Chapter 43: Preparations for Spring Festival are progressing quickly

After buying some snacks and drinks at the convenience store, we arrived at Takamari Park. The park, as usual at this time of day, was quiet and peaceful, a gentle late-spring breeze rustling the leaves.

But the pleasant atmosphere didn’t ease my anxiety. I was nervously watching Aya, searching for the right moment to explain myself.

Mizuki, as always, plopped down on the bench, ripped open her chocolate, and pulled out her phone. I was holding my usual pudding.

It had become my go-to convenience store snack. Sweet, simple… somehow, I’d developed a fondness for pudding, even though I didn’t remember liking it in middle school.

But more importantly… I glanced at Aya. She was quietly sipping her iced tea.

‘…Should I tell her now?’ It seemed like a good time, so I started to speak…

“Um, Aya, about—”

“Whoa, check this out!!” Mizuki suddenly exclaimed, staring at her phone.

“Eek! You scared me!”

“What is it?” Aya and I asked simultaneously, turning to look at her. Mizuki’s eyes sparkled as she held up her phone.

“Amazing news! This is huge!”

Curious, I leaned closer. Aya also turned her attention to Mizuki. “What is it?” Aya asked, and Mizuki pointed at her phone screen.

“Look!”

I peered at the screen and gasped. “Is this… real?”

“Yep! Not fake news.” Aya, after checking the screen, narrowed her eyes slightly, her expression a mix of surprise and something else… something akin to apprehension.

‘…I didn’t expect this.’

I knew “Trinity” had been trending on Twitter recently. The social media campaign had been gaining traction, but the recent release of Trinity-themed characters in a popular game had caused a surge in searches, which, in turn, had led to an explosion in followers for our Spring Festival social media account.

“Ta-da~! We hit 100,000 followers!” Mizuki announced cheerfully, waving her phone. I stared at the screen, still in disbelief.

“…100,000 followers…” While I’d expected a boost from Kasumi’s promotion, I hadn’t anticipated this rapid growth. Things were getting out of hand…

“And that’s not even the best part! It’s on the news!” Mizuki pointed at a news article on her phone.

Aya and I leaned closer to read the headline.

[Takamari Academy Festival Attracts Major Corporate Sponsors]

“…What?” I quickly searched for the article and read it carefully. The news had spread that major corporations were considering sponsoring the Takamari Academy Spring Festival, thanks to the viral social media campaign.

“The news coverage boosted our follower count even more.”

“Which companies are interested?” Aya asked, and Mizuki scrolled through the article.

“Kirishima Heavy Industries and Cyber Horizon Inc. from the US have announced investment plans and expressed interest in partnering with the Takamari Academy Spring Festival.”

“…Huh?” I stared at Mizuki, dumbfounded. Both companies were global giants.

[Kirishima Heavy Industries]

A leading Japanese corporation, a major player in robotics and heavy industry. Even in Korea, Kirishima was a household name.

[Cyber Horizon Inc.]

A leading American AI and IT company, one of the top seven AI companies in the world. Their involvement was even more surprising, as they rarely collaborated with Japanese companies.

“Did we have any connections with Kirishima Heavy Industries?” Aya wondered aloud.

“The ‘Violet Knight,’ remember? The vice-president’s son, I think?” Mizuki replied.

“Ah… right.” I cringed inwardly. That guy?

“Then why is Cyber Horizon Inc. suddenly interested?” I asked. They were one of the top seven AI companies in the world.

Mizuki shrugged. “No one knows for sure, but the news says they’re in talks. Apparently, one of their executives is a Takamari alumnus.”

“…” I looked at Aya, who was quietly staring at her phone. Normally, she’d just brush it off with a casual “Interesting,” but her expression was different today.

“…Aya?” I called out softly.

She slowly lowered her phone. “It’s not official yet.”

“Yeah…” It was true. News outlets often exaggerated, and the companies hadn’t officially confirmed their sponsorships yet. They were just exploring the possibility.

But…

‘I didn’t expect the promotion to be this successful…’ I bit my lip, staring at the screen. The Spring Festival’s social media campaign hadn’t been this impactful in the novel. There had been sponsors, but not major corporations like these. Perhaps… the “Takamari Trinity” held more influence than I’d anticipated.

‘We’re just three high school girls…’ It felt surreal. How much bigger would this get? I’d just wanted to enjoy a typical Japanese school festival… And in the midst of all this, I’d completely missed my chance to apologize to Aya.

****

The Spring Festival, scheduled for early May, was less than a week away. And in that short time, the atmosphere in the academy had completely transformed.

The student council room was busier than ever. Tachibana-senpai, meticulously organizing documents, was thrilled by the prospect of a surplus budget, and Aya’s status within the student council had soared.

But Aya herself didn’t seem happy.

Was it because I’d missed my chance to apologize? She was acting like her usual self, but I felt awkward around her, a sense of guilt whenever she seemed stressed or tired.

“Aya…”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry… I didn’t expect things to get this big.”

Aya looked at me, then smiled gently. “It’s okay, Rina. Thanks to you, the Spring Festival will be a success.”

…She said it was okay, but her tone was… complex, a mix of emotions I couldn’t quite decipher.

“It should have been your idea, Aya… I shouldn’t have interfered.”

“It’s okay! It’s not because of that,” she said, a sudden, bright, almost triumphant smile spreading across her face.

It was strange. I hadn’t really done anything since suggesting the social media campaign. Well, I was handling the treasurer duties under Tachibana-senpai’s guidance, but I felt… removed from the main action.

And the sponsors… while not directly participating, major corporations had pledged financial support. Their logos, displayed on the official sponsor page, had triggered a flood of inquiries from smaller businesses, creating a scheduling nightmare for the student council.

“Please choose our company as a sponsor!”
“We want to participate in the Spring Festival! How can we do that?”
“Who should we contact to be included in the festival?”

The phone calls were endless. The public relations team, now managing the sponsors, was overwhelmed, and the student council had essentially become a business development team.

And with the confirmed corporate sponsorships, anticipation for the festival had reached a fever pitch among the students.

“Wow, this year’s festival is going to be epic!”
“With all the corporate sponsors, it’s going to be huge!”
“Should our club have a bigger booth this year?”

While the overall sentiment was positive, it also fueled competition and conflict between the clubs.

“Our club’s location is terrible! Can we move to a more visible spot?”
“Our club has a good track record, so why are all the A-line locations assigned to specific clubs?”
“How did that club manage to get three booths?”

The student council was now tasked with mediating these disputes as well.

Time flew by, each day filled with endless tasks and preparations. No one knew if everything would come together in the end.

I looked around the student council room, buzzing with a mix of excitement and anxiety. Even Fujimoto, initially so reluctant, was now actively helping out. Kamisaka-senpai was practically collapsed on the sofa, exhausted, and Hiiragi-senpai, overwhelmed by the constant phone calls, had fallen asleep at his desk.

Tachibana-senpai and Shirazuka-senpai continued to work diligently, their usual calm and collected demeanor unwavering. Mizuki, always energetic, seemed… more refined lately. Her usual playfulness had been replaced by a sharp focus whenever she was working.

And Aya… she was the same as always. Calm, quiet, efficient, her composure unshakeable. I found myself staring at her, captivated by her grace.

She glanced at me. “Rina.”

“Yes?”

“Besides what you just said, is there anything else?”

Her question startled me. Had I been staring too intensely?

“Um… no, nothing,” I replied awkwardly, shaking my head, and Aya smiled faintly, standing up. “Then, should we go for a walk? Get some fresh air?”

“Sure!”

And so, Aya and I left the student council room.

****

A cool late-spring breeze greeted us as we stepped outside, walking quietly down the empty hallway.

‘The days are getting longer…’

We sat on a bench overlooking the school grounds, and Aya brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. “Aya, are you tired?” I asked cautiously.

“A little,” she replied.

A brief silence followed. I fidgeted nervously, glancing around, and then, Aya turned to me.

“Rina.”

“Yes?”

“If it weren’t for you… the Spring Festival wouldn’t be this successful.”

Her words startled me. “No, it’s just an idea. And without you, the planning would have been impossible.” I waved my hands dismissively.

But Aya shook her head slightly. “That’s true, but… I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you.”

Our eyes met. Her gaze was sincere, unwavering.

It made my heart pound. This wasn’t right… we were both girls…

“Rina.”

“Yes…”

“Look forward to the festival.” A playful smile touched her lips.

Seeing her relaxed and happy, after her earlier coldness… I was relieved.