Chapter 95
Chapter 12 – Preparation and malaise (7)
Translator – Vodka
How was I feeling the day before the event? Truthfully?
It’s gonna be a pain in the ass .
Neither did I feel a shard of excitement, nor did I even have the tiniest bit of expectation towards it .
I was aware that there was no point to this . So, I had to keep myself reminding that, this was about hands-on experience .
Well, that was what the teachers’ side seemed to think . The students didn’t put any deep thought into it .
Well, the extent of the students’ thoughts could be defined by the incentive of being able to fill up their resumes, which, in turn, would help them land part-time jobs or find employment .
However, I had doubts . This was going to last for only a day, and we weren’t even going to be ‘working’ in the truest sense of the term, since it was going to be more of a ‘watch and learn procedure’ . I couldn’t see the hiring companies giving it, much credit .
I am going about it in a roundabout manner, but I really don’t want to go .
I laid sprawled across the bed, staring at the hands of the clock as I waited for the impending event that was closing in on me with every passing second .
“……Can’t I get sick or something?…… . ”
I was bitter at the thought of my unnecessarily sturdy body .
I need to be grateful to mom for having given birth to the healthy me……
The day of the event . The weather was in its finest form . Not a speck of confusion .
I had dearly wished for it to be a cloudy day, but the sky was devoid of so much a single cloud .
Heck, it won’t be an exaggeration if I said that today was the perfect day for the event .
In addition, my body was in tip-top condition .
Neither was I hurt anywhere nor was I feeling unwell .
I woke up a little later than usual . I grabbed my bag that I had prepared beforehand and exited the house .
“Well then, Nii-san, please do your best . ”
“I don’t want to do my best……”
“Fighting!”
[TN – I don’t think I needed to append this note, but anyways, ‘fighting’ is a cheer where basically they are saying “do your best” . ]
Even though Kaede had school, she had stayed back until the last moment so that she could see me off . After being seen off, I started walking towards the station .
Kaede’s figure of seeing me off with her arms folded, was extremely adorable .
Being cheered on by such a sister, I might just be able to give it my best .
……Hm, not happening .
On the way, as I was waiting for the signal to change at a crossing, I confirmed today’s schedule .
The event was scheduled to commence at 10 A . M, and conclude at 5 P . M .
My person was going to have to be subjected to a seven-hour long constraint, but it would seem that we would be provided an hour of rest .
They would be preparing lunch for us, at a restaurant inside the hotel, it would seem . So, I didn’t bring any bento .
Upon completion of the event, we were to return home .
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The hotel was located near the station . Even with slight deviations, I should be able to return home by six .
I had pondered if it was a good idea to be intruding upon a professional workplace, but it would seem that it was actually a good thing for the establishment .
According to the people in charge, it would be kind of like an appeal to the people in the area .
I had to let them that we were coming . The duty to contact the establishments devolved upon the representative of every group . Since I had no choice, I contacted them .
More like, I am the group leader?…… . Ain’t these guys a bit too half-assed?
When the call connected, they immediately handed the phone over to the person-in-charge . It would seem that their employees were in the loop about this event . Making the prior arrangement went off without a hitch .
The designated spot for our meeting was the shopfront across from the station . However, upon my arrival, I couldn’t discover anyone from my group .
Although we still had five minutes until the assembly time, I was worried about the fact that I was the first one to turn up .
I let out a sigh, pondering as to how I should go about killing time in this station area, where it was hard to come across something that helped the cause . Then, I noticed a few figures of what seemed like students, appearing not so far away .
With Shizuku at the centre, a group of students was headed for my direction .
“Minato-kun! Good morning!……”
“……A case of mistaken identity?”
She called out to me, not a hint of reservation in her voice, uncaring of the surrounding eyes . I had reflexively denied my acquaintanceship with her and looked away .
Habits were a frightening thing .
I could auto-invoke the ‘Shyness’ skill without having to think about it .
By the way, the classmates standing behind Shizuku were looking at me with eyes that seemed to question my identity .
No wait . We are in the same classroom, you know .
Let me also add that one of you guys literally sit in front of me .
Why was he making that “Don’t know” face?
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When I directed my cold gaze at that student, Shizuku asked .
“Minato-kun’s group is supposed to meet in front of the station too, huh?”
“Well, ya……But, I am the only one here . ”
I looked in all directions, and upon confirming that not a single soul from my group was anywhere to be found, I said so .
Shizuku had a whole army of students following her from behind, while my rear was as empty as it could be .
Was it due to the difference in our popularities? Or did the problem lie in my very existence?
I had rather it be the former .
If it were to be the latter, I felt like that bout would suffer a premature death .
“……What happened to Kirasaka?”
Looking at a certain classmate behind Shizuku, a single doubt surfaced in my mind .
I couldn’t see Kirasaka anywhere, even though she was supposed to be in the same group as that classmate .
[TN – I am still confused as to if Kirasaka is in the same group as Shizuku or not . My brain is turning into mush . Let me decrypt this mystery as we go, ok?]
Considering how much Kirasaka adored doing things her way, her not turning up today, wouldn’t be surprising, but I wanted to confirm, just in case .
At first, I had thought that she was probably following the herd from behind, at a distance, but I could not make out her figure no matter where looked .
At my question, Shizuku smiled bitterly, and replied .
“Kirasaksan is meeting her group at their place of training, it seems……She doesn’t like to partake in group activities, after all . ”
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“What the……Is that even allowable? “
I am jealous .
I ended up lamenting how such an ingenious idea hadn’t occurred to me .
While thinking about how it was very much like her to do so, I directed an appreciative gaze at Shizuku .
I wasn’t sure if she comprehended the meaning behind my gaze, but it sure did look like she had picked it up, as she flashed a smile at me .
“Well then, Minato-kun, please try your best! I will visit Minato-kun’s house when it’s over . ”
“Hm……It’s fine not come, you know?”
What was she doing, deciding by her herself?
There was no way I would bend to something like that .
She tried to casually slip it into our conversation, making it sound like a pre-arranged event .
No way am I gonna be deceived by likes of that .
I have carefully put together a schedule for after today’s event . The fascinating plan was to return home and hit the sack .
Moreover, since tomorrow was Saturday, I could sleep all day, and I planned to do just that .
What perfect plan!
At my immediate reply, Shizuku offered a light bow, and left, accompanied by her group members .
Her group members had a certain bounce to their strides . I could gather from that, that they were really looking forward to what was in store for them today .
Well, they were probably filled with anticipation because they would get to spend the entire day with Kanzaki Shizuku and Kirasaka Ren .
Half-exasperated, half-convinced, I looked away from them .
The members of my group were yet to show their faces .
……When will they come?