Two weeks have passed since I started housekeeping at Hoshino’s house.
During that time, nothing particularly unusual has happened, and I’ve been smoothly going about my school life.
Speaking of school matters, after that, we quickly moved on to deciding class roles, and Hoshino was unanimously chosen as the class representative.
The homeroom teacher said he felt reassured with Hoshino in charge, but I don’t quite get that sentiment.
Well, she did it last year too, and she said, “It’s a hassle, but I’ll try my best for the sake of my report card” so she’ll probably be fine.
By the way, I managed to avoid taking on any role.
High school roles aren’t as numerous as they were in middle school.
In fact, there’s only the broadcasting committee, library committee, health committee, and discipline committee, there are others, but those are the most important ones.
There were many students eager for report card points, which was helpful.
I arrive at school in the morning, chat with Takiji, and when homeroom approaches, I sit down like a good student. This way, I’m a model student.
Well, our homeroom teacher, Hosokawa-sensei, is a bit of a laissez-faire type and doesn’t say anything even if we mess around a bit.
One day.
「Oii, take your seats. Homeroom is about to start~!」
Hosokawa-sensei entered the classroom with a cheerful voice, carrying what looked like documents.
「Sensei! What’s that paper for~??」
One of the outgoing girls in class asks on behalf of everyone.
「Ahh, this? It’s a pamphlet for the sports festival to be distributed to parents.」
I see, it’s already that time for the sports festival.
Our school holds the sports festival in early May.
It’s the third week of April now, so the sports festival is coming up in about two or three weeks.
「Yahoo! I’m really looking forward to it!」
「We can do lots of fun things again?」
「They said the student council is motivated this year!」
The whole class was getting excited.
「Hey, hey, everyone calm down~ The sports festival is a fun event, but if you get injured before it, it’ll become a terrible memory, okay? It’s fine to be excited, but keep it in moderation, alright?」
「Yes! We understand!」
「Good! Oh right! Hoshino, Nakamura (the male class representative), I’ll bring the participation forms later, so make sure to survey everyone on which events they want to participate in.」
「Understood.」
Hoshino replies on behalf of the class.
「That’s all from me. Don’t get too carried away with your conversations and end up late for the first period~ Gahahaha!」
Hosokawa-sensei left the classroom looking satisfied.
I see… the sports festival, huh.
I need to think about what I’ll participate in too.
I thought about this while looking at Takiji, who would probably come over to talk about the sports festival.
〇
After school, it’s Tuesday, so it’s the day I show up at the Home Economics Club.
I’m walking through the same deserted, deathly quiet hallway of the club building as always.
Earlier, I received a message from Eri-san saying that we’re having a strategy meeting today.
What for?? I wondered, but figured I’d find out when I got there, so I just replied “Okay”.
When I arrived at the clubroom, Eri-san, who had arrived earlier, was writing something.
「Otsukare~ What are you writing?」
「Ah, Yamanaga-kun. Otsukaresama desu! I’m thinking about what our club should present for the sports festival.」
「Ah~ right, there was that.」
At this school, each club presents something during the sports festival.
Sports clubs might have inter-club relays, and the dance club might perform an original dance.
But did cultural clubs have to present something too?
As far as I remember, I don’t recall the cultural clubs presenting anything.
「Did cultural clubs need to do that?? Did they present something last year and I just didn’t know?」
「No, we couldn’t last year, but this year we have two people who can participate, so I want to do something.」
──Light Novels──
──Read Here──
「Well, that’s fine, but it’s only one more person, you know?」
It doesn’t change the fact that we are few.
Even with one more person, there’s only so much you can do.
「Mumumu… Yamanaga-kun, you don’t understand at all! Listen, okay?? Going from one to two people is a significant increase in manpower! A festival stall can’t be run by one person because it’s too busy, but with two people, it can be done, right?」
「That’s true.」
「That’s exactly what I mean.」
「……?? Are you planning to set up a stall??」
「I haven’t consulted with Nee-sa… nnn… the student council president yet, so I can’t say for sure, but it’s a candidate.」
「Well, it’s definitely better than doing something physically demanding like the sports clubs. Have you decided what to sell?」
「That’s the thing. Today, I wanted to discuss with Yamanaga-kun what we should sell at the stall.」
Saying that, Eri-san showed me the paper she had been writing on earlier.
「Personally, I think something cold would be good since we’ll be outdoors in the heat.」
Well, that makes sense. If they’re sweating and we sell hot items, there’s no way we’ll sell, and we might even get booed.
Cold items help lower the body temperature that’s risen from exercise, and above all, they sell.
There’s no problem with cold items.
「These are the candidates…」
Eri-san pointed to where the candidates were written.
Sports drinks. Tea. Juice.
It seems Eri-san is thinking of selling drinks.
Sure, they’ll sell, and I think it’s good, but.
「You’d like to sell something else, right…」
「That’s right. It feels too common for a stall.」
It would be nice if there were other cold items that could become popular.
But is there really something that convenient?
After thinking for a while, I came up with one idea.
「Hey, what if we chilled fruits and sold them? Wouldn’t it sell surprisingly well.」
「Fruits??」
「It’d be great to have ice cream or shaved ice, but we don’t know how well we can preserve them, right?」
「That’s true.」
It’s been getting hotter lately.
If we had perfect refrigeration, there’d be no problem, but this is just a presentation, not a real shop.
We can’t prepare such things for a mere club presentation.
There’s a special budget allocated for each club to prepare costumes and tools, but we can’t expect much.
So instead of ice cream or shaved ice, which would be ruined if they melted, I suggested fruits that would still taste good even if they warmed up a bit.
We had also considered noodles like soba and udon, but it was difficult because liquids other than in PET bottles tend to spill easily.
So, we should sell something that’s relatively free of liquid and tastes good when chilled.
After thinking for a while, Eri-san also,
「Indeed, that’s a great idea! I’m sure there are many students who love fruits! I’ll consult with Nee-sa… ahem… t-the student council president!」
「Yeah, talk to your Nee-san about it.」
「…Y-You’re being noisy.」
Eri-san looked away, embarrassed by my teasing. Her cheeks, dyed by the setting sun from the side, were flushed red.
After that, I felt healed watching Eri-san repeatedly almost say “Nee-san” and then correct herself embarrassedly, and I nodded along.
And so, we settled on the idea for the Home Economics Club’s presentation.
The rest depends on… the student council’s response.
That night, at the Samejima residence.
「You said you had something important to talk about… What’s up, Eri?」
「Um, Nee-san. I have something to discuss about the sports festival…」
The shadows of the two facing each other in the tatami room are projected on the shoji screen.
Samejima Rina, the student council president, sat at the upper seat, looking straight at Eri.
A meeting between the older and younger sister was about to begin at the Samejima house.