“So, Marie, I have a favor to ask.”
“Yes, Kent? If it’s something you want, I’ll give you anything you wish for too?”
After the meeting, Kent headed to his part-time job with Josette, and immediately decided to ask Marie to be a sponsor. However, Marie, who had been thinking in a different direction upon hearing Kent’s request, blushed and said.
“No, if that’s the case, I’ll be your partner…”
“No, no, that’s not what this is about.”
Kent intervened just as Josette was about to join in with Marie’s misunderstanding.
“That’s right. That’s right… Ahem. I beg your pardon.”
“Um, you heard that we became the school festival executive committee members, right?”
“Yes, I heard. Based on that, is it about sponsorship?”
“Yes, then this will be quick. Can I ask you?”
Marie replied as if she understood. Then Kent asked for the sponsorship.
“I’m sorry. A little before you two came back, a friend from my student days asked me a favor, and I couldn’t refuse, so I ended up accepting to be a sponsor for a different class.”
“Ehhh!”
“What did you say!!”
Kent and Josette were surprised by Marie’s unexpected response.
That night.
“I’m sorry about today, Kent.”
As Kent and Marie got into bed to sleep, Marie said apologetically.
“What are you talking about?”
“About the school festival sponsor offer.”
“It was an important friend, wasn’t it? Then it can’t be helped.”
“If you ask me if it’s important, I have to say it is, but I think you are more important. Tonight, I will serve you a lot to make up for it.”
“Please be gentle.”
Marie was more vigorous than usual, and Kent ended up enjoying himself late into the night. He woke up the next morning with a slight feeling of fatigue.
The next day during lunch break, Kent, Josette, Caro, and Rachel, a rare gathering of all four, decided to have lunch at the back of the school building.
“Kent, I have some regrettable news. When I asked Father about the sponsorship, he replied that our family does not have the funds to waste the valuable taxes paid by our citizens on the school festival to flaunt our power. Therefore, we cannot provide support.”
“I see. It’s typical of a Duke, but it’s a bit disappointing.”
Josette said apologetically to Kent. For merchants and craftsmen, there’s a possibility of direct connection to business, but for aristocrats, receiving sponsorship doesn’t always translate into profit. Kent had hoped she might accept, but he understood the Duke’s reasoning and decided to give up.
“Then, will Caro’s family sponsor us?”
“I’m sorry. I never imagined that Marie and the Duke’s family would refuse, so I’ve already agreed to be the sponsor for my class.”
Caro also replied apologetically.
“Older brother, I had an acquaintance in the class that received Marie’s support. The two executive committee members from that class said that the person who secured Marie’s support was highly praised for finding such a great sponsor. By the way, our class’s sponsor has also been decided. But I can’t tell you the industry now, as it would reveal our class’s exhibit details. It’s a secret for now!”
The class that was asked to be sponsored by Marie seems to be the one where Rachel’s acquaintance is. And it seems that Rachel’s class’s sponsor has also been decided. In the end, Kent and his companions had all their potential sponsors shut down.
After school, Kent and Josette decided to visit merchant guilds and workshops on a whim. The other committee members usually start from this point, so Kent and Josette were already behind.
“I’m sorry. We’ve already accepted sponsorship from other classes.”
“We don’t have the financial leeway for something like that. Please leave.”
“Huh? You want us to be your sponsor? Can’t you tell by looking at our current situation?”
Kent and Josette bowed their heads and went around, but they couldn’t get a good response.
“I never imagined that bowing my head would be this painful.”
“I’m sorry. I know you’re not in a position to do this, but…”
“It’s fine. I’m doing this because I want to, so you don’t have to worry about it.”
Marie told them not to worry about their part-time job until the sponsor search was over. Kent and Josette spent day after day going around town searching for sponsors, but they never received a positive response. Then came the weekend, and as dusk fell.
“Kent, it was no good again today. I’m starting to lose heart at this point.”
“Josette, you endured so much abuse, I truly think you’re amazing. I’m sorry for making you go through such hardship.”
All the places they visited did not respond with gentlemanly courtesy, and they were often subjected to verbal abuse, mistaken for people trying to extort money. Josette never mentioned that she was from a Duke’s family, and negotiated with Kent on equal footing. According to her, she aimed for sponsors who would agree willingly rather than being forced by authority.
“Let’s finish for today. We have commitments for the Duke’s family tomorrow and the day after, so we’ll go around town again on Monday. Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll find good sponsors by the deadline.”
“Understood. Then, shall we disband for today?”
“Um… Excuse me, Kent. Could you spare me a moment?”
Kent thought they were finished for the day, but Josette seemed to have something more to discuss.
“Hey, Josette-chan. Are you on a date with your boyfriend today? Youth is great.”
“No, old man. Could I have two of these?”
“Sure. Thanks for coming!”
Josette invited Kent to an area with many food stalls in the commercial district.
“Here you go, Kent.”
“Thank you. Still, I’m surprised. I didn’t expect you to be doing something like this, Josette.”
“Do you think so? I’ve been into trying different foods lately.”
It seems that Josette’s current hobby is going around to street stalls alone. Of course, there should be guards nearby, so there shouldn’t be any problems… or so Kent thought. He subtly looked around for Josette’s guards, but couldn’t spot anyone likely.
“Yo, Josette-chan. Not eating here today? Well, I guess I’ll give you this. Come by again when you have time.”
“Thank you. I’ll come by again when I have time.”
“Oh? Isn’t that Josette-chan? Eat something here.”
“Thank you.”
“Josette-chan, take this too.”
“Thank you very much.”
Even though she hadn’t bought anything, food kept appearing in Josette’s hands. She was so familiar with the place that Kent was taken aback.
“I received a lot again today. Kent, please eat without hesitation too.”
“Thank you. Still, you fit right in.”
“Yes, I’ve been coming quite often since the summer vacation started. I can now tell the layout of the shops even with my eyes closed.”
Josette said with her chest puffed out. At that moment, Kent didn’t miss the sight of her magnificent chest rising and falling.
(She’s not as big as Marie, but she’s considerable.)
“Oh my, Kent. Where are you looking?”
“Uh…”
Kent couldn’t answer.
“After appeasing your appetite, comes sexual desire. That’s right… Shall we go in there?”
Saying that, Josette pointed to a love hotel she had mistakenly entered before mistaking it for Rachel.
