SCPK 34

Chapter 34 

All Together

Track and field practice was over, and it was just before 5 p.m., the time when the sun was starting to set.

Tsukiyo, who had joined as the manager of the track and field team today as well, was next to me.

“You’re getting your touch back pretty well.”
“Really?! Then I’m looking forward to the next match~ I’ll be cheering for you, hoping for a victory!”
“No, I’ve never even stepped on the podium. Even in my best condition, I’d probably get knocked out in the preliminaries.”

It’s not like you can easily get awards or make it to the prefectural tournament. Only people like Hojo-san from the hard tennis team or Sera-san, an Olympic swimming candidate, can consistently win.

Tsukiyo and I chatted as we entered the school building. Today, we were meeting with our usual group.
It’s a major event that only happens once a year. Because of this, very few students skip school.
And of course, there are the girls who follow behind, grinning silently without saying a word. Annoying.

“Can you two stop keeping such an awkward distance from each other?”
“Ah, Hojo-senpai! Hi-chan!”

It was Kasumi Hojo from our class and Hiyori Amano.
Hojo-san was from the tennis team, but Hiyori—nicknamed Hi-chan, part of the idol group Ice—why was she with us? She shouldn’t even be in any club.
It’s nice that Hi-chan was wearing the Kochu Academy uniform instead of her idol costume. Fans would probably be moved to tears. I personally support another girl from the same group, Mi-chan, so it wasn’t that emotional for me.

“I met Hi-chan there. She had supplementary lessons.”
“Supplementary lessons!? Isn’t Hi-chan good in school?”

Hi-chan hesitated slightly, touching her smooth blonde hair.

“I don’t get much attendance because of idol activities, so I was told to study on school days…”

That’s understandable.
We entered our classroom, 2nd-year, class 5. Seiya, Yumisaki-san, Mizusato-san, and Urihara-san from the cultural clubs were already there. Including us four, that left two more.

“Sorry I’m late!”
“Sorry for being tardy.”

Sera-san and Kudou-san appeared after the meeting time had passed. Now it felt like everyone was here.

“Taiyo-san, this is exciting!”
“Yes… Going to the Summer Festival with this group is surely going to be fun.”

Every year, the biggest festival is held on the last school day of August. Stalls line the natural park… and at the same time, there’s a fireworks display, which can be seen well from the hill.
It’s said to be the most fun day of summer.
The purpose of gathering in this classroom was to go together, but Kudou-san was probably planning some fun—or mischievous—things, and the commoners just follow along for the amusement of the wealthy young lady.

“But… it’s hard to move, isn’t it?”
“Completely chaotic.”
“Yeah…”

Tsukiyo, Seiya, and I stood along the wall talking. It was our first time gathering all together since the incident in late July, so the conversation flourished.

“We usually chat in the group chat, but…”

Talking in person was apparently different. This group actually has ten people, but we split into smaller groups.
There’s a boys’ group with Seiya and me, a first-year group with Tsukiyo, Sera-san, and Urihara-san. The remaining five were paired with Kudou-san and Hojo-san being close, Yumisaki-san and Hi-chan being close. Mizusato-san got along with both groups.

“We better get going soon.”

Seiya said. Indeed, traffic would be heavy, and we needed to change out of our uniforms early. We wanted to reach the park at least an hour before the fireworks.

“Hey, let’s go soon.”

Seiya raised his voice, but it was drowned out by the girls’ chatter. Girls’ voices are strong.
Now… to get everyone’s attention, I needed to say something noticeable. The core of this group… was this guy, Seiya Kannagi.
I just needed to stir this core. I raised my voice.

“Hey~ all of Seiya’s loving harem! Let’s go already!”

Everyone jumped and looked at me.

“Stop saying it like that!”

And then Seiya scolded me.