Living with the Arrogant Queen from High School is Surprisingly Not Uncomfortable

In my first year of high school, I was probably so audacious that it would be absurd to compare myself then with who I am now. At that time, my relationship with my father was very strained, and we would fight every night. Therefore, I believe that was the worst period of my life in terms of my behavior.

For instance, I would roll my eyes when I crossed paths with someone I didn’t like, and if a teacher conducted a surprise inspection, I would complain relentlessly without thinking about the consequences.

Looking back, I think my attitude during my first year of high school is a large part of why I continued to be called a “queen”.

But even a so-called queen is just a first-year high school girl. A sensitive age indeed.

At that time, I was in love with a boy. He was my senior, Sekine-senpai.

Well, I say I was in love with him, but thinking about it now, my feelings for Sekine-senpai at the time were probably not exactly love.

Sekine-senpai was a standout talent in the tennis club, had a great record, and had a beautiful androgynous face. I think my feelings for him were more of admiration than love.

However, at that time, I couldn’t distinguish between love and admiration…

I was thinking of confessing my feelings to Sekine-senpai someday.

On the day of the cultural festival in my first year of high school, the sky was completely clear.

Despite it being early autumn, it was a hot day… I think the third-year class that was selling shaved ice ended up winning the sales department due to the heat.

As I walked down the hall, I passed a group of girls.

They were saying that with this weather, the after-festival party would go on as planned.

The after-festival party.

The campfire.

It’s an event that takes place in the euphoric atmosphere following the end of the cultural festival, where the students who stay late often feel imbued with the spirit of youth.

The quintessential example of this youthfulness was confessing to someone you liked in front of the campfire.

One of the girls I passed was being encouraged by her friends.

It was clear that she was probably going to confess at that campfire.

At that time, I suddenly thought.

The campfire. The euphoric atmosphere.

Maybe I could confess to Sekine-senpai there.

At that time, I was known as a “queen”, and even confessing required a great deal of caution. A queen needs to have the achievements to make everyone bow down.

If I were to confess to a boy and get rejected in front of everyone, I would immediately lose my current position and wouldn’t be able to continue being a tyrant. I had that kind of premonition.

But if I could take advantage of the euphoric atmosphere of the after-festival party…

He might be willing to accept me.

And even if I get rejected, I should be able to save face as it’s just part of the festival fun.

It was the perfect timing that would kill two birds with one stone.

That’s why I decided to confess to Sekine-senpai at the after-festival party in my first year.

However, in the end, I wasn’t able to carry out the confession as I had planned.

Not only I wasn’t able to confess.

…the girl who was encouraged by her friends in the hallway also missed her chance.

The cancellation of the after-festival party was announced over the school broadcast just as everyone was about to head to the schoolyard after the closing ceremony of the cultural festival.

It wasn’t that it had started to rain suddenly.

There were no signs of the cancellation.

However, the cancellation was decided suddenly.

Of course, a storm of criticism against the cultural festival executive committee ensued from the students.

I, too, was ready to unleash my anger on the incompetent members of the cultural festival executive committee.

“Hey, Yamamoto!”

The next day, I stopped Yamamoto, who was on the cultural festival executive committee from our class.

There was actually another girl from our class who was elected to the cultural festival executive committee, but I didn’t feel like blaming her because she was a friend.

At that time, I guess I just wanted to catch a boy who wasn’t in my inner circle and punish him.

“Why was the after-festival party canceled yesterday!”

At that time, I was thinking.

From this man.

From Yamamoto.

If he doesn’t give me a good explanation, I won’t forgive him.

Yamamoto met my expectations.

It’s not that he didn’t give me a proper explanation. It was quite clear and easy to understand.

Yamamoto gave me the answer.

“Ah, I forgot to order the wood for the campfire. Sorry.”

For a moment, his casual remark took the edge off my anger.

After a while, as I chewed on Yamamoto’s words, my anger began to simmer again.

Come to think of it, at that time, I scolded Yamamoto in the classroom during break time. I now realize that this was probably the reason why everyone started to dislike Yamamoto.

“Why would you make such a basic mistake?”

“I have no words to return. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not a problem that can be solved with an apology!”

“…You’re right. I’m sorry.”

It’s not a problem that can be solved with an apology.

Yet Yamamoto apologized to me.

At that time, I was very displeased with Yamamoto’s attitude.

But thinking about it now.

I wonder what Yamamoto could have done to make me forgive him.

…I guess I probably wouldn’t have forgiven him.

I think he knew that too.

That’s why he kept apologizing, if only to calm me down… and the classmates.