over there first.”

Saying that, I pushed the rest of the boxes to Tobe. Originally, Tobe was still in shock but after realizing the logic in what I said, smacked his palm fiercely.

“Yes! That would be it!”

Looking refreshed and after pointing his finger at me once more, he picked up the boxes and hurriedly began moving towards Ebina-san and friends’ cooking table. This guy, even his reactions were getting on my nerves, although he wasn’t really a bad guy.

However, where exactly is Tobe’s hometown…… He’s seriously going overboard with the ‘That would be it!’.
(TL: Tobe likes to spam the phrase Dabe, which is a word in some dialects that translates roughly to That (would be) it. Well, something like that.)

X                                                                                   X                                                                                     X

After that, the preparations for the cooking event proceeded on, and it gradually became a good time.

Isshiki and Yukinoshita, as well as Yuigahama seemed to be having some sort of discussion. I didn't have anything that I wanted to say, nor did I have anything to do. Thus, I just stood there listening to their conversation.

Then, amidst the voices from their discussion, a great deal of noise could be heard coming from outside the door.

Glancing at my watch, it seems like now would be the time where the people would start arriving.

That voice, sounded like it came from Kawasomething-san......but the number of voices were really too numerous. Or perhaps there were a lot of people named Kawasomething but I just didn't know it? If that's the case then I can still accept the fact that I don't remember her name.

Well then, exactly what sort of Kawasomething-San came here today, Kawashima, Kawaguchi, Kawagoe, Kawanakajima, Sendaisendai...... I stared at the door, so as to be ready to react to whichever Kawasomething-San that would come through it.

Then, the door burst open.

And the person that stood there, was Tamasomething-San.

"Yo, Iroha-chan. Ah, wonderful. As expected, the event last time received a lot of good reputation. In order to further our PARTNERSHIP, I took up this OFFER as a chance to continue our ALLIANCE activities."

"So it is. Thanks for your work."

Isshiki brushed him aside just like that, not bothering one bit about the long introduction he just made.

Kaihinsougou High school student council president, Tamanawa......

That strong jab still existed whenever I bumped into him...... If he had that golden left arm that could turn at high speeds, he would surely become an outstanding talent in the world. [7]

In fact, not only Tamanawa, even his friends were here as well. They were probably also from the student council. I have seen that crowd of people that were now streaming into the cooking room at the last Christmas event. Also, I think I kind of remember that annoying hairpin and that irritating producer.

"This sort of opportunity is a BUSINESS CHANCE. Perhaps we can start a scheme that accumulates capital through CROWD FUNDING."

"That, I AGREE."

"If we can create a METHOD whereby we could give back some INCENTIVE, we might be able to make it into the EARLY ADAPTOR category."

"In FLEA MARKETS in AMERICA, kids usually hone their business sense through selling LEMONADE. This is NEARLY like that, isn't it?"

"Yes indeed, that is also a CASE STUDY."

In the context of their conversation, even a word like lemonade could sound like they have high self-awareness. Unbelievable.

If these guys were talking about lifeguards and milk and coffee, would it sound like that as well?

"I totally have no idea of what they are saying as usual."

I murmured subconsciously, and Yukinoshita sighed a little.

"It's just that your self-awareness is really low. Your pupils are open and your lips are turning purple, even the response from you is shallow when talking to you." [8]

"I think you meant my level of consciousness."

Come to think of it, if your pupils remain open, doesn't it mean that you are already dead...... However, those fellows really haven’t changed one bit…… Well, humans won’t change so easily anyway. Rather, they wouldn’t become like this if they could’ve just given up after one or two setbacks. Although if you thought about it from another angle, you would have some respect for him as that would mean that they stuck through with their principles till the very end.

Un un, no matter what, I still hope that Tamanawa-san and his friends could stay this way. As I thought about this, someone stuck their head out from behind the crowd of people.

“Ah, Hikigaya-kun. You really did come!”

“Oh, oh oh.”

As usual, Orimoto who had no regards for the sense of distance between us waved hi to me ever so casually. Just like that, she extricated herself from the Kaihinsougou High crowd, and approached me.

Then, Orimoto’s gaze shifted to something behind me.

“Ah, hello.”

“Hel, hello.”

Orimoto nodded her head to conclude her greetings, and a somewhat flustered Yuigahama answered her. Yukinoshita crossed her arms, and greeted her with her eyes only.

What happened, what’s up with this queer stinging atmosphere……

Now that I think of it, the three of them had never had a proper chance to converse. It was a situation whereby they each knew that the other existed, that’s all. Although it wasn’t that I wished that their relations could improve, but I really hope to be spared from this cold atmosphere that arose from the three of them.

Irohasu-, save me Irohasu-! Compared to Orimoto, it was easier to strike up a conversation with her, as well as create a pleasant atmosphere. I looked at her with pleading eyes, but the only thing I got in response was the sound of a cough.

“Ahem,” came the sound of a somewhat deep cough. I was just thinking how this was not cute at all for Isshiki when I realized that the cough came from Tamanawa. He seemed to have noticed my existence due to Orimoto saying hi to me and his expression now was somewhat bitter.

“You guys are here too……”

“Ah, I thought I told you all?”

Isshiki placed her thin fingers to her glossy lips, and tilted her head slightly. This girl sure is amazing at playing dumb……

“U, un…… Is that so? I don’t seem to recall anything like that at all from the mails we sent through Mailbase……”

Isshiki cast a sidelong glance at the groaning Tamanawa, then turned to look at me and stuck her tongue out playfully. Whoa, what’s this, you are being too cute.

I didn’t know whether he had finally given up on asking Isshiki, who was doing a spectacular job of playing dumb. Tamanawa mumbled and grumbled underneath his breath, and walked in a direction away from us. The people of Kaihinsougou High followed behind tightly.

“Well, see you again soon.”

Orimoto raised her hand up lightly, and quickly melded into that crowd of people.

Watching that disappearing figure, I began to talk with Isshiki, whose face still had that fake smile on it.

“That, what’s up with them, those guys……”

“If we cooperate with them, we could probably rope in some of their budget, wouldn’t that be great! I can also save on the cost of the obligatory chocolates, so lucky~”

“Oh, oh……”

As expected of Isshiki Iroha…… Always exceeding expectations…… I started worrying for her with thoughts like, ‘Was this really okay, this girl is going to reap her just rewards one day,’ and looked at her with disdain. Isshiki seemed a little troubled as well, and her face blushed slightly as she coughed.

“Anyway, the budget more or less comes from the collection of the entry fee. Thinking from the perspective of the budget itself, this event itself will surely reap a profit. Well, if you subtract all the miscellaneous expenses, then with the coming and going away and the pluses and minuses will balance each other out.”

“I really don’t understand what Iroha-chan is saying at all.”

Yuigahama hugged her head, looked vexed.

Well, people with high awareness and people in the business world are in some parts similar after all…… Incidentally, ‘coming and going away’ as well as ‘plus and minuses’ have essentially the same meaning of balancing each other out.

However, Isshiki did all this sort of things for the sake of investing into the student council budget. Or maybe the posters and stuff were a means to leave behind physical evidence that such an event actually took place. If these physical items existed, then filing a return would definitely be more convenient. This girl sure had a mind for business. The entry fee can also be quite easily determined through business prices by Show by Rock, pyuru. [9]

Drawing in another school, hence multiplying your budget, then with the collecting of entry fees, increasing the budget even more with a Quiz-Derby style quiz. [10]

No, if someone were to point out that everything Isshiki has done was for the student council’s own uses or that there was misappropriation of funds, I doubt that they can find an excuse for it…… Well, it’s not like I really understand how the money is managed so I will just turn a blind eye to this this time. Anyway, [it’s not my money so I don’t really care], this sort of corporate slave-like thinking was deeply embedded within me.

Just hearing this alone is enough to give one a headache, in reality, she still did in fact manage to successfully set up this event with that, which showed that her efforts were not in vain.

It looked like I was not the only person who seemed to be having a headache. Yukinoshita too, was placing a hand at her temple and sighed deeply.

“Let’s not talk about the rights and wrongs of your line of thinking…… Isshiki-san, you really exceeded expectations there, exceeded them outstandingly.”

“Indeed indeed, Isshiki-san, you are pretty amazing~. Although you can be quite capricious at times.”

“Ah, I think I understand a little of what you mean by that……”

Hearing that pleasant voice, Yuigahama gave a bitter smile. Ah, I agree with you totally.

……Pleasant?

That voice was different from Yukinoshita, Yuigahama and Isshiki. It was a voice that was a little hypnotizing, and I turned my head towards that voice spontaneously.

With a hairpin at her fringe that ran down her forehead, and with a swish of her pigtails, a warm and pleasant air filled the surroundings. And so, there appeared Megu✰rin with his bright wide smile.

“Ah! Shiromeguri-senpai!”

“Hel, Hello……”

The sound of Yuigahama’s surprised exclamation and the sound of Yukinoshita’s bewildered greeting overlapped with one another. The two of them blinked their eyes in surprise.

“Un! Hello.”

The student council president of the previous generation, Shiromeguri-senpai was waving her hand in front of her modest chest in greeting.

“That, why is she here……”

I felt the Megurin-effects, who had appeared out of nowhere, (main effects being healing and relaxation, a sister attribute, etc) , or so I heard that’s what they were. Meguri-senpai clapped her hands, bent her neck slightly and then spoke happily.

“I was invited here…… and so here I am.”

Laughing sheepishly, the pleasant air continue to float about, and the Megumegumegurin✰meguri-shu effects activated (Main effects being resurrection and detoxification, and with the addition of the sister attribute, there was the additional effect of occasionally being able to witness the innocent actions of her amidst the matured feel she was exuding. Enemy, instant death.)

Conversing with us so warmly and pleasantly, she suddenly took a step forward, and clasped Isshiki’s hands tightly.

“I was invited here~.  I have to come up with formal speech at the graduation ceremony, so I went to school and along the way, ran into Isshiki-san. She asked me to come here if I had the time.”

Oh, so it was Isshiki who invited her. Seems like she wasn’t really good at getting along with Meguri-senpai…… I looked at her and she turned her face away unhappily, and spoke to me in a very small voice.

“……Well, in a way, if there are more people here, the unit price will go down.”

Seems like none of what she had said so softly managed to reach Meguri-senpai. Rather, she seemed to be very happy at being invited by Isshiki, and shook her hand vigorously.  At the same time, Isshiki twisted her body here and there, seemingly quite uncomfortable with the situation.

“I have already been accepted into a university so I am quite free. My friends all seem so busy preparing for exams…… So, as a member with spare time, I thought that I would come here.”

“Haa, so it’s like that……”

As soon as I answered her, a sense of unease came over me. Member? What a strange way to put it…… It was like as though she was a suspect and saying such weird things under some kind of unknown pressure. I don’t really understand what she meant. I looked at her face and then she turned to someone behind her.

“Yup?”

With that, a few students suddenly appeared from behind her. What’s this, nin nin, ninja? I tried to search my hazy memories, and I think that I might have seen them before. The impression of those glasses, as well as the ‘glasses atmosphere’. They were probably the people from the spectacles student council of the last generation.

As expected, with regards to how the student council should be run, there were still a lot of opinions on that. Isshiki, as a student council president, had gone through a lot up till now. Furthermore, perhaps for Meguri-senpai, the student council remains a special place to her.

At last, Meguri-senpai released Isshiki’s hand and placed her hands gently on the shoulders of both Yukinoshita and Yuigahama. Then, she looked at us dearly.

“I think, that although it was slightly different from what I had envisioned, but still, to think that I can still have the luxury to appear at this sort of student-council organized events, to be able to chat with Yukinoshita-san, Yuigahama-san, …… Hikigaya-kun as well, it makes me really happy.”

“Me……, me too!”

Perhaps Yuigahama too had been affected by the Megurin power, and she replied with a warm smile. Even though Yukinoshita did not answer, her drooping ears were somewhat red as well.

Come to think of it, with regards to our Service club, the only senpai that understood it was probably only Meguri-senpai.

……Uh-oh, if I saw her giving her formal speech at the graduation ceremony, I might just cry. If I had my way, the tears would already be flowing out of my eyes now. Even though I had a reputation of being especially weak against those younger than me, I was similarly weak against older sisterly like figures as well.

I am really glad that I have this person who I can regard as my senpai. As I was thinking such pleasant thoughts, Meguri-senpai was done looking at our faces and nodded her head.

Then, as though she was getting psyched for something, she clenched her hand into a fist tightly.

“Alright, then let’s give our all for today! O!”

No one followed suit when she threw her fist up into the air and shouted. As for Isshiki, that serious expression previously had disappeared from her, and was now looking at Meguri-senpai in an apathetic manner.

However, that cold gaze did not shake Meguri-senpai even one bit, and once again, pumped her fist up into the air.

“O!”

“……O, o---“

If there was no reply, this was going to be repeated a few more times…… Furthermore, the pressure exerted by those former student council members behind Meguri-senpai was especially strong…… As they observed, they raised their hand to the height of a cat punch. With regards to our response, Meguri-senpai sighed in satisfaction.

Then, she shifted her gaze to the clock on the wall. I followed her gaze as well. People were starting to come in at this time, and the preparations of the ingredients and utensils were done as well. Kawasaki and the rest seemed to be a little later, but they should be here shortly as well.

It was about to begin. As I thought that, Meguri-senpai tilted her head seemingly in deep thought.

“Haru-san seems to be late.”

“Indeed, I thought this place was really quite easy to find.”

Isshiki nodded her head in reply to Meguri-senpai. Then, I froze there on the spot, not nodding my head. That was because I had heard something unsettling.

Haru-san. This was not in reference to the room maids at the hot springs. [11] There was only one person who Meguri-senpai would refer to as such.

Quickly looking at the person next to me, I saw that Yukinoshita was frowning. Yuigahama seemed to have sensed the mood as well, and kept staring at the door.

Before long, the sound of heels could be heard.

The door that was not shut tightly moved a little bit. The soft and slim fingers appeared from the door cracks and with a little bit of strength, the door opened with a crackle.

Then, with a thud sound, the sound of her footstep made with her heels sounded out. Slowly, step by step, she walked into the room, right in front of us.

“Hyahello! Sorry, am I late?”

“And so, here is our special cook of today, Harusan senpai!”

“Hi everyone, I am Haru-san senpai.”

Isshiki finished her introductions sweetly and to that, Haruno-san responded to her in a joking manner. Yukinoshita Haruno ignored the crimson red coat fluttering about in the wind, and raised her hands up high in greeting.

“Ah, Haru-san, it’s been a long time.”

“……Meguri, didn’t I just meet you recently?”

Seeing Meguri-senpai approaching towards her slowly, she patted her forehead lightly and asked in a surprised tone.

“Haru-san’s snacks are really delicious, I am really looking forward to them.”

“Well, since you asked for them, I will definitely make them. As a kind senpai, I can’t possibly reject a kouhai’s request~”

Rather than describe herself as kind, it would be more appropriate to say that it was combative. [12] The feeling that it gave people could only be described as fear……

Once the two of them were done exchanging their greetings, they began to converse.

Taking this chance, I signaled to Isshiki quietly and spoke softly.

“Hey, why did you call her here?”

“Because, she seems to be a veteran in this?”

Isshiki cocked her head at my question and answered as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. Ah ah, your judgement is wonderfully correct.  Rather than say she was a veteran, it would be better to just say that she was ever victorious. [13]

“I am more than enough for the job……”

Yukinoshita hugged her elbow, and shifted her gaze away from Haruno-san, who was opposite her.

“Well, let’s not talk about your teaching methods, but the snacks that you make are indeed very tasty.”

“…… It’s not like it’s anything special.”

Yukinoshita seemed surprised at being praised and seemed momentarily at a loss for words but quickly turned her face away. No, she was not praising you. She did say that your teaching methods being horrible.

“But, I really look forward to having Yukinon teaching me!”

Yuigahama flew towards Yukinoshita, and Yukinoshita coughed, her mood having recovered somewhat.

……Well, if there some someone else other than Yukinoshita who could teach the crowd, that means there was one more person who could be in charge of Yuigahama, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

However, why did one have to find someone like Haruno-san. That was something that weighed heavily on my mind.

In the first place, if we were to consider the number of participants in this event, there wasn’t a whole lot of people that needed coaching. Furthermore, Isshiki did say that she had a flair for this as well. There would also be several other girls who would have had experience in making confectioneries as well.

“Must it really be that person? Talking about Yukinoshita alone, what she makes will definitely be tastier than all those other people.”

Quietly, I asked Isshiki about the reason why she invited Haruno-san of all people.

“Well, to be perfectly honest, I think that Yukinoshita-senpai makes some super delicious confections. So, that’s why I requested her to come.”

Isshiki broke off mid-sentence at this point, and shifted her gaze, looking embarrassed.

“Just that, that…… it’s kind of questionable whether the guys will accept her.”

“Such keen insight……”

In truth, Yukinoshita was really good at cooking, but she lacked the service spirit, or rather, the ‘service scene’. To be more explicit, she lacked the ‘service’ near her chest area. In contrast, Yuigahama’s ‘service’ was amazing, but the cooking skills was catastrophic…… Ah, I don’t know whether that should be referred to as steady, or rather a firm and standard way of making the snacks. What Isshiki referred to as being accepted by the guys, as well as how girls would show off their appeal via the snacks they made; in this aspect, I did indeed feel a little uneasy.

Talking about this, for Yukinoshita Haruno, she could capture any person’s heart, regardless of gender.  No, I meant smashing it after capturing it.

Taking her ability to see through a person’s heart for example, there was no one better than her at that amongst all those that I knew.

Furthermore, she was someone whose spec surpassed that of Yukinoshita. As such, even when it comes to this event, she would definitely use all her might and tricks. Was it was going to be so skillfully done that not just humans, but even sprites and fairies were going to be tamed by her? [14]

If I don’t think about these sort of things whilst cracking jokes about it, I was going to feel really uneasy about it.

Yukinoshita Haruno, a person whereby there was a meaning behind all her meaningless actions.

She was here today because there was something she wanted to do. She wouldn’t show up anywhere just because her kouhai asked her to.

This time was no different.

That person, will be as her name suggests, she will expose everything under the broad daylight.

Whilst all the time, hiding everything about herself from everyone.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

[1] Random mention of Watari spamming the same word over 5 sentences. Looks nice in the novel but when translated, the effect is lost. 
[2] The actual way Tobe greets people is ちょりーっす (Chorissu) which is like hi, but in their own dialect. The sausage here refers to chorizo.
[3] I THINK it’s from kizumonogatari. Not really sure, heh.
[4] Tobe’s lame joke here that was impossible to translate/ I was too lazy to think of a similar lame joke. Original sentence is: チョコうまそうだわー、チョコっと食べたくなるわ. The first choco refers to chocolate, whilst the second ‘choco’ is supposed to be chotto……………………..
[5] Knights of Sidonia
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zm7FUfQb44
[7] Jojo’s bizarre adventure, Johnny Joestar.
[8] Playing around with the words 意識 here…...意識高く; 意識低い; 意識レベル; means high self/social(?) awareness; low self/social(?) awareness and consciousness level respectively. When Yukinoshita says that sentence, she’s deliberately uses the “wrong” word to mock Hikki, hence prompting Hikki’s reply of level of consciousness ( in reference to how she says his lips turn purple etc.)
[9] Show by Rock. Pyuru is a meaningless sound added on to back of the sentence, because why not? Incidentally, 商売 = shoubai (meaning: business) but Watari likes to twist things and poof it becomes Show by rock in the same sentence.
[10] JP's version of Celebrity Sweepstakes.
[11] I believe it’s a reference to Haru-chan, a very ancient series.Also, those room maids are called nakai-san.
[12] The word used in the LN is ヤシャシーン which becomesヤシャスィーン which is Persian for something like charge/attack. Why Persian? Because Arslan Senki.
[13] More of a play on words. Veteran = 百戦錬磨 and the next sentence uses 百戦百勝. Which literally means out of a 100 fights, I win 100 times.
[14]Main plotline of Humanity has declined.