Chapter 18: Arts Festival Preparation

Everyone’s really busy.

From a corner of the auditorium where the arts festival would be held in ten days, I had this thought while blankly watching people moving busily about.

Though I’d been given the grand title of arts festival helper, I had absolutely nothing to do.

No, more accurately, I hadn’t been given any tasks yet.

I’d been told I’d be checking attendance lists at the entrance on the day of the event. The important duty of handing out pamphlets to everyone entering. Oh my, what a heavy responsibility.

But today wasn’t the event day, or even rehearsal. It was just the day for arts track students and teachers to finalize stage arrangements.

Even now they were making a commotion putting tape on the floor to mark positions. In this situation, I couldn’t help even if I wanted to. In fact, the only task I’d been given so far was “Could you take this to the storage room?”

Though I was happy to have no work, I wondered why they’d picked helpers at all.

Of course, I knew the purpose was to showcase that students prepared everything from setup to performance. But couldn’t they have not called us today at least? Or just call us when needed?

Other students in similar positions from different classes were also tucked away in corners looking at their phones. Their gloomy expressions suggested they felt the same way.

Well, what could mere helpers do about their complaints anyway?

Better to use this time memorizing English words. I yawned freely and took out my phone. As I was about to open the vocabulary app…

“Hey.”

…Just then, a familiar voice suddenly came from nearby.

A voice so delicate it tickled my ears. A voice full of playfulness beyond mere cheerfulness. I didn’t need to think about who it was.

When I quickly looked up, sure enough, So-yul was standing there.

She was in uniform despite it being the weekend. Maybe she chose proper attire since teachers were present. She wore a thin coat over it. Though it wasn’t cold, she seemed to be careful about catching a cold.

I wasn’t the only one who looked up. A student from another class beside me asked So-yul:

“What is it? Need help with something?”

“Ah, yes. There’s something I’d like help with. I’d appreciate if one person could come with me.”

So-yul answered with a kind smile.

Glances started passing between the helpers. A silent conversation about who would go. It was amusing how they were so idle before but now rushed to pass the work to others when it appeared.

Of course, I was included in that. This time especially, I could guess So-yul’s intentions. Though I didn’t know what she wanted me to do, it was obvious she wanted to take me. I didn’t want to just go along with it.

But naturally, So-yul wasn’t about to just watch me try to escape either.

She came hopping toward me while I deliberately avoided her gaze. Her steps were beyond light – almost like flying. It even felt like a small animal stalking its prey.

Finally reaching my side, So-yul tugged firmly at my sleeve and said:

“Hey, could you come for a moment?”

She looked up at me with a bright eye smile.

To me, it looked like the smile of an evil devil.

◎

The place So-yul practically dragged me to was a blind spot in the corner behind the stage.

The backstage area was built quite large, probably in preparation for arts track performances. Even with many people passing through, no one seemed to notice So-yul and me having our secret meeting in the corner.

I asked in a hushed voice:

“So? What did you need help with?”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

So-yul tilted her head. This was just ridiculous.

“You said there was something you wanted help with.”

“Ah~ Right. I did say that.”

She clapped her hands as if just remembering. But officially, wasn’t this situation about calling a helper for arts festival preparation? What if someone else had volunteered before me?

“Well then…”

After looking around briefly as if searching for a task, So-yul finally spoke:

“The piano is on the left side of the stage now. Could you move it to the right?”

“…”

“What? Can’t do it?”

“Forget it.”

Better not waste energy unnecessarily. That was the most important life lesson.

“Why did you really call me?”

I gave up and asked her true intentions. So-yul looked up at me with her hands behind her back. Then she swayed her body side to side. It felt like she was mocking me.

“Well, no special reason. Just that chances to be openly together like this are rare. I thought it might be more thrilling, so I called you.”

Her answer didn’t deviate even slightly from my expectations.

I laughed derisively and said:

“Didn’t you say you needed to take the arts festival seriously?”

“I did. Since my parents are coming, and other important guests too.”

“Yet you have time to play around like this.”

Why not practice piano instead of wasting time with me? When I said this sarcastically, So-yul pushed out her lips slightly.

Then with a faint smile at the corners of her mouth:

“I made time specifically to talk with you.”

What nonsense.

“Stop joking around.”

“…Hmph.”

When I asked again, So-yul clicked her tongue, then:

“With piano, I don’t need to coordinate with anyone else. The orchestra, theater, and taekwondo kids need to figure out where everyone stands, so they sit in the audience seats and check. But I just need to put the piano in the center and play alone.”

“So you called me because you were bored?”

“…Let’s just say that.”

What does she mean ‘let’s just say that’?

Well, either way, I had nothing to do either. Plus, with so many people passing by, it was quite thrilling. It was the perfect place to secretly break rules.

I snorted and looked out at the commotion unfolding on the other side.

Teachers whose faces I recognized from passing by. Students I wasn’t sure were even from our school. Company people who seemed to be here for stage setup. More people than I expected were participating in arts festival preparations.

“Was the arts festival such a big event?”

“You didn’t know?”

“No, I didn’t.”

Though I’d attended in first year, I hadn’t properly watched. In my hazy memories I remembered there being many guests, but I hadn’t known they prepared this thoroughly.

“For the arts track, the once-a-year arts festival is most important. Even the acting students don’t have chances to show their skills except for this. Though I have outside competitions and such.”

So-yul answered while watching the crowds like me.

Not even having chances to show their skills – that was different from us who just studied for tests and at most entered external competitions.

“Sounds tough.”

“Yeah…”

When I casually commented, So-yul nodded slightly. Her expression showed a strange tension.

“Nervous?”

So-yul’s eyes sharpened at my careless words.

“How could I not be nervous?”

“Why? You said you have lots of chances to perform.”

“I get nervous every time I perform. Because it would be terrible if I make a mistake.”

“My goodness, how do you live getting nervous every time? Your heart must suffer.”

“Then you weren’t nervous at all during midterms? How many tests have you taken in your life?”

“Well… Thanks to you, I think I took them more comfortably…”

No wait. What am I saying?

I quickly stopped myself and glanced at So-yul. A surprised smile had already spread across her face. It didn’t take long for that smile to turn fully toward me.

“Oh my, did having a pretty girlfriend make you less nervous?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“What’s wrong with that? We’re dating. You can be honest.”

“Honestly, that’s not what I meant.”

I waved my hands frantically as I argued.

“Meeting you secretly and stuff seemed to relieve some stress. Like pretending to be lovers wasn’t completely useless, that’s what I meant.”

“Hmm~”

After my long explanation, So-yul put her index finger to her lips and made this sound. She looked like a cat that had found an interesting toy.

Then with a slight smile she said:

“Okay. I’ll believe you. That excuse.”

She clearly had no intention of believing me.

I sighed loud enough for So-yul to hear. Finding this reaction even more amusing, So-yul chuckled. She really had an insufferable way about her.

“Anyway.”

Stretching her arms wide, So-yul said in a refreshed tone:

“I am more nervous than usual, it’s true. Though I often perform for outsiders, this represents the school, so even more so. Plus there are people coming from the music industry.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

So-yul nodded lightly at my question, then:

“And most of all… I want Mom and Dad’s approval.”

She added this.

Among the several reasons So-yul listed for being especially nervous about this arts festival, the last one seemed biggest to me.

So-yul probably didn’t feel particularly attached to the school. And famous people from the music industry attended competitions too.

Looking at various reasons, in the end, So-yul’s desire for her parents’ approval seemed to be the strongest.

Even understanding these feelings, I could only say the same thing:

“Sounds tough.”

“…Yeah.”

Of course, So-yul’s response was similar.

Just then, a loud voice came from the stage:

“Alright, helper students. Come help clean up the trash here.”

Seems they finally had work for the helpers.

I wanted to slip away since I didn’t want to work. But if I disappeared after being led away by So-yul and didn’t return, it might make others suspicious. Better to wrap up this pretend slacking off.

I turned toward So-yul. She was already looking up at me with large eyes.

“Going?”

“Have to. I did get volunteer hours after all.”

“Okay. I’ll let you go.”

What does she mean ‘let me go’? Is she implying she won’t let me go next time? Given our size difference, I could probably break free even if she grabbed my legs…

I don’t know what I’m imagining. I was about to just snort and turn around when So-yul waved.

“Then let’s meet secretly again later.”

‘Let’s meet secretly again later’ – what an interesting goodbye. I smiled and returned her farewell:

“Sure. Practice hard too.”

With these words and an open-handed wave, I turned my back on So-yul.

After taking just a few steps.

“Ah, right.”

So-yul made this sound as if remembering something.

I stopped and turned just my head to look back. So-yul was looking up at me with a bright smile. It was her usual mischievous expression.

I felt instinctively uneasy.

Unable to know this feeling of mine, So-yul maintained her smile and spoke:

“Actually, I’m planning to go out tomorrow. Need to pick clothes for the arts festival at my usual shop. And since I’m out of shampoo and body wash, might as well stop by the mart too.”

“…And?”

I had some idea what was coming next. While trying to deny this sense, I urged her to continue.

So-yul chuckled as if I’d fallen for it, then:

“So.”

She started briefly, then grabbed the ribbon near her chest and:

“Want to go on a date, just the two of us?”