Like yesterday, I was being recruited for Reona’s class-leader work. After cheer rehearsal, three-legged race, and play rehearsal in series, I wanted to wrap and go home.
“It should be correct, but it’s money so please double-check.”
“Yeah, I do not want to be falsely accused and dragged out for it. I’ll go slow.”
“Ryouya-kun, as ever, negative-mode.”
“That’s me.”
We were verifying expenses for our team’s festival budget. Normally accounting goes to a third-year sub-leader, but they were maxed out and it got bumped to Reona.
I cross-checked receipts against the ledger. Money meant zero margin for error. Reona did the first pass; I was the second.
”…No errors.”
“Okay, thank you. Solo-double-checking is worse than a second pair of eyes — helps.”
“Drop the receipts and ledger off and let’s go home.”
“Oh — actually, the teacher asked me to give you something.”
She handed me an A4 sheet. Today’s math homework. In my handwriting.
“Notice anything?”
”…Name field is blank.”
I had been so focused on finishing that I’d forgotten to write my name. On the most important field.
“Math teacher said the unnamed one matches Yagami’s handwriting, please pass it to him.”
“Saved. Thank you.”
“There are two — pop your name on both.”
I wrote my name on the two sheets on the table. Forgetting once might be a slip; forgetting twice was full-disengagement. I had vague memory of writing my name after finishing yesterday, but apparently that was wrong.
A minor careless deduction like that would have been galling. Saved. We dropped them off at the teachers’ room and headed for the library.
I hadn’t known how long accounting would take, so we’d told Riona to wait at the library. Good call, in retrospect — it had run long.
“Festival decorations are going up — feels real now.”
“Yeah, this weekend’s the event. Excited.”
“Hmm, doesn’t sound like the guy who was praying for cancellation a week ago.”
”…Could you pretend not to have heard that?”
“Fine, I’ll let that slide for now.”
I was, in fact, looking forward to the festival, but admitting it to Reona felt embarrassing. She’d seen through me obviously.
The trip I’d dreaded had been the best of my life, and I’d had more fun this year overall thanks to them. We met up with Riona at the library and headed home.
“Nee-chan, it work?”
“Yeah, perfect.”
“What’re you guys whispering about?”
“Maiden’s secret.”
“Ryouya will know eventually.”
The two of them looked like they were scheming. Whatever it was — probably another stunt incoming.