COTE : Is Talent Everything? (Rewrite)-Chapter 113 - 109: The Future Ahead

"Good morning, senpai~♡"

"...Morning."

When I woke up, the first thing I saw was Amasawa in an apron, and the delicious smell of breakfast wafting from the kitchen.

"Thanks for the meal."

"No problem at all~! It's my day today, after all!"

Amasawa's "my day" referred to the schedule we'd set after the three of them had... ahem... settled things.

After the discussion about living together with Arisu, both Hiyori and Amasawa had insisted on moving into my room too.

But that was impossible. My room was barely big enough for two, let alone four.

Not to mention, coed dorming was outright banned.

"Ugh... Only getting to stay in senpai's room twice a week is so depressing..."

"Hiyori and Arisu said the same thing."

"Those two should just give up and let me have him~"

In the end, the compromise Arisu proposed was that each of them would stay over twice a week.

Today was Amasawa's turn.

(Thankfully, I'd managed to keep Sundays for myself.)

"You said you wanted fish, right? So I made fish for breakfast~"

"Oh, perfect for the morning."

Grilled salted fish, white rice, miso soup, and pickles—a full-course meal.

I was seriously lucky to get such a high-quality breakfast.

Since I still had time, I took my time eating... but I noticed Amasawa was in an unusually good mood.

She wasn't even eating—just staring at me with a grin.

"What's up?"

"Hmm~? What do you mean?"

"You're way too cheerful."

Resting her chin on her hands, she kept smiling at me.

"Can't help it~"

"Why's that?"

"Because I'm living the life I've always dreamed of! Of course I'm happy!"

"Dreamed of"—was she talking about her time in the White Room?

"Good mornings with senpai~♡ Good nights with senpai~♡ This life is seriously the best~♡"

"...You'll kill the mood."

I sipped my miso soup as Amasawa stared at me with a lovesick expression.

I hadn't realized she was this happy about our arrangement.

"Oh yeah, senpai, what's your class doing for the cultural festival?"

I hesitated for a second—but since it'd be public soon anyway, I answered.

"A Japanese-style maid café."

"Booooring! That means you're not even participating!"

"No, I'm on customer service duty. If you're free, come by."

Instantly, Amasawa's attitude flipped. She leaned forward, eyes sparkling.

"Wait, seriously!? In a kimono!?"

"Yeah. I'm getting one custom-made."

"So I get to see senpai in a kimono serving guests!?"

"I guess... that's one way to put it?"

"I'm going! Absolutely going!!"

Her excited response made me blink, but she quickly calmed down, still beaming.

She was genuinely looking forward to it.

Honestly, I doubted I'd attract many customers, so even having just Amasawa as a guest was a relief.

---

"Horikita's class is doing a maid café, I heard!"

"Eh~? Seriously~?"

The moment I arrived at the classroom, I overheard Ishizaki and a few others loudly discussing it in the hallway—clearly within earshot of Horikita's class.

Ike, panicking, immediately rushed back inside.

"Heh, Ike's gonna go report it."

"You're being pretty blatant."

After the sports festival alliance, Ryūen's and Horikita's classes had continued cooperating for the cultural festival.

At first glance, exposing each other's events might seem like betrayal—but it was actually part of the strategy.

"By competing with similar events, we can boost both classes' sales dramatically."

"Still pisses me off that it was Ayanokōji's idea."

"Knowing you, you've got more than just exposure planned, right?"

Ryūen wouldn't stop at just revealing their event. I wouldn't be surprised if he'd thrown in a bet like "Let's wager points on the winner."

Instead of answering, Ryūen smirked and headed to Horikita's class with Ishizaki in tow.

"Leader. Got a sec?"

Once again, Tokitō stopped me before I could enter the classroom.

"You wanna talk about the cultural festival?"

"...As expected of the leader. You read me like a book. What's the plan? If you've got a strategy, use me."

"No, I'm not making a move this time."

Tokitō barely reacted—he'd probably anticipated this answer.

"In fact, I don't plan to act in any future exams where cooperation is forced either."

"Why?"

"To maintain our current pace. Our class is on the rise. Internal conflict is the last thing we need."

Tokitō's goal was to make me the class leader and overthrow Ryūen.

But the right opportunity hadn't come yet.

"It'll be a long game, but if another exam like the Unanimous Vote happens, your chance will come. Until then, stand by."

"I'll follow your lead, leader. But if you ever need help, just say the word."

Tokitō waved and left.

Just then, Ryūen returned from Horikita's class—perfect timing.

"How'd it go?"

"Got Suzune to bite on the challenge."

"Big news, Hikigaya! If we outsell them, we get 5 million private points!"

Ishizaki shouted excitedly.

I'd figured Ryūen wouldn't stop at just exposing their event—a bet like this was inevitable.

"And if we lose, you're planning to pretend the bet never happened, right?"

This was Ryūen's improvisation, after all.

If we won, we'd take the points fair and square.

If we lost, he'd weasel out of it.

"Who knows?"

Ryūen just smirked—but his expression told me everything.

---

After school, an unexpected rumor spread from Nagumo's Class 3-A.

They'd apparently rented out the gymnasium for a haunted house-maze hybrid.

"The confidence of the reigning champions—no need to compete for Class Points."

They'd even started a soft opening for practice. A smart move for such a large venue.

Intrigued, I headed to the gym after school.

The lights were dimmed, creating an eerie atmosphere.

After signing in and hearing the rules (no phones, no stopping, no shouting, no touching props), I stepped inside.

The haunted house was narrow, with poor visibility.

As I turned left at a sign, a shadow flickered at the edge of my vision.

"Wah—GYAHHH!?"

But instead of me screaming, the "ghost" who'd jumped out tripped and faceplanted.

"Ow, ow, ow!!"

It was Asahina Nazuna, a third-year from Class A.

Assuming it was part of the act, I hadn't helped—but in the dark, it was easy to miss your footing.

"You okay, Nazuna-senpai?"

"Ah, thanks... Oww..."

She couldn't even stand, so I crouched to check her ankle.

"Let me see."

"I-I'm fine! Just go ahead—ow!"

"No use toughing it out. You'll just make it worse."

"...Sorry."

Her ankle was already swelling. She needed treatment ASAP.

"We should go to the nurse's office. Can you walk?"

"Umm... Ngh... Probably not."

She'd tried to get up but slumped back down, embarrassed.

If walking was too painful, I'd have to carry her without jostling her.

"If you're okay with it, I can carry you."

"B-But..."

"You don't want to miss the festival, right?"

"...Then, please."

She'd wanted to handle it herself, but this was beyond her.

"How should I carry you? Bridal-style or piggyback?"

"Y-You're asking!?"

"I can't just decide without permission."

"...Bridal-style."

I obliged, scooping her up.

"I-I'm not too heavy?"

"If anything, you're light."

Compared to Hiyori and Arisu, the difference was negligible—probably just a matter of chest size.

As I carried her back, other students mistook us for part of the act.

"We're heading out now. Might draw some attention—is that okay?"

"Y-Yeah! If it's with Hachiman, I don't mind!"

Her pain seemed to have dulled, and she was smiling again. She'd probably recover by the festival.

Just as we reached the exit, the curtain parted—and Nishino walked in.

"Huh? What're you doing?"

"Nishino...?"

She blinked at me and the girl in my arms.

Then it hit me.

Nishino wouldn't come here alone. She had no interest in haunted houses.

But recently, I'd seen Hiyori reading horror novels in the library.

"Nishino-san, you didn't sign the consent form..."

Right on cue, Hiyori appeared behind her—and froze.

"Why is your timing always the worst!?"

"I'd like to know that myself..."

"Huh? Huh? Ehhh?"

Nazuna-senpai was understandably confused.

"I'm taking Nazuna-senpai to the nurse's office."

"Oh, she's hurt? Hiyori, don't glare like that."

"...It's fine. I'll just have him do the same for me later."

Her eyes screamed, "You'd better."

I nodded quickly. The pressure was intense.

"Well, we're off."

I pride myself on being quick to escape danger.

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

Ignoring the daggers in my back, I stepped outside.

Even in the dim gym light, we drew stares.

"O-Oh man, this is kinda embarrassing..."

"I'll hurry."

I sped through the gym to the nurse's office.

The nurse gave me a weird look for carrying her in, but I explained the situation and sat her on a bed.

"Thanks, Hachiman. Sorry for the trouble."

"No problem."

It wasn't a big deal—nothing worth thanking me for.

As I turned to leave, she stopped me.

"Hey, if you've got time... can we talk a bit?"

"Talk?"

"Yeah. Just talk."

"...Sure."

"Great! Sit here."

I had no plans, so I obliged.

If it was just small talk, that'd be nice—but her tone suggested otherwise.

"Hachiman... what do you think of Masamune?"

"What do I think?"

"Like, he's totally hands-off with the festival. He was all over Ayanokōji before, but now he's gone quiet."

"Why ask me?"

"Hmm... 'cause you're the one he's targeting now, even though he's stopped competing?"

"Targeting" was a harsh way to put it.

...Though not entirely wrong.

"I can't speak for Nagumo-senpai. His interest in me is probably just a passing phase."

"...Nah, I don't think so."

Her words carried weight.

"What about you, Nazuna-senpai?"

"Me?"

She blinked at the counter-question.

"How do you see Nagumo-senpai?"

"...This might make him mad, but... I think he's pitiful."

If this were one of Nagumo's lackeys, they'd have sugarcoated it.

But Nazuna just said it, lowering her eyes.

"Haha... Funny, right? Calling the unstoppable student council president 'pitiful'?"

"No, I agree."

Her eyes widened slightly—she hadn't expected that.

"Nagumo-senpai's talent is undeniable. His track record proves that."

This school tested more than just strategy—it required all-around excellence.

Nagumo had climbed to the top of both the student council and Class A.

"He loves being number one. That's why he's fought so hard here."

"A man of his word. But if you asked me if he's truly the best, I'd say no."

"Why?"

"Because he's never had worthy opponents."

It wasn't that Nagumo was weak.

It was that his opponents were weaker.

"That's why he fixated on Horikita Manabu and Ayanokōji. Without them, he had no one to satisfy him."

This was why Nazuna called him "pitiful."

Surrounded by inferiors, Nagumo had never been challenged.

By the time he looked back, no one was left standing.

Just weaklings who'd given up before even trying.

"You were worried about Nagumo-senpai stopping in his tracks, weren't you?"

If Nagumo had gone quiet, it wasn't hard to guess Ayanokōji had rejected him.

And if Ayanokōji refused, it made sense Nagumo would turn to me.

"That's why you stopped me today, right? Hoping I'd challenge him?"

"...You see through everything, don't you?"

Nazuna's feelings for Nagumo went beyond mere affection.

"Sorry. For stopping you with such a half-baked idea."

She hadn't outright asked me to fight him. Her thoughts must've been complicated.

"I respect that. Caring enough to think that far for someone else is admirable. You've got nothing to apologize for."

"...Really, you're just..."

This was sincere. She'd done something I couldn't—that deserved praise.

"Haaah... Seriously, Hachiman, you're just..."

Covering her face with both hands, she sighed deeply.

"You just showed me both depth and manliness at the same time."

"Where'd you get that from?"

Nothing I'd said implied either.

"Most people would've gotten mad. You saw through my plan but still said you respected me. Most would've demanded an apology."

"You didn't do anything worth apologizing for. All I said was that I respected your thought process."

"...This is bad."

"Bad? As in, I'm too soft and you're disappointed?"

"No, I just... ngh... this is bad."

As she muttered, I grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands away from her face.

"You're bright red."

Our eyes met.

"...This is really bad. I already liked you, but... now I'm falling all over again."

"I'm flattered."

"...That composure—I'll break it someday. I haven't forgotten you like older women."

I'd have preferred she forgot that.

(No, I was the idiot for slipping up.)

We'd talked for a while. Since I was just accompanying her, I couldn't stay forever.

But before leaving, I had one more thing to say.

"Don't worry. Nagumo-senpai will be fine."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said. He won't just coast until graduation."

She didn't need to fret. I'd already set something in motion long ago.

"Wait, are you saying you'll...?"

"No, I won't be fighting him."

Her confusion deepened.

"Ever since interacting with Nagumo-senpai, I've had a new interest."

At first, I'd ignored Nagumo entirely. But something had sparked in me.

"You could call it a test case, but... I'll leave this to Ayanokōji."

"Ayanokōji? Why him?"

"Because fighting Nagumo-senpai myself wouldn't be fulfilling."

Well, that wasn't entirely accurate.

"Wouldn't be fulfilling" was a metaphor.

"I don't get it... But Ayanokōji's been avoiding Masamune this whole time. How will you convince him?"

"I'll handle that part."

She wouldn't be satisfied, but that was all I could say.

As I stood to leave, she grabbed my wrist—but I dodged before she could pull me closer.

"Huh?"

"Sorry. Reflex. What were you trying to do?"

"Umm... a thank-you kiss...?"

She was blushing furiously, despite being the one to suggest it.

What man wouldn't want a kiss from a beautiful senpai?

"You'll really do it?"

"Uu... I want to."

"Then go ahead."

...I really did end up in these situations with older women.

I sat back down and waited.

Unlike before, Nazuna-senpai had no momentum—just a soft peck that echoed in the nurse's office.

In high spirits, I left the nurse's office—only to find a flood of missed calls on my phone.

All from Ryūen.

I called back immediately.

"...Hey, you bastard."

"Huh? That's really you, Ryūen...?"

His voice was uncharacteristically shaky—I barely recognized him.

"Did you... do something to piss off Hiyori?"

"......Maybe. Is this related?"

"...Thanks to you, I'm getting the brunt of it. I just came to the library, damn it..."

"...Sorry."

"Whatever. Just get your ass here and deal with Hiyori. ...I can't take this anymore."

The call ended.

Wait, hold on.

If Ryūen of all people was saying that...

What the hell did Hiyori do!?

---

On his way back from university, Horikita Manabu—who usually walked home with his friend Tachibana—had declined her offer today to visit a certain store.

"A disguise... is too risky. Hiding my face won't be easy."

He was searching for something to conceal his identity.

The only clue was the cultural festival.

If anyone else recognized him, fine—but he'd promised his sister, Horikita Suzune, they wouldn't meet until after graduation.

"I'll just have to take off my glasses."

Despite being hailed as the greatest student council president in history, Horikita Manabu was clearly out of his depth here.

"If Nagumo spots me, it'll be trouble."

The thought of his junior crossed his mind.

He had no intention of meeting Nagumo either—that, too, could wait until after graduation.

"Tch... Glasses it is..."

For now, no one knew why he'd decided to attend the cultural festival.

=================================

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