Chapter 7

Hm hmm hmm~ ♪

Arts and crafts~ ♪ So much fun~ ☆

Check this out, Ado-chan-senpai! I made a mini-you out of clay ♪

Oh? Thank you. You’re very skilled, Tenma. I didn’t expect you to be so good with your hands.

Nuh-uh! I was watching you the whole time I was making it, and even then it still didn’t turn out as cool as you are!

I’ve always loved making arts and crafts, but I’m just no good at it.

You’re better than I am. I tried for so long to craft an ocarina back home, but it took me many years before I was satisfied with the finished product.

This, by the way, is that very ocarina.

Oh! You play that all the time! Lemme try, lemme try ♪

That’s fine, but go wash your hands first. They’re covered in clay.

Sure thing! I’ll go wash up, so hold onto Ado-chan senpai for me, ‘kay Ado-chan-senpai? Splish sploosh ♪

You want me to… hold myself? Ah, do you mean this little clay doll…?

(Fufu, so this is me. How small and adorable.)

(I wonder if this is how I looked in the past: a fragile being who could be easily crushed with a single hand… But now, I’m big and strong.)

(The clay this is made from is soft, so I’ll have to take care not to ruin it.)

(Fufu. This is surprisingly fun. While we were at track club practice, I overheard Tenma saying he would be helping the drama club—)

(I had some free time too, so I more or less decided to follow along to help where I could… But it ended up being very friendly and heartwarming here.)

(The track club is focused mostly on individual conditioning, and UNDEAD always seems to be shouting and rampaging about.)

(Sometimes it’s nice to spend my time after school in such a peaceful way.)

Amazing! Everyone is working so hard to help us!

Ah—! Please don’t sneak up on me, Hibiki-senpai. I’m carrying something like a precious child right now.

A child? Ahaha, that little thing made of clay, is it? ♪

Oh, I apologize. I think I’ve been working so slowly that Tenma got bored.

I came here to help, but I haven’t been much use at all. I’m sorry.

No no—It’s the thought that counts, you know. We do have most of the costumes and props available here in our club, and if not here than in the theater course.

We only need make that which we don’t already have, so there’s no need to make a mountain out of a molehill.

You two are helping us out of the kindness of your hearts, so I can’t possibly ask too much of you.

Hm… Hearing that does make me feel better, but since I’m here, I’d like to do what I can. I’m just not good at working with small things.

Making the props seems too difficult… so I’ve been breaking up cardboard and other things we don’t need.

It’s easier to destroy than it is to create.

Fufufu, just as I’d expect from one of Rei’s children.

Hrmm… You’re Adios-kun, correct?

Adonis, actually.

I see, I see! Adonis-kun! And what a beautiful name it is!

I noticed that Japanese tools seemed too small for your hands, so I went to the storehouse and found some larger tools for you to use.

I’ve quite the variety in this toolbox, so by all means, use whatever you like.

You’re in the track club, so I would imagine you’re quite good at keeping control over your body. I don’t think you’re nearly as clumsy as you believe.

There’s a tool suited for each and every human out there, you know.

But your arm strength is too great to manage; yes, you are indeed one of Rei’s own…

But since you appear to be having difficulty with the smaller props, I’ll have you work with the theater course on the larger ones.

It’s no easy task to transport them, so they’re building them in the auditorium. If you’d like, I can take you in my hot air balloon. We’ll be over there in the blink of an eye!

Hmm, the auditorium? I’ve passed by there while jogging for the track club. I know where it is.

It’s not very far away, so I’ll run there. You’re rehearsing for your play, Hibiki-senpai, so please focus on that.

Oh, can Tenma come with me?

Sitting down and working for a long period of time makes my muscles tight and weak, so I’d like to go for a light run. That way we can work up a sweat while we loosen up.

Of course. You’re free to do as you please ♪

Ado-chan-senpai~! I’m all washed up! Gimme that ocarina ♪

Sure. After that, we’re going to move to the auditorium to help the theater course, if that’s okay with you.

If not, I’ll go over there on my own, and you can keep working here.

No, I’m going with you, Ado-chan-senpai! Tomo-chan still hasn’t shown up, and I don’t know anyone else here! I don’t know how to handle that, yanno?

Fufu. Are you shy, Tenma?

Oh! You, the bad kid—Do you happen to know where that Tomoya-kun is?

He hasn’t turned up yet, so I’ve getting quite worried. Do you think he’s run away?

Don’t call me a bad kid…

Nghh… I don’t think Tomo-chan would run away.

I went and peeked into class A on my way here and saw he was reading off a script. I didn’t wanna bother him, so I just went on ahead without saying anything.

Tomo-chan goes totally nuts about the things he’s into, or I guess I should say he gets laser-focused on it…

So it’s probably that he was practicing so hard he lost track of time, probably?

If you need something from him, I could go get him for you? I’ll go dash over there ☆

No, it seems that won’t be necessary. Speak of the devil and he shall appear—I can hear Tomoya-kun’s footsteps.