Chapter 40

As autumn deepened, the selection of photos for the graduation album began.

I am not a member of the graduation album committee, but I tried to help the committee members as much as possible.

I think it will be fine, but if by any chance there were photos of the ugly incident with the deer, it would be a lifelong embarrassment.

So far, there are no strange photos of me, but I can't let my guard down.

The photos to be included in the graduation album are selected from those taken by the school's dedicated photographer during events and from those submitted by the committee members and students.

As expected, there is a bias in the students featured in the photos.

Most of the photos submitted by the students are mainly of Ayame and Yuzuki, with the submitters themselves in the photos. They seem to want them as mementos.

If we included all of them, it would just become a photo album of the two of them, so most of them are not selected.

There are many photos of prominent students, but photos of quiet and unassuming students are often overlooked, so I check them carefully.

If a student finds that there is not a single photo of themselves in the graduation album, they would be hurt. The parents who were looking forward to it would also be sad.

Therefore, I carefully compare the student list with the photos.

"Thank you so much for helping, Reika-sama."

This was said with a smile by Honda Miharu, a classmate.

We are not in the same group, but she is a serious student who was the vice-class representative last year.

"Checking that all students are included in the photos, other than group photos, is quite a task."

"Yes, it's easy to overlook them."

Quiet students don't usually submit photos of themselves, so there are times when there are none at all.

In such cases, the committee members take photos of lunch scenes and the like. Preferably, photos of them having fun with their friends.

The teacher in charge of the graduation album is also checking, so I think it will be fine.

While I'm helping, I also select photos of myself that make me look cute.

Since I'm helping, I think it's okay to do this much.

"This is a photo of Petit Pivoine, right?"

The photo shown to me was taken by a photographer who came to the salon recently.

Every year, Pivoine has a separate section in the graduation album for a group photo. As a representative of the school, after all.

The photo is centered on the emperor sitting in the middle of the sofa, with Yuzuki next to him, and the other members surrounding them. Red peonies, the symbol of the club, are placed on both sides.

However, the problem is that I am sitting next to the emperor.

There must be other students who want to sit next to the emperor, so why me?

But when I was pushed by the others to sit there, I couldn't refuse.

If I had shown obvious reluctance, I might have displeased the emperor.

I thought at least sitting next to Yuzuki would be better, but she rejected me with a smile. ...How cruel.

As a result, I was repeatedly told by the photographer that my smile was stiff, and I was scolded by the person next to me. It was a miserable experience.

This is the photo of that fateful moment.

"This is Pivoine's salon. It's beautiful. I envy it..."

The committee members gazed at the photo with admiration.

Yes, it is an unnecessarily luxurious room. The "majestic" peonies add to the splendor.

Even in the prestigious Ruiran school building, Pivoine is in a class of its own. Regular students are not allowed to enter.

Inside, we just eat sweets and drink tea, doing nothing much. Well, maybe that's just me?

"Let's decide on the other photos quickly."

I called out to the committee members who were getting off track and resumed the work.

Oh, it's a photo of Aizawa-kun during the relay race. I wonder if Fukuhara-san has this photo. She might ask to get it.

The photo of Tachibana during the horseback battle will definitely be included. If it wasn't, there would be a lot of complaints.

At this year's sports festival, the horseback battle was dominated by the emperor and his horse. They apparently practiced a lot in secret. Despite his cool demeanor, he is quite a sore loser.

The emperor, who has shown exceptional strength for two consecutive years, has become a legend. Hehe.

Selecting a large number of photos is a lot of work, but it's quite interesting to see unexpected sides of students I don't usually interact with.

Since the photos are from when we were in the first year, some students look completely different now. Six years is enough to change a child dramatically.

I have been a fake Rococo since the first year. I really want to change my image...

Recently, I have often caught the committee leader's eye.

When our eyes meet, he quickly looks away.

I thought about asking if he had something to say, but he just blushed and avoided the question.

Our eyes met again during lunch today.

I wonder what it's about.

"Reika-sama, is something wrong?"

I was asked by Honda, who was looking at the photos with me.

"No, nothing is wrong."

I replied with a smile.

Maybe it's just my imagination.

"...I never thought I would have a chance to talk to Reika-sama like this, so I'm really happy."

Honda smiled shyly.

Aww, so cute!

Honda is a serious student who was the class representative, and we didn't talk much outside of official matters.

But this girl has a charm similar to Aoi.

She must be a good person. I want to be friends with her.

"I'm also happy to be friends with Miharu-san."

Since the school trip, I have been enjoying the strategy of pushing for more friends. It's a win-win situation.

I'm a bit nervous, though, thinking that someone might say, "I don't really consider you a friend, but you're being pushy" behind my back.

"Friend? Oh, I'm happy too!"

Hehe, another friend gained.

As graduation approaches, the traditional autograph books start circulating.

I remember them from my previous life. They are nostalgic.

I was lazy in my previous life, so I was enthusiastic at first but then just wrote casually.

It's actually quite difficult to come up with something to write. The variety is as limited as New Year's cards.

Trying to write something unique and stylish can lead to embarrassing black history when you grow up.

I remember writing some messages that make me want to bang my head against the wall just thinking about them.

Strange poems and such...

Ah! If I had the superpower to burn the autograph book with my thoughts!

Requests to sign autograph books also come to me.

Although almost everyone at Ruiran continues to the middle school, I still receive requests for autograph books. It's a bit of a hassle, but it would be even more painful if no one asked me, so I accept with a smile.

I use pretty stickers and colored pens to make up for it.

"Reika-sama, can you sign my autograph book?"

I was also asked by Honda Miharu. As friends, I of course accepted, and she signed my autograph book as well.

Incidentally, my autograph book is from a European royal stationery manufacturer, prepared by my mother. A character-themed one would have been fine...

The two famous students have a long line of people asking for autographs.

The students around me are also eager to get their autographs.

Since Tachibana has been more considerate since being scolded by Yurie-sama, he seems to write in the autograph books, albeit reluctantly. But only his name. It's literally a signature.

Some people even ask, "Please write my name, too!" as if they were celebrities.

I saw the autograph book of someone who got his signature, and it only had "Tachibana Masaya" written in the middle of the page.

Incidentally, the person also got their name written. The handwriting was, as expected, very good.

Yuzuki writes "Congratulations on your graduation" along with her name.

Well, both are the same.

As someone who struggles to come up with messages, I am a bit envious of their straightforwardness.

While thinking about these things, I was walking alone down the corridor after school to go to Pivoine's salon when I was called by the committee leader, who looked tense.