42 — Chapter 42

There were no classes even on the day before the Aoba Festival. From early morning, we gathered at the Music Club to discuss the arrangements for our three scheduled recital slots. Being a second-year, I just stayed quiet and listened. It seemed like a logistical nightmare for the students whose parents were coming to watch, as they tried to align their performances with their parents’ visiting hours.

“The Knight Club matches are in the morning. That’s where the crowds will be,” someone noted.

If we spent all our time worrying about what other clubs were doing, we’d never decide anything. The Student Council had already notified the Music Club of our allotted times in the auditorium. We have the same total amount of time as the Drama and Chorus clubs, but the Drama Club takes theirs in one single, long block.

“The Drama Club took a three-hour slot right after the lunch break. That’s so unfair!”

The Music Club has three one-hour slots, and the Chorus Club is the same. Apparently, a long time ago they used to take three-hour blocks too, but performing or singing for three hours straight was too grueling, so they switched to the current system. Since the Knight Club matches are in the morning, the two morning Music Club slots are considered “unlucky” this year in terms of audience draw. The Chorus Club members were grumbling because they only had one morning slot.

“The schedule rotates every year. Next year, the Chorus Club will have two morning slots, so we just have to endure it this year,” President Melissa stated, wrapping up the debate. There was no point in complaining.

“Write your names in your preferred time slots. If one slot is too crowded, we’ll adjust.”

Everyone started signing up, and as expected, the afternoon was the most popular.

“This is a mess. Some people want the afternoon because their parents want to see the Knight Club matches first. I wanted to limit it to five performers per slot.”

I signed up for the very first slot in the morning, the same as Princess Margaret. The King and Queen can’t come to watch, and Margaret has zero interest in the Knight Club. Her usual entourage—Catherine and the others—actually seem to have certain students they’re interested in over at the Knight Club; they were using their parents as an excuse to demand the afternoon slots.

“It doesn’t have to be exactly five people per slot,” Albert chimed in. He had signed up for the second morning slot, wondering aloud what was so interesting about the Knight Club anyway, but then added his name to the first slot as well. President Melissa also signed up for both the first and second slots.

“I’ll help out too,” three other boys said, changing their names to the morning. Finally, the schedule was set.

“The afternoon slot will have eight people, but if you’re all fine with that, then it’s settled. If you have complaints, say them now. I won’t listen to them later.”

President Melissa is so cool! She’s got real backbone.

“Now, each group needs to decide which songs to play. Make sure there’s no overlap. The rule is: your own new song plus one other person’s song.”

She clapped her hands to dismiss us into our groups. The first group consisted of four people: Princess Margaret, President Melissa, Vice President Albert, and me. The second group had five: Melissa, Albert, and three boys.

The third group in the afternoon consisted of eight girls.

I had a feeling the afternoon group was going to be a disaster, but I focused on finalizing the first slot.

“I’ll play my own new song and Patience’s ‘Minuet’,” Albert declared. He really did take a liking to it—enough to propose, after all.

“Oh? I wanted to play the ‘Minuet’ too,” Princess Margaret said. She had also grown fond of it and had been practicing.

“In that case, Albert, play it during the second slot. I’ll play my new song and Catherine’s new song,” Melissa interjected.

Then Albert started critiquing the choices. “Is that ‘Für Elise’ that you got from Patience? Fine, I suppose. In that case, I shall play ‘Eine Kleine’.”

Everyone was snatching up the “new” songs one after another. I was in a bind. I wanted to play Margaret’s song, but since she was playing it herself, that was off-limits.

“Patience, what will you play? You can’t do the ‘Minuet’ because it’s already being played twice in the morning. And look, your songs are already heavily featured in the second slot too. Pick something that doesn’t overlap.”

For the second slot, Albert had ‘Minuet’, Melissa had ‘Turkish March’, Benjamin had ‘Träumerei’, and Helmut had ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Variations’.

“I will play ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Variations’ and ‘Minute Waltz’,” I decided.

The morning slots were somehow settled, but the afternoon group was, as expected, in total chaos. Even though they wanted to play the “masterpieces” from my previous life, Catherine and her two friends had already claimed those for their own slots. That left only four other songs for the remaining eight people to fight over.

“This is why I told you to compose more! You just wouldn’t listen to me,” Princess Margaret scolded me for some reason. I can’t accept that! If you count the ones I gave away, I provided seven songs in total! Hmph.

“If there had been just one more song, they wouldn’t be fighting like this.”

Like I care! I wanted to shout, but I suppressed the urge.

“President Melissa will figure it out. More importantly, since the first slot has fewer people, we need to play two more songs each. I’ll play the ‘Turkish March’. Melissa or Lady Margaret can pick something else,” Albert said bossily. Princess Margaret just looked at him with exasperation.

“I’ll pass. Why doesn’t Albert just play four songs?”

“Hmm, what should I pick then?” he mused, actually considering it until Melissa scolded him.

“Albert and I are already performing in both the first and second slots. Princess Margaret and Patience will each play three songs for the first slot.”

Since Albert was cut out of the extra slots, Princess Margaret declared, “I shall play the ‘Turkish March’.”

I thought about it for a bit and chose ‘Träumerei’, the song I had given to Liliana. I really like that piece.

In the end, the afternoon group argued so much that President Melissa finally lost her temper.

“First, decide on your own new song! Everything else will be a short piece decided by drawing lots. No complaints!”

While the other slots had about ten songs total, the third slot was going to have sixteen. There are many short pieces, but I have a feeling they’ll go over time and end up in a fight with the Chorus Club. I think I’ll stay far away from the auditorium in the afternoon.