With November here and the weather getting noticeably colder, Yu Ishigami was attending a meeting of the disciplinary committee in preparation for the school festival.
"...These are the main duties of the Disciplinary Committee for the school festival. We will be able to borrow a few volunteers from the senior high school to help out on the day of the festival, so please keep that in mind."
"...We're really short-staffed."
As I muttered something while listening to Iino's remarks, I made eye contact with the Great Buddha sitting next to me.
"Well, the disciplinary committee isn't exactly popular... and Ishigami handles the paperwork, so I actually have a lot more free time."
"Is that all there is to it...?"
"If there are no further questions, we will conclude the meeting. Could someone please take this application form to the senior high school disciplinary committee...?"
"Oh, then I'll take it."
"If Ishigami's okay with it, I'll ask you to do it, but you don't have to force yourself, you know? It's actually the disciplinary committee's job."
"It's okay. Besides, I know someone in the high school... Wouldn't it be better if I went rather than someone who finds it difficult to go?"
"Thanks, Ishigami-senpai!"
I replied to my junior colleague's words with "It's fine" and took the documents.
"Okay, I'm off."
"Ishigami, should I wait for you?"
"It's okay. It might take some time, so you can go ahead and head home. Well, everyone, good work."
I left the classroom in response to the Buddha's words.
"..."
I recall this as I walk down the corridor. One day, near the end of October, Ogino, whose whereabouts had been unknown, turned himself in to the police station. A few days before Ogino turned himself in, I heard rumors that all of his bad friends had turned themselves in...but what happened remains a mystery.
The next day... I was summoned by Iino and Daibutsu.
...…
"I think I'm okay now. Ishigami, um... ah, thank you..."
"Don't worry about it, I did it on my own."
"B-But even so!... It's a fact that it put a burden on Ishigami."
"Iino is really serious."
"What's wrong?"
"No, that's just like Iino."
"Oh, I see..."
"Ishigami..."
I turned around because the Great Buddha seemed to tug at my sleeve.
"Thank you for protecting me..."
"Hey, don't worry about the Great Buddha. I might not be much help, but I'll be there to help if you're in trouble."
"Hmm... that's not true. I'm counting on you, thank you."
That day, the three of us made a detour on our way home. I expected Iino to say something, but it seemed that stopping at a burger shop was indeed the right decision. Spending time on the way home with friends, making detours... I was experiencing days I couldn't have imagined before, but a strange feeling of unease lingered in my mind.
...I only found out what was bothering me on my way back from submitting my application to the senior high school's disciplinary committee.
...…
"..."
(Hmm, I didn't see the student council president and the others again today. Well, I guess that's to be expected since they're mostly working in the student council room.)
As I was thinking about the current student council members, whom I still haven't even had the chance to meet in person, I heard a strange voice.
"Guh... Ugh..."
"...yeah?"
Thinking that perhaps someone was suffering from a sudden illness, I moved towards the source of the sound... It seemed the voice was coming from the bushes in the courtyard. I moved aside the obstructing plants and peered into the bushes...
"Sniff... ugh... why me... ugh... always, always... cough..." *sobbing*
""
(T...Tsundere senpai is so cute!!?)
At that moment, a shockwave hit Ishigami's mind!
"!!"
(Ahhh! That's it! So that's what was bothering me!!)
Shijo Maki! About six months later... she will experience the hellish situation of her best friend and the object of her affection starting a relationship. She is a young lady of the Shinomiya bloodline. Her old-fashioned tsundere remarks are causing her relationship with him to stall, and she is feeling down about it all... It is at this moment that Ishigami Yuu happens to witness it!
"Are you alright?"
"Egh... uh?"
"..."
(I'm absolutely certain she was crying because of Tsubasa-senpai...)
Yu Ishigami immediately understood the situation.
What will a reunion with an old friend bring to Yu Ishigami...?