My Story of Falling for the Class President

Chapter 60

Chapter 60: Year of Competition

Finally, we've become third-years. Starting to think about the high school entrance exam.

I'm considering the nearest public high school as my desired school for now. It's a regular course with a deviation value of about 50.

This year, there's no class change; it's the same group as last year, and we'll go like this until graduation.

We decide on class president and such during homeroom, but it's just routine, pretty much the same as last year.

The class president is set to be Sotomachi-kun and Kashii-san.

As long as Kashii-san is class president, I'll continue supporting her as the Class President Assistant.

Since there are no club activities on the first day of school, I head to the art room.

Kashii-san was fired up.

'This year is the culmination! It's the last year we can do something together with everyone, so I want to make memories with everyone, the kind of year we can talk about even years later at a reunion or something!'

'Yeah, I'll do anything, so just let me know if there's something I can help with, okay?'

'Anything?'

'Yeah.'

(Is there some kind of pressure here?)

'Then, come with me after this today! Let's do some prep work!'

Prompted by Kashii-san, we head to the staff room.

'Mr. Yanagi!'

'Kashii? And Tachibana-kun?'

'Today, after this, I'm planning to visit the home of Hori-kun, who's been truant, but I'm pretty sure Sotomachi-kun won't go, so I'm bringing Tachibana-kun along.'

'Tachibana-kun? You've been helping Kashii-san lately, huh?'

'Yes! I want to inform him about the school trip, let him know that Tachibana-kun and I are here, and tell him to reach out if he feels like coming.'

'Ah, that might be good. It's more concrete, and someone like Tachibana-kun might be easier to relate to than the more flashy boys.'

(I feel like something rude is being said about me.)

'Then, we'll be going!'

With that, we leave the school, and prompted by Kashii-san, we head to the home of Hori-kun, who's been truant.

Hori-kun is a boy who somehow didn't fit in at school and became truant.

I know his face, but I don't remember talking to him much.

When we get to his house, Kashii-san greets them, hands over some handouts to his mother, informs her that the school trip is in late May, and says that if he wants to go, he should rely on me or Tachibana-kun.

That's what we conveyed. We couldn't meet him in person.

Hori-kun's mother said,

'If a girl like Kashii-san were my son's girlfriend and always supported him, I'm sure his truancy and future life would be resolved.'

That's what she said.

I thought to myself,

(If becoming truant means Kashii-san would be your girlfriend and walk through life with you, everyone would become truant, right?)

'Hori-kun's mother always says stuff like this. I'm concerned too, but I'm here for work, you know.'

Kashii-san gives a wry smile. She continues.

'If he himself asks for help or wants to talk about his worries, I want to do my best to support him.'

But, this year is the end. Kashii-san murmured that.

Once we're out of middle school, it's all personal responsibility. In high school, you need certain grades and attendance to move up. If you don't want to go, you have no choice but to drop out.

Since Hii-chan's daycare is nearby, I go pick up Hii-chan and head home.

Once again, I take a walk along the riverside with Kashii-san and Hii-chan.

'That's why I'm going all out this year. I won't hold back, I'll go for the win in events, enjoy them to the fullest, and make memories with everyone! So, I feel bad for the truant kids, but I've reached out so many times already, and I don't think I'll go anymore. It might sound arrogant, but that's how I feel.'

'It's rare to see Kashii-san express her will so openly.'

'Because it's the last year. Right now, I can see everyone every day, and I'll see them tomorrow too. But at the very least, by this time next year, we'll all be high schoolers and scattered apart. In this area, we were born and grew up together. Of course, some transferred out and some transferred in, but we grew up together every day, and in just one year, we'll all be scattered. Like Tachibana-kun said before, in a broader sense, the chance to do something with childhood friends is only this year. Lately, I've been thinking about that a lot.'

I felt like I'd been hit over the head or something.

In some areas, people might split up even in middle school. But for us, we've all been together.

From high school, our paths will diverge based on ability, grades, and the courses we aspire to. Of course, that's only natural.

To put it in perspective, up until now, we've all been walking down a really wide road, each of us spreading out as we pleased. But with the high school entrance exam, the road splits into smaller paths, and beyond that, it splits even more, and we'll all be scattered.

That's obvious. That's just how it is. But hearing the words from Kashii-san's mouth made me feel it as reality for the first time.

'We've got to treasure and enjoy this last year of middle school.'

'Tachibana-kun, you get it, right?'

'Lately, we've been talking a lot, huh?'

'Don't keep your distance, okay?'

(She's still holding a grudge about that, huh.)

We talked about such things while heading home.

The next day, there was a seating change.

Since there's a school trip in the first term, we're grouping up for that trip, so pay attention! That's what the teacher said.

'Kashii-san, let's form a group with the three of us!'

'I want to be in the same group for the school trip, so let's team up!'

'Being with Sotomachi-kun would be great, right!'

Once again, a group of boys from Class 3 is applying to join Kashii-san's group at the same time. Watching that, I think to myself every time how tough it must be.

As usual, I'll try to join Kan-kun and Ise-san's group!

I stand up to head over there,

and my arm is grabbed tightly.

I'm pulled with a yank.

It was Kashii-san.

Facing the group of boys competing for Kashii-san, she pushes me forward and declares,

'I'm teaming up with Tachibana-kun, so sorry!'

Whoa! The class buzzes with excitement.

———————

Finally, the third-year arc I've wanted to write begins.

If you'd like, please support me.