Shimizu-san and the Class’s Project 2

“So about the plan to go around the cultural festival with Onii-chan, the places I recommend are...”

“Uh, Teruno?”

“What’s wrong, Kei Onee-chan?”

“Why are you trying to help me make plans to go around the cultural festival with Hondō? Don’t you want to go around the festival with Hondō too?”

“Kei Onee-chan, are you serious?”

I wish she wouldn’t look at me with such an exasperated expression. freewēbnoveℓ.com

It’s tough to be looked at like that by Teruno.

“...Is that not it?”

“It’s not completely wrong. I think it would be fun to go around the cultural festival with Onii-chan. But I want Kei Onee-chan to take the chance.”

“Why would you prioritize me over yourself?”

“I like both Onii-chan and Kei Onee-chan. So I’m happy to see you two get along.”

“Teruno...”

Somehow, she seems to have grown up a bit since I last saw her.

“I’ll be going around the cultural festival with mom, so don’t worry. So, Kei Onee-chan, do your best to get closer to Onii-chan!”

“See, even Teruno says so. Now you have no choice but to invite him.”

“But if it’s a bother to him...”

“Like I said before, it’ll be fine if it’s Kei Onee-chan. And if he really doesn’t want to, Onii-chan will say so. But I don’t think Onii-chan would refuse if Kei Onee-chan invites him.”

Indeed, Hondō is kind, but he’s also someone who can firmly say what needs to be said when necessary.

“...Alright, I’ll try inviting him.”

“Kei Onee-chan, do your best! I’m rooting for you!”

“I’m also supporting you.”

“Me too!”

“You just focus on the booth.”

“Am I being treated a bit too roughly here?”

Thanks to Teruno, I made up my mind to invite Hondō to go around the cultural festival.

***

A few minutes after separating from Shimizu-san and the others, I arrived in front of the Astronomy Club’s room.

Just as I was about to open the door, it opened on its own.

“Huh, Daiki-kun? What’s up?”

There stood Ai-san. The door had opened on its own because Ai-san had opened it from the inside.

“I came to pick up the script I left behind yesterday.”

“The one on the desk? That was yours, Daiki-kun?”

“I think so.”

“It’s good that you noticed before the performance.”

“Yes. Ai-san, why are you in the clubroom?”

“That’s because...”

“I’m the one who insisted on calling her here.”

Looking into the clubroom where the voice came from, I saw Kaho-san in her casual clothes.

“Kaho-san.”

“We haven’t seen each other much at Eito lately, so it feels like it’s been a while.”

Kaho-san smiled happily.

Shimizu-san and I had reduced our shifts at Eito for the week leading up to the cultural festival.

“Ah, shoot.”

“What’s wrong, Ai-san?”

“I told Kaho-san earlier, but I’m almost due for my class’s shift at the festival. I’m running out of time, so I have to excuse myself!”

With that, Ai-san quickly left the clubroom.

“Ai-san...”

“Hondō-kun, why don’t you come into the clubroom for now?”

“Y-yes.”

I entered the clubroom and closed the door.

It was the usual clubroom, but for some reason, I felt nervous.

“There’s no need to be so tense. Relax and take a seat.”

Following Kaho-san’s words, I sat down in the chair opposite her.

“Why did Kaho-san come to the cultural festival?”

“There are various reasons, but the main one is the play. I heard that the Astronomy Club is putting on a play, and it sounded interesting, so I came to watch.”

“Is that so?”

“Hondō-kun, you’re playing Hikoboshi, right? Do your best.”

“Yes!”

Kaho-san was looking forward to the play. I have to do my best not to disappoint her.

“I heard from Ai that you’ve practiced a lot, but do you feel confident?”

“Uh...”

“It seems like you have some concerns. Since we’re here, why don’t you tell me? I might be able to help.”

I explained that the final scene of the play wasn’t coming together well, without revealing too much of the content.

“So, to be honest, I’m anxious. I’m not sure if I can perform the final scene well.”

“I see...”

“I thought that as long as I conveyed Hikoboshi’s feelings straightforwardly, it would be fine, but it still isn’t working out.”

“Hmm, that’s tough.”

“It is, isn’t it...”

“No, I think I understand why it’s not going well.”

“Really?”

Had Kaho-san figured out the cause from just a little bit of what I told her?

“I think the problem might be the relationship between Hondō-kun and Kei-chan.”

“What do you mean?”

“Can you describe your current relationship with Kei-chan in one word?”

I thought about Shimizu-san in my mind.

Fellow Astronomy Club member, classmate, benefactor—none of these single words seemed to fully express my relationship with Shimizu-san.

“I can’t.”

“Right. I think the relationship between you two has become too complex to be summed up in one word. Hondō-kun, have you ever thought about your current relationship with Kei-chan?”

“Many times. But what does that have to do with the play?”

“If it were a normal play, probably nothing would have happened. But this time, it’s about Orihime and Hikoboshi. Hondō-kun, playing Hikoboshi, might have projected your current relationship with Kei-chan onto the characters in the play.”

“But Shimizu-san and I aren’t in that kind of relationship...”

“That’s true for now. But Hondō-kun, you like Kei-chan, don’t you?”

Hearing those words, I felt as if I had been struck by a sudden shock.

“Uh, well...”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t phrase that well. I’m talking about liking her as a person.”

“Yes, of course.”

It seemed I had jumped to conclusions.

“But you also like her as the opposite sex, don’t you?”

Maybe I hadn’t jumped to conclusions after all.

I checked Kaho-san’s expression. She had her usual cheerful smile.

“You’re not teasing me, are you?”

“That would be fun, but no. I just want to confirm how Hondō-kun feels about Kei-chan.”

“...Regarding your earlier question, honestly, I don’t know. I always enjoy being with Shimizu-san, and there are times when my heart races around her. But whether that means I like her romantically, I can’t really say.”

I had been pondering this since the training camp.

Do I like Shimizu-san?

I still haven’t found the answer within myself.

The sound disappeared from the clubroom.

Looking at Kaho-san in front of me, her smile had vanished, and she seemed to be thinking seriously about something.