Ome Quartet of Snow Country

Chapter 43 Cultural Festival Ending and New Beginning

After three o'clock in the afternoon, the county Jingao Gymnasium.

"Then, I announce that the No.40 Second Tsumae High School Cultural Festival is now closed—"

The petite executive chairman of the cultural festival bowed deeply to the audience, and her response was cheers and applause that went straight to the sky.

Standing in the line of Class C, Shangzi continued to applaud.

it is finally over……

Naruse, who was standing beside him, applauded and turned to look at her, "Thanks for your hard work."

"Chunhai too, thank you for your hard work."

The closing ceremony was over, and the cultural festival came to an end, but the disbanded students could not leave the school just like this, because the finishing work of this celebration had just begun.

By tomorrow at the latest, the school must be restored to the way it was before the cultural festival.

After leaving the gymnasium, Naoko separated from Naruse and returned to the club room of the handicraft club to help clean up and tidy up the decorations for the cultural festival and restore the layout of the club room to its original state.

It is troublesome to arrange, and it is not as easy as imagined when cleaning up.

The closing ceremony ended at around [-]:[-], and by the time everything was sorted out, it was already close to [-]:[-].

"Everyone has worked hard—"

Takahashi Tomoyo, who had been haggard for a day, suddenly became energetic, "The next is the celebration party, so you can't miss it."

She looked at Shangzi, "Especially this flower."

Shangzi nodded and said nothing.

Except for those who couldn't come because of something, twenty or thirty members of the craft club left the school together and came to an izakaya near the central station.

Although alcohol is not allowed, the izakaya also provides a variety of drinks, and the food is relatively cheap, not to mention it can be noisy. For this large group of high school students, there is no more suitable place to gather than here.

The members of the handicraft club were not the only ones who had the same idea. When they arrived, there were already several tables of Jin Gao students sitting inside.

Spotting Naruse's back, Shangzi didn't have time to go over to say hello, so she was pulled to the other side of the dining table.

"It's good luck. If you find one, you will get a seat. There are so many of us, and we are divided into two tables."

Takahashi, who was inexplicably excited, suddenly turned into a minister at this time, allocating positions for the members who came to the celebration party.

The real minister Ritsuko Sugiyama sat in the middle without saying anything.

"This flower, you come here."

Takahashi greeted Shangzi, "Sit next to Ritsuko, you should be able to chat easily."

Shangzi didn't say anything, just sat down.

And she sat across from the two of them, and the people sitting on the left and right were her "persons of her own".

As for the rest of the staff, she waved her hand and casually dismissed them.

"You should go back to rest early." Ritsuko Sugiyama said looking at Takahashi.

"nothing."

The latter's face was haggard, but his gaze remained on Shangzi's face, "The impact of that incident on me is actually the same...not to mention today's occasion, how can I be absent?"

Ritsuko Sugiyama was silent for a few seconds, then lowered her voice: "This is outside the school, don't make too much noise."

"What are you worried about, Ritsuko?"

Takahashi suddenly laughed, "Is it because you are worried that I will do something to this flower?"

Sugiyama Ritsuko glanced at her wordlessly, as a tacit consent.

"I admit that some unpleasant things happened before...but when did that happen."

Takahashi's eyes wandered back and forth across the faces of the two people opposite.

"I figured it out. The cultural festival is over, and it's time to build a good relationship with the lovely first graders. After all, they are the future of the handicraft club. This flower, what do you think?"

Shangzi's eyes were calm, "This is the freedom of Senior Sister Takahashi."

Takahashi immediately showed a happy smile.

Suzuki Kazumi, who was sitting at another table, couldn't help whispering to his companion beside him: "Did you become mentally abnormal after being ill for a day?"

"—First grade, what are you mumbling about?"

"nothing!"

Takahashi gave her a sideways look, and complained loudly again.

"Why hasn't the juice arrived yet?"

After all, there were too many young guests rushing to the door suddenly.

After a while, the drinks for the two tables of the Handicraft Club were delivered one after another.

"So--"

Ritsuko Sugiyama stood up, raised her glass, and glanced at the members sitting at the two wine tables one by one.

"Although there have been some accidents, the performance of the Handicraft Club at the cultural festival is still worthy of everyone's celebration.

As the head of the handicraft club, I am also very happy to lead everyone to continue to work hard to maintain the honor of the largest club in Tsugo.

cheers! "

"cheers--"

The muffled sound of the colliding glasses, and the drink spilled on the table, was a proof of enthusiasm.

The cold drink was refreshing, and it didn't take long for the food to arrive.

Drinking drinks and eating delicious meat skewers, the originally strange atmosphere gradually became relaxed and happy.

Amidst the chatter and laughter, it finally looked like a celebration party.

And just when Shangzi also showed a relaxed smile, Takahashi suddenly stood up.

"Cheers, Ritsuko."

Ritsuko Sugiyama was talking to a girl at another table, glanced at her, and raised her glass to lightly clink.

"By the way, the cultural festival is over, so it's time to think about the future." Takahashi said.

"This matter will be discussed at the club meeting next week."

"No, no, I'm not talking about such a specific thing."

Takahashi waved his hand again, "No, I can't say it's not specific. What I mean is, it's time to think about what will happen to us second-year old guys after we retire from the club."

"..."

Sugiyama Ritsuko stared into her eyes, trying to stop her from continuing, but it didn't work.

"For example, does Ritsuko have any plans for the next minister?"

The excitement on the wine table froze in an instant, most of the eyes focused on Ritsuko Sugiyama's face, and the other half looked at Naoko beside her.

"As I said, the candidate for the next minister will be determined by..."

"—Don't talk about those nonsense, which new minister was not appointed by the previous old minister, and then everyone swarmed to support him?"

Ritsuko Sugiyama's expression suddenly became ugly.

"I know, it's really too early to talk about it now, but let everyone know it early."

Takahashi looked at her, "Don't worry, if you say it now, Ritsuko's position will not be shaken, after all, everyone still has to listen to the current minister."

Her frankness made Sugiyama Ritsuko's expression turn colder, and she was even more reluctant to speak.

"Ah, what a hassle."

Takahashi also lowered his face, "Let me just say it, Ritsuko plans to support Toka to become the next minister, right?"

She looked at Shangzi who had been silent all this time, "Don't be nervous, I think so too."

Shangzi was silent.

"Does Ritsuko want to deny it? You gave her a clear guarantee at the time, and Qianjia heard it, right?"

"Yes." Qianjia on the boat next to her immediately responded, "Minister, I was in the toilet cubicle at that time."

"..."

Ritsuko Sugiyama took a deep breath, her face paled a lot.

More and more eyes were focused on her face, accompanied by whispers, she could no longer remain silent.

"That's right..."

She kept her calm as much as possible, "This flower is serious and reliable. After entering the third grade, I will support her to become the next head of the handicraft society, just in my own name."

Although somewhat reluctantly, this was the first time she had publicly supported Shang Zi.

With a victorious smile on Takahashi's face, he stood up again and raised his glass again.

"Did you hear that, let's drink to the next minister—"

Except for the minister and the next minister, the other members looked at each other and slowly raised their glasses.

"Also, I have one more thing to announce."

Takahashi held his wine glass and looked around, then looked at Shangzi again.

"Although this flower is reliable and reassuring, it is still a bit young after all, and occasionally makes some small mistakes inherent in young people."

She paused deliberately.

"In order to be able to provide assistance to the lovely juniors at any time, we seniors in the second grade have decided to stay in the club even after we are promoted to the third grade!"

"..."

The atmosphere froze again.

Jin Gao is a prestigious school for entering higher education. It is customary to quit the club after entering the third grade, but it is not mandatory.

That ghost-like senior, and her fellow ghosts, actually chose to stay in the club?

For a moment, Kazumi Suzuki on the other table felt her heart skip a few beats.

Just looking at Shangzi and Rina Ogawa next to her, she quickly calmed down again.

At this time, Takahashi only had Shangzi in his eyes, but the latter's expression still didn't fluctuate, which made her very uncomfortable.

She purposely reserved this "surprise" until such a time to announce it, because she wanted to see Hana Shangzi's embarrassed and flustered expression, even if it was just a little bit, it would make her feel much better.

——Why did she have to burn her own work with her own hands, and Konoka Naoko, who threatened her with that incident, was able to pass the cultural festival safely, and even become the head of Tsugako's largest club in the future, with boundless glory?
Staying in the department is only the first step of all her plans. Even if Shangzi Hana becomes the minister next year, she and a few companions will not make it easy for her as the seniors of the club.

"Please advise me more in the coming year, new minister. However, even if she becomes the minister of the handicraft society, this flower must not forget to respect her seniors..."

"—Sorry, Takahashi-senpai, I have no such plan."

Shangzi spoke suddenly, Takahashi was stunned for a few seconds, and his face suddenly changed.

"What are you talking about, you don't take seniors seriously now, do you?"

"That was not what I meant."

Shangzi shook his head, "I mean, I can't take over as the head of the handicraft society."

"what?"

Not only her, even Ritsuko Sugiyama was surprised.

"This flower, don't make such jokes. Do you want to disappoint everyone?"

Although she didn't want to lose her central position in the society too early, she never changed her plan to let Shangzi take over next year.

"Sorry, Minister..."

Shangzi has always been gentle and courteous, but now she is frowning and smiling, which can make people fully feel her embarrassment.

"Jin Gao has clear regulations on clubs: a student can join up to two clubs at the same time, but he is not allowed to be the minister of two clubs at the same time."

"Two clubs..."

Ritsuko Sugiyama frowned, "When did this flower join another club?"

"No, a new association has been established. With everyone's recommendation, I am now the minister." Shangzi said.

The others at the table looked at each other in surprise, while Takahashi was a little dumbfounded.

"What society?"

"The Restoration Department. I'm pretty good at things like repairing dolls. In order to help more people, I set up a special club with friends who have the same aspirations."

"friend……"

Sugiyama Ritsuko kept staring at her, and suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Who are the members of this flower's Restoration Department?"

Shangzi didn't look at her, took a sip of the juice, pursed his lips, put it down before saying:
"Because it was just established at noon today, there are currently only eleven official members recognized by the student union:

Rina Ogawa, Haruka Yamamoto, Kazumi Suzuki, Yuki Kadokawa, Maiko Takemoto..."

Every time she reported a name, Sugiyama Ritsuko's face became more suspicious, and she couldn't bear it before she finished reporting.

"No! You can't take them away!"

The names reported by Shangzi, without exception, are all key members of the handicraft club in various fields.

"No, the minister misunderstood."

Shangzi put down the juice, and cast a calm look at her as usual.

"We did not quit the handicraft club, but joined a new club at the same time. Next, we will continue to be active as members of the handicraft club..."

She gave a slightly apologetic smile.

"It's just that when the club is first established, the center of gravity will shift slightly to the restoration department."

"..."

Ritsuko Sugiyama still couldn't accept it, she turned her head to look at the members on the other table, and met the eyes of one of them.

"Yamamoto, are you even going to join Toka's new club?"

Haruka Yamamoto looked at her coldly, "Yes."

"why?"

"Because Takahashi is too noisy, which annoys me.

I'm too lazy to care about your disputes, but as a second-year student, I'm always surprised when I bully a first-year student. I can't stand such an environment... It's so noisy. "

Takahashi Tomoyo's face suddenly became ugly, and he stared coldly at Haruka Yamamoto, who didn't even bother to look at her.

"This flower said that her side will be quieter, and she can do her own things as before, so I agreed."

After Haruka Yamamoto said it, he ate food on his own regardless of Ritsuko Sugiyama's reaction.

"..."

Ritsuko Sugiyama was speechless for a moment, but couldn't help recalling in her mind the scene when Takahashi and the others became more and more aggressive and violent in the club recently, while the old members frowned one after another.

She suddenly thought of something, and looked at Shangzi: "A while ago, you were deliberately provoking Zhishi."

Shangzi frowned and smiled, seemingly puzzled, "What is the minister talking about?"

Ritsuko Sugiyama looked at her coldly.

"minister--"

Ogawa Rina who was on the other table suddenly greeted, "It's not very comfortable over there, you'd better come here and forget it."

Sugiyama Ritsuko glanced at the "traitor" over there expressionlessly, and ignored it, but Naoko stood up and responded.

"Minister, I'm going over there."

"..."

She finally recovered from the shock just now, and grabbed Shangzi's arm.

"This flower, if you do this, it will destroy the handicraft society, do you understand? The balance is broken!"

"minister……"

Shangzi looked down at the grasped arm, suddenly smiled, then leaned over to her ear.

"Yes, that's what I expected."

"..."

Ritsuko Sugiyama had a look of disbelief on his face.

"Kidding."

Shangzi smiled lightly, took the hand on the arm, and separated the fingers one by one.

"I believe in the minister's determination to let me take over, but I really don't have the slightest interest in the balancing game that the minister has always been passionate about.

Shouldn't the so-called community be a place where friends gather together to create happiness?
As a minister, compared to the so-called balance and the overall situation of the club, I think the personal feelings of the members are also very important.

Since the summer vacation, the things Takahashi-senpai and the others have done to me are undoubtedly bullying, right?

But the minister is always indifferent, and even a little partial to Takahashi-senpai-you always stand up when the situation is not good for her.

Is it because she is the minister's friend, or because there are more people on my side or on the right side, so it needs a 'balance'?

Although I really didn't take them seriously.

Do you want to stay in the third grade?I do not mind.

But now even my Haruhi is involved...

I don't want him to worry...I'm not a troublemaker.

If you can only choose to endure to stay in this place—”

Shangzi held the last finger and gently opened it.

"Then, as you said, destroy it."

Ritsuko Sugiyama was forced to let go and froze in mid-air, all kinds of emotions filled her chest, looking at her speechless.

And Shangzi stood up straight, held the stiff hand again, and shook it lightly twice.

"The Department of Restoration of All Things was born out of the Handicraft Club. In the future, I will also ask Sugiyama-senpai to give me a lot of advice."

After nightfall, the izakaya became more and more lively as more customers poured in.

The boys were making a fuss, and Naruse decided to go out to catch his breath, but he ran into Naoko outside.

The two smiled at each other.

"Come out and breathe."

"Me too."

As night falls, lights go up.

Naruse looked up at the night sky, and Naruse also raised his head.

"The cultural festival is over."

"Ah."

"Chunhai has been investigating for so long, have you found any clubs you plan to join?"

"At present, there is still not."

"Then...do you want to join my newly formed society?"

"Huh? When did it happen?"

"this afternoon……"

"No wonder it was late."

"Um……"

"What society?"

"The Restoration Department, the full name is the Restoration Department of Everything. Do you want to join?"

"Okay."

·
【Community Split · End】

　Recommend a Tokyo style
　　


(End of this chapter)