novel-bin Page 490
Page 490
"No, I'm pretty free anyway."
Although this free time will soon disappear into busy work... I had just thought this when Yukinoshita rested her chin on her hand and said calmly:
"Your family will be celebrating with Komachi today, right? I'll try to get everyone to leave early. If you need anything later, just let me know, and I can make arrangements."
Hearing her speak so calmly, I couldn't help but be taken aback. I thought the atmosphere here would become more tense... but my reply came with a hint of confusion:
"Oh, oh... Anyway, Dad will be home late, so don't worry about it... But of course, it's better to finish as soon as possible."
"Yes. Then let's get started."
Yukinoshita chuckled softly and gestured for me to sit in the seat next to Yuihama. After I sat down, she handed me a stack of documents.
Before asking for your help, let me first explain the outline of the event.
She unfolded the document and read the summary aloud. As I listened, I could hear humming coming from the side. I looked over and saw Isshiki humming while making tea, occasionally grabbing some chocolate snacks… Well, this girl knows the whole project inside and out; there's no need to listen again. Besides, when it's time to get to work, she'll obediently get to work…
"Besides the proposal, there's also a work schedule. Could you please take a look?"
As she instructed, I quickly scanned the documents. According to the records, the ball was slightly smaller than the ones I'd seen in American TV shows before.
The stadium will be decorated with flower baskets and balloons. The front area, including the stage, will be a dance floor, while tables and chairs will be set up at the back to provide food and drinks as a social area.
The event will begin with a grand toasting ceremony, followed by speeches from the student council president and club presidents. After warming up the atmosphere, dance music will be played, and dancing will commence, interspersed with live performances by rock bands. There will also be occasional public confessions, followed by the election of a "King" and "Queen" of the dance, and then the time for mixed-gender dancing. Finally, a wild and unrestrained celebration will take place! [Note] Since there is no designated time for chatting, participants are welcome to use the social areas outside the dance floor. [Note 56: The original text is "ドッタンバッタン大騒ぎ", from the theme song of *Kemono Friends*, "Welcome to Jepari Park".]
Oh, I see. I don't understand at all. I know nothing about dances, and I'm completely out of touch with dance music and other related culture, so I couldn't understand even half of it. What's this about public confessions? Is it a new form of execution?
In short, ask someone or look it up yourself later if you don't understand something; for now, start with what you can understand.
"This event must have cost a lot of money."
This was the first thought that came to my mind after reading the proposal. Yukinoshita listened and handed over a piece of paper.
"I made a spreadsheet. It has estimated amounts on it; you can refer to it if you're interested."
"It's alright, no need. You're more likely to be precise with those trivial numbers. I'm more curious about where the budget will come from. Didn't we run out of budget when we published the free magazine before?"
"The ball is in March, so I'll ask them to request payment in April and use next year's budget to cover it. If there's anything that absolutely needs to be settled first, we'll make an advance payment and then write it off."
Yukinoshita shrugged lightly, speaking casually, but I still worried about whether it was really feasible. The student council budget is settled at the end of February, so carrying over March's activity expenses to the next period is understandable. The key point is that, logically, the next period's budget should have already been allocated... I was filled with doubt when, at that moment, our well-known prom queen, Iroha, cheerfully began making tea for everyone, humming a song. Does this girl have no other work to do...?
"So, next year's event might be slightly smaller. But there's nothing we can do about it."
"Is everything alright...?"
Yuihama took the tea in a paper cup and said with a wry smile. Isshiki hugged the tray to his chest and tilted his head in confusion.
"I doubt anyone will find out, right? Nobody knows what the student council is doing!"
"Hmm... okay, I probably won't find out. After all, I don't know much about the student council..."
After thinking hard, Yui placed the paper cup on the table and slumped her head helplessly. Ah—was she refuted...? Seeing her reaction, Isshiki's momentum surged instantly, and she raised her fist high.
"That's exactly why! As long as you hold a big event at the right time, it will give the impression that students are working diligently, and no one will say anything!"
She was absolutely right, which only highlighted the wickedness of her character… I looked at my conscience—Yukinoshita—who would offer such honest advice at a time like this. Unfortunately, the timing was inconvenient; she was at work. She was holding a heavy folder labeled "Accounting Data," flipping through it with her fingertips while comparing it with the information on the computer screen.
Illustration 009
"I'm calculating the expenses for the ball, and there are quite a few items that can be removed, so it shouldn't have a significant impact on next year's budget. Besides, it seems like there's always a surplus in the budget each year, which can be used to offset the shortfall."
Yukinoshita closed the file folder, a smug smile on her face.
Hmm... something doesn't feel right. The cunning, shrewd one and the clueless, capable one—I feel like they're going to create some kind of strange chemistry. Even though things are going smoothly, I'm starting to feel uneasy...
To reduce some of my anxieties, I decided to study the trial balance myself. As I checked each accounting item, a question suddenly popped into my head.
"Don't we need to estimate the budget for clothing? Everyone needs to dress up eventually, right?"
"Yes, participants are responsible for providing their own clothing. We can only help negotiate with the rental companies at most."
After answering, Yukino took out a catalog from a clothing rental shop and handed it to Yui. She really understands me; she knows I have absolutely no interest in this kind of thing… On the other hand, Yui's eyes were sparkling as she flipped through the catalog page by page.
Girls would probably dream of wearing such a dress. And since it's a rare party, they'd want to look their best. But what about the guys? According to online sources, at the publishing house's banquet, most of the invited female comic artists wore glamorous gowns, while the male comic artists mostly dressed casually, some even in sportswear.
"Does everyone have to dress like this?"
I used this question to imply that I had no intention of doing so. Isshiki listened and nodded to indicate that he understood.
"Indeed. Some people may not want to dress like that. We suggest formal attire, but it's not mandatory."
"However, under the influence of the atmosphere and peer pressure, everyone will probably still dress up... We don't need to explicitly state the unwritten rules and give people an opportunity to criticize us."
Yukinoshita added this, a forced smile appearing on her face, and Isshiki smiled too. One of their smiles was beautiful, the other lovely, but why did I feel fear first...?
I turned my gaze back to the spreadsheet beside me. To be honest, without precise information, I couldn't judge whether these figures were reasonable. However, the items listed so far seemed to be within budget. Even if additional expenses were needed during the preparation process, there were certain contingency funds and miscellaneous expenses to cover.
"...I think there shouldn't be any problem. Except for forgetting the personnel expenses."
"Okay, thank you for checking. Could you please circle the items you've confirmed to indicate that there are no problems?"
Seeing how happy she was, I could only smile back.
Then, Yukinoshita stopped smiling and pointed to a few numbers on the calculation sheet in my hand.
"But these amounts are not completely finalized yet. For example, for the food, I will switch to a vendor that is cheaper than the previous thank-you party vendor, and we are currently waiting for a quote. The flowers for decoration will also be ordered together with the bouquets that the club will give to the graduates, and we are currently negotiating the price."
"Oh...I see..."
I bet not only the vice president, but the accountant is about to be fired too... Yukino's practical skills seem to have improved even more; she could be renamed Yukino Yukinoshita RX. Handing over the entire ball to her alone wouldn't be a problem at all. Isshiki kept nodding, as if saying, "Let's leave it to RX now [Note]." In that case, the president is also going to be unemployed~ [Note 57: A line from *Kamen Rider BLACK RX*, later interpreted as "This one alone is enough."]
In conclusion, based on the information prepared by Yukino, the feasibility of the ball is indeed much higher than initially thought, and theoretically it should be achievable. The next step is to handle the problems that cannot be solved theoretically. This is probably the most difficult part.
For example, deadlines and schedules are illogical. They have no humanity. "I think it'll be a stretch." "Good luck!" "To put it bluntly, it's too late." "Good luck!" "Sorry, I can't do it." "Good luck!" "...Yes." These kinds of situations are not uncommon. In such cases, the only way to slow down the passage of time is through light-speed travel. This is already science fiction…
So, I picked up the next work schedule and checked the timelines that concerned me. This schedule was probably made by Yukino herself; it even had a confirmation function, and completed items were marked with a grid.
This design makes the work progress immediately clear. The beginning section is already fully colored; the blank areas increase as we move forward. There's still a long way to go…
Conversely, the ability to complete a project proposal and cost estimates in just a few days is truly commendable. This person is simply a monster…
Judging from the schedule, the preparation work is progressing very quickly. Just how hard are you working...? Among the sections that have already been colored, there are still a few very troublesome tasks.
For example, the top-ranked item is "Propose the dance plan to the school and the parent-teacher association and obtain their approval." Once this hurdle is cleared, most of the problems are solved. Although it's marked with a cross below, "Only verbal approval; formal approval is required through a later report," since they've already discussed it privately, I think they're guaranteed to win... They're definitely going to win! Hahaha!
Besides that, almost all subsequent tasks, such as budget evaluation, creating event flowcharts, announcing news, selecting songs, launching the official website, and convening the presidents of various clubs, have been completed or marked as expected. In terms of the planning stage, there couldn't be a better start.
Most of the work that is not yet completed includes making decorations, handling the day's operations, setting up the venue, and other tasks that require time or hands-on work and can only begin closer to the event.
These projects can only be judged as feasible after they have actually been done, and that's where the anxiety lies... Later on, I was probably assigned to help with this part.
I looked through the schedule again to understand the tasks I would be responsible for—suddenly, I noticed a line of text.
"Oh... announcing the news. So you guys had already announced you were going to have a ball. I didn't even know."
I spoke with a mixture of novelty and surprise. The atmosphere in the room froze instantly. Everyone stared at me as if they'd discovered a new species, with Isshiki's reaction being the most obvious. She stared at me with a completely bewildered expression.
"Huh? Why didn't you know?"
"Huh? Because I've never heard of it before...right?"
I asked Yuihama, whose level of information gathering should be similar to mine. She twisted her body, pouted, and looked as if she couldn't bring herself to speak. Finally, she mumbled:
"...I know."
"Huh? Why? Is everyone siding with me?"
"I didn't mean to edge you! I was just about to ask you how come you didn't know... Oh, right."
Yui suddenly remembered something and took out her phone. Isshiki seemed to understand immediately, let out a soft gasp, and then picked up her own phone.
They both showed me the same screen. Accompanied by the mysterious sound effect of "LINE!", it displayed LINE, a fairly popular messaging app.
"We created an official account for the prom's executive committee and used it to post messages. LINE is one of the most frequently used media channels for our generation, so we chose it as the primary communication medium."
After Yukina's explanation, I finally understood. High school students these days really do use LINE to communicate; it's the fastest communication tool… Of course I wouldn't know! Because I don't use it!
"Oh, I see... Oh, you use LINE too?"
"I recently started using it. It's very convenient. I can easily get information about my favorite stores and discount coupons. Sometimes when I reply to a store, they even send me photos."
Beneath the snow, a smile couldn't be hidden; she happily shared how convenient LINE was. I casually agreed, stealing a glance at Yui. Yui caught my meaningful look, a wry smile appearing on her face, and nodded in acknowledgment, "Yes, just what you think." See? I knew it was a cat cafe!
There must be other places worth mentioning... Just as I was thinking this, someone who seemed willing to help explain came over.
"By the way, why don't you use LINE, senior? Don't you know how to use it? Or were you born in the Showa era?"
"I'm a genuine Heisei-era boy. You underestimate people born in the Showa era; even middle-aged men use LINE. I just don't use it because there's no need for it."
I gritted my teeth and corrected Isshiki's extremely rude remark. Yukinoshita, holding her cheek, nodded in agreement.
"That's true. Even businesses are using it now, so it's not just a communication app for young people."
"It depends on the person. Whether it's an uncle or an old man, they will learn how to use it if they need to."
Nowadays, grandparents have already learned to use LINE to chat with their grandchildren... Thinking of this, a heartwarming scene comes to mind. Yui-hama, upon hearing this, wore an awkward and complicated expression for some reason.
"But adults always pretend to be young when they send LINE messages, which is really painful to see. Every time I see a bunch of emojis, stickers and pictures of older people... and they even use the tone of voice they use when talking to peers, which makes me feel so old-fashioned."
"Seriously, it's so corny! I never thought words could exude such an old-fashioned vibe."
Iroha clapped her hands in agreement. Strange, why do I feel like I have several arrows stuck in my back...?
How do you know so much?
"My dad uses LINE."
"Me too."
Oh, what kind of "dad" is he...? It's the command master, right? I don't know why, but I'm a little afraid to ask this question, so I'll ask something else!
"However, is just using LINE to send messages enough? There are also people like me who don't use it."
"We've integrated with the app, promoted it simultaneously on other social media platforms, announced it in discussion forums, and set up an official website, so there shouldn't be any problems."
Without a second thought, Yukino answered immediately. After she finished speaking, she suddenly laughed.
"People who deliberately avoid using messaging apps and staying in touch with others probably wouldn't even want to go to a dance. And that's exactly what you are."
"...Very convincing."
I never imagined that my usual way of doing things would be the answer to my own doubts. Did I accidentally refute someone again? I really want to taste the bitterness of defeat.
I nodded to myself, a mature smile, like that of an older sister, appearing beneath the snow.
"Are there any other questions or things you don't understand?"
I thought about it for a moment, and I have no questions about the information she showed me. However, there is one thing that is puzzling.
"...No problem, but there's something I don't understand. It's a little funny to ask now, but what exactly is a ball? I can't even come up with a general idea. To be honest, that's what I want to know the most."
When Yise first approached us for advice, and again when we were reviewing the event structure just now, I had some doubts.
Yui blinked.
"Huh? Isn't that the party from that movie?"
"Yes, that's true... but even if we recreate that ball, it's impossible for it to be 100% the same."
I couldn't find a way to describe this strange feeling, and fell into a deep thought. Yuihama also started thinking. At that moment, Isshiki, who looked like he knew everything, spoke up.
"I know, I know. It's a ball that only we can do, just for us, and held especially for me! Isn't that right?"
"That's completely wrong..."
What kind of ball was this, specially organized just for you? How could you change it without even blushing or panting...?
"Is that so? Is that not right? Then please tell me what it is?"
Isshiki squinted at me. If I knew the answer, I wouldn't be racking my brains over there. I turned my head away, avoiding Isshiki's gaze.
"...Then, let's create the answer."
When she met Yukinoshita's gaze, she gave a composed smile, responding with feigned mystery, and then stood up from her seat.
╳ ╳ ╳
We left the student union office and went to the gymnasium.
Normally, this would be practice time for indoor sports clubs, but the scene before us is completely different. The stage area in front has been set up as a party venue, with mirrored balls hanging from the ceiling illuminating the flower baskets and balloon decorations brought in from outside.
"Wow...how spectacular..."
Yuihama looked around the stadium and shared her heartfelt thoughts. I, on the other hand, felt like I had been suddenly thrown into another dimension, unable to even utter such a simple thought, and just stood there, stunned.
"I'll explain the details later. Could you please go change your clothes first? Kawasaki-san is helping prepare the costumes at the side stage. Yui-san, could you please assist her?"
"OK!"