Volume 3 | Chapter 10: October (Down) – Part 2
Class D was in the middle of their quiz tournament. People who answer wrongly in the true-false questions will be disqualified one after another.
Yumi-chan was observing the quiz tournament as she waited for me. I’m sorry I’m late!
Class D were already on their 11th question. Yumi-chan guessed the answers with the other nonparticipants and got the wrong answer on the 6th question. Incidentally, the Neo Candle members that joined disqualified on the 5th question. Yumi-chan is stronger than them.
The remaining participants of the quiz tournament included two teams representing Class D, and one more team representing another class. All the individual participants have all been disqualified. Who will be first to drop off now…!
It’s at this time that I spotted Tsukishima-bishounen in the classroom. I couldn’t help but look for Maria-jou even though she’s with Katsuragi-kun right now.
I inadvertently examined Tsukishima-bishounen before someone called me from behind.
“Huh, Niimi-san? You came to visit,” the class representative of Class D greeted me. Incidentally, he was also the judge who verified Katsuragi-kun’s topic for the borrowing race ‘pillow’ when I was brought to the goal during the Sports Festival.
“Yeah. Everything going smoothly?”
“Thankfully, we’re having great success. Well, it’s probably also thanks to Tsukishima-kun for not skipping though,” he commented before he gazed at Tsukishima-bishounen.
I see now. …In other words, his role is to attract the big sisters in the audience.
“Does he tend to skip?” I asked even though I already knew the answer.
“He does when it comes to events. But he’ll show up like today if you ask him to…”
It looks like Class D gets along with Tsukishima-bishounen in their own way.
“Oh, that’s right. Is Class B alright?” He asked me suddenly.
“What do you mean by alright?”
“With theft, I mean. Apparently a suspicious person appeared during the Cultural Festival preparation period. Nothing happened in the end, but the people who stayed late had their bags rummaged through.”
Come to think of it, Designer-kun mentioned something like that the other day when he looked at his bag. The said bag didn’t have anything inside to begin with though.
“……There was one person whose bag looked like it was rummaged through,” I admitted.
“Is that so? I think it might be best to report to the student council.”
“You’re right. If I run into any members of the student council, I will report for the two of us.”
Class D’s class rep nodded, bringing an end to our conversation.
The winner of the quiz tournament was one of the Class D’s teams. I couldn’t help but be suspicious. That team didn’t know the answers beforehand right? I mean the winning team came from the same class that held the tournament.
Yumi-chan and I left Class D and headed to Class A’s bowling tournament. This was when a cute voice rang behind me.
“Ah~ It ended already…” Maria-jou was standing there in front of Class D.
If she really wanted to see the quiz tournament, couldn’t she have gone to Class C’s haunted house later? I secretly looked behind me to see Maria-jou call out to Tsukishima-kun, who was standing bored in the classroom.
“Hey, Yuuki-kun, are you free?” Maria-jou asked.
“Ah? Well, I don’t have any big plans…….”
“Then would you like to walk around with me? I have business during lunchtime so I have to eat beforehand. Could you join me?”
“Why…” I think he wanted to ask ‘why me’ but he quickly lost his words as Maria-jou grabbed his arm, dragging him with her. Still, while he looked reluctant, he didn’t do anything to fight back. I think he suits a girl who is slightly pushy like this.
Maria-jou, if you’re going to meddle with a type like Tsukishima-bishounen, I think it’ll be better if you properly date him instead of being half-hearted.
Now then, Yumi-chan and I are now in front of Class A’s bowling tournament. The classroom had handmade lanes laid out on the floor. It looks like they rented real bowling balls for this. However, they are the light ones for children. The walls of the classroom were covered with cushions to prevent damage.
The pins looked like the real thing too. But one of the lanes was odd as all the pins were dolls from game centres instead. I couldn’t help but feel it would be extremely troublesome to knock all those dolls down. They don’t really fall over even if you hit them.
“Huh? Yumi-chan, you’re not playing?” I asked. It was Yumi-chan who wanted to come here. I assumed that she would participate. Yet Yumi-chan was blending right into the audience.
“Cause, I’m bad at sports,” Yumi-chan replied to me.
And, for whatever reason, I had to participate instead. Hmmm, well, fine with me though.
There were lots of customers, so you can play alone but only for one game, one frame each lane. By frame, I mean that is how to keep score in bowling. I’ll skip the details but, basically, you can roll the bowling ball two times in one frame.
I’m sure you heard of a strike? That is when you knock all the pins in one throw. If you knock all the pins again the second time, it is called a spare. If you can’t knock them all down, you get a point for each pin you knock down.
At the corner of my vision, I spotted Designer-kun who was bowling consecutive strikes. It was to the point that Yumi-chan was impressed. He was now trying the odd lane, trying to bowl a strike again. From what I hear, no one has achieved that yet. Cheers rang in the classroom when Designer-kun threw his ball.
However, there was one girl in the audience who was not cheering. I couldn’t help but feel she was familiar. That was when I realized she was the vice class representative of Class A. She was also the girl staring at Father Michel in Class E’s photography exhibition. I wonder if she’s the cool type.
My score? I did get a couple of points. Also, I could only knock down one doll in the odd lane. Damn it all.
“Kamura-kun’s really good,” Yumi-chan commented with wide eyes.
“Yeah. I wonder what his average is?” I mumbled.
Yumi-chan tilted her head. I’m guessing she doesn’t know what I mean by average. I meant the average of Designer-kun’s past scores in bowling.
“Shiori-chan, do you go bowling often? Your bowling stance looked natural,” Yumi-chan asked.
“My parents like bowling, so I went often with them when I was young.” This includes Kazu-nii, so four people in total. Kazu-nii’s strangely really good at bowling.
“This is actually Kamura-kun’s first time bowling. He mentioned how he never tried it before the other day and wanted to give it a go.”
You serious? He’s the worst.
…Wait, eh? Huh? Don’t tell me. Yumi-chan wanted to visit Class A because she knew Designer-kun would come? Eh? Huh? Could it be that Yumi-chan’s…!?
Such thoughts ran in my brain as Designer-kun finally conquered the odd lane. He was now taking a commemorative photo with the Class A girls.
“Thanks for your hard work, you two~ Shiori-chan, your bowling stance was really natural. Are you good at bowling?” Designer-kun asked, popping out.
“I bowled a lot in the past. You’re pretty good too, Kamura-kun. You’re like a professional.”
“Ahaha~ Really? Maybe I’ll become a professional~ But is there a test to become one? If there is, it’ll be a pain~”
Well, yeah, you’ll only be a self-proclaimed if you don’t take a test.
Yumi-chan and I left Class A after this to eat lunch. We had our eyes set on Year 2, Class B’s festive stall. Actually, many classes of the second year were doing something with food and beverage. There’s even classes doing a maid café and a butler café.
Anyways, here we are at Year 2, Class B.
They were selling takoyaki, okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and drinks. Oh, they even have yo-yo fishing and ring toss. It’s really like a summer festival here, making me enjoy myself.
“When you think of festivals, this is it~” Yumi-chan commented before quickly stuffing her cheeks with takoyaki. She looked quite content.
I ordered two yakisoba and started chewing away. Cause, I’m really hungry.
“Hm……?” There was a lot of noise coming from the entrance. Yumi-chan and I both looked at the doorway.
There we spotted Mizusaki-senpai and Kaneshiro-senpai. I’m guessing they are taking a break while still wearing costumes of their class…
Butler! Butler outfits! Hyaaaaaa!!
It’s devastating when beautiful people wear them! The two of them also had good posture, so they look really, really cool! I couldn’t help but feel Mizusaki-senpai’s image is a little bit off from a butler, but Kaneshiro-senpai fits it too well.
I see now. It’s their class that’s doing a butler café, huh.
“K-Kaneshiro-senpai is too cool…” I could see heartmarks in Yumi-chan’s eyes.
“……Want to try going? To the butler café, I mean,” I tried asking.
Yumi-chan thought for a while before eventually shaking her head. “I feel like I’ll offer all my allowance to them, so it’s scary.”
Hey, hey. That’s the reaction you’ll have to a host, not a butler.
Mizusaki-senpai and Kaneshiro-senpai purposely visited other classes to show themselves off. They only brought one drink before they left.
I understand. They came to advertise their classroom. With no words whatsoever! That is right, they didn’t mention a single word about their café. It’s so unfair. Girls that ended up lovestruck like Yumi-chan will now unconsciously visit the butler café like they were getting sucked in.
Now that our stomachs are full, it’s about lunchtime for the Miss Contest.
“There are only 20 entries, huh. I don’t feel like that’s a big number,” I commented as I checked the faces of the girls participating.
Yumi-chan pouted a bit with displeasure. “More than half are girls from the Mizusaki Homare Official Fan Club. Those girls all have similar styles, so it’s not interesting at all~”
“Well, I think it’s fine. They’ll make Aikawa-san and Kyouko-chan stand out more,” I pointed out.
The Miss Contest begins with self-introduction, a display of some special skill, uniform and swimsuit inspection. Apparently they will also judge the scholarly abilities of the girls with their marks in exams. All in all, they will decide the winner with the overall score of the above.
I would have to say the contest is favourable to Maria-jou on their emphasis on knowledge and not on athletic ability.
Maria-jou introduced herself, saying her special skill is brewing delicious tea and coffee.
However, I couldn’t help but feel her real skill is increasing favourability of her capture targets as a heroine in an otome game. Well, just kidding. I was being a little mean.
Like you suspect, she didn’t get any deductions in the uniform and swimsuit inspection. Her marks are good as well. The captain of the Mizusaki Homare Official Fan Club fought bravely, but Maria-jou won overall in the end.
“They should have made a qualifying round with all the girls in the school involved. Then everyone gets to vote for the most beautiful girls. I’m sure the Miss Contest will be even more exciting then,” Yumi-chan said.
I can’t help but feel that plan’s impossible the moment the Mizusaki Homare Official Fan Club set up this Miss Contest.
“If that happened, I could have voted for Shiori-chan,” Yumi-chan said with regret.
I smiled tiredly. I’m happy that she thought of me, but I also feel she’s being too biased to her friend.
“It’s more exciting to watch on the sidelines for events like this,” I said instead. I mean, I seriously don’t want them inspecting me wearing a swimsuit. My marks, too, aren’t good like Maria-jou. My math scores bring everything down.
“I’m guessing they’re holding their awards ceremony now. I better get going to help out Neo Candle.” I bid goodbye to Yumi-chan and left the auditorium alone.
Neo Candle’s equipment is all in the second music classroom. Iinchou was going to be one of the helpers but he is now filling in for injured Murakoshi-kun in the café. I wonder if Iinchou could slip away from the café somehow. Depending on the situation, only Matsumoto-kun and I will be helping with moving everything.
Well, I did borrow a deluxe trolley for this day, which could carry a drum too… Or it should be able to.
When I reached the second music classroom, I saw Neo Candle and Matsumoto-kun already moving equipment around.
The members of Neo Candle were all wearing matching jackets. I guess this is their stage costume. Their jackets had a Neo Candle logo made by Designer-kun. The motif is of a cross and a candlestick.
“I’m sorry I’m late!” I apologized.
Itou-kun turned around. “Huh? It’s just you, Niimi?”
“Yeah. I think Iinchou is still helping out at the café,” I said.
“That’s not what I meant. I heard another set of footsteps so… Well, it might have just been my imagination. Anyways, could you help out with carrying everything?”
“Of course.”
Iinchou appeared about ten minutes later. He helped move everything while still dressed up as a vampire. I guess he didn’t have a moment of time to change.
We finished moving everything 30 minutes before the concert. Kazu-nii also finally showed up at this time. I guess teachers were busy even on Cultural Festival day. He was slightly out of breath too.
“Did you run?” I asked.
“Yeah……. Sorry, there was a bit of trouble. It happens no matter what when students from other schools visit,” Kazu-nii said as he loosened his necktie and unbuttoned his shirt. There, his chest filled with adult charm was exposed in the air.
He has to change into his stage costume, so he doesn’t have a choice. Yup. Let’s ignore it. However, I noticed something was off when I handed his costume to him.
Kazu-nii isn’t wearing his pendant. Why?
“Hm? What’s wrong?” He asked, looking my way when I stiffened visibly.
I silently gave him the costume before whispering, “What happened to your stone?”
“What are you talking about?” Kazu-nii looked confused.
……Eh? Something’s weird. Kazu-nii always wore the pendant with his stone around his neck.
I was perplexed. And for whatever reason, Kazu-nii decided that I look like this because I was worried about him for whatever reason.
“What? You think I’ll screw up on stage? Niimi, you’re a worrywart, huh,” Kazu-nii smiled brightfully before he moved to drop a kiss on my cheek——
…HUUUUUH!?
I didn’t think and guarded myself with my hand. My palm smacked Kazu-nii’s face. And just like that, I pushed him away with all my force. I backed away as far as I could, rising a fist in the air, ready to fight. I don’t think I have to explain why I reacted this way.
What the heck!? Seriously, what the heck!? What was he about to do just now!?
“What’s wrong, Niimi?” Kazu-nii asked me with nothing but confusion on his face.
“W-W-W-W-Wh-Wh….!?” I couldn’t even speak properly anymore.
A vampire then called out to me.
Hiiiiiie!? What’s happening now!? My blood’s not delicious even if you try to suck it from me, okay!?
I made a fighting pose almost half in tears. The glasses-wearing vampire looked exasperated.
“Niimi-san, calm down,” the vampire said again. Oh, that’s right, it’s Iinchou. Y-You almost made me mistake you for the real thing just now.
Wait, he called me out at this timing. Do you mean h-h-h-h-he s-s-s-saw…..!?
“C-C-C-Cause, j-j-j-just now…….!”
“You don’t have to worry. He’s probably been affected a bit. That being said, this is troublesome,” Iinchou said before he took out a bottle of mineral water from his bag and something long and narrow.
Iinchou then approached Kazu-nii who was changing.
“Sensei,” he called out.
“Hm? What’s wrong, Shibuya…”
“I’m sorry but would you prefer to wear a different stage costume or be sober right away? Please choose one of the two,” Iinchou said.
“What are you talking about?” Kazu-nii asked.
“You’re been affected by miasma and took it into your body. It’ll be troublesome if you stay this way.” Iinchou then splashed water onto Kazu-nii.
Kazu-nii widened his eyes in surprise as he got doused with water starting from his head.
“If it’s not enough, I can go for a second round.”
“……What exactly are you talking about?”
That was when a small ringing sound echoed. Before I realized it, Kazu-nii was wearing a pendant around his neck again.
“You are handsome even when wet, Sensei. If you are sober again then hurry up and change,” Iinchou said.
Yeah, Iinchou, I don’t you can say things like that when you’re the one who splashed him with water. But you saved me. Thanks!
The amount of water in a water bottle didn’t do that much damage. We were lucky that Kazu-nii hasn’t fully changed to his costume yet. Kazu-nii dried his hair with a towel as he looked at us confused. It doesn’t seem like he remembered how he tried to kiss my cheek. Iinchou whispered something in his ear and passed the narrow thing to him.
I stood some distance away and looked at Kazu-nii’s chest with a frown. When I think about it carefully, I really don’t know how those stones work. Didn’t Iinchou say Kazu-nii took it or something in his body earlier? I wonder if Iinchou will explain if I ask him for the details.
I hesitated on whether or not I should speak to Iinchou, and that was when Itou-kun broke the silence first. Itou-kun was angry about the whole water throwing business. Iinchou smiled tiredly. It’s true that it would have been terrible if Kazu-nii got wet with his stage costume on.
When Itou-kun finished complaining, I approached Iinchou and tried to ask as quietly as possible about what he said earlier.
Iinchou smiled, a little troubled, and answered shortly, “All their hearts are ‘missing’ a piece. And that missing piece is the ‘stones’. If they meet a certain requirement, the stone will return inside their ‘hearts’. It’d be best if it happens in a good way, but if that was possible, no one will have to go through any troubles.”
“W-What do you mean…”
“Sensei assimilated his stone in a bad way. But it wasn’t too late. Once he came to his senses, he returned back to normal.”
“Why did it happen so suddenly…?” I asked. Come to think of it, Kazu-nii mentioned some sort of trouble. Is that the cause?
“…It seems like there’s something triggering this somewhere…” Iinchou’s words were vague, making me frown. However, Iinchou didn’t explain any further.
Afterwards, I found myself on standby at the backstage until the concert was about to start.
“I’ll be watching the concert from the audience. Break a leg,” I said to the Neo Candle members.
Iinchou and Matsumoto-kun will remain backstage just in case something happens and Neo Candle needs help. I am counting on them to stop fans from climbing up the stage if they get too passionate and chase Masaki away if he shows up without reading the mood.
I peeked at the audience and noticed the student council members and Maria-jou were sitting at the VIP seats. Neo Candle has been working hard until this point. I definitely hope they will enjoy themselves today.
I slipped away from the backstage to the back of the auditorium. From there, I made my way to the auditorium seats.
It’s here when I suddenly got dizzy for some reason. My feet became unsteady as my vision darkened.
“……Eh?” What is this… I feel sick…
It felt like dense air was floating up to my nose. It smelt like too strong perfume, overly sweet cake, or something resembling those two — such a thick smell enshrouded me. I covered my nose and mouth, squatting down on the ground.
At the same time, something covered up my eyes.
“I finally found her. It’s this woman.”
I heard someone’s voice from afar. And then I lost consciousness.
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Tl note: C-Cliffhanger…?