297

After attending summer classes at the cram school in the morning, I was to attend the supplemental classes at Zuiran. There was to be a short test and which would also include material for the second term, so I can't miss it.

"You're leaving, Kisshouin-san?"

"Yes, I'm going to my school's supplemental class."

Good luck said Umewaka-kun and the others as they saw me off. Tagaki-kun was walking ahead of me for the same reason, so I offered him a ride, but "I, I will be going by train, so!" and saying so, he dashed away. Hey, if you run all out in this heat, you'll get a heat stroke!

Almost the entire large classroom was filled by those attending English class. I usually sit with Iinchou, but this time, I had to sit elsewhere. I looked around to see who else was attending and saw Wakaba-chan. She noticed my gaze and waved her hand slightly, so I smiled at her so that only she would notice. And we signaled to each other that we'd meet later with our eyes. I had promised to go over to her house after this.

I was still sore today, so I skipped Kaburagi's training. I was hoping that the training would just disappear, but if I don't mail him my meal menu, he sends messages to scold me, so that probably won't happen… After I send him my dinner menu, he sends a total calorie count for the day. After receiving that, I laughed derisively at how little he knew. Lazy folk in this world have snacks and midnight meals before they go to bed.

Right before class started, Tagaki-kun came in not looking so well. There, he should have rode with me.

The English test was fairly easy. Unfortunately, the material had already been covered by Kaburagi's Spartan study regimen for the end of term tests. Humph, I feel like I was defeated with his studies sticking to me…

I knew that Wakaba-chan was going to attend another class before going home, so I decided to stop by the handicrafts club during that time. Some enthusiastic members were attending almost every day during summer vacation, so I wouldn't be much of a club president if I didn't show my face, even if I am a president in name only. I entered the clubroom to find several members performing handicrafts as the chatted.

"Gokigen yoh, everyone."

"Oh, Reika-senpai."

"Reika-sama, gokigen yoh."

Greeted by the smiling members, I walk around the room to look at their work and speak with them as the president. I'm taking the day off today from handicrafts. Because I forgot to bring my material…

"The dress is coming along nicely." I thanked the members working on the wedding dress, the centerpiece of the school festival, and they all happily nodded.

"This year's is particularly well made." The vice president walked up next to me.

"Yes, it's beautifully made. I'm looking forward to its completion."

Hearing my approval, Minami-kun smiled happily. I'm not kidding nor speaking out of bias. The wedding dress being spearheaded by the embroidering genius, Minami-kun, displays unprecedented quality.

"I'd like as many people to see this as possible."

"Yes."

Everyone's working so hard over their vacation that I want everyone to see this. Unfortunately, not too many guests come to our exhibition. Compared to the class features and refreshment booths, handicrafts might be dull… That's the same with most production showcases.

"First, we would need to have them want to see our exhibition." That's the most difficult step.

"The flower arrangement club are allowing having their work shown all over to have passing guest see them." So we can't just wait for the guests to come see our work.

Minami-kun who had been listening, raised his hand. "How about we display all our past dresses out in the hall?"
"The dresses?!" That might get their attention! Just from the number of wedding dresses, they might be interested to come to our exhibition. Nice idea, Minami-kun!

"I hope there are others applying at Zuiran who will see our exhibition and want to join like I did." Well said, handicrafts club president to be. He's already thinking about next year!

"Then couldn't we ask the flower arrangement club to make bouquets for us? If we collaborate and have the dresses with the flowers, it would be even more gorgeous and catch people's eyes."

"I see, a collaboration!" Apparel in collaboration with a different art! Vice president, nice idea!

"I'll use that idea! We'll line up the dresses in the hall and have the flower arrangement club create bouquets to match!"
"Yes, that sounds very nice."

"But we don't know if we can get permission to expand the exhibition out into the hall…" murmured Minami-kun who came up with the idea.

"Don't worry, I'll get the permission as the president." Now is my chance to shine as the president. Whether it's the school or student council, I'll get that permission. Don't worry, I have some influence.

"We're already talking ahead, but we don't know if the flower arrangement club will accept. They may refuse," the vice president stated, smiling wryly as I was getting excited about the school festival. Have more confidence.

"Don't worry, I'll convince them as the president."

"We're counting on you," she states as her forced smile deepened. "By the way, Reika-sama. How is the wedding doll coming along?"

"Eh… Um… I guess the basic shape is about done…"

"I see. I'm looking forward to it!"

That was a lie. I haven't even taken out the wool from the handicraft shop's bag. If we get more guests, then more people will see my work. This is bad… I really need to start when I get home.

I arrived at Wakaba-chan's train station at the promised time and found her waiting in her school uniform.

"I'm sorry for coming at a busy time." I wanted to avoid coming at a time when they'd be busy preparing dinner normally, but we didn't have a day off anytime soon without cram school that Wakaba-chan had free time. She brightly replied not to worry, so I allow myself to indulge.

"These are gifts from my trip to Hokkaido. There are some with an expiration date, so I wanted to give these to you."

"Wow, thank you! Chocolates,jellies, and even butter sandwiches! It's all right to be getting all this!?"

"Ufufu." Wakaba-chan carried half the gifts, and we walked to her house while leisurely chatting.

"The twins have gone to stay at the grandparent's home."

"Oh, but you're not going?"

"I have cram school, and Kanta has clubs. I'll go for O-bon festival. The young ones left early because they didn't have any material for their picture diary."

"Oh, homework to make a picture diary. How nostalgic."

We arrived at Wakaba-chan's home to find Kanta standing in the kitchen.

"Welcome back. And Kifli, welcome."

"I'm home."

"Hello, sorry to intrude."

"It was so hot."

"Want barley tea?"

"I do!"

Kanta-kun went to the refrigerator and poured barley tea for three while Wakaba-chan went outside to gather the laundry.

"Wakaba-chan, is there anything I can help with?"

"Don't worry. It's hot, so stay inside."

I didn't feel well about being the only one staying cool and doing nothing, so I chased after Wakaba-chan and stood by the window. It's summer so the sun is still high even though it's the afternoon. In Wakaba-chan's yard with the sheets fluttering, were some magnificent morning glory in pots.

"Oh, could these be…"

"Huh? Oh! Those morning glory? The other day when I went to the morning glory fair with Kaburagi-kun, he bought them for me!"

Thought so…

"Did you enjoy the morning glory fair?"

"Yes! There were so many pretty morning glories. I was telling my mom how different the ones grown by the pros were with mom. Look, these are the ones we always grow, but look at the difference in size."

"…As you say." The morning glories she pointed at weren't as brilliant compared to the ones from the fair. She received some tips, so she was keen on making them bloom prettier next year.

"There were lots of booths, and we had fried noodles and takoyaki. Kaburagi-kun hadn't done the goldfish scoop, yet and he it was a shock to him failing instantly."

"What's that?"

'Ahaha. I told him to have the scooper in the water for as short as he could, and he became puzzled. He was able to pick up the knack for it and was able to do it after that. Isn't that great?"
"Ah."

"And he looked surreal taking home the goldfish."

…I hadn't heard that story, Kaburagi. So you took home a goldfish…

"They were selling grilled squid, and when I saw that I remembered you."

"You were of great help then…"

We met when she caught me munching on some grilled squid. And I spilled the sauce all over my clothes, and came to Wakaba-chan's house to wash them… I regret that happening every time that I remember.

Wakaba-chan came back inside with the laundry and quickly folded them as we talked and she left to put them away.

"Kifli, barley tea."

"Thank you."

Kanta-kun brought me some tea, so I spread the gifts I brought on the table. I wasn't sure about bringing western snacks to a cake shop, but I really wanted them to eat the Yuubari melon jelly. I picked one up and showed Kanta-kun and said, "Um, Kanta-kun. Hokkaido has Yuubari melons in many places, but this jelly is different from the others. Here, look at the ingredients. They list the ingredients from the largest mass, but this one lists melon first. Many fruit jellies have juice, but this one uses plenty of the melon itself, so the flavor of the fresh Yuubari melon is still alive. Experience what the real melon smells like when you open the lid!"

"Kifli, you sound like a commercial…"

Oh, no. Is it because I always watch infomercials on TV?

"What? What's wrong?"

"Wakaba-chan, look. Hokkaido has Yuubari melons in many places, but…"

Wakaba-chan interjected, "Wow" and "Ohh" with great timing to enliven my present. Perfect reaction as a viewer.

"Next is this butter sandwich. There are many of these across the country, but this one is so different."

"Oh, I wonder how."

"It begins with being picky about the butter…"

"Oh, wow."

Kanta-kun silently starts eating in the middle of the presentation. Kanta-kun, you have to tell the audience what you think about the taste. He finished the snacks and tea early, and left, so Wakaba-chan and I trade notes from cram school.

"So this is the text from Kisshouin-san's cram school." She started to eye the contents with interest. I look through Wakaba-chan's textbook, also. As usual, she had written all over the place with a mechanical pencil. "Sorry, it's probably hard to read with all the sloppy notes."

"No, not at all." It's educational to see how smart people study.

"Oh, can I copy this part later?"

"Please go ahead." Maybe I should copy this, too.

Kanta-kun who was prepping for dinner in the kitchen came out and said, "Kifli's eating, right?"

"Oh, I couldn't. I'll be going."

"Of course you can. You came out all this way, Kisshouin-san, so eat with us."

"But…"

"It's not any different cooking for one more, so I'm making some."

Uh, but wouldn't I be imposing on you to have dinner at a friend's again… It does make me happy, but… But it already seems set to the Takamichi siblings that I'm eating dinner with them. Then at least let me help, I said, but Kanta-kun made a funny face. I guess I'm still cast out as the snack making apprentice.

"Don't worry, I've started taking cooking lessons!" I declared with confidence.

Kanta-kun looked at me suspiciously and said, "Oh… then take the scum out of the soup with the ladle." Kanta-kun, you don't intend to have me cook.

Wakaba-chan's mom came into from the store and called to Wakaba-chan. "Wakaba! Kaburagi-san's here!"

WHAT!?