<Author's Comment>
Warning!
After the short story, at the very bottom (afterword section), a character design image for Ichikawa Amane is posted.
If you prefer to keep her visual only in your imagination, please be careful about scrolling down.
"Miss Contest? What's that?"
"A Miss Contest is exactly what it sounds like. It's a contest to choose the girl with the best looks in our high school."
"That's incredibly straightforward... So, why did you come to me?"
The slightly short boy standing in front of me with a camera was apparently a first-year student named Ryuta Nukui-kun, who is a member of the school festival executive committee.
"The thing is, we're holding a Miss Contest at the upcoming school festival. Based on preliminary survey results from the students, we have the top four girls from each grade enter. We post photos of those four in front of the student council room, and during the festival, even people from outside the school can vote to decide the number one. I'm the one in charge of the Miss Contest on the executive committee, but I don't know any of the four girls personally."
"I see."
"I was at a loss, but then I heard a rumor that there's a senpai who is close to all four of them, so I decided to come to Konuma-senpai."
"...Who did you hear that from?"
"A person named Taira in my class."
Taira-chan, huh... No, wait?
"I feel like Taira-chan said she didn't have any friends... Are you two friends?"
"No, we are not friends."
Wow, how harsh...!
"I just happened to pass by and heard Taira talking to Hoshikage, who is also in our class, about Azuma-senpai. I knew the names of the four entries, so I said, 'If you know Azuma-senpai, I'd like an introduction.' Then she said, 'I see, I see. But but, you don't have to do something so roundabout as asking me! When it comes to those four, there is a strongest senpai out there!'"
"Is that so..."
By the way, does Taira-chan use polite language even with her classmates? I don't think she did that with Hoshikage-san. ...Ah, I guess it's because they aren't friends.
"Well, fine. So, you want me to introduce you to those four?"
I won't be so tactless as to ask, "Who are those four?"
The four second-year girls that I could take photos of (or so Taira-chan thinks) are definitely Ichikawa, Azuma, Sako, and Erina-san.
"Ah, no. If possible, I'd appreciate it if you could take the photos of those four with this camera."
"Ha? Me?"
"Yes, you, senpai."
Ryuta-kun nodded blankly.
"Why?"
"Because it's nerve-wracking to talk to senpais who are cute enough to be recommended for a Miss Contest. Besides, it seems this year's four second-years are being called the 'God 4.' Better to let sleeping dogs lie, as they say."
I felt like he was using that proverb wrong, and I wondered if 'Four Heavenly Kings' was really a term only Ando used, and I thought that whether he was nervous or not, this was his job and a perk of the position... I had many points to nitpick, but because he looked at me with a face that said, "Isn't it obvious?" I started to feel like I was the one who was wrong, so I swallowed my words.
"Of course, I'll provide a reward."
"Eh, what kind of reward?"
"A 500-yen gift voucher that can be used at the school store."
"That's actually quite nice..."
And so.
Having been easily won over by 500 yen, I double-checked to see if the four girls were indeed who I thought they were and briefly confirmed how to use the camera before taking charge of it.
I should do what needs to be done quickly. (I didn't say I wouldn't do things that don't need to be done, though.)
First, I'll start by photographing someone close to me.
"Ichikawa, do you have a moment?"
"Hmm? What's up?"
When I called out to Ichikawa, who was sitting at her desk, she looked up at me without any guard, smiling like an angel.
"Uh, I'd like to take a photo of you, Ichikawa..."
"...Eh?"
When I said that, her cheeks flushed slightly.
"...What are you going to use it for?" she asked with an upturned gaze.
"Mi-Miss Contest!"
W-What did she mean by 'use it for'?! As a result of my fluster, it ended up sounding like a certain light music anime. We are always after school. (Actually, it's lunch break right now.)
"A Miss Contest, huh... Just like last year, I'm grateful but also a bit nervous..."
Ichikawa smiled bashfully as if she understood the situation. So she was in it last year too, or rather, they held it last year as well.
"Um, are you taking the photo, Konuma-kun?"
"Y-Yeah. An earnest junior asked me to."
"An earnest junior? Tsubame-chan?"
"No, a junior I don't know."
"A junior you don't know...? Heh, Konuma-kun, you're a celebrity, aren't you? You're popular, huh?"
Ichikawa said with a slightly pouting expression.
"Well, it's a guy, but since I was relied upon, could you say I'm popular...? Could you?"
"Ah, it's a boy."
I see, I see, Ichikawa-san nodded. What?
"Anyway, I was told to take it somewhere with a white background, so could you come with me?"
"Yeah, I understand."
We moved to an empty classroom.
"Alright, I'm taking it."
"O-Okay."
Ichikawa stood straight with her chin tucked in, at attention.
I held the camera vertically and took a photo. But.
"Hmm..."
"Konuma-kun?"
I tilted my head while looking at the captured photo.
"The posture is great and all, but how should I put it... I feel like Ichikawa's charm isn't being fully conveyed like this..."
"M-My charm!?"
Ignoring Ichikawa's startled voice, I continued to look at the photo.
I felt a burning emotion growing within me, a desire to capture Ichikawa exactly as she is.
What is this sense of mission?
It's certainly not because professionalism was sprouting due to the 500-yen voucher for the store.
It's just that bringing out the maximum charm of this person named Ichikawa Amane is my role in the band 'amane.'
Even if it's something outside my expertise like photography, what I should do remains the same.
"Ko-Konuma-kun...? You don't have to be so serious..."
"No, this won't do. This is the responsibility of the person who puts Ichikawa out into the world."
"You think of me that much..."
"It's the same for Azuma, Sako, and Erina-san. Being the person behind the scenes means presenting each of you in the most charming way. I'll make all of you into main heroines that make people's hearts race!"
When I told her that passionately,
"So it's not just me... I see how it is..."
Ichikawa's expression became flat.
...Well, whatever.
"Ichikawa, hey, you were interviewed by a magazine once back when you debuted, right?"
"Ah, yeah, just once. A kind, middle-aged male reporter interviewed me about various things. He mentioned his daughter was the same age as me..."
"No, the story about the reporter doesn't matter right now. Try doing the pose you did back then."
"He said it doesn't matter..."
After let out a sigh, Ichikawa asked,
"Like this?"
She joined her fingertips together and looked toward me.
"That's it! That's good!"
The scene I once saw in a magazine was right before my eyes! Amazing!
"Ahaha, your eyes are sparkling too much, Konuma-kun."
Apparently finding my excitement funny, the stiffness remaining in Ichikawa's expression softened.
At that moment, I pressed the shutter again.
"Oh, I think this is the one...!"
I let out a breath of admiration as I looked at Ichikawa on the screen.
"Let me see?"
Saying that, Ichikawa leaned in from the opposite side to look at the screen.
C-Close...! It was the same when she peeked at my phone screen when we first talked properly (when she found out I was making music), but why does this person have this kind of sense of distance...?
"Hey, Ichikawa..."
"Hmm?"
When Ichikawa looked up as she said that.
""Ugh...!""
Ichikawa's well-featured face was right there, so close I could almost see myself reflected in her eyes.
"S-Sorry...!"
Saying that, we both looked away.
"Um, is the photography... finished now?"
"Y-Yeah..."
I nodded while keeping my head down.
"...By the way, Konuma-kun. When you take photos of the other three, are you going to be as enthusiastic as you were just now?"
Then, she asked me that question while fidgeting.
"Eh? Yeah, probably...?"
"Hmph, I see."
I couldn't see Ichikawa's expression.
"...What's wrong?"
When I asked that.
"Nothing! You're going to be a good producer, Konuma-kun!"
"Oh, thanks..."
"I wasn't really praising you! Alright, let's go back to the classroom!"
With a complex expression that looked like she was pouting yet happy, Ichikawa laughed and headed back to the classroom.
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