Chapter Two: The Old School Building and the Swing
“Hey, um, please take one!”
At the school gate after classes.
Watching Nagi hand out flyers to students heading home, still with a slightly nervous demeanor, I felt a bit of relief.
Thanks to some tough love, Nagi had gained enough mental fortitude to handle flyer distribution.
That said, this was truly just the first step. She still had a long way to go.
“Phew… I finished handing them all out, Kurusu-kun!”
Nagi, having completed her task, approached me with a proud expression.
Her gestures, somehow reminiscent of a puppy, made me smile as I held up a paper bag filled with posters.
“Good job. Next up is putting up posters. You’re okay with that too, right?”
“Y-Yeah, I’m fine. A little trauma won’t faze me anymore!”
I gave a slight click of my tongue at Nagi’s attempt to act tough.
“…Tch. If you seem like you’re struggling, maybe I’ll make you confess over the school intercom next.”
“I’d never come back to school! That’s way too extreme—I’d just die! I’m totally fine, okay?!”
Shocked by my plan, Nagi, perhaps wanting to prove her growth, hurriedly dashed off.
But just as she was about to enter the school building—
She collided head-on with a student coming out.
“Eek!”
“Oh?”
Nagi, nearly falling backward, was quickly caught by the other person, who grabbed her hand to steady her.
“S-Sorry!”
Nagi, realizing her carelessness, shrank back and bowed her head.
“No, no, my fault too. You didn’t twist your ankle or anything, did you?”
The other person, seemingly unharmed, checked on Nagi with a gentle tone.
Reddish, wavy long hair and kind features. She had a mature air, exuding the vibe of a caring older sister.
“Thanks. Sorry about our clumsy friend.”
I gave a slight bow, and the girl, who seemed like an upperclassman, smiled and shook her head.
“Don’t worry about it… Wait, hold on. Are you two part of Nanaya Nagi-chan’s campaign?”
Her eyes widened, likely spotting the contents of the paper bag I was holding.
“Yep. We’d appreciate your vote.”
I handed her a poster, and she gave a wry smile.
“Hmm… That might be a bit tough.”
Huh, an unexpected response from someone who seemed so nice.
As I stood there, mildly surprised, Nagi tugged at my sleeve from behind.
“K-Kurusu-kun… Look closely, that’s Mutsu-senpai.”
Nagi whispered nervously, but the name didn’t immediately click.
Wait, hold on… I’ve heard it somewhere before.
Oh, right!
“…The second-year running for student council president?”
“Yep, that’s me.”
Mutsu-senpai nodded casually at my murmur.
What a twist. I didn’t expect to run into a rival candidate like this.
“Let me introduce myself properly. I’m Mutsu Issa, former student council secretary. I’d appreciate your vote.”
Mutsu-senpai introduced herself with a mischievous smile.
“I-I’m Nanaya Nagi. Nice to meet you.”
Nagi, completely overwhelmed by her rival, shook the offered hand.
“We’re rivals in this election, but let’s both do our best. I hope we can make it a good race.”
“Y-Yes.”
Nagi nodded awkwardly to Mutsu-senpai’s refreshing smile.
“Well, I’d love to chat more, but I don’t want to interfere with your campaign. I’ll take my leave for now.”
Perhaps sensing Nagi’s tension, Mutsu-senpai gave a light wave and walked off.
After watching her disappear outside the school building, Nagi let out a long breath.
“Phew… That was a shock. Running into her like that.”
“She was really pretty, huh? Is she the strong rival you mentioned before?”
When I asked, Nagi nodded.
“Yeah. She was the secretary of last year’s student council and the younger sister of the former president. Her grades are top of her year, and last year, she even went to nationals with the archery club.”
“What kind of overpowered monster is that?”
I was half-stunned by the appearance of such a formidable opponent.
She’s strikingly beautiful, carries herself gracefully, and has no apparent flaws in ability. Plus, she’s got her brother’s established support base and her own track record from last year.
No matter how you look at it, she’s the clear frontrunner.
Nagi, on the other hand, is at a disadvantage in almost every way.
No, in terms of raw potential, she might even surpass Mutsu-senpai in some areas, but her trauma is holding back most of her abilities, making it hard to even call her a contender right now.
“…Ugh. The only thing you’ve clearly got over her is your tax contributions.”
“Don’t say that! That kind of truth hits the hardest!”
Nagi, fully aware of the gap in their specs, teared up.
But it’s true—if things continue like this, she’ll lose in a landslide.
It’s been three days since I got involved.
We’ve been so focused on addressing Nagi’s major flaws that we haven’t had time to research our opponent, but it’s about time we started.
“Yo! Nagi-chan, Reo-kun. I’m here to help!”
As I was thinking about our next steps, a voice called out from behind.
Turning around, I saw Miyahara waving with a cheerful smile.
“Hey, sorry for the trouble.”
“No worries. I was helping out first, you know?”
Miyahara replied with a playful sidelong glance.
“But, man, you were so reluctant before, and now you’re helping out so eagerly, Reo-kun. What’s with the change of heart?”
She teased with a grin, clearly enjoying herself.
I didn’t bother with a sappy denial and just smirked back.
“Well, Nagi’s just so cute, I figured this was my chance to get closer to her.”
“W-What are you saying?!”
Nagi’s face turned bright red, her eyes wide at my sudden comment.
I leaned in close, pinning her with a bit of force, and whispered in her ear.
“…Just go with it. We can’t exactly explain the real reason.”
“Ugh…”
Nagi froze at my whisper.
Miyahara doesn’t know anything about our situation, including the fact that Nagi is the “Nightmare of Calamity.”
Nagi clearly doesn’t want her to know either, but for me to naturally join the campaign after being so reluctant, we needed a convincing excuse.
“Oh? Is Nagi-chan into this too?”
Seeing Nagi stop resisting, Miyahara’s eyes sparkled mischievously.
“N-No way!”
Nagi hurriedly denied it.
I clutched my chest, feigning heartbreak.
“That hurts… You said ‘yes’ when I confessed in front of the station.”
“That was just practice!”
Desperate to avoid a misunderstanding, Nagi corrected me frantically.
I deepened my sorrowful expression.
“So I was just a pawn for the election, huh?”
“That’s not what I meant! Okay, maybe a little, but that’s so harsh!”
Miyahara, watching our exchange, looked horrified.
“Toying with a guy’s pure feelings and using him like that… Nagi-chan, you’re terrifying!”
“I’m the one being toyed with right now, aren’t I?!”
Our banter started drawing subtle attention from the students heading home.
Getting a reputation as weirdos wouldn’t help, so I decided to cut it short.
“Phew… Alright, I’ve had my fun. Let’s talk election.”
I turned to Miyahara with a serious face, and she nodded deeply.
“Yeah. I’m feeling energized, so let’s do this.”
“Could you stop using me to boost your morale?!”
Nagi protested, exhausted, but I ignored her.
“Anyway, I need info on Mutsu-senpai. Got anything, Miyahara?”
“Info? Well, people at school are like, ‘Why bother with an election when Mutsu-senpai’s obviously going to win?’ The newspaper club’s poll gave her a 95% approval rating, and every other candidate except Nagi-chan dropped out after seeing it. That kind of stuff?”
“I’m getting dizzy…”
Nagi took a heavy blow from Miyahara’s casual info dump.
“Plus, our club owes a lot to Mutsu-senpai.”
“Huh? Is Mutsu-senpai in the sewing club?”
I asked, supporting a wobbling Nagi, but Miyahara shook her head.
“Nope. Our school doesn’t allow dual club memberships. Strictly speaking, we owe last year’s student council. The sewing club was just a small group without a clubroom, but the previous council’s promise to open up the old school building gave us one.”
I see. So that’s part of last year’s student council achievements.
“The old school building, huh? Sounds like the sewing club wasn’t the only one helped.”
“Yep. The drama club, literature club, light music club—smaller groups without dedicated spaces all got clubrooms thanks to the old school building. That’s Mutsu-senpai’s main support base.”
To move from a group to an official club, you need a clubroom and a faculty advisor.
If the previous council managed that for all the old school building clubs, they were seriously capable. Mutsu-senpai’s support base is bigger than I thought.
“There are quite a few clubs based in the old school building… What do we do?”
Nagi, intimidated by the scale of her opponent’s influence, looked grim.
Miyahara nodded in agreement.
“Yeah. Last year’s council has a strong track record, so expectations for Mutsu-senpai are huge.”
Both Nagi and Miyahara wore dark expressions.
But I had a different thought.
This is an opportunity.
Fifteen minutes later, we were at the old school building near the grove.
“What are we doing here?”
Nagi, brought along without explanation, looked around in confusion.
“We’re going to ask the sewing club for their votes. You’ll show off your charm and win them over.”
I explained, and Miyahara nodded.
“Exactly. I’ll introduce you to the seniors, so go all out, Nagi-chan. If they see your charm, they’ll definitely support you!”
“I see… Thanks, Tsumugi.”
Nagi seemed reassured by her supportive friend.
“You’re welcome. Let’s go!”
With Nagi’s agreement, Miyahara led us into the building.
The three of us walked down the creaky hallway.
Miyahara stopped in front of the sewing club’s room—the one that left such a vivid memory for me just the other day.
“Ugh…”
Nagi, perhaps recalling that moment, blushed slightly.
“I’m going in… Wait, why are you two so fidgety?”
Noticing our odd behavior, Miyahara gave us a puzzled look.
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
I coughed and brushed it off.
Miyahara tilted her head but didn’t press further, knocking on the clubroom door.
“Excuse us!”
Following her, Nagi and I stepped inside.
Inside were a few female students—upperclassmen from the sewing club I’d seen before.
“Hey, Tsumugi. Are these the kids you wanted to introduce?”
“Yes, senpai. This is Nagi-chan, who’ll model for us today, and Reo-kun, who’ll take the photos.”
“…Model? Photos?”
Nagi, hearing this for the first time, turned to me stiffly.
“The sewing club was looking for a model to wear their clothes. I pitched you perfectly!”
I gave a thumbs-up, proud of my work as a strategist.
“Th-That’s what you meant by showing off my charm?! W-Wait, changing clothes and photos… That’s hitting my trauma again…”
I figured she’d react like that, which is why I kept it quiet until now.
“The election posters were fine, right? It’s the same thing.”
I tried to persuade her.
“No, it’s a different context! It’s like it’s deliberately poking at my dark history…”
Apparently, this was a no-go for Nagi, and she grimaced.
Hmm… Maybe it’s too much for her right now. Fine, then.
“Alright. If you can’t handle your dark history, we’ll have to train again. I’ll head to the broadcast room.”
“Wait, wait, wait! You’re serious about that?!”
Nagi frantically grabbed my uniform as I turned to leave.
“Of course. If you’re not ready, we’ll just have to do more extreme therapy.”
“That’s beyond extreme! It won’t even work!”
“No way… Oh, you’re right. It’s after school, so most students are gone. Alright, let’s do it during tomorrow’s lunch break.”
Tch, my mistake.
Coming up with a better plan, I nodded, but Nagi shook her head vigorously.
“That’ll just create more unbearable dark history! Fine, I’ll do it! I’ll do it!”
Leveling up in record time, Nagi steeled herself.
“That’s the spirit. I’m proud to have sparked your motivation as your strategist.”
“You call yourself a strategist, but your only tactic is cornering me, Kurusu-kun.”
Nagi shot me a resentful look.
“Hey, I just picked the most efficient method. No ulterior motives.”
“Hmm?”
I dodged smoothly, but Nagi’s gaze remained cold.
Anyway, the matter was settled, so I gave the seniors an OK sign.
“Alright, senpai-tachi. Our top model’s ready, so feel free to dress her up.”
“I’m not sure what’s going on, but that’s fine? Alright, let’s get to it!”
“Y-Yes, please take care of me.”
Nagi, intimidated by the seniors’ catnip-like enthusiasm, gave a stiff bow.
Good luck, Nagi-san.
From a pure one-piece dress to edgy, boyish, and feminine styles—
Nagi was dressed up in the seniors’ full-on fashion preferences, photographed extensively for their materials, and finally took a break when the timing felt right.
“We need to adjust the lighting, so let’s pause the shoot.”
As the photographer, I announced the break, and Nagi, posing with a tired expression, let out a relieved sigh.
“Finally… a break… We took, like, a thousand photos, right?”
“Good work.”
I handed a juice bottle to Nagi, who collapsed into a chair.
To ease her trauma, I had the seniors leave after picking outfits, but she still looked worn out. She did great, though.
“Thanks… You looked like you were having way too much fun, Kurusu-kun.”
Nagi glanced up at me, sipping her juice.
“Of course. Taking pictures of you is when I have the most fun.”
Sitting beside her, I spoke honestly, and she turned away.
“H-Hmph… How can you say that so casually?”
“What, embarrassed?”
“I’m not embarrassed, idiot.”
Her denial was cute, especially with her ears turning red.
Chuckling, I checked the photos on the digital camera.
“These are good. This one… the clothes aren’t quite visible.”
Muttering to myself as I selected photos to print, Nagi peeked over.
“Ugh… So many with my eyes closed. This is bad.”
Thinking her modeling skills had rusted, Nagi frowned.
“It’s a matter of motivation. Back then, you acted like every camera in the world should be on you.”
The “Nightmare of Calamity” had a drive to capture her entire world in a single shot—ambition, even.
For a model, that kind of mindset seems crucial.
“Ugh… Admitting I was better back then stings.”
Despite the sweet juice, Nagi’s expression was bitter.
Evaluating her dark history self must taste pretty sour.
“Haha. Well, Nightmare was a star. Nagi-san, the average high school girl, can’t quite match her in some ways.”
I felt a pang of nostalgia as I spoke.
Taking photos, reviewing them together, discussing what worked and what didn’t, planning the next shoot.
Our old routine.
It felt like those distant days had briefly returned.
Lost in those thoughts, I noticed Nagi staring at me, wide-eyed.
“Kurusu-kun…”
She started to say something but stopped.
“What’s up?”
When I asked, she averted her gaze, giving a vague smile.
“…Nothing.”
Her response left me curious, but before I could press, she continued.
“Just… I was thinking you haven’t taken photos in a while either, so maybe your camera skills have slipped.”
“What’d you say?”
I raised an eyebrow at her teasing counterattack.
“Look, this one’s blurry, and it feels a bit half-hearted.”
“Grr…”
She was right—I’d been treating this as a warm-up since it’d been a while.
Back then, we’d go all out to get the best shots, but I’d been slacking, and she’d noticed.
“Looks like you’ve got no comeback. Maybe I’ll let the sewing club seniors take the rest of the photos.”
Nagi peeked at me mischievously.
I knew she was teasing, but I’m not one to back down.
“Stop that. I’d get seriously jealous.”
“J-Jealous? What are you talking about?”
My straightforward response hit her hard, and she blushed again.
“Listen up. If you get too cozy with other photographers, you’ll see your old friend throwing an embarrassing, shameless jealous fit. You cool with that?”
“What kind of threat is that?! Okay, fine! I won’t say it anymore!”
I nodded solemnly, and Nagi let out an exhausted sigh.
“…You really just say whatever’s on your mind without shame, Kurusu-kun.”
“Not as much as you used to.”
“I knew you’d bring that up!”
Nagi groaned in frustration, and I stood up with a grin.
“Maybe we’re just two peas in a pod. Anyway, I’m gonna go probe the seniors.”
I glanced toward the corner of the sewing room.
Two female students were discussing what to dress Nagi in next.
Nagi, seeing this, straightened up and nodded.
“Right, I’m coming too.”
She set her juice down and hopped up to follow.
“Hey, senpai-tachi. We’ve got some photo candidates—mind taking a look?”
When I called out, the seniors’ eyes turned to us.
“Thanks.”
The bob-cut senpai took the camera and started reviewing.
Meanwhile, the brown-haired senpai spoke up.
“Man, you guys saved us today. Getting both a model and a photographer is such a win. Our budget could never cover both.”
“N-No, glad we could help.”
Talking to upperclassmen must be nerve-wracking, as Nagi responded with a stiff expression.
If I recall correctly, the brown-haired girl talking to Nagi is the club president, and the one with the bob cut next to her is the vice president.
These two are probably the best people to ask for details.
“Yep, you guys were a huge help. It’s just so fun to see a cute girl wear the clothes we made! Plus, having photos to keep for reference is great for the future. This time, we’re definitely going to place in the contest…!”
The president was visibly fired up.
“There’s a contest? That sounds like it’d get you pumped.”
When I prodded to keep the conversation going, the president nodded eagerly.
“Yeah! If we place in the contest, the club’s budget will go up! We might even graduate from being a small-time club!”
“Really? How did it go last year?”
The moment Nagi asked cheerfully, the president’s enthusiasm fizzled out completely.
“…We got knocked out in the first round.”
“S-Sorry!”
“We thought we had a shot, but reality was harsh.”
Seeing the president slump, Nagi shot me a pleading look for help.
With no choice, I decided to change the subject.
“By the way, it’s rare to get a chance to shoot photos in the old school building, so I had fun today too. This kind of clubroom is pretty unique, right?”
As I glanced around the classic-style building, the president regained some energy and smiled.
“Haha, it’s pretty rundown, huh? Believe it or not, it’s actually improved. When I was a first-year, we were a nomadic club, constantly switching activity spaces.”
“That sounds rough. I heard the previous student council opened up the old school building.”
The president nodded at my comment.
“Yep. We’re really grateful to the previous student council. Thanks to them, we went from a club-like group to an official club and can finally focus on making clothes.”
After saying that, the president turned a probing look toward Nagi.
“By the way, Nagi-chan, you’re running for student council president, right? How’s it going?”
As expected, she’d figured out we were here to gather support.
“Y-Yes. Um, we’re working hard, but…”
Intimidated by her gaze, Nagi took a step back.
I stepped in to answer for her.
“We’re just getting started, so it’s hard to say. We want to create a student council that can match the previous one, but our rival is pretty tough.”
I put on an exaggerated troubled expression, and the president gave a small laugh.
“Yeah, going up against President Mutsu’s little sister must be rough.”
“Exactly. So, we’re going around like this to hear students’ honest opinions. Is there anything you’d like the new student council to do for this place?”
“Hmm, I don’t really have any complaints. Compared to how things used to be, just being able to make clothes freely is more than enough.”
“I-I see…”
Nagi visibly deflated at the president’s lack of grievances.
“Done checking the photos. Thanks.”
At that moment, the vice president, who’d been focused on reviewing the photos, returned the camera.
“No problem. Were there any photos you liked?”
When I asked, the vice president frowned.
“Sorry, but none of them really hit the mark.”
“My apologies for not being helpful.”
The vice president shook her head at my apology.
“It’s not about your skills. It’s more our lack of experience. We’ve never done such a serious shoot before, so a lot of flaws showed up. It was a learning experience.”
“I see. That’s good to hear.”
“Yeah. But we’d like to have a review session, so we’ll need some time before resuming the shoot. Is that okay?”
“Sure, no problem.”
If we had some time, we could use it to hold a strategy meeting elsewhere.
“We’ll be in the infirmary for a bit, so let us know when you’re ready to start again.”
When I said that, the president’s eyes widened.
“The infirmary? Is someone feeling sick?”
She asked with concern, but I flashed a grin and put an arm around Nagi’s shoulder.
“Nah, just gonna do something a little spicy.”
“We’re not doing anything! What are you even saying?!”
Nagi, suddenly pulled close, turned red up to her ears and struggled.
“Oh, I get it. Nagi-chan was looking super cute in all those outfits. Alright, we’ll make sure no one goes near the infirmary.”
“Why are you acting like you understand, President-san?! You don’t need to clear the place out!”
“We’ll be back when you’re done!”
I waved casually at the president and headed to the infirmary, still holding Nagi’s shoulder as she resisted.
“So, we managed to buy some time by throwing them off. Let’s have a strategy meeting.”
As soon as we entered the old school building’s infirmary, I sat on the bed and declared.
“At the cost of causing a huge misunderstanding…”
Nagi, wary of me, leaned against the wall away from the bed, looking exhausted.
“Don’t sweat it. You’re quitting the idol life anyway, so a scandal or two won’t hurt, right?”
Besides, the president definitely understood our intentions.
“That’s not the point… Whatever, let’s just have the strategy meeting.”
Realizing pursuit was pointless, Nagi sighed and shifted gears.
“That said, it felt like we hit a dead end… I don’t think we can win over the sewing club.”
The president’s blunt rejection must have stung, as Nagi looked down weakly.
But I shook my head.
“No, I think there’s definitely a chance.”
Based on what Miyahara told us and my gut feeling from talking to the president, I was confident.
Surprised by my words, Nagi looked up sharply.
“Huh? Why? It seemed like a total rejection. They’re clearly loyal to the previous student council president.”
“Sure, but they’re loyal to the previous president. The president called Mutsu-senpai ‘President Mutsu’s little sister,’ right? If they had a personal connection or trust with Mutsu Issa herself, they wouldn’t phrase it like that.”
To the president, Mutsu-senpai is just the former president’s sister.
More importantly, Mutsu-senpai is in the archery club.
The archery club has its own dojo and is a major club with a high level of skill, as shown by Mutsu-senpai’s national competition appearance.
According to Miyahara, there’s an underlying tension between big clubs like that and the smaller ones in the old school building, so they’re not usually close.
“That might be true, but… is that enough?”
“Of course not. Nagi, what did you honestly think of the clothes the sewing club made?”
When I asked, Nagi averted her eyes awkwardly.
“Well… they’re not quite up to professional standards.”
Her vague response still conveyed her low opinion.
As a former pro idol who’s worn all sorts of costumes and a fashion influencer who posted on social media, Nagi can tell the quality of clothes and the experience of their makers.
“…Some had low waistlines that made my torso look long, and others were restrictive because they weren’t designed with movement in mind. It felt like they lacked experience dressing others.”
Nagi gave a precise critique, albeit apologetically. I agreed completely.
“They’ve probably dressed each other within the club, but… there are things you only notice with the skills of the wearer or photographer.”
It’s common to vaguely sense flaws but not know how to fix them.
“I get that the sewing club’s skills have issues, but… what’s your point?”
Not following, Nagi tilted her head.
I gave her another hint.
“Those are flaws that proper guidance could easily point out. The fact that they’re still there means—”
“—the sewing club doesn’t have a mentor?”
Nagi’s eyes lit up, and I nodded.
“Exactly. They have a home economics teacher as a nominal advisor, but they’re likely only teaching equipment safety, not technical skills.”
When the old school building’s clubrooms were opened, many groups became official clubs.
But that doesn’t mean the number of available advisors increased.
One teacher is probably advising multiple clubs and can’t keep up.
“So, if I can solve that…”
“Yep. They’d choose you over Mutsu-senpai, who they have no personal ties to.”
I said confidently, but Nagi still seemed skeptical.
“But will it really go that smoothly? They might not even want a mentor that badly.”
“No, it’ll definitely work. I made sure to take photos that highlight the clothes’ flaws.”
The vice president’s need for a review session was proof of that.
They’re probably realizing their current skill level won’t cut it for the contest and feeling pretty pessimistic.
“That’s… kind of sneaky…”
Nagi seemed put off by my tactics.
“What? I’m working my butt off for you, and that’s what you say? I just created demand before offering a solution. It’s a problem they’d face anyway.”
If anything, pointing out flaws and solutions before the contest is kind of me.
“Well, if it helps the sewing club, I guess it’s fine…”
Deciding the goal justified the means, Nagi stopped giving me the side-eye.
“So, Nagi, find someone who could mentor the sewing club.”
As the “Nightmare of Calamity,” Nagi wore countless costumes and has connections with sponsors and designers.
She should be able to find someone.
“Got it. I’m not thrilled about contacting people from my Nightmare days, but… I can’t ignore this. I’ll ask someone reasonable.”
Nagi, realizing the sewing club wouldn’t succeed in the contest otherwise, steeled herself despite her reluctance.
Back in the sewing clubroom after Nagi found a willing contact.
“A mentor?”
The president, preparing to resume the shoot, looked surprised when I brought it up.
“Yes. Nagi happens to know someone in the fashion industry. They said they could mentor once or twice a week. It’s up to the sewing club, but what do you think?”
I flashed a businesslike smile.
The president toned down her cheerful vibe, eyeing me seriously as if trying to read my intentions.
“I see… I figured you’d come with some kind of offer for the election, but a mentor? That’s more than I expected.”
As expected, she knew why we were here.
Her earlier comments were subtly conveying their needs.
Namely, “We’re worried about the contest, so if you can help with that, we might support you.”
“Yes. In exchange for introducing a mentor, we’d like the sewing club to support Nagi.”
I felt Nagi tense up behind me as negotiations began.
The president paused, letting the moment linger, then spoke slowly.
“…Well, it’s an amazing offer. We’d love to take it.”
“Really?!”
Nagi’s voice brightened at the response.
But the president quickly raised a hand to stop her.
“Only if you have a shot at winning. Honestly, even with our support, you can’t beat President Mutsu’s sister, right? No matter how tempting the offer, we’re not boarding a sinking ship.”
If we lose, there’s no need to keep sending a mentor.
That would leave the sewing club with only the stigma of betraying the previous student council they owe. Even with anonymous voting, leaks happen, and they’d face consequences if found out.
“If you want to win, you’d need to get every old school building club on your side. But you know how hard that is, right, Kurusu-kun?”
I nodded quietly at the president’s words.
Clubs are separate entities with different demands and grievances.
To win over all the old school building clubs, we’d need to address each one’s unique issues.
But even if we painstakingly meet each demand, we’d only gain a handful of supporters each time.
Frankly, recruiting small clubs is a terrible cost-benefit deal.
That’s likely why Mutsu-senpai ignores the old school building clubs.
“Kurusu-kun…”
Nagi looked at me anxiously.
I gave her a reassuring smile before turning back to the president.
“Yes, that’s true. So, I’m thinking we take a bold approach.”
“…And that is?”
The president, wary, urged me to continue.
With a confident smile, I declared,
“We’ll unite every club in the old school building into one.”
The president fell silent, stunned, before slowly responding.
“…Are you serious? You can’t merge clubs with completely different activities.”
“It’s possible. The world runs on people helping each other because it’s mutually beneficial. The old school building is no different.”
The president frowned at my grandiose phrasing.
“I don’t get it. What exactly are you planning?”
“I’m proposing that everyone in the old school building clubs can participate in any club. For example, the drama club could join the sewing club or borrow needed talent.”
I laid out the plan, but it didn’t seem to resonate with the president, who went expressionless, losing interest.
“So what? Sorry, but we’re in this club because we love it. We’re not interested in other clubs.”
I locked eyes with her, as if peering into her soul.
“Really? When designing original patterns, haven’t you ever wished you had better drawing skills? When making men’s clothes, haven’t you regretted not having male models in the sewing club?”
Her eyes wavered at my words.
Seeing a chance, I pressed on.
“This proposal solves all those issues. Need drawing skills? Study with the art club. Need male models? Borrow from the drama club—they’re used to the spotlight.”
I carefully watched her reaction while listing benefits.
“You could also exchange products or share equipment. Not a bad deal, right?”
At my question, the president took a half-step back, overwhelmed.
“…You’re saying we’d do this across the entire old school building?”
“Exactly. Let’s call it the Old School Building Club Alliance. We’ll register it as one club.”
There may have been small-scale cooperation between clubs before.
But we’d lead a massive, hyper-efficient collaboration.
The president, grasping the idea, looked half-exasperated.
“If you can’t handle all the clubs’ needs alone, let them solve it themselves. It makes sense.”
Exactly. We’re creating a mutual aid system.
Each club finds another to solve their problems, streamlining the process.
With that in place, we can win over many small clubs with minimal effort.
“—But that’s not enough.”
A voice interrupted from the side.
Turning, I saw the vice president, who’d been silently listening, staring at me.
“Your idea is impressive, but… it’s a trick anyone can copy once they know the secret. If Mutsu Issa learns of this plan, she could steal it entirely.”
Her calculating gaze pierced me.
If she could replicate it, she might take the plan to Mutsu-senpai for safety.
But that’s impossible.
“Sure, she could try. But if she does, the sewing club will definitely be left out.”
“…What do you mean?”
I revealed the plan’s core to the puzzled vice president.
“Don’t you see? This alliance assumes the sewing club can produce clothes of a quality other clubs can use. With flaws showing even in photos, I don’t think the current sewing club can manage that.”
At my declaration, both sewing club members grimaced bitterly.
“I see… For us to join the alliance, a mentor is non-negotiable.”
I nodded at the vice president’s reluctant murmur.
“If the sewing club can’t take requests, other clubs—like the drama club needing costumes or sports clubs wanting uniforms—will suffer. In the end, joining our ship benefits everyone the most.”
The heart of this plan is Nagi’s connections.
Just as Mutsu-senpai inherits the previous council’s foundation, Nagi has her own weapon.
This strategy leverages that.
Glancing back at Nagi, she nodded and stepped forward.
“The mentor will start next week. But if I lose the election, the arrangement ends. Those are the terms.”
When Nagi made her offer, the president closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and then—
“…Alright. The sewing club’s with you.”
She smiled gently and extended her hand to Nagi.
“Thank you so much!”
Gaining her first supporters, Nagi clasped the president’s hand with both of hers and bowed.
“Phew… We pulled it off.”
Relieved after our first successful negotiation, I let out a breath and relaxed.
I hadn’t realized how tense I was.
With that, everything was settled. It went perfectly.
—Or so I thought, until I let my guard down.
“All done?! Let’s resume the shoot!”
Bursting through the sewing room door was Miyahara, holding a large paper bag in her right hand.
“Miyahara? Where’d you go? You disappeared earlier.”
When I asked, she proudly held up the bag.
“I went home to grab this! I knew you’d be tied up with serious talk, so I waited in the hall, timing my entrance perfectly!”
“What’s with the dramatic entrance obsession… What’s in the bag?”
Nagi, exasperated, asked about the bag.
As if waiting for the question, Miyahara’s eyes sparkled as she pulled out the contents.
What appeared before us was—
“Th-This is—”
“Ugh! My heart… It’s tightening…!”
My eyes widened, and Nagi clutched her chest in pain.
What Miyahara took out was—the gothic lolita fallen angel costume from the “Nightmare of Calamity”’s first single, “Black Wings Cover the World” PV…!
“W-W-Why do you have that?!”
Nagi, pale and voice cracking, asked tearfully.
“Well, I’ve always wanted to see Nagi-chan wear this, so I secretly made it! I just had a feeling Nagi-chan would look perfect in Nightmare’s clothes!”
Of course she would—she’s the real deal.
Was it a fan’s intuition? I never suspected Nagi’s identity, but Miyahara must have sensed something reminiscent of Nightmare in her.
“Stop… Don’t show me that costume…”
Nagi covered her face with both hands, writhing like a vampire shown a cross.
“Come on, it’s not that bad! I’ve got a wig too, so we can max out the cosplay accuracy!”
“No, no, no! H-Help, Kurusu-kun!”
Caught off guard by the sudden threat of her identity being exposed, Nagi hid behind me.
“Hey, Reo-kun! If you don’t want to get hurt, hand over that girl!”
“Why do you sound like a bandit all of a sudden?”
I shot an exasperated look at my friend, who had transformed into a bandit while clutching the gothic lolita outfit with black wings.
“Fufufu! Can you afford to be so smug, Reo-kun? Don’t you notice something about this handmade costume?!”
“Huh? What about this ultra-chuuni outfit—wait, no way?!”
Looking at the costume with suspicion, I realized something and froze in shock.
“I-It’s perfect quality…! Good enough to be used in the actual PV…!”
“Exactly! I’ve been seriously studying costume-making for ages, so I’m basically the sewing club’s ace! Which means that deal you just made with the president? It falls apart if I defect.”
“What?!”
She’s right—if someone who can make this joins Mutsu-senpai, our leverage of providing a mentor becomes meaningless!
Why didn’t she mention having someone this skilled?
I glanced at the president.
Catching my eye, she gave a wry smile.
“Come on, you guys were introduced by Tsumugi. No way she’d betray you, right?”
Her logic was so airtight I had nothing to say!
“What a ridiculous Trojan horse…!”
“Fufufu. The strategist drowns in his own schemes. Now, hand over Nagi-chan so we can take tons of photos!”
Damn… to think a final boss like this was waiting at the end.
“A-ll-y… help…”
Nagi, trembling and teary-eyed, looked up at me.
She was so shaken she’d reverted to calling me by my old nickname.
No choice—I’d have to steel myself.
“…You’re right, this outfit would suit Nagi.”
“See?”
Miyahara, pleased with my agreement, brightened up.
Seizing the moment, I took a step toward her.
“But, Miyahara, I think this outfit would suit you even better!”
“Huh?”
Caught off guard by my unexpected counter, Miyahara looked stunned.
Now’s my chance—press the attack before she recovers!
“Look, Nagi’s cute, but you’re cute too, Miyahara! I think you wearing it would be awesome.”
“W-Well, I’m not really the type for this kind of outfit…”
As expected, Miyahara hesitated.
I stepped closer, grabbed both her hands, and stared into her eyes.
“You’d definitely pull it off! There’s no outfit that wouldn’t look good on someone as cute as you! Honestly, I think it’d reveal a whole new side of your charm! I can tell how cute you are! As a photographer, it’d be a crime not to shoot someone this perfect! Please, Miyahara, do it for me—let me take your photos in this!”
“R-Really?”
Blushing and looking away, Miyahara seemed flustered but not entirely opposed.
Time to seal the deal!
“Absolutely! You’ll look super cute!”
“Ugh, fine! If you’re gonna say all that, it’s embarrassing, but… okay, I kinda wanted to try it on too. Wait here—I’ll change in the next room!”
With bouncy steps, Miyahara left the clubroom.
I’d successfully deflected her with a barrage of compliments.
“Phew… crisis averted.”
I turned to Nagi to share the relief of overcoming the biggest threat.
“Hmph…”
But instead of looking happy about our restored peace, Nagi pouted and turned away.
“Uh, Nagi-san? Something wrong?”
I was baffled by her apparent grumpiness.
“It’s nothing. You did save me, so thanks.”
Despite her words of gratitude, Nagi’s sour mood persisted as she headed for the clubroom exit, following Miyahara.
“…Says he’d get jealous when it’s about him.”
I thought I heard her mutter something as she left.
After finishing the shoot, we left the sewing club earlier than the others to head home.
“Phew, we managed to gain some supporters. Nice work.”
Having stopped Miyahara’s rampage, we successfully won over the sewing club. We nearly faced a last-minute upset, but all’s well that ends well.
I let out a relieved sigh, and Nagi nodded.
“Yeah. It went better than expected… despite some hiccups.”
Her words carried a subtle sting.
I mean, I stopped the flow of her wearing Nightmare’s outfit, so I deserve some praise, but saying that would definitely stir trouble, so I let it slide.
“Anyway, it’s great you still have connections from your Nightmare days. Without those, we’d have been stuck. That’s some serious past expertise.”
“Well, sure. But if I didn’t have that dark history, I wouldn’t need to use those connections in the first place.”
Nagi gave a complicated look at my honest praise.
Even after the tough love, her trauma from the past still seemed strong.
As we talked, we arrived at a familiar park.
“This place…”
“Wow, nostalgic.”
Nagi and I exchanged surprised glances.
This was where I first met Nagi—Nightmare of Calamity—and where we took countless photos.
We often met around this time, with the sunset casting a warm glow.
Maybe that’s why I felt an odd sense of nostalgia.
“…Wanna stop by?”
Nagi, perhaps feeling the same, suggested it with a calm expression, free of her usual trauma-induced panic.
“Sure.”
Nodding, I sat on a swing next to Nagi.
“Feels nostalgic, huh?”
“Yeah. You were always late, so I’d be here alone, photographing the scenery.”
I threw in a years-old grudge, and Nagi looked away awkwardly.
“Haha, sorry. Back then, I was spending so much on clothes that I couldn’t always afford train fare… so I’d bike here, which took forever.”
Surprised by this revelation, I blinked.
“Whoa, so behind all that ‘A true star arrives last—it’s the aesthetic. Arriving early is simply wrong!’ bravado, you were just broke?”
“Ugh! I’m deeply sorry for the trouble back then, so please stop digging up my cringey old lines!”
Nagi clutched her chest as if stabbed.
Chuckling, I started swinging.
“It’s fine. I liked the scenery here anyway. Finding photogenic spots while waiting wasn’t a chore.”
Plus, if she used the saved money for costumes, I had no complaints.
“So, is that why you chose Suihou High?”
Nagi, gently swinging in sync, asked.
“Hm, it’s one reason. I didn’t have any other places I was attached to.”
My parents were constantly transferred, so I grew up moving from place to place.
I never really understood the concept of a hometown.
That’s probably why this town, where I met Nagi, is the place I’m most attached to.
“Also, Suihou was a good fit for my grades.”
“Ugh… I had to study like crazy because my grades weren’t enough.”
Nagi pouted at my comment.
“Well, you were busy with idol stuff, so I had more time. Did you push so hard to get in because of the student council?”
Nagi shook her head.
“No. It’s my mom’s alma mater. I never imagined it’d lead to running for student council president, though.”
I nodded at her wry smile.
“Fortune and misfortune are intertwined like a rope, huh?”
“…Doesn’t that mean happiness and misfortune take turns? I don’t recall any happiness.”
“Really? The election brought us back together as friends. That’s plenty happy, right?”
Nagi blushed slightly and looked away.
“…You say embarrassing stuff so casually.”
Her slightly negative reaction stung a bit.
“Hmph, are you saying you’re not happy to reconnect with me?”
“N-No, that’s not it…”
As Nagi flusteredly tried to explain, I dramatically slumped my shoulders and sighed.
“Oh, right, you were disguising yourself to avoid me. Guess you didn’t want to see me. Ouch.”
“That’s not true!”
I glanced at her panicking denial with a weary look.
“Really? Then say, ‘I’m so happy to reconnect with Kurusu-kun.’”
“K-Kurusu-kun, I’m so happy to—wait, you’re teasing me! I can tell you’re holding back a laugh! Your shoulders are shaking!”
Whoops, busted.
I was having too much fun and couldn’t keep a straight face.
“Sorry, I was just too happy.”
“I’m not happy at all! This isn’t fortune and misfortune taking turns!”
Nagi fumed.
“Come on, don’t say that. I’m a selfless volunteer, you know.”
“I… appreciate it, but still.”
Despite her words, Nagi’s expression showed she wasn’t fully satisfied.
Then, as if struck by a thought, she stopped her swing and looked at me.
“Hey, why are you helping with my election, Kurusu-kun?”
“What’s that out of nowhere? You asked me to, didn’t you?”
Her sudden question made me frown.
“I know, but… I mean, even if we were friends before, this is just a hassle for you with no gain. So why be my selfless volunteer?”
“Well—”
Because it’s a request from my beloved Nagi-chan, I almost said lightly, as usual.
But then our eyes met—hers searching, tinged with unease—and I realized this wasn’t a question to brush off.
“…Because it seemed fun, obviously. That’s always been my reason for sticking with you.”
Her eyes widened in surprise at my honest answer.
“Fun? That’s really it?”
“Of course, the main reason is I couldn’t leave you in trouble. But if I had to name a personal gain, that’s it.”
Naturally, there are reasons I haven’t told Nagi.
Like my disdain for the boring routine I had before learning her identity.
Or the complex feelings I had when I heard her situation.
There are plenty of negative reasons, but when I think of my biggest “gain,” it’s that it seemed fun.
“I guess I was annoyed that ‘Nightmare of Calamity’ vanished without me knowing. But reconnecting and seeing you, Nagi, get dragged around by your old self—by Nightmare—it felt nostalgic.”
Nightmare of Calamity was really something.
She used to drag me around back then, but to think she’d shake things up again after all this time—even for herself.
It’s so quintessentially Nightmare, so absurd, yet so fun. When I heard that perfect pickup line at the café, I couldn’t help but want to dive into the chaos.
“I wanted to get swept up by Nightmare one more time.”
That’s my honest feeling.
Back then, I was the only one dragged around by Nightmare, but now it’s both me and Nagi.
I thought those days would be fun.
“…I see.”
Nagi nodded quietly, her smile tinged with a hint of loneliness.
I opened my mouth to say something, but—
“…Is Kurusu-kun a masochist or something?”
She cut me off with a baffled question.
“Who’s a masochist?!”
I protested the absurd misunderstanding.
“I mean, no offense, but who wants to get dragged around by someone that troublesome? You’ve definitely got masochist vibes.”
Nagi teased, clearly getting back at me.
But I’m not one to take it lying down.
“No way! I’m just an exceptionally kind-hearted person! You’re the one with sadist vibes, making yourself suffer this much!”
“Ugh!”
My counter hit, and Nagi staggered, clutching her chest.
We glared at each other, sparks flying.
But a chilly night breeze blew through, making us both shiver and cool off.
The sky, once a warm red, was now half-dyed in deep indigo.
“…Time to head home?”
“Yeah.”
Instantly calmed, we left the park trudging along.
At the end of a fruitful day, we’d worn ourselves out with pointless bickering.
“Kurusu-kun.”
As we left the park, Nagi suddenly called my name.
“What?”
“Thanks.”
“What’s that out of nowhere?”
I glanced at her, but she stubbornly kept her eyes forward, looking embarrassed.
“I realized I hadn’t thanked you. For helping with the election.”
Her earnest words made me smile wryly.
“Bit late for that. I’m helping because it’s fun for me, not for thanks.”
“I know, but… still.”
Back when she was Nightmare, she’d never have said something like this.
She took my presence for granted, and so did I.
Being thanked like this almost felt… distant.
But that’s not how Nagi feels now, is it?
The year and a half apart created an invisible wall between us.
“Well, if you’re gonna say that, I’ll say you’re welcome. But when you win, I’m expecting more than just words, you know?”
I teased, and Nagi frowned.
“Ugh… I-I can’t prepare anything fancy if you say that out of nowhere!”
“That’s why I’m giving you a heads-up.”
“What kind of trap is that?! That’s some sneaky foreshadowing!”
I laughed as Nagi panicked, her eyes darting.
Yeah—this wall doesn’t matter.
After all, becoming best friends with the same person twice?
That sounds pretty fun, doesn’t it?
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