A hero who wants to help others wants to live a normal life - Chapter 14

Chapter 14   School Activities for the Able-Bodied

“I’ve caused trouble for you and… for Sahara-san as well. Please convey my sincere apologies to your sister, too.”

While cautiously watching Kujou, she bowed deeply and said this. It seemed she was genuinely here to apologize, though I hadn’t expected her to lower her head so readily… or maybe it wasn’t all that readily, but still, I was surprised to see her make such a sincere gesture.

But that surprise was brief. I quickly responded to Kujou.

“Thank you for your kindness. However, I’m not concerned about it. In a school that deals with skills and blessings, things like this are bound to happen. More importantly, I must apologize for my sister’s rude behavior.”

To be honest, I think both sides were at fault in this case. While it was true that Kujou made a mistake at the start, Inori’s response was also inappropriate.

No matter how close to death I was, that attack wasn’t intentional. If I had been more cautious, I could have handled it even with that level of attack. Knowing the possibility of an accident, I was also at fault for letting my guard down.

So, I still think the conflict was inevitable.

“No, then, as fellow students attending the same school, let’s work together to build a good relationship, Sahara-san.”

“Yes, I look forward to it. Also, please feel free to call me Sahara, but for my sister, just call her Inori. Having two Saharas might be confusing, and it might be awkward to address me, a guy, by my first name.”

“Well… I see. Thank you for the consideration. But is it really alright for me to call her by her first name so casually?”

“If she complains, just mention my name, and she’ll back down.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll do that. Once again, I look forward to our time together.”

“Likewise, I look forward to it.”

And so, we decided to start interacting as normal classmates.

Though the beginning was unusual, I hope that, from now on, we can get along moderately well. I even thought, perhaps she could become a friend to Inori.

——◆◇◆◇——

“—Alright, that wraps up today’s lesson, but I have one announcement. Each of you must join a club or committee within a week. This is mandatory. There is no such thing as a ‘Go-Home Club,’ so you’ll have to participate in some sort of activity. If you don’t join anything, you’ll be assigned to the School Service Committee, so be careful about that.”

The day after the fight between Kujou and Inori, we were informed by our homeroom teacher, Kazama, that we had to join a club activity. It’s been a month since school started, and I thought it was a bit late for this announcement, but I guess there are a lot of things for new students to learn at this school.

“School Service Committee?”

I get the idea of clubs and committees, but I’ve never heard of a School Service Committee. Also, why did he specifically mention it like some kind of threat?

“Don’t you know? To put it simply, it’s like a punishment room. You don’t actually get locked up somewhere, but if someone causes trouble, they’re put in that committee and have to help the teachers after school. And, I’ve heard that while you’re at school, you’re treated like a slave, doing whatever needs to be done.”

“Seriously…? Then, I’ve got to join a club, no matter what.”

It’s probably an exaggeration to call it slavery, but I definitely don’t want to be worked to the bone like that.

“But why do we have to do that? I mean, it’s not like you have to join a club these days.”

Inori’s point is valid. Nowadays, not participating in club activities shouldn’t be such a big deal. Or is it that this school has some kind of tradition or rule?

As I was thinking that, Kiriya shrugged his shoulders.

“This school isn’t ‘normal.’ To trick those people who keep shouting about children’s rights and stuff, the school makes all the students join clubs to show that we’re living just like normal students.”

“Trick…? Well, whatever. It does sound like a hassle. They aim to secure the happiness of children, but it ends up causing them more trouble. What a joke.”

Kiriya’s way of putting it might be harsh, but what he’s saying isn’t necessarily wrong.

If that’s true, then it’s just a one-sided form of goodwill.

“People like that don’t actually think about others. They love the idea of being ‘someone who protects others,’ so they end up satisfying that desire with their self-serving actions.”

“You’re pretty blunt. But you’re probably not wrong.”

Kiriya nodded in agreement, though with a wry smile at Inori’s rather sharp comment.

Then, as if to say, “That’s enough of that,” he shifted the topic.

“So, the real question is, what are you going to do about joining a club?”

“Yeah… Inori, what are you going to do?”

If not joining a club is going to be a hassle, then joining one isn’t a problem in itself. Besides, as a student, participating in a club is just a “normal” thing to do, so in that sense, it’s actually a positive for me.

The only issue is Inori. I feel like I have to look after her as much as possible, but that doesn’t mean I want to be with her all the time.

But Inori herself seems to think differently. She tries to stay with me as much as possible. I’m sure she’ll try to pick the same club as me this time too. After all, that’s all she knows how to do.

“So, what should we do? Should we just pick something that seems easy?”

“‘Pick something’? Wait, are you planning to join the same club as me?”

“Huh? Yeah, of course.”

“No, at least pick a different club from mine.”

Of course. I inwardly sigh at Inori, who’s trying to choose the same club as me.

She may be young now, but someday she’ll have to stand on her own. When I think about that, I know it’s not good for me to always be with her, tagging along in everything she does.

“But I don’t really have anything I want to do… And besides, what if you get bullied when I’m not around?”

“No way. Even if I did get bullied, I could handle it somehow.”

I won’t say how, but since I’m a ‘Blessed One,’ I can handle most things. Even in the worst case, it would just reveal that I’m a ‘Blessed One.’

“Maybe, but I’m still worried. Because my wish is for ‘everyone’s happiness.’”

“Even if that’s the case, we’re usually together at school anyway, so outside of classes, do what you want. It’s your life, after all.”

Even if your wish is like that, this is your life. You don’t have to be bound by such a ridiculous wish. Feeling like you always have to help someone or make someone happy, throwing away your own life for such a wish — that’s just absurd.

“Inori-san, may I have a moment of your time?”

As I wondered what was going on, Kujou approached us — or rather, she seemed to be aiming for Inori.

Did something happen? It seems unlikely she’s here for revenge the day after yesterday’s events, but I can’t think of any other reason she’d come to talk.

…No, wait. Is it possible she wants to invite Inori to join the same club to become friends?

It’s not entirely out of the question. After all, Inori is one of only two ‘scholarship students’ in this class, and it wouldn’t be strange for them to want to get along. On the surface, at least, there shouldn’t be any more tension between Inori and Kujou.

“Hey, your friend’s coming over. Why don’t you join the same club or committee?”

I thought it was a good opportunity, so I couldn’t help but cut into Kujou’s conversation like that.

“She’s not a friend; she’s a servant. After all, I won.”

“Don’t call your classmates servants just because of a win or loss.”

“Ehh…”

“Um, if it’s alright?”

Seeing that she wasn’t getting a proper response and that we were casually chatting like usual, Kujou forced a smile and tried to speak again.

“Ah, sorry, I said something unnecessary.”

“It wasn’t unnecessary to me; I meant it seriously.”

“Calling a classmate a servant? Please stop that. …Anyway, if you don’t answer soon, she’ll get mad again.”

I wish she’d stop creating unnecessary drama now that we’ve supposedly settled our differences. Whatever you feel inside, at least keep it to yourself.

“If that happens, I can just beat her up again, but oh well, it’s a hassle, so whatever.”

Look over there. It’s not just Kujou, her followers’ faces are twitching too. Even Toudou’s temple is twitching in frustration, isn’t it?