Chapter 342: The Persecution Always Comes Around
"President, I don't think anyone in this school has the concept of studying in their heads."
"What are you talking about? Shuchiin has the highest deviation score in all of Tokyo."
"Really? I feel like no one here wants to study at all."
"…Okay, I'll bite. Why do you think that?"
In the student council office, everyone was seated.
Rinji had just arrived and immediately started complaining to Shirogane.
Ishigami was sitting on the couch, headphones in, but he could still hear some of the conversation and took one earbud out.
"Mainly because Rinji got set up again by classmates."
"Huh?"
Shirogane turned a curious gaze to Rinji.
Rinji scratched his head in frustration.
"Today's last class was homeroom, and everyone was discussing the upcoming Hoshinsai in a month."
The Hoshinsai was Shuchiin's school festival, similar to standard Japanese high school culture festivals. The school took a day off for it, and each class or club prepared a presentation or activity.
"Did the Hoshin Festival offend you or something?"
"The Hoshin Festival is still a month away! And before that, we have final exams! Aren't these students worried about failing!?" Rinji shouted.
Ishigami: "Well, no one wants to always think about depressing things. Even if you know your end is near, you still want to enjoy your days."
"...Don't tell me you're already prepared to fail?"
"If you keep a calm mind, passing or failing doesn't really matter. It's just a number."
"...Impressive."
Rinji had to admit, he respected Ishigami's so-called "calm mind."
Though Rinji himself wasn't someone who cared much about grades either.
Ishigami glanced at the still-confused Shirogane and began explaining.
"Here's what happened..."
—————————One Hour Earlier—————————
Class meeting.
"About the Hoshin Festival one month from now, if we wait until just two days before to prepare, it'll be too late. At the very least, we should decide on the project now."
Onodera Rei stood in front of the blackboard, chalk in hand, scribbling as she spoke.
"If anyone has suggestions, feel free to share."
Rinji: "I—"
Onodera: "If it's something like a martial arts arena, then no."
"..."
Rinji lowered his hand.
"I have one!"
A student raised their hand.
"Go ahead."
"How about a maid café?" the student grinned. "Other classes have done it in past years. We could try it too."
"Alright. Girls who are interested can sign up voluntarily."
Onodera wrote "Maid Café" on the board.
"I wouldn't mind playing a maid for a bit, but if we want our café to stand out from past years, we'll need some new features... Any ideas?"
"Add a photo session."
"That's already been done."
"Include cursed cuisine."
"You trying to poison people?"
"Then how about... adding a popular mascot girl?" one student suggested.
"That's not bad. It could really attract customers. But our class doesn't have that many popular girls. A standout mascot needs both popularity and charm. I don't think we have anyone who fits that profile..."
At that moment, Onodera seemed to recall something.
The rest of the class apparently thought of the same thing.
All eyes turned toward Rinji, who looked utterly confused.
"...The hell are you all staring at me for!?"
—————————Explanation Ends—————————
Ishigami: "That's how it went. Because Rinji refused to cooperate, our maid café plan was scrapped."
"So it's my fault now?"
"If you had agreed, we could've finalized the whole thing."
"That flashy crap? I still think setting up a martial arts stage would've been great. Judo club, karate club, kendo club—they could all join in."
"Can you not with the violence?"
Shirogane smiled and asked, "So what did your class end up picking?"
"Oh, we haven't decided on anything."
"After an entire period, and still no decision?"
Just then, Iino, who had been reading the whole time, chimed in, "Actually, we picked a second option too."
"And?"
"That didn't work either."
"Huh?"
"Here's what happened..."
—————————Thirty Minutes Earlier—————————
"We'll table the maid café for now. Any other good suggestions?"
"I have one."
Iino raised her hand.
"Go ahead."
"How about a play? The whole class putting on a stage performance?"
"A play, huh... Could work," Onodera said as she calmly analyzed the idea, chin in hand.
"But I heard the drama club and the cheer club are both doing plays. The drama club specializes in this, and the gymnastics club has Koyasu Tsubame, a hugely popular upperclassman. We probably can't compete... Plus, we don't have time to write a new script."
"What if we used an old one? The drama club used to perform a modern version of Sleeping Beauty."
"That's doable, but there's a scene where the prince kisses the princess awake, so the prince and princess would have to be the same gender to avoid any weird implications," Onodera noted. "Still, the main issue is casting. Do we even have someone in our class who's both good at acting and popular?"
We actually used to—except that person had been shipped off to Thailand by Rinji and was probably debuting as a female idol now.
"Well..."
"Wait, I just remembered. There's one guy in our class who's definitely popular, and I bet no one would feel weird seeing him play the princess."
Swish!
Everyone once again stared at Rinji.
"...Assholes, why the hell are you all staring at me again!?"
—————————Explanation Ends—————————
Iino: "Because Rinji refused to cooperate, the play project was scrapped."
Rinji: "I'm starting to think you guys are targeting me."
Ishigami: "Absolutely not."
"Bullshit! Then why did you propose a haunted house and try to force me to play Sadako!? You guys are way too obvious about it!" Rinji shouted. "And don't count me in! I already made plans with Secretary Fujiwara to perform a duet at the festival!"
Fujiwara: "...Rinji-kun, can I ask something?"
"What?"
"When we go on stage... can you wear the same evening dress as me?"
"Get lost!"