Chapter 96

During lunch break, I went to the student council room for sports festival business and found Senpai Tomegane, who was supposed to have retired, there.

"Senpai Tomegane!"

"Oh, Shoukai-san, it's been a while!"

Kyaa! He's still so cool!

"What brings you here today? Ah, the permission to use the schoolyard, right?"

"Yes! What about you, Senpai?"

"Hmm? I'm here to help. The new system is still in its early stages, you know."

"Is that so?"

For a while, I'll take on all the student council business.

"Shoukai-san, which events are you participating in for the sports festival?"

"I always do the ring toss. And I'll also do the three-legged race."

"Got it, be careful not to get hurt."

"Yes! What about you, Senpai Tomegane?"

"Me? I'm doing the horseback battle."

Horseback battle!

That's right! Senpai Tomegane is the one who almost caught up to the legendary horseback battle fool! Thanks to that match, the emperor even learned military tactics the next year.

If Senpai Tomegane participates, the emperor will probably regret his retirement declaration.

"I'll cheer for you!"

"That's great, but shouldn't you cheer for your own class?"

"It's fine, it's fine. For your victory, I'll betray my class in my heart as many times as I need to."

"It's okay. So, Senpai Tomegane, you have to win for sure!"

I clenched my fist tightly.

"Alright! If Shoukai-san is cheering for me, I'll try my best. Oh, by the way, you're participating too, right? In the horseback battle."

Senpai Tomegane called out to someone behind me.

I turned around and saw my classmate, Mizusaki.

"Ah, Mizusaki... Mizusaki-kun"

Phew! Nice save, me!

I almost called him by the nickname I use in my head. If I called him "atama-uma" (lit. head horse) in front of him, he'd kill me. I have to be careful...

Mizusaki looked at me suspiciously.

"What was that just now?"

"Eh? What do you mean?"

Ah, I inadvertently looked up to the right.

Mizusaki looked even more suspicious. This is bad...

"Tomegane, you're participating in the horseback battle too, right?"

Senpai Tomegane redirected Mizusaki's attention to himself. Phew.

"Ah, yes, I am."

Ah, I see.

"In my class, Mizusaki-kun is rumored to be a strong opponent."

"Really? Tomegane is strong. I'll have to step up my game."

"Senpai Tomegane, fight!"

"Ooh!"

Mizusaki looked confused by our enthusiasm. Then, he showed Senpai Tomegane a piece of paper.

"Sorry to interrupt, but Senpai Tomegane, we need to discuss the sports festival schedule."

"Hmm? What is it?"

Senpai Tomegane was taken away by Mizusaki. But it can't be helped. Mizusaki's talk is more important.

Then, they started discussing the greetings for the guests, so I decided to leave to avoid further interruption.

"Well, I'll take my leave, Senpai Tomegane. And Mizusaki-kun too."

"Take your leave...?"

"Ahaha, good work."

I was sent off with Senpai Tomegane's smile and left the student council room in high spirits.

Thinking of "atama-uma" riding a horse, I giggled. So many horses. Three horses make a "pi" (驫).

Singing "Atama-uma, Tomegane~" in my head, I returned to the classroom to find my classmates, centered around Saho-kun, in a commotion.

"Saho-kun, what's going on?"

"Ah, Shoukai-san. Actually..."

According to Saho-kun, one of the girls who was supposed to participate in the costume relay sprained her ankle during lunch break and suddenly couldn't participate. She is currently in the infirmary.

In our class, we were planning to dress up as Cinderella, with the robust Iwamuro-kun from the judo club playing Cinderella.

The girl who sprained her ankle was supposed to dress up as a mouse and run with a pumpkin.

"What about a replacement?"

"Is there any girl who can participate?"

Some girls haven't returned to the classroom yet, and the ones here don't seem to want to participate. I mean, it's the mouse role.

Hmm, a costume...

I raised my hand.

"If it's okay, I'll take her place."

"Eh, Shoukai-san?!"

"Rika-sama?!"

My classmates looked at me in surprise.

"Yes. I'm already signed up for the ring toss, but I think I can still participate even with a sprain. So, how about we switch events? Of course, I can still do the ring toss if you prefer."

"Shoukai-san, are you sure?"

Saho-kun asked hesitantly. The costume relay is a quirky event, and I guess no one expected me to participate. I wouldn't have volunteered either if not for this unexpected turn of events.

"It's fine. I'm not the fastest runner, but I can manage."

I nodded. Saho-kun smiled when he heard my answer.

"Then, Shoukai-san will be the replacement."

Just as things were settling down, my group of friends started voicing their discontent.

"It's not right for Rika-sama to dress up as a mouse."

"Exactly, it's not fitting for Rika-sama to be a mouse!"

The atmosphere became tense again. Other girls also started saying it was too much.

But I don't really mind. And the original mouse role was assigned to someone else.

Even as I tried to calm them down, they wouldn't budge, saying, "Rika-sama in a mouse costume!"

Then, one of the boys suggested, "How about Shoukai-san plays Cinderella?"

The classmates quickly agreed.

"Shoukai-san would be perfect as a princess."

"We were going to make the bulky Iwamuro dress up for laughs, but a proper Cinderella is fine too."

My group of friends also seemed to agree with "Cinderella," and before I knew it, I was changed from the mouse to Cinderella.

I'm Cinderella. But...

"Iwamuro! You're lucky you don't have to dress up as Cinderella!"

"You were saying you didn't want to do it anyway!"

Iwamuro-kun, who was supposed to dress up as Cinderella, was being patted on the back by his friends. Iwamuro-kun also said, "Yeah, I'm relieved."

...But I know. After deciding to make the bulky Iwamuro-kun dress up as Cinderella for fun, I sometimes saw him trying on the dress and looking a bit happy.

He might be quite disappointed inside. He looks a bit dejected even now.

"Wait a minute. I'm fine with being the mouse."

Everyone looked surprised.

"The Cinderella costume was made to fit Iwamuro-kun, and it wouldn't fit me. Besides, Cinderella is the anchor, and it's too much for me."

"But Rika-sama..."

"Instead, can I wear a gray dress with mouse ears, mouse-shaped slippers, and gloves?"

I was fine with the costume, but my surroundings didn't seem to agree, so I suggested a compromise. I think it would look quite cute.

"Rika-sama, are you sure that's okay?"

"Yes. Running in a dress with the hem altered would be dangerous. Besides, I was looking forward to seeing Iwamuro-kun in drag!"

My classmates laughed at my words.

"Iwamuro! You can't run away now that Shoukai-san has requested it!"

"Good luck, drag Cinderella!"

Iwamuro-kun said, "Oh well," but he looked happy. He really wanted to wear the Cinderella dress.

I'll give him an unused makeup palette from home tomorrow.

I think he'll be even happier if he does his makeup too. He might not be able to come back from the forbidden world, though.

The next day, when I brought the makeup palette, Iwamuro-kun said, "Eh?!" but didn't resist much. Just painting his cheeks pink and putting on lipstick, he was very pleased looking at himself in the mirror.

I secretly gave him a high-end sheet mask to use the night before the sports festival. It makes the skin smooth. Iwamuro-kun, with tears in his eyes, said, "I'll follow Shoukai-san." I'll pass on that.

I've been targeted by a bulky guy with a drag queen habit...