….
[-Continuation-]
[-Three Days Later-]
.
[-Hachiman's POV-]
Today was the day, the big event we had been preparing for, the collaborative effort between Sobu High and Kaihin Sogo High, coordinated by the respective student councils.
The last few days had been a blur of pointless meetings and pretending to care about some 'research material' we collected from a trip to an amusement park.
Yeah, no one was going to remember that.
Still, at least I could say I contributed... in the sense that I showed up, silently judged everything, and took no initiative.
Standard 'Me' behavior.
Since the event wasn't kicking off until the afternoon, we had the morning free for 'work', a term that was loosely applied.
In the morning, under Isshiki's supervision, we were tasked with baking cakes and cookies.
Of course, Yukinoshita was the undisputed queen of the kitchen. It was like watching a general command her troops, except her troops were completely useless and terrified of doing anything wrong.
Me included.
Then there was Yuigahama.
She was like a very enthusiastic golden retriever in the kitchen, except instead of fetching sticks, she was knocking over bowls and trying to pass off sugar as 'flour'.
Yukinoshita was having none of it.
Her instructions to Yuigahama were straightforward -
"Don't touch anything. Do. Not. Touch. Anything. Got it?"
It felt less like baking and more like a hostage situation, but I wasn't going to comment on it.
Out of nowhere, Totsuka and Komachi decided to join in, announcing their desire to help.
I wasn't sure if the kitchen needed more people, but I wasn't about to say no.
I, however, chose to stand back like a true professional.
Okay, fine. I wasn't completely useless.
I and Zaimokuza were occasionally tasked with transporting boxes of cookies from the kitchen to the staging area.
Don't ask me how he got roped in - I am sure even he doesn't know.
Three hours later, the cookies were ready, or at least, I think they were cookies.
They had the shape of cookies. The smell was questionable, but hey, we were getting somewhere.
I would have not had this doubt if Yukino was the only one making them, but alas it wasn't the case.
"Hachiman." Yukino called my name, sounding... slightly irritated, though I wasn't sure if it was directed at me, at the cookies, or maybe at the entire situation.
It was hard to tell.
"Yeah?" I said, turning to face her.
Without a word, she handed me a plate of cookies, like it was the crown jewel of the baking world.
I stared at the plate, then back at her.
Was I supposed to be impressed?
"Here." She said, her tone flat.
I could tell she was expecting me to immediately recognize the brilliance of her baking skills.
"..."
I stared at the plate, and then back at her.
….
.
The curtains were raised, and the much-anticipated collaboration event officially kicked off.
Kaihin Sogo High kicked things off with their performance. The crowd clapped, and I stood there, thinking about how much I really didn't care
After them, Sobu High did their part, followed by a few joint performances that somehow involved more people than necessary.
Both schools have their own different performances apart from a few collaborative ones and the stage play conducted by the elementary school kids, which Rumi is part of.
As for me? Well, my title was that of the 'super sub'. It didn't sound as glamorous as it could, but it worked out for me.
It meant I didn't have to do much, which was really the best possible scenario in my book.
I leaned against the stage wing, peeking through the curtains.
The audience was packed.
I spotted Komachi, her enthusiasm almost visible.
Next to her was Totsuka.
And then, there was Zaimokuza sitting in the very back like he was trying to stay out of the spotlight.
I had to hand it to him. He was really embracing the 'I don't belong here' vibe.
You could tell he didn't want to be seen, but his presence was so awkwardly noticeable that it was hard to ignore.
I also spotted Kawasaki, Hayama, and the others close by as well.
There was no doubt Kawasaki was here to see her little sister. Yep, apparently her sister is also performing.
As for Hayama and the others, Yuigahama and Isshiki probably called them.
As for me, well, I was just loitering around. Not like I had a major role, aside from standing off to the side like a spectator with the worst seat in the house.
I glanced over to see Isshiki and her crew scrambling around in the wings.
They seemed to be getting everything under control - well, mostly.
As much as Isshiki would prefer to be the mastermind behind the whole thing, I couldn't help but notice that she wasn't exactly handling everything flawlessly.
But hey, it wouldn't be an Isshiki production if it didn't have a few hiccups along the way.
Finally, as the last performance neared its end.
"Ah, as for the timing for the final act, please check with the vice president. Also, please make sure the cake is taken care of." Isshiki called out, her voice a mix of authority and a hint of stress.
"Roger that, prez."
I answered with the bare minimum of enthusiasm, giving her an 'imaginary' salute that could barely pass as a salute before watching her head off toward the other officers.
And then, the curtains of the stage were raised.
The audience lights flickered out, plunging the room into darkness, and the stage lights stayed off.
A narration began, soft and dramatic, as the elementary school kids took their positions on the stage.
And then… there she was.
Rumi.
She stepped onto the stage, her tiny body making the most of the spotlight as she gulped loudly.
"…Will you buy my hair?"
Her throat was probably a little dry from nerves.
But she straightened up, and with a trembling voice and read out her line with the kind of intensity that only someone truly committed to their role can manage.
I knew it.
I knew she had the idol gene in her. It was in her bones. I had no doubt that, one day, she would be on stage somewhere bigger than this.
I wanted to watch this until the very end, but I couldn't.
Once I saw that the scene had ended, I made my exit.
…
.
When I made my way back to the cooking room, the scene that greeted me was one of quiet devastation.
Yukino was sitting at the counter, her posture slumped in a rare display of exhaustion.
Meanwhile, Yuigahama was conducting what looked like an autopsy on a cookie, tearing it apart with the precision of someone trying to solve a baking crime.
I just hoped those were the extra cookies and not the main batch meant for the event. Otherwise, I could already hear Isshiki screaming at me later.
"Good work. Did you manage to finish all the cakes?" I asked, eyeing the kitchen warily, half expecting smoke to start rising from some forgotten oven.
Yukino, without so much as lifting her head, weakly pointed toward the kitchen counter.
"We managed somehow…" She said, her voice carrying the weight of a chef who had just survived a reality show elimination round.
"...and how is the stage?" She added, her tone hinting at genuine curiosity.
"Looking good. It's almost the end, so we should get going and carry this out." I said.
….
With that, I grabbed the last cake, carefully lifting it as though it were a bomb set to detonate at the slightest wobble.
The last thing I needed was to drop it and throw my girlfriend's hard work to the ground.
Yuigahama, who had apparently finished both destroying and eating her cookie, clapped her hands together like she had just solved world hunger.
Then, with the determination of someone who had contributed absolutely nothing yet, she stood up.
"Alright, let's do this!" She chirped with boundless enthusiasm, which somehow made me feel even more tired than Yukino looked.
Meanwhile, Yukino still looked like she was one sarcastic comment away from a power nap.
But then, to my mild surprise, she stood as well, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she steadied herself.
"I really wanted to see the play too." She admitted, her voice soft but tinged with just enough disappointment to make me feel guilty.
Aha… Yukino, managing to guilt-trip me without even trying.
I shrugged, adjusting my grip on the cake I was carrying.
"You will catch the last scene. That's good enough, isn't it?" I said, my tone somewhere between comforting and indifferent, though she probably saw right through it.
With that, we made our way up the stairs, carrying the last cake to the hall. By now, the other cakes had already been delivered, which meant we were the final act in this miniature dessert parade.
At the entrance to the hall, a small herd of kindergarteners stood with their teachers, each kid decked out in angel outfits.
Still, they were undeniably adorable.
As the kindergartners paraded in with cakes in hand, they began distributing them to the older members of the audience.
The older folks in the audience couldn't help but smile, their faces softening at the sight of these tiny angels delivering sugary joy.
Despite the heartwarming scene, the play wasn't over yet. The stage lights dimmed again, signaling the final act was about to begin.
A hush fell over the audience.
"Thank you for watching us!!"
On the stage, Rumi, and the child in forced servitude lighted candles, their tiny hands steady as they carried out their task.
The angelic kindergartners, now mobilized as the cutest pyrotechnics crew ever, moved around the audience to light the candles on the cakes they had distributed.
The hall gradually filled with the warm glow of countless flickering flames.
As the light spread, it connected the stage and the audience, creating a sense of unity.
A collective gasp of wonder rippled through the crowd, their faces illuminated by the soft glow.
For a moment, even the most skeptical among us couldn't help but get swept up in the magic.
That also applied to the three of us who were watching at the back of the hall.
"…Well, I suppose I will give it a passing grade." Watching next to me, Yukino muttered.
Despite saying that, she was making a sweet, sincere, and just a little bit smug of a smile.
Gosh, you sure are never honest, really.
"Heeeh, this sure is amazing! It's like… FIRE!" Yuigahama exclaimed, her wide-eyed awe turning the atmosphere wholesome again.
Soon, the performers and the narrator were called onto the stage for introductions and bows. Each received a warm round of applause, but the main attraction was, without a doubt, Rumi.
When Rumi stepped forward, the applause reached a crescendo.
She looked momentarily stunned, like a deer caught in headlights, before quickly joining hands with the other kids.
Her gaze flickered across the room, scanning the sea of clapping hands and smiling faces, until for a fleeting second, it settled on us.
Then she gave a smile.
It was, without a doubt, one of the brightest, most cheerful smiles I had ever seen.
For a moment, it even felt like it was meant just for us, or maybe that was just me being sentimental.
Together, they made a collective bow, her small figure dwarfed by the enthusiasm of the crowd.
In the far back of the hall, I was watching the illumination of the audience, on the side where the light reached.
Reflexively, I got emotional from Rumi's big moment on stage.
This was a blessing for a self-proclaimed 'super sub' this was more than I could have hoped for.
If I were to grade myself as a producer, I would give myself a solid [B+].
Not bad, considering I mostly winged it.
After the applause faded, the event transitioned into a tea party.
The candles, now extinguished, were replaced with cakes, ginger cookies, and tea cakes, transforming the hall into a cozy gathering space.
Kaihin Sogo High's students mingled with ours, sharing laughter and polite conversations over cake. Even the kindergartners and elderly folks were included, their smiles lighting up the room more than any candle ever could.
As staff, we alternated shifts, serving tea and cake to the kindergartners and elderly guests.
Watching Yuigahama try to balance three plates while looking like she was auditioning for a circus act was amusing enough to make the work bearable.
Yukino, of course, managed her tasks with her usual elegance, though I caught her glancing at me once or twice, likely to ensure I wasn't slacking off.
I wasn't slacking… much.
After all, even I could appreciate moments like this, rare as they were.
…
.
[-Evening-]
I walked through the quiet school grounds, the late hour lending the place an eerie stillness.
It had taken longer than expected to clean up after the collaborative event, but at least it was over.
All that was left now was to report the completion of the request to the two who had gone ahead to the clubroom.
Then, finally, I could call it a day.
The hallways of the special building were deserted, the emptiness amplifying the sound of my footsteps.
Reaching the clubroom door, I paused and placed a hand on the handle. At that moment, a faint but pleasant fragrance greeted me, soft and inviting.
I hesitated for a brief second before opening the door.
The warmth inside was a stark contrast to the chilly hallway. It wasn't just the room's temperature, it was something else.
Something more… familiar.
"Ah, welcome back." Yuigahama greeted me, flashing me a cheerful smile.
"Good work." Yukino added, her voice calm but carrying a hint of relief.
"Right… good work." I stepped inside, letting the door click softly shut behind me.
.
….
[To be continued…]
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