Chapter 55: I Don't Like It! [side Mishima Satsuki]
I pushed my diet to the limit to face the beauty contest's pre-event appeal on the first day of the culture festival.
I mean, if I win this, I'll be number one in our year in both name and reality! And if I win the whole thing, I'll be number one in the school!
I'm all fired up now!
My boyfriend, Masaki, is cheering me on too!
Masaki: "If Nagase-san isn't entering, Satsuki has the advantage!"
I snap back.
"Huh? Nagase, Nagase—whose boyfriend are you, Masaki?!"
I really can't stand it. Even now, there's still a strong chorus of "Nagase Aya is number one in our year!"
But she chickened out and ran from the beauty contest, didn't she? There's no way I'd lose to a girl like that in spirit!
I left no stone unturned in my preparations.
I put Kageno-chan completely in charge of getting our class's maid café ready.
As class top, I should probably be running things, but Kageno-san is better suited for it, and if I shine in the beauty contest, I'll contribute more than enough to make up for it.
I don't want to lose to Class 6!
I decided I should do what only I can do,
"...Since it's a competition, I'm going to focus on the beauty contest."
Kageno-chan panicked,
Kageno: "But! If Satsuki's not here—!"
"You can do it, Kageno-chan! Like I said before, use the class however you want!"
Kageno-san made a troubled face,
Kageno: "...You better win, okay?"
"...That's why I'm focusing. I'm going to win!"
I pushed myself hard.
I still don't really know what I want to be in the future.
But if I could win the beauty contest... then maybe I'd have the option of a job that uses my looks...
Okay, maybe I'm dreaming too big, but it's possible, right!
I trained hard, dieting and practicing my walk, and I put a ton of effort into making my PV.
I got help from everyone in Class 5, and even had my boyfriend Masaki help cover the costs of beauty treatments and the salon.
☆ ☆ ☆
The day before the festival, as my classmates finished up preparations for the maid café, I silently cheered them on and headed out for my final beauty treatment.
The class next door, Class 4—Kousuke's class—is doing a hamburger shop, apparently.
The guys are all raving about how cute the hamburger shop uniforms are, and how cute Nagase-san looks, so I thought maybe I'd take a peek?
Only Nagase Aya was in the classroom, getting things ready.
Nagase was definitely wearing a hamburger shop uniform—looked just like a famous chain.
It's so basic, but that's what makes her natural beauty stand out. Guys love girls like this, right? She's kind of got that Kashii vibe.
I'm not losing either... but can I really beat her?... Honestly, I don't know.
I'll admit Nagase Aya is beautiful.
But she ran away from the beauty contest, right?
I decided to just talk to her. She ignored me last time, but what about now?
"Hey, why aren't you entering the beauty contest?"
Nagase: "..."
There's literally no one else in the room. Ignoring me?!
"Did you run away? Are you scared you'll get ranked, even though people call you the number one beauty in our year?"
Nagase: "..."
This girl! Still ignoring me?!
Nagase has a reputation for being cheerful, outgoing, and popular.
I only ever see her surrounded by people, smiling.
So why? Why does she ignore me?
"What's your problem! Hey, lis—"
She suddenly thrusts her open hand right in front of my face!
I freeze, startled by Nagase's sudden move.
Cheerful and outgoing? A popular girl who's always smiling?
Nagase Aya looked at me with cold eyes and said, in a scornful tone,
Nagase: "Don't talk to me. I might catch something from a slut. ...Guess Kousuke-kun doesn't have good taste."
Huh? What the—?!
"Don't mess with me!"
Nagase: "..."
Nagase ignored me and walked out.
What is her problem! She's got such a nasty attitude!
Acting like Kousuke is above me or something! So annoying! So infuriating!
☆ ☆ ☆
And finally, the first day of the culture festival arrived.
11:20, in the beauty contest waiting room.
There were four of us first-years entering, including me.
I greeted two of the girls, and they replied back.
But the last girl didn't even look my way, let alone say hi.
Not that it's required... but she's probably the cutest of the three rivals...!
Normally, someone who stands out like that would at least be talked about, or I'd have heard her name.
If she's on this level, she should at least be getting some buzz...
Maybe she transferred in during the fall?
Oh well, I guess I should at least say hi.
I raised my voice just a bit,
"Looking forward to today, okay?"
The slender, cute girl in front of me made a really unpleasant face,
?: "Huh? I'm not looking forward to it at all. I can't believe you can say that."
What is with this girl! Just because I tried to be nice!
Well, she's a rival, so I guess we don't need to be friends.
"I just said hi. I haven't seen you around before—who are you?"
She twisted her cute face into a mocking grin. What is up with her?
?: "We've met before, you know? Did you forget? That's why you're in remedial classes, right?"
Remedial classes! That word really stings my pride! This girl—?!
Tomonaga: "You made fun of me all summer, didn't you? It's me, Yukari Tomonaga. The girl who got dumped by Kuzu-kun over the summer? Did you forget already?"
She's openly provoking me!
That chubby? That plain, chubby girl? This is her?!
She's so skinny now, with a cute face and a chest—this is that girl?!
When I saw her before, Kousuke said it so clearly,
☆ ☆
Kousuke: "...Watch. Tomonaga-san is a wonderful girl. Just shut up and watch—she'll definitely become beautiful..."
☆ ☆
Was he serious?! Did Kousuke really help this girl out?!
I couldn't hide how shaken I was...!
And in that state, the pre-event appeal began...