Stand by “ME”¹

Huh…?

He…failed?

……

……

…Wha…

Wait, I failed?

I’m the only one who failed?

…Wooow.

Mr. Karigane, I have an objection.

Muneuji…

I applied Isotake’s actions to each of the categories you mentioned, and I came to a different conclusion.

Oh? Peer assessment, I see. Quite impudent, but I shall amuse you. What is the conclusion you came to?

I never truly wanted to become a ward mayor or to go on a study trip…

But I ended up participating after being affected by Isotake’s enthusiasm. While I did regret that decision a few times…

I carried out all of the tasks I was entrusted with, and even went beyond that.

I fulfilled my role with passion. I haven’t had so much fun in a very long time.

Even the weird faces he showed me on the nights where I couldn’t sleep were funny.

Mr. Saku-chan, can I say something too?

…For a while now, I’ve felt sick of being around people. I didn’t really care what happened to me.

But… I look at Akuta, and he’s so dumb and reckless and stupid…

That it made me realize that everything I was worrying about didn’t really matter. That I looked dumb trying to act like I didn’t care.

That it’s okay to mess up, and that I shouldn’t give up on getting close to people.

After I saw him putting natto on top of an omurice he got from the convenience store, it made me realize that it’s okay to eat it like that…!

Natto-omu’s good…

He made me realize all of that. So I think I disagree with you, Mr. Saku-chan.

I…

…Isotake…accepted my…weird taste in art… He didn’t…hate me…for it…

And…I didn’t finish my lantern, but…unlike me…Isotake…

…Never…gave up…!

He was really determined…make the festival a success…and he…cleared his own path…to do it…

He wore…the same shirt…for three…days…

I didn’t bring enough clothes…

…I couldn’t do…any of…that…

I see you all have much to say. I understand.

Kurama-kun, do you have any remarks?

……

……

Dunno. I can’t really think of anything, to be honest.

No waaaay…

He’s full of ego, full of stupidity, and completely lame.

He’s dumb, and I never understand what he’s saying. He never thinks before he does anything…

But I guess it’s not bad to let a little kid do his thing.

…Is that a compliment?

From the bottom of my heart.

Will that be all?

……

Is there anything else you would like to say?

Yes… But we’re still processing the calculations.

Uhh… There’s uh, that one thing… Y’know…

……

Nope, we got nothing.

I can’t think of anything. Let’s stop.

Ahh… Okay!

If you can’t think of anything, then it’s whatever.

Thanks for everything you said! I love you guys… You too, Teach.

I’m gonna go.

W-Wait! Akuta-kun!

Hah… Hahahahaha…

Sakujiro-san?

HAAAAHAHAHA! HOHOHOHAHAHAHAAAAAH!

Haha…

Wh… Huh? What’s up…? Did I pick the wrong time to leave…?

Mr. Karigane, have you gone mad?

(There goes Sakujiro-san’s true nature… He told me before that he tries to act normal while he’s at school.)

EXAAAAAACTLY! It is much too soon for you to leave, Akuta-kun! Sit down! Or a piece of chalk will hit you directly in between your eyebrows!

Woahwoahwoahwoah, o-o-okay!

AHEM! Listen well, everyone.

I have a purpose in life, but I would not say I have a dream.

I do not have the shining hopes and dreams, nor the passion that you young gentlemen possess.

This was true when I was your age. It was true before, as well as after. It shall be true forever.

However…

The moment I heard Akuta-kun’s frank, honest, and 100% egotistical announcement at the festival grounds…

Something traveled throughout my body with a shock.

I learned that I could feel the passion of others, something I was sure could never naturally arise from within myself.

In other words, my heart was touched. That is how I would describe that phenomenon.

The primary duty of a ward mayor is to connect others to a region with which they have no connections to.

By conveying your passion to your guests, you can turn an unfamiliar land into a familiar one for them. Your greatest goal is to allow them to experience that moment.

I have prepared a new grading category.

“Preacher of passion”!

Isotake Akuta, I shall award you with 10,000 points in that category, and endorse you to become the Noon Team leader.

What do you think, Young Master Kafka?

……

……

Approved.

*gasp*

…For real?

……

Le⁠—

LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

My house is this way, so…

Alright.

……

Are you gonna go?

I kinda don’t wanna. This feels weird!

…That’s…new…

……

Now that we’ve all passed… I kinda feel like we did something bad to the egg.

……

Cheer up, dude! Maybe it’s havin’ fun living with a hot lady in the ocean!

Y-Yeah! The shell was pretty tough! So it’s probably fine.

…Mm…

Well, Muu-chan and I are gonna go. Seeya.

Wait.

Hm?

I have something I want to say.

Ooh, what is it? You went all serious all of a sudden.

I was reminded of this after hearing Oguro-san’s explanation. That night at the old school building…

I saw the principal.

What?

Really? Why was he there?

I’m not sure. I initially thought he was just on night guard duty.

But authorities reported that there were no casualties. At the time, I thought he had just escaped like we did.

Because at the end-of-term ceremony after that night, he was there to speak as usual. But I want you all to recall…

He had his camera off that day. He only spoke to us through a voice call.

…You’re…right…

Does that mean he’s connected to the egg somehow?

Yes. He must also be connected to the mysterious slime we found and Ono’s disappearance.

Hmmm… Ono-kun, huh…? They haven’t found him yet, right?

Ahh, if I got some good footage of that night, it could’ve been used as evidence.

…Ma… Maybe you…confused something else…as the principal…

Muu-chan has good eyesight, even in the dark. And he never lies.

But why would the principal go out of his way to bring that alien egg and the slimy stuff to the old school building?

……

You have a point. Maybe I’m being overly suspicious.

But I thought it’d be best if you all knew… Please keep it in mind.

Got it. Thanks for telling us.

…anks…

Alrighty! Now that that’s over!

We can’t just keep standin’ around here. I’m hungry, so let’s all head home!

Yep. See you guys tomorrow.

…Bye…bye…

I’ll see you all tomorrow.

Let’s go, Muu-chan.