COTE: A Man On A Mission || Love is War?

Hey, it’s a ring!

What are you doing, Hikigaya-kun? Are you cheating on our little angel Kushida-chan?

But, indeed. She needs this thing now.

Although Chabashira has always been obsessed with promotion, she is not stupid and knows that now it seems that a male teacher wants to confess his love to her.

They were all colleagues, and she didn’t have much experience in rejecting people, so having this kind of thing as a buffer would make things a lot easier to insult other party.

~• •~

But Chabashira has now opened the small box and even pinched the ring with her white fingers, but her expression seems a little subtle and awkward.

After all, Hikigaya-kun is dating Kushida-chan!

Although he often hears Kushida talk trash, but also gain some experience points from her. ’I’ve become more skilled at sensing the atmosphere, so I know that Chabashira-sensei must be embarrassed because I didn’t put the ring on.....After all, how can you just wear a ring given by a student?’

”Did you change out of your performance costumes so soon?” So, just like every two-timing bastard Hikigaya-kun changed the subject and took initiative to ease atmosphere.

”I’m a little uncomfortable....”

Then, no solution. Hachiman thinks the contrast of Chabashira is quite cute.

”That - in front, under the stage - you seemed -” Look, our cold Milf beauty now seemed to be hesitant to speak, who could easily step on Hachiman’s shoes earlier with a calm face.

”Sae-chan, how come you changed your outfit so quickly when I just went to the bathroom?” At this time, Hoshinomiya Chie, who was still wearing her high school uniform, walked over, put her hands on Chabashira’s shoulders, and interrupted her next words.

Because his girlfriend is Kushida-chan, Hikigaya-kun knows exactly what happened when Miss Hoshinomiya went to the bathroom without changing her clothes.

Probably to vent emotions or something like that.

We were supposed to perform together on stage, but I ended up being treated as just a background....

Something like that.

Probably only a magnanimous archangel like Ichinose could accept such a thing, but Kushida would definitely not be happy about it.

So by analogy, he can know that Miss Hoshinomiya must have been extremely angry just now.

”It’s a little bit hard to adapt----After all, we are old now.”

”Hey - Sae-chan, that’s so rude! Don’t say that. I can’t even lie to myself when I say that. It’s been a long time since we graduated ---- No way, I still think I’m very young.”

Cheer your little fists angrily, humpin’ around invisible particles.

Is it normal behaviour?

”It’s your turn next.” At this time, announcer came backstage from stage.

In other words, other people’s projects have ended, so it’s their turn to finish.

”Then we won’t bother you here anymore.” Chabashira then took Hoshinomiya away in a matter of seconds, as if dragging someone very unimportant.

Time is left for remaining four people.

It was originally decided that it would be a three-person performance, but with addition of Ichinose-san, number of members became sufficient, and Amasawa even gave up her position as the lead singer.

But junior is also helping.

Just now, considering that some male teachers might get emotional, she acted as the host herself.

”As far as sales are concerned, there is no problem. But....” Ichika looked at Hikigaya-senpai with eyes that he found it dumbfounded.

What’s wrong with today’s girls?

She actually knew what Chabashira-sensei wanted to ask just now.

’What she wanted to ask was whether the commotion that had just been caused was instigated by you, Hikigaya-senpai! In other words, what were you yelling about just now? Are you saying something to Chabashira-sensei that might make people fall in love with you? ....You have to know that teacher obviously has no experience in love, and usually acts like a big-name Horikita, so it’s easy for her to be attracted to someone like you who she gets used to after spending a long time with...!’

Ichika doesn’t think that what Hikigaya-senpai said just now was from the heart, or that he was taking advantage of the chaos to express his feelings.

But she still looked at him with one eye closed in suspicion.

It should just be an emergency measure at that time.

’Hikigaya-senpai cannot be blamed for this matter. It was me who handled situation poorly and did not take into account the eagerness of men in their thirties to find a mate, so I needed my senior to stabilize the situation.... As a result, Chabashira-sensei is now somewhat shaken. You know. Now Miss Chabashira is still a teacher, so there is no problem, but now she has said that she will resign after teaching this class of students....In other words, when Hikigaya-senpai graduates, Chabashira-sensei will no longer be a teacher, so although the probability is small, it does not mean it is impossible! Hey! That is to say....~!’ As the person in charge of this project, Ichika Amasawa was not thoughtful enough and accidentally created a new risk for herself.

Amasawa suddenly felt that life was difficult.

There are also people who don’t notice this situation.

That is Archangel Ichinose who was here in background earlier.

”Hey... Hachiman, will today’s performance really be okay?”

Under normal circumstances, performances are rehearsed, but Hikigaya-kun refused to do yesterday, and although opening performance was done, everyone helped out, even with the assistance of Yukinoshita.

But now, there are 3 pieces to perform.

”Yuki Toki” by Nagi Yanagi

Will be sung by Yukinoshita Yukino and Amasawa themselves.

But when it comes to ”White Album”, Ichinose is lead singer alone.

Then, she had to perform in front of not only students and staff of whole school, but also her mother and sister.

There was some pressure. As long as you are human, have a weak side.

Hikigaya-kun is already familiar with Ichinose’s sometimes weak side.

”Of course not.” Look, as a more calm person in relationship, he assured her with a gentle nod, ”It must be... gorgeous like fireworks. Because this is our show. And the finale song is not yours to perform, Ichinose. So don’t worry. Just sing like you usually do during training.”

Consoled this poor nervous child.

”Yoshu...Hai!” Ichinose nodded with her fingers clenched tightly, and punched the air softly.

???

Hikigaya-kun and others were preparing behind the stage, for example, changing from school uniforms to performance costumes.

During opening performance, everyone was wearing their normal, a bit revealing clothes to gain eyes, later were student uniforms when teachers came.

It looked like nothing had changed, but now it was different. Since it’s going to be the finale, simply singing would not be enough, so dressed up.

Of course, this is a statement to audience, to make them feel that money was well spent.

Plus for myself.

Since you’re going to perform on stage, should at least prepare nice-looking costumes.

According to Ichika, Ichinose-senpai will not take any money for this project.

She will not do such a thing as taking advantage of others for free. So, Amasawa must show some appreciation.

This made Hikigaya-senpai feel a little embarrassed.

So at that time he agreed to Amasawa’s request and went with her to choose performance costumes for everyone.

It’s just that Hikigaya-kun has no experience in buying clothes for girls, so even though he went out with Ichika, girl only ended up buying clothes for herself.

So, from now on she can only ask Sakura-senpai to help her and use her vision to choose clothes for everyone.

Hikigaya-kun also has a special performance costume, similar to a suit. He wore it once and felt that he looked more energetic.

”Ah, Hikigaya-senpai, please don’t change your clothes....”

Seeing that Hachiman was about to go to the locker room, Ichika hurriedly stopped him.

”The performance clothes Sakura-senpai bought are for you as a gift, but don’t wear them now. You can just wear school uniform shirt the way you are now. Or just leave it as it is now, don’t change anything....!”

Huh?

Hachiman looked at her with some confusion.

”Well, since you are just playing the piano, you are just a background player and shouldn’t steal the spotlight from lead singer. So, you can just wear your normal ones. Hehe~”

Pretend to be cute.

You are talking so fast. It made Hachiman think something is wrong with this genius of a person.

’Is that so? Is playing piano just the background? Please apologize to other people who do such a job professionally. Because playing it can also make you shine.....’ However, Hikigaya-kun isn’t the type who wants to be glittering, so it’s okay to keep a low profile.

”Hikigaya-senpai, please don’t wear glasses too.”

”.....? Eh?” Hachiman stared at her with his mouth a bit open, there are very few times he is like such a dead fish looking now.

This is asking for too much, okay?

”Can I ask what the reason is....?”



”I’m afraid you’ll become too dazzling. Although I think I will be the winner in the end, but.” Amasawa looked up at him with a strange gaze, creepy sort of protective desire, ”Ichika already has enough rivals in love. Please forgive me, Hikigaya-senpai.”

”.....” Hachiman felt that he was not that popular.

At least, he had not received a single love letter since he entered the school.

The only time he was deliberately sought out by a girl was also a trap set by Kamuro Masumi.

However, it is not a gentlemanly thing to do to upset a hard-working junior schoolmate.

So, Hikigaya-senpai nodded and took off his glasses on his own initiative.

In fact, he couldn’t deny the concerns of his junior.

Because he has personally experienced how stage performances can shake people.

The reason was because of Sakayanagi Arisu, he saw her playing on the ship.

He felt that girl was shining like a popular star at that time! Just feeling of going to a real life performa....

Then he had to avoid Sakayanagi-san for several days in a row, waiting for her dazzling halo to fade away.

So, Hikigaya-kun maintained same attitude as when he first entered.

xxxxxx

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