Hourglass [Quintessential Quintuplets]

Chapter 21 - Queen of Hearts (Ⅴ)

Third Person POV:

''Thanks for your help, Nakano-san. Without you, we would be ruined by now.''

Those were the words Nino Nakano heard for what felt like the hundredth time that morning. Her arms were already loaded with three battered cardboard boxes—each questionably labeled in scribbled marker—and she wasn't sure how many more of these menial tasks she could take. The halls were bustling with half-distracted students rushing to set up for the festival, and the echo of excited voices somehow only aggravated her mounting backpain.

''Ugh, goddammit! These nails were brand new!'' Nino pursed her lips, forcing a tight, fake smile. "I'll just lug these out to the track field, right? Then I'm off the hook?"

A shy chuckle emerged from the student charge of directing her. "Yes, exactly! I'm really sorry we keep pulling you in, it's just no one else was around."

Nino's forehead gave a small twitch. "Right. No one else—like that's an excuse." She exhaled a sharp sigh, grabbed the final box off a nearby table, and added it to her precarious stack. "These aren't as heavy as the last lot, at least. What did you say was in them?''"

"Just returning some stuff we borrowed. I don't think they'll be that much of a problem. The guys hauled the double door refrigenerator from Cooking Club already. Good luck, Nakano-san."

Unlike everyone else, Nino Nakano's day wasn't a fun one. She spent hours darting between classrooms to keep order during the inter-class cooking contests—seriously, it was like babysitting. Students nearly set pots and pans on fire, a couple of kids had run around brandishing spatulas like swords, and the entire third floor smelled like so many mixed ingredients that Nino's nose went haywire. If she smells another sprig of thyme or whiff of scorched garlic, she's going to throttle someone.

And of course, the system slaves' favorite job— Carrying boxes containing god knows what!

Biting remarks aside, anyone could see that Nino was exasperated and aggresive. The midterm exam results announce was close, and her stomach turned queasy every time she thought of how she'd scored. Nino had studied (well, somewhat), and she couldn't help the nagging worry that maybe she'd misread questions or just blanked out on test day.

"I'll get outta your way once I drop these off." she reiterated, stepping toward the exit, boxes stacked so high she had to crane her neck to see around them. "If you need me after that, send fucking someone else. Because if boys and girls start arguing again over that stupid cooking contest— Some people need to get a life."

''I promised Miku today... Let's get shit done, and I can meet her.''