Hyouka - Volume 03 - The Kudryavka Sequence - Welcome to KANYA FESTA! (1)

I would have preferred they not look at me like this.
Kouchi-sempai went on, "Besides, wouldn't it be better to use an anime
character to capture attention? Why does this gloomy anthology of all things
have to be the centrepiece? We ought to have something more flashy."
She then turned her gaze to the other members besides her own followers.
Even as I sat silently at the sales booth, our eyes met.
I didn't know whether it was my imagination, but when Kouchi-sempai
looked at me, the corners of her lips were raised.
Was she provoking me? Was that smile of hers just now a provocation?
Would Fuku-chan trust me? The thought flashed by in my head that he
wouldn't. But it was true that all this time during the Cultural Festival, I had
behaved myself within the Manga Club, as I still had to take care of the
Classic Club's anthology.
But I was at my limit. I wondered why I ended up that way. Even I myself
was surprised at how cold I sounded as I remained seated and said, "What
exactly do you mean when you say it's all meaningless, sempai?"
Kouchi-sempai looked as though she had expected a response from me.
Turning her back to President Yuasa, she smiled and said, "It is meaningless
regardless of whether it's interesting or not. Surely you should understand the
meaning of that, no?"
"I understand the meaning of your words, but I don't understand how you
come to such a conclusion. I spent a lot of time working on this anthology,
and so have the others.
"I'm not asking for recognition for our hard work, but if you're going to
declare all that meaningless, then please at least elaborate on your reason for
it."
On one side was Kouchi-sempai looking rather composed, while I on the
other hand probably looked snappy. I would probably look like an idiot to an