A few days after summer vacation, the students of Raizen High School gathered in the school gymnasium.
The reason for their gathering was to elect the executive committee members for the upcoming Tianyang Festival. This was a cultural festival co-hosted by ten academies in Amamiya City, a very lively event.
However... while the festival was lively, the hard work required was unimaginable. Even the Raizen High School Student Council members couldn't cope, even resorting to using stimulants (stomach medicine?).
Therefore, with the Student Council members unable to manage, someone had to be chosen to take on a Student Council role, specifically as an executive committee member.
No one wanted to be that fool. They only wanted to happily experience the joyous festival, not take on the complicated tasks.
Even though the Student Council members had completed most of the work, no one was willing to step forward. Everyone avoided the gaze of the executive committee members on stage, either looking up at the sky or down at their hands.
The entire gymnasium fell into a deathly silence, which greatly angered the Student Council members on stage.
"President Kirisaki!!!"
"What is it, Boy Denmachi?"
Just then, Hiroto Denmachi suddenly raised his hand, drawing the gymnasium's attention.
Of course, he didn't want to be the fool. As everyone looked at him, Hiroto Denmachi pointed at Shiori, who was not far away.
"I recommend Itsuka Shido to be the executive committee member for the Tianyang Festival!"
"Nani!?"
Shiori, who hadn't expected the plot to unfold this way, was stunned. What was going on with this guy?
As soon as Hiroto Denmachi finished speaking, the other Boys seemed to remember this person who usually made their teeth ache.
During class, she was always surrounded by beautiful girls, and even the yamai sisters, who had recently transferred, often accompanied her. This person was truly enviable!
Well, Shiori was still posing as a Boy at school. It's unclear why she insisted on maintaining her Boy identity at this point; was it even interesting?
Fueled by inner jealousy, everyone started egging on Shiori to become the executive committee member this time, and even the girls joined in the commotion mid-way.
Shiori was utterly unable to stop their actions. She could only listen blankly to the surrounding voices, turning her gaze towards the Student Council President on stage.
"Alright, everyone, please quiet down. I've heard your voices."
Once everyone quieted down, the Student Council President looked at Shiori. Although she wasn't sure what had happened, Shiori's reputation at school was indeed not good, otherwise, so many people wouldn't be pushing her for this job.
However... it was difficult to decline, given how democratic the Student Council was.
"In that case, I announce that Itsuka Shido from Class 2-4 will serve as the executive committee member for the Tianyang Festival."
The Student Council President's voice erupted in enthusiastic cheers from the Boys, as if their plot had succeeded. (fuhai: ヾ(@^▽^@)ノ That's the expression.)
Illya watched the cheering Boys and the helpless-looking Shiori. Her burgundy eyes shifted, and just as President Kirisaki was about to speak, she suddenly raised her right hand.
"President Kirisaki! I have something to say!"
Illya's statement made President Kirisaki pause her actions and wave, signaling Illya to speak.
The Boys watched Illya stand up, a growing sense of unease in their hearts, a bad thought lingering.
'No way...'
The Boys recalled Illya's interactions with Shiori in the classroom, thinking with some apprehension.
"I think the Tianyang Festival work might be too much for one person. Shido might not be able to handle it all. So, I hope to become an executive committee member with him, is that okay?"
Logically, only one executive committee member for the Tianyang Festival was needed. Although the workload wasn't a huge problem for one person, as most of it had been completed by the Student Council members.
However, considering Shiori's identity as a girl, Illya couldn't help but want to serve as an executive committee member with her. It wasn't because it seemed fun, but for other reasons.
...It's not impossible. If you're willing, having you both help is not out of the question."
Although President Kirisaki didn't understand what Illya wanted to do, she still granted Illya's request.
At these words, all the Boys became restless. They had originally thought they would assign the heaviest work to this annoying person, but now it had turned out like this!
Who knew what would happen when they worked together? This kind of one-on-one opportunity was a chance to build rapport!
To some extent, these Boys had delivered a huge assist!
Thinking that they were responsible for this, they all felt like reloading their save, but they weren't 486; how could they have such a reload ability?
And so, Illya and Shiori became executive committee members, preparing for the Tianyang Festival work.
"Waaah~ Didn't they say the workload wasn't heavy? Why do I feel like I'm about to die from exhaustion?"
Putting down the box in her hands, Shiori rubbed her aching back, pouting unhappily.
"Perhaps the Boys in the Student Council increased our tasks after learning that you and I would be executive committee members together."
Illya placed several times more boxes than Shiori on the ground, looking at Shiori without any strain, a smile like an angel on her face.
"According to their expectations, Shido, as a Boy, should bear most of the work, and I, as a girl, should just direct you from behind."
"...I'm sorry, but I'm also a girl. I want to be treated like a girl too."
Shiori said with a bitter smile. She also wanted to be treated like a girl. Why were those guys always like this? If they had time to get revenge on her here, why didn't they go and build relationships with girls?
No wonder some Boys hadn't even touched a girl's hand; they deserved to be unwanted.
"I'm sorry, Illya. You're doing all this heavy lifting."
"Don't worry about it. I intended to come and help you anyway. You know, the Shido everyone sees is a girl, so I can't let you do all the heavy work."
Saying that, Illya rubbed Shiori's legs through her clothes, easing the pain.
"Honestly, it's not me criticizing you, but don't you already have the Spirit Power of Tohka, Kotori, and Mio Takamiya? Why don't you use that Spirit Power to strengthen yourself?"
If Shiori used Spirit Power to strengthen her body, these things would be nothing to her; even with slender arms and legs, she could punch down a group of adults.
"Oh, that… I actually think I'm quite good as I am now. I want to live as a human and be with Mio and the others."
"Is that so… you want to live as a normal person…? Not a bad idea, that's quite good."
She smiled, seemingly having thought of something, and skipped the topic, with the two continuing to busy themselves.
Since each class had to host a theme, their job was to inspect the situation of each class and find out if there were any programs unsuitable for the Tianyang Festival.
Fortunately, every class was well-behaved and had no intention of causing a big commotion, which made Shiori breathe a sigh of relief, sighing that the students in this school were quite reliable.
Haunted houses, Maid Coffee Shops, art exhibitions, and various other themes were all present. Each class was busy decorating their booths, and they only gave Illya and Shiori a simple greeting before continuing with their own work.
The two worked until the sun had completely set before returning home; Shiori and Illya both returned home later than usual.
After leaving school, Illya found an unnoticed corner and transformed back into Inaba Tsukiyo, then came to Shiori's side.
"Hmm~ Is this a cultural festival? Hmm~ Hmm~ It's a very novel feeling. It seems the upcoming Tianyang Festival will be very lively."
"Tsukiyo-chan, you seem to really like this kind of festival. Do you like crowded places?"
"Like? No, in the past, I always lived by avoiding densely populated areas. I'm just very interested in the affairs of you young people."
"'Young people'… it sounds really awkward coming from Tsukiyo-chan."
She looked younger than her, but her age was already considered that of an ancestor.
So, when interacting with Inaba Tsukiyo, Shiori would habitually ignore Inaba Tsukiyo's true age.
"Hmm? Hehe~ Are you saying I'm very young? You've really been saying more and more pleasant things recently, Shiori. It seems your Strategy (strategy) skills are unconsciously improving."
"...I'll take those words as a compliment from you. Um… Tsukiyo-chan, is the reason you're interested in the Tianyang Festival because you've never experienced such a festival before?"
Shiori asked with some curiosity. Although she felt she understood Inaba Tsukiyo very well, there were still many sensitive areas she didn't know much about.
"No, although I haven't not been in a school, those places were all very strange."
Thinking carefully, Kyonohoka Academy and Fujimi Academy were places where zombies gathered. Only St. Freya Academy and St. Margaret's Academy could be considered normal; the others were not normal places.
Even during her student days before she became Inaba Tsukiyo, she had never experienced such an event where the entire region celebrated, so she was very curious about how lively this event would ultimately be.
Looking at Inaba Tsukiyo, who was acting like a child, Shiori smiled slightly.
All along, Inaba Tsukiyo had been like a little adult. Although she liked to cause her trouble in some areas, Shiori knew very well that Inaba Tsukiyo was looking after her.
"How about we go out and play during the Tianyang Festival? Tsukiyo-chan? Not as Illya, but as Tsukiyo-chan? What do you think?"
"Hmm? What? Have you fallen in love with going on dates with me? Shiori. If you do this, Tohka and the others will get jealous."
Inaba Tsukiyo couldn't help but laugh. She knew why Shiori suddenly invited her. Although she appreciated Shiori's thoughtfulness, she didn't want to go with Shiori on that day.
Moreover, they had an operation planned for this Tianyang Festival, and they couldn't let Shiori ruin such a fun operation.
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