Chapter 44: Preparations for Spring Festival are progressing quickly- in the high school rooftop

“Rina~ help me with this!”

“Okay! Ugh… oof…!” I strained, lifting the heavy box with all my might. I followed Mizuki, my arms aching, the box heavier than I’d anticipated.

“Phew… that’s heavy,” I said, setting the box down and sighing.

We were on the rooftop, and everyone was busy with festival preparations. Tents of various sizes were being set up on the school grounds, the middle and high school student councils working together.

The festival had grown so large this year that they’d hired outside contractors, but the student council was still responsible for the more expensive equipment and important materials.

“We need to use the school’s equipment, after all,” Aya said, dusting off her hands.

“Right…” I sighed, tugging at my collar, my forehead damp with sweat. It was supposed to be spring, but summer was definitely approaching. And so was the Spring Festival.

Only two days left. The festival was a massive event, starting Wednesday evening with a pre-festival celebration and continuing until Sunday. The novel had described it as a four-day event – one day for the pre-festival, two days for academy events, and one day for the community.

But this year, even the last day was filled with events involving corporate sponsors. The stakes were high. The pressure was immense, but seeing everyone working so hard filled me with a sense of… quiet confidence.

“Wednesday evening… the festival starts…” I murmured, looking out at the sprawling Takamari Academy campus below. The view from the high school rooftop was impressive.

This wasn’t just a high school; it was a private academy for the elite, with facilities rivaling those of a university. The main field alone was larger than three regular high school fields combined, and there was even a small dome stadium.

‘They’re using Takamari Park for the festival too, right?’ I looked towards the park next to the middle school building. Meticulously maintained by gardeners, it boasted a beautiful landscape, like something out of a European palace garden. Up close, it had seemed like an ordinary park, but from this distance… it was different.

‘This really is… an elite school…’ I couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer scale of it all. While this might be an ordinary sight for Takamari students, for someone from an ordinary background like me, it was overwhelming.

“Rina~ what are you doing?” Mizuki’s familiar voice startled me, and I turned around.

“Ah… just admiring the view?”

Mizuki grinned, walking over, her long hair swaying in the breeze. “Hee hee, too busy with festival preparations to notice the scenery? It’ll be even more impressive when the festival starts~”

“Even more impressive?” I blinked, surprised. I hadn’t realized the scale of the preparations, but perhaps it was to be expected.

“Of course~! There will be lots of VIP guests, remember? Celebrities, voice actors, influencers. And important people too,” Aya said, appearing beside us, her blue eyes meeting mine, a hint of weariness in her expression.

Mizuki grinned and gave me a thumbs-up. “Since it’s our first Spring Festival as first-years, I asked Grandpa to pull out all the stops~!”

“Really…?” I stared at her, wide-eyed. I didn’t even know when that scene occurred in the novel.

But it was strangely satisfying to see events from the novel unfold in real life. Perhaps, in this world, I was a prophet!

But not everything was the same as in the novel. For one, Aya hadn’t collapsed.

“There will be many guests from outside the academy as well. Celebrities, voice actors, influencers. And some important figures,” Aya added calmly.

“That’s right~ Like Aya-ring said, you’ll be busy greeting guests with us, Rina,” Mizuki said, nudging me playfully. I nodded awkwardly.

“Yeah…” How could I, an ordinary person, stand alongside Asakura Mizuki and Yukikawa Aya, scions of prestigious families? I inwardly cringed, but it was too late now.

“I’m going to check on the middle school students!” Mizuki suddenly announced, waving cheerfully before dashing off.

“Huh…?” I stared after her, dumbfounded. She’d just abandoned us! I was suddenly alone with Aya on the rooftop.

“Uh…” My heart pounded in my chest. Alone with Aya… I felt a sudden chill despite the warm weather and the sweat on my skin.

‘I’m so self-conscious…!’

I fidgeted nervously, staring at my feet. Should I go back to the student council room like Mizuki? Or should I stay here and rest like Aya? Aya sighed, a weary sigh unlike her usual composed self, and opened a small water bottle, taking a sip and tilting her head back slightly.

“…” I watched her unconsciously. Her slender neck, the way her silver hair shifted as she swallowed… it was strangely captivating.

‘Ah, Aya…!’

She’d removed her blazer, her blouse slightly damp with sweat and clinging to her skin. While the dress code required a blazer, it was acceptable to remove it in warmer weather. But the way her blouse clung to her…

“…!” I quickly looked away, my face burning.

‘No! Get a grip, Rina!!’ I had to act normal. If I acted strangely, Aya would get suspicious!

Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Aya finished her water and set the half-empty bottle down, then tapped the space beside her with her free hand. “Rina, sit.”

“…Huh?” I looked up, startled. W-What was she saying?

“Don’t just stand there. Rest for a bit. Aren’t you hot?” she asked, her voice calm and even, then she looked at the sunlit rooftop and shielded her eyes with her hand. “It’s shady here.”

“Ah… okay…” I mumbled, slowly sitting down beside her.

‘Ahhh… I’m sitting next to Aya…!’ But the problem was… we were sitting too close. I’d tried to create some distance, but I could practically feel her shoulder against mine.

And in the quiet stillness of the rooftop, with only the gentle breeze for company, I could smell her scent. A light, sweet fragrance… and a hint of shampoo. I inwardly cringed.

‘This isn’t fair…!’

But Aya just sat there, looking at the sky, as if nothing was amiss. Her beauty was so captivating, it made it even harder for me to think straight.

‘I’m the only one who’s flustered by this, aren’t I?!’

My heart pounding, I forced myself to speak, desperate for a distraction. “Um, Aya, are you… tired?”

Aya tilted her head slightly. “Tired of what?”

“You know… the festival preparations, dealing with all the people…”

She looked at me, then turned her gaze back to the sky. “…It’s a lot to think about.” Her voice was lower than usual.

It was true. Aya had been looking tired lately. She was handling a lot of behind-the-scenes work, and in the novel, she’d been a workaholic, pushing herself to the point of collapse trying to mediate conflicts.

And thankfully, she hadn’t collapsed yet. That was good. Really good.

A brief silence followed her response, only the gentle breeze filling the air. The quiet intimacy was unnerving. We were so close, I could hear her breathing. I fidgeted with my hands, then whispered, “…Let’s just… rest here for a bit.”

Aya’s eyes narrowed slightly, and a small, almost imperceptible, smile touched her lips. “Okay.”

Her smile made my heart skip a beat.

‘…This is your fault, Aya, for being so beautiful.’

But I hid my feelings, staring at the rooftop floor, trying to calm my racing heart.

In this moment… I just wanted to enjoy the peace and quiet, the gentle breeze, her presence beside me.