CH 85

Even though it’s a new semester, it’s still the same as before the vacation.

Go to class, hang out with Keito after school, return to my room, sleep. On days off, I enjoy an elegant time with my friends.

In general, it’s a peaceful, normal school life.

But, I understood.

Peaceful and normal days are a forewarning of trouble to come.

×　×　×　×

During the day it was hot but the windy nights indicated that fall was coming soon.

The change in the atmosphere around the school should have nothing to do with the change of season. But, in these times, maybe there is some effect.

Speaking of autumn, it’s usually the time for a school festival.

But, the scale of the richest school in this world…

“…. Oz Festival?”

“Maria-chan, you’ve never gone to it before?” Primella asked.

“Eh… non-students can go?”

“Of course, it’s quite a big festival after all.”

Avantor Academy’s school festival is, well… This school has already far surpassed my expectations and imagination. I won’t be surprised any longer. I’d be more surprised if the festival was within my expectations.

Although it is Avantor Academy’s school festival, it’s called the Oz Festival. You can imagine why, right? Although it’s supposed to connect the town and the academy, honestly, I think it’s for a different reason.

First of all, the academy isn’t open to all. Or should I say, entering the school is not allowed.

By using Oz Town, which is technically academy property, as the main stage, different classes, clubs, and friends can run different programs. However, students don’t work as staff, they only plan. The academy demands students not to actively participate, but to show leadership.

The festival lasts for four days. The first day, we perform various entertainments like plays or music in the school auditorium. On the second and third day, we sell goods in Oz Town. Finally, on the last day, various contests occur.

The high school division’s festival takes place on a different day. Since I’ve always been in class, I’m sure I missed some information.

“You two will be doing something for your club activities, right?” I asked.

“Yes, our class has a lot of people in club activities so our class might not do anything.” Primella said.

“If you have spare time, feel free to come help out my club~” Eru said.

“Is it fine if I go to tease you?”

It looks like I won’t have anything to do this time. So that’s why there wasn’t any information or discussion about what we were doing for the school festival.

I’m lucky that I can just enjoy the festival. Since I’ll have free time, I’ll spend it visiting my friend’s club activities.

I was worried about the festival when I first heard about it but it looks like I worried for nothing. It’s best if I relax more. Feeling too nervous won’t help me at all.

… There’s no such thing as a useless feeling. I will think about its use.

“But, if it’s Maria-chan, she’ll probably be recommended for the Oz Con, right?”

“Heeh…?”

Oz Con, official name, “Oz Contest.”

Simple put, it’s a “Miss Contest.” Not just for looks, but for knowledge, demeanor, and so on. It’s a contest that takes everything into account to choose a splendid lady.

But, the Oz Con is only one of the many events in this school. It really seems like a simple contest where people decide the most beautiful girl, regardless of their school year.

Actually, I have appeared in it before. Among the various contests that the school holds, the Oz Con is the one people get the most excited over, so the high school division holds one as well. During an automode, I got second place to the heroine.

Whose route was it… Runa and Tuvalu had to make rounds as part of the student council. It certainly happened in Saashia’s route. I acted as a hindrance over and over again in the midst of my adolescence.

So, I’m not particularly surprised by the contest itself. It’s an event for an otome game, after all. It’s the best stage for revealing the heroine’s cuteness.

So, I’m not surprised about the event itself.

Just now, did she say recommendation? Eh, is she telling me to recommend myself? Did I recommend myself?

During automode, I had won four years in a row. I was even told that I was a shoo-in the last year, but since the heroine had joined suddenly due to a lack of participants, I lost first place to her, you know.

“Recommended for Oz Con… Who’s going to recommend me?”

“Hmmm… Usually people with a lot of friends get recommended but, I heard you can submit recommendations anonymously to the student council. Of course, the judging is very strict, so either way it’s not easy.”

“After the initial stages, depending on the number of people who pass, I think the student council and festival committee members will enter to make up the numbers.”

It really helps a lot that these two know a lot of things. Maybe I just don’t know enough but, it’s not odd that they know more than I do. They are involved in clubs and what not, so they hear more things from their upperclassmen and people around them.

“I would recommend Maria-chan~” Primella said.

“If you do, I will immediately decline.”

If it’s a recommendation from friends then it would only be these two. I must use all my power to prevent that.

“I knooow. Maria-chan hates standing out, after all.”

“I was asked by the committee to recommend you too, but I refused.” Eru added.

“…. Thank you.”

Really, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I’m truly blessed to have friends who understand me fully.

“But, people besides us may recommend you, or even the student council.”

“Eeeh, I know…”

There are tons of possible events. If possible I wouldn’t want any of them to happen. I’m not too against this event though because compared to other possible ones, this one is much more uneventful.

People who would recommend me are nonexistent and even if I did get recommended, it doesn’t mean I would win.

I am a former champion but that was because Mariabell was attractive AND had plenty of followers to back her up.

No matter how exciting an event is, there will always be people who don’t care about it. That type of people was Mariabell’s strongest supporters, since they would only remember her out of all the other contestants. She was the most fervent candidate, after all. They would vote for her without caring for the purpose of the contest.

As I think about it again and again, it’s definitely a foul play to win. With this method, she had a four-year streak… Well, it’s true that her appearance is extraordinary. She was a beauty that could appear in a beauty contest after all.

“In the unlikely event that I do get recommended, I’ll think about it then. More importantly, have you two decided what you will be doing?”

“The handicrafts club sells goods every year. Things like negotiating for the vendor location are handled by the upperclassmen.” Primella said.

“I’m not doing anything. Not just the track and field club, all the athletic clubs are worried during the festival time.” Eru said.

“Fufu, I look forward to it.”

Come to think of it, I wonder what Keito will do, club activities or his class activities… Hopefully he’ll be doing something for the gardening club. Even if Runa and that guy will be doing things for the Student Council, I’d rather not approach their class.

I’ll ask him after school. I want to know what kind of thing he’ll be doing too.