After Yukinoshita returned to the student council room, Yuigahama and I headed for the station.
As the sun set and the temperature cooled, we wove through residential areas to avoid the blowing wind. The creaking sound of my bicycle as I pushed it along disappeared into the cold, wintry wind.
On the way, Yuigahama chatted about plenty of things with me, but she never touched on her exchange with Yukinoshita. It seemed to me like she was deliberately avoiding it. Out of respect for her consideration, I didn’t mention it, either.
So naturally, the subject headed in a different direction.
“The soccer club practices pretty late, huh?” Yuigahama said.
“Yeah, well, today’s later than usual.”
Our sports field really isn’t very big, but the soccer, baseball, rugby, and track clubs all use it, making compromises with each other so they could practice there. So depending on how the clubs negotiated it, their activities and practice hours were all over the place.
When I explained this to her, Yuigahama made a disinterested ohhh sort of sound. “Huhhh, you know a lot about it.”
“Uh, just a normal amount…”
Yuigahama’s remark was pretty inconsequential, but she seemed to think I was deeply interested in the soccer club, so I cleared my throat with a gefum, gefum and changed the subject. “Uh, anyway, I was thinking we’d take pictures tomorrow.”
Her attention distracted, Yuigahama nodded. “Ohhh, pictures, huh?”
“I’m thinking about taking them at the beach. Could you model for me?”
“Huh?! Me?! Oh, that’d be kind of embarrassing, though…” She petted at her bun with her fuzzy mittens.
“It can just be from behind. Here, look at these ones I found. I’m thinking it’d be good to take some shots of two or three people like this, together.” While pushing my bike, I pulled out my phone and showed her the photos I wanted to use as reference.
Stepping close, Yuigahama examined them. “Ohhh, okay, from behind, that miiight work… I’ll bring it up with Yumiko and Hina.”
Then she continued walking close at my side, without moving away again. I awkwardly pulled the front of my coat together and tugged my scarf up to my mouth as I walked faster.
Eventually, we passed through the crowds around the station and arrived at the Saize. I parked my bicycle and went into the restaurant, searching around for the one who’d already arrived.
Of course, nothing would have changed about Saize since we were here a few days ago. The only major difference was Hayato Hayama with that charming smile of his, waving cheerily at us.
Hayama went to the trouble of getting up and moving around the table, opening up one side of the four-seat booth for me and Yuigahama before lowering his raised hand in a gesture that said, Have a seat, miss.
Irritatingly enough, that cheeky little move did cut a nice picture… But what irked me most of all was the guy beside Hayama, eating pasta with a happy-go-lucky expression…
“Why’re you here, Tobecchi?” Yuigahama said before I could, as soon as she sat down.
Tobe herked. “Dude… Should I not be here…? Hayato said we were all going out to eat, so…” Tobe turned to Yuigahama and seemed a bit freaked out.
Yuigahama waved a casual hand at him and smiled. “Oh, no. I was just a little surprised you were here, ’cause you weren’t invited.”
“…Ah, yeah. Good point…” Yuigahama wasn’t trying to be mean, but a blunt comment like that, delivered with a smile, hurts more than you’d think. Tobe’s lips stiffened, and he put his fork down awkwardly. Then he glanced at me and Hayama. I knew what he was asking: Huh? This bad? I’ll go? Should I go? Dude… It was extremely obnoxious.
“…Well, it doesn’t make a difference whether you’re here or not,” I said, looking over to Hayama.
In the corner of my eye, Tobe was grumbling, “Dude…do you gotta say it like… Geez…”
Hayama grinned awkwardly at him before turning back to us.
“Sorry for taking up your time,” Yuigahama said, putting her hands together in a little gesture in front of her.
“I can’t just say no if you’re asking, Yui,” Hayama answered with a smile.
So then if I’d been the one to ask, would you have refused…? I eyed Hayama doubtfully as he got the conversation started.
“So what did you want to talk about?”
“You know about the prom, right?” I said, guessing he would have heard about it from Isshiki or Yuigahama.
“Yeah, more or less,” Hayama replied briefly.
“Well, now some of the parents are saying it’s unwholesome or whatever and are forcing the student council to ‘exercise self-restraint’ and cancel it themselves… So we’ve come up with a plan for a new prom that’s even bigger and wilder,” I said.
Tobe stopped slurping his pasta. “…Huh? Why?”
“To make sure the prom happens,” I said to Hayama, completely ignoring Tobe now.
Hayama folded his arms, putting a hand to his chin as he considered quietly. After a while, he seemed to figure it out, as he muttered, “…So basically, you’re baiting them.”
The moment he said that, the corners of my lips twisted into an unpleasant, ironic smirk. “Quick on the uptake. That makes things easier.”
“Oh, I don’t understand it, honestly.” Hayama answered with a shrug, like this was too much trouble for him.
Beside him, Tobe’s gaze was ping-ponging between us as he desperately racked his brain, then finally just gave up. He leaned forward over the table, whispering “What’s going on?” to Yuigahama.
Then Yuigahama quietly started explaining with an “Ummm…”
Well, Tobe didn’t really have to get it. The one we were dealing with was Hayama. While they were busy whispering to each other, I got to the point. “So we want help from the captains’ association.”
“I don’t think there’s anything we can do, though. We don’t have much authority.” Hayama attempted to brusquely end the discussion.
Come on, listen, I gestured. “I know. I just want to make a little proposal. You guys have farewell parties, right? Haven’t you considered having one with all the clubs? We want to arrange the new prom as a part of that.”
“Farewell parties…” Following up the pasta, Tobe was reaching out for the pilaf when his hand stopped. Then he tilted his head like, Huhhh? and stared at Hayama.
Hayama smiled wryly. “That does sound familiar.”
When I asked with a look what he meant, Hayama reached for his coffee cup and took a sip. It was espresso, but his expression didn’t betray a hint of bitterness. “The student council has already asked about a joint farewell party,” he said calmly.
I was sure I was appearing more bitter, being the one who’d asked. But even seeing that, Hayama didn’t twitch as he continued, “The captains’ association intends to work with the student council. Actually, we’re purely under their authority, as an organization. So we aren’t able to help you.”
I couldn’t say anything to that. Ngh.
She really does move fast. She’s already gone through with the ideas we had…? Yukinoshita must also have considered using the captains’ association to reinforce her own plan.