Chapter 169: Executive Committee (Long Chapter)
The rain didn't last long; the typhoon had arrived with a vengeance and departed just as swiftly.
After nine o'clock that evening, the downpour finally ceased entirely.
The starry sky overhead remained twinkling, and the moon appeared brighter than ever, as if all the impurities of the world had been washed away by the torrential rain. In the bushes along the roadside, the cicadas had already resumed their rhythmic chorus.
It felt as though, after a disaster had passed, everything was coming back to life.
"It's wonderful. The sky is so clear, isn't it, Hachiman?" Yui let out a soft exclamation, covering her mouth as her eyes sparkled. She playfully tugged at the hem of Hachiman's shirt.
Hachiman froze for a moment, responding somewhat unnaturally. "Ah! Yeah, I guess so..."
He and Yui were standing far too close. Their arms brushed against each other, and with every breath, he could catch a faint scent lingering around her—something like lavender.
"Damn it! Since a typhoon actually came, school should have been cancelled. I was hoping to slack off for two days, so why did it have to leave so fast?! Dammit, dammit..."
There was no doubt about it; no one else would scream such things besides Kaiko.
However...
Shizuka was actually preparing to grumble a few words of her own, but seeing Kaiko receive glares from the others after that outburst, she quietly changed her tune. "You're right, it really is beautiful. I almost feel like taking a photo..."
She pulled out her phone and aimed the camera at the bright moon, but the lens of a standard smartphone could only capture a blurry white dot amidst a sea of pitch black.
"Chishima-sensei, Hiratsuka-sensei, thank you for the hospitality. We shall take our leave now. If you have the time, please stop by my place for some tea." Mrs. Miyako folded her hands in front of her, bowing politely as she said her goodbyes.
Hotaru also waved happily. "Uncle Chishima, Auntie Hiratsuka, Hotaru is going home now! Next time, Uncle and Auntie have to come play at Hotaru's house!"
"Goodbye, Hotaru. It's a promise, okay?"
Akishin nodded. Mrs. Miyako then led Hotaru back to the clothing store next door. Being neighbors who saw each other frequently, there was no need for a dramatic farewell.
Yuika stepped toward Akishin and Shizuka. "Well then, Chishima-sensei, Hiratsuka-sensei, I'll be heading home with Mitsuha and Kaiko as well. It's getting late, so thank you for having us over."
"Be careful on your way back."
The two teachers nodded. They weren't particularly worried about the three of them going home together. Their residences weren't far from Konishi Street—ten minutes on foot at most—and besides, they had their bicycles. Akishin had lent his own bike to Mitsuha.
The trio departed under the glow of the moonlight and streetlamps. The clothes they had shed two hours ago had been washed and dried, and they had all changed out of their borrowed pajamas.
"Alright, that just leaves the two of you." Akishin turned his gaze toward Hachiman and Yui.
Without waiting for Akishin to speak, Hachiman took the initiative. "Sensei, I'll walk Yuigahama home."
It was the only logical choice. He couldn't exactly let the teacher do it, could he? That would be incredibly un-student-like.
Akishin nodded in satisfaction. "Very good." This student was finally starting to show signs of understanding the atmosphere.
Still, one was Yukino and the other was Yui. Both were exceptional in their own right; it was hard to know which way the scales would tip.
However...
Looking at the reality of the situation, Yukino's side was far too complicated. The status of both parties was clearly unequal.
The Yukinoshita family had two daughters. Based on family interests, the most logical path would be for one to find a husband willing to marry into the family—a matrilocal arrangement—to take over the business, while the other would be sent into a political marriage to bolster the family's influence.
And the one destined to inherit the family, barring any unforeseen circumstances, was basically set to be Haruno.
But knowing Ryuichi's character, he would likely let his daughters pursue true love...
Whatever. Thinking about this was pointless. A student's future was for the student to decide.
Akishin shook his head to clear his thoughts and watched Hachiman and Yui leave. Yui was walking with a slight bounce in her step, seemingly chatting about something pleasant with Hachiman...
At that moment, the distance between them was very small.
"Well, we should get inside too. Do you want a drink?"
"...I suppose a little wouldn't hurt."
"By the way, Akishin, do you actually understand finance? I was tidying up your room earlier and found some notes you made over the last few days. They were even more detailed and clearer than mine."
"...I once thought about starting a business and opening my own company. Even though it ended up going nowhere, unfortunately, the professional knowledge I studied stayed with me. It's quite useful."
"Why did it go nowhere? Did the business fail?"
"No, I just didn't have any startup capital..."
"This is a conjunction, 'Although... yet...', representing a contrast. For example, 'Although I am very rich, yet I feel sad.' To achieve that contrasting effect..."
Akishin sent a cloud of chalk dust drifting from the podium. The students below listened with rapt attention. Even the tidbits Akishin mentioned weren't strictly necessary to remember were being meticulously jotted down; they would likely be studied later anyway.
What teacher wouldn't love students like these?
In the final ten minutes of the lesson, Akishin closed his book. He wrote two large words, [EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE], on the blackboard, brushed the chalk dust off his hands, and turned to face the students of Class J.
"Ozawa-sensei asked me to select some people during my period. Are there any volunteers for the Executive Committee for the upcoming School Anniversary? We have two slots: one male and one female. There are extra recommendation points involved, and it's good for your experience. It'll add a nice line to your resume when you're looking for jobs in the future. I highly recommend you go for it."
The dozens of students remained silent for a few seconds, instinctively turning their heads toward Yukinoshita Yukino in the middle of the room.
The dim light from the window spilled in, draping the girl in a thin layer of radiance. Her gaze was focused on the conjunctions in her notes. As if only just realizing she was being watched, she looked up, stared at the [EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE] on the board, and knit her brows slightly.
Akishin gave Yukino a pointed look, his expression becoming less than friendly. "No one wants to step up? In that case, we'll decide by a majority vote..."
Yukino let out a quiet sigh. She stood up and said, "Chishima-sensei, I am willing to participate in the Executive Committee. Please give the position to me."
Yukino knew that in a situation like this—unless the teacher used their authority to appoint someone directly—any method that appeared 'fair' would ultimately result in the female representative slot falling to her.
It wasn't because everyone was ganging up on her. Rather, based on her absolute status in the class and her previous track record of being the one to step forward, it was the foregone conclusion.
It has been said before that Japan is a country of extremes. They prioritize the collective above all else; they love groups, and loners are looked down upon—a sentiment that is especially severe among students. Yet, at the same time, they worship the strong. They believe that important things, big things, and great things should be handled by the strong, while the weak have no business meddling.
In this class, especially among the girls, Yukino was undoubtedly the 'strong' one. Any other girl who dared to step forward at a time like this would have been picked apart by the rest.
"Fine. Then the female student representative will be Yukinoshita."
Akishin looked at Yukino deeply, noting that she didn't seem particularly coerced. He nodded with a smile and then turned his inquiry toward the boys.
The male side was much simpler. There were no standout candidates, so eventually, a student with decent grades and a bit of a gung-ho attitude volunteered and was approved.
"Alright. Please report to the meeting room during the first period this afternoon."
Akishin nodded to Yukino and the other volunteer. The bell signaling the end of the period rang. He gathered his books and left the classroom, having completed another perfect teaching session.
"What is going on... No, this is a good thing. I won't have to play out those terrible dramas anymore..."
During the break after the homeroom period ended, Hachiman returned to his classroom from the Kendo Club, only to be shocked to find himself pushed into the School Anniversary Executive Committee.
On the blackboard, the name "Hikigaya Hachiman" had appeared under the heading "Executive Committee." Ugh, ah... this was a conspiracy!
But... I kind of liked it.
The person behind this was Hiratsuka-sensei. Come to think of it, his other classmates didn't dare casually assign him to any positions lately. Usually, the looks they gave him were tinged with a certain level of deference—except for a few people, one of whom was Ebina Hina.
Good job, Hiratsuka-sensei. You really are my best teacher.
Unaware that she had just dismantled her own boyfriend's subtle schemes, Shizuka stood with her hands on her hips, looking at Hachiman with a firm gaze. "Hachiman, it occurred to me that you've never really participated in school activities, so this time, you're going to serve everyone. Remember to report to the meeting room later."
The eyes of the entire class immediately swiveled toward Hachiman.
Hachiman stood with his head slightly bowed and said with exaggerated enthusiasm, "I understand, Hiratsuka-sensei! I shall serve everyone with all my heart and soul. Please, leave it to me."
"Ah! Oh... well, alright then. Do your best."
Shizuka had initially expected Hachiman to give her that trademark look of his, but she was wrong. This time, Hachiman didn't just accept it; he seemed genuinely thrilled.
He looked as if he had just unexpectedly won the lottery.
This actually left Shizuka feeling a bit bewildered.
Did I really misjudge him? Was Hachiman actually always willing to serve others, and I just didn't notice?
Is he actually a youth full of vigor?
Or did he take the wrong medicine?
No, no, no. There had to be a secret behind this...
Unfortunately, the decision was already made, and the next lesson was about to start. Shizuka turned and left, leaving the choice for the female representative to the students themselves.
Hachiman sat back down, letting out a breath of relief. He unconsciously let a smile slip. Coupled with the fact that he no longer had those annoying 'dead fish eyes' and his hair was neatly styled rather than a mess, a few girls who caught sight of him actually blushed.
After school had ended, the classroom remained noisy. Everyone was busy discussing the division of labor for the School Anniversary.
The reason everyone was staying behind was to decide on the female Executive Committee member.
The Class Rep—or "Bancho"—who wore glasses, was leading the meeting from the podium. Hachiman still didn't know his real name to this day; everyone just called him "Bancho."
If the class representative were a girl, based on trope factors, she might have needed a different name. In Japanese school fiction, a male class rep is a "Bancho," while a female one is an "Iinchou," and in anime or manga, the "Iinchou" usually has some Moe attributes. Unfortunately, he was a guy, so just calling him "Bancho" was enough.
"Ahem... well then, are there any girls willing to volunteer for the Executive Committee? Please raise your hand."
Bancho spoke, but there was no response from the floor. He looked resigned, knowing his position as class rep was mostly for show. He sighed slightly and said, "If we can't decide, we'll just have to use Rock-Paper-Scissors..."
"Me!" "I'll do it!" "I want the position!" "I can do it!"
Before Bancho could even finish his sentence, seven or eight girls shot their hands up. It wasn't that they weren't willing; they were just hesitating.
And among these girls was Yui.
Seeing Yui raise her hand, the other girls stole cautious glances at Hachiman...
Hachiman was stunned. He hurriedly looked down, staring intently at the book in his hands—which happened to be upside down.
Hayama and Tobe, the guys in the class, watched on in silence. They couldn't even muster up any jealousy. If they were dissatisfied, they only dared to curse a few words in their hearts.
The hands that the other girls had raised inevitably lowered one by one, until only Yui's small hand remained in the air. Her face was flushed, and she cast occasional glances toward Hachiman, though she didn't dare look for long, blinking frequently to hide her embarrassment.
But her hand remained raised, steady as a rock.
Miura Yumiko said in a loud voice, "Yui, good job. That's how it should be. You'll definitely do a great job." She glanced toward Hachiman again. Seeing him with his head down 'reading,' she gritted her teeth.
"Right, right! Yui will definitely be a great Executive Committee member. If there's anything you don't know, you'll just have to ask Hachiman-kun, right~?" Ebina poked her tongue out, winking at Yui and giving a thumbs up. Indeed, Yui had bravely taken a step forward.
Sagami Minami, sitting in the corner of the class, clenched her fists. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but the words never came. In the end, she could only slump onto her desk in bitter silence.
Hayama also showed an encouraging smile.
Among the girls, it was common knowledge that Yui and Hachiman had a good relationship—they were close even before Hachiman became famous. They didn't have the courage to compete with Yui.
Bancho adjusted his glasses again and said somewhat cautiously, "Well then, since there's no one else, the second choice is Yui."
"Okay! I'll do my best!"
Yui nodded firmly, pumping her small fist like a character in a Shounen manga trying to fire themselves up. Hachiman turned around at that moment and gave Yui a nod. Bancho finally let out a long, quiet sigh of relief, his glasses fogging up slightly.
"Well then, today's meeting is adjourned..."
A physically and mentally exhausted Bancho announced the end of the session. As the tool who 'did the dirty work,' minimizing trouble was his greatest wish.
The classmates stood up one by one and left the room.
"Shizuka, how was the School Anniversary organized in the past?"
"The usual way. Each class puts on a performance, the Executive Committee handles the selection and coordination, organizes tasks one by one, maintains order, and also has to contact people outside the school..."
"Can't you just follow the old template?"
"You make it sound so easy. Every year the performances are different, and every year the student executors are different. It's all about student autonomy. In reality, this is also a learning experience for them. If we just copied the old template, there wouldn't be any point in the exercise..."
In Japan, whether it's middle school, high school, or university, the system of student autonomy—students managing students—is fundamental. However, this is primarily reflected in the organization of major events like the School Anniversary, ceremonies, and sports festivals. The Student Council is seen as the school's tool, while teachers play the role of supervisors and coordinators.
Akishin and Shizuka, as the two teachers in charge of the Executive Committee, naturally had to appear at the first meeting.
It was 3:50 PM. Members from each second-year class began to gather in the meeting room. The tables were arranged in a large rectangle, leaving an empty space in the middle. The seating was divided into two layers, accommodating over thirty people.
"Oh, that's right." Shizuka suddenly brought up the issue from that morning. "I appointed Hachiman as the Executive Committee member for Class F. Why did he seem so happy about it?"
"...Shizuka, did you not know what position Hachiman was originally allocated to?" For a moment, Akishin didn't know how to put it into words.
"His position? Oh, for their class festival thing? I haven't checked yet. I think it was titled 'The Little Prince'..."
At that moment, Yukino, Hachiman, and Yui happened to arrive at the meeting room. The three of them saw a flash of surprise in each other's eyes, then simultaneously shared a small smile.
After greeting the two teachers, they took seats next to each other.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
50 Power Stone = 1 Bonus Chapter (Up to 5 bonus chapters per week).
Read ahead and support the story on Patreon: patreon.com/FaaanzKun
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —