The Reason Why The Cool Beauty Who Repeatedly Ignores Messages Replies Only To Me. ~The Lonely Beauty Wants To Know The Lonely Me〜 - Chapter 6
Episode 6: Cultural Festival Executive Committee Members
[Chapter 2: Changes in Relationship Due to the Cultural Festival]
A few days had passed since Saeki started sending me limes.
After fourth period class and before lunch break, the class representative, Machibari, stood in front of the teacher’s table.
“We’ve decided to select members for the cultural festival executive committee in preparation for the end-of-month cultural festival.”
The cultural festival, one of the three major events at this high school. It would be our first cultural festival as first-year students, but I had attended this school’s cultural festival during a visit in my third year of middle school.
The enthusiasm gap between classes that put effort into the festival and those that didn’t was quite noticeable.
Some classes only displayed artworks from art class in their classrooms.
But this class seemed to have some motivated students, so they would probably handle it themselves.
“Well, first, is there anyone who would like to volunteer for the executive committee?”
Machibari asked this in front of the teacher’s table, and the whole class fell silent.
“…I guess not.”
With a sigh, Machibari returned to her desk for a moment, then came back to the front with something box-shaped in her hands.
“Since it seems like this will take some time as it is, we’ll decide by drawing lots to make it fair. Please draw lots, starting with the girls..”
With that, Machibari placed a handmade lottery box on the teacher’s desk.
This is obviously rigged.
I guess everyone in the class thought the same as me, so the atmosphere in the class became slightly heavy.
Being on the executive committee meant not only after-school preparations but also attending committee meetings, which was sure to be a hassle.
Everyone sighed in unison… until that moment.
“Alright, those who drew a red circle on the lot, please raise your hand—”
A figure calmly raised their hand… and all eyes in the class were drawn to that person.
“…Th-then, Saeki-san for the girls.”
As applause erupted and voices of astonishment filled the class, the expressions of the boys changed.
No way… Saeki is on the executive committee?
“I’m not interested in that kind of thing.”
She said that, so it’s definitely not going to work out.
While the other boys were rejoicing, I was the only one feeling uneasy.
“Th-then, next up, the boys—”
Machibari, feeling exasperated by the excitement of the boys, called the boys up to the front of the blackboard.
The atmosphere in the classroom became tense when the right to be on the executive committee, previously considered a bad draw, suddenly became a winning ticket.
Getting closer to Saeki by being on the committee… It’s a naive thought, but it’s better to let go of it.
Since it was my turn, I went up to the front of the blackboard.
“Okay, Okami.”
I drew a lot from the box handed to me by Machibari, then returned to my seat to open it.
Well, the chances are about one in twenty, so there’s no way I’ll get it… r-right?
I… cursed my bad luck.
As I unfolded the folded paper, a red circle written in the center jumped into my eyes.
“…?!”
T…this is bad…
If I become an executive committee member with Saeki, I’ll definitely face relentless harassment from jealous guys, and my peace will undoubtedly be shattered.
And before worrying about Saeki… I absolutely don’t want to be on the executive committee.
As I wore a grim expression, Harada, the outgoing guy from the back seat, returned from the direction of the blackboard with his shoulders slumped.
Of course, since there’s a winning ticket here, it means everyone else got a losing ticket… right?
Wait… it’s not like we all have to open our lots at once.
I came up with a certain idea.
Without getting hate from those around me and actually handling it well… there’s no other way.
I grabbed Harada’s uniform tightly as he walked back with his shoulders slumped.
“H-hey, what are you doing, Okami?”
“Harada… No one’s watching right now. Can you exchange your lot with mine?”
“Huh?”
I snatched the crumpled paper from Harada’s hand and handed him my lot in return.
“H-hey, Okami… why?”
“…Just do it.”
Harada clasped his hands together and bowed to me silently, then returned to his seat.
“Okay, those who drew a red circle on the lot, please raise your hands—”
“Here! It’s me!”
Harada raised both hands with a big smile, appealing to the class.
Contrary to the applause during Saeki’s selection, I could hear murmurs of “Why Harada?” from the boys in the class.
Sensing the atmosphere, I let out a sigh of relief.
This time it was dangerously close, and it was good to have acted quickly on impulse…
My peace has been maintained.
“Well, the executive committee members are Harada-kun and Saeki-san. Please go to the meeting room for a committee meeting after school today.”
Feeling relieved that everything was decided smoothly, Machibari was also in a good mood.
With that, everything was neatly wrapped up… right?
When I glanced sideways at Saeki, I noticed that she was staring directly at me.
She’s looking at… me, right?
Surely, she’s looking at Harada, her fellow committee member. Yeah, that’s definitely it.
But… the problem arose a week after the executive committee was decided.