Volume 16, Chapter 2: The Footsteps of Turmoil, Part 3

For the next two weeks, our school life went on as usual.

We were preparing for the school festival and the sports festival at the same time, as well as working hard on our schoolwork. It was a precious time where I could safely say that every day was valuable, as if we were in a normal school. Surprisingly, the relationship between me and Kei did not spread from Sudou, and there was no sign of anyone else knowing about it.

It was the third Wednesday after school in the middle of September. I was seated in the back of the class, and I caught the shadow of an unusual person approaching Horikita, who was seated in the center of the front row.

“Hey, Horikita-san. I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time after this?”

It was Satou who approached her with a hint of reserve. She was one of those girls who had never gotten involved with Horikita.

“I have to go to the student council in about an hour, so as long as it doesn’t last until then, I don’t mind. What is it?”

Although she didn’t show a surprised expression, she didn’t have much interactions with Satou up until now. When she asked her curiously, Satou continued in a slightly hushed voice.

“We’ve thought a lot about the events we could hold for the cultural festival……and you said that we can tell you if we’ve got ideas, right?”

“Yes. You’re very welcome to present your ideas……”

“That’s what this is, a presentation. I’ve come up with an idea that will really allow us to win this festival.”

Satou was brimming with confidence, but Horikita was not so easily impressed.

That was because for the past ten days or so, many students have been coming to Horikita with their own ideas.

Both boys and girls have repeatedly made suggestions to Horikita, as there would a reward if the idea is adopted.

They ranged from the traditional to the bizarre, but one thing they all had in common was that Horikita wouldn’t even listen to them if all they did was say the name of the event. On the same day that the reward for the idea was announced, Hondou immediately proposed that they sell fried chicken because it was delicious. However, Horikita immediately threw out the idea, telling him to come up with a proposal with a more concrete plan. The next day, undaunted, Hondou submitted a slightly better plan for making fried chicken, but all it contained was a recipe for fried chicken that he must have picked up from the Internet, and an passionate speech about how well it would sell for and how delicious it would be.

Looking at the low-quality plan, Horikita reiterated the importance of a proposal. If you were going to open a fried chicken stall, how much would the cost be, where would the store be located, how many people would be needed, what would the price be, how many customers would be expected, and what would be the basis for the price? She told him that she would only accept his proposal if he could properly address all those areas.

After that, it was expected that the number of people who would come up with hasty proposals to Horikita would decrease, but surprisingly, the number of students who brought in well-crafted

proposals increased day by day.

Some of the proposals even made it onto Horikita’s list for further consideration.

However, none of the proposals have been adopted yet because they lacked a definitive message.

“If that’s the case, then may I hear it?”

“Ah, yup. Of course, I came prepared but…… it’s a little inconvenient here. If possible, could you spare me some of your time after this?”

“That so? Well, it’s fine, so where do you want me to go?”

“Let’s see, let’s meet at an empty classroom in the special building half an hour from now. I’ve gotten permission from the teacher too.”

“An empty classroom?”

When Horikita asked her back curiously, Satou quickly turned away. Her eyes met with mine and she approached me right away.

“Hey Ayanokouji-kun. Do you have some time later?”

“Me? Well, I don’t particularly have any plans after this.”

“You heard what I said earlier, right? Could you come with Horikita-san in about half an hour from now as well?”

“Why me too?”

“That’s a secret for now. You’ll know when you come.”

As with her attitude towards Horikita, Satou’s face was brimming with confidence.

“I’ll be waiting for you two then!”

After checking the time on her cell phone, Satou hurried out of the classroom.

“I wonder what she’s planning? She seemed pretty sure of herself.”

“Perhaps she really did have something special in mind.”

“Even so, why would she go out of her way to call us out like this?”

I didn’t know what she was planning, but I guess we’ll find out in half an hour.

Horikita and I decided to kill some time in the classroom before heading to the special building.