ALL NOVEL chapter 98
98. The Circle of the Class
As the class’s attention gathered, Mashiro and I were about to start the tasting session.
Mashiro smiled as she distributed the neatly arranged sweets on the aluminum tray to everyone in the class.
Since it was just a tasting, we could only prepare bite-sized portions, but even so, the deliciousness of the sweets I made began to resonate with everyone.
“Wait, what is this? It’s super delicious!”
“Oh, it really is. So tasty!”
“The sweetness is just right. It’s not too rich or anything.”
“I think I might like this. Me.”
The reactions from everyone who tasted my sweets were overwhelmingly positive, with girls exclaiming how delicious they were one after another.
As they enjoyed the sweets with smiles and lively chatter, I served them tapioca milk tea, transforming the classroom into a space reminiscent of a café.
The boys were captivated by Mashiro as she distributed the sweets, seemingly more enchanted by the presence of the beautiful girl shining brighter than anyone else in this space than by the sweets themselves.
“Um… you’re Amanatsu Mashiro, right? I’ve been a fan for a long time…”
“Hey, don’t cut in line! I’ve been admiring Mashiro-chan for ages too!”
“No way, the great angel Mashiron has descended into our classroom! This is seriously divine!”
“Seeing her up close is like a real angel… I could die in this space…”
The boys flocked to Mashiro, who was distributing the sweets, all at once, eager to talk to her.
“W-wait… um, that…”
Mashiro was taken aback by the overwhelming enthusiasm, her eyes wide in surprise.
—
During the first semester, Mashiro made a bold transformation from a villainous delinquent girl to a pure and lovely beautiful girl heroine.
Her popularity among the boys has skyrocketed, and everyone is captivated by her blooming flower-like smile.
Now, in the second semester, it is precisely Mashiro who is being called the most beautiful girl in the academy, the shining and strongest idol.
(Just acting normally, and Mashiro has this popularity, huh?)
Mashiro’s class plans to run a maid café at the cultural festival.
With the world’s cutest Mashiro serving in a maid outfit at the cultural festival, it might be even more popular than I imagined.
Even now, boys are gathering around Mashiro, approaching her and striking up conversations.
As Mashiro seems troubled by the overwhelming attention, Himeno strides in with her blue twin tails fluttering, as if to throw her a lifeline, and grabs the boys by the scruffs of their necks.
“Hey! Mashiro-chan is in trouble! You guys, seriously, cut it out!”
“Whoa, Himeno-san!?”
“Focus on tasting the sweets right now! Got it?”
“Y-yes!”
With just one word from Himeno, the boys quiet down, and Mashiro visibly relaxes, placing her hand on her chest in relief.
Then, Mashiro bows her head slightly to Himeno.
“Thank you, Himeno-san. You really helped me.”
“Don’t mention it. I won’t allow anyone to trouble such a cute Mashiro-chan.”
Himeno winks cutely at Mashiro.
Mashiro smiles back at Himeno, who also beams at her in return.
Though they haven’t known each other for long, it seems that Himeno has completely taken a liking to Mashiro.
As the other boys try to crowd around Mashiro, Himeno steps in to brighten the atmosphere and ensure that Mashiro isn’t bothered.
Grateful for Himeno’s help, Mashiro smiles happily, and I can’t help but relax my mouth while watching the two of them.
(Himeno really is a good person, isn’t she…?)
She has repeatedly shown her caring side in the original story, whether by helping those in trouble or appearing indifferent while actually being concerned.
In my busy role as the organizer of the tasting event, I truly appreciate Himeno’s presence in supporting Mashiro.
On the other hand, Reo was trying to soothe the discontented Fusegawa Yoshito.
“Yoshito. Like I said earlier, shouldn’t we first recognize Ryusuke’s efforts properly?”
“Reo, what are you saying… If we follow Shindo’s plan and the cultural festival fails…”
“Even if it fails, it will be a valuable experience. I believe that in a cultural festival, the process is more important than the outcome. Creating the best memories together without anyone missing is what a cultural festival is all about… right?”
Reo gently speaks to Fusegawa Yoshito with a soft demeanor.
Even after hearing Reo’s words, Yoshito’s expression remained clouded.
Fushikawa Raito seems to be anxious about the story not progressing as it does in the original work.
In the original, our two groups achieved the greatest success at the academy with the cooperation of a famous pastry shop, but without that support, if the cultural festival proceeds with my menu, the developments that follow will be unknown and unlike anything in the original.
Fushikawa Raito fears that.
He is scared of the developments that no one knew about in the original.
He worries that an irregularity might occur that could shake his position as the protagonist.
And that leads to distrust towards me—perhaps he harbors doubts like, “Can a cultural festival led by the villain really succeed?”
Indeed, I couldn’t dismiss that doubt as unfounded.
The great success I witnessed at the cultural festival of Class 2-1 in the original.
That was achieved because Fushikawa Raito stood at the center of the class, leading everyone as the protagonist.
Overcoming the interference of the villain, Shindo Ryusuke, Fushikawa Raito awakened as the protagonist and, alongside the heroine who supported him, accomplished something miraculous.
However, a new irregularity is about to bring significant change to that development.
The current situation, where I, the villain, stand at the center of the class instead of the protagonist, is something that should not happen, and our Class 2-1 is about to step into an unknown realm that no one knows, outside the rails of the original.
In other words, if the story continues like this, no one knows whether our cultural festival will succeed or not.
(What a heavy responsibility… truly)
Realizing this, I gulped.
There was a possibility that the cultural festival could fail due to the irregular developments we had caused.
Could we achieve great success outside the developments of the original? That anxiety swirled within me.
But—.
“Hey, Ryusuke! Everyone is saying how delicious the waffles you made are!”
“Masaki is right, Ryusuke. Thanks to you, everyone is smiling.”
“Yes, it’s a huge hit, and that’s what matters. Shindo, you should hold your head up higher.”
“Everyone… Ah, thank you.”
Masaki rushed over with an innocent smile, as if to dispel my anxieties.
Reo gently encouraged me with kind words, and Himeno brightened my spirits with her cheerful smile.
Anxiety about developments that were not in the original.
And the fear that I might not be able to handle it all on my own.
My heart, nearly crushed by such negative emotions, was supported by the people I cherished.
So I strongly wished to make this cultural festival a success.
A different future awaits us than in the original, but still, I wanted it to become the best memory where everyone could smile in the end…
With that strong determination, I returned to the podium and opened my mouth.
After carefully observing my classmates’ expressions, I straightened my back and spoke clearly.
“Whether we go with my idea for handmade sweets or proceed with the collaboration with the pastry shop proposed by Fusegawa, I’ll leave it up to everyone to decide. But I have one request.”
My classmates listened quietly to my words. Feeling relieved by their attention, I continued.
“Regardless of which idea we choose, I will do my utmost to help everyone create the best memories. So I want you to include me in your circle. As a member of the class, and as a friend… I want to make the best memories with all of you. So, please, I ask for your support!”
I bowed deeply, expressing the utmost sincerity I could muster.
For a brief moment, my classmates fell silent, but that stillness soon transformed into gentle applause.
“Shindou-kun. Please lift your head.”
“That’s right! Let’s make the best memories together!”
“Culture festival, let’s all do our best!”
“Shindou-kun, we’re counting on you!”
Along with the applause, I heard such voices from my classmates.
When I raised my head, what met my eyes were warm gazes and gentle smiles from everyone.
Thus, the tasting event ended in great success, and everyone kindly accepted me, who had been isolated until now.