CH 201.2

Chapter 201.2: Suggestion Box

「That’s just using your smartphone normally, right?」

「So it’s just like using DM for a private chat.」

「Ye~ah, what’s wrong with that?」

Even though Natsukawa-san was looking rather disappointed, the others were no different; after all, our method wasn’t short of a revolutionary kind.

It was just as Class Rep had said, the truth was everybody’s use of smartphones was limited.

They had all been kept in the same place to prevent them from messing with the setting. In short, none shall use a smartphone inside the school tower.

But then, the smartphone was an indispensable means of communication during the exploration.

At the end of the day, once we were done with the exploration, our smartphones would be returned to safekeeping. Even though we were in the school tower, there wouldn’t be useless conversations without smartphones.

And as for the reason we were implementing this rule despite having the means to recharge our smartphones―― Was simply to maintain public order.

Having a communication tool in this kind of situation would only bring in more demerits. If something were to go wrong, someone could use Sakura-chan’s impatience as a cue to rebel and overthrow me.

And the portable smartphone was an extremely convenient tool for secret maneuvers.

Even if I were mistaken, I definitely want to avoid changing this place into a hotbed for malicious gossip. Even if that slander was a trivial matter, as long as someone felt otherwise, it would turn into a cry for justice. Thereon it would turn into self-righteous conviction, topped by the feeling that everyone was in consensus with the ‘victim’.

Well, the truth was, this policy was one of my plans to prevent anyone from poking too much into others’ problems.

「Well, feel free to contact us if you have something on your mind. We’ll do our best to settle the problem before it turns into a huge problem.」

Thus, we started the suggestion box.

「Oh, someone is sending a mail already.」

Quite a discerning eye you’ve got there, sending an email to me instead of Class Rep.

Well then, the first person who asked for consultation was――

「Don’t screw with me, Momokawa!」

「What the hell you’re thinking about!」

JuryMary combi dissed at me.

They were the first two visitors. The details of the consultation had to wait until we met again at the designated place on the fifth floor of the school tower but… It turned into something akin to an extortion scene instead.

「What the heck is that in-charge-of-Tendou-kun!」

「Doesn’t that mean Class Rep can hoard him by herself?」

Well, I had already pretty much guessed what they wanted to talk about from the content of their email.

「O-Okay, calm down, you two.」

「Calm down, is it? We’re serious here!?」

「Being sandwiched between Futaba and Randou sure is good, huh!」

「H-Hey, that’s ubwoaaaaaaaaaaaa!」

I, who was surrounded by the two, had to endure their harassment until they calmed down. The women’s grumbling should be coming out all at once, right? It was mentally exhausting.

「Then, give us your solution, Momokawa.」

「You’re not going to backstab us, ri~ght?」

After the irate duo had calmed down, I could finally explain the situation properly.

「I feel bad for you two, but I have no choice since Tendou-kun always acts on his own course. I mean, both of you should’ve been pretty much aware of Class Rep’s feelings toward him, right? I made this decision since I know that CLass Rep has been stressed out with a lot of responsibility but… She will surely break down if she doesn’t have some sort of outlet for her stress.」

We couldn’t afford Class Rep having a meltdown in our current situation, that would spell the end of Class 2-7.

Class Rep’s job, as a female students’ class rep, was the same as me, the male students’ class rep, to control our classmates, especially the members of Souma faction.

Perhaps they had no idea what kind of catastrophe would ensue if Class Rep was missing, meaning that the one who could soothe the discontent of the Souma faction would be gone too.

I myself wasn’t a charismatic leader either. I could come up with a method that could benefit everyone but… It didn’t mean everyone would be willing to agree with me— this was the harsh truth I came to realize at this point.

That’s why Class Rep’s reputation and track record would be useful in this situation. Not to mention that she had the talent and charisma to lead the others. She had the charm of someone who stood on top.

And all those qualities were something that was missing in me.

That’s why Class Rep was an indispensable existence to unite our class.

「Ain’t this service a little bit too much?」

「What shall we doo~?」

Surely, Tendou-kun spent much more time with Class Rep than with JuryMary Combi.

But considering all that had happened until now since JuryMary was a member of the normal exploration party, they spent less time in the school tower.

「Well, there’s no need to look that disappointed. For better or worse, Tendou-kun and Class Rep’s relationship is still the same as when we were in Japan.」

In short, Class Rep’s main job was to drag the uncooperative Tendou-kun to work with us.

「They have yet to step into lover’s territory, and it’s impossible to reach that state in our current situation.」

Maybe because Class Rep was strangely lacking in that regard despite always poking her nose into others’ business, their relationship had yet to enter that stage.

Though their relationship was quite close to the point where they were literally on one page when we were still in Japan, they had no leeway to fall in love with each other in this dungeon survival life in which we had no idea when we would die.

With Class Rep’s strong feelings toward Tendou-kun, it wouldn’t do any good if she couldn’t shorten her distance from him.

We had a law that prohibited love relationships though. But still, I knew that her strong feelings toward him couldn’t be stopped with such a law.

「Their relationship is the same as before. Class Rep won’t take the next step, and Tendou-kun doesn’t seem to care either.」

「I see.」

「Well, now that you remind us…」

「That’s why you can use that opening.」

The matter of Tendou-kun’s willingness aside, JuryMary was free to approach him. But still, I guess I needed to make Tendou-kun go with these two.

「Okay, I’ll try to include Tendou-kun in the exploration party, that’s the only thing that I can do for you two.」

「Really?」

「At least arrange an even better opportunity.」

「I don’t think I can help you too much in that regard, we have a rule that prohibits love relationships after all.」

But I guess these two had yet to understand the situation. Perhaps, I had to give them a bonus.

「But I understand your feelings. That’s why I shall tell you this …」

I took a risk by telling them this. Well, there wouldn’t be sweet and sour love stories unless I gave them this hope.

「Tendou-kun room is in the corner of the first floor.」

「O-Oi.」

「That’s…」

「This is all I can do for you two, it’s up to you girls as to how you use this piece of information. If two people were to hook up, the ways of dealing with it would be discussed in the next class meeting.」

This was the biggest piece of information that I could provide them right now.

Humans are extremely tenacious creatures, we can persist as long as we know there is hope. Even if I knew that these two wouldn’t be able to seduce Tendou-kun, I might as well give them hope, it is nothing more than a driving force to live until tomorrow.*

[*what he means by tomorrow is not just tomorrow, it is a kind of hope that will take them through the coming days]

Well then, JuryMary seemed to be aware of my intention but still accepted the snippet I provided, marking the end of our consultation.

After they left, I remained inside the clandestine room.

Reason being… I had another visitor tonight.

「Well then, Yamada-kun, feel free to speak your mind.」

「O-O~h.」

When I looked at Yamada, the one who needed consultation this time with all kinds of preparation, he flinched back for some reason. The heck, I even prepared a beverage for you.

「So, what’s the matter?」

I took this chance to ask him about his problem.

To be honest, I had a bad feeling about this. I mean, this is Yamada we are talking about. The one person who was most infatuated with that Reina, AKA Lolicon-kun.

If he wanted to talk about how he came to like Kotori-chan this time, I had to warn him to stop since he was literally digging his own grave… Basically, I was willing to help others with their problem about their love, but it didn’t mean I would pick the case if it smelled like a massive pain in the a*s.

If he was really here for that kind of consultation, I would stop him at all costs. I was waiting for Yamada to open his mouth while my mind was scouring through all kinds of possibilities.

「Can you make a fishing rod? And the hook too if possible. Well, complete fishing gear if possible.」

「Fishing… Rod?」

「Well, I know that this sounds like a trivial matter since I’m going to use it for myself but… Please prepare that for me. I will definitely catch a lot of fish for everyone.」

I finally understood what he wanted to do after I stared dumbfoundedly at Yamada-kun’s crop cut.

「I understand, leave it to me.」

「Oooh, thanks a bunch!」

No man, I want you to forgive me instead for my unfounded suspicion.

Come to think of it, Yamada did say once before that his hobby was fishing. I heard that he was also in charge of fishing when he awakened and transformed into a survivalist along with the Totem Pole Trio. He had even stated before that he and Yamajun went to a lot of fishing spots back in Japan.

「That’s such a great hobby, Yamada-kun. We welcome a big addition to our food storage.」

「Thank you for your understanding, I’ll be waiting for the fishing rod.」

Yamada didn’t beat around the bush and thanked me without reservation.

Man, this consultation went in a completely different direction, in a good way.

Well, there’s nothing wrong with sending him for solo fishing every once in a while. Well, it is also a good thing to have a hobby that you can enjoy in this dungeon life.

「Since I never go fishing myself, I don’t quite understand the details. So, if you can be around to give me pointers when I’m making the fishing rod…」

「Man, I am starting to feel bad seeing how you are willing to go that far for me.」

「Don’t worry about it, it’s not big deal. This is a win-win situation for everyone, and Mei-chan will be delighted with the addition of fresh fish too.」

Perhaps I should prepare more fishing rods for those who want to go fishing. I mean, fishing sounds like a breakthrough technology in this kind of situation.

「But since I can’t let you go through the dangers of fishing on your own, I’ll arrange Rem to go with you.」

「That isn’t different from fishing by myself, right?」

「You want to go fishing by yourself, right? That’s exactly the reason why I will arrange Rem to go with you, she won’t talk and you can treat her as decoration.」

「Well, you’re right… Sorry for the retort, Momokawa. And thanks for the arrangement.」

「It’s exactly because we’re in this kind of situation that we have to help each other. I’ll be waiting to see the fish you catch, Yamada-kun.」

「Oh, leave it to me.」

I looked at Yamada as we shook hands, perhaps he was really growing up and becoming a better person.

I wasn’t the only one who was awash with the sorrow of Yamajun’s death. Yamajun was his best friend, and his death could become a driving force for Yamada-kun’s current and future growth.