A youth story of a passerby at the end of the world

"After all, you dumped all the work on her, which is just like being a cruel slave owner."

"Wow, that's so rude. It's because only she can do these jobs, not the kind of work that if you don't do it, there are plenty of other people who can."

It sounds like he's exploiting Hayasaka, but Soubu High School is exactly where she needs people right now.

If it were a place like the Chiba Self-Help Committee, there would probably be 5 people applying for each job, and then a whole group of people waiting to see what happens. With such a large pool of applicants, the least they would lack is talent.

Even in each house, there were groups of women, elderly people, and children who had nothing to do.

However, at the General Staff High School, everyone had a job, maintaining normal daily operations. While there were undeniably some redundant staff in various departments, the situation remained at a healthy level.

The boundaries have expanded again, and there are now dozens of people on guard duty. It's no longer appropriate to keep them under the Organization Department. We should consider separating them and establishing a new department.

"Aren't there Hayama-senpai and Hikigaya-senpai?" Iroha Isshiki asked curiously, raising her right hand as she listened to their conversation.

Glancing at her, Uesugi Genshin chuckled, indicating that she was too naive. "If it's the two of them, Hayama will be conservative because he's afraid of making sacrifices. If Hachiman makes the decision, it will make the people of Hayama unhappy."

"So, according to you..." Yukino Yukinoshita's beautiful face showed a thoughtful expression, "Although I don't know the details, is it because of a bad relationship?"

She was referring to disharmony and conflict in the relationship.

“No.” Uesugi Genshin denied it outright. “They were comrades who fought together and could trust each other.”

"Then why..."

"We just can't get along." Uesugi Genshin said helplessly, waving his hand. There was no solution to this.

"Ah..." Isshiki Iroha tapped her lips with her finger, sighing as if she understood.

"What does this mean?" Yukino Yukinoshita, who has few friends, didn't quite understand, though she knew the literal meaning.

“Well…” Uesugi Genshin opened his palm and held up an example, “Football is a sport with a maximum of 11 players. Of course, there are also 3-player and 5-player games, which means that not everyone can participate. This is the limitation on the number of players.”

"Hayama and Tobe are in the soccer club, so it's fine that they like playing soccer. But Hachiman and Zaimokuza are in the home club, not to mention that Sagami Hatano is a member of the games club, and they don't really like outdoor activities. It's just their interests."

"Although Shiroyama and the others are in the judo club, they mostly don't play soccer. Because they are split into different groups in the Hachiman team, the atmosphere between the groups is actually quite good. Sometimes they play together, and these are some of the larger groups."

"Then, apart from a few large-scale group missions, the two teams operated separately, so there was a competitive relationship between them, and they would compare their respective achievements and gains in private."

In fact, he had discussed this with Hachiman and Hayama, and they had done a good job.

Those who fight hard will receive a bonus afterward; those who loot easily will not be allowed to take valuables, and the spoils will mostly be stored in the execution department's small warehouse.

That's why we say that Hachiman and the others are very qualified and excellent leaders. Hachiman goes without saying; although Hayama is usually very amiable, he will stick to his principles when it comes to matters of principle.

If persuasion fails, I will scold them sternly, but this has not happened yet.

From beginning to end, they have remained a healthy and growing team.

“Competition… I see.” Setting down her teacup, Yukino Yukinoshita stood up, picked up the teapot, and not only filled her own cup but also raised it towards Genshin Uesugi.

Uesugi Genshin understood and handed over the teacup. "The two of them are equals, so there will always be discrepancies in the allocation of tasks. It's like they both feel that they are working too hard and want to choose some easier tasks next time, while their subordinates are watching them from below."

"Thank you." Looking at the full teacup, Uesugi Genshin said his thanks softly.

"However, given their personalities... they actually both possess a certain self-sacrificing spirit, and might even do the opposite."

"Dedication? Putting aside Hayama-senpai, how does Hikigaya-senpai resemble him?" Iroha Isshiki tilted her head cutely, but her expression immediately changed when she heard him mention dedication.

If not, then why risk your life to save the dog?

“Actually, I also have a spirit of dedication, otherwise why would I care about the life or death of Soubu High School?” Uesugi Genshin said with a smile, raising his teacup as if he were raising a beer glass.

"Iroha, people are complex. It's hard for a person to understand themselves, and it's just as hard to see others clearly." Yukino Yukinoshita closed her eyes, then opened them, and calmly spoke to Iroha Isshiki as if giving a lecture.

Yukino Yukinoshita had no acquaintances or friends here. She could be indifferent to the life or death of Soubu High School, but she still stayed. Therefore, she was very clear about Uesugi Genshin's feelings at this moment.

“I know…” Iroha Isshiki said softly, her head bowed, speaking words that the two on the other end couldn’t hear, “That’s just the kind of person you are, Senpai.”

"In short, if the two of them discuss it together, but then carry out high-intensity operations for several days in a row, the team will be physically and mentally exhausted, and it's inevitable that someone will complain. You can't complain about your beloved captain, or you'll turn your resentment on someone else. It's a matter of channeling the problem. Alcohol does work, but that's all."

Ultimately, this is a matter of human nature.

He leaned back in his chair, looking at the vibrant tea in his teacup. "Then let's just set up an agent. Hayasaka perfectly fits the bill. Some people are afraid to make decisions because they're afraid of making sacrifices, but she isn't! She won't have too much psychological pressure either; she has a strong mental fortitude."

Because in her view, these people were both partners and not partners. She herself was both detached and involved.

"Moreover, she is my deputy, has high combat power, and represents me. When she gives orders in my name, no one will question them, and even if they do, their respective captains will resolve the issue."

He downed most of the tea in his cup in one gulp, then swirled the cup around. "Isn't this the perfect candidate?"

“Indeed.” Picking up the teapot and refilling his cup, Yukino Yukinoshita glared at him, both annoyed and exasperated. “And you don’t have to write any reports yourself anymore.”

“I have my own things to do too,” Uesugi Genshin argued. “To maintain my condition, I also train and practice every day.”

Ah, indeed, there is always time if you squeeze it out. It's like a girl's breasts; you can still squeeze some out if you really want to, except that it's not just fat on the breasts anymore, but the entire chest.

Shaking her head, Yukino Yukinoshita gave him a "say what you want" look, touched the rim of her teacup with her finger, looked at the rippling tea surface, and sighed softly.

"So we all left. You want your older sister to help manage Soubu High School?"

"Yes." Looking into the other person's beautiful blue eyes, Uesugi Genshin asked absentmindedly, "So, what did you say to your sister afterwards?"

"Nothing special, it's more like I agree." The exact words were: Since Yukino-chan asked me to...

“Then we can rest assured, right?” A relieved smile appeared on his face as Uesugi Genshin put down his teacup.

"Who can say for sure?" Yukino Yukinoshita gently closed her eyes.

Even though I told her before that Yang was a siscon, she still didn't quite believe it.

Don't worry, your sister loves you. The proof is right now.

A facial muscle I don't usually use suddenly tightened, and I realized, ah, that's a wry smile.

"Off work~ Off work~" Standing up and stretching his shoulders, Uesugi Genshin said to Yukinoshita and Isshiki, "We've finished our work, let's go have some fun."

"Ha... there's no time to play." Yukino Yukinoshita covered her forehead in pain, not because she was unhappy about not having enough time to play, but because the person who wanted to play sometimes really had a childish personality. Are all boys this immature?

"I still need to work on contingency plans here." With that, she opened the laptop lid and pressed the power button.

"So, senpai, is there anything I need to do later?" Iroha Isshiki asked with interest, shifting her gaze from Yukinoshita-senpai to the other side.

"Nothing special." Uesugi Genshin replied, stretching. Because he had finished quickly, it was still a little before lunchtime.

"Could you keep me company for a little while?" She stood up from the chair, her uniform skirt stopping as it brushed against her fair thighs.

"?"

-----------------

“Checkmate.” She held up a mahjong set in her hand, showing it off to Uesugi Genshin with an air of self-importance.

"I'm not very good at playing mahjong," Uesugi Genshin said hesitantly.

"Eh~, how about you give it a try, senpai?" Iroha Isshiki stepped forward, placed the mahjong tiles on the table, and took his right hand in both of hers, shaking it from side to side in a coquettish manner.

"Um..." Qin Ye pushed up his glasses, "Why are we here?"

"Isn't this the game club?" Isshiki Iroha didn't let go, but simply turned around and replied matter-of-factly.

With an expression that said, "Do you even need to ask?", Qin Ye was speechless for a moment.

"Oh, this is the games club, not the board games club or the mahjong club," Sagami said with a serious expression.

Iroha Isshiki chose to ignore them, asking, "What do you think, senpai?"

"No, isn't mahjong for four people? Since Qin Ye and Sagami..." Although it is a two-player mahjong game.

"It's alright, Minister!" Qin Ye pushed up his glasses again. "I was just venting. I used to play with my grandfather back in my hometown."

"Yes. We haven't even started the game yet." Sagami, who had just arrived and had nothing to do, sat down in a chair.

Then Uesugi Genshin was forcibly dragged to the table by Isshiki Iroha. Mahjong is considered a national game in Japan.

"...Senior, you played quite well, didn't you? And you still say you don't know how? Isn't that cunning?" Isshiki Iroha complained angrily, slapping the edge of the table slightly.

After playing several rounds, it was almost lunchtime, and surprisingly, the person with the most points was the senior! The person with the fewest points was herself!

The two bespectacled people next to them are also formidable opponents.

"Ah... I really don't like it, and because it's always associated with gambling, I've become very bothered by it."

Uesugi Genshin thought for a moment and then played a card.

"Senior, that's prejudice."

"Who says mahjong is related to gambling?" Isshiki Iroha said, while pressing down on the hem of her skirt and kicking her opponent under the table.

Unfazed by the attack, Uesugi Genshin said calmly, "That's all Tang Bohu's fault."

"What is that?" Isshiki Iroha tilted her head in confusion.

“An old movie,” Uesugi Genshin said succinctly, without offering any further explanation.

“Eh~, Senpai, surprisingly old-fashioned.” Isshiki Iroha paused, blinked her big eyes, and then said softly, “Well, I knew that.”

The match was about to begin. At that moment, she thought for a moment and then blew out the North Wind she had just touched.

"and."

The sound from the other end made her heart tremble.

Pushing down his own cards, Uesugi Genshin declared his victory, while Issai suffered defeat. "Unrivaled Strategist, 32000 points, Yakuman."

"Hiss..." Qin Ye and Sagami gasped. This was truly a rare hand.

"Uh..." Isshiki Iroha was stunned, unable to even breathe. "Hmm, let's play something else. Mahjong is really bad. I won't play it anymore."

"That's settled then." Uesugi Genshin nodded. He had once again persuaded a beautiful girl who loved playing mahjong to give up her game today; he had done a great deed.

Qin Ye and Sagami were responsible for tidying up the mahjong set and returning it to its owner. Although the set was borrowed, Qin Ye felt perfectly justified in letting the two of them run errands.

The main reason was that Iroha Isshiki, as the student council's general affairs officer, traveled between various departments and was basically familiar with them all, so the request at this time did not arouse the dissatisfaction of Qin Ye and the other two.

However, Uesugi Genshin did not intend to agree, insisting on handling things himself. "Isshiki, the two of us can deliver it."

"That's fine then." Isshiki Iroha's main concern was that the two of them would be together, not who would deliver the gift; the key point was that it was for both of them!

As the two walked down the street, Uesugi Genki took something out of his pocket with his free hand. "Isshiki."

"What's wrong?" Isshiki Iroha approached quietly, propping her head up with her hand and slightly tilting her chin up.

The hair on her shoulders swayed and shimmered in the sunset.

"Give this to Yukinoshita and tell her it's a gift from you," he said, handing the glasses case to Isshiki.

"What is this? Glasses?"

"Blue light blocking glasses".

"Why didn't you just give it to me in person in the student council room just now, senpai!" Iroha Isshiki muttered unhappily, even giving him a sidelong glance.

"The reaction was too strong."

No, isn't this the correct reaction...?

"I have my reasons." After Yang Nai's reminder, Uesugi Genshin realized that he should be more careful. "Just remember to say that you gave it to me."

"Giving someone a gift for no reason, it's not even a birthday." Iroha Isshiki said nonchalantly, touching her cheek with her index finger, leaving the somewhat tired Uesugi Genshin aside.

“Yukinoshita’s birthday was a long time ago, it was January 3rd.” Uesugi Genshin looked ahead and continued walking. “Giving gifts doesn’t necessarily have to be on someone’s birthday.”

“You remember it quite clearly, senpai.” Puffing out her cheeks, Isshiki Iroha’s face showed an unreadable sadness. “Does senpai know my birthday?”

"Let me think..."

Just when Isshiki Iroha thought the other party definitely wouldn't be able to figure it out, he spoke up the next second.

"It's April 16th, right?"

“…Eh?” Isshiki Iroha stopped in her tracks, her lips trembling as she tried to keep her voice steady as she spoke, “When did you find out, Senpai?”

"Hmm?" Uesugi Genshin didn't notice Isshiki's unusual behavior. "I've known about it for a long time."

She took a deep breath, trying desperately to keep the emotions in her chest from bursting out, but a small sob escaped her lips, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"...I see... Oh."