Chapter 15
(Beautification Activity)
Of course, this school also has committee activities. As a book lover, I really wanted to be on the library committee, but I couldn’t win against the game of chance called rock-paper-scissors.
As a result, I ended up in the Beautification Committee, and today my job is watering the school flowerbeds. During this summer course period, whoever is attending school takes charge, so I can’t really complain.
I was supposed to be working with a first-year student today, but… they’re not here.
I stretched out the hose, attached the showerhead to the end, and twisted the faucet open at the base. The summer sun was blazing. Today’s hot again.
Since I didn’t want to get my uniform dirty with sweat, I changed into my gym clothes… honestly, I feel like just showering under this water myself.
The flowerbeds were in full bloom with marigolds and sunflowers. I’ve got to water them well.
“Take thiiis! Water’s coming!”
“Fufu, that’s quite the bold way to do it.”
At the sound of laughter, I turned my face that way.
Her chestnut hair, flowing down to her back, shone even brighter under the sunlight.
Tsukiyo Kaminagi approached, carrying a gray bucket filled to the brim with water.
“Huh… what’s up?”
“I’m helping with the Beautification Committee’s work.”
“Wait, Tsukiyo, are you even on the Beautification Committee?”
I’d never seen her at our committee before. But without caring, Tsukiyo used a ladle to scoop water from the bucket and sprinkled it onto the flowerbeds.
“The one on the Beautification Committee is a classmate of mine, but they said they really wanted to go to club today, so I swapped with them.”
“Ah, I see. That’s nice of you, coming out here in this heat.”
“I knew I’d get to do Beautification with you, Taiyo-san~”
…She only accepted because I’d be here? Am I overthinking that? Well, either way, it’s definitely easier than working with some girl I don’t know.
During the short lunch break, we made our way around as many of the school’s flowerbeds as possible.
Tsukiyo had also changed into gym clothes. Since we’re in different grades, I don’t see her dressed like this much… but it gives off a different feeling from her uniform.
A white short-sleeved shirt with blue shorts. With her good figure, that white shirt really makes her stand out.
I wonder how the boys in her class feel about it. I can’t help being a little jealous.
Once the watering was done, we sat down to rest on the bench in front of the flowerbeds.
We sat side by side on the wooden bench.
“Here.”
I handed Tsukiyo a sports drink I’d bought from the vending machine.
“Oh no, I couldn’t!”
“You’ve sweated a lot, you need to rehydrate. Just accept it from your senpai.”
“Geez…”
Looking a bit apologetic, Tsukiyo took the bottle.
I also sipped my own drink. After finishing some work, it tasted so good.
“…Sweat…”
After murmuring something, Tsukiyo suddenly shifted to sit a little farther away from me.
“…Do I smell sweaty?”
“No! I—I might smell bad instead.”
I leaned back toward her and brought my nose closer to her.
“You don’t smell at all. You’re overthinking it.”
“Wh-why are you sniffing me!? Pervert!”
“Eh!?”
Tsukiyo jumped up, covering herself with her arms and turning away. Her face was flushed red, maybe from the heat, and the sweat on her forehead even gave her a kind of allure.
She shot me a sharp glare.
“You mustn’t smell a girl like that without permission. That’s a crime. Besides, it’s not even a nice smell.”
Hearing her say that made me feel like I’d really done something wrong. But… I needed to clear my name.
“But when you sit next to me in the library, I always notice a sweet fragrance. Maybe it’s your shampoo… I like it.”
“―――!!”
Tsukiyo crouched down and covered her face with her hands. Her reaction was so strange that I worried and spoke up.
“A-are you okay?”
“…I-I’m fine, so d-don’t look this way.”
She seemed to be trembling. I was worried, but it didn’t seem right to press any further.
“Too… happy… my face won’t go back to normal…”
And so, our lunch break came to an end.
