Chapter 48: That's a Wrap!
Waiting for Yukari-san with the film club.
After school today, Yukari-san said she'd stop by the spa and salon, shoot the beauty contest PV, and then come here.
She sent a LINE saying she'd be a little late.
Tanaka-kun grumbles,
Tanaka: "Class 6 is really shrewd. We took the raw gem that was Tomonaga-san, polished her with all our care, turned her into a sparkling jewel, and now they're making her the poster girl for their own class? And on top of that, she's all done up from the salon and spa we paid for! Shooting first, too..."
He keeps muttering.
The cultural festival prep is in full swing—it's finally festival week.
Since the festival is next weekend, all clubs and committees are basically on break so everyone can focus on getting ready.
Our class settled on doing a hamburger shop, so the top clique girls, Koji, Hiroshi, and I are all super busy prepping the food stall every day.
I'm busy with the film club, and Nagase-san is also juggling her student council duties!
I share schedules closely with Nagase-san, and we keep in touch a lot on LINE.
While I'm waiting, Yukari-san arrives!
Yukari: "Sorry! I'm late!"
Honestly, I always thought she was plenty cute already.
But now, fresh from the spa and salon with perfect makeup, Yukari-san is shockingly glamorous and beautiful.
Yukari: "Kousuke-kun, do I look... weird?"
My heart is pounding. Not out of fear of girls—just nerves.
This is the time to say it properly.
"You look beautiful."
Yukari-san gives my shoulder a playful pat—pom!
Yukari: "Geez! Compliment me more!"
"You look amazing."
"Geez! Honestly! Kousuke-kun, you! I'll make you work on that from now on, okay?"
She laughs, then, following Tanaka-kun's instructions, changes into the white dress we bought yesterday and touches up her makeup a bit.
Some girls from the drama club, who we asked, come to check on her.
Since it's a seated interview, she doesn't need super flashy makeup, so just a little touch-up is enough.
The film club surrounds Yukari-san to shield her from view and leads her up to the rooftop.
Yukari: "Why? You're making me nervous—I'll go myself, so don't drag me!"
Yukari-san seems scared, like she's got some bad memories.
Rooftop.
The lighting is all set up already.
Here, we'll shoot Yukari-san from all sorts of angles, edit it later, and show off how stunning she's become!
Then, for the last part, a Q&A interview in the clubroom.
We'll start shooting in thirty minutes, so any dress lines will fade.
We're running late—it's already past six.
There's a heater and a bench coat ready, but right before shooting, she'll walk around to warm up and get some color in her cheeks.
I'm her walking buddy.
What did we talk about? Probably memories of dieting, tough times, fun times. But honestly, I can't remember any of it.
The girl walking beside me is just too captivating—I can't think of anything else.
Yukari-san gives a mischievous smile,
Yukari: "I was only able to come this far thanks to you, Kousuke-kun. Thank you. Of course, it's thanks to everyone, but Kousuke-kun, you're special."
"That's not true—it's because you worked so hard, Yukari-san. And it was the kind of hard work that can't be summed up in just one word."
Yukari: "There you go again! Saying things like that! You're going to make me cry—!"
Yukari-san gives me a couple more playful pats.
Yukari: "Okay, once we shoot this and do the interview, the documentary part is done! After that, everyone will edit it and turn it into an actual documentary, right?"
I nod. The rest is up to the film club.
I haven't been able to help at all with the basketball club's food stall, and honestly, just keeping up with our class's stall is all I can manage.
Yukari: "Once the cultural festival is over, we can hang out as much as we want, right? The festival isn't the goal—it's just the start!"
"Are you just trying to say something deep at the last minute?"
Yukari: "Ugh, true! I should've said, 'Our adventure is just beginning!' right?"
"No way, that's such a cliché ending line...!"
While we're laughing together, Tanaka-kun calls out that it's time to start shooting.
"Well, here I go!" Yukari-san dashes barefoot into the chilly November air.
As Yukari-san heads over, I pass Tanaka-kun coming the other way.
Tanaka: "Kousuke-kun, good work."
I tell him good work, too.
Tanaka: "She's a great girl. Take care of her, okay?"
What does he mean? I play dumb.
Tanaka: "Isn't it obvious? Not everyone is like Mishima-san, you know?"
I nod.
Tanaka: "Honestly, at first, I thought helping her change might help you get back on your feet, Kousuke-kun."
I'm surprised.
Tanaka: "But filming her, I realized there are plenty of girls around you who could help you move on—and I got a little jealous."
My best friend laughs and gives my shoulder a pat. Who around me? Nagase-san? Airi-senpai?
Tanaka: "But in the end, just like I planned, it was Yukari-san, right?"
Tanaka-kun looks smug!
Tanaka: "She wasn't born a beauty—well, maybe she was, but she's been hidden away for so long, and unlike the top clique girls, her 'defense' is low."
I kind of get it.
She's not used to social maneuvering or dealing with people—probably gets hurt easily, and is likely to be the target of jealousy or bullying.
Tanaka-kun called that her 'defense.'
Tanaka: "So, Kousuke-kun, she still needs your support going forward. If you just go, 'Transformation complete! Bye!' and toss her aside, she's going to have a rough time or get really hurt. So I'm counting on you."
Tanaka-kun really pays attention.
I nod.
Yukari-san is being filmed from all different angles.
She's beautiful, glamorous, and stunning.
We bring out a chair, she sits, and does a little pose.
Shooting continues with different situations.
Tanaka-kun and I keep chatting in low voices the whole time.
Tanaka: "After filming Yukari-san for so long, watching her get more and more charming every day, I almost started to fall for her myself by the end. ...Kousuke-kun, if it's you, then—"
Huh?! Is he talking about his feelings? Tanaka-kun?
For once, Tanaka-kun looks mad...
Tanaka: "If you go out with Yukari-san... protect her from guys like this too! You guys! Learn your lesson!"
Looking over, I see Yukari-san, sitting on a chair, lifting her dress herself almost to the point her underwear shows, blushing furiously as she's made to say her post-diet measurements...!
Seriously, these guys...! They never let their guard down...!
The camera crew is getting totally chewed out by Tanaka-kun.
Even as a first-year, Tanaka-kun is already considered the next club president.
Then, we move back to the film club's clubroom.
Yukari-san answers Tanaka-kun's questions in a Q&A format.
After answering all the questions, Yukari-san leaves the clubroom.
Yukari: "Thank you very much."
She gives a beautiful bow and exits the room.
"It's over!"
"Good job!"
"Let's edit!"
The film club is buzzing with excitement!
Normally, we'd go out to celebrate, but we've got editing to do, and Yukari-san still has the beauty contest ahead—so that's a wrap!
At the end, Yukari-san, crying, took the hand of each film club member and thanked them personally.
Tanaka-kun filmed the whole scene.
After she stopped crying, Yukari-san put on a mask, and she and I headed home together.