Volunteers Huh?

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[-Continuation-]

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[-Hachiman's POV-]

After a short walk, we finally arrived at the community center.

It was conveniently located just a stone's throw from our school, and it took us only a few minutes to get there.

If I had my bike, the journey would have been even quicker. Of course only for me.

"Oh, yeah, we had to do a little shopping." Iroha chimed, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

"Well, whatever." I muttered, rolling my eyes.

The four of us headed toward the convenience store across the street to grab some snacks and drinks for the conference.

Even though these events typically provided tea cakes and catered food, I knew we needed some personal snacks to keep our energy up.

As we entered the store, I glanced over the options.

It was always a challenge to find the right snacks, anything too noisy or smelly could turn into a distraction.

I spotted a few contenders, light chocolate bites, fruity throat drops, and soft rice crackers.

Not a bad selection, I thought, mentally nodding in approval.

Plus, they all came in individual wrappers, which definitely scored some extra points.

"Okay, what's everyone thinking?" I asked, looking at the group.

Yuigahama was already reaching for the chocolate, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Chocolate always wins!" She declared, grinning widely.

Her sweet teeth are really something.

Yukino, standing beside her with her arms crossed, raised an eyebrow but couldn't hide a hint of amusement. "As long as you can keep it quiet, I suppose it's fine."

Iroha laughed, tossing a couple of candy packs into her basket. "And don't forget the rice crackers! They are perfect for sharing."

With everyone settled on their choices, we navigated through the aisles, collecting snacks and drinks for the day ahead.

The packaging was convenient, too, all the snacks were individually wrapped.

It saved us from having to prepare plates and meant we could avoid sticky fingers.

Plus, it wouldn't be a hassle when it was time to head home.

"But do we even need all this?" Yukino asked, raising an eyebrow. "The expenses will be covered by them, so why not just eat whatever they have prepared?"

Isshiki's expression hardened at that. "We can't just do that…"

Her tone made it clear she was being serious.

I understood where she was coming from.

If the hosts had gone through the trouble of preparing snacks for us, it would be rude to show up empty-handed every time.

In situations like this, being considerate could feel more of a burden, especially since we were technically guests.

But since the two organizations sponsoring this event were on equal footing, we needed to maintain that balance, even if it was just about bringing some snacks.

"...but, Senior Hikki, what are you doing?" Isshiki asked, her voice laced with confusion as her gaze settled on the bulging bag in my hands, her brow furrowing in curiosity.

I lifted the bag slightly, angling it in her direction as if it held some sort of secret.

"You mean this?" I tilted my head, feigning innocence, while a smirk tugged at my lips.

"Mm-Uhm..." She confirmed with a quick nod.

"...it's coffee, of course. For me." I replied, trying to keep my tone as casual as possible, although I could feel the faintest hint of pride swelling in my chest.

Her eyebrows knitted together in confusion, deepening the creases on her forehead.

"You mean all of them?" She asked, still trying to process the sheer quantity of coffee I was holding.

Before I could respond, Yukino interjected, her tone matter-of-fact.

"Yeah, all of them are for him." Her voice held a note of exasperation, as if she were explaining something incredibly obvious.

At that moment, Yuigahama burst into laughter, clearly amused by Isshiki's bewilderment.

"If you didn't know, Hikki is a coffee addict." She added in, her smile bright and infectious.

Isshiki's eyes widened in realization, her lips forming a small 'o' as she finally grasped the situation.

"Ah! I see!" She exclaimed.

…

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As we stepped into the community center, I was struck by the stark resemblance to a government office.

The interior was marked by a serene, almost cold ambiance that felt oddly formal.

It was an atmosphere that made you think twice about shouting out with a loud voice.

Perhaps the library on the first floor contributed to that hushed atmosphere, with its rows of books lending an air of quiet reverence.

We followed Isshiki up to the second floor and then to the third, where the mood shifted subtly.

I wasn't very familiar with the building, so I found myself glancing around, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings.

Isshiki, who had forged ahead, suddenly stopped in front of a door.

Above it, the words 'Training Room' were prominently displayed, indicating that this was where the conference would take place.

Yukino stood beside me, her expression calm as she examined the door, while Yuigahama leaned closer, her curiosity piqued as she peered over Isshiki's shoulder.

"Is this the right room?" She asked, a hint of excitement in her voice.

Isshiki turned back to us, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Yep! This is where all the action will happen!"

I exchanged a glance with Yukino, who rolled her eyes slightly, as if she were already mentally preparing for the day's events.

"Well, let's hope the conference is worth it." She said, crossing her arms with a hint of skepticism, her gaze lingering on the door as if willing it to hold something worthwhile behind it.

Isshiki nodded with enthusiasm and knocked on the door, her excitement bubbling just beneath the surface.

"Here we go!"

"Yes, please come in." Came a voice from inside.

Taking a small breath to steady herself, Isshiki placed her hands on the door and pushed it open.

Instantly, a wave of chatter flooded out, filling the air with a mix of conversations and laughter.

The room itself resembled a classroom, furnished with desks and chairs arranged for discussion.

"Thank you for your hard work." Isshiki gave her bubbly-like greetings as she went into the room first.

As Yukino, Yuigahama, and I followed her in, the lively chatter began to fade, replaced by a sudden silence.

It was as if the presence of three girls, each with their own unique charm, had commanded the room's attention.

I glanced around, catching the surprised expressions of the attendees, and I couldn't help but smirk at the abrupt shift in atmosphere.

Normally, I would have cursed under my breath at being the center of attention, but in this case, it felt advantageous. Displaying our presence was the best way to establish dominance going into the discussions ahead.

Yuigahama waved happily, her smile brightening the space.

"Hi, everyone!" She called out, her voice warm and inviting, as if she were welcoming friends rather than addressing a room full of strangers.

Yukino, still maintaining her composed demeanor, offered a slight nod to the group, her eyes scanning the room, as if assessing the situation.

I lingered at the entrance, playing my nonchalant look.

However, it didn't take long for the initial surprise to wear off, and the crowd quickly returned to their own conversations, seemingly uninterested in the three newcomers.

It seemed like our impact would be fleeting, but then a voice cut through the chatter, clearly recognizing Isshiki.

"Hey, Iroha! Over here!"

On closer inspection, the one who called out to her with a raised hand was a boy wearing the Kaihin Sogo High uniform.

"Aah, gooood evening."

Isshiki waved her hands while she headed towards that group.

We naturally followed right after her.

As we approached, Yuigahama leaned closer to Isshiki, her eyes sparkling with intrigue.

"Do you know each other well?" She whispered, her tone playful as she tried to gauge the dynamic between Isshiki and the boy.

"Haaa… it was just the day before I met him and his group for the first time." Isshiki replied, her voice low, laced with disbelief at how quickly their interaction felt.

"That's surprising…" Yuigahama muttered.

I couldn't help but jump in. "To me, it looked like you both knew him for quite a while."

Yuigahama chuckled, recalling her earlier greeting of 'Hi, everyone!' with a warmth that made it seem like she was well-acquainted with the group.

"No… way. That was just my normal greeting." She insisted, brushing off my comment with a wave of her hand.

"Normal, huh? You guys are going to break the hearts of many guys in the future." I said with a rather neutral tone, not matching my teasing words.

"Tha–!" Yuigahama began to retort, but her words were cut off as Isshiki interjected.

"That is not our problem, right, senior Yui?" She said with a smirk, turning her attention to Yukino and winking playfully.

Guess that's true… too.

Now, standing in front of the boy who had called out to Isshiki, I noticed he looked at me and the others with a puzzled expression.

He leaned in closer to Isshiki, lowering his voice so only she could hear.

"Who are they?" He asked, curiosity evident in his eyes.

"Aah, they are volunteers from my school!" Isshiki replied, her tone cheerful but clearly lacking detail.

Volunteers, huh? Guess, that's a 'decent' way to put it despite the fact that she literally begged for us to help her.

Despite the vague explanation, the boy's face lit up with a look of impressed recognition.

"Oh, I see!" He turned his attention toward us, his posture shifting into something more welcoming. "I am Tamanawa, the student council president at Kaihin Sogo. Nice to meet you!"

Tamanawa didn't seem to mind as he continued on. "I am really glad we could plan together with Sobu High. I was thinking about how we need to form a PARTNERSHIP that will bring about a SYNER-"

Haa... this is going to be a pain in the ass.

I really don't think I can bring my buried 'rapping' skills now.

Unbeknownst to my thoughts, he didn't seem to mind that his speech was already dragging on, his voice a relentless stream of formalities.

I mentally tuned him out, my mind drifting away from his words as he continued to ramble on about some lofty ideals.

After his small speech, a group of students nearby began to approach, eager to introduce themselves. The commotion only added to the noise level, drowning out any chance of meaningful conversation.

I caught the attention of the raven-haired girl beside me by lightly tugging at her sleeve, interrupting her attention toward the introductions.

"Hey… Yukino, take care of things here. I will be over in the corner." I whispered, keeping my voice low to avoid disrupting the flow of introductions.

Without even glancing back, she gave a quick nod, signaling that she understood.

With that, I left the rest to the girls, sat in a seat further away, and watched Yuino and the others.

.

….

[To be continued…]

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