By Zephyria “What? I’m short on credits?”
Koi’s voice involuntarily rose at the shocking news. Seeing his face turn pale, the teacher in charge said with a serious face.
“Yes, you’re very short on extracurricular and volunteer activity points. Your college entrance exam scores weren’t as good as expected either… Actually, Koi, there are many cases where people can’t get into top-tier state universities even with perfect scores.”
“I’m short on extracurricular activity points?”
At Koi’s anxious question, the teacher nodded.
“That and volunteer activities.”
“Ah…”
A groan came out involuntarily. He didn’t have the energy to fill his non-academic points because he was busy with his part-time job and assignments, but it was also impossible for him to actively participate in activities due to his introverted personality, which made it very difficult for him to have interpersonal relationships. However, he was not in a position to give up easily. Even if he took the college entrance exam again, he would be in big trouble later if he didn’t fill his volunteer and extracurricular activity points now.
What should I do?
Koi, who had become very anxious, asked urgently.
“Um, teacher. Is there anything you could introduce me to?”
There were ways to ask at hospitals or churches, but Koi didn’t have any of that kind of social skills. He had no choice but to cling to the teacher, who sighed with a flustered expression.
“Koi, finding out for yourself is also part of the ‘activity’.”
“I know.”
Koi said dejectedly. But if knowing made it real, he wouldn’t have such a headache. The teacher, who had been agonizing over Koi’s appearance of holding his head in pain, opened her mouth.
“Actively participating in school events will also be reflected in your score, but it’s too late to join a sports club now…”
Besides, he had no athletic ability. He had to take a marathon class because it was included in the curriculum, but even that was barely manageable. Considering his body, which was sure to ruin the team, he felt that joining such a professional team would only result in a negative score.
“Then a choir, or…”
The teacher suggested various extracurricular activities, but there was nothing Koi could do. The only possibilities were already full, and the activities with openings were impossible for Koi.
“Haa…”
The teacher, who had let out a long sigh, finally suggested the last resort.
“I really didn’t want to recommend this, Koi. There’s nothing left but this.”
“Yes, teacher.”
Koi tensed up and pricked up his ears. He was prepared to do anything. If he had the chance. The teacher’s lips slowly opened. Koi was watching her lips without even blinking.“…okay?”
When she finally spoke, Koi thought he had misheard.
“Excuse me?”
When he asked again with an awkward smile, the teacher said seriously,
“It’s the cheerleading team, Koi.”
Seeing Koi freeze with his smile still on his face, the teacher added,
“And you have to wear a skirt.”
Now, not only Koi’s face but also his head froze.
“Wait, a skirt? Why?”
Only after a few seconds did Koi’s head begin to move. And he urgently voiced the first question that came to mind. The teacher replied with a serious face.
“Well, because our school’s cheerleading team traditionally only accepts female students. Actually, even if you apply, it’s only a fifty-fifty chance. You’ll have to take an entrance test, too……”
The teacher sighed and continued.
“Originally, the cheerleading team is very popular, so it’s rare to be urgently looking for members like this. But this year, there have been continuous vacancies, so bad rumors have been spreading, and everyone is avoiding it.”
“Bad rumors?”
“Well, it’s kind of like a superstition.”
The teacher trailed off, but Koi could guess. Usually, in times like these, ridiculous rumors spread about being possessed by a ghost or being cursed. It was a childish idea befitting high school students, but anyway, the lack of applicants was fortunate for Koi.
But a skirt.
Koi hesitated, unable to answer readily, and asked.
“But even if I wear a skirt, is it okay for me, a guy, to join the cheerleading team?”
“Well, that’s the thing.”
The teacher let out a self-deprecating laugh, as if she herself found it absurd.
“They say that if a guy cross-dresses and performs for a season, it’ll ward off bad luck. So they’re saying they want to accept a male student right now.”
After finishing her sentence, the teacher shook her head and laughed again. Kids these days, she seemed to be saying, but the cheerleading team students were utterly serious. And there was no doubt that this was a golden opportunity for Koi.
If he was prepared to be a laughingstock in front of the entire school while cross-dressing.
Of course, for Koi, who was already shy, this was like torture. If he could have refused immediately and left, he would have, but it was impossible. His lacking extracurricular activity points were holding him back tightly, refusing to let go.
“Can I… think about it?”
In the end, Koi could only say this in a weak voice.
“Don’t be too disappointed, Koi.”
The teacher said, as if comforting him, who had visibly drooped his shoulders.
“I’ll look into some easier volunteer work for you. Okay?”
She knew well about Koi’s difficult family situation. Koi had never told anyone that he was being abused, but the teacher had noticed early on and subtly probed him. Of course, Koi had denied it, and since then, the teacher had been helping him as much as she could.
“Are you still working there?”
The teacher, who sometimes came to buy things, asked. Koi answered, “Yes.”
“Okay, good for you.”
The teacher looked at him with a smile. Koi felt a little relieved by her warm gaze. She patted Koi’s arm lightly as if to encourage him, then blinked as if something had occurred to her.
“That’s right. I can’t give you many points for this, but how about working part-time at the school store?”
“Excuse me?”
Koi was bewildered by the unexpected words. Before he could ask, the teacher spoke first.
“Of course, there’s no pay.”
“Oh, no. I know that…”
Koi asked, feeling dazed.
“But can that count towards points?”
“Well, originally, it’s just volunteering.”
She continued, with a smile in between her words.
“But if you’re helping out at the school store in place of a teacher who has a very bad back, you might get a very small bonus point.”
The teacher winked lightly. Her wrinkled face tilted playfully. Seeing that expression, Koi was finally able to smile back.
“Th, thank you.”
“Okay, Koi.”
The teacher said, still smiling.
“This is the time I’m in charge of. I’ll tell the other teachers.”
She wrote down the dates and times on a memo and handed it to him.
“I wouldn’t know about other times, but as you know, it’s the beginning of the semester, so it’s very busy, and there are a lot of kids trying to buy tickets.”
“Homecoming party tickets?”
“Yes.”
The teacher nodded, then opened a drawer as if something had occurred to her.
“If you’re interested, go with your girlfriend.”
“Yes? No.”
Koi hastily shook his head and declined the two tickets the teacher offered. Then, the teacher repeatedly offered the tickets, as if saying it was okay.
“My back hurts, so I can’t go this year. It would be a waste to just throw them away, wouldn’t it?”
“Ah, yes. Th, that’s right.”
Koi nodded absentmindedly and looked down at the tickets the teacher was holding. He had never been to a homecoming party before. He probably never would.
Maybe this is another opportunity for me.
Koi hesitated and carefully reached out his hand. The teacher waited silently. When his hesitant fingers finally touched the edge of the ticket, the teacher let go.
“Here, now it’s yours.”
“Th…thank you.”
Koi greeted her, feeling dazed. It was the first time he had ever gotten homecoming party tickets. It was just cheap paper with childish writing on it, but to Koi, the tickets looked more expensive than tickets to the hottest pop star’s concert. The teacher looked at him with a pleased expression, then added in a light tone.
“Good luck with the cheerleading team, too.”
“Ah…”
The teacher laughed cheerfully at the sigh that came out involuntarily.