Fateful Competition — Part 1

TL: Daemon

ED: PuffyPyjamas

With the conclusion of the school festival, the end of the school year was fast approaching. Just as I thought everything was winding down…

I saw a leaflet on the bulletin board: [Announcement for the first Miss Hasumori High School Contest!]

“W-why at this time…?”

Isn’t this something you usually do during the school festival?

While I was tilting my head in bewilderment,

“It’s usually something that first and second year students sign up for, you know?”

I found Hiiragi-chan when I turned around. She was holding a world history textbook and an attendance sheet while staring at the poster. Third years would be focused on taking tests after all. Ah, well, I guess it’s only people who are taking tests who are busy.

When I was in my third year, there was about 40% of my class that moved on to professional schools or junior colleges. Including the people that got in through recommendations, all of them already had their future career path set.

For these sorts of people, participating in something like this wouldn’t be a big deal.

“Are you going to participate as well, Sensei?”

“…Do you want me to participate?”

That’s complicated. I would be able to brag with a smug face about how awesome my Hiiragi-chan is, however, it would also mean that she would be the center of attention for many of the males.

“At the very least, each class needs one person. Also, even though it’s a Miss contest, look at that.”

What HIiragi-chan pointed at was the words, [Gender doesn’t matter.]

Wait, you should question that! Isn’t that the most important part!?

“That means that if a male can be dressed up cutely, even that is okay for participation.”

It’s probably here because there probably aren’t many girls that want to participate, and so at the worst, a guy can participate as a joke of some sort.

“I’m surprised the school allowed this. Especially at a time like this.”

“The event is also open to outsiders like the school festival, and so it’s probably meant to be an appeal to middle schoolers trying to learn about our school by trying to show off our students.”

Hahah. I see. So, there’s that underlying motivation as well.

Well, there probably isn’t any student that wants to be that kind of example.

That day, during our long homeroom, we argued in the class over who was going to be the representative, and in the end, we decided on a girl named Wakatabe-san.

“Tabe-chan is the cutest in the main group after all.”

The expert (?), Fujimoto was convinced. The main group consists of the 5 or 6 girls that are considered the center of the class, and Tabe-chan is Wakatabe-san’s nickname.

Well, Wakatabe-san is certainly cute. She’d probably be in the top five of the grade.

“Isn’t your Chan-Sana going to show up?”

“There’s no way she will. She’s on the level of receiving the Introvert of the Year Award, you know?”

“I wonder…”

Well, most classes are probably deciding on representatives in this way, so most of them are probably being reluctantly forced to accept. However, Sana is the type to do everything she can to avoid something she doesn’t like. She’s probably one who would easily skip out on class the day of just to avoid it.

When I was going home after school, Sana came running to chase after me from behind.

“Hey, good work.”

“G-good work? For what?”

“Ah, sorry. I accidentally greeted you like an adult. That’s a little too early for you.”

“It’s annoying when you do that when you’re only one year older than me.”

Sana squinted at me as if amazed, causing me to shrug my shoulders. We may have one-year age difference on the outside, but that isn’t the case on the inside.

Sana quickly brought up the conversation of the Miss Contest representative.

“Nii-san, are you going to participate in the Miss Contest?”

“I won’t. I’m a normal Japanese boy.”

Sana snorted her nose uninterestedly.

“Wait, it can’t be, you’re the representative, Sana…?”

“I was almost made to do it, but I told them I would suicide before that happened, and so everyone pulled back and picked someone else.”

“That’s what I thought! Of course no one would keep pushing you with that. Still, using that as a shield is unfair, isn’t it?”

“That’s how much I don’t want to do it.”

You don’t even know that? She said and then turned her head away.

“… Nii-san, if Sana were to participate… W-will…auus…?”

I couldn’t really hear very well.

“Eh? What did you say?”

“I was saying…”

At that moment, a text notification came from my cell phone.

It was from Hiiragi-chan.

[I was overwhelmed by various teachers, and Hiiragi-sensei… while reluctant, is now participating in the Miss Contest (> < ;)]

…So even the teachers need a representative. If that’s the case, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine that the lethal weapon of Hiiragi-chan calibre would become the person of choice.

“It seems that Hiiragi-chan is going to participate.”

“Heeh. Hmph.”

She pursed her lips, and looked somewhat dissatisfied.

The judgement criteria consists of four categories: karaoke, cosplay, casual clothes, and special skills. Swimsuits are supposed to fit under the cosplay category from what I heard. It basically means it’s okay if you really want to wear a swimsuit.

I want to see Hiiragi-chan in a swimsuit, but I don’t want other guys to see it. Such is the complicated heart of a man.

That’s right, I’ve never been on a karaoke date with her. Can Hiiragi-chan even sing…!?

“Nii-san, are you going to cheer for Hiiragi-sensei?”

“Well, she is our advisor, and so I’ll cheer for the teacher that I’m close to. Even if it wasn’t a teacher, I would probably cheer for a girl I’m close with.”

As I was walking, I finally noticed that Sana had stopped and stood still.

“Is something wrong?”

She was tightly gripping her hand into a fist.

“Even… Sana…”

“Eh, what?”

“If Hiiragi-sensei is participating—”

Sana affirmed her resolve and shouted.

“S-Sana will also participate!

F-for real? But… why? What’s wrong all of a sudden?