Chapter 11: Yukino Yukinoshita is in Unusually Poor Form

I had been staring at it for so long that the computer screen before my eyes started to blur. I stopped my hands and took a sip of the tea someone must have poured for me. Looking up to scan the committee room, I was struck by how empty it had become.

A few days had passed since Sagami-san issued what was effectively a "declaration of liberation" for the Cultural Festival Executive Committee. Since that day, the number of members attending had continued to drop. Consequently, progress slowed to a crawl, and the mountain of work I had to handle alone only grew taller.

Applications from volunteer organizations were flooding in, and the paperwork was piling up. I also had to verify the application details for the class exhibits. Exhibits involving food required particularly tedious procedures. On top of that, there was still a massive amount of PR and publicity work to be done.

"...Sigh."

I knew this would happen. The moment I failed to stop Sagami-san’s outburst, I could have predicted this outcome. The attendance rate of the committee would plummet, and a workload heavy enough to exhaust even the real Yukino Yukinoshita would come crashing down on me. Since I didn't try to change the future back then, I have no right to complain now.

And yet, I couldn't help but think:

That Sagami girl... she barely does any work, yet she sure knows how to make things harder for everyone else!!

…Oops. The "me" (boku) that isn't Yukino Yukinoshita slipped out, and I’m not even in my own room. I must be tired. No, I’m definitely tired.

My lower back ached from sitting in the same position for hours. Just glancing at the computer screen made my eyes flicker. How pathetic. At this rate, I won't even be able to go home and heal myself with cat videos.

Just as I was despairing over the fact that my nightly entertainment had been snatched away, a refreshing voice spoke to me.

"Yukino-san, I’m here to submit the documents for the volunteers."

"In that case, please put them in the back right."

Contrary to my fading consciousness, the words leaving my mouth were dignified and sharp, as if someone else were speaking them. Today, as always, my outer shell known as "Yukino Yukinoshita" was functioning perfectly.

A moment later, I glanced up and saw Hayama-kun. Ah, so that’s who I was talking to.

I shifted my gaze away from him as he began conversing with Hikigaya-kun about something, and I turned back to the computer screen. The inorganic white light sent a throbbing pain deep into my eyes.

"But, it really looks like Yukino-san is doing almost all the work."

At Hayama-kun’s slightly raised voice, I looked up from the keyboard to see what was the matter. Both Hayama-kun and Hikigaya-kun were staring straight at me.

"…Is there something you need?"

"No, Hayama just thought it looked like you were doing almost all the committee work, Yukinoshita," Hikigaya said.

"It's simply more efficient this way. Is there a problem?"

As I shot back a cold retort, Hayama-kun responded in a similar tone.

"But if you keep this up, things are going to fall apart before long."

"..."

Startled by the uncharacteristically strong words from him, I turned to face them fully. Beside him, Hikigaya-kun seemed to silently agree with the sentiment.

Seeing that, the words just spilled out of my mouth.

"...Do you think so too, Hikigaya-kun?"

Ah, what an unlike-her thing to say. These clinging words—leaving the answer for my own actions to someone else—that isn't Yukino Yukinoshita. I hadn't intended to show this kind of weakness.

Watching him fearfully, I saw Hikigaya-kun’s eyes widen in slight surprise. That reaction sent a chill through my entire body. However, his response wasn't what I had feared.

"...Yeah. I’m not gonna deny what you've done by yourself so far, Yukinoshita, but I get the feeling you’re gonna hit your limit pretty soon."

Hearing those words, I felt like a small part of the burden on my shoulders had been lifted.

"...I suppose so. Let’s try reconsidering the division of labor then."

"I'll help too," Hayama offered. "Managing the volunteers isn't exactly someone else's problem for me."

"I feel bad relying on someone outside the committee, though."

"Don't worry about it. I want the Cultural Festival to be a success just as much as anyone."

With his usual flawless smile, Hayama-kun spoke refreshingly. It was as if his previous blunt, cold words had been a lie.

After a brief discussion with Shiromeguri-senpai about the new assignments, we disbanded for the day.

Even if we were dividing the work to reduce the burden, there were still many tasks that only I, as the Vice-Chair, could handle. …Can I really do this? A mere "average person" like me? I swallowed an indescribable sense of anxiety, packed the work I had to finish at home into my bag, and stood up.

For the next week, I pushed through the slightly reduced workload. But to be honest, the exhaustion was only accumulating. I spent my days holed up in the committee room after school, then stuffed unfinished tasks into my bag to do at home. Perhaps because I was staring at a screen all day, I had started having trouble falling asleep.

I had been trying to cook for myself every day to stay "Yukino-like," but recently I’d been making do with cup noodles or nutritional supplements. Part of it was the lack of time, but I also felt like I had less of an appetite than before.

When I was working in the committee room, Shiromeguri-senpai would occasionally come talk to me. She said I looked pale and asked if I was overdoing it.

I appreciated the concern, but for my poor health to be noticed meant I was failing as Yukino Yukinoshita. I reflected on this and tried to keep an even tighter grip on my composure at school.

It was during one of those days that it happened.

The blaring alarm on my phone dragged my heavy eyelids open. The cheerful morning sun shone through the curtains, but my heart remained gloomy. I grabbed the phone, silenced the alarm, and somehow managed to stand up and head to the washroom.

My body felt incredibly heavy. My feet were unsteady, and I was swaying. Was I still half-asleep? Before I knew it, my vision began to blur. My consciousness grew hazy.

…Wait, what was I doing just now?

Suddenly, my sense of up and down became distorted. My clouded consciousness finally lost control of my body. A sudden sensation of floating. My head was rapidly approaching the floor. With a dull thud of pain, my consciousness drifted away.

The last thing I thought was that I had to call the school to report my absence.

The flooring of my apartment was the worst place to sleep. The hard sensation against my head forced me awake, and each time, I forced myself back into a heavy slumber.

During one of my several awakenings, I apparently managed to contact the school semi-unconsciously. My phone’s call history showed I had made the call. I didn't remember the conversation. Relieved by that, I had decided to go back to sleep on the cold, hard floor.

The simple, logical decision to move back to my bed didn't even cross my mind. My head felt as though it were stuffed with lead; I didn't feel like I could get up at all.

My consciousness didn't fully return until after 4:00 PM, when I heard the sound of the intercom.

Ding-dong.

The high-pitched electronic chime sent a spike of pain through my heavy head. Squinting, I checked the intercom monitor in the living room. It looked like two people were stuck at the entrance. …They didn't look like deliverymen.

My sluggish brain tried to process the situation. Visitors. Two people. The time is… evening? Who could it be?

The intercom rang again. The moment I heard it, everything suddenly clicked in my head. The faint sound of email notifications I’d vaguely noticed. A pair of visitors. After school. My knowledge of the original story.

—Yuigahama-san and Hikigaya-kun are here!?

"─!"

The moment that thought hit me, my consciousness, which had been lingering in a daze, snapped wide awake. I stood up. My entire body screamed in protest, and a sharp pain throbbed in the back of my head. Panicked, I tried to speak through the intercom.

"Yes?"

The voice that came out of my throat was much weaker than I expected.

"Ah, Yukinon! Are you okay!?"

"Did you come all this way because you were worried? Thank you. But I’m fine."

I tried to sound as energetic as possible, but only a thin, frail voice came out.

"Just open up already," Hikigaya-kun said.

I was startled by his tone—it was a firm, commanding voice, unlike his usual self. His expression was unusually serious.

After a moment's thought, I replied.

"Give me... ten minutes."

After cutting the connection, I rushed to get ready. I fixed my wildly messy hair and washed my face. The "me" in the mirror looked ghastly. ...There was no hiding that part.

I changed my clothes. I picked something that wouldn't look out of place as loungewear for Yukino Yukinoshita: a baggy white knit paired with a long skirt. ...Wearing a skirt at home felt somewhat strange. I used some room fragrance to make the place smell more like a "girl's room."

Finally, and most importantly, I stood before the full-length mirror. Long, beautiful black hair. Terrifyingly perfect features. Feminine clothing. Looking at my reflection, I told myself:

"I am Yukino Yukinoshita. I am Yukino Yukinoshita. I am Yukino Yukinoshita."

It was a ritual to transform from the relaxed, "ordinary me" into the perfect Yukino. A sort of mental boundary to hide my inner self.

Before I knew it, ten minutes had passed. I buzzed them in through the intercom and released the auto-lock.

A short while later, the doorbell at my front door rang. When I opened it, there stood Yuigahama-san and Hikigaya-kun. It felt like I hadn't seen them in days.

"Please, come in."

As the two of them entered the living room, they looked around the room with great interest.

Being watched like that made me nervous. Was I acting the part of Yukino Yukinoshita perfectly, even in my private space? I remembered what I told myself in front of the mirror. That's right, I am Yukino Yukinoshita.

Having bolstered my confidence through self-suggestion, I finally spoke to them with poise.

"...So, did you have some business with 'me' (boku)?"

"'Boku'...?" they both repeated in unison.

"...Ah."

Waaaaaaaah! I forgot to change my usual first-person pronoun!!