The White Room Dropout - A CotE Fanfic

Part 31: A Questionable Choice

As the class meeting came to a close, Ichinose stood at the front of the room, addressing her classmates with a warm smile. "Thank you all for your active participation and valuable ideas. It seems we're moving forward with the traditional café concept for the cultural festival."

The students began to disperse, their voices intertwining in excited chatter. Amidst the buzz of conversation, a particular sentiment emerged, highlighting the perception of one student's contribution.

"Ichinose-san is really dedicated to making this café a success," remarked a classmate, admiration lacing their words.

"Yeah, she's been putting in a lot of effort," another student chimed in, enthusiasm evident in their voice.

"I'm so glad we have someone like Ichinose guiding us." said another student.

The sentiment resonated, and soon, more voices joined the conversation. "She's been organizing everything, from the menu to the decorations. I don't know what we would do without her," a classmate added, their appreciation evident.

The air was filled with admiration for Ichinose's dedication and hard work. The consensus seemed to be that she was the driving force behind the success of the traditional café. It was a collective recognition of her commitment, contrasting with the perceived lack of effort from others. The students couldn't help but discuss the other class representative, Maekawa.

"Have you noticed how Maekawa hardly contributes anything?" one student whispered to their friend, their tone tinged with disappointment.

"Yeah, it's like she's invisible. Ichinose is doing all the work, and Maekawa just seems to fade into the background," another student chimed in, their frustration evident.

The murmurs of discontent spread, and soon, more students joined the conversation, expressing their concerns. "I don't understand why Maekawa even accepted the role of class representative if she wasn't going to participate," a classmate vented, their voice tinged with irritation.

"It's unfair to Ichinose-san. She's carrying the weight of the entire café project while Maekawa does nothing," another student added, their frustration mirroring the sentiments of the others.

The room filled with a mix of disappointment and confusion, as the students struggled to comprehend Maekawa's lack of involvement. To them, it seemed like Ichinose was shouldering the entire responsibility, while Maekawa remained silent and distant.

"I wonder if Maekawa is just too shy or lacks confidence," one student speculated, trying to find an explanation for her behavior.

"That may be the case, but it doesn't excuse her from not doing anything. After all, she's also supposed to be our representative. It's her responsibility to contribute and ensure the success of the café," another classmate asserted, their words laced with a hint of frustration.

The conversation surrounding Maekawa became a topic of concern, as the students grappled with their growing frustration. The stark contrast between Ichinose's visible dedication and Maekawa's perceived lack of contribution fueled their dissatisfaction, leaving them questioning the dynamics within their class.

Amidst the hushed murmurs, one student couldn't contain their frustration any longer. "Seriously, what is Maekawa doing? It feels like Ichinose-san is the only one shouldering the responsibility here."

"Yeah, she's the class representative too, isn't she? She should be doing her job too," another classmate chimed in, their tone tinged with annoyance.

Meanwhile, Maekawa, who had overheard the students' conversation, felt a pang of guilt. She knew she had been timid and reserved, struggling to find her voice amidst the bustling class activities. However, rather than responding with words, she decided to let her actions speak for her.