The Carnivorous Beast Beauties Are Dying to Devour This Herbivorous Beast Me - 53

Chapter 53: Party with Everyone

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“No, there’s still a lot left to do for the school festival preparations, but today I wanted to get a head start on the summer festival preparations. I’d really appreciate your help.”

The summer festival in this area was a rather well-known major event, drawing in large crowds from nearby regions. Because of the school’s close ties with the local community, it recruited student volunteers every year to run a school-sponsored food stall.

Naturally, they had received permission to participate again this year, and with the festival approaching, that was probably why Sumeragi-senpai had already begun preparing.

Being a student council president sure is a lot of work, huh…

“Ah, yeah, I do remember seeing something about volunteer recruitment.”

“So does that mean… You’re asking us to volunteer too?”

“That’s absolutely part of the plan.”

“Sumeragi-senpai, are you mistaking us for convenient fill-ins or something?”

“…No, hahaha… Of course not~”

“Please say that while actually looking at us.”

Sumeragi-senpai averted her gaze with a weak excuse, completely lacking in conviction…

After mumbling to herself for a moment, she seemed to steel her resolve, turned to face us, and clapped her hands together before bowing her head.

“We’re short on people! It would really help if you could join us. Would you please consider it!?”

“Well, if you’re going that far…”

I glanced at Seira-san and the others, but none of them seemed particularly opposed to it.

“Everyone doesn’t seem to mind, so we’ll help out.”

“Thank you! The shifts haven’t been decided yet, but it should only be for an hour or two at most. Of course, there’ll still be time to enjoy the festival. I’m sure you all want to walk around together.”

“““We’d prefer to be alone together if possible… Eh?”””

“Hmm… You’re quite the popular one, Arisugawa-kun.”

“Please don’t tease me, Sumeragi-senpai!”

Seira-san, Miran, and Chinatsu all harmonized perfectly, then looked at each other in surprise.

Seeing their reaction, Sumeragi-senpai grinned broadly, and I couldn’t help but scream in my heart.

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About an hour later. We had pulled out the hot plates and takoyaki makers, cleaned them thoroughly, and checked to make sure they still worked. Since we only used them for things like the summer festival or school festival, if we didn’t do occasional checkups, they’d sometimes fail when we needed them.

“Even so, second-year Miran Sakuraba’s ability really is a huge help.”

“Well, it’s only useful at times like this.”

The “ability” Sumeragi-senpai referred to was Miran’s power to precisely sense temperature differences. She could judge temperature with far more accuracy than a normal person, so it was easy for her to tell at a glance whether the hot plate or takoyaki maker was functioning properly. Thanks to her and the others’ efforts, we finished checking all the equipment.

“Thanks, everyone. Thanks to you, we were able to finish up quickly.”

“No problem, we’re glad we could help.”

“Still, I’d like to do something to show my thanks.”

“You really don’t need to go that far…”

“No, I mean it. You’ve helped before, and I’m sure I’ll rely on you again in the future. So at least, I wan tto give something everyone would enjoy… Ah, right. Second-year Seira Yukiya, second-year Miran Sakuraba, and first-year Chinatsu Arisugawa, can I speak with you for a moment?”

“““?”””

Apparently struck by an idea, Sumeragi-senpai called over the girls with a knowing smile. Looking curious, the three of them leaned in and began whispering to each other.

“———So how about that? I think everyone…Especially Arisugawa-kun, would love it.”

“That might be nice…”

“Yeah, I’d been thinking of doing that eventually anyway.”

“I agree… I’m all for it!”

They seemed to have reached a consensus, but what were they talking about…? 

Why do I feel like I’m being left out? This is making me feel kinda depressed…

“Alright, let’s go with that! I’ll let you know the date and time later.”

“Got it, please do.”

“Fufu… I can’t wait to see Haru’s surprised face.”

“Thanks again for your help today!”

With warm, satisfied smiles, the girls and Sumeragi-senpai waved goodbye to each other.

Wait a second… Are you all getting along better now?

And with that, the four of us decided to head home together.

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“By the way, what were you talking about with Senpai?”

“If I told you, it’d ruin the surprise.”

“But it’s definitely something Onii will be happy about, so look forward to it!”

Something that would make me happy? My relationship with Sumeragi-senpai mostly involved visiting sweet shops, but… Just what could it be? Somehow, this felt kind of ominous…

With a vague sense of unease, we reached the school gate and then—

“Senpai, you’re late…”

“Ah, Anjuu-cha—hyah!”

The one who appeared was a first-year beastkin girl named Anjuu — a “rabbit” type. Supposedly, we were fellow herbivores… or at least, that was supposed to be the case… 

Anju-chan stared straight at me with wide, dark pupils like bottomless pits. Wait, did I just step on another landmine…?

“I was planning to walk home with you, Haruku-senpai, so I waited… but I didn’t expect to be waiting for a whole hour.”

“S-sorry! Sumeragi-senpai called me over—”

“I thought I might die of loneliness.”

“Eh—”

“Haruku-senpai… Won’t you comfort me… Since I got all lonely and tingly because of you…?”

“C-comfort you…!?”

I couldn’t immediately grasp the meaning behind the strange words coming from the clearly off-kilter Anju-chan. But Seira-san and Miran seemed to catch on quickly and each grabbed one of my arms tightly.

“Seira-san!? Miran!?”

“We’re not handing you over to Anjuu-san, but… I agree with her.”

“Ahh…How about a five-person party for today?”

Saying such outrageous things, they began dragging me forward, still clinging to my arms.

“W-wait a second…!”

“No use protesting. This is your fault for leaving the bunny all alone.”

“Exactly. It’s your fault, Haruku-kun. So you have to take responsibility.”

“That’s right! It’s Onii’s fault, so I’ll help out too. ♡”

“Please take good care of me, Haruku-senpai. Comfort me a lot, okay?”

No, this is bad… I was barely able to come out with my life during the mating season, but now that my mating season is over… This… This is going to kill me for sure…!

I resisted, but of course I couldn’t win against carnivores… And just like that, I was dragged away.

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