Cultural Festival, Day 2

The cultural festival had successfully concluded, and all that remained was the announcement of the overall event rankings.

Before the results were revealed, there was a tallying period, during which the Mister and beauty pageant served as the opening act.

“Congrats, Hayato!”

“Thanks… but, like, winning this thing comes with its own headaches, you know?”

Hayato had showcased a dazzling array of juggling tricks on stage, outshining the upperclassmen to claim the title of Mister and was now back in the audience.

“The girls’ division is gonna be exciting too, huh? Our class has two entrants, so if one of them wins, we’re basically guaranteed the overall class championship, right?”

Akito and Makoto, who had appeared out of nowhere, chimed in.

That’s right. The point competition across the entire event was a battle between classes.

The final event where points could be earned was this beauty pageant.

The preliminaries had already finished, leaving only the final showdown among the five remaining contestants.

“Manami-chan could’ve made it through if she’d just played it cool.”

“But playing it cool isn’t exactly Manami’s style, is it?”

“Ehehe!”

While Aisa and Yuuki remained on stage, Manami had been eliminated in the preliminaries.

Of course, being a first-year played a part, but she’d gotten a bit too wild during her appeal time and was escorted off mid-performance. She’d gotten carried away and tried a triple-and-a-half somersault or something ridiculous like that…

Sorry about that, Touno, our emcee…

“Alright, guess it’s time to cheer on our class’s two girls.”

“Oh! There you are!”

“Both of them making it this far is amazing.”

Akitsu and Kanou joined the audience as well.

Surrounded by the lively group, we watched Aisa and the others take the stage.

The five finalists, aside from Aisa and Yuuki, were all upperclassmen.

“She’s been in the spotlight as a beauty since her first year, hasn’t she, Takanishi?”

Akito said as much.

“But, like, Yuuki’s pretty incredible too, right? To gather that many votes in such a short time! I hear the sports clubs are already fighting over her because of how she shone during this event!”

“Still, the favorite’s gotta be the president, right? She won last year’s contest and has this unmatched, legendary popularity.”

“…And the other two are a genius rhythmic gymnast who competed nationally and a senior who’s done modeling, which makes her popular with the girls too.”

When you line them up like that, it’s really an impressive bunch.

“If we’re talking odds, Takanishi’s probably got the toughest shot. What do you think, Kouki?”

Akito tossed the question my way.

“I’m rooting for Aisa.”

I answered clearly, no hesitation.

“Well, well!”

The looks from those around me felt oddly warm.

But what can I say? Compared to Aisa, who’s drawing the gazes of this entire crowd, or Yuuki, who’s steeled herself for this moment, my little declaration is such a small thing.

Still…

“Finally starting to act like a man, huh?”

To Akito, it must’ve seemed like a big step, because he slung an arm around my shoulder and said it with a rare, serious expression.

◇

“Alright, folks, the school festival is reaching its grand finale! All that’s left is this beauty pageant and the awards ceremony at the afterparty! Let’s get hyped!”

Normally, the student council president would be hosting, but since she was competing in the finals, Vice President Touno was taking over as emcee.

“Touno’s pretty good at this MC thing, huh?”

“Yeah, Aiko said she’s already used to it.”

“Oh, right, there’s no performance segment in the finals, is there?”

“Nope… They just walk out, say a few words into the mic, and step back.”

In the preliminaries, there’d been a performance segment—Hayato did his juggling, Manami attempted backflips.

That said, most of the performance crowd was just there to liven things up. Aisa and the other finalists had basically just stood there and still made it through.

In the end, it all came down to looks and popularity.

The finals were even simpler, so it was all about personality—or just pure appearance—that decided the rankings.

Well, in reality, by the time you’re in the finals, everyone’s already got a reputation, so it’s like a clash of who’s got the most buzz.

“They can change their outfits, right? I heard Takanishi’s wearing the same thing she wore for the festival…”

Makoto said, glancing over with a look that seemed to ask what Yuuki was planning.

“Yuuki said she prepared something herself, so it should be fine, right?”

“Got it.”

I figured it’d probably be the café uniform, but Yuuki hadn’t shared any details with me.

“Well, for now, we just watch their outfits, listen to their greetings, and that’s it.”

Like Akito said, there wasn’t much else to do but wait and see.

With Touno’s opening declaration, the beauty pageant officially began.

“First up, Entry Number One! Suzumori Rena-san!”

The numbers were assigned by grade, so the first was last year’s champion, the president.

“Man, she’s insanely popular, huh?”

“Well, yeah, we see her up there every week at morning assembly, so her name’s practically a household word…”

Like Hayato and the others said, the president’s popularity was on another level. Sure, part of it was the exposure from speaking at assemblies, but more than that, she had this natural charisma that drew people in.

Even though she was just wearing her usual school uniform, there was still this aura about her that felt special.

“Now, a few words for everyone, please!”

“Thanks, Aiko.”

The president took the mic.

“Alright, first off, great job to everyone for making it through this week-long event! Did you all have fun?”

The gymnasium echoed with cheers that sounded almost like screams in response to the president’s call.

“That’s what I like to hear! All that’s left is this beauty pageant and the overall rankings, but no matter the results, what matters is that you’ve enjoyed everything up to this point! Keep having fun until the very end!”

“Woooo!”

“President Suzumori!”

Thanks to her existing popularity, that short greeting alone was enough to whip the crowd into a frenzy.

Even Akito couldn’t help but comment.

“Man, whoever’s up next has it rough.”

“Maybe not? They’re all pretty popular too.”

Akitsu’s words made me think again about Aisa, who was about to take the stage.

To step out in front of a crowd like this… it’s kind of a big deal, isn’t it? At the very least, I’m dating one of the top five most popular girls in the school right now.

The two seniors who followed wore a rhythmic gymnastics leotard and a flashy costume likely used in the festival’s play, both riling up the crowd in their own way.

Still, they didn’t quite match the president’s level of excitement, which just shows how incredible she is.

And then, it was time for the moment I’d been waiting for.

“Now, here come the second-years!”

Aisa’s turn…

“Wow, she’s super cute, huh?”

“That outfit’s killer.”

“I went to her class’s booth at the festival, and she was great with customers!”

Hearing all these positive comments from the crowd around me, for some reason, I was the one who felt relieved.

Even though I was more nervous than she seemed to be, Aisa looked perfectly composed up on stage.

She stepped forward smoothly and took the mic with confidence.

Before we started dating… no, even before we started talking like this, I think I was always following Aisa with my eyes.

Her graceful posture, the way she walked—I’m pretty sure there were moments when my gaze was stolen without me even realizing it.

Even her voice, as she took the mic, had that same effect.

Aisa was chosen for this, of course, because her looks are stunning, but probably also because she has this… something that makes everyone pause and take notice.

Deep down, part of me wanted to brag that this girl was my childhood friend, while another part felt guilty for not being worthy of being the childhood friend of someone like her. Maybe that’s why I kept looking away from Aisa all this time.

“…Kouki-kun, you okay?”

“!? Oh, Akitsu, it’s you.”

“You were staring pretty hard, huh?”

Kanou teased me, and for some reason, at that moment…

“Yeah, maybe I was.”

I answered with embarrassing honesty.

“Oho, we’re gonna have to interrogate you later!”

“For now, though, we gotta focus on Irino’s turn.”

Akitsu laughed gleefully, and Akito shot me a sly grin.

“Yuuki’s up, huh?”

Like Akito said, it was time to focus on her.

I promised I’d watch properly, after all.

“I hope she’s okay…”

Looking at Manami, who was gazing worriedly at the stage, I said,

“She’ll be fine. It’s Yuuki, after all.”

Thinking back to yesterday, I was sure Yuuki would be okay.

Our classmates, who only knew the old Yuuki, looked worried, but I was certain she wouldn’t freeze up here.

The Yuuki of now had the cool, heroic vibe from back then, combined with a small-animal-like cuteness that made you want to protect her—an invincible combination.

Even I, who was probably the most excited person in the audience, was left speechless when Yuuki stepped out.

“Wha…”

She was blowing past my expectations, just like the Yuuki from back then.

“Is that… really Yuuki?”

“Wow… Yuuki-kun, you’re beautiful…”

Dressed in a crimson gown, with those big eyes she usually hid behind her bangs now fully on display, Yuuki took the stage.

I’d assumed she’d just wear the café uniform, but my guess was completely off.

And then…

“That’s… the pin I gave her, isn’t it?”

I stared at the yellow pin holding her hair in place.

It was the one I’d found at the ryokan and given to her as a souvenir.

“That’s so Yuuki, huh?”

Just like back then, she did things that left me unable to keep up, all while making sure to keep me in her sights.

The dress, the hairstyle—everything was so unexpected and surprising, yet that pin felt like a quiet declaration that she was still thinking of me.

“Manami, did you know about this?”

“Yup! Actually, she’s already been scouted by a record company, and she’s gonna perform in that outfit soon. So today’s like her rehearsal!”

“That’s incredible…”

Manami must’ve been worried because she knew about this.

To me, this stage seemed like a huge deal, but for Yuuki, it was just practice—a testament to how big her presence had become.

“Wait… did she always have that much, uh, chest?”

“…Impressive.”

“Forget that—her whole look changes so much with her hair up like that…”

Even Akitsu, Kanou, and Hayato, who were popular in their own right, were stunned. Yuuki didn’t even seem like the usual Yuuki.

With her hair up and those big eyes unhidden, she was a beauty that could make even Aisa jealous.

And that party dress? It highlighted her figure in a way I’d never even thought about before, turning it into a major selling point.

Yuuki’s determination was on full display.

Yet, somehow, she still felt like Yuuki. Maybe because I knew her from before… or maybe because I saw how she’d changed just yesterday.

“What an incredible transformation! Now, please, a few words!”

Even Touno looked shocked but smoothly handed over the mic like a pro.

…The mic?

The next moment—

“Whoa… incredible…”

“What’s with her? She’s an amazing singer!”

“Wait, I’ve heard that somewhere before…!”

Yuuki took the mic and started singing a cappella.

The gymnasium buzzed with excitement at her unexpected performance, then fell silent for a moment—

“I knew it! That’s Yuki Usagi!”

“I don’t know what’s going on, but she’s amazing!”

“Whoa! And she’s that cute?!”

The gymnasium erupted in cheers, the roar unmistakably louder than when the student council president had her moment.

Just a single phrase.

Sure, there’s no rule saying you can’t sing when asked to give a speech.

But if anyone else had tried it, it wouldn’t have had the same impact.

It was only because Yuuki had already proven herself, with her overwhelming vocal talent and the courage to pull it off in this setting, that it became such a breathtaking performance.

◇

“The winner is… Irino Yuuki-san!”

Touno’s announcement sent the entire gymnasium into a frenzy.

“She really went and did it…”

“She beat the president, huh…”

“That was incredible! Especially knowing a record label’s already scouted her…”

“Yup…”

Everyone was caught up in their own wordless awe.

Honestly, no one could argue with this outcome.

Today’s star was, without a doubt, Yuuki.

“Her singing was just phenomenal, wasn’t it?! Let’s head straight to the winner’s interview!”

I recalled yesterday’s conversation.

—“If I win, I’m picking Kouki-kun.”

If it’s Yuuki, she’d really go through with it.

So I had no choice but to steel myself.

“Now, for the winner’s interview! Congratulations!”

My eyes met Yuuki’s as she took the microphone.

She wasn’t the Yuuki I used to run around with as childhood friends, the heroic tomboy I knew.

Nor was she the timid, small-animal-like Yuuki who transferred to this academy, hiding behind me.

The Yuuki standing in that dress, gazing at me with those eyes she usually kept hidden, was different from any Yuuki I’d ever known—yet, undeniably, the Yuuki only I could recognize.

“Thank you… so much.”

Yuuki, in her elegant dress, gave a graceful bow, captivating the crowd and sparking another wave of cheers just with that simple gesture.

“Alright, alright! Here comes the main event! The winner gets to choose who they’ll spend the afterparty with! Who’ll have the honor of sharing a fiery night with this year’s Miss?! Let’s hear it!”

Touno hyped up the crowd.

Of course, this was all part of the performance. Everyone assumed it’d be a safe, neutral answer, like the president gave last year.

“So, who will it be for the afterparty?!”

At that moment, I’m pretty sure only Yuuki and I could’ve predicted what was coming next.

Even so, the gymnasium fell into a hush… and then…

“My classmate, Fujino Kouki-kun.”

The moment Yuuki said my name, the gymnasium exploded again.

Following Yuuki’s gaze, every eye in the room turned to me. Even though I’d braced myself, it hit harder than I expected…

“Who’s that guy?!”

“Heard they’re childhood friends or something…”

“Damn, that’s unfair!”

“Oi, didn’t Takanishi say she’s childhood friends with him too?!”

“Why him?!”

The resentful voices from the gymnasium rained down on me like a storm.

“What’s that?! A nomination! First up, Fujino Kouki-kun, please come to the stage!”

I figured it wouldn’t come to this, but Touno, ever-prepared, handled it like a pro.

As I stepped forward…

“Kouki-nii…”

“You okay?”

Manami and Akito’s voices—or rather, their silent concern—showed everyone was worried for me.

Heck, Hayato and Makoto had even positioned themselves to shield me from the crowd’s grumbling.

But compared to Yuuki’s effort, this was nothing.

“I’m fine.”

I was nervous. My hands were trembling a bit.

Walking under the scrutiny of the entire academy wasn’t something I did every day… or ever again, hopefully. But today, I had to do this.

As I passed the stage wings, I spotted Aisa.

“Kouki…”

I paused for a moment in front of Aisa, who was clearly worried for me.

“Truth is, I had a feeling it might come to this since yesterday.”

“You mean…”

“Sorry for not saying anything… Yuuki kinda declared it yesterday.”

Aisa’s eyes widened for a split second.

“I see… then…”

“Don’t worry, just wait for me, okay?”

“Okay.”

With that, Aisa gave me a smile and sent me off.

It was the same warm, sisterly expression she used to have when watching over us back then.

“He’s here! Now, the nominee can either accept and spend the afterparty with her, or! If there’s someone else they’d rather be with, they can name that person and decline!”

Yuuki must’ve known this was coming.

The proof was in her unwavering gaze, filled with resolve, not even flinching at Touno’s words.

I looked into those big eyes of hers.

It was the first time I’d faced her head-on, without her hair hiding them.

“That’s the guy?!”

“Damn it… our Irino-san!”

“No way he’s turning this down, right?”

Voices like that echoed around me.

Yeah, no way I could say no in this atmosphere.

Naming someone else here would be like a public confession.

But that’s exactly what Yuuki just did.

“Alright! Let’s hear Fujino Kouki-kun’s response!”

As Touno handed me the mic, she whispered, You okay? I must’ve looked pretty nervous, but that actually lightened my mood a bit.

I glanced at the stage wings. Aisa was watching me, looking anxious.

I smiled to reassure her, then locked eyes with Yuuki again.

“Kouki-kun…”

Being this close, I could tell. The Yuuki I thought had changed still had parts of her that hadn’t.

She was scared, trembling, her expression full of desperation…

So first…

“Thanks for choosing me.”

“…Yeah.”

Yuuki gave a shy smile, looking down.

Even that little gesture sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Her eyes met mine again, then Aisa’s in the wings.

That alone seemed to tell them both what my answer would be.

When Yuuki first transferred here, she could barely introduce herself to the class.

Now, she stood so confidently in front of the entire student body.

She was every bit the cool, heroic Yuuki I remembered from back then.

The crowd’s excitement hit its peak, making it impossible to back out.

But still… I had to answer the hero standing in front of me.

I trusted that Yuuki, as she was now, would be okay, so I said,

“But… I can’t spend it with you, Yuuki.”

The gymnasium’s air froze.

And that frozen air seemed to pierce me, crushing me under its weight.

That’s fine. Let it all come at me. I didn’t want any more attention on Yuuki after all her effort.

“I’m spending it with Aisa.”

“…Okay.”

Because Yuuki had worked so hard, I could trust her.

I was able to call Aisa’s name so boldly because of Yuuki.

I signaled to Touno to take care of Yuuki, then called out to Aisa with the mic.

“Aisa!”

Aisa looked startled but regained her composure when our eyes met.

“Yes…”

As Yuuki left for the wings, Aisa came toward me.

“Alright! Let’s do this again! A nomination from Fujino-kun!”

Touno led Yuuki to the wings and came back to keep the event flowing.

In the wings, the president was hugging Yuuki, giving me a thumbs-up. Yuuki seemed okay too.

“Go for it, Fujino-kun!”

Thanks to Touno’s quick improv, I finally faced Aisa and said,

“I… want to spend it with you, Aisa.”

“I… want to spend it with you too, Kouki.”

I hugged Aisa to hide her near-tears expression, leaving the rest to Touno as we escaped to the wings.

◇

“Kouki?”

“Yeah, Aisa.”

The afterparty.

A massive campfire blazed in the center of the field, with students buzzing excitedly all around.

“Lost in thought?”

“Kinda…”

“Hehe.”

“Hey.”

Aisa casually rested her head on my lap.

“I think… they will let it slide today.”

“Yeah, probably.”

I stroked Aisa’s hair, gazing at the campfire’s flames and reflecting.

“You really went and said it, huh.”

“Yeah, sorry… I didn’t talk it over with you.”

“Hehe.”

I’d wondered if my choice was selfish, but her smile was all the answer I needed.

“I believed in you…”

“Then I’m glad.”

Aisa’s words were my greatest relief.

“The afterparty… we’re gonna get teased so much.”

“There’s a gathering after this?”

“They said it’d be too late, but after what happened, Aiko insisted.”

Ugh…

Touno had grumbled endlessly afterward about the extra work I’d caused her. She was overwhelmed, worried, and stressed, so I guess she deserved to vent…

“The place is…”

“Irino Café, booked out, apparently.”

“You talked to Yuuki?”

“Yeah…”

“I see.”

I didn’t ask what they talked about.

But if they’re using her place for the gathering, maybe Yuuki’s sorted out her feelings to some extent.

“Looks like things are gonna get lively, huh?”

Seriously…

Back when I first started school, or even when I moved up to second year, I never could’ve imagined this.

And it all started because of…

“Thanks.”

It’s Aisa.

“For what?”

“For a lot of things.”

“I see…”

Aisa laughs softly on my lap.

“I’m thankful too.”

Saying that, Aisa sits up.

A sweet scent wafts from her hair, tickling my nose.

“And… you were pretty cool today, Kouki. I love you.”

“Huh…”

A sneak attack.

She whispers softly in my ear, then quickly puts some distance between us.

That’s not fair…

But today, I’m not backing down.

“I love you too.”

Chasing after her, I whisper in her ear.

That alone takes everything I’ve got…

“…I didn’t quite catch that.”

Her ears turn bright red as she says it, clearly playing coy.

If that’s how you wanna play, I’m ready to go as many rounds as it takes today.

“I love you.”

“—!?”

“Still didn’t hear me?”

“…N-no, I didn’t.”

“Alright then… I love you, Aisa.”

We went back and forth like that for a while, and by the time everyone came to pick us up, both of us were completely red in the face.