Kenkyo, Kenjitsu o Motto ni Ikite Orimasu

Apparently we were slowly gaining new members. I say apparently because I wasnt there to see it myself. Actually I wasnt allowed to interact with them directly.According to Club Pres, my t.i.tle as a Pivoine member was scaring away from of the newer students, so she hoped that I would make myself scarce just for the duration of the recruitment period.

I couldnt really fault that logic. Everyone who joined that club was the same timid and quiet type, so I could see how they might be afraid of us. In Suiran, the Pivoine were like the ultimate predators, after all. The one group that you shouldnt ever offend.

I knew that feeling too. But I was an official member of the Handicrafts Club. Wasnt there any way I could help!?

Anyhow, I was sitting in a corner and needle-felting, sparing the occasional glance at the visiting students, when one of them called out to me falteringly. Heck yes!

Did you have a question?

Yes. I was hoping somebody could tell me about the sewing machine that this club uses, but

Sewing machine?

I wasnt proud of this, but I had never used it before. Actually I sucked at them in general. Things just got out of hand, and then the threads started to get tangled and Anyhow, it was just hard. Come to think of it, when I was younger the threads got tangled and the sewing machine stopped moving. So I tried yanking it out, but the struggle ended with the machine giving off smoke. Machinery was difficult to use, wasnt it.

But it was a chance to help. I decided to try my best!

What did you want to know about it?

I wanted to know which company made the overlock sewing machines. Also whether or not you had any 4-thread overlocks.

What on earth was an overlock machine. And what was this about 4-threads?

Ive only ever used a 3-thread. I was hoping to get the chance to try my hand at a 4-thread.

Oh no. I was trying my best but it was all Greek to me

But I was an official club member. I couldnt let her know.

Please wait a moment. I am a little tied up at the moment, so I will find somebody to answer your questions. You wanted to know about overlock sewing machines, yes?

Anybody! Isnt there anybody who knows about these overlocked machines!?

While I was looking for somebody who could answer, another one of the visitors came up to that girl and said,

That miss over there is a member of the Pivoine, you know! You cant just send her on ch.o.r.es like that, what if you make them angry!?

I returned with a girl who knew more about the topic but Overlock-chan said,

Im so sorry! Im an External Student and only joined this year, so I really had no idea!

earnestly apologising to me.

It wasnt a problem at all, though I was just pretending to be busy so I didnt have to explain. So seriously, please dont look so scared of me~ Im part of the commoner-faction, you know?

Maybe I should learn more about sewing machines

Around that time, Ririna showed up with her buddies in tow.

Geez, Reika-san! What a boring club youve joined!

That stupid girl!

Flames of rage were beginning to grow in my heart but she had a lot of followers. If she joined the club, wouldnt we get a whole wave of members!?

Goodness, welcome, Ririna-san. Did you have some interest in handicrafts? I asked as graciously as possible but

As if! Like Id ever join such a minor club. I just came to make fun of you!

Since that was the case, I immediately kicked her out.

Unfortunately some of the other club prospectives happened to see it all, and they ran away in fear. Curse you, Ririnaaaa!

Club President put her hand on my back, and gently returned me to my corner. This time a bunch of mannequin torsos were set in front of me like a wall.

It was a little lonely here

Cla.s.s Rep was looking gloomy. When I asked him what was wrong, it turned out that Miharu-chan was getting along with a boy in her cla.s.s.

Were in different cla.s.ses too. Looks like Im at a major disadvantage, huh? What do I do. Do you think Honda-san really likes him?

Hmmm.

I wasnt all that close with her or anything, but maybe I would have a chance to ask her. Cla.s.s Rep looked desolate.Thinking about it, wasnt Nonose-san friendly with Miharu-chan? I saw them having lunch together quite a lot.

Shall I find out for you?

Eh!? You would do that!? Thank you, Kisshouin-san!

The maiden beamed with surprised joy. I didnt mind doing this but what was he going to do if she really did like somebody?

The next day I greeted Nonose-san in the morning, and used that as an exchange to engage in some small talk. Obviously I couldnt just walk up and demand she explain Miharu-chans relationship with him.

I still owe you for taking care of me during the summer camp in middle school. Thank you for supporting me, especially while I was struggling with leading. I have ended up as a cla.s.s representative again, but I hope for your continued support.

Of course! I dont know how I can help but I can then I will. Wow though. Summer camp. Thats nostalgic.

We had fun chatting about it for a while.

Come to think of it, Miharu-san attends every year, but she was strangely absent the one year I attended.

Oh, now that you mention it she did miss out. I remember mailing her while I was there.

Oh my. What did you say?

Ummm Ive forgotten. Probably something about the fireworks.

I see. It would have been nice to be in the same cla.s.s together.

Yes. We thought it was a shame too.

I see. Had Miharu-san been in our cla.s.s, she would certainly have been the cla.s.s representative instead. And she gets along with Cla.s.s Rep.

You think? I think Cla.s.s Rep makes a better pair with you, Reika-sama. What do you think of him?

Cla.s.s Rep? I suppose I find him earnest and diligent?

I thought so~! Reika-sama, youre close with Iwamuro-kun from the Judo Club too, arent you? What do you think about him?

Iwamuro-kun, you ask? Why, I think he is a man who knows what he wants, and is willing to put in the effort as well.

Ever since I gave him that facial mask, apparently he never stopped maintaining his skin. Thanks to that, he could boast the most flawless skin in the Judo Club.

I see~

I didnt know why, but Nonose-san was nodding in enjoyment. Who cares about me, were supposed to talk about Miharu-chan.

Speaking of boys, is Miharu-san close with any in her new cla.s.s?

Boys? Hmmm, I cant say Ive heard her say anything like that. Oh my, Reika-sama, youre actually interested in these kinds of gossip?

Eh-, I, well

Id love to hear more about your romances~ Ah, but I suppose I shouldnt ask, right?

She looked a little disappointed. Uh, no, I actually dont have any wonderful stories to tell.

Every love rumour we hear about you is romantic. Im envious.

Huh? Love rumour?

Like the love poem anthology. The story had me spellbound. The chamberlain and mercenary just werent the best choice. Reika-sama, Ill support you!

Eh? Chamberlain? Mercenary?

I had no idea what she was talking about but the bell rang so our conversation was cute short.

What on earth was that?

But she mentioned something I couldnt ignore. Love poem anthology. Dont tell me she was talking about Kaburagi!? What on earth was romantic about that!? It was a cursed item, d.a.m.nit!

Cla.s.s Rep glanced my way during cla.s.s, but sorry. I didnt get anything out of it.

Dite came and pressed me about the performance for our cla.s.s trip.Sorry, I forgot.He handed me a CD and asked me to choose one of the tracks on it. Apparently he had recorded his violin performances.

Did I really have to listen to this?