Episode 53: Special Assignment

“Summer camp… this was a complete blind spot…”

“No way! It was written pretty prominently in the advance materials too!”

“…Was it really? Well, I suppose it was…”

“Hehe, Arcs-kun is surprisingly forgetful, aren’t you?”

Emma said this as if surprised, and in a teasing manner.

There was no room for rebuttal.

Had I forgotten because life had been too turbulent lately?

If so, being busy might be something to reconsider…

“So then, what should a forgetful person like me do now? You said we’re making pairs…”

I looked around at the state of the classroom.

Everyone had grouped up with their close friends.

Probably the pairs had already been decided.

There was no other way to say it than that I was completely late.

…Actually, this class has 13 people, an odd number.

If we make pairs of two, one person will be left over.

There are no absences today, and the one left over right now is…

…Wait, doesn’t this mean I’m alone?

“Hmm, everyone’s already decided. I think you’ll have to join some pair.”

“…So that’s how it is.”

With her arms crossed, Emma said this with an indescribable expression.

In this class, I at least have some decent friendship with everyone.

We’re comrades who went through tough training together.

If I asked, they would probably accept me gladly.

…That said, being the one left over still felt somewhat sad.

“I know! Join my pair! My partner is also a girl but… I think she’ll definitely accept you, Arcs-kun!”

As if lighting up a light bulb above her head with a ping, Emma enthusiastically made that suggestion.

“Hmm, well…”

A guy joining a pair of two girls… huh.

It’s not like there’s any particular problem with it, but it would be a lie to say I had no resistance to it.

Apparently we’ll be doing joint training with pairs from other classes, and depending on the situation, there might be cases where everyone except me is female.

Even I would find that a bit awkward.

Especially since lately Eleanore has been warning me not to carelessly get involved with women…

I have absolutely no intention of getting involved and it’s a misunderstanding, but if I get even more suspicious looks, I might really get stabbed with a nail.

“I’m sorry, it’s a very grateful suggestion, but—”

Mmm, I should politely decline here.

I’ll have to get mixed in with some guys’ group…

“—ARCS!! Are you there!!”

With a loud rattling and slamming sound, the classroom door was thrown open forcefully.

And at the same time, a voice with the force of a drill sergeant thundered.

“…Kiril-sensei.”

“Oh, you’re here! I was looking for you!”

Our homeroom teacher approached with vigorous, large strides.

…It seems she has business with me.

She was looking… does that mean it’s urgent?

“I have something I need to tell you, lend me your face for a bit!”

Saying that tersely, she left the classroom again with those same large strides.

Her back seemed to say “follow me.”

…Lend me your face, does that mean I’m about to get punched?

I don’t recall doing anything wrong though…

I glanced over at Emma.

She smiled wryly a bit and quietly said “take care.”

Feeling sorry for cutting off our conversation, I bowed and followed after Kiril-sensei.

***

“Did I do something wrong?”

Somehow catching up to the fast-walking teacher with her clicking footsteps, I had come to the staff room.

However, up to this point, there was no sign of her telling me why she called me out.

Am I really going to get punched?

“Mm, why?”

“Well, since it was such a sudden summons, I thought maybe I did something terrible and was going to be scolded.”

“Hahaha! Why would I need to scold you!! Rather, I’d like you to scold the rookies among my subordinates!!”

The teacher laughed loudly with her usual big mouth as always.

I feel like the conversation is slightly off track, but well, I haven’t done anything wrong… right?

It took a bit of time to process her words, but at any rate it seems I won’t be getting punched, so I’ll relax.

“…Besides, there’s something I want you to do from now on.”

“Something you want me to do?”

“Yeah, during the summer camp. …You could call it a special assignment of sorts.”

I see, a special assignment.

This is probably an assignment for special scholarship students.

The special scholarship students at this school can skip classes and such, but in exchange, individual assignments like this are sometimes allocated.

There haven’t been any since school started, but it seems they’re finally beginning.

“…It’s like an assignment for special scholarship students, I suppose.”

“Well, that’s part of it. But this is also something I can only ask you to do.”

…Something she can only ask me?

I had question marks floating above my head at the teacher’s answer.

Well, since special scholarship students get individually assigned tasks, it’s probably content just for me, but what does “can only ask” mean?

Could an assignment for a student really contain the meaning of “please do this”?

“Exactly… what kind of content is it?”

“Ah, well, it’s—”

The teacher searched through the materials scattered on the desk in front of her.

Then she picked up some kind of unusual blue envelope and handed it to me.

Wondering what this was about, I opened the seal and checked the contents—