Bet

.

[-Continuation-]

.

[Hachiman's POV]

"The truth is, we still haven't decided on a chairperson for the Sports Festival committee.... So, will you do it, Yukinoshita?"

You! Why do the third years even bother to have a Student Council President when they are gonna again choose a President from the second year for every damn event?

Yukinoshita blushed under her fixated stare, however, she still seemed to have a little bit of strength inside of her to object, and managed to gently extract her hand from Senior Meguri.

Then she declared. "I reject."

"As I expected~"

Senior Meguri dropped her head with a look of regret, but did not press her, and withdrew from asking her further completely.

Then suddenly she shifted her target.

"Then, then, what about you Yuigahama?!"

"Eh?!"

Yuigahama jumped at having such a suggestion brought upon her. And then, she frantically waved her hands.

"E, Eh, no, impossible!"

"That's kind of expected. One would be troubled to be asked such a request all of a sudden."

Senior Meguri smiled as her shoulders drooped down lifelessly. Probably because she was pained to see such an expression, Yuigahama gave a heavy sigh.

"Sorry..."

"It's alright. Don't worry about it. It's just that I would feel happier if you accepted it. Thank you for your concern."

Senior Meguri patted Yuigahama's head as she said that. Although Yuigahama was surprised by her sudden action, she didn't seem to mind as she continued patting.

Of course, Senior Meguri probably sensed that impending danger as well, and she stopped her patting of Yuigahama's head. She folded her arms, slanted her body and closed her eyes.

"But, not being able to elect a chairman is indeed troubling…..If this is the case."

And then as if the final moment that she had anticipated had come she looked around the room tapping her chin with her fingers as if searching for another person then she looked in my direction, her eyes brightened up immediately.

"Now that I look at it, I have quite a handsome junior, don't I?"

[Insincere Praise Detected!! - 98%]

My [Instincts] immediately skyrocketed and flagged the compliment as - 98% insincere.

Shut up, stupid instincts!

You just can't stand that I am being complimented for my looks.

You are a jealous bastard.

"So, Hikigaya, as the Cultural Festival President, you did a really good job. You kept working diligently and were very reliable. The speech was also impressive, and...… Your leadership really stood out."

Eh? I stopped hearing somewhere in the middle.

Hey this is definitely not me?

Umm, she must have gotten it wrong….

I thought to myself as I picked my ears for any blockage problem.

"Hikigaya… She is referring to you." Yukinoshita muttered, jolting me.

"Me…?" I said with a surprised look.

Diligent. Reliable. Leader.

I don't think any of the qualities that are listed above are qualified to have a place in my skills panel, except for the Handsome part.

As I was contemplating without my concern the decision was made.

"Okay! Then it's decided!"

With a clap of her hands, Senior Meguri gathered our attention and then announced in a sonorous voice.

"Then, it's time to go…" She already planned her retrieval.

"Nope. Not happening."

That stopped Senior Meguri in her tracks as she looked back.

Sorry, Miss. I am no pushover. I have no intention of letting you have your way in this matter.

My peace time I reserved after a week of hard work is already filled with my time table packed with work called 'Lazing around' and my other part time job….

Of course the initial one takes priority.

….and let's be frank, the only reason I even joined the Cultural Festival committee was to stop a nuisance to Yukinoshita.

That was my only goal, which I don't have any to step in, now.

"If you really want someone I recommend- Hayama." I said.

Hayama was a useful card, but only at this kind of time.

Yeah, I will just throw all the work on to him and he has already got the sports thing going as he is the next captain of the school soccer team.

Not a bad choice and he is also the kind of a guy who can't reject requests especially if it is from upperclassmen like Senior Meguri.

"We can't do that." Yukinoshita interrupted before Senior Meguri could respond.

"It is a request that was given to our club so we can't push it to a third party." She explained her reason.

I didn't buy it.

There is something more to it.

"Come on President, the request was about the ideas not about the chairperson." I complained.

Yukinoshita stood up, smoothing out her skirt as she did so. She moved around the desk, closing the distance between us until we were standing face to face.

"Hikigaya, why don't you do it? The chairperson for the Sports Festival committee." She asked after giving a light sigh as if she was implying to stop beating around the bush.

"Why should I?" I asked.

"I mean." She said, her voice softer now, but no less intense. "Are you really not interested in becoming chairperson?"

Her words hung in the air, heavy with meaning.

"....." I found myself staring at Yukinoshita, trying to process what she had just said.

The usual sharpness in her eyes had softened, replaced by something I couldn't quite define.

She was being serious?

"Interested?" I finally managed, my voice sounding strangely hoarse.

Did she get some wrong ideas about my reason for valentering the Cultural festival?

I believed I already made myself clear but about my intentions? It seems not.

"I think you might be confusing me with someone else, Yukinoshita. My only interest is finding the most efficient way to do nothing."

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "And yet, here you are, having successfully managed a major school event. Curious, isn't it?"

I shifted uncomfortably, because of the sudden complement. "That was... different. A fluke, really."

Yukinoshita shook her head, a hint of exasperation creeping into her expression. "Hikigaya, when will you stop selling yourself short? This 'fluke,' as you call it, was the result of your efforts, your planning, your leadership."

That was too many compliments... just now, isn't it?

In a normal situation, I should have been clearly affected, but oddly enough, I felt numb. It was as if my brain couldn't process the idea of Yukinoshita praising me so openly.

True, I am confident in myself in making things work and might be good at putting on a calm and brave front, but that was all an act.

And honestly I really don't need any of that. I mean, if I want I could have already been in the news by announcing I am the Creative Designer for the latest top charts game - [Candy Crash].

But I didn't, and don't want to.

"Leadership?" I scoffed. "I just did what needed to be done to get it over with."

"And that…." She said, taking a step closer. "Is precisely what makes you effective. You see what needs to be done and you do it, without fanfare or expectations of praise."

Hmm, she is really calming my 'ways' as effective. Is it related to this because my current 'ways' are not as self diminishing as before?

Still though, that has nothing to with, why is she pushing this position into me so hard?

Is it some kind of revenge from her side or what?

I felt uncomfortable, unused to such direct compliments from Yukinoshita.

"I don't know what to say to that."

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes searching mine. "You don't have to say anything."

Then, almost imperceptibly, Yukinoshita's expression softened further.

"Hikigaya." She said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"...you had to do this."

–thrust(:imaginary stab)

"Okay… I will do it damn it!" I finally managed, with a frustrated tone.

….there must be a strong reason if she is going to such lengths, right?

Oh god, I am a damn pushover.

"Hurry!" Senior Meguri's excited voice piped up from the back of the room. I had almost forgotten we weren't alone, and the sudden intrusion made me jump slightly.

Yuigahama's laughter followed. "Looks like Hikki's got another mission!"

However, Yukinoshita ….looked somewhat distant and lost in thoughts.

….

.

[-A Day Ago-]

[Location - Yukino's Residence(:flat)]

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[Yukino's POV]

"I am telling you, Yukino. He will do anything for you."

Haruno's voice nudged me with amusement while bringing up a person very frequently in our recent rare conversations.

My eyes narrowed with a sharp tone. "He won't, and more importantly, he doesn't need to."

In truth I liked the ring of it but I wasn't the one to admit it.

A mischievous glint appeared in Haruno's eyes. "Then why don't we make a bet?"

"A bet?" I echoed, tilting my head slightly, curiosity warring with caution.

Haruno's smile widened. "But you have to put your full effort into asking him, okay? No half-measures."

Was that even a question to begin with, I will be giving my best regardless of the context? However, before that, I need to make sure.

I hesitated, then asked. "What are the terms?"

"The Sports Festival committee is coming up soon, right?" Haruno's tone was casual, but her eyes were keen.

"Why don't you make him chairperson of that event?"

My eyebrows arched. "Aren't you making it too easy for me?"

There is no way, 'He' will be accepting such a bothersome request even if it is from me…. and honestly, I would also hope not put him in focus, if I can see the terrible situation he was in.

Haruno laughed, the sound both melodious and slightly unsettling. "Oh? Feeling confident, are we? Remember, you have to convince him to take on all that responsibility willingly. No tricks, no Service Club obligations."

"And if I succeed?" I asked, her voice carefully neutral.

"Then I will admit I was wrong about him." Haruno said with a shrug.

Hmm, for Haruno to put herself on the line was unexpected, and truthfully, it was enough to make me seriously consider the proposition.

The chance to prove my sister wrong was tempting indeed.

"But if you fail..."

I tensed on her last words. "If I fail?"

"Nothing! You don't have to do anything, my cute little sister." She said, her voice playful as she reached out and ruffled Yukino's hair affectionately

"Just recognize his feelings…." Then she whispered in my ear, softly.

….

.

[-Back To Present-]

"That's true. We will go tomorrow then."

Senior Meguri asked. "By the way, which team are you all in? Doesn't our school separate each class into two? I wish to ask about that. As for me, I am in the red team."

She probably cared about this because of what she had written at the end of the mail 'Because it's my last so I want to win.'

Since it wasn't like groups were some sort of personal information, I replied to her first.

"Red"

After I said that, I glanced at Yuigahama.

"Red."

Yuigahama looked at Yukinoshita.

"Red."

Yukinoshita looked at Senior Meguri.

The repeated words of "red" were akin to reporting strength. Senior Meguri looked at us with satisfaction as she clenched her fists to psyche herself up.

"Same as me. Good! Let's all set our sights on victory!!"

We did not follow in her high-spirits, and we looked at each other. Why was this person in such high spirits?

Seeing that there was no response from any of us, Senior Meguri took it as a positive note and raised her fist once more.

"Let's do our best to make this year's Sports Festival the best!"

Feeling satisfied, she left the clubroom.

…..How many 'bests' was that?

….

.

[To be continued…]

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