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Title: The Fashion Show’s Opening
With my armband removed, I was free to wander about.
The first thing I did was buy some tomato juice. When I arrived at the only vending machine that sold tomato juice, I bought two bottles immediately. One for my pocket and one to drink. This is the best.
“Suisui-kun!”
The owner of the cheerful voice was Aki-senpai.
“It’s been a while, Aki-senpai. We often run into each other at vending machines, don’t we?”
“Indeed. You’re drinking tomato juice again, aren’t you? Are you trying to be Dracula or something?”
“I’ve never been a chuunibyou, so you don’t need to worry. My sister just brainwashed me into this. Ah, it’s delicious.”
“You’ll get sick if you keep guzzling it down like that.”
“I’ll drink in moderation.”
“What are you going to do right now, Sui-kun?”
“I’m going to see Arina’s fashion show.”
“Huh?! Fashion show?!”
“Yep, that’s right. That Arina. Isn’t it interesting?”
“That quiet Arina-chan…”
I decided to confirm a growing discomfort that I’ve been feeling for a while.
“What was Arina like in middle school?”
“Hm, she was a sweet, cute girl who smiled often.”
“I see.”
“So like an angel?”
“Right, right! Angel!”[1]
After all, Aki-senpai didn’t know the current Arina. Just as I predicted, when Arina was in her third year of junior high, another Arina was born. Something must have happened in that one year.
I don’t think I could solve the mystery of Arina even if I asked Aki-senpai.
And I was convinced Aki-senpai hadn’t even had a single conversation with Arina yet.
“I’m heading to the fashion show right now, would you like to come along?”
“I’m free, so I’ll go!”
Let’s have her meet Aki-senpai.
Like the meeting of Taku, she’ll probably be wary. She might be venomous or she might just ignore her. Since she’s a senior, there wouldn’t be a storm of abuse, but Aki-senpai might be confused. She’s about to meet Arina, after all, who’s a completely different person now.
“Let’s go then. The show is about to start.”
“Okay~”
Aki-senpai and Arina were about to meet for the first time in two and a half years.
I’m sure they’ve seen each other before, but they’ve never spoken to one another. Wonder what kind of reaction Arina will have.
There was a line of people in class 2-3 waiting for the fashion show. It was a rare event for the festival, so it must have attracted loads of attention. And the fact that Arina was among the performers was a big influence.
Hiwa Arina is a troublesome girl, but she’s popular among the boys. If they heard she was gonna be in the fashion show, of course they would go. Hence why there were more men than women in the line. In Sakaki Sui’s vision, the words “ulterior motive” were reflected on the foreheads of the men. You could see their psychology as if you could pick it up.
On the other hand, the girls looked down on the men. They glared at those filthy beasts.
“It’s pretty popular.”
“Yeah. Arina’s gonna be there, after all.”
The boys reacted to my words and stared at me. I felt tremendous killing intent.
“H-h-h-hey, Sui-kun, they’re staring at you!”
“I might die. I forgot to write my will.”
Perhaps the criticism of me being too close to Arina peaked here. I didn’t know, but it felt like I understood how a zebra feels when being chased by a lion. I sneaked to the back of the line and waited for a while. Not long after, the door opened and the show began. When we passed through the door, the windows were closed with blackout curtains and half the classroom was hidden by a partition. From the partition, a path for the performers stretched out to the audience, and we were seated on chairs arranged in a U-shape around the path.
When we entered, we were handed a questionnaire that asked us to choose three people we thought we great. Five minutes after the fashion show, the results would be released and the top three would be announced. There were about twenty people in the show, and some of them were from other classes. As soon as they appeared on stage, a staff member would hold up a board with a number on it. That number indicated the number of the performer, and that’s what you would write on the questionnaire.
“It’s got the atmosphere.”
“Right. It’s pretty interesting to think that there are about twenty people behind that partition.”
“I-I guess so.”
What are you talking about?
｢Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today! The show will begin shortly!｣
The music began to play as the emcee’s voice gave the cue.
The lights illuminated the aisle and the red carpet appeared.
Aki-senpai and I sat together at the end of the aisle. It’s a spot where the performers would come as close as possible to us. So Arina would be surprised. I said I wouldn’t come, but now I’m showing up at the last minute. She’s probably gonna punch me in the face afterward, but it’s fine.
The first one appeared.
They were amazing. She wore a big hat and sunglasses and was dressed in a geometric pattern of purple, black, and white. As an amateur, all I could think of was how it emphasized her body line. And the high heels. It was too much for only the first person.
“I’m surprised it’s more authentic than I imagined…”
“Me too…”
The second model appeared, wearing a robe that looked like a peacock feather pattern and had what seemed like a chicken’s comb on her head. I didn’t know anymore. To be honest, it was no different from our cafe.
The third dressed in a swimsuit with a hagoromo hanging from their shoulder. Way too extreme. That’s the kind of thing I should be cracking down on. Unfortunately, I don’t have the power anymore since I took off my armband. It was great. Thank you.
Thinking about it calmly, this is what a fashion show is all about. It’s probably because I’m an amateur. I guess this is normal. It’s normal, right? Aki-senpai, this is normal, right?
“Erotic.”
Ah, Aki-senpai, who spoke for me, was amazing.
The fourth, fifth, and so on came on stage. Some had bizarre fashion. I wrote down the numbers of the ones I thought were good.
As I watched, I started wondering where they got all of these costumes. Was this a high school for moneybags? I’ll have to ask Arina about it later. And then the sixteenth came. Arina appeared. As soon as she came on, the audience erupted.
Beautiful.
She wore a lustrous fiery red dress. The frills at her feet were so fine they were reminiscent of roses in full bloom, and they swayed gently as if caught in a breeze.
She was curvy and there was an emphasis on her neckline. I thought her open chest was foul. Her wavy hair shone like a jewel in the light, beautifully illuminating Arina’s face. Except for Tsuru’s noisy voice, which yelled out, “Beautiful! Beautiful!”, the stage was was dominated by Arina. That’s how overwhelming her beauty was.
This is a win. I wrote down #16 in first place. Sorry, people after 17, Arina won.
As Arina came closer to us, Aki-senpai said, “Wow, you’re like a jewel!” while hitting me in the side. Oh, something’s broken.
Then, when I reached my limit, I let out a “Yo.” in a small voice. I’m here.
Arina reacted by glancing at me. Her smiling face momentarily switched back to her default expression full of bloodlust, and then back again. That’s when I knew I was gonna die.
When Arina was about to turn around, Aki-senpai squealed and waved her hand in front of her. Arina froze when she saw that.
Something strange happened.
My eyes fluttered, and I stared at Aki-senpai. She tilts her head.
How strange.
She doesn’t start walking.
The seventeenth person also stopped to look at Arina, who hadn’t come back.
Arina suddenly opened her mouth.
“Aki-senpai?! I’ve missed you so much! I’m so happy!”
Disregarding the show, Arina was filled with smiles.
Her reaction was so out of place. How strange. Her voice, expressions, and gestures didn’t match with the usual Arina. Right now, she was just a beauty.
The crowd around me was also thrown into an uproar. The venomous tongued queen was expressing her joy and was filled with energy. Everyone’s eyebrows were raised as if something supernatural just took place.
“Eh, where?”
Arina let out a murmur.
She looked around and moved her head in circles, checking her situation.
Did her personality switch? That’s the only thing I could think of. She’s never acted like this. She would never put her hand to her chest anxiously and look like she was about to cry.
Eventually, the seventeenth girl beckoned to her, “Arina-san, come here!”, and Arina hurriedly disappeared.
“What’s wrong with Arina-chan?”
“That’s what I’m wondering.”
This was bad.
Arina told me about her memory wasn’t shared, so I knew her situation like the back of my hand. It was like replaying a movie you’ve never seen, starting from the middle. Right now Arina didn’t know where she is or what she’s doing. She must have been worried that she might be causing trouble.
Maybe she was even doubting her own age. She may be thinking she’s already graduated from high school and is performing in a show somewhere. I didn’t know if she understood that sense of time, but it was a possibility.
I can’t help it.
But what could I do about it?
Wait, does that mean Arina’s memory was connected to that infirmary now? Maybe she felt like she’s gone back in time from the infirmary to the show. If so, would she be able to sort something out if I went there?
“Oh.”
I remembered.
I had learned that Arina was absent from school for two days the other day.
Aki-senpai was the trigger.
The photo I showed her at the warehouse that day had Aki-senpai in it. As soon as Arina saw that photo, she felt sick and took a day off. She also said she didn’t remember the last two days. So that’s what it is. That’s what it means to have no memory.
Then, if that’s the case, my appearance might confuse her. No, I’m not sure about that. But I’m sure she’ll remember me. Would she feel more comfortable if she had an acquaintance? I’m sure she’s fumbling around behind the partition. What do I do? Shit.
“Arina was really beautiful!”
I want to agree with you, but! Damnit. I want to share my heartaches with Aki-senpai. Please help me.
And then, my eyes looked up.
Entry number nineteen.
Akakusa-sensei was on stage.
Whoa! Why was Akakusa-sensei here?
Wait, Akakusa-sensei, why are you dressed as a nurse!? This isn’t a cosplay venue! But everyone’s doing cosplay-like things, but that’s more like fashion. Hmmm, guess not.
It looks good on you, though! It looks really good on you, sensei!
I crossed out the 16 and replaced it with a 19.
Arina, you’re number two.
Notes:
[1] It’s worth pointing out Aki uses tenshi (天使) and Sui says enjeru (エンジェル)