Part-2 Ch-02 Ep-04

The first school event after we became second-years ended without a single problem. In the game, the second-year sports tournament was barely described and depicted no incidents, so it was only natural that nothing happened this time as well. 

Even so, when you are actually involved in running the event, there is a very real sense of relief when everything finishes safely. In the week following the sports tournament, a reflection meeting was held with the physical education committee members and the student council.

This year, there will also be an athletic festival in October.

The athletic festival, which alternates with the cultural festival every two years, is meant to be the major responsibility of the physical education committee. This tournament had also served as a kind of rehearsal for that.

At the reflection meeting, Godaiin-kun repeatedly bowed his head to everyone on the committee, saying, “Thank you very much. Thanks to all of you, we were able to get through it without any accidents.”

The accident from last year was still vivid in everyone’s memories, so it must have been one of his major concerns. Seeing Godaiin-kun looking so relieved, smiles spread across the faces of all the committee members.

He really is the type of person who makes you want to protect him. I think he is genuinely kind.

“Ah, Nagase-san, do you have some time after this? There’s something I’d like to talk about.”

On the way back after the reflection meeting, Godaiin-kun called out to me.

“Um, I have a little time. I’m keeping Maki waiting in the classroom.”

I had told her she could go home first, but she said, “I’m free, so I’ll study and wait,” and she was still in the classroom now. Since she was waiting for me, I wanted to get back to her as soon as possible.

“Ah, then how about Ichinose-san comes too? I’d like both of you to come to the student council room. It won’t take long.”

“Maki too? Okay. I’ll bring her.”

When I brought Maki to the student council room, only Godaiin-kun was there.

“Actually, I wanted to thank you. You both helped out with student council work, and Ichinose-san even lent a hand despite not being on the physical education committee.”

As he said that, Godaiin-kun held out a beautifully wrapped package of cookies.

“They’re cookies from a cake shop near my house. I think they taste pretty good…”

Godaiin-kun, handing them over with a bit of shyness, honestly looked just like a girl. To begin with, the fact that a high school boy would buy sweets for girls, and not from a supermarket or convenience store but from a proper cake shop, was quite refined.

I thought that Godaiin-kun was probably the type who had secret admirers. Maki reacted with pure delight, saying, “Yay!” with an innocent smile.

When I thanked Godaiin-kun, she held the cookie package with both hands and looked at me with a bright grin. Seeing Maki so happy made me happy too, and I found myself smiling without thinking.

“I’m not the kind of leader who can confidently take charge and pull everyone along. The rest of the student council is the same. That’s why I’m really grateful to people like you who step in and help on your own initiative.”

Scratching his cheek, Godaiin-kun spoke shyly. I thought that was probably part of his charm, but I decided not to say it out loud. After chatting a bit more, we left the student council room.

Just before closing the door, Maki suddenly turned back and spoke to Godaiin-kun, who was still inside.

Somehow, I had a feeling she would do that. Because she had done the same thing for me before.

“Godaiin-kun.”

“Hm?”

“You don’t have to be a strong leader who drags everyone along. I always get told the same thing by Mari, but I think just being yourself is more than enough to fulfill your role. The reason everyone helps you is because of your charm, right?”

Godaiin-kun’s eyes widened, his mouth slightly open in surprise. Then, little by little, his cheeks turned red.

Seeing that, I murmured to myself, “Ah.”

I had just witnessed yet another moment where someone fell in love.

“Uh, y-yeah, thanks. Well, see you. I might ask for your help again if something comes up.”

“That’s fine. If Mari does it, I’ll do it too.”

With that, we left the student council room. As we walked home from school, the scene from earlier kept replaying in my mind, and I felt absent-minded.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah, nothing.”

“Hm?”

“I was just thinking… things went a little too well.”

“Eh? Isn’t it good that the sports tournament went smoothly?”

“Yeah, ahaha. It was good, wasn’t it?”

“You’re acting strange, Mari.”

“…Yeah.”

I clenched the fabric over my chest again and again.

For some reason, it hurt.

After entering high school, spending a year trying things out, making mistakes, and then changing the way I supported others this time, everything seemed to have gone well.

“It’s a good thing, right?”

It’s a good thing.

It’s a good thing.

It’s a good thing.

It’s good for Maki.

Even though I kept telling myself that, my chest felt strangely tight, my legs refused to move, and I almost crouched down where I stood.

“What’s wrong, Mari?”

“…I think I’m just a little tired. Hehe. Maybe I pushed myself too hard.”

“…I see.”

Noticing that I had slowed down, Maki looked at me with concern. Several times, she reached her hand toward me, pulled it back, and then reached out again. Watching her hesitate like that, as if she were thinking something over, a question rose within me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Huuu… Alright.”

Suddenly, she grabbed my hand firmly. I was pulled along as Maki started walking.

“…You look tired, so I’ll pull you along.”

Our connected right hands were held tightly, warm, no, almost hot.

“…Maki, you know.”

“What?”

“Your body temperature is high, isn’t it?”

“…Hm, m-mou, you’re really dense.”

“Eh?”

“It’s nothing.”

“…I see. Hey, Maki.”

“What?”

“Thanks for helping me so much.”

“It’s no big deal. I only helped because I get lonely when you’re busy. More importantly, let’s eat the cookies we got at your place.”

“Eh? We could just take them home and eat them whenever we want.”

“…I want to eat them together. I’ll go home right after, so… is that not okay?”

Maki peeked at my face with a slightly sad expression, and it was adorable. Come to think of it, we had both been busy lately and had not spent much time together.

“My place is fine.”

I tightened my grip on the hand that was hot to the touch. As I held it, I thought that this connected hand, at least in this moment, belonged to me alone.