Taking Charge 

.

[-Continuation-]

[-After School-]

.

[Hachiman's POV]

It had been four days since I accepted Haruno as a volunteer for the Cultural Festival.

Ignoring the energy she had forcefully brought into the regular meetings, I was definitely on the receiving end of Yukinoshita nagging wherever we went off topic because of her.

Luckily, Haruno isn't regular to meetings since she still has to attend her university, and wherever that happens, our meetings revert back to the normal serious 'get the business done' type.

Regardless, today I felt utterly drained as I struggled out of the school gates after classes.

Reason - Yukinoshita was on leave.

Yeah, just like in the plot, she had texted me early this morning about falling ill and being unable to attend school for the day.

I had the tiny urge to skip school, but I soon realized it would increase our(:her) workload when she recovers and comes back tomorrow.

Well, it is better as I can check up on her, at least now….

Yep, I am on my way to visit her.

…

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[-Today's Committee Meeting-]

[Third Person POV]

As the final members of the Planning Committee for the cultural feast poured into the meeting room, the bright lights above flickered softly.

There was a noticeable uneasiness in the air that seemed to stick to everything.

Slumped in the high-backed chair at the head of the long, polished table, Hachiman observed the blend of doubt and apprehension etched on the faces before him.

Turning to his left, his eyes lingered on the vacant seat to his right, where Yukinoshita, the vice-chairwoman, was absent.

The sleek stool chair, normally occupied by her imposing presence, which now acted as a painful reminder of their unusual circumstances.

She is usually the one running these meetings, Hachiman thought, suppressing a sigh.

What a pain...

He sensed the eyes on him, some filled with curiosity, and many with doubt.

The gentle rustling of papers and occasional coughs barely concealed the murmured discussions that reached his ears.

"Is he really going to lead the meeting?" A girl with glasses muttered to her neighbor, her voice a mix of mocking and haughtiness.

"Without Yukinoshita, this might be a disaster….." Her friend replied, a boy with a lanyard around his neck who was fiddling with his pen.

Hachiman's long fingers twitched almost imperceptibly, itching to grab his smartphone tucked away in his pocket and tempted to fabricate an excuse to leave early and escape this responsibility was nearly overwhelming.

He could picture himself slipping away, making his way to Yukinoshita's house to check on her 'sudden' illness.

But the nagging voice of duty, however faint, reminded him that such an action would only burden her further upon her return.

With a barely audible groan, Hachiman straightened slightly in his chair.

He cleared his throat, the sound cutting through the murmurs like a knife. "Let's get this over with."

He drawled, his voice lacking enthusiasm but carrying a hint of authority(:ruggedness) that immediately silenced the room.

The room fell silent, curiousness evident on many faces. Some committee members shifted in their seats, the soft creaks of chairs filling the momentary silence.

"First up…" Hachiman continued, his posture remaining slouched but his eyes sharp. "Finance team, what's the 'damage' to our treasure house?"

Though his terminology and the way of phrasing drew a few puzzled looks, the meaning was clear.

A timid-looking student with neatly combed hair and wire-rimmed glasses stood up, his chair scraping against the floor.

"Y-yes, Hikigaya." He went through a stack of meticulously prepared papers.

He stammered, pushing his glasses up his nose. "We have allocated the budget as follows..."

As the student rattled off figures, Hachiman's seemingly bored expression masked his razor-sharp focus. The moment the report concluded, he raised an eyebrow.

"You have overspent on decorations." He pointed out lazily. "Cut it down by 15% and reallocate it to catering. Nobody remembers fancy banners, but they sure as hell remember if the food tastes like cardboard."

The finance team blinked in unison, their surprise palpable. Pens scratched hurriedly against notepads as they scrambled to make notes.

One of their members, a girl with short-cropped hair and a no-nonsense expression, furrowed her brow.

"But Hikigaya…" She protested. "The decoration club will be upset-!"

"They will live." Hachiman cut in. "Unlike our reputation if the food sucks. Next."

His sudden choice left the finance staff in a confused state. Before reclining back into their chairs, they exchanged looks, a mix of struck and doubtful.

"Publicity team, you are up." Hachiman called out, stifling a yawn that he didn't bother to hide behind his hand.

A confident girl stood up, tablet in hand. "With the poster's design done, we are all set to print a thousand posters-!"

"Hold up." Hachiman interrupted. "A thousand? That's overkill, so ditch half of it. If you ask me, they are a waste of paper, and most people ignore them. So focus on targeted online ads and word-of-mouth promotion through club networks."

The girl's confidence fell clearly, her polished front breaking to expose real uncertainty.

"But... but that's not the traditional approach-!" She stammered, looking around as if seeking support from her equally baffled team members.

"Exactly." Hikigaya muttered. "Be efficient, not traditional. And speaking of efficiency, let's talk about FOMO."

"FOMO?" Several committee members echoed, confused.

Hachiman sat up slightly, a sparkle showing in his otherwise lifeless eyes. Everyone turned to see his slight posture change. It was almost magnetic, calming the chatter.

"Fear Of Missing Out. We are going to weaponize it."

He turned to the publicity team, who were hanging on to his every word despite their initial distrust. "Start a countdown on social media. But don't reveal everything. Tease exclusive performances, secret events, and contests. Make it seem like there's always something more that they don't know about yet."

The room was silent for a moment as the implications of his strategy sank in.

Then a hesitant voice from the back of the room spoke up.

"Isn't that a bit... manipulative?" The speaker, a blond boy with a mop of unruly hair, shrank back slightly as all eyes turned to him.

Hachiman's response was a nonchalant shrug that somehow managed to convey volumes. "It's marketing. Same thing. Moving on."

His dismissive tone left no room for further debate.

Though it generated a flurry of whispered conversations among the committee members.

"Event schedule team." Hachiman called out, his eyes scanning the room. "What's the plan?"

A peppy girl jumped up. "We have got acts from each class! 1-C's doing a dance number, 2-A's got a band performance, and 3-B's putting on a short skit!"

Hachiman frowned slightly. "All back-to-back? You will lose the crowd's attention."

The girl's smile faltered. "Oh, we thought–!"

"Add breaks." Hachiman cut in. "Use them for mini-games or class challenges. Keeps people engaged and gives the shy kids something to do besides hide in corners."

A boy from the same team spoke up. "But won't that take focus away from the main acts?"

A low murmur of agreement spread through the room. The spiky-haired boy was scribbling notes furiously.

"Oh!" He looked up suddenly. "What if we did a raffle during one of the breaks? People love free stuff!"

For a brief moment, something almost like approval flickered across Hachiman's face. "Now you're thinking. But make it interesting. Don't just give away gift cards or whatever. Offer... I don't know, a 'VIP experience' for the next event. Or lunch with a teacher of their choice."

He paused, then added dryly. "Except for Ms. Hiratsuka. We are not that cruel."

A ripple of laughter went through the room, quickly stifled as Hachiman's gaze swept over them.

"Anything else?" He asked, his tone suggesting he hoped there wasn't.

The event schedule team exchanged glances, then shook their heads.

"Good." Hachiman said, settling back into his slouch. "Next team. Let's keep this rolling."

As the meeting progressed, a strange atmosphere settled over the room. Hachiman's suggestions were undeniably effective, albeit sometimes bordering on unethical.

When the food committee, a group of food fanatics with notebooks covered in flour, presented their meticulously chosen menu, Hachiman leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing.

"Add a 'mystery dish' to the menu." He suggested, his tone making it clear it wasn't merely a suggestion. "Don't tell anyone what it is. Watch how curiosity drives people to try it."

"What if they don't like it?" A committee member asked.

With a sarcastic sense of humor, Hachiman replied, a ghostly smile teasing the edges of his lips.

"Then they have learned a valuable life lesson about disappointment." He replied. "However, they will discuss it. News will get out. That is our goal"

For the event schedule, he proposed intentionally overlapping popular events. "Make them choose." He explained. "They will stay longer trying to catch bits of everything."

The scheduling team exchanged looks of disbelief, their carefully crafted timeline suddenly thrown into chaos. "But... but that goes against every event planning principle!"

The team leader, a bespectacled girl with a planner clutched to her chest, protested.

"Good." Hachiman replied simply. "Principles are meant to be broken. Especially the boring ones."

Committee members exchanged bewildered glances. One moment, Hikigaya seemed the epitome of a capable leader, the next, his lackadaisical attitude and morally gray ideas left them questioning his competence.

"Hikigaya." A timid voice piped up. "These ideas... they're quiet... unconventional. Are you sure Yukinoshita would approve?"

The room fell silent, all eyes darting between the girl and Hikigaya.

Hachiman's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes. "Yukinoshita isn't here." He said quietly. "We work with what we have. Any other concerns?"

Despite Hachiman's brief response, there was an underlying confidence in his tone. He knew that Yukinoshita would likely find little fault in his decisions.

In truth, what Hachiman had proposed wasn't actually that far-fetched. In fact, if Yukinoshita were present, she likely would have suggested similar changes, albeit perhaps more diplomatically.

The main difference lay in Hachiman's blunt delivery. His ideas, stripped of flowery language, seemed more radical than they truly were.

….

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The meeting concluded with a mix of impressed nods and uncertain murmurs. As everyone filed out, Hachiman overheard snippets of conversation:

"I can't believe he actually led the meeting..."

"Some of those ideas were brilliant, but others..."

"Is this really the same Hikigaya who usually hides behind Yukinoshita?"

Alone in the room, Hachiman allowed himself a small smirk.

He pulled out his phone, typing a message to Yukinoshita:

"Meeting is done. I didn't burn the place down. Rest up and get better soon. Things are... interesting."

He looked at Yukinoshita's empty seat, then gathered his stuff. As he left, he was already planning how to avoid leading the next meeting. One day of being in charge was enough.

But deep down, he felt a bit proud and couldn't deny the small thrill of accomplishment at a task well done – even if his methods were not received properly.

.

[To be continued…]

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