Volume 8 - CH 3

After we all basked in Ashida’s newly found charm, we decided to place the stuff we bought back in our classroom and then proceeded to head over to the gym hall for the fashion show that would soon begin. Or more accurately, it was a lot closer to a contest showing off all the various dresses. And considering the cost of it all, it’s no exaggeration to call this the main event of the festival. But, I wonder how it’ll play out…

Entering the dimly lit gym hall, I could tell it was packed to the brim, with no difference in gender to be spotted. I spotted a bulky senior carrying a drum set off the stage. I’m guessing they did a small live performance before the main dish. Looking at the people around us, they were all still feeling the fever from it.

“Would you have preferred to see this?”

“Not desperately. I bet it would’ve been fun, but Aichi isn’t the type for this noisy business, right?”

“Urk…Yeah, I guess so…”

What I realized only recently is that Natsukawa’s principles when doing something boiled down to whether Airi-chan would enjoy it or not. A festival like this may be too much, but the noisiness of other amusement-type fun would probably be fine for her. We then moved through the rows, sitting down at the space for current students, with Ashida, followed by Natsukawa, and me next to her.

“You guys gonna be okay with the fashion show? It’s an event planned mostly for girls, after all,” I asked.

“I’m looking forward to it! Especially because of all the accessory talk earlier!” Ashida responded.

“Yeah, I think it might be exciting,” Natsukawa chimed in.

Contradicting that, if I were to be asked about my excitement, I wouldn’t be too sure about my response. In the end, my main reason to be here is Lady Shinonome. Looking around, the ratio of girls was a bit higher than I expected, and I felt a bit embarrassed. Even though I was the one who invited both of them. And my only expectation is that I get to see cute girls wearing cute dresses.

“Oh yeah, gotta get the app…” Ashida said.

“Right. There’s some voting app, isn’t there?”

“I think the QR code’s on the pamphlet.”

Since I already had the app installed, I helped the girls fumble their way through it. Well, it was set up in a hurry so it’s extremely simple, and there’s not much I would need to teach them. I don’t even know who developed the app. Though I think it was originally developed a few years back.

“I wonder if we get to see Rin-sama!”

“I don’t think this type of event is her style…Though, I wouldn’t complain.”

“…”

Knowing Shinomiya-senpai and her uptight personality, the chances are slim. The only possibility I see this happening is if she had Inatomi-senpai and Mita-senpai in her arms and on both sides, appearing as the public morals committee family. The girls would probably go crazy.

“…What about your sister?” Natsukawa asked.

“I don’t even want to imagine anything like that.”

“You don’t have to look so terrified…”

“Then let me ask you. What face should I make while watching my own older sister walk down the catwalk with some suggestive or adorable piece of clothing? Well, things would be different if this was a wrestling match.”

“I bet she’d look good in a lot of dresses…”

It deeply pains me that Natsukawa and I can’t see eye to eye on this, but my perception of Big Sis won’t change that easily. Then again, I would assume this is the normal emotion to have when dealing with a sibling. I wonder how the siblings of idols feel, watching them dance on TV or appear in shows. I bet it’d be a lot more complicated than whatever this is.

“Whoa, crazy…”

Raising my gaze, I saw pomp and showy dresses and attires lined up on the stage, changing color based on the lighting. The big object that looked like a banner hidden behind the stage was now put to the front and changed into a massive screen. Did we…always have something like this here?

“I think it’s starting…!”

Together with Ashida’s excited voice, American pop music started playing. I thought the music sounded familiar, when the pink lights on the stage started moving, the screen being pulled up.

“Wow…!”

“Amazing!”

On the screen, it said ‘Koetsu Fashion Collection’ in the shape of a logo. This must have cost half a fortune. And as someone who participated in the preparations of the festival, it terrifies me to think of what supporters they gathered up to make this possible. And with how genuine it all looked, it’s no surprise that both Natsukawa and Ashida were getting excited over this. Well…as long as everyone’s enjoying this, I’ve got no reason to complain. I have to recommend the club’s genuine efforts.

From the side of the stage appeared a familiar girl wearing a butterfly necktie, carrying a microphone with sparkling decorations. What kind of concert is this? I think she’s part of the school broadcasting club, handling the announcements for the entrance and closing ceremonies. I can see her on TV on a talk show in a few years. The BGM changes into smaller beats, as the lights turned back to normal and focused on the senior on the stage.

‘All fashion sense begins with the face—But let’s put an end to this trope. Good day everyone, I will be the announcer of this event, Kurahashi from the Kouetsu High’s broadcasting club.’

Dang, that was cool. She’s got the total radio personality. And Kurahashi-paisen is completely rocking that party-goer outfit with no change of emotion. The reason for her popularity is probably that gap. Maybe they forced her to do this? But the way she’s holding that mic and the angle, it’s like she’s introducing the next song. I bet she’s super excited about this.

‘With the ever-changing state of fashion, our school’s attire club has been led around the nose many times. Even just turning on the TV this morning, the trends shown there entirely differed from what we had seen last year. But it’s us high school girls who form the trends of tomorrow. So, dear adults—can you keep up with us?!’

Yeah, this is like a rock concert. The entire hall roared in excitement. A girl who sat to the left of me, opposite Natsukawa and Ashida, jumped up and screamed “Yeaaaah!” which scared me shitless. Since this entire hall was dominated by girls, I just felt like the sore apple…I better just keep quiet.

With Announcer Kurahashi’s call and response, the audience got even more excited, and the previous BGM returned after a brief explanation of the voting. Seems like the runway is finally opening up now.

‘We’re starting with our first contender—a third-year student of ours! Last year, she went with brown hair and a China dress—Takemoto Megumi-san! As a complete turn from last year, where she couldn’t even try to hide her height, she’s now gracing us with short black hair and an army uniform with a long coat! What a bewitching sight!’

It’s just cosplay! The senior that appeared showed no signs of being embarrassed and just smiled, showing off her appearance to the entire hall. That confident attitude showed that she was used to this, that she participated in last year’s festival all the same. The screen even played footage from said festival, showing off that senior in her China dress…Ooooh, China dress! Wooo!

“S-So that’s how this works…”

“Halloween’s close after all. Isn’t that right, Sajocchi?”

“Y-Yeah, true.”

Feeling some indescribable pressure from Ashida’s words made me fumble my response. Could you not throw surprise attacks at me while Natsukawa sits right by my side? Because of this, Natsukawa kept sneaking glances at me…But moving on, the show introduced more and more cosplayers, with the latter half changing its name to ‘Being ahead of the times – Casual University Girls Edition,’ which probably was the main part of the fashion show. This being a show created by students, I imagined that the budget for the clothes and dresses would be the bare minimum…but to my surprise, all the outfits looked like genuine coordination you’d see in shops.

“…”

“…”

Looking to my right, both Natsukawa and Ashida were staring up at the stage. Contrary to the cosplay part, they now seemed genuinely engrossed. I did see both of them in their casual clothes before, but this and that are completely different. I’m guessing they’re still learning about this stuff. Not like I, someone who just buys what’s trendy, is one to talk. But at the very least, I could use this chance to stare at Natsukawa’s face as much as I wanted, when Announcer Kurahashi introduced the next model.

‘Continued, we have first-year student Shinonome Claudine Marika-san! As her name suggests, she’s a half-Japanese beauty, using her French fashion knowledge to challenge her seniors today! But will that be enough to bring home the victory?!’

“Oh, there she is.”

Hearing a familiar name pulled my attention back to the show. But man, that name sure is long. Does she have to write that whole name during exams? I don’t even want to imagine. And I knew that she was half-Japanese, but from France, no less? She spoke Japanese just fine, but she can even speak foreign languages, huh…Well, as the top spot of the student year, I expect as much. And she was probably born over there, too.

“Is that the girl who asked you to vote for her, Sajocchi?”

“Yeah. We’ve known each other for a while, so I dare say I’m looking forward to what she’s wearing.”

“…Hmph.”

We met a few times, and right now, all I can see her as is a bit of a clumsy and good-for-nothing rich lady, but with her Western blood, she’s got the looks of a model. I don’t like the idea of making this a fixed game, but I highly doubt she’d need my vote to win. It’s time she shows her true ability.

“Now, let’s see what—”

“Huh?”

Looking at the stage, I completely lost my train of thought. What first drew my gaze in was her sparkling blonde hair. Like a noble aura hanging over her shoulder, each confident step she took made it shake in a meticulous rhythm, leaving behind particles of light on her path. It might just be the dust in the air, but the charm she emitted allowed her to make even this her own.

“Wow…”

This might have been the first time I let out a sigh of appraisal like this. She wore a turtle-neck knitted and white top that revealed her shoulders, paired with long sleeves that reached down to her wrists. Her brown boots with their heels emphasized her slender and long legs even further. Adding to that, she wore loose short pants with a newsboy cap on her hat, the red color contradicting her white top. But more than anything, her golden hair, styled into waves, made her presence so much more stronger. It was the moment “cuteness” changed into “beauty,” and I witnessed this with my own eyes.

“Oh my…”

“It looks amazing…”

With the appearance of a genuine model, it seemed like both Natsukawa and Ashida were entirely overwhelmed. I’m curious how the other people around us feel, but my gaze wouldn’t move away from the girl on the stage—My lady is serious now, I see. I was forced to show my admiration once. My heart was racing to the same level as when I first was treated kindly by Natsukawa. But unlike before, my racing heart was induced by this realization of mature charm, more than genuine kindness. The presence my lady emitted was too great to ignore, and just walking alone was plenty of a performance.

“:..Oh, number 21, huh?”

“That number plate is so unnecessary!”

“But without that, nobody could vote for her…”

It was a minuscule existence that could not hope to hurt the lady’s charm. But the number plate with the number 21 hung on her waist, which still stood out. Well, as Natsukawa said, it was necessary to vote. The other seniors had the same plate with a different number. Turning around at the front of the walkway, my lady brushed her blonde hair to the side and returned to the back of the stage with a confident walk.

Man…that was something. Then again, with her looks, I doubt anything she’d wear would look bad on her. Even I, as a man, can’t help but feel jealous of that. With the lady’s disappearance, another girl emerged from the side and walked down the stage. And although I don’t like to sound condescending, I genuinely feel bad for her that she’s next right after that previous performance. The differences are just too clear. After all the participants had a chance to show themselves, followed by the attire club doing a final show, the lights dimmed and the regular BGM returned. It seems like this was the end of the performance.

‘With all these charming girls lined up, I’m sure the boys must have gotten their fill today. But this isn’t the end of your job today. We ask you to vote for your favorite out of all those 30 participants. And don’t run…because the promised time has arrived.’

You were the best, Announcer Kurahashi. As I gave her a mental thumbs-up of appreciation and approval, the previous models all appeared on stage. I’m guessing that voting time has arrived. And you did brilliantly, my lady. You are my number one.

“As expected of Sajocchi’s favorite. I definitely got sucked in.”

“Right? It took a lot of work to raise her into that. But by the way, she’s not my favorite.”

“You didn’t raise anybody…”

Feeling a sharp pain run through my chest at Natsukawa’s retort, I took out my smartphone and booted up the designated voting app, which now had changed the design to allow you to vote. I guess they didn’t add the names…But oh well. I bet she’d get angry if I voted for a different person…Not like she could find out, of course. I proceeded to vote for the number 21, and I would have done so even if she didn’t ask me. See, I know you could do it, my lady.

I asked Natsukawa and Ashida who they voted for, and they also put in their vote for the lady. I guess their feelings of support mostly stem from the lady being a fellow first-year student. I wish I could have been born half-Japanese like her…Sajou Bouillabaisse Wataru. What an appetizing tone…But what was Bouillabaisse again?

‘Okay, this brings us to the end of the voting time! We’re counting the votes right now, so please wait a moment!’

“Shame that no familiar face showed up. Like Rin-sama.”

“And even if she did, she’d definitely be wearing boy clothes. Like a butler uniform. I can see all the girls screaming already.”

“Stop it! Now I really wanna see it!”

“Should I ask her sometime?”

“Are you for real?!”

“Of course. She’s actually pretty easy.”

“Do you have no respect for your seniors…?”

As we were talking about this and that, the BGM began to rise again, as the lights focused on the stage once more. The various models appeared from the back of the stage, with my blonde-haired half-Japanese lady once again stealing all the attention. She seemed satisfied with her performance, as she had one hand on her hip, grinning. At least keep up the facade until the very end, won’t you? But shortly after, I saw my lady looking around the hall like she was looking for someone.

“Is she…looking for me?!”

“No way she is.”

“I highly doubt it.”

Oh come on, at least let me get my hopes up! And I’m guessing my lady must have heard us causing a ruckus, as our eyes met for a moment. Since we technically know each other, I gave her a thumbs-up with a grin.

“That face of hers practically screamed ‘Not you,’ though?”

“She’s just hiding her embarrassment. I can tell.”

“For sure isn’t.”

“That reminds me…She did seem a bit prickly after all…”

I tried to ignore the cold and harsh reality in front of me, as my dear lady seemingly gave up on looking for her Romeo and just struck a pose like a mannequin. And yet, she seemed slightly displeased.

‘We have just finished counting all the votes! Let’s move on to the announcement!’

I could tell that our surroundings grew noisier. They’re probably all curious about who took the top spot. Plus, my perception and evaluation may differ from the average girl, so just because I couldn’t pull my eyes away doesn’t mean she’d be the sure-fire winner…But let’s see.

‘Today is Kouetsu High School’s 49th cultural festival—and this has been the Koetsu Fashion Collection! Just which participant will take the badge of being today’s winner?! Here are the results!’

The entire hall grew darker, followed by a drum roll. The lights moved all over the hall, hyping up the audience.

‘This year’s winner is—’

With one final beat of the drum, the lights focused on a single point on the stage. The person standing in the center of the lips was—

‘Entry number 21! We have a first-year student win today’s event! Shinonome Claudine Marika-san!’

“Ooooh…!”

Roars of cheers and applause filled the hall. Others were whistling in approval. It seemed like the majority of the audience agreed with this decision. Alright, I’m joining in! Fweeet! Fweeet! Okay, and now a bit of applause!

“It was amazing. She took first place without any fixing.”

“I bet she must have put a lot of work into it.”

“Are you gonna participate next year?” I asked in jest.

“I…don’t know. I’ll leave that to Aichi.”

“Huh…?! But, with my height…and appearing in front of so many people…”

“It’s okay. I’ll vote for you a hundred times, Natsukawa.”

“You shouldn’t falsify a vote like that…!”

On stage, my lady was currently being congratulated by the two seniors next to her. I would have expected them to give a condescending comment along the lines of “Some first-year student like you shouldn’t get all cocky,” but they must have seen how much work my lady put into her outfit. It’s a story that’s outside my world, I bet. From the side of the stage, the president of the attire club appeared, handing my lady a trophy. It even looked like my lady was tearing up a bit. I don’t know any of the background stuff, but I should at least go congratulate her later. Though I bet she’d just brag at me with a shit-eating grin.

“I always thought she was a clumsy and sad type of a rich lady, but…Huh?”

“Wait, what?!”

That moment, the lights in the hall dropped entirely and turned everything dark. Thrown into this confusion, the people around us grew noisy, as someone held onto my right arm. Knowing this direction, it could have only been Natsukawa. I shall protect her as my life depended on it. Come at me, you bastards.

‘Oh, what a sudden revelation! Maybe we’re not done just yet?! The goddess of Kouetsu wishes not for this event to end!’

A goddess now? More like some prankster, throwing us into darkness. And the hall seems to have been locked up…Is this how the battle royale starts? Fine by me, I’m okay with throwing my life away to protect Natsukawa. Let’s meet again in the next life—Leaving the jokes aside, Announcer Kurahashi’s words made it clear that this was staged from the very beginning. It’s probably like an encore at a concert. But what would they add as a surprise after a fashion show…? A celebrity? A genuine model? Or maybe a voice actress?

‘The lights have focused back on the stage! Something is hiding behind the black curtain! What could be waiting to show itself?!’

What acting that is. The participants quickly made space in front of the black curtain, meaning they must have something big waiting—or several people. Can’t even tell from the silhouettes. Should they be hyping this up? What if some old man with toy guns appears to shoot sweets into the audience? They’ll completely ruin their ratings—Oh wait, this isn’t a TV show.

‘It’s time to do the big reveal! Our secret treat for today is this group of people—’

Maybe it’s some comedian? AKB46?! A live concert?! This cultural festival is crazy! This is where the real deal starts! You really know how to hype me up, damn it!

‘…The dear members of the student council!’

Are you joking you goddamn bastard?! Yet contrary to my disappointment, this revelation seems to have only made things more heated, as Big Sis and several other companions appeared. The curtains were pulled up to the ceiling, revealing them at once.

“…Whaaaa…”

What first caught my attention was a sparkling wedding dress in snow white. I’m guessing it’s because I get to witness it with my own eyes instead of just through a TV screen during a drama, but the luxurious radiance it had was emphasized at least ten-fold. It showed what the attire club could do when they set their mind to it…No, actually, did they really make this?

Looking away from the wedding dress, two hotties stood on both of Big Sis’s sides, wearing clothes that only put more attention to their overwhelming height, such as a white suit, a tuxedo, and even a tailcoat. They each wore a different type of outfit, looking like they were born to wear these clothes. The more introverted Yuuki-senpai kept a cool facade, as the playful Hanawa-senpai smiled, both of them holding one of Big Sis’s hands.

“W-Wow…!”

“So beautiful…! Wataru, look, look!”

“Ah, yeah…I am watching, alright.”

Ashida and Natsukawa could barely contain their excitement. Natsukawa was overwhelmed with excitement as the target of her admiration appeared on stage, pulling on my arm to no end. This is weird…I really tried to explain how much of a gorilla Big Sis is, but I failed…From an outsider’s perspective, it makes sense why Big Sis would receive this much admiration…But how am I supposed to feel seeing my big sister wearing a wedding dress? Is this what they call having complicated feelings?

‘Wh-What am I witnessing…?!’

What is happening here…

‘The Queen of Kouetsu, the blooming flower of the student council—Sajou Kaede-san! All the roses from our queen have been plugged, turning her into the Goddess of Kouetsu! Her gentle gaze is directed only ahead of her, through the gym hall! Does she not even care about the four handsome gentlemen by her side?!’

Yet again, Announcer Kurahashi kept her lack of emotion while completely hyping up the entire place. But, I could not comprehend why her eyes were shot open in excitement like that. Tracing her gaze, I arrived at Big Sis’s face, having reached the “goal” a solid ten years before I expected her, as she just looked on ahead. To most people, this probably looks like a cool beauty, but the part you should pay attention to is her mouth. Because I can tell…she’s forming the truth!

‘They. Set. Me. Up.’

“Ack…!”

Those were the words I read from her face, almost like they were written on her face with a black pen. Normally, I would feel joy at her suffering, but just this once, I was urged to show sympathy. I couldn’t even keep myself from groaning in pain. I’m sure that, beneath her thick makeup, she’s hiding her true face red from embarrassment and rage. You K4 guys, you really did it now…You guys remember who she’s living with?! I’m gonna be at the end of this smoking gun!

‘Oh my! An archaic smile from Hanawa-san! And a wink, too! Meanwhile, Yuuki-san follows suit with a butler’s pose! The screams from the audience won’t stop! Is this…fanservice?! Waaaah!’

Don’t ‘Waaah!’ me now. I’m guessing even this emotionless announcer has reached her limit. She’s now looking like a bitch in heat. I bet she’s gonna flap her legs up and down like a maiden in love the second she gets home to her bed. Personally, she’s a lot cuter than Big Sis.

“Wataru, look! Look! Your sister…She’s so beautiful!”

You’re the beautiful one here—And even though I was about to say that out loud, the way she pressed herself onto my arm, and the impact of her shaking me around, was too much for me to handle. This is the best. I rarely get to see Natsukawa overcome with excitement. Shake me more, won’t you? That being said, knowing that the reason for this behavior is Big Sis of all people…I never would have imagined I would feel jealous of my sister. That woman…she did in one moment what I couldn’t achieve after several years. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if she would use this appearance to oppress the entire audience, using her gaze of an absolute ruler…Though that would probably only hype up the place more.

“…Hm?”

I glanced over at the side of the stage, spotting the previous models and participants all clapping in joy—Except one individual. A blonde-haired girl had her gaze locked onto the ground, which made her stand out more. Oh yeah…my lady has always seen Big Sis as her rival in love, right? Of course, Big Sis has no such intentions…But being forced to see the man you love to be part of another woman’s reverse harem definitely does not feel good. For some reason, I couldn’t help but be curious about her, especially since she looked the exact opposite of when she was on the runway herself.