Too Many Losing Heroines! - Volume 3 - Chapter 2.5

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7:30 PM. A day before the opening. The Literature Club’s exhibition for Tsuwabuki Fest, <Food and Reading>.

It’s finally complete.

The senpais, Yakishio, and I looked at the venue throbbingly.

“Perfect! Everyone did an excellent job!”

Tsukinoki-senpai gave us a thumbs-up.

I’m relieved. Yakishio smacked my back again. It hurts, girl.

“Nukkun, you should be happier!”

Eh, …it’s exhausting to force yourself to laugh.

Prez smiled bitterly.

“We still have the opening. Let’s get some well-deserved rest today, everyone. Prepare yourself.”

“Yes!” (x4)

Indeed, Tsuwabuki Fest hasn’t begun yet. We have to head back earlier to prepare for tomorrow…

“I have to send Koto back. It’s time for us to go.”

“Well, I’ll wait to be eaten by the wolf sending me home. See you.”

“Please don’t say strange things in front of your kouhais…”

The two flirted as they made their departure. Yakishio flung the schoolbag on her shoulder.

“We should go back as well, Nukkun.”

“Yeah, well…”

I glanced at the corridor. No one is there.

Yanami’s class prep work is keeping her. She doesn’t seem to be coming soon.

“I still need to take some photos of the venue for the student council. I’ll be here a little longer.”

“I see. Well, I’ll be leaving first!”

“Thanks for the work. See you tomorrow.”

Yakishio dashed away from the classroom. I looked around the place.

The third-year people have left already. I’m the only person in this spacious classroom now.

There are 4 types of exhibitions and desserts and all sorts of small decorations.

Even though we didn’t go according to the plan, the result was excellent.

The showcase is completed by the trio headed by Asagumo-san. Yanami and Yakishio called for help. Tsukinoki-senpai commanded the decorations and miscellaneous.

Kaju made the desserts and arranged the tatami. As for me, …I guess I worked hard enough, right? Yep.

I’m about to be enveloped by a sense of emptiness. Then, Yanami popped into the classroom in her uniform.

“Thanks for the work, Nukumizu-kun.”

“You’re late, Yanami-san.”

“I spent too much time washing the stains on my clothes. Oh, the exhibition feels great.”

Yanami approached the exhibits. As for me, I walked away from the dessert table silently.

“That’s a showcase about Dazai. It’s an in-depth discussion about Dazai’s friendships and his family view, with his short novel <Cherries> as the theme. It’s quite interesting.”

“Cherries. …I’ve never read this book before, but from the title alone, is it a fluffy story?”

“I guess. It starts with the protagonist leaving his family and going to a bar filled with women.”

“...That’s not what I thought.”

“He eats cherries in the bar as he thinks adulthood is more important yet more agonizing than childhood. …It’s a story about such troubles.”

“Why did we pick such a story for our school festival exhibition?”

Yeah, I wonder why?

“It’s because it’s a well-known story. That’s why there are tons of anecdotes. For example, Dazai’s death day is when we should avoid eating cherries.”

“Shouldn’t we not bring up this story at all if it’s his death day…?”

I think there will be endless questions. Please refer to the exhibition for more details.

Yanami mumbled as she read the texts on the wall, but she slowly went silent.

“...No, I can’t just look at it normally.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Look, I’m supposed to be the complaining character in the Literature Club, right? Accepting information silently doesn’t make me useful.”

“Complaining character…?”

I have a dozen things I want to complain about that, but I should bear with her for now.

“Oh, the tatami is done.”

Yanami suddenly said that before running to the tatami and lying down.

“I really like the smell of tatami, you know? Did you get this from the Tea Ceremony Club or Kado Club?” [TL: Club for arranging flowers.]

“Well, close.”

It’s one word away from Judo Club. I guess she’s close.

Yanami got up and searched for something in her pocket.

“I bought some bread when I sneaked out in the evening. Lucky. I got the last two cream buns.”

I gave her a half-assed reply. Yanami patted next to herself several times.

“Sit with me. I’ll give you one. Let’s eat together.”

With that, she handed me a cream bun.

“You’re giving me that? Wait, you mean you’re giving me food!?”

“Yeah, why did you say it twice…?”

It’s because I can’t believe it. I took the bun and sat next to her.

This bun is painted full of fresh cream. It’s Yanami’s favorite. The sweetness radiates through my exhausted body upon taking a bite. Even though this is my first time eating, the taste is so good…

“This is amazing when I look at it again-”

Yanami looked around the classroom as she licked the cream on her fingertips.

“Yeah, I could’ve never imagined we could make such an amazing exhibition.”

My words don’t seem like it, but I’m throbbing right now.

The Literature Club is weak. Even though it’s good that we have a classroom, I once worried about whether setting up the place would be difficult.

If she sees this right now, she will definitely-

“She’ll definitely be very pleased, Komari-chan.”

“...Yeah, that girl is also working very hard as well.”

Yanami seemed to have read my mind. It’s kind of embarrassing.

The exhibition contains 50,000 words. I don’t know how many people will read them. I don’t even think anyone can finish reading everything. Even so, Komari has still poured her heart and soul into these 8 medium mold papers.

Yanami put the final bits into her mouth and spoke up calmly.

“These are Komari-chan’s love letters, right?”

It’s for the person she loves, the one she bids farewell to- this entire house full of love letters.

That’s how it seems to Yanami.

“...I guess you’re right.”

I gave a vague answer and took a bite of the bun.

“Don’t you think so, Nukumizu-kun?”

Yanami gave me a bewildered look.

It indeed contains her feelings for Prez.

However, the days Komari has spent with the senpais after getting into the Literature Club are much more important than we think-

“This exhibition is full of Komari’s memories, appreciation, and her determination to be the next president and protect the Literature Club, …I guess.”

“I see. That’s what Nukumizu-kun thinks.”

Unexpectedly, she answered me with a warm voice.

My most sincere answer is revealed under that calm demeanor.

“...It’s because I feel kind of sad if I don’t think so.”

Not sleeping and spending several days writing a love letter that can’t and won’t be delivered.

The image of Komari sitting before the desk in the gloomy children’s room appeared.

I’m deeply entrenched in indescribable thoughts. Yanami sits next to me quietly.

“...I’m starting to understand Komari-chan’s feelings.”

She seems to be mumbling. Yanami slowly continued.

“As Nukumizu-kun has said, I know Komari-chan treasures her senpais and the Literature Club a lot.”

“Well, yeah.”

“However, it’s fine even if she loses something that important. Komari-chan confessed during the trip with such determination.”

Even if she has no chance of winning, even if she’s going to lose everything, that’s fine. It’s okay as long as she gets all of her feelings across.

“She said she had already made up her mind. She said she had already decided to give up. However, the once deeply engraved feelings won’t go away.”

Yanami hugged her legs. Her eyes seem to be staring into the distance.

“...She can’t make up her words of love, and it’s too late already. Even so, she still hopes to vent out all the feelings she has been holding on to. That’s why Komari-chan picked up her pen, and Remon-chan chased after the wind…”

Yanami stopped. She fell silent.

Quietness permeated the classroom that was painted white by sunlight.

I looked at the room in the same way Yanami did. A strange sense of emptiness surfaced.

“I was also slightly worried when the senpais said they were retiring. That’s why I understand how Komari wants to present everything she has.”

I put the unfinished bun into the package and left it on the tatami.

“The third-year students can start deciding whether they want to come to school freely at the start of the year. We have less than 2 months of days like this left.”

-Even without doing anything, the person will disappear before your eyes.

I remained speechless. Yanami tilted her head in confusion.

“Less than 2 months, and then?”

“So, waiting for it to be over is the correct choice when giving something up, right?”

At least, that’s how I live. It’s the easiest way out, from what I know.

“...Yeah, that’s what I did. However, Komari-chan is a determined young maiden.”

“Young maiden?”

“Indeed, that’s why Komari-chan wants to vent her feelings properly. She wants to put a stop to it, even if it means pushing herself in preparation for her next love.”

Her next love. I started suspecting my ears with such unexpected words.

“...Someone has a crush on Komari?”

“Who knows? Komari-chan is very adorable too. Nukumizu-kun, someone may get a headstart before you if you keep dilly-dallying around, okay?”

Yanami seemed to be provoking me. She leaned toward me.

“Headstart? I’m not competing with Komari to see who’s getting loved first.”

“Eh, …that’s what you think?”

Yanami shrugged helplessly.

“Ah, that’s how Nukumizu-kun feels. It’s Nukumizu-kun, after all.”

I don’t know what she’s saying, but she’s clearly dissing me.

“Well, what about you, Yanami-san? Right, there’s a guy in a Shinsengumi costume.”

“Nishikawa-kun? Why did you bring him up?”

He interrupted my conversation with Yanami in the classroom. Even though this is trivial, I can subtly feel his intention.

“That guy is probably-”

I was about to say it, yet I hesitated.

“What?”

“Uh, well, …is he close to Yanami-san?”

“Hmm, how should I put it? I’ve been talking to him more lately. What’s wrong?”

She said as she chewed the bun.

Eh, didn’t this girl just finish her bun?

“That’s mine…”

Yanami ignored my feeble protest. Suddenly, her eyes brightened up. She seemed to have realized something.

“Eh? Don’t tell me, don’t tell me-?”

“W-What…?”

Yanami looks at my face. She is very interested.

“Don’t tell me…are you jealous of Nishikawa-kun? For real?”

Wha!? What is this girl saying?

“N-Nope-”

Yanami’s body shook around cheerfully.

“I see. Were you trying to cover your embarrassment when you subtly asked me whether I had a boyfriend? Also, people usually won’t talk about boyfriend stuff, right?”

This was the first thing this girl brought up during the entrance ceremony. I still remember that.

“You’ll feel lonely if I have a boyfriend, right? Nukumizu-kun, aren’t you looking adorable?”

“I-I told you that’s not true. I’m just a bit curious.”

“It’s fine. It’s fine. I’ll properly introduce him to you if I find someone I like. Nukumizu-kun, don’t get a headstart before me either, okay?”

“It’s…it’s not…”

I couldn’t hand but wrap my hands around my head. As for Yanami, she hummed a song as she took bites out of the bun.

Suddenly, I realized the strangeness of the silence around us.

It’s already past 8 PM. I can sense the gradual decrease of people in the school.

I slowly raised my head.

“...Be quiet.”

“Eh? What’s wrong?”

I gently put my finger on my lips and approached Yanami.

“Yanami-san.”

“Eh!? W-Wait…!”

Yanami started stuttering and backing up.

“I told you to be quiet.”

“Nukumizu-kun, it’s still too early for the school festival magic! Tomorrow! Let’s talk about this tomorrow, okay!?” [TL: Magic as in students quickly becoming couples.]

What is this girl saying?

“Shh. Konuki-sensei is recording us with a camera. Don’t say anything weird, alright?”

“...Ah?”

Yanami turned around stiffly. At this point, Konuki-sensei faces a camera toward us behind the corridor’s window.

She smiled and waved after realizing we had discovered her.

“Please think of sensei as the stains on the ceiling, you two. Don’t worry about these things. Here. Please continue.”

“There’s nothing to continue. Also, please say hi to us if sensei’s here.”

I patted my jacket as I stood up.

“Sensei thinks it’s bad to bother others. Let’s go back if it’s over. The school is about to close up.”

“It wasn’t even starting, alright? Well, Yanami-san, let’s go.”

Yanami stared at my face dazedly on the tatami.

“...Eh?”