Volume 3 Chapter 21 (2/2)

The dance then stepped up its teer tell how theyThe music also went into full burst U to hurt ood with loud sounds

Before long, as the cocktail of spotlights converged in the centre of the stage, the four dancers stopped in perfect stillness just as the ave the Breakdancing Clubapproval

The second song began playing, which was in the rhythm of some African-like folkI was quite curious as to how they would dance to that tune Besides, I would also be interested in watching the perforo Club afterwards No, I mustn't be tempted

Having come toout of the hall They're probably in charge of watching their stalls or preparing for their club events Without disturbing the perfor Club, I too quietly left the hall

I hurried down the corridor, walking in longer strides than I nor their classrooold and silver paper while there doesn't seem to be much time left I wonder what club they're fro therave situation

As I pondered how to sayto the ”Kanya Festival Guide,” the General Committee seems to be based here

The Conference Room is situated on the second floor of the General Block As the Gymnasiu walk at all So before long, here I was before the Conference Roon pasted on its sliding door that read ”General Committee Room” I knocked on the door

””

Huh?

”Is anybody in?”

There was no response I tried opening the door, but it was locked

Yes, now that I think about it, as I had left e that no one from the General Committee had yet returned It seems like I came too early

Somehow, I became a bit anxious as I didn't want to waste any ti So I inhaled deeply and breathed out slowly One more time, breathe in, breathe out

I looked around me, there didn't see this way

On the notice board beside the door was a catchy Cultural Festival promotion poster I've seen rounds and around the neighbourhood, but this was the first tia-like style which Mayaka-san irl preparing for the Cultural Festival The characters looked cute while the clothes they wore looked real, one could feel the a from it

If there was one complaint to make, it would be its title, ”The 42nd Kanya Festival” Its official nah School Cultural Festival, as ”Kanya Festival” doesn't really evoke a goodAs for why, it's rather difficult to explain On the corner of the poster ritten the words ”Student Council Executive Committee” Since it's a poster ht to avoid using the name ”Kanya Festival”

I moved my eyes away from the poster and looked aroundOh dear, this doesn't look good Should I just keep waiting here? But we haven't got much time

No, in such tiain took a deep breath, breathe in, breathe out Okay, one more time

”Can I help you?”

”Wah!”

As I had just inhaled a deep breath, I couldn't help but let out a yelp As I was startled, I couldn't suppress such a strange sound I tried to wavesuspicious

I bowed my head to the person that called out toAre you President Tanabe of the General Committee?”

I've seen this person before in the Wall Newspaper Club's ”Kah Monthly,” so he was definitely President Tanabe of the General Colasses on his oval face, his short and neatly cut hair gave the i person Tanabe-san looked a bit taken aback before politely greeting me in return

”Oh, goodYes, I'm Tanabe Can I help you?”

”Yes,”

I nodded and uttered the lines that I'd practiced many times beforehand

”Please allocate a new stall for the Classics Club”

”Huh?”

Tanabe-san's eyes went round Oh no, I neglectedattention to my manners, I repeated my request

”I'ot to introduce myself I'm the president of the Classics Club, Chitanda Eru of Class 1-A We have come here with a request; ould like you to please allocate a new stall for the Classics Club”

Tanabe-san raised his eyebrows as his face looked really troubled Uneasily, he spoke

”I don't really understand what's going on but”

He looked as though he was about to say so difficult

”As we've already decided on how to runthe Kanya Festival, for you to suddenly come and request a new stall would be a bit difficult”

”So you aren't able to do it?”

”I'm sorry”

I see It , but it can't be helped if it can't be done I'm very sorry, Mayaka-san, fukube-san, Oreki-san Chitanda Eru was not able to accomplish her task

I see, thank you for your inforards properly, but I ended up speaking those words softly instead As I proceeded to leave and ponder what to do next, Tanabe-san called out to me

”No, wait That's just the nor circumstance, then we could listen to what you have to say, but I can't prorant you your request”

Circumstance

Now that I think about it, I've colected to explain my situation Oreki-san has constantly told ht to themyself properly I never realized this before but it seemed like it is indeed true I must be careful next time

Anyway, I should not put Tanabe-san's good will to waste I turned around and stood before him

I then began to explain my story

In great detail

We were supposed to make an order to print 30 copies, but ended up with 200 copies To begin with, this was not Mayaka-san's fault, as I too had a look at the order sheet, and Mayaka-san also made sure to correctly place the order for 30 copies However, at the same time, she also y As to why she would make such a request, I did not know But the problem arose when it turned out that the publisher had y Mayaka-san blah, but nobody could have foreseen such an error

I told Tanabe-san the entire process as well I wasn't able to keep the story brief, but all this time Tanabe-san simply stood and listened

”That sure sounds tough”

After ht, he said prudently, ”200 copies huh? Not even the Manga Club could sell that much I understand the desire to seek a new stall in order to sell more copies, and I would really like to help But any other club could have faced such a situation, so it's just not possible for us to give the Classics Club a special dispensation, you know?”

Indeed, it would not be just the Classics Club that would encounter such a situation, I had known that fact beforehand but

”So, it's not possible?”

Tanabe-san nodded softly ”I'm sorry”

But this ti to leave, Tanabe-san uttered some advice from behind

”But you know, if you were to entrust other clubs to sell your anthologies on your behalf at their stalls, that we don't really mind”

I- I see, I never knew such a ht of this before? Indeed, if ere to place our anthologies at existing stalls, it would not be counted as the Classics Club receiving special treatment

”That's a brilliant idea”

Without realizing, I became relieved

”Thank you very much I will consider it!”

I said and bowed deeply

Coy Room, fukube-san had promised to accompany me to the General Committee and help me out in our request I wonder whatever happened to him?

009 - ♣03

Hahahahahaha

Oh, oh boy This is too hilarious, I just can't withhold hter My rationality tellsloudly I think I could go on all day

I knew the two fellows on stage, they were fro of which, its name is o, the Kao Study Club was more focused on Manzai and stand-up comedy I have no idea if there are any clubs that actually studied the art of Rakugo

”Wow, it's sure been a long time since we've had a sushi+ dinner in a tataet home quick, or we'll be late

”'Kay”

”By the way, I don't et off? Ever since I started driving, you've been giggling while looking at me all this time”

”You know, you've got quite a huge johnny”

”Yeah yeah yeah, look I'et you ho at?”

”Heh heh, and then?”

”You know, you were sobbing and giggling while saying 'My leg's gone lierous for you to drive, no?”

”I guess”

”Oh dear, I've stepped on the accelerator by mistake”

”You're the one driving dangerously!”

Hahahahahaha

010 - ♦02

I left the gy Cere perfor, I turned to look back at the dark and stuffy gymnasium, and saw only half the students had remained behind

To be honest, I feel like joining up with the others at the Classics Club It was a failure for me to not double check with the publisher, so I feel like I have to take responsibility On the other hand, I also realized it was also partly due to a club

It's not like I dislike the Manga Club Though a Studies Club were different froa Club the way it is now Since ht to like from the bottom of your heart However, just because people with the saether does not mean there will be no friction between them

This heavy feeling I've been having since the start isn't so good I'lass half-ee granted to an and brocade trousers within the school premises

The Manga Club room is located in Preparation Room No 1 on the second floor of the General Block Coy Roo as it's right next to the regular classroonboard that read ”Manga Study Club” It was designed by our president Yuasa Naoko-sempai

The sliding door was left open as ere soon to expect custo in to visit our stall

”Good ”

Not wanting to sound toopeople, I tend to pronounce it as ”Good MORNing” It's not exactly special or anything like that, only that I've yet to see anyone pronounce it that way in as and novels

”Oh, Ibara, you came”

Greeting me open-heartedly was Kouchi Ayako-sempai froeable, her works are also of a high level, thus a Club It was she who suggested that the Manga Club should randomly pick members to cosplay Since she was the one who proposed it, she too was cosplaying today

Her Chinese-style costusam nor a Mao suit, butpurple trousers and a goith long yellow sleeves flowing all the way down to the floor The sleeves were cut froown she as generally red in colour, though the colour around the chest area was slightly different An original Chinese gown like that would have been more fluffy, so this was simply an imitation On her head was a wide hat, froht eye Wrapped around her body was a yellow sash, though it's probably in with, her sharp gaze and average build ht for this character

”Is that a Jiangshi+?”

”Officially, it should be called a Chinese Ghost”

Kouchi-se my feet clad in the usual indoor shoes used within the school premises said, ”You need to put more effort into the shoes”

And suddenly the conversation shi+fted towards h I didn't intend to wear this costume just to look nice, I didn't want her of all people to tell me that For a moment, the atmosphere beca any cosplay towards the bitter end

”Oh, good ,” a voice called out from beside us; it was President Yuasa

Rather than a costuh School's sailor school unifore of the clubrooin with, and the president was not one of theh I was the only one who didn't cosplay properly, I could sense President Yuasa's generosity due to her being an open-minded person To put it another way, from time to ti a cat sitting on a porch On her soft face were two big eyes with double-eyelids Taking a look atthat?”

”No, I only paid for the belt, that's all”

”Do make sure to send us the receipt so you can claim your expense”

”Oh, it's okay, I'm fine with it”

Our president laughed gently, but I just could not bring myself to use the club's funds While it was much more than what the Classics Club had, it wasn't exactly abundant

Actually there was still so around the First Preparation Rooa Club's showpiece is ”Zeaa titles past and present As for why it's called ”Zeamis,” I was told it was because last year it was called ”Kanamis” As for why it was called ”Kanamis” last year, I didn't bother to ask as it sounded too silly Besides that,their own published work, which will be distributed for free here to be sold as well If they're going to sell these for money, they should have just set up a doujinshi+ stall to being with

”Hey”

”Mornin'”

As tia Club members showed up

It see despite not being required to help out As we had twenty or so members, it was natural that cliques would be formed

The first would be the boys I don't know about the other clubs, but the boys actually fora Club As a result, they would gravitate towards people ere like theenerally harmless

The other group was centred around Kouchi-sempai While not particularly numerous, their outspokenness means they're considered the athered around Kouchi-sereet the customers, and sometimes, the sound of some war cry could be heard

”Alright! Let's get this going!”

So like that

And then there's the third group, which so themselves to follow Kouchi-sempai It may be because they aren't fond of her boisterous nature, or they felt her actions don't roup

”Hey, Mayaka, what's with that costume?”

”Mayaka, do I just leave the change here?”

”Man, wonder when this will end?”

Was centred around me

As for why, it was because it seeainst Kouchi-sempai

The atmosphere was not exactly strained, neither was it explosive Everyone is here due to their love ofto the Manga Club The least I could do for the Classics Club was to at least request that the Manga Club sell ”Hyouka” on behalf of the Classics Club If ”Hyouka” could be sold at the Manga Club, then considering the Manga Club's naht now it's a bit hard due to the ate for the better, as soon as possible

I wonder what fuku-chan and the others at the Classics Club are doing noonder who's watching the stall?

Argh, I didn't even think about who should watch the stall!

No one would want to buy frolectful club

”Uuys open?”

A voice called out Standing at the open entrance were two ently and said with excessive enthusias our first customer!”

011 - ♠04

It was just as I had expected, there was nobody coy Room

It's so quiet, so peaceful, so idle All that could be heard was the re from the central courtyard towards the General Block This is excellent, long live being the stall keeper

I shut ain, and saw a brownish ”mountain” before me This must be an illusion In order to ht it best to keep ain

Of course, I had no intention of having to personally clear this mountain away Within ”Hyouka” was a manuscript written by ed to coards to the ”Hyouka” incident, it was decided that I would contribute the bulk of the colu that

As a result of no one knowing exactly what the Classics Club does, the contents of ”Hyouka” ended up being quite disorderly You don't even need to open it to figure out what's inside Chitanda and I contributed to writing about the ”Hyouka” incident, Ibara wrote soa that she respected, while Satoshi+'s colu a classical paradox

As it was so that had to be done, it was natural for me to want to finish it quickly, but it doesn't exactly y that I wrote If possible, I'd rather not want to throw all these 200 copies away as some bothersome trash once the Cultural Festival ends

Even if I were to ignoreat the ht of how Chitanda and Ibara would react if they saw those turn to trash, I couldn't help but feel depressed about it

That's why I have expectations for Chitanda and Satoshi+ on their endeavors If they could son which I could not think of, I wouldn't exactly begrudge theover the stall as a result

Which hy I decided to indulge inI allowedat ease as I shut ive in to my drowsiness and bent myself over the table

The sound of music could be heard

It was a rich harmonious tune

Co Club, I much prefer this A Capellaby the A Capella Club at the central courtyard I gently sat upright and leaned towards thePerhaps they were used to singing like that, as their first har to watch fro

There were five students in uniform lined up in a row One of them stepped forward and looked around the central courtyard, bowing towards us who have come to watch them from our s This was followed by the sound of people clapping their hands as he returned to the colu

So that was just a rehearsal just now, huh? When I first heard their h to ”make a lion sleep”

Yawn

Man, as expected of the My already sleepy body was slowly being hypnotized by their gentle music, which sounded like a lullaby

Leaning by thesill, I struggled to stay awake, just when I thought it wouldn't be bad to just fall asleep here, the song had ended Another round of applause emanated from the General and Special Blocks I opened my eyes and clapped my hands as well One of the A Capella Clubhis club members towards a cooler box besides them, which was opened by another member I couldn't see quite clearly fro so the

”?”

Hmm?

Sost the A Capella Clubso repeatedly They shook their heads and looked into the cooler box suspiciously Has so happened?

At any rate, looks like they wouldn't be singing their second song anytime soon, it was pointless to look any further So Ias I began waiting for visitors again

A

Someone appeared outside the opened door Whoa, now that's some visitor we have here He wore a tattered shi+rt which was held together by safety pins and had silver accessories all over his fingers and head It was a punk For some reason his eyes looked hesitant, I wonder what he came here for

As I looked on suspiciously, the punk asked reservedly, ”U set up here?”

”This? Oh, we're selling an anthology”

”Anthology?”

The punk moved his eyes towards the mountain of ”Hyouka” It was only now that he noticed this brownish ies stacked up

”Sure is so here”

”It's a long story, we didn't exactly plan on selling this many”

”I'll have one then”

Whoa, a customer! My manners, I'd better put up some manners

”That'll be 200 yen please”

Darn, I' too much of me

The punk didn't seeh, and took out his wallet For soetic as he received the copy of ”Hyouka” fro around? Just when I was thinking that, he suddenly changed his demeanor

”Hey, hat is this!?”

Huh? Wha-? Is there a cockroach inside your ”Hyouka?”

Instead, the punk was looking at the piece of trash I placed beside the h finding a piece of treasure, he picked it up and looked at it reverently

”Yes, this! This should do!”

He suddenly becahted, while I could only look on with indifference

Forgettingspecial about that piece of trash?”

”Huh? Oh, I'm sorry”

The punk returned to his senses

”I'n, you see? And I've sort of forgotten to bring some chest pocket accessory for my formal costume While a white handkerchief would nor out of ti what to do So, here, what do you think of sticking it in ood, doesn't it?”

The punk grinned while fondling and exa the fountain pen Well, if he likes it so much, this piece of trash perhaps does have its use after all

”You can have it”

”R-really?”

As he said this, he searched for so in his pockets

”Then, here, you can have this in return”

He took out a badge froe, it lookedwith a safety pin behind it A sin

While I ondering what this was, the punk pointed to it and said, ”That's a VIP badge for our fashi+on show Just bring that and come to the Fashi+on Room if you're interested Don't worry, we'll take care of coordinating your costuh we call it a fashi+on show, you don't need to do any special catwalk moves So anyway, see ya”

He said it as though he was escaping Even if you didn't say it so frantically, I wasn't planning on replying Then again, even if he's in such a hurry, would that costume of his even be considered formal?

I held the badge in ether what the punk had said so far Basically, if I take this and go to the Fashi+on Study Club's stage, they'll make me into a model

Nope, not interested I placed it on the middle of the table

Anyway, he was our cherished first custoht of events, each of us Classics Club me teacher and one copy to preserve, which makes ten copies So this

So satisfied, I opened ing again This ti Hmm, this time it won't be a lullaby, huh?

[189 COPIES REMAINING]

012 - ♥03

No , the A Capella Club was just aood that I clapped

There was no doubt that choosing to sing in the central courtyard allowed their wonderful voices to reverberate across the school grounds Perhaps they were rehearsing in different places beforehand to find out which place had the best acoustics? I feel a bit curious about it

Feeling satisfied, I moved away fro and looked at my wristwatch

Eh?

Oh no, is it this late already? It's nearly noon! How did ti distracted by whatever thing attracts my interest, or I won't be able to finish my task

Hardening my resolve, I walked away from the

Looking back towards the corridor, I saw a strange sign curtain for the Charnboard for the Handicraft Club which fukube-san had put so poster of a coraphy Club

Are there any glasses which would allow et distracted!?

Translator's notes and references[]Wikipedia - They Were ElevenWikipedia - ManzaiWikipedia - CheongsamWikipedia - Mao SuitWikipedia - Jiang shi+Wikipedia - Zeami MotokiyoWikipedia - Kanami