[CH.79] Day 1 of Orientation and Committee Decision
The day after the entrance ceremony, the morning is devoted to orientation, and in the afternoon, an aptitude test is conducted. Both events span two days, so today marks the first half of both.
During the orientation, the somewhat infamous school principal spoke about the school's educational philosophy and the students' guidelines, delivering a formal talk. A middle-aged male teacher, who also holds the titles of student counselor and grade coordinator, discussed the annual events and roughly outlined the three-year plan. Despite initially seeming intimidating based on his titles, this teacher turned out to be quite articulate and engaging. Laughter from new students frequently echoed in the auditorium, and perhaps the tension of those who were stiff in an unfamiliar environment was eased.
By the way, we were in the school's auditorium, where all students could fit. According to the explanation of the facilities we heard earlier, it can accommodate up to 1,300 seats. It feels truly fitting for a private school. In my previous public junior high school, the gym served as a makeshift auditorium, and I remember it being quite crowded when all students gathered. This school also has a gym, so I'm impressed by the investment in facilities that comes with being a private institution.
The remaining time was spent touring the school in separate classes. Our class, Class A, seemed to be the first to go, as the other classes were still seated. Following the guidance of our homeroom teacher, we left the auditorium.
We lined up in two rows according to height and paraded through the school. Unfortunately, I seem to be the smallest in the class, so I walked at the front of the line following the teacher. The second smallest girl next to me seemed quiet and had a cute, gentle demeanor. We can't chat openly since we are walking behind the teacher, but I hope we can become friends. I guess in the future, as we move in lines, we'll be close to each other, so there will likely be a lot of interaction.
"That audio-visual room just now felt like a movie theater, it was amazing, right?"
When I spoke to her in a hushed tone as if sharing a secret, she slightly flinched and looked at me hesitantly. Huh, why does she seem a bit scared? I smiled to reassure her, saying, "I-it's not scary," and she blushed a little. I wonder what's wrong, maybe she's not feeling well.
"Y-yes, that's right. Um, you're Sumire Matsuda, right? I watch the drama every week!"
"That's really nice to hear, thank you. But for now, let's talk a bit more quietly."
Since the homeroom teacher's gaze briefly glanced our way, I gently placed a finger on my lips and motioned for her to lower her voice. Maybe she wasn't aware her voice had gotten louder, she nodded while covering her mouth with her hand. Right, I strained to recall yesterday's self-introduction, and I remembered her name was Miu Morita.
"Um, that dish you always give to the detective father at the end, is that something Matsuda-san makes?"
"Yeah, although the cooking teacher supervises next to me, I mostly make it. And, you don't have to use honorifics. Can we just talk normally?"
"Oh, sorry! Right, using honorifics with a classmate would be awkward, huh?"
I wonder if she's shy or just considerate? But people who can show respect to others like this are likable. I definitely want to be friends with someone like her. It's not like I'm eager to make a lot of friends, but having a good friend at school means you won't be isolated when forming pairs or groups.
Of course, it's not just about that practical aspect. Being with someone who can respect others creates a very comfortable atmosphere. I also want to make sure that I give off the impression of being someone pleasant to be around.
While using polite language occasionally, we relaxed and had a pleasant conversation during the school tour. Miu-chan seemed to have relaxed as well. Her hobbies are reading and cooking, and I think our conversation flowed well because we had common interests. It's true that having shared interests makes conversations more enjoyable. She also seems interested in the entertainment industry and is a fan of a Dannies the boys idol. She was surprised twice yesterday—first, when she realized I was the actress from a romantic movie with Ishido-san, and second, when she found out we were in the same class and had a mutual acquaintance in the entertainment industry.
Without directly saying, "Let's be friends," which might sound pushy, I asked her, "Can I talk to you again sometime?" after we returned to the classroom, and she responded, "Of course!" She squeezed my hands tightly, and that strength conveyed the sincerity of her words. I hope we can become even closer over the next year. Since I might occasionally be absent, it would be helpful if she could show me her notes or something.
Once everyone returned, after a 10-minute break, the committee assignments began. As it would be impossible for everyone to join a committee at once due to the number of students, it seemed that the assignments were divided into the first and second terms.
I feel like it's easier in the second term, where we have a somewhat better understanding of the class atmosphere compared to the first term, where we still don't know much about our classmates. For that reason, I decided to observe quietly. With work constantly coming in, it's challenging to fully commit to school activities.
For the same reason, I don't think I can become the class committee chair or vice-chair. If there's a committee meeting after school when I have work, I would definitely choose work and miss the committee. Whether I become the chair or vice-chair, there would be another classmate present in the same committee, so although it feels awkward, I could rely on that person to get information for me the next day. But in the case of work, since I receive offers for it, I can't just delegate it to someone else. Knowing that such a future is clearly visible, I can't irresponsibly take on the responsibility.
As expected, nobody seemed to want to be the class committee chair, and no one raised their hand. The homeroom teacher approached a student who had been a chair or vice-chair in elementary school, but the response was not enthusiastic. However, because the committee assignments couldn't proceed without this being decided, a student who had been approached reluctantly accepted the position.
Another student, perhaps a friend from elementary school, was designated as the vice-chair without asking for her opinion. Without giving her a chance to respond, they decided, "The vice-chair is Agasa," and she reluctantly accepted. Agasa-san let out a disappointed "Eh," but whether she couldn't resist due to power dynamics or accepted her friend's whims, she started walking towards the teacher's desk.
"I'm Iwai, the class committee chair for the first term. Behind me is Agasa, my classmate from elementary school, and we were also class committee members together last year."
"Last year, I was forced to do it by Iwai-chan here," Agasa added with a reluctant tone.
Together, the two of them bowed and said, "Yoroshiku onegaishimasu" (Nice to meet you), and there was a familiar sense of ease in their actions. The classmates, including myself, offered genuine and somewhat enthusiastic applause for the reliable atmosphere that they seemed capable of maintaining in the class.
"If we finish quickly, it seems we'll have a longer lunch break, so let's decide quickly. Um, the types of committees are as written on the blackboard."
At the moment Iwai-san turned around, Agasa-san had just finished placing the chalk in the chalk holder. It was impressive to see Agasa-san quickly writing with relatively neat handwriting, as if she was accustomed to it.
The listed committee names included familiar ones like Discipline Committee, Library Committee, Health Committee, Physical Education Committee, and Environmental Beautification Committee. These are probably permanent committees, and the ones that get busy temporarily are likely the Election Management Committee, Cultural Festival Executive Committee, and Sports Festival Executive Committee. Temporary committees are not divided into first and second terms; they are decided all at once at the beginning of the academic year. To avoid inconveniencing others, it might be a good idea to volunteer for these positions here.
Personally, I think the Library Committee, mainly responsible for lending books in the library during lunch and after school, or the Election Management Committee, which has a busy but short-term workload, would be good choices. During the rehearsal for the entrance ceremony, the school principal recommended that I help with the student council, but I declined because it felt like an interference with my entertainment activities. When I greeted the student council president, I learned that they are working in the student council room almost every day after school, so it would be impossible for me. In fact, if it's that busy, I think they should consider streamlining their operations for efficiency.
As I was contemplating these thoughts, I realized that the seemingly easygoing committees were quickly getting filled with volunteers. Ah, the Library Committee is already taken. In that case, I have no choice but to join the Election Management Committee.
"Now, the next is the Election Management Committee. Two positions available. Anyone volunteering?"
"Yes."
At just the right moment, Iwai-san asked for volunteers for the Election Management Committee, so I hesitantly raised my hand. But it seemed there were no other volunteers besides me, and I started feeling embarrassed, wondering if I looked a bit too eager. After all, from the perspective of others, doesn't it seem like I really wanted to be on the Election Management Committee?
"Um, Matsuda-san," Agasa-san said, looking at the seating chart on the teacher's desk and efficiently writing my name on the blackboard. While Iwai-san was asking, "Anyone else?" the homeroom teacher quietly moved to my side and whispered in my ear, ignoring the question.
"Matsuda-san, the Election Management Committee tends to have quite a bit of overtime work during the campaign period. Are you okay with that?"
"If you could let me know the election period in advance, I'll consult with the office. I don't want to cause trouble for the person I'm working with in a permanent committee, and if I know the election period ahead of time, my manager, Yoko-san, can help me manage my schedule to avoid any issues."
The teacher seemed concerned, perhaps having already memorized information about the students in the class. Even if I can't avoid participation altogether, compromise might be necessary. Fortunately, I have Yoko-san, a manager who helps me manage my schedule. If I can inform her of busy periods in advance, she can adjust my schedule to ensure that I don't have any gaps in work.
Maybe it was my confident response, but the teacher nodded in reassurance, seeming satisfied. I'll need to be careful not to cause too much inconvenience, especially since dealing with absences due to work might be a bit of a hassle. I hope I can spend my student life calmly, without causing trouble for the teacher or classmates, blending in as an ordinary student as much as possible.
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