CH 236

We didn’t speak a word to each other on the way back to Sakuranaoka Acedemy after taking the bus again from the shopping district.

It was not because of awkwardness or anything, but because we were thinking about each other.

The meaning of the words we exchanged, the answer to the question.

But before we could get an answer, the bus pulled into the parking lot of the school and all the passengers started walking towards the main gate.

We followed them at the end of the line and went in, finding that the number of visitors was not much different from when we left …if not more.

A group of people who looked like high school students in plain clothes, junior high school students in school uniforms, as well as parents and relatives, and men and women of all ages who were using the shopping district as a shelter spread out before us.

There was a line in front of the committee’s tent, and the pile of pamphlets that had been printed in more than twice the number that was required, just in case, was almost over.

The whole picture, which I had not been able to grasp accurately from the inside, became clearer when I returned back from outside.

The joint event and the addition of the shopping district may indeed be part of the town’s revitalization efforts to attract visitors.

With this thought in mind, I walked alongside Shizuku to the student council’s tent.

The two student council tents were set up side by side, and my sister was still serving customers in front of the sweets stall with the same number of people lined up.

I moved into her line of sight to let her know I was back, then raised my hand and she replied back to with a radiant smile.

At that time, the male student who was guiding the way had his cheeks reddened, not you, it was directed at me. …I’ll shut up because of the glares and jealousy I felt there around him.

In our student council, which was selling pancakes, the boys were still working as the receptionist and accountant, and the girls were still responsible for cooking.

But the men’s expressions were not so good.

“I’m back… sorry for the trouble”

“Welcome back, we got a break too, don’t worry about it.”

Koizumi smiled back.

However, I feel uncomfortable with his lack of energy or confidence.

I sat down in my seat, wondering about this feeling, and I understood the reason, though only somewhat.

“Please accompany the faculty member in the kitchen to make purchases, and return the microphone to the students in class 5 of the second year. …Hino, put out item number three.”

“Ah, yes, yes!”

The ladies were supposed to be happily chatting and cooking until I left for a break, but when I looked behind, I saw President with her walkie-talkie pressed to her ear, cooking with one hand and preparing toppings and plates with the other with great ease.

Humans are capable of performing three tasks at once, huh?

The more multitasking is done, more the chances for mistakes, or even the process altogether becomes slow…

The Miura was also busy with President, and she alone handled the accounting and helped with the cooking, and Kirazaka, who had returned before me, was silently handling the work force of several people by herself.

“…What’s with this situation?”

“The number of visitors hasn’t dropped as much as the committee members had anticipated, and that is further fueling the need for rescue calls to the President…”

…But President couldn’t leave because we were on a break.

So this is the situation which is going on.

Besides, the guys are not very good cooks.

Koizumi can somewhat cook for himself, but as for me and Hino-kun, well, you get the idea.

So that’s why Koizumi was losing confidence because he could only serve the customers in front of him and just assist the girls.

I see, that makes sense.

“It seems that Shiraishi-san has also been summoned several times.

Shiraishi-san came to say that she’s out of headquarters, so she wants to ask the President for instructions during her absence.”

Koizumi looked surprised and muttered, and next to him, Hino-kun nodded in agreement.

It is true that it might be difficult for the two to imagine Shiraishi bowing down and asking for help herself.

It would be a good development if this incident gave that girl a reason to be more flexible in her thinking.

It may be bad to say, but there are many members on the executive committee.

However, only a few of them can be entrusted with the leadership of the committee.

The student council is led by the President, Yuuto, Shizuku, and Koizumi.

The student council has consented that they cannot move while both Kikyo Jogakuin and their stall are open simultaneously.

So, just for another hour or so.

Once that short time the student council has scheduled for handling the stall is over, it will be fine again.

If Shiraishi has to leave the headquarters, it’s natural for President to take her place.

But we don’t know how long this situation will continue.

“By the way, how many issues are we dealing with right now?”

I asked them, and they looked at each other and smiled wryly.

Naturally, I somehow guessed that the number was larger than I had imagined.

“Fourteenth case, it’s basically like that while you were on break with Kanazaki-san.”

Koizumi breathed a sigh of admiration as he added that at the end.

A breath that said he could never do it himself.

Well, it’s usually impossible.

Holding the empty dishes with her right hand, she confirms the order and handles the toppings with her left hand.

And with her head, she shakes it one after another and offers solutions to the problems that come up.

Are these the Three Sacred Treasures of Sakuranaoka Academy?

But President’s right hand stopped as Shizuku put on an apron and returned to the kitchen.

Exchanging glances with Shizuku, President was able to concentrate solely on the radio.

“Miura-san, please take care of the toppings and the bills, we will be fine here.”

“Thank you, please excuse me then…”

Miura breathed a sigh of relief and handed the dishes to Shizuku.

President moved to the back of the tent, while Miura moved to the place where President was and acted as a relay between the two of them.

Shizuku with Kirasaka next to her were handled the orders in a straightforward manner, and no conversation took place between the two of them.

Their faces were completely expressionless.

Koizumi, quietly asked in a hushed voice.

“What happened?”

“…”

Koizumi’s question was followed by a short moment of silence.

As for Shizuku without much thought, it should be the conversation we just had.

It is more convenient for her and me to be able to avoid negative thoughts while we are moving our bodies.

However, it is hard to judge about Kirasaka.

To begin with, it’s a mystery since she left abruptly when we went for a break.

There’s no way to explain it when I don’t even know why myself.

“Hey… Kirasaka.”

“Don’t stand, don’t call out to me, don’t talk to me.”

“…”

I received a full course of rejection, Kirazaka style.

I quickly lowered my waist, which I tried to raise, when my voice was interrupted such that it was shoved right down to my throat where it came from. Then I turned my body around to face the front of the room.

The moment I called out her name, I was met with a sharp, cold glare that would have made a schoolboy cry and run away, and I even feared for my safety.

I’m sorry Koizumi, but the gods won’t be happy if I disturb her.

Let’s not touch her now.

The two men seemed to agree, standing upright and looking at me with sideways glances, just shaking their heads.

…I know, it’s scary.

Shizuku was also expressionless… and I know is that it’s my fault.

The first to speak out loud to the visitors lined up in front of the stalls was us, the student council of Sakuranaoka Academy.

“Sold out!”

President was met with thunderous applause as she stepped out of the tent and announced to the visitors.

She took off the triangular cloth wrapped around her head, bowed gracefully, and beckoned us to join her.

As prompted, everyone lined up in front of the tent.

“Thank you very much.”

We bowed in time to President’s words, and were met with even louder applause.

I looked up and saw Kaede also moving in front of me, smiling happily and clapping her hands as if she were one of us.

I usually don’t do things that people applaud me for, and I thought to myself, somewhat Kansai dialect “Yeah …this.”

The boys were more than aware of the fact that the majority of the …gazes and applause were directed at the beautiful girls.

“The crepes are sold out too!”

Kaede followed suit about five minutes later.

The Jogakuin side also received a round of applause, and a scene of mutual praise spread across the student councils of both sides.

However, this soon turned serious as the student council officers gathered in front of each other’s tents.

The young siblings, who had purchased the last of the two student councils’ products, watched with smiles as they each put a sticker on the one they felt was their favorite.

There was no clear difference, and even though it was a small margin, the votes for Sakuranooka Gakuen’s student council exceeded the votes of the other, causing the students of the main school gathered around us to cheer with joy.

Despite the excitement around them, both student council presidents quietly exchanged glances.