Chapter 38: Beauty and Mister Pageants

Beauty and Mister Pageants

"Saotome-san! Nagumo-san!"

Unusually for Ayanokoji, the door to the rooftop opened with a loud noise.

Ayanokoji, out of breath from running up the stairs, came around to the back of the water tower and found us.

"So you were here after all!"

"What's wrong? You're in such a hurry..."

"Ah, no, it's not an urgent matter..."

Ayanokoji crouched down between Nagumo and me while catching his breath.

What Ayanokoji showed me was the screen of her smartphone.

The email exchange was displayed.

"Can I look at this?"

"Yes, or rather, please read it."

Nagumo and I looked at the smartphone screen.

"A charity event?"

Having quickly understood the gist of it, Nagumo was the first to speak.

Ayanokoji nodded and said, "That's right."

"Did you know that there is an abandoned church near the school?"

"Ah, ah..."

Come to think of it, I think there was something like that.

It's not on the route I usually take to school, so I don't know much about it.

Speaking of unused churches...

...I understand what Ayanokoji wants to do.

"You're suggesting we sneak in there in the middle of the night? But isn't it too early for a test of courage? It's still spring, you know?"

"Shut up, Otome-chan."

Nagumo dismissed it outright.　

It was half silly and half serious.

"What does a church have to do with a charity event?"

Nagumo, who had silenced me, asked Ayanokoji.

"The church there has been purchased by a subsidiary of the Ayanokoji Company, and a project to renovate it into a chapel is underway."

Hmm, hmm?

This story has suddenly become a big one.

I didn't even know the difference between a church and a chapel, so I pretended to understand and nodded along.

"So, to celebrate the renovation and promote the chapel, we have approved a plan to hold a wedding photo charity event!"

"Oh, so Ayanokoji-san approved the plan? That's amazing."

"I did my best..."

The story progresses with just Ayanokoji and Nagumo.

A wedding photo charity event?

There are a lot of katakana characters, so it's hard to understand.

"What this mean is, Otome-chan..."

Nagumo couldn't bear to see me listening to the story with a polite smile and countless question marks in my face, so he tapped me on the shoulder.

"We're planning a photo shoot wearing wedding dresses and tuxedos."

I, I see...

"We are planning to arrange for a photographer and clothing, but... we don't have a subject to photograph."

Certainly, if you invite celebrities or models to be your subjects, it will cost a lot of money to hire them.

"But wouldn't it be better to not be stingy about that so that we could raise more donations?"

Nagumo suggested, but Ayanokoji shook her head.

"It's not that we don't have the funds... but that's not what we're aiming for in the first place. Our target this time is the students of this school."

"Even if we collect donations from high school students, we won't be able to raise much money!"

"It's not about the money, Saotome-san."

Ayanokoji calmed me down in a gentle manner, even though I was getting excited.

"The real purpose of the charity event is to attract future customers. Not just from this school, but high school students all over the country... to make it an option for young people who may use the chapel in the future."

Future customers...

Ayanokoji was looking far ahead.

No matter how much it costs, it's a charity event, so it should all go to support somewhere.

Even if this make money, the company doesn't get a single yen. In fact, it's in the red.

Still, the fact that this plan was approved means that there is potential for even greater profits.

"But, if that's the case, it would be even better to invite a celebrity who is popular among junior and senior high school students..."

"Do you know why social media influencers are so popular among young people?"

The topic was suddenly changed.

Influencers?

While I was struggling to come up with an answer, Ayanokoji replied, "It's relatability."

"In this age of advanced social media, I believe that what's important relatibility."

Relatibility...

“Well, if we hire a relatable influencer…”

Well, I'm sure it would be cheaper to hire an influencer than a celebrity.

Ayanokoji shook her head at that as well.

"No. The people who are most relatable to high school students are us high school students."

Now that we've come this far, I'm finally beginning to understand what the clever Ayanokoji is trying to say.

"Oh, the subject Ayanokoji is talking about... can't be..."

"I'm thinking of voting for someone from this school!"

A wedding photo event involving the school students...?!

There's just too much to do.

I knew she was a rich young lady, but she had always been modest and didn't seem to be interested in big events or anything that would attract attention.

It's like she's suddenly become a different person...!

Ayanokoji smiled softly at me as I widened my eyes in shock.

"It's thanks to you, Saotome-san, that I was able to launch this event."

"Eh, me?"

I haven't done anything.

This is simply the result of Ayanokoji racking her brains, making a decision, and taking action.

"When Saotome-san told me at my arranged marriage meeting to live the life I wanted, I changed. I've become able to act in a way that will allow me to live my life with pride, without regrets for even a moment."

Isn't that a skill that Ayanokoji has always possessed?

She had good grades in both science and humanities subjects, and from what I saw in gym class, she seemed to be good at all sports as well.

Like Ijuin, she is one of the chosen ones who has been given two or even three gifts by God.

She's a genius type who can do anything if she puts her mind to it.

It's just that she was being squeezed around and couldn't move.

If those shackles have been removed, if Ayanokoji can live freely, then there is nothing better.

"In that regard, I have a request for you, Nagumo-san and Saotome-san."

"Eh, what..."

Nagumo made an obviously displeased face.

Hey, don't make that face before you even hear a request from a beautiful girl...

"Please help me persuade Ijuin-kun!"

My expression was the same as Nagumo's now.

"I actually want to put up a notice on the bulletin board right now! And a ballot box too! But I need the student council president's permission to do that!"

It's bound to be a pain.

I know it before I even do it.

The student council president has officially approved a public call for proposals for an off-campus charity event.

After that, will we also post photos of the participants and ask students to vote?

This is just like a beauty pageant and mister pageant.

Could this really be the last event?

"Please! Saotome-san! Nagumo-san!"

The girl I like has her hands together and bows her head.

How uncomfortable.

But if I allow this event to take place, I may be forced to make a choice.

But I don't want to turn down Ayanokoji's request...!

"I understand..."

"Thank you!"

"I'll pass. Ah, sleepy."

It would be difficult for Nagumo, who did not know Ijuin, to get involved, so there was no reason to hold back Nagumo's pass.

Come to think of it, there was a time when Ijuin and Onizuka suspected Nagumo of being my boyfriend...

If I were to storm into the student council room with Nagumo in tow, it would only invite unnecessary suspicion.

But.... would it be appropriate for Ayanokoji and I to go together here...?