Chapter 36
Ever since that friendly match, I've been avoiding any places where I might run into the tennis club members. Somehow, I'm afraid of running into Fuji-senpai.
I couldn’t explain it, but it felt like something was about to break out of my peaceful life.
I was afraid of this kind of uncertainty that I couldn't grasp, so during this period, I basically only left during breaks to go to the bathroom or during physical education classes. At noon, I ate the rice balls or bento I brought with me in the classroom. The rest of the time I stayed in the classroom obediently to read and review.
There are still two weeks left before the first monthly exam at Qingxue. I have to hurry up and review, otherwise I will definitely fall far behind everyone else in the exam.
After all, I always feel that I was lucky to be admitted to Qingxue.
However, sometimes things don't necessarily happen the way I want them to.
I have to go to club activities.
Although the Gardening Club does not require all members to participate in club activities every time, they must maintain a certain attendance rate. The attendance rate judgment of the Gardening Club is very loose compared to other clubs.
That means you must participate in club activities at least once a month, otherwise you will be forced to withdraw from the club.
It's almost the end of the month, and I have to participate in club activities no matter how reluctant I am.
The gardening club's activities are basically held in the greenhouse of Qingxue. It is usually used as a classroom for biology classes, and becomes the gardening club's activity venue after class.
When I arrived, seniors Kanemuratani and Suhara Tsuneya, whom I had met at the last recruitment meeting, were already in the greenhouse. There was also a girl named Fujiwara Miteru who was also a first-year like me.
I didn't see Fuji-senpai, and while I was secretly relieved, I also felt a little disappointed. Then I thought, after all, it's tennis club time now, so I guess Fuji-senpai will give priority to participating in the tennis club activities...
"Koizumi-kun, come quickly! Today happens to be our harvest day!"
Senior Jincun called me over. On the table were various fresh cut flowers, light pink and champagne-colored lisianthus, red roses, bluebells, and some flowers that I had not seen often.
"These are the flowers we planted in this greenhouse. They're in full bloom now, so we picked them all and planned to make some flower baskets to sell at a charity sale..."
"Benefit sale?"
I looked at Senior Jincun, feeling a little confused.
"Yes, our gardening club takes out the flowers and plants we grow every once in a while and sets up a stall in the public areas of the school to sell them. A small portion of the proceeds from the flower sales is used to fund the purchase of seedlings and seeds, and the majority of the rest is donated to charitable organizations... Koizumi-chan, you've arrived at the perfect time. We're short of someone to help man the stall and advertise tomorrow's charity sale!"
Senior Jincun stared at me with a malicious smile on her face.
I had a bad feeling at the moment. After all, I only came here once to make up for the number of activities. If I also waste tomorrow's time, it would be really not worth it!
So I quickly shook my head and lied, "Um...Senior Kanemura, I'm really sorry, I have something else to do tomorrow, so I'm afraid I won't have time..."
Hearing this, Senior Jincun showed a regretful expression on her face, "Is that so... That's really a pity. We were planning to offer these two buffet coupons to a high-end restaurant if you were willing to be a living signboard... It seems we have to find someone else..."
As she spoke, she took out two tickets from her bag.
I subconsciously glanced at the two tickets, and the words "XX High-altitude Revolving Restaurant" immediately caught my eye, and my pupils trembled instantly.
Could this be the legendary ultra-luxurious buffet with a per capita cost of five figures?!
I immediately grasped Senior Jincun's hand and gave her a sincere, almost humble smile. "I'm willing. Please let me go. I will absolutely, absolutely, absolutely sell all the flowers!"
She then revealed a triumphant smile, patted my shoulder with satisfaction, and said meaningfully: "Don't worry, junior sister, I believe you can definitely sell it for a good price!"
Hey, hey, hey, senior, please don't abuse ellipsis...
It's not that I sell it at a good price, it's that I sell the flower basket at a good price!
"Anyway, let's start by making the flower baskets for tomorrow's charity sale~"
"OK!!!"
I happily agreed, completely unaware that the gift bestowed by fate had already been secretly marked with a price.
*
The next day after school, Senior Suhara had already set up his stall on the school greenway, displaying the flower baskets he'd made the previous day. Senior Kanemura was outside, enthusiastically promoting his products. The stall, consisting of just two desks pushed together, was crowded with enthusiastic seniors and even some freshmen.
"Junior! Please give me a flower basket!"
The senior student who was ranked first had a red face and looked shyly at the girl in black and white maid outfit in front of him, holding several huge banknotes in his hand.
The girl's long black hair was braided into two pigtails, which were smooth and shiny like silk, revealing her beautiful outline clearly. Her delicate facial features were radiant with just a little makeup. There was a faint pink in the corners of her eyes, and her eyebrows and eyes were like peaches. Even girls couldn't help but praise her beauty when they saw her gentle smile, not to mention these young and energetic seniors and juniors.
She was wearing a black and white maid outfit with a skirt that was neither too long nor too short, revealing a small section of her smooth thigh. The over-the-knee white socks completely covered her cute calves, leaving only a cute curve.
The flower basket itself has no value, but if it is sold by a cute school girl in a maid outfit and you can take photos to keep as a souvenir, the meaning is completely different!
I put on a mechanical smile and accepted the money from the senior in front of me. "Okay, senior, please choose the flower basket you want!"
"I want the one on the far right! Junior, can you make a heart shape with your hands when taking the photo? Please, please! This is really important to me!"
It's all retribution.
It's karma for my own delusions... that I believed what Kanemura-san said! Who could have guessed she meant this kind of selling method when she said it would definitely fetch a good price?
Woo woo woo woo....
Looking back on my life of walking on thin ice, I feel that my heart has become as hard as stone.
But I still handed him the flower basket on the far right very professionally, and then made a professional heart shape with my hands.
"Click—"
Another order completed.
I really paid too much...
Seeing this scene, Suhara Heng was also a little puzzled, "Agu, why does the school girl have to sell the flower baskets? Obviously I can also..."
Jincuntani looked him up and down, his attention fixed on his impressive biceps. He asked uncertainly, "You want to wear a maid outfit too? Are you jealous?"
"How is that possible!"
He immediately retorted, thinking about himself being dressed like that...just imagining it made his muscles tremble with fear.
"I mean, why would you go to all that trouble to ask Koizumi-san to do this? Those two tickets aren't cheap..."
"You don't understand, don't you? I've increased the price of the flower baskets for this charity sale by 20% compared to last time... I did the math. Although those two tickets aren't cheap, they're employee benefits at my dad's company, so they're free after rounding up. But if it were my junior selling the flowers, even if the price went up 20%, they'd still be snapped up by enthusiastic customers... And if it were us selling the flowers, even if we reduced the price by 20%, they wouldn't necessarily be as popular... So do you understand? This is the added value of the product!"
Suhara Tsune couldn't help but give a thumbs up: "...you are worthy of being our club's financial manager..."
The schoolgirl who works diligently as a money-making machine looks a bit pitiful...
*
In less than twenty minutes, all the handmade flower baskets were taken away by the enthusiastic seniors. After the last customer left with satisfaction, I finally breathed a sigh of relief and sat down in the chair dejectedly.
"Finally, finally saved!"
"Well done, school girl!"
Senior Jincun came over and handed me two buffet tickets, winking at me.
"This is your reward from the junior schoolmate! Go on a date with your crush this weekend!"
I subconsciously retorted: "I don't have anyone I like! Senior sister, don't talk nonsense! I was originally planning to go with my aunt..."
"What? Such a beautiful schoolgirl, and no one has made a move yet? Damn it! If only my good-for-nothing brother could get into Seigaku... He's grown up and still doesn't know how to contribute to the family, like finding a beautiful girl..."
She muttered to herself with some regret.
I:"......"
They are indeed siblings.
"but--"
She looked at a flower basket placed under my table and said meaningfully,
"Schoolgirl, what's with that flower basket?"
Now it was my turn to feel a little embarrassed. "This is...a flower basket I made. It's too ugly, so I didn't dare to sell it...hehehe..."
It can't be said to be completely ugly, it's just that the colorful flowers in the flower basket are tied together in a mess, with no matching or coordination at all. The whole thing looks like a colorful bunch.
Compared with the beautifully arranged flower baskets made by the seniors, it is simply unsightly.
At this moment, senior Fuji, who had just finished his club activities, also rushed over.
"Sorry, the tennis club practice was a little late, so I couldn't help you..."
When his eyes met mine, there was a hint of barely perceptible surprise in them, which only lasted for a moment before quickly returning to his calm expression.
"It seems like sales are very good! My schoolmate is awesome~"
I lowered my head somewhat embarrassedly.
Kanemura-senpai: "Of course, our Koizumi-san is here personally... But there's one last flower basket, made by Koizumi-san herself... Fuji, since you're one of our members, we can give you a special price! Just 3,000 yen!"
She blinked her eyes, looking like she was getting a real bargain.
I:. "......"
Wait, those flower baskets only cost 2,000 yen...
Wow, so, when Senior Kanemura gets ruthless, she’ll even betray her own people?
“Okay!!”
I was about to speak up to stop him, but Senior Fuji answered before me, and without hesitation, he pulled out a 10,000 yuan bill from his wallet.
"Remember to give me the change!"
I was instantly shocked.
It turns out that I am the only poor person!
Senior Jincun was very straightforward. She took the flower pot from me and whispered in my ear, "The extra 1,000 yen, we'll split it in half~"
Then I handed over the money and the goods to Senior Brother Fuji.
And I almost shed two tears of emotion.
Senior Fuji took the flower basket and said quietly: "So I can take a photo with my junior sister too?"!
I almost forgot about this!
Senior Kanemura agreed immediately, picking up a Polaroid camera from the table and pretending to take our picture. "Of course, just consider it a little treat. I'll specially allow you to take a picture with our lovely junior Koizumi! No one else gets this privilege!"
I stood beside Senior Fuji and felt a little stiff all over. On the contrary, he was smiling. He lowered his eyes and looked at the ugly colorful flower basket in his arms, which I had made with my own hands. His eyes were gentle and shining.
He seems to really like that pot of flowers...
I felt relieved when I got this realization.
No matter what, as long as he doesn't mind.
But then, Senior Jincun suddenly spoke up: "Is there a galaxy between you two? This is a Polaroid camera, not some super-powerful SLR. You're too far apart to take a photo together!"
I was a little at a loss, and subconsciously took a few steps carefully towards Senior Fuji, but I didn't pay attention to the box of junk under my feet, and I fell straight towards Senior Fuji.
"Click"
The Polaroid camera just happened to capture this scene——
The black-haired girl in a maid outfit fell towards the boy in panic, and the latter subconsciously turned around to catch the girl.
Senior Fuji, who usually keeps a low profile, rarely shows a trace of nervousness and panic on his face. The camera can't lie or disguise, and faithfully recorded the imperceptible thoughts on the boy's face.
Senior Fuji’s embrace was soft but strong. My whole face was almost buried in his arms. I felt the warmth of the boy’s arms and the faint scent of pine coming from his clothes.
A familiar aroma.
This is....
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