COTE : Is Talent Everything? (Rewrite)-Chapter 95 - 92: Footsteps of Upheavel

Summer break is over, and today marks the start of the second semester of our second year. Looking at the three-year school life as a whole, we're about to reach the halfway point.

I tie my necktie and slip my arms through my sleeves. Checking my reflection in the mirror, I adjust my hair and make sure my appearance is presentable before heading out. On the way, I coincidentally run into Arisu, and we exchange greetings as we walk to school together.

"I'm glad to hear that Sakayanagi-san has returned as chairman."

"Yes. Father also wanted to thank you, Hikigaya-kun."

"Me? I didn't do anything."

"Did you really think I wouldn't notice? On the final day of the deserted island exam, you were the one who took down Acting Chairman Tsukishiro, weren't you?"

Arisu smirks confidently, as if she's pieced together what happened during the exam. She probably doesn't know the exact details, but she's made an educated guess.

"...So you figured it out. Well, I punched him in the face for you and Sakayanagi-san too."

"That's delightful to hear. Could it be that you took such a risky action for my sake and Father's?"

"Maybe partly."

"Fufu. You're not very honest, are you?"

I don't regret helping Ayanokouji back then. Everything I did was for my own sake. But I can't deny that the shadows of Arisu and Sakayanagi were also in the back of my mind.

"By the way, I took a look at your OAA, Hikigaya-kun. It's improved quite a bit. And you're incredibly popular among the first-years, I hear."

"'Incredibly' is an overstatement. It's just because of our high ranking in the deserted island exam. It'll die down soon."

"I hope so."

"...What's with that vague phrasing?"

I give her a suspicious look, but Arisu only smiles faintly without answering. What exactly is she trying to say...?

"Ah! Found you!!"

As we near the school, a loud voice calls out from the direction we're walking. Ahead of us are Sudou and Ayanokouji, with Karuizawa happily trotting up to walk beside Ayanokouji.

"It seems Ayanokouji-kun and Karuizawa-san are openly associating now."

"Yeah. They'll probably announce that they're dating soon."

Ayanokouji and Karuizawa are together.

This fact will spread through the school in no time. High schoolers love gossip about relationships, after all.

"Still, lovers, huh? ...I wish the man beside me would take a hint."

"Again with the vague phrasing."

I definitely heard Arisu mutter that under her breath.

.........

Once in the classroom, I chat lightly with Ishizaki and Hiyori while waiting for the bell. Then, an unexpected person comes to greet me, drawing the attention of the entire class.

"Yo, Leader."

"Morning, Tokitou. Running late? The teacher's about to come."

"Sorry, sorry. Still shaking off the summer break vibes. But I made it, so cut me some slack."

With a casual wave, Tokitou heads back to his seat. Ishizaki and Hiyori, who had been chatting at my desk, are left gaping in shock.

"Eh... Huh? Wait, Tokitou and Hikigaya are close? And he called you Leader...?"

"...I'm surprised."

Under their intense stares, I brush it off, saying we interacted a bit over summer break. The curious glances from the rest of the class quickly scatter after hearing that. I've attention for now, but it's only temporary. I should tell Tokitou to keep our interactions low-key from now on.

Soon, Sakagami-sensei arrives and begins speaking just as he always does.

"This second semester will have several major events for you all. First, there's the sports festival, just like last year. It'll be held in October as a test of your physical abilities."

Our class has a lot of athletic students, but Hiyori and others like Kaneda, who aren't as physically inclined, listen with tense expressions.

"Then, in November, the school will hold its first-ever cultural festival—a new initiative for the Advanced Nurturing High School. Details will be announced later, just like with the sports festival, but you'll need to start preparing from September onward."

Balancing sports festival training and cultural festival preparations means this semester will undoubtedly be busy.

"The cultural festival will host many outside guests. And for this event, all classes across all grades will compete based on total sales. You can propose as many ideas as you want, but the budget is limited, so plan accordingly. Check your tablets for specifics."

Cultural Festival Overview

- Each second-year class will receive 5,000 Private Points per student, exclusively for cultural festival preparations, to use freely within the set limit.

- Additional funds can be earned through contributions like student council service, club activities, or other achievements.

- Initial and additional funds do not count toward final sales, and any unused points will be forfeited.

- 1st to 4th place classes: 100 Class Points.

- 5th to 8th place classes: 50 Class Points.

- 9th to 12th place classes: No change in Class Points.

The rewards are attainable for most classes, with no penalties for lower ranks. Placing in the top eight would be a solid result.

"W-Wow, this feels like a classic cultural festival setup."

Ishizaki's reaction isn't unwarranted. It's almost too straightforward—enough to make you suspect there's a catch.

"Also, securing a good location on campus will be crucial. For example, setting up near the main entrance where guests are guaranteed to pass is one strategy. If multiple classes want the same spot, the right will go to the highest bidder in a point-based auction."

In other words, overspending on a prime location could leave you with little budget for your actual event.

"That covers the cultural festival's rules and structure. While active preparations won't start until after the sports festival, use your time from today onward to discuss ideas, budget allocation, and other details."

The more time we invest, the better our event's quality will be.

......

After school, most classmates stay behind—except those with club activities.

Of course, it's for the first discussion about November's cultural festival. Kaneda, Ryuuen, and Katsuragi take the lead, while I settle into the role of a passive listener with nothing particular to contribute.

"First, we need to decide on an event. Budget allocation is important, but we can't start without a concept."

"Agreed. Food-related ideas could work, but ingredient costs would eat into the budget."

Kaneda and Katsuragi steer the conversation. Several suggestions are made, but none stand out.

Ryuuen, sitting at the center, hasn't spoken yet—and no one dares to ask him. Maybe that's why Katsuragi's eyes land on me.

"Hikigaya, do you have any ideas?"

"Eh..."

Being put on the spot makes me tense.

"Why me?"

"No reason. I just thought you might have a good suggestion."

"Indeed. Hikigaya-san, please share if you have any ideas."

Stop looking at me with those expectant eyes.

Even if you call it a "good suggestion," I don't know much about cultural festivals. The only thing that comes to mind is...

"Well... how about a maid café?"

If there's a classic cultural festival event, this is it. It's the only idea I know that hasn't been mentioned yet.

...Not that I actually know what it entails.

The moment I suggest it, several students leap to their feet.

"Hikigaya, you genius!!"

"I've been wanting to suggest that but couldn't!"

"As expected of Hikigaya!"

Led by Ishizaki, the boys shower me with inexplicable praise. Do they not notice the icy glares from the girls?

"Th-That's unexpected. I never thought Hikigaya would propose something like that..."

Katsuragi's expression stiffens, as if I've suggested something outrageous. Did I say something wrong?

"Kuku, not bad. A maid café, huh?"

"Eh!? Ryuuen-san!?"

Ryuuen, of all people, seems to like my idea.

Is a maid café something Ryuuen would enjoy?

Now that he's finally spoken, Ryuuen stands up as the class leader.

"Relax, I'm not saying we decide right now. The other classes won't settle on anything today either."

"Still, deciding early gives us an advantage."

"True. But rushing and half-assing it defeats the purpose."

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Ryuuen smirks and addresses the class.

"First, come up with ideas on your own and pitch them to me. If it's good, I'll reward you."

It's a solid approach. Offering incentives will boost everyone's motivation.

The discussion continues, and it's decided that proposals will be presented to Ryuuen—and me. If an idea has potential, we'll move forward with it.

That's all well and good, but...

Why am I included in this?

......

About a week after the cultural festival announcement, as I'm about to leave the classroom, I'm stopped.

"Please!! You'd look absolutely perfect in this, Shiina-san!"

Kinoshita-san from my class bows deeply, pleading with me.

The reason she's so insistent is that she's come up with an idea for the cultural festival. She wants my help—or rather, she wants me to wear a certain outfit.

"I understand, but... wouldn't someone else be more suited?"

"There's no one more suited than you, Shiina-san! Compared to you, no one else would look right!"

"Even if you say that, I've never worn anything like this before."

The outfit Kinoshita-san wants me to wear is, well, a maid dress. Her idea seems to be something along the lines of a maid café.

Seeing my hesitation, Kinoshita-san mutters, "In that case..." before bowing again and saying:

"I promise Hikigaya-kun will think you look amazing too!! I swear on it!"

"!"

Hearing those words, I take another look at the maid dress.

Now that I think about it, Hikigaya-kun was the one who first suggested a maid café. Maybe this is the kind of thing he likes. If so...

"...Alright. If the first person to see it is Hikigaya-kun, then..."

"Yay!! Thank you, Shiina-san!"

I can't shake the feeling I've been played, but since the proposal just needs to be shown to Ryuuen-kun or Hikigaya-kun, no one else will see me in it.

I want Hikigaya-kun to see it, and Ryuuen-kun probably wouldn't care much anyway.

The plan still needs to be finalized, so I won't be showing Hikigaya-kun just yet.

"Phew. Time to head to Hikigaya-kun's room."

Lately, I've been staying over at his place more often. I try not to be a bother, but whenever we're alone, I end up clinging to him.

And I'm completely happy with that.

But there's one small frustration.

"...Did he forget about our promise?"

Before the summer exam started, we made a promise—but there's been no sign of him following through.

"Sh-Should I be the one to make a move...?"

At times like this, I wish I were more feminine.

I'm short, and my chest isn't particularly big. If I had a more womanly figure, maybe Hikigaya-kun would've made a move by now.

No, I should focus on becoming someone he'd see as a woman. Maybe I should look into outfits guys like.

Just then, my phone buzzes with a message. When I check it, my hands tremble slightly.

"Again...?"

It's another message from Okabe-kun, one of many I've received over the past few days.

The way he words it, it's hard to believe he just wants to hang out.

"...Creepy."

I know it's wrong to think that, but I can't help the chill that runs down my spine.

I send a vague reply and quicken my pace to Hikigaya-kun's room, trying to shake off the discomfort.

.....

On a university campus, two students walk home together.

A petite girl with purple hair tied in a bun and a mature-looking bespectacled boy with black hair.

Horikita Manabu and Tachibana Akane, graduates of Advanced Nurturing High School, are deep in thought about something.

"Did you receive an invitation too, Horikita-kun?"

"Yeah. It arrived this morning."

"I was surprised. A cultural festival at that school? It seems they're only sending invitations to former student council members."

That school was always strictly closed off from the outside world. Even during Manabu's time, such an event was unheard of.

"Are you planning to go, Tachibana?"

"I'd love to, but it clashes with an important lecture series..."

Tachibana sighs dejectedly.

She wants to see her underclassmen, but more than that, she'd hoped to spend time with Manabu, given their still-undefined relationship.

"What about you, Horikita-kun? Are you going?"

At her question, Manabu stops walking.

"You're going, right? You're worried about your sister, aren't you?"

Manabu glances at the invitation, then shakes his head slightly and tucks it back into his bag.

"I'm not. I decided I wouldn't see my sister until after graduation."

"Really? But it's such a rare opportunity. Oh, right—"

Tachibana adds casually, out of genuine kindness:

"You'll get to see Hikigaya-kun too."

At that name, Manabu twitches—but it's so slight that Tachibana doesn't notice.

"I've said it before. I'm not going."

His tone is firm, so Tachibana doesn't press further as they resume walking.

"Then I'll just throw this invitation away."

"...Right."

"Ah, there's a trash bin over there. I'll toss mine. Let me throw yours out too."

"!"

As she smiles and reaches for it, Manabu reflexively hides the invitation behind his back.

"No... I already disposed of mine. No need to worry."

"Eh? But I just saw you put it in your bag—"

"I threw it away. That's what I said."

His sharp gaze, reminiscent of his student council president days, makes Tachibana flinch.

"R-Right. My mistake."

She hurries off to the trash bin.

But she doesn't see it.

Behind her back, Horikita Manabu pumps his fist in silent victory.

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

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