Chapter 2 | September 1^st

 

The summer break, which felt incredibly long and was packed with all sorts of events, finally came to an end, and autumn arrived for us at last.

The autumn of appetite.

The autumn of sports.

And above all, the autumn of culture.

“But man, that summer break sure had a lot going on, huh?”

At St. Liliana Academy, in the student council room, after the opening ceremony of the second semester.

The student council president, Nikaidō Arashi, voiced the exact same sentiment as me.

“We worked our butts off at a live-in part-time job, played around at the beach sometimes, and on top of that, not just Gin-Gin but even the vice president confessed to Himenokōji Akito-kun! Man, it was one heck of a turbulent summer. Really dense stuff!”

The president nodded along enthusiastically, giving a slightly belated recap.

In the student council room were me, Akiko-chan, Nasuhara-san, and Ginbei-chan—all the student council members gathered together, lined up in our uniforms for the first time in a while.

“I agree it was dense, though.”

Amidst it all, the one who responded with a sulky tone was Akiko-chan.

“But for me, it was a density I absolutely didn’t welcome. Work was fulfilling, the Shirahama owners were pleased with us, and I even got to go on a summer festival date with Onii-chan. But because of some extremely unwelcome incidents, it ended up getting totally ruined for me. And those incidents were none other than certain someones confessing to my Onii-chan—what an outrageous act!”

With that, she shot a sharp Kii! glare.

Naturally, her gaze landed on Nasuhara-san and Ginbei-chan.

“I never imagined that not only Ginbei-san, who I thought was a safe bet, but even Nasuhara-san would confess too—it was completely unexpected. In Ginbei-san’s case, there’s some excuse since it was partly an accident driven by the situation, but Nasuhara-san… hers was a fully premeditated crime with no room for excuses. Ugh, why can’t everyone just understand? The fact that Onii-chan belongs to me has been set in stone since the moment I was born—no, since the very dawn of the universe! I can’t comprehend why anyone would dare try to steal him away.”

“…”

“…”

Though they were being criticized, both Nasuhara-san and Ginbei-chan pretended not to hear. Nasuhara-san fiddled with her phone, while Ginbei-chan buried herself in what looked like an account book, showing no intention of engaging with Akiko-chan.

Don’t call it cold. After all, this exchange had been repeated countless times since before and after the summer festival. Lately, it was almost a daily occurrence, and it had gone beyond annoying—everyone now treated it like the afternoon time signal.

“Now, now, don’t say that, Akiko-chan.”

So, the one left to deal with my little sister was none other than me, Himenokōji Akito-kun.

“The world doesn’t revolve around just your convenience, you know. You can’t go sulking or getting mad just because something happens that you don’t like.”

“Too soft! Onii-chan, you’re way too soft!”

In an instant, my little sister turned her Kii! glare on me.

“Being that gentle is what they call ‘giving a thief extra cash’ in proverbs! It’s not even kindness anymore—it’s practically an outrageous act itself, a betrayal of the unchanging love between me and Onii-chan. No, it’s more like cheating, or even an affair!”

“That’s some wild logic as usual.”

“Wild? Nothing wild about it. It’s a perfectly logical conclusion.”

She puffed out her chest with an Ehem!

“If there’s one thing I can praise, it’s that Onii-chan didn’t accept those confessions and start dating anyone. That’s only natural since he already has me as his wife, but still, doing the obvious thing properly is really important. That’s my Onii-chan for you. Akiko-chan feels relieved.”

“Ha. Is that so?”

“Of course, since the bond between me and Onii-chan is rock-solid and should be upheld like a law or the constitution, there’s nothing to worry about! Plus, during the summer break, we even made a little secret just between the two of us siblings. We’ve just confirmed how strong our bond is. So, all in all, I can confidently say the summer break was wonderful. Hehe, what do you think, everyone? Isn’t it great? Aren’t you jealous? Go ahead and be even more jealous of me! Ehehen!”

She was absolutely delighted.

When I play along with her casually, my little sister wraps things up on her own like this—she’s really low-maintenance in that sense. It’s a bit pitiful that everyone’s completely ignoring her, but that’s just part of her charm, I suppose.

“By the way,”

Seeing the right moment, the president cut in.

“It’s a shame to let go of summer break memories, but if us student council folks keep floating around forever, it’ll set a bad example. The new semester’s started, so it’s about time we switch gears—right, Himenokōji Akito-kun?”

“Yeah. Especially with a big event coming up.”

Reading the mood, I put on a serious face too.

That big event was none other than the school festival held on October 1st.

Our school’s festival, called the “Liliana Festival” in a pretty straightforward way, was a grand affair befitting a renowned prestigious school. It drew visitors from far and wide, and the attractions and stalls that the students poured their brains and brawn into were famous as a school specialty. Its scale and content were beyond what most universities could match, and once the new semester began, all the students started getting excited, storing up energy for the big day.

—All of that’s just stuff I heard, by the way.

Since I transferred here this year, I haven’t experienced the Liliana Festival yet, so bear with me. Like the first-years who’ve only been here half a year, I’m a total rookie when it comes to this.

But one thing’s crystal clear.

As the school festival approaches, the atmosphere on campus is definitely shifting.

“You might not feel it yet,”

said the president.

“But our school festival? It’s a real blast. Look forward to it!”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that from all sorts of people. But like you said, since I haven’t experienced it myself, it hasn’t really sunk in yet.”

“Right? So, how big does the Liliana Festival get, you ask?”

Rubbing her chin,

“First off, a week before the festival, all classes at the academy get canceled. Canceled, and pretty much every student jumps into last-minute festival prep.”

“…That’s kind of a big deal, isn’t it? Doesn’t that mess up the curriculum a lot?”

“Nah, it’s more like the kids who’re behind use that week to catch up. It’s a smart system for leveling out the students, in a way.”

“I see. That’s one way to look at it.”

“It’s not just the students who get hyped. The number and quality of visitors are insane too! Every year, tens of thousands show up, so we’ve gotta limit entry or it’d be chaos. Plus, it’s a tradition for VIPs from all sorts of fields to sneak in.”

“I’ve heard idols and famous artists even do free live shows. The stalls are supposed to be super creative too.”

“You bet! It’s a wild party—eating, drinking, singing, dancing. It’s so much fun that some kids even flunk on purpose just to join the festival again!”

The president burst out laughing as she said that.

I get it—listening to her now, I can easily imagine how exciting that day must be. Someone once said the summer festival and Shirahama branch work were like a rehearsal for the school festival, and from someone who’s been through it, that’s probably spot on.

“Man, I’m really looking forward to it!”

The president was in such high spirits, she might start humming any second.

“Crowds pushing in everywhere, stalls sizzling with juicy meat smoke, random events popping up like guerrilla attacks, and that free-spirited vibe piercing the sky—just thinking about it gets me pumped! Man, I can’t wait!”

“Yeah, it’s gonna be fun, huh?”

“Wonder where I’ll have some outdoor fun this year?”

“That kind of line turns pure excitement into something impure and shameless real quick, you know?”

“A foursome sounds nice this time.”

“That’s going too far as a human, don’t you think? Wait, does that mean you did a threesome last year? If so, you’re already beyond human.”

“Maybe I should just do it on some stage. ‘Student Council President Nikaidō Arashi Unveils Her Nighttime Techniques,’ or something. …Oh, wait, the festival’s during the day, so I’d better correct that to daytime techniques, or I’ll get complaints. People these days are so strict about regulations.”

“Forget regulations—the police would raid you for sure. Next time I see you, it’d probably be in a holding cell or a courtroom.”

“Man, I’m so stoked! Can’t October come faster?”

Ignoring my warnings, the president grinned like a kid the day before a field trip.

Well, with her this hyped up, it’s gotta be a real party on the day itself—I try to play it cool, but truth be told, I’m one of those eagerly awaiting it too. It’s probably the most exciting day of the school year, I can feel it in my bones, and there’s no reason not to look forward to it. I definitely wanna enjoy the grand Liliana Festival to the fullest and let loose!

…

………

……………

So, by now, some of you might’ve noticed.

The St. Liliana Academy student council is the top governing body, backed by overwhelming support and control. Naturally, during the school festival, you’d expect them to take the lead, flex their skills, and contribute to the operations.

Yet, me and the other members somehow feel so laid-back—or, to put it bluntly, like we’re treating the festival as someone else’s problem. Doesn’t it kinda seem that way?

Summer break hangover?

Nah, that’s not it. The truth is, it’s half someone else’s problem. Because—

“Uh, umm, excuse me.”

Right then.

A timid voice came as someone cautiously opened the student council room door.

“Sorry to bother you when you’re busy. Could I have just a little of your time, sorry?”

“Sure thing. Come on in.”

The one the president welcomed was a female student.

She had messy braids and huge black-rimmed glasses. Her nervous half-smile was plastered across her face, and I always thought she’s pretty but loses out due to her fashion and personality.

Her name’s Jūjōji Kimika-chan.

A third-year like the student council president—and the head of the Liliana Festival, the cultural festival committee chair.

“What’s up today?”

“Oh, yes, um, it’s about the festival budget.”

“We’ve gone over the budget a million times already and settled it. You can use as much as you want within the limit, and the student council takes responsibility. That’s been the rule here for decades. That’s it, nothing else to say.”

“Yes, that’s true, but to make the Liliana Festival a real success, I think we need just a bit more budget, I mean, we’re getting requests from all sorts of projects, and even if we cut it super tight, it’s obviously not enough, or rather…”

“We can’t handle that much. Isn’t it your job as chair to manage and organize that stuff? What’s the point of being the committee head otherwise?”

“Uuu, that’s true, but…”

“Besides, you barely consulted or contacted us before summer break, so what’s the deal coming to us now? Thinking you can borrow someone else’s help just ’cause you’re in a pinch is a bit too convenient, don’t you think? Why didn’t you bring this up sooner?”

“B-Because the student council president, Nikaidō-san, is scary…”

“Scary? You took on the big role of committee chair, handling the entire Liliana Festival, and you’re saying you slacked off on doing your best because you were scared or terrified?”

“Hauu, sorry, sorry! It’s all my fault, really, sorry! But there’s a lot of circumstances behind this…”

Jūjōji-san bowed repeatedly.

She kinda reminded me of a perpetual underling groveling to the boss, giving off a faint air of melancholy.

“She came again today, huh?”

Whispering to me was Ginbei-chan, who’d been working on the account book next to me.

“Even before summer break, she’d pop in occasionally and get scolded by the president. Probably from now on, we’ll see this same scene every day. Tough gig.”

“Yeah, it’s definitely heading that way with that vibe.”

“That said, Jūjōji Kimika-san over there is in her position because people wanted her there.”

Ginbei-chan shrugged.

“She was chosen in a school-wide election by all the students and approved by our president, no less. Plus, her position is the top authority of the Liliana Festival, the pinnacle of school events. She can’t possibly be incompetent—I firmly believe she’ll lead it to a grand success in the end.”

“Yeah, I believe that too.”

Now then.

I should probably explain this properly—the system of the school festival at St. Liliana Academy.

Namely, despite our student council usually holding strong authority over school management, when it comes to the festival, we’re basically hands-off.

Why’s that?

It’s because the Liliana Festival’s importance stands head and shoulders above other school events. It’s huge, obviously, with high expectations from outsiders too, and the prep takes almost the whole year. It’s not something the already overburdened student council can handle on the side.

So, at some point, the cultural festival committee became a semi-independent entity specialized in running the Liliana Festival.

“I think it’s a rational system.”

That’s Ginbei-chan’s take.

“This school’s power is already too skewed toward the student council. Having the festival committee as a second force isn’t a bad move. It lightens the student council’s load, lets us contribute to the Liliana Festival with more precision, and acts as a safety net if the student council ever goes corrupt and loses support.”

“Got it. They can play cop or judge when needed. Relying on the students’ self-regulation to check power abuses—without leaning on teachers or the board—is a big plus. That’s why the student council’s autonomy is recognized here.”

“After the student council, the festival committee’s the next most respected group in the school.”

“This year’s been smooth, but some years, there’s constant power struggles between the student council and the festival committee, I hear.”

“The two groups are basically rivals, after all. A little skirmish that doesn’t turn into all-out war can actually help them both grow… and balancing that dynamic so well is probably what makes a prestigious school prestigious.”

“Makes sense… By the way, Ginbei-chan.”

“What’s up?”

“Since this is the kind of topic, I get why you’re whispering it to me, but aren’t you a bit too close? We’ve been brushing against each other a bunch, and honestly, it feels like you’re sticking to me a little too much.”

“It’s just a show for everyone else. Don’t mind it.”

“Akiko-chan’s glaring at me with a pouty face, and Nasuhara-san’s twitching her mouth like she wants to say something.”

“If you mind it, you lose.”

Idle talk aside.

Back to the exchange between the president and the committee chair.

“…Alright, I get it.”

The president sighed and nodded.

“In short, you’re saying, ‘Help us out, student council,’ right?”

“Y-Yes, that’s it!”

Jūjōji-san looked like she might cling to her any second.

“We thought it over and discussed it, and we concluded we really need direct support from the student council. Of course, the committee members are great and working hard, but to make the Liliana Festival a hit, we’re missing just one more push. So please, I know it’s a bother, sorry!”

“…I think you’re doing just fine already. From what I know, the committee’s approval rating is steady, their work’s got a good rep, and the students are plenty motivated. I don’t see why you need help.”

“That’s not enough! If we’re doing it, I want it to be the most exciting Liliana Festival in school history, so we can’t skimp on effort. Really, sorry for the trouble!”

The president sighed again.

“What exactly do you want us to do?”

“Yes! We’d like the student council members to put on some attractions. Sorry, but not just one or two—more, if possible.”

“There’s not much time till the main event, you know? Plus, the unwritten rule is that the student council gets to enjoy the Liliana Festival as regular students.”

“Sorry! Please bend that rule, I beg you. Sorry, sorry!”

With a third sigh, Fuu,

scratching the back of her head,

“…Don’t get your hopes up, okay? It’s gonna be a rush job, so even my awesome crew can only do so much.”

she said.

That’s Nikaidō Arashi for you, huh? She’s like chivalry in human form—couldn’t say no when someone begged her. Guess we student council members’ll have to bear the burden. It’s a big event where our worth’s on the line, so even if it means breaking an unwritten rule, stepping up is what the student council’s about.

“Sorry, sorry! Thank you, thank you!”

Jūjōji-san was so happy she nearly cried.

So, case closed, or so it seemed,

“Oh, and sorry, President. There’s actually one more request.”

“…Oh, come on, there’s more? Give me a break.”

“Uuu, sorry! But this is really important too!”

“Fine, fine, let’s hear it. I’ll at least listen.”

“Yes, sorry! So, um,”

fidgeting and glancing up like a student confessing a mistake to a teacher,

“We’d like to borrow someone from the student council, just Roshi-style, just one person.”

“Borrow a hand, you mean?”

“We’d like someone from the student council to help out with the festival committee… or something like that.”

“So, pick one of my cute subordinates and send them over to the festival committee?”

“Just to help out. Just that.”

The president didn’t even try to hide her exasperation.

Jūjōji-san frantically waved her hands and head to smooth things over.

“It’s not a permanent transfer or anything, just someone to act as a liaison between the student council and the committee, that’s all!”

“I get that it’d be better to coordinate closely if we’re helping out, and if we’re helping, we’ve gotta make it a success. But still…”

“I know the two groups are supposed to stay out of each other’s business as a matter of etiquette, but just this once, for the school’s sake. Please, I beg you. Sorry, sorry!”

“Yare yare…”

The president let her annoyance slip out loud.

“I get it, but I can’t give you an answer right now. Let’s take it back and think it over—for now, how about you head out? We’ve got stuff to do, and I’m sure you do too.”

“Y-Yes! Understood! Really, sorry for the trouble, sorry!”

Bowing over and over, the committee chair left the student council room as humbly as she’d come.

“Well, well,” the president said, ruffling her hair.

The other members exchanged looks,

“She’s bringing up all sorts now, huh?”

“Guess the situation’s changed. It’s not that surprising, happens all the time.”

“Maybe things didn’t go so well over the summer break?”

Nasuhara-san, Ginbei-chan, and Akiko-chan each chimed in.

To varying degrees, they all seemed to share the president’s sentiment. Well, getting hit with a request like this out of the blue—and an unwelcome one at that—nobody’s gonna be thrilled.

“I said we’d take it back and think it over,”

Stopping her hair-ruffling, the president laid out her conclusion.

“If they’re not handling it well, we’ve got no choice but to step in. It’s a pain for the student council to lose manpower, but we can’t just ignore it. Let’s agree to the committee’s demands. The question is who to sacrifice—Himenokōji Akito-kun.”

“Yes?”

“Will you go?”

“Not thrilled about it, but sure.”

I nodded with a wry smile.

I’m technically supporting the Himenokōji family finances and juggling high school and writing. I’m already cutting sleep to manage school and my author gig, so taking on more isn’t exactly welcome, but,

“I’ll do it. My title’s student council secretary assistant deputy or whatever—basically a handyman for odd jobs. If I don’t step up here, it’d feel anticlimactic.”

“Yeah, that’s how it is, huh?”

“Better me than losing a full-fledged member, and there’s not much choice anyway. I’ll take it on gladly.”

“Alright. Sorry, but I’m counting on you… Anyone else got objections?”

At the president’s formality check, only Akiko-chan grumbled, “Does this mean less time with Onii-chan again?” but that was just her going through the motions too. She’s a champion brocon, but she’s not the type to misread the room in a situation like this.

“Work out the specifics of how you’ll help out with them, Himenokōji Akito-kun. I’ll leave the details to you.”

“Got it.”

“Looks like things are gonna get busy. We’ve gotta brainstorm student council attractions on a tight schedule too, so it’ll be hectic for a while.”

With that, the president stood up.

“I’m heading out to coordinate some stuff right now. Take care of the rest. Don’t forget to think up attraction ideas alongside regular student council work… Oh, and Himenokōji Akito-kun.”

At the door, the president beckoned me over.

Wondering what was up, I hurried over, and she grinned.

“Hey, sorry for sticking you with the short straw. If I’d seen this coming, I could’ve handled it better.”

“Don’t worry about it. I wanna help make the festival a success too. If I can pitch in, I’m happy to.”

“Hearing that makes it easier on me. I’ll pay you back for this someday, so look forward to it.”

“No, no, don’t worry about it. You don’t need to pay me back.”

“One night in bed cover it?”

“Nope, I’ll pass!”

“Greedy, huh? Alright, how about two nights then?”

“I said I’ll pass! I kept saying not to worry about it because I knew this was coming!”

“Fine, fine, three nights! Unlimited rounds, all-you-can-handle! No complaints now, right!?”

“Listen to me!”

“Kakka! Just kidding!”

She slapped my shoulder hard and laughed her head off.

Passing by me as I stood there dumbfounded, the president left the student council room in a hurry.

“…Same old harassment queen, huh?”

Back at my seat, Akiko-chan said with an exasperated look.

“If you took the sleazy part out of that president, all that’d be left is air, I bet. And to think she’d pull that stunt on my Onii-chan, right in front of me—it’s beyond outrageous. Onii-chan’s mine forever and ever, but she doesn’t get what ownership means!”

“Yeah, sure.”

“? What’s wrong, Onii-chan? You look kinda confused.”

“Huh? No, not really. Nothing like that.”

“No, no, you can’t fool Akiko-chan’s eyes. That’s definitely the face of someone puzzled and deep in thought.”

“No way. It’s just your imagination.”

“Oh, I get it. You’ve finally realized how cute your little sister is and decided to sneak into my room tonight, right? Hehe, you can’t trick Akiko-chan’s eyes!”

“Your eyes are blind as heck.”

…So, that’s the banter I had with my little sister. But honestly, I was kinda impressed inside. Akiko-chan acts all lovestruck and blind, but she catches what matters—she’s right, I was confused.

Why? Because as she left, the president whispered to me.

“Be careful.”

That’s what she said

With an unusually serious face. In a voice only I could hear.