Chapter 7: Gotta Enjoy It While We’re Here, Right?

Passing through the entrance, a different kind of energy from the school building filled the air.
People bustled back and forth incessantly, their cheers and fervor swirling upward, absorbed into the high, clear, blue autumn sky.

“There’s a ton of people here too…”
“Where are Hime-chan and the others…?”

They had agreed on a meeting spot, but the crowd was overwhelming.
Stretching a bit to scan the throng, Haruki’s voice suddenly piped up with an “Ah!” from beside Hayato.

“There they are! Look, over there, right?”
“Oh, found them… wait, huh?”

Luckily, Himeko and Saki were spotted quickly, but standing close by was an unfamiliar girl, prompting Hayato to tilt his head in curiosity.

“Is that girl a friend of Hime-chan or Saki-chan?”
“Dunno…”

In a word, she was strikingly polished.
Her natural dark brown, medium-length hair, slender proportions, and stylish asymmetrical skirt gave her a slightly mature air, yet her innocent laughter alongside Himeko and Saki felt age-appropriate, creating a captivating contrast that drew attention.
Even in the bustling crowd, her exceptional beauty stood out, and whispers floated from all directions: “Who’s that girl?” “She’s too cute!?” “Go on, talk to her!”
Was she an acquaintance of Himeko or Saki? Hayato racked his memory but couldn’t place her.
Yet, she oddly caught his attention. Haruki seemed to feel the same, her brow furrowing as if a small bone were stuck in her throat.
But Kazuki, wide-eyed with shock, let out a stunned murmur.

“…No way, Airi?”
“What!?”
“No, seriously!?”

At the name, Hayato and Haruki gasped in disbelief, their voices rising in shock as they looked at the girl again.

Indeed, now that it was pointed out, there was a faint resemblance. But unlike her usual vibrant, glamorous gal persona, she now exuded the refined, elegant aura of a classic beauty. The transformation was so drastic that, despite commanding attention, no one seemed to realize she was the popular model Airi Satou.

What in the world? What happened to her? Why was she here with Himeko and the others?
Confusion sent their thoughts spinning, leaving them momentarily dumbfounded. Then, the crowd began to stir. It seemed a group was harassing Airi and the others.
Judging by their clothes, the group was a mix of students and outsiders, overly hyped up, likely swept away by the festival’s energy.
Airi and the others clearly looked annoyed, with Himeko firmly stating in a loud, clear voice, “We’re already with someone, so we’re good!” But the group didn’t back off, persisting despite her refusal.

“Hayato, we gotta join Hime-chan and the others quick!”
“Yeah, you’re right—wait, Kazuki?”
“—!”

At that moment, Kazuki sprang forward like a coiled spring.
He grabbed the hand of a guy reaching for Himeko’s shoulder, flashing a smile that was both friendly and ferocious.

“Let’s stop there. Pushy guys aren’t popular, you know.”
“Huh?”
“W-Wait… what…?”

The group, caught off guard by Kazuki’s sudden appearance, blinked in confusion.
It was only natural. A tall, glamorous “girl” with a male voice smilingly scolding them would throw anyone off.
Himeko and Saki, too, widened their eyes in shock. Hayato gave a wry smile at their reaction, understanding completely, and slid between the group and the girls, shielding them alongside Kazuki.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Himeko, Saki-san… and Satou-san.”
“Yeah, yeah, these girls are with us, so off you go.”
“…Oh, big brother!”
“Onii, Haru-chan!”

Haruki, arriving a bit late, shrugged and chided the group, who exchanged glances and, reading the room, left.
Himeko and Saki let out relieved sighs, their expressions softening.

“Um, uh…”

Himeko started to thank them but hesitated, her gaze shifting suspiciously to Kazuki, who smiled gracefully. She sidled up to Hayato and whispered in his ear.

“Hey, Onii, who’s that?”
“It’s Kazuki.”
“…Huh?”
“Hehe, Himeko-chan, what do you think? Does it suit me?”
“Eeeeeeee!?”

Himeko blinked in confusion at Hayato’s words, but when Kazuki playfully struck a model pose with a teasing remark, realization hit, and she let out a wild, astonished cry.
It wasn’t just Himeko. Saki, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, stepped closer, staring intently.

“Wow, it’s really Kaidou-san’s voice! How do you do the makeup!?”
“Seriously, is that really Kaidou-san!? You look completely like a girl, don’t you!?”
“I did a lot of research, asked my sister for tips, and put in some effort. I think it turned out pretty well, but what do you think?”
“Yeah, yeah, it’s great, super great! If you can look this cute, you should come out like this when we hang out next time!”
“With you looking this gorgeous, it’s like you’d have the whole town staring, right, Hime-chan!?”
“Haha, this is just for the festival, but… maybe going out like this once could be fun.”
““Kyaa!””

As Kazuki winked playfully, Himeko and Saki let out excited squeals.
Watching this, Hayato thought Kazuki was quite the charmer, exchanging a wry smile with Haruki. Then, a loud laugh suddenly erupted beside them.

“Hahahaha, sure, you’re cute, but getting all smug just ‘cause you’re a little flattered!?”
“Airi!?”
“Man, Kazuki-kun, you’ve totally changed. Really, thanks to some great friends.”

Airi clutched her stomach, laughing uncontrollably. After wiping tears from her eyes, she looked at Hayato and Haruki, her expression dazzling and pure, her smile radiant. Both Hayato and Haruki caught their breath, startled by her beauty.
To Airi’s teasing, Kazuki responded playfully.

“…Yeah, you’re right. But maybe it’s more like I’m in the middle of changing.”
“Hmm… Kazuki-kun, do you want to become a girl or something?”
“If that’s the path to the ideal me, I’m not opposed.”
“Hah, got it!”

Kazuki’s eyes carried a serious intensity.
Even as Airi gave him a probing look, he met her gaze steadily.
Hayato and the others watched in silence, not wanting to interrupt their exchange.
Eventually, Kazuki commented on Airi’s drastically different appearance.

“By the way, Airi, you’ve changed your image a lot, huh? I was shocked. But with such a big change, doesn’t it affect your work?”
“Maybe. I did this just to surprise you, Kazuki-kun, so I didn’t really think about work. So, you’re sticking with me today.”
“Yeah, Kaidou-san, leave the rest to us!”
“D-Don’t worry about us, okay!”
“Airi!? Himeko-chan and Murao-san too!?”

With that, Airi grabbed Kazuki’s hand with an unprecedented boldness and pulled him along.
Kazuki hesitated, unsure about leaving the others, but Himeko and Saki pushed them forward, urging them to go.
Hayato recalled the conversation Himeko, Saki, and Airi had at his part-time job the other day. It seemed they were setting up Kazuki and Airi. And Kazuki wasn’t oblivious to it.
With a wry smile and a wave, Kazuki disappeared into the crowd.
Himeko and Saki waved them off with beaming smiles, and once they were out of sight, they turned to each other, squealing “Kyaa!” while clasping hands and bouncing excitedly.

Hayato furrowed his brow at his meddling little sister and her friend.
Himeko was dressed in chic, mature casual wear, while Saki added a sweet, cute twist to her usual reserved style. Both looked as they always did at a glance, but they were clearly more polished, refined—like Airi. Perhaps Airi had styled them? If so, her skill was impressive.
Hayato found himself staring at his familiar sister and her friend, letting out an impressed “Hoh.” Despite any bias, they held their own next to the famous model Airi Satou, making his heart stir anew.
Noticing Hayato’s gaze, Himeko grinned and approached.

“So, what do you think? Don’t we look different today?”
“Y-Yeah, I was just thinking a pro’s touch is something else.”
“Ugh, Onii, your phrasing!”

Normally, Hayato might have tossed out a casual compliment, but caught off guard by his stirred emotions, he answered gruffly, scratching his head and looking away.
But then Saki popped into his line of sight, peering up at him with an upward glance.

“Hehe, honestly, we don’t even fully know what they did to us. Pros are amazing, right? So, big brother, what do you think of this look?”
“Uh, it’s, um, really good, I think.”
“Ehe!”

Saki’s bold, cute appeal made Hayato’s heart race, his cheeks flushing.
Seeing his reaction, Saki blinked a few times before smiling softly, as if seeing through him. Embarrassed, Hayato forcibly changed the subject.

“So, why are you with Satou-san?”
“Uh, well, how do I put it…”
“Come on, Onii, it’s obvious! We’re cheering for a girl in love!”
“A girl in love, huh… So you set this up for her?”
“Exactly!” “Well, yeah.”

Apparently, they were supporting Airi’s romantic pursuit. Even if it involved Kazuki, her counterpart was a popular model. How and where did this connection even form?
Hayato couldn’t help but think it was a bit meddlesome. Sure, Kazuki had broken down some walls lately, but his past struggles with romance were undeniable.
As Hayato frowned slightly, Saki murmured softly.

“Just thinking about it won’t change anything.”
“That’s…”
“To change the present, you have to take a step forward. But that takes a lot of courage… So we helped push her forward.”
“…”

Saki’s words, spoken with a hand over her heart, felt almost like a prayer.
Her deep care for Airi was clear, and Hayato, feeling a mix of admiration and faint envy, furrowed his brow in confusion at his own stirring emotions.

“Got it. But… Kazuki being in drag for this timing is a bit, uh…”
“Oh, I bet Satou-san doesn’t care about looks.”
“If anything, with Kaidou-san looking that gorgeous, I’m more worried Airi-chan might open a weird door!”

Himeko’s playful jab drew natural laughter.
Then, Haruki spoke in a flat, colorless tone.

“Hime-chan, you’re cheering for Kaidou and that girl…?”
“Yeah, yeah, Airi-chan’s such a romantic! Her words and attitude aren’t always honest, but that’s so cute! Way cuter than in magazines! Even today, she was all nervous on the way here, wondering if she’d seem weird or if her old look was better. You just have to root for her, right?”
“I-I see…”

Himeko’s excited chatter left Haruki stiff, her cheek twitching.
For a moment, Hayato caught a complex, bitter expression on Haruki’s face, but it passed quickly.
Before he could dwell on it, Haruki pointed dramatically, her voice theatrical.

“Look, Hime-chan! Russian takoyaki! Spicy, super sweet, or maybe both!”
“What, that sounds intriguing!”
“I’m getting hungry!”
“Yeah, let’s go eat!”

Himeko fell right into Haruki’s trap, instantly reacting and urging them toward the line.
Hayato, amused by his easily swayed sister, muttered “Jeez” with a softened cheek, only to be tugged by Saki.

“I haven’t eaten since morning, and I’m starving. Let’s go!”
“…Right!”

They headed to the Russian takoyaki stall Haruki spotted.
The sign featured cartoonish, personified anko and habanero in fighting poses, with the words “We’re waiting for your challenge!” dancing across it.
The festival atmosphere fueled excitement, and many groups chattered amiably in line, the stall bustling. Hayato’s group waited about five minutes to buy theirs.
The takoyaki looked like a standard six-piece set, generously drizzled with mayonnaise.

“They said even the staff don’t know which ones are spicy, sweet, or normal.”
“Yeah, they mentioned they mix them all up before packing.”

The Kirishima siblings, buzzing with excitement over the Russian takoyaki, couldn’t stay calm.
Haruki, caught up in her childhood friends’ enthusiasm, urged everyone on restlessly.

“Come on, let’s each eat one to start!”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
“Here, Saki-chan’s share! Okay, on three!”
“W-Wait, uh…”

With Himeko leading, they popped the takoyaki into their mouths. Saki, handed one abruptly, glanced between it and the others, let out a small “Ugh,” and ate it in one go.

“…Phew, mine’s normal.”
“Mine too.”
“Same here. Honestly, it’s just good takoyaki.”
“Haf… a bit hot, but mine’s normal too.”

Miraculously, all four got normal ones.
According to the staff, one in four takoyaki was a “dud.” With six pieces, the odds of all being normal were (3/4)⁶, roughly 17%. That meant an over 80% chance that one or both of the remaining two were either super sweet or spicy.
Tension rippled through the group.
Then, Haruki shouted abruptly.

“No grudges, okay? Rock, paper, scissors!”
“Mgh!” “!?” “W-Wait…!”

The familiar phrase prompted everyone to throw out a hand.
Scissors, scissors, rock, scissors.
Himeko, who lost, bit her lip in frustration, while Hayato furrowed his brow.
Saki, despite winning, looked flustered.
Haruki, grumbling but making eye contact, signaled to Hayato and Himeko, who nodded, steeling themselves.

“Rock, paper, scissors! Tie! Again! Again… ugh!”
“Yesss!”
“U-Ugh…”

Rock, paper, rock.
Hayato pumped his fist in relief and triumph.
Haruki and Himeko, defeated, stared hollowly at the remaining takoyaki. They couldn’t just leave them, so they slowly picked up their toothpicks.

“Here we go, Hime-chan. On three! One, two, three!”
“Ngh, n… nnnnnn!?”

The two losers braced themselves and ate simultaneously. Immediately, Himeko let out a wordless scream.

“S-Spicy! Hot! Ow! W-Water!”

Himeko had drawn the spicy one.
Haruki, getting a normal one, sighed in relief, while Himeko, teary-eyed and sticking out her red tongue, writhed to escape the heat and pain.
Hayato, with a wry smile, scanned for a drink.
Saki, also looking around anxiously, suddenly pointed and exclaimed, “Ah!” It was a shaved ice stall.
Haruki immediately dashed off, saying, “I’ll get it!” and returned quickly.

“Hime-chan, here!”
“T-Thanks! Chomp, ngh, nnnn!?”

Himeko, frantically eating the shaved ice, clutched her forehead in pain, making an X with her eyes. The group sighed at her usual antics.
As they watched Himeko, still wincing but cooling her tongue, a loud sizzle rang out.
From a nearby stall, smoke rose, carrying the delicious scent of burning soy sauce. Rubbing his growling stomach, Hayato spoke.

“Eating takoyaki halfway like that made me seriously hungry.”
“It lit a fire in my appetite too.”
“Same. That smell is unfair.”
“Ngh… let’s go eat more stuff!”

No one objected to Himeko’s raised hand and declaration, now that she’d finished her shaved ice.
They headed to the stall with the smoke and smell.
It was selling meat-wrapped onigiri skewers.
The sweet-savory sauce paired perfectly with the rich pork belly and rice, and with their hunger, all four devoured them in one go. The skewers made it easy to eat while walking, and they didn’t dirty their hands.
Still not satisfied, they eyed the festival classic: yakisoba. Himeko insisted it was a must.
The yakisoba’s main ingredients—pork, squid, and cabbage—were bound together with fragrant sauce and noodles, creating perfect harmony. Red ginger added a nice accent.
Himeko also bought an okonomiyaki, prompting Saki to say, “Y-You’re eating that too…?” to which she replied, “Gotta hit the classics!” while stuffing her cheeks.
With their stomachs settling, they decided to go for sweets next.
Drawn by curiosity, Haruki suggested a taiyaki parfait—taiyaki with its mouth open, filled with ice cream, anko, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce. Apparently, this was a style popular overseas.
For ice cream, Hayato and Haruki chose classic vanilla, Saki picked matcha, and Himeko, after agonizing between strawberry and chocolate, ordered both, citing the festival vibe, leaving Haruki and Saki speechless.
Holding their taiyaki parfaits, they strolled through the courtyard and grounds, checking out stalls.
Near the gate, the art club displayed cardboard sculptures—bears, dinosaurs, and sailing ships, large and realistic, sparking excitement.
Other stalls offered archery shooting games and giant hula hoop ring tosses, but with food in hand, they only watched others play. Other spectators did the same, and it was surprisingly fun.
Himeko, claiming “Gotta conquer the basics!” bought a frankfurter too, and no one bothered to comment.
Passing the special stage on the grounds, they stopped to watch a group of about 20 volunteers perform a dance.
Set to a slightly old but classic pop song, the dance was clearly well-rehearsed, with sharp movements, seamless coordination like a single organism, and an infectious joy that captivated them.
As the performance ended, Hayato joined the crowd in exclaiming admiration and clapping loudly.

“That was amazing. The sheer number of people made it so expressive, so impactful.”
“I was blown away too. Everyone was a star, like it wouldn’t have worked without every single one.”
“Wow… unlike a shrine maiden dance where a mistake is just your own fault, here a slip-up drags everyone down. Just thinking about that pressure…”
“Yeah, and moving like that must make food taste even better. Watching this, I’m getting hungry again.”
“Himeko…” “Hime-chan…” “Haha…”

The group shuddered at Himeko’s insatiable appetite.
Unfazed, Himeko suddenly noticed something and spoke up.

“Oh, right, Haru-chan, your class’s thing is in the classroom, right?”
“Yup. My turn’s still a bit later. Come watch, okay?”
“Oh, right, gotta negotiate some reserved seats for the family.”
“W-Wait, big brother, is it that popular?”
“Well… you’ll see when you get there.”
“Yeah, I was shocked myself.”
“Huh, now I’m excited.”
“Yes, I’m getting a bit thrilled too.”

While Himeko and Saki buzzed with anticipation, Hayato and Haruki exchanged wry smiles, recalling earlier events.
The rumors from then were likely spreading, promising an even bigger crowd than this morning.

“Well, we’ve seen most of the outdoor stuff. Let’s check out the school building next.”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
“Totally agree!”
“What’s inside, I wonder?”

Agreeing with Himeko, Hayato and the others headed toward the entrance.

The school building was just as lively as outside.
People milled about, with constant traffic at the entrance.
At an open area just inside, a crowd of what seemed like outside visitors gathered. Himeko, quick to notice, asked.

“Onii, what’s that?”
“A stamp rally. To get people to explore the whole building.”
“Ooh, that sounds fun! Let’s grab one, Saki-chan!”
“W-Wait!”
“Hayato, should we do it too?”
“Yeah, might as well.”

The stamp rally sheet had a large cat paw print in the center, instructing them to visit five points.
Saki, studying the sheet, murmured.

“The back has the schedule for the stage and gym events.”
“Oh, really? Anything catch your eye, Saki-chan?”
“No, not really. I don’t know much about it…”
“Hmm, let’s just check things out as we go.”
“Sure.”

With that, they set off to find the stamp points.
Classroom attractions, by their nature, were designed to make people stop and look. Their vampire princess café, Kazuki’s cross-dressing cabaret, and Minamo’s planetarium were like that too.
A Showa retro-themed exhibit featured reports on life back then, drawing attention with its novelty.
A photo exhibit on daily life showed moments like going out with price tags still on clothes, notebooks starting with colorful, textbook-like care but getting sloppy later, or accidentally spilling potato chips while opening the bag, all captured on smartphones.
Spectators laughed, saying, “I do that all the time,” “I did that at the register the other day,” or “I can’t laugh, it’s too real,” sparking lively conversations.
The hallways and stairs were dotted with art club creations—balloon art and PET bottle sculptures—making even walking fun.
After collecting a few stamps, a loud voice echoed.

“The tuna dissection show is about to start!”

Tuna dissection show. The words, odd for a cultural festival, made Hayato and the others pause and exchange glances.
Here? How?
As the crowd reacted similarly, Haruki, unusually excited, spoke up.

“Let’s go, Hayato! I’ve never seen a tuna dissection show!”
“Yeah, me neither. I’ve helped butcher a boar, but… are they really doing this here? How much does that even cost?”
“That’s what makes it intriguing! Let’s go!”
“Well, yeah. That okay with you, Himeko, Saki-san?”
“Yes, I’m fine with it.”
“I’m good too! A tuna thing sounds interesting! I love negitoro!”

Led by an enthusiastic Haruki, they followed staff guidance to the classroom hosting the tuna dissection show. The crowd was sizable, drawn by the same curiosity.
In the center, desks were pushed together to form a large stage, where a tuna model the size of a petite girl lay.
It wasn’t real but made of foam, crafted with such detail that it was startlingly realistic.
Voices rose from the crowd: “It looks so real,” “Way bigger than I expected,” “Is that life-sized?” “The dorsal fin’s super yellow, is that normal?” “I looked it up, yellowfin tuna have bright yellow fins,” “True to its name, huh.” The excitement grew.
The anticipation of what they’d see built up, the air buzzing. A male student dressed as a chef, holding a prop knife resembling a kitchen blade, appeared.

“We’re starting the tuna dissection show!”

His slightly nervous declaration drew applause, which he accepted shyly before focusing on the model tuna, beginning the dissection.

“First, we cut off the head. The part behind the gills, called the kama, is delicious when stewed. Next, we slice from the back… and this part here is the popular chutoro for sushi!”

As he held up a section, the crowd let out an “Ooh!” The model’s interior, complete with bones, was intricately made, captivating everyone.
The show continued with flair, explaining that the front belly (harakami) was otoro, the main body was red meat, and the rear belly was also chutoro, drawing impressed “Hoh” sounds.
Rare parts like the tail, hachinomi (head meat), and cheek meat were also introduced.
Though they’d eaten tuna casually before, this detailed breakdown of edible parts was fascinating, satisfying their curiosity with “Hoh” and “Heh” from the crowd.
Then, as only bones remained, an incident occurred.
A staff member brought out a real tuna backbone with a thud, causing a stir.

“This is the tuna’s backbone! Huge, right? The meat around it is called nakaochi, fatty and flavorful, often used for negitoro. Notice how clean this bone is? Here’s why!”

More staff brought out items, prompting an “Ohh!” from the crowd.
Transparent bowls held nakaochi tartare, minced ginger, green onions, breadcrumbs, eggs, salt, soy sauce, mirin, and a hot plate.
Himeko let out a “Wow!” her eyes sparkling with delight.

“We can’t do raw food for hygiene reasons, so we’re making Japanese-style negitoro burgers!”

A live cooking demonstration began.
After all the talk about tuna, their minds were already full of it. As the ingredients were kneaded and sizzled on the hot plate, the savory aroma filled the air, making them swallow hard, their mouths overwhelmed by thoughts of negitoro burgers.
Even Hayato’s group, already full, felt the urge. When the staff called, “Line up here to buy Japanese-style negitoro burgers!” the crowd formed a line, Hayato’s group included.

“This is unfair. You can’t help but buy it, and it’s actually delicious!”
“I was full, but I devoured it.”
“Haha, me too. The ‘second stomach’ is real.”
“The teriyaki sauce is so good!”

Despite having eaten so much, they stood in the hallway eating negitoro burgers, exchanging sheepish looks about overeating. They felt played by the show’s tactics but couldn’t complain since it was genuinely delicious.
Then, a frying sound rang out. As Himeko reacted with “Negitoro katsu burger!?” voices from down the hall shouted, “It’s starting!” “Last year was insane!” “To the gym!” “You’ll regret missing it!” and a flood of people surged forward.

“W-What’s this!?”
“Kyaa!”
“Stay by me!”
“Hold on!”

Caught in the crowd, Hayato’s group was swept along.
Instinctively, Hayato grabbed a nearby hand to avoid being separated.
After enduring the human wave, they sighed in relief, but Saki, whose hand he held, murmured with a furrowed brow.

“We got separated from Hime-chan and the others…”