Ryota's POV. Student Council Room.
It's been a few months after the sports festival. Now......we're nearing the Cultural School Festival.
But as of now, we have the Parent-Teacher Conference.
Me and the Prez went to the Student Council Room to get some of the work done.
Ishigami and Iino are also in the room as well. During the past events, we tried to get them on good terms, somehow it worked (?), I guess.
But everything is well that ends well, no?
Ishigami: Huh? Shinomiya-senpai and Fujiwara-senpai aren't coming?
Miyuki: The second years have their parent-teacher conferences today.
Miyuki: Kaedehara and I have one too.
Miyuki: Kaedehara is still far in the list and I'm last. We just stopped by when to get some work done for the cultural festival.
Ishigami: Ah, parent-teacher conferences.
Ishigami: Isn't it awful? I'm still a high school student. The future is way off.
Ryota: You don't have any plans for the future?
Ishigami: Mm.....I'm honestly having a bit of trouble deciding.....
Ishigami: Should I become the company president or a neet.
Ryota: How is that even a question?
Ishigami: I mean, my older brother will probably take over the company, and my parents said that they will let me decide to do whatever I want.
Ishigami: So technically, not working is also an option, right?
Me and the Prez are just dumbfounded by Ishigami's rants. Until Iino rebutted.
Iino: No, it's not an option. If you have the money, at least go to college. Since you can, think about what you want to do in the future.
Miyuki: Iino, you're planning on going to something law related, right?
Iino: That's what I'm planning for.
Ryota: Law, huh?
Ryota: Law is broad and it will take a lot of years needed to study.
Ryota: Not to mention, just like doctors who must take pre-medical courses, you need to take pre-law courses.
Iino: Yeah. I'm also thinking if I want to be a judge? A public prosecutor?
Iino: As for lawyers, there are a lot of them. There are corporate lawyers, and lawyers more focused on the individual.
Iino: There are many types.
Iino: I know I'm going to a law school but other than that......
Miyuki: Mm.....
Ryota: Law is really hard to tackle. Especially if during the time that you're studying law, the constitution could've change you know.
Iino: Really?
Miyuki: Yes. You never know. In fact, in America, they will always amend the constitution if there are some laws that needs to be revised and issues that needs to be addressed and eventually, to be resolved in the said amendment.
Ishigami: Iino, I think you should cross prosecution off your list, since you'll definitely throw who knows how many people into jail due to false charges.
Iino: When someone sues you, Ishigami, I'll be sure not to pull any punches.
Ryota: *sigh*
My phone suddenly rang and I received a notification that Dad is already here.
Ryota: Oh, I got to go. Dad is already here and I'm close to be called.
Miyuki: I see.
I went out of the student council room and went to where the conference is being held.
I saw that there are parents here as well.
????: Ryota!
I turn to the direction of the voice and I saw Dad along with some of the parents.
And those parents are the parents of my friends.
Ryota: Dad! Wait, I thought mom is the one who'll come here?
Tatsuya: Your mom told me that I should go. Also, don't worry. Saya and Koharu are holding down the fort.
???: Oh, this must be Kaedehara Ryota, I see.
I turn to the owner of the voice and a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a hat greeted me.
Tatsuya: Ah, yes. Nao-san, this is my son, Ryota.
Nao: Ryota-kun, I'm glad to make your acquiantance. I am Hayasaka Nao, Ai's mother.
Ryota: Oh! Nice to meet you, Nao-san.
Papa Shirogane: Oh, the Kaedehara kid has returned.
Ryota: Shirogane-san!?
Then I noticed that Shinomiya-san is embarrassed......
I approached her and asked her what happened.
Shinomiya: He asked me if how far I've gone with the Prez!
Ryota: ..........
Ryota: I'm not surprised. I mean.....look at my Dad.
I pointed at my Dad who is somehow teasing Hayasaka-san.
Tatsuya: So? Any developments with Ryota?
Hayasaka: Huh!? Tatsuya-san!? I-I......
Nao: Don't worry, I approve of your relationship.
Hayasaka: Mom!
I looked at Shinomiya-san again with a deadpan expression.
Ryota: See?
Kaguya: Yeah.......
----------------
Meanwhile.
Chika's father, Fujwiara Daichi also attended the conference and he saw the other parents talking.
And in particular, he saw Ryota.
Daichi: Wait, that kid? Chika, isn't he one of the kids back then at the piano competition?
He points at Ryota.
Chika: Yes.
She looks longingly at Ryota, and then his dad who is talking to some of the parents.
Somehow, even the female students couldn't believe that Ryota's father looks so young.
Daichi: Tatsuya, huh? It's been a while since I last saw him.
Chika: Eh!? Father!? You know Tatsuya-san!?
Daichi: Yes. Besides that you and Ryota-kun are childhood friends.......
Daichi: Tatsuya and I are classmates back then.
Chika: Eh!?
Daichi: Haha. Back then, when we're at your age......
Daichi: The two of us actually fought over one girl.
Chika: Really?
Daichi: And the girl........
Daichi: Is none other than Tsukiyomi Koharu or should I say.......
Daichi: Kaedehara Koharu.
Chika: What!? You know both of his parents!?
Daichi: Yes.
Daichi: We really go long way back.......
Daichi: But that was already a long, long time ago.
Daichi: The fact that Tatsuya and Koharu are destined for each other......
Daichi: All I can do, is to wish for their happiness.
Chika: I wonder........if I can do that too.......
--------------
Back to Ryota.
When my name was called, Dad and I went inside of the room.
And when we settled, I was asked about......
Teacher: Kaedehara-kun, you are a prominent member of the school band and I heard that you won 3rd place at a piano contest back then.
Teacher: Don't you want to pursue a career related to music?
Ryota: Maybe? I could be a music teacher since I like teaching. But.....
Ryota: I'm willing to take over our café.
Teacher: Oh! Of course! How could I forget!
Tatsuya: Well, my son actually learned all I have learned. He's actually now learning on his own.
Tatsuya: So, I'm glad that he will take over the café. I don't see anything wrong with that, Sensei.
Teacher: Hm, I agree. I guess your interview is the easiest and straightforward.
Teacher: Kaedehara-kun, I'm sure the future is looking bright for you.
Teacher: And it will even be brighter.
Once that was over, Dad and I went home. Actually, Shinomiya-san, Hayasaka-san, and Nao-san tagged along with us.
Since Hayasaka-san wanted to spend time with her mother.
So we let them tag along and once we reach the café, we let them in and took a table.
It's the usual work for me and my family.
But somehow, I can feel something is about to change that even I myself can't pinpoint it out.
The next day........
When I entered the Student Council Room, no one is there yet.
So I decided to chill but I found something lying on the floor.
And when I took a closer look, it is a key.
A pinkish gold key.
I checked upon the design and the bit is having a cross shape design.
Ryota: Hmmm, wait........
Maybe I was overthinking things.......
But it was not out of the possibility........
I pulled out my locket.........put the key......
I am nervous because the key is somehow the perfect size.......and the moment I turned it.......
It clicked.
Ryota: !!!!!
Ryota: What the......!? It clicked!? It means—
But just as I was about to turn the key.........my phone rang......
I immediately grabbed my phone and it was from Tohma-senpai.
Ryota: Tohma-senpai, what's up?
Tohma: I also forgot but, we will have to decide on what are we going to do for the cultural festival. So, I need all the club members right now.
Ryota: I see. I'll go get Sora, Kousei, and Kotori.
I turned off the call immediately and put my phone back to my pocket.
Ryota: It seems like the answers will come later.
I pulled the key out and placed it immediately to the same exact spot on where I saw the key.
Afterwards, I immediately fetched my fellow second year club members to our meeting.
I went out of the student council room and went to fetch Saya, Kotori, and Kousei.
The four of us got in the nick of time, as Tohma-senpai and Mio-senpai are already waiting for us.
The meeting is about what will our club be doing for the school festival.
Apparently, each year, the Music Club will perform a live concert during the second day of the festival.
But.........this is where things are somehow hard for us because.......our club will hold a composition event.
So, how does this composition event works?
It's really simple, some of our songs, will come from the songs that were going to be composed by the students that our president, in this case, Tohma-senpai, will choose and we will never know who the composer is, except for him.
In order to participate, one must compose a song that revolves around hearts, well, this is the chance where everyone can express their love.
Well, it doesn't matter if the song is about their love for their family, friends, and even to their special someone.
Either it is a happy one, unrequited, tragic, or a love just waiting to be noticed.
Either way.......as long as one can express their love, then, we can make use of it. As long as we can provide it with the chords and the tone.........
And so far, Tohma-senpai, only accepted one composition so far.
Mio: One......wait, what happened to the 22 compositions?
Tohma: You want to know?
Mio: Yeah.
Tohma: .............
Ryota: ......
Sora: .....
Kousei: .......
Kotori: ........
Tohma: *head slammed the table*
Music club members: !?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Mio: WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, YOU IDIOT!
Tohma: THEIR LYRICS DOESN'T HAVE THE PASSION! THEY DON'T FREAKING POSSESS GENUINE FEELINGS!
Mio: THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!? AREN'T YOU JUST GETTING PICKY!?
Mio: ALSO, YOU HAVEN'T EVEN ANSWERED MY QUESTION ABOUT THE OTHER 22 COMPOSITIONS!
Tohma: I burned them.
And he just said that with a straight face.
Music Club Members: WHAT THE HECK!?
Ryota: Senpai, isn't that too cruel!?
Mio: Yeah! Those composers put all their heart and soul in composing those lyrics!?
Tohma: Heart and soul my foot! I haven't felt those in the other 22 submissions!
Tohma: It was all that cringy shit of heartbreak due to arguments, princess falling in love with the prince, damsel in distress, all the most cringy stuff that you could ever imagine about love!
Kotori: Um, senpai, I think you're taking it too far......
Tohma: Sorry, but as of now, you are lucky that you guys haven't read those cringy shits.
Kousei: But it doesn't mean that you have to burn them.
Tohma: Oh, not to mention, I filmed it while burning their compositions, and sent it to those 22 composers.
Sora: Now that's really cruel.
Kotori: Man, even Kyoko-senpai wasn't that cruel.
Mio: You said it.
Tohma: Anyways, the submissions are still open, until tomorrow.
Music Club Members: HUH!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
And so, our chaotic song picking began.......it really drained me mentally........
Also.........
I'm just thinking......
Within the past few months, Hayasaka-san and I began to be so close together.
She would visit the café during her free time........
Not to mention, Fujiwara-san is also making her move.
It seems like I got to make my decision now.
I have to......
And it seems like, I know this is cringe, but I got to choose during the school festival.
But I guess while I'm discerning for the answer........
It's also been hectic making the preparations that the prez and I are secretly making.
He just pulled me in and told me help him in a.......I don't even know how to describe it but.....that plan is ridiculously hard to execute.......
Until then......
I wonder how will the school festival will turn out.
The Legend of the Devoted Heart, the story from which the Shuchiin Academy's School Festival was based on..........
It draws even closer......
Now then......what will happen......next?
I don't know.
For now, I'll go check out what's going at the School Festival Committee, the Prez always asked me to get the progress of their plans and all.
Ryota: Man, being the PRO is sure hard, huh? Especially during this time of the year.