Chapter 10: I Truly Don't Understand Haruno Yukinoshita

After accepting Sagami’s request that day, Yukinoshita later took on the role of Vice President of the Cultural Festival Planning Committee. And from that day forward, she began a ruthless autocracy—no, since Sagami was nominally above her, perhaps it was a puppet government.

From proposing poster locations to creating a community award to secure volunteer participating groups, Yukinoshita's boundless efforts reached even my ears, despite me not being in the executive branch. Her performance was so impressive that it made me think she should just be the Committee President.

It was the fourth regular meeting of the executive committee. Sitting at the front of the conference room, Yukinoshita was briskly running the meeting, completely bypassing Sagami, the President sitting next to her.

"—Please proceed with negotiating the poster locations. Also, hurry up with updating the website. Junior high students planning to take our school's entrance exams will likely be checking it frequently. Address it immediately."

"For volunteer participating groups, please reach out to the locals based on the records up to last year. Since we emphasize community ties every year, we must avoid a decrease in participating groups."

"Now, President, give the signal to end."

"Eh... ah, yeah. Well then, good work today, everyone."

When Sagami, who was only allowed to speak properly at the very end, gave the order, the committee disbanded as if to say "finally, it's over."

Amidst the relaxed atmosphere, the only thing being talked about was praise for Vice President Yukinoshita. Her thorough efficiency in tasks, her advice and proposals to all areas drawn from her vast knowledge. Her merciless, ice-cold attitude, even towards upperclassmen.

The gossips even mocked Sagami's complete lack of presence.

Perhaps sensing that atmosphere, Sagami briskly left the conference room with her entourage. Her back was hunched, lacking confidence.

It was only natural. A figurehead President sitting like an ornament while her classmate shines brilliantly next to her. It wasn't hard to imagine how she felt.

Do you realize it, Yukinoshita? You aren't saving Sagami at all.

I looked at Yukinoshita's beautiful profile as she conversed with Meguri-senpai. Even when faced with Meguri-senpai's laid-back aura, her ice-like demeanor remained unyielding.

...As I thought, her expression seemed stiffer than usual lately. If it wasn't just my imagination, the back she usually kept perfectly straight seemed to be slightly hunched.

Could it be that she was pushing herself to her absolute limits in her own way? I didn't know what kind of hardships she was enduring to support the committee.

I thought that if it was that Yukinoshita, she would probably be fine. The work was already ahead of schedule. The progress could only be described as smooth. But having learned that she wasn't perfect, I couldn't help but suspect that these results were born from her overworking herself.

And my premonition was proven correct by the changes that swept over the executive committee, triggered by Haruno Yukinoshita's invasion.

It happened when, for some reason, I was heading to the executive committee with Hayama. From the conference room serving as the committee's headquarters, a different kind of murmur than usual could be heard. A slight tension, a strained atmosphere that felt out of place for the committee before it officially started.

Looking inside from the hallway, I saw Haruno Yukinoshita, whom I had also met during summer vacation. Why was she here at school?

Conversing with her were Meguri-senpai and Yukino Yukinoshita.

"Nee-san, what are you doing here?"

"What's with that scary look? So mean~. I heard you were recruiting independent groups, so I came."

Yukinoshita's expression toward her older sister was colder and stiffer than usual. Unable to just stand by and watch, Meguri-senpai hurriedly explained: She was the one who had called Haruno-san. During her time at the school, Haruno-san had played in a band and really livened up the cultural festival.

Watching this unfold, Hayama naturally joined the conversation. His attitude toward Haruno-san carried a casual familiarity that hinted at a long relationship. ...Right, he and the Yukinoshita sisters were childhood friends.

"Hey, Yukino-chan, it's fine if I participate, right?"

Having exchanged the usual pleasantries, Haruno-san spoke to Yukinoshita. In stark contrast to Haruno-san's casual attitude, Yukinoshita's face remained utterly stiff.

"Do whatever you want... Besides, I'm not the one with the authority to decide."

"Oh? Aren't you the Committee President, Yukino-chan?"

"Sooooorry. I'm late."

Just as Haruno-san asked that, Sagami entered the conference room. She voiced an apology, but her expression didn't look the least bit sorry.

"That girl is the committee president."

"Heeh, that girl is... the committee president arrives late, huh."

In an instant, her highly expressive demeanor from just a moment ago vanished, replaced by a cold-blooded look as Haruno-san intently scrutinized Sagami. Overwhelmed by her intimidating presence, Sagami flinched slightly.

"Eh? U-Umm, I'm the Committee President, Sagami... Um, what is it?"

"...Great! After all, the person who can enjoy the cultural festival the most is the one who should be the Committee President! What was it, Sakagami-san? Oh Well whatever, President-chan, I like it!"

"Ah, th-thank you very much."

"So, President-chan, there's something I want you to hear—"

Sagami broke into a smile. That was probably the first affirming word she had received since becoming Committee President. Perhaps flattered by it, Sagami swallowed Haruno-san's several requests for the committee without much thought.

Watching them, Yukinoshita looked as though she wanted to say something, but in the end, she didn't intervene.

Watching this outcome from afar, I headed to my assigned seat, looking completely detached from the situation.

That space where glamorous people like Hayama, Yukinoshita, and Haruno-san gathered felt like a distant place, even though we were in the same room.

But upon confirming my presence, Haruno-san, who should have been in that space, slipped out of that glittering world and approached me.

"Are you working hard, youth? (青少年, Seishōnen)"

"Yes, I'm just an underling, after all. I'm working like a cart horse."

As I showed a self-deprecating smile, Haruno-san nodded in satisfaction, saying "I see, I see." ...What exactly did this person come here to do?

"Still, I never thought you'd be in a place like this, Hikigaya-kun. Why, is there a girl you like on the committee?"

"Of course not. Hiratsuka-sensei tricked me into it somehow, so I had no choice."

"I see, Shizuka-chan's doing, huh."

Muttering to herself, Haruno-san began staring intently into my eyes. I felt slightly flustered by her beautiful face, which was similar yet different from Yukinoshita's.

"Hey, Hikigaya-kun. What do you think of Yukino-chan right now?"

It was an abrupt and vague question. I carefully put my thoughts into words.

"...Ever since she accepted Sagami's request for help, I've thought she hasn't been acting like herself. She isn't the type to actively stand at the forefront."

Ever since she took Yuigahama's request, she had been that noble person who loathed people who asked for help without making any effort themselves. —Ah, but maybe calling her noble was just me forcing my own ideals onto her.

At the end of the camp, I remembered Yukinoshita's face as she glanced at me before getting into the same hired car from the accident. In her usually calm face, a flicker of anxiety and regret appeared for an instant. That was the moment I realized, with absolute certainty, that Yukinoshita was human, just like me.

As I pondered the words I had just spouted, Haruno-san was looking at me with a serious expression.

"Hikigaya-kun."

"Yes?"

"Please don't say that to Yukino-chan. About her 'not acting like herself'."

Struck by words that felt like those of a gentle older sister caring for her younger sibling—a stark contrast to my impression of her—I instinctively stared back at Haruno-san's face.

"Even I still don't completely understand why, but those kinds of words are what Yukino-chan hates the most."

Unable to bear her earnest expression, I instinctively averted my gaze.

"...I thought you were the type of person who takes the initiative to do the very things your sister hates."

"Aren't you getting cheeky, you little...!"

Haruno-san's slender index finger suddenly shot out and poked my cheek.

"Ouch, ouch! Are you actually pretty mad right now?!"

"—I don't intend to do anything that isn't for Yukino-chan's sake."

She muttered it quietly, as if talking to herself. —That single remark might have been the moment Haruno Yukinoshita exposed her inner self the most out of everything I had ever seen.

"What does that mea—"

"Everyone, can I have a minute?"

Just as I was about to press further into the inner depths of the completely fathomless Haruno-san, I was interrupted by an inconsiderate voice suddenly echoing through the conference room. Haruno-san looked that way too, so I raised my gaze to see an unusually high-spirited Sagami addressing the executive committee.

"After all, I think that the Planning Committee can only entertain others if we ourselves enjoy the Cultural Festival."

Spouting transparent logic she'd obviously heard somewhere before, the Committee President continued.

"To maximize our enjoyment of the cultural festival, I think our class matters are important too. The work is progressing smoothly, so how about we slow the pace down a bit?"

"Sagami-san, that's—"

"That's a great point! In my time, everyone worked super hard on their class stuff too!"

As if to keep Yukinoshita in check right when she was about to speak, Haruno-san, standing next to me, cheerfully validated Sagami's words. Yukinoshita pierced Haruno-san with a cold glare, but she simply brushed it off with a cool expression.

"They say it's best to learn from the wisdom of our predecessors, so let's set aside our personal feelings and all enjoy the Cultural Festival!"

Scattered applause broke out from the committee members in the room in response to Sagami's words. If the atmosphere in the room was in agreement, even Yukinoshita couldn't easily refute it. It seemed this proposal had passed.

"She really does make a good point, huh. Right, Hikigaya-kun?"

Haruno-san spoke to me with a smile. I couldn't understand her intentions in the slightest.

This person—who, just a moment ago, I thought I'd caught a glimpse inside her powered exoskeleton—had once again reverted to a bottomless entity I couldn't comprehend.

As a modest act of resistance, I asked a question.

"...Didn't you say you wouldn't do anything that isn't for your sister's sake?"

Haruno-san replied, wearing that same chilling smile she always showed.

"There's no need for you to understand my actions."

(Author's Note: Sorry the story is taking so long to progress...)