Why Not Make Both Twins 'Girlfriends'?-Chapter 7Volume 2 .2 - Cultivating the Soil...?

Cultivating the Soil…? 2

“In essence, the club is fragile. It wouldn’t be surprising if it collapses at any time.”

“I can see that.”

“Then there’s Usami Hikari. She’s troublesome in her own way. She hardly ever reveals her true feelings.”

“Ah…”

As someone who has already established a relationship with Hikari, Sakuto believe he has touched upon her true feelings several times.

It certainly might be difficult for others to understand her.

However, the reason she doesn’t reveal her true feelings is a matter of relationships, and he has never felt the kind of difficulty Tachibana imagines.

She’s always smiling, aloof, free-spirited, lively, and yet he has seen her occasionally get down or troubled, but he has never once found it bothersome.

Her frequent physical affection and sometimes unexpected behavior might indeed be troublesome, but──

“Well, it seems that she already has a place with you.”

“What…?”

“Never mind, let’s get back to the topic. So, we have these four unique individuals gathered, but ultimately, the Newspaper Club lacks someone who can take the initiative. I can’t say this to Uehara Ayaka, but the Newspaper Club as it is now is hardly unified at all.”

“You’re saying the club need to develop a leader?”

Tachibana replied, ‘That’s part of it, but’.

“I told you the important thing is the soil (foundation), right?”

“Yes, well…”

“The direction of the club as a whole, that is, they can get along just fine if the four have a clear common goal. This is my personal belief, but something called an organization that doesn’t move without a leader is no good. Things will move and they don’t stray from their direction if we place the right people in the right positions according to each individual’s personality and abilities.”

It seemed to make sense, but Sakuto was not yet convinced.

“…Isn’t it the leader’s role to determine that direction?”

“Then, who decided the current direction of the Newspaper Club?”

“Who… ah…”

Sakuto realized that it was none other than himself.

However, he had no recollection nor intention of taking the leadership.

He had merely made some comments from the sidelines.

“Perhaps someone like you should be called a consultant. Thanks to you, I assess that the Newspaper Club is currently moving in a good direction. Indeed, I’ve seen the students of the Newspaper Club conducting interviews with enthusiasm. They are returning to their rightful state.”

“No, that’s…”

Sakuto’s purpose was not to rebuild the Newspaper Club but to protect the secrets of the three.

It was personal, but helping the Newspaper Club was merely incidental.

“Whatever the reason, your impact on the Newspaper Club is significant. The soil is now in a state where you can manipulate it as you like. It can be dyed pink or blue. Therefore, I think the responsibility lies with you. What do you think?”

Sakuto sighed.

“…I don’t want to take on such a responsibility, and I’m only going to cooperate for the rest of the summer vacation, just ten more days.”

“That’s enough. I’m satisfied to hear such reassuring words.”

Tachibana smiled, but it was probably sarcasm.

“What about the advisor, then? Who was the Newspaper Club’s advisor again?”

“It’s Yoshinaga-sensei, who is currently on maternity leave. The assistant advisor is Nakamura-sensei from the art club, but she’s too busy with the art club.”

“Then why don’t you take over, Tachibana-sensei?”

Then Tachibana broke into a smile.

“I’m busy too. After all, have you forgotten? It’s because you and the Usami sisters secured the top spots in our grade that I’ve had more work with the joint junior high and high school projects. Therefore, I’m entrusting the matter of the Newspaper Club to you and the Usami sisters. The rest is up to you to work hard on.”

“It’s quite the handoff… On the contrary, I actually don’t dislike that approach.”

While thinking that anything he said would probably be in vain, Sakuto stood up.

“By the way, Takayashiki, have you come to understand that when the soil is cultivated, a place for one to belong will emerge?”

“Well, I’ve grasped about half of it…”

“What you’re doing is for the sake of Usami Hikari.”

“Yes…?”

“It’s not just for the sake of Usami Chikage. Don’t forget that.”

Saying this, Tachibana let a slight smile play across her lips once more.

“So… which will you choose, blue or pink?”

After pondering the meaning of those words, Sakuto furrowed his brows.

“…Am I really the one to choose?”

Just as Tachibana was about to say something, the bell rang.

“Oops, I must prepare for class. Please take good care of the Newspaper Club.”

“…Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

Sakuto bowed and returned to the classroom while feeling somewhat dissatisfied.

＊ ＊ ＊

After school, the last meeting before the exams took place in the Newspaper Club’s room.

“We will reconvene after school on Friday. Everyone, please do your best.”

Announced the club president Ayaka in a gentle tone reminiscent of an elementary school teacher before dismissing the meeting.

──And so.

The ones who left the clubroom were the trio of first-year students: Sakuto, Hikari, and Wakana. The second-year students, Ayaka and Matori, stayed behind in the clubroom, saying they would study together.

As the three of them headed towards the entrance, Wakana let out a sigh along the way──

“I’m in a bit of trouble with this term’s finals…”

“Is that so?”

New n𝙤vel chapters are published on freeweɓnøvel.com.

“I have to go home and study, sigh…”

“Right…”

Hikari’s responses were somewhat indifferent.

Wakana didn’t seem to notice, but Sakuto, who was listening to the conversation from the side, felt a sense of discomfort.

It was different from when Hikari talked with him or Chikage. The conversation seemed mechanical, a one-way street from Wakana with no emotion from Hikari involved.

Hikari was smiling, but her responses were noncommittal as if she had built up a wall around herself.

“Huh, that’s surprising.”

Sakuto chimed in.

“I had the impression that you would be good at studying, Higashino-san.”

“I barely passed the internal exam, you see…”

The internal exam is for students moving from the junior high to the high school division within the same school.

However, the exam content and schedule are the same as those of external students.

This means that she took the exam on the exact same level as external students like Sakuto and the Usami sisters and barely passed to enter the high school section of Arisuyama Academy.

“Huh, that’s unexpected. So Higashino-san, you’re an internal student?”

“Yeah, believe it or not, I’ve been here since kindergarten, a bona fide internal student. By the way, Ayaka-senpai and Matori-senpai took the same route.”

“Despite that, you’re actually having a proper conversation with us external students, huh?”

“Of course. There’s really no need to discriminate ──Well, there are some people who give off that kind of vibe. You know, that kind of atmosphere? It’s been around since junior high school.”

Wakana showed a slight look of disgust on her face.

She seemed to be someone unaffected by that kind of atmosphere, which was reassuring and somehow comforting.