When an Oblivious Handsome Older Man Went Back in Time and Was Building Harlem - Chapter 19

It seemed like everyone was restless during the sixth period today. That’s because we were deciding the theme for the cultural festival. I don’t remember what we did last time, but I hope it’s something even an old man can do. The cultural festival committee members are Midori and Midori’s wife, and now it’s Tanimura Miku-san.

“I’m Yuuki from the Cultural Festival Executive Committee. We’re going to choose a theme that will definitely win the grade championship!! Thank you for your support!!”

“I’m Tanimura, also a committee member. Nice to meet you. Now, I’ll explain the decision-making process for the cultural festival theme.”

After that, Tanimura-san and Midori continued explaining it on the blackboard for about five minutes. There are three essential points for the theme. The first is to avoid themes that promote crime or similar activities. The second is to prepare within the specified budget. The third is to give it our all if we’re going to do it. There were other things like not handling raw ingredients, but these were the main points.

Next, I would like to decide on the theme that everyone has been eagerly waiting for. If you have any suggestions, please raise your hand.

A few people raise their hands and say, “Yes.” Generally, at times like this, ideas either come pouring out or none come at all, leaving everyone at a loss, so having more opinions is definitely better.

“Yes, please go ahead, Tanaka-kun.”

“Okay! I mean, we really want to do a maid café! It’s a classic, but there are so many cute girls in this class, right? I think it would be great!”

“Buha. Ahaha, Tanaka, a maid café… it doesn’t suit your face.”

Midori is writing down the suggestions on the blackboard while bursting into laughter. Even though he’s laughing so hard, he writes neatly, which makes me think he’s consistently skillful.

“Yuuki-kun, you’re a bit loud. Tanaka-kun, do you have any other reasons for wanting to run a maid café?”

“Eh, is it not okay to want to see girls in maid outfits!? Ah. If you want me to wear one, I’ll totally wear a maid outfit too!!”

He said it with a smug look, but since Tanaka is in the baseball club, has a shaved head, and a solid build, wearing a maid outfit would probably just be funny. If boys are going to wear them too, I might end up being made to wear one as well, which gives me a bit of anxiety.

“There’s no demand for you… Ah, that was funny. Alright, next, Suzuki-san!”

“Oh, I was thinking, how about a haunted house themed around Japanese dolls? A lot of people have yukatas, so I think it would be nice.”

A Japanese doll, huh? I wonder if they attach a wind-up mechanism to its back. The way it moves stiffly and expressionlessly might be a bit scary.

“Then the one who raised their hand next was Hara-san, right? Hara-san?”

“What we came up with is—an Alice-themed scavenger hunt game! We, dressed in cosplay, will be going around the school, and anyone who finds us can earn points… something like that. What do you think…?”

“Eh, what is that? It sounds super fun, doesn’t it!?”

Midori is unusually enthusiastic. It might be good since it feels like we can go around with the other classes’ exhibits.

“Alright, let’s look for Alice’s theme. Is this good? Does anyone else have any opinions? …If not, please vote from these three!”

“Is there anyone who hasn’t decided yet? If not, I’ll take a vote. Oh, please make sure to raise your hand for one of them! Those who prefer the maid café—? … Uh, one person. Those who prefer the haunted house—? … Eleven people. Those who prefer the Alice in Wonderland search—? … Twenty-four people? Maybe. Someone hasn’t raised their hand, but… whatever.”

I didn’t want to do cosplay, so I opted for the haunted house. After all, I’m an old man, and I thought it would be too painful for my heart to do cosplay.

“Alright, so the theme for the 2nd-year 5th class cultural festival will be ‘Alice’s Search for People’! I think we want to make the name a bit cooler later on.”

It was decided to be Alice, but since I’ll probably be assigned to roles like guiding or working behind the scenes where I won’t stand out, I probably won’t be doing any cosplay. I might have been too naive to think that.

I was chosen to play the Mad Hatter. By the way, the person who will be with me during the same time slot is Yamane, who is Sasaki-san, and the March Hare is Itou-san. Although the March Hare is sometimes played by boys, in my case, it was Itou-san. To be honest, it wasn’t that I disliked working with two girls; the problem was that I was chosen for a rather prominent character.

(A character as prominent as me… will I really be able to handle it?)

I thought, “Things will surely work out somehow.”