Chapter 52: Spring Festival-Festivals create couples

In the quiet atmosphere of the cafe, I unconsciously thought about tomorrow’s schedule. Having successfully completed the first day’s main event, the student council had overcome a major hurdle.

“Tomorrow should be less hectic, right?”

Aya nodded. “Yes, it’s still the festival, but there won’t be any major events like today.”

“So we’ll have some free time…”

“Yes. There might be some minor conflicts to resolve, but nothing major,” Mizuki added with a grin. “The second day is usually just an extension of the first.”

‘Then… I can relax a bit tomorrow.’ Today had been incredibly busy, with the student council managing the main event, a tradition for the first-year high school students. But from tomorrow, the festival would return to its more relaxed, community-focused atmosphere. The thought eased my anxiety.

“Okay! That’s all for today!” Mizuki announced, finishing her tea. Aya nodded, setting down her cup. “Yes, everyone worked hard today.”

Despite my exhaustion, I felt a sense of accomplishment, the day finally over. Aya looked at me, her blue eyes filled with warmth. “Rina, you must be tired. Get some rest tonight.”

I stared at her, mesmerized. Her gaze was filled with gentle concern, but more than that… exhaustion.

“…You too, Aya,” I replied.

Mizuki grinned, watching us. “Aww~ Aya-ring, Rina-ring~ ending the day on a sweet note~!”

“I-It’s not like that!” I quickly denied, my face burning. Wait, had Mizuki just started calling me “-ring” too?!

Aya just smiled faintly, saying nothing.

“Aya, say something!”

“What? It’s just…”

“Just…?!”

Mizuki nudged my shoulder playfully. “Okay~ that’s all for today. I’m… sleepy, so I’ll be going first.” She stretched and stood up.

I was about to leave as well, but I glanced at Aya, who was smiling softly, and I felt… a sudden urge to stay. Mizuki left the cafe, and we were alone.

The silence, with just the two of us, was almost… intimate.

The night sky, visible through the window, was dotted with twinkling stars. I stared at the remaining tea in my cup, a strange tension settling over me.

Aya was still sitting there, and I looked up at her. She was watching me, her blue eyes quiet and… intense.

“Aya… what’s wrong?” I asked cautiously, and she smiled, but it wasn’t her usual calm, reassuring smile. It was… hesitant, almost nervous.

And then, she spoke.

“Rina…” she began, her voice trailing off, and I held my breath.

“You said… you wanted me to create a memorable festival.”

Her words startled me. “…Yes?” Had I said that? I thought I might have mentioned it in a LINE message… but why bring it up now? Aya tapped her fingers on the table, then spoke, her voice soft and low.

“Could you… come here tomorrow night?”

“…” My breath hitched. I slowly looked up at her. Aya’s expression was calm, as always, but…

“…” She was blushing, her cheeks flushed, her gaze flickering away before returning to meet mine.

My heart skipped a beat.

“Tomorrow night…?” I echoed dumbly, my mind a blank. This… was she…

But Aya didn’t answer, just smiled, her smile deeper, more meaningful than usual. I set down my teacup, my hand trembling slightly.

This… wasn’t what I’d expected. Things were moving too fast.

If… if tomorrow night was what I thought it was… could I… reject her, like I’d rejected Hiiragi-senpai?

“…Okay,” I replied, the word escaping my lips before I could overthink it. Aya’s eyes widened slightly, then her smile softened.

“Then, tomorrow night.” She stood up and extended her hand towards me.

I looked at her outstretched hand, my heart still pounding, and took it, our fingers intertwining.

The first night of the festival. It had ended like this. And that night… I couldn’t sleep.

****

The next day. Something felt… different. Or rather, I felt different. My mind was filled with Aya.

Her flushed cheeks.

Her hesitant hand.

Her voice, asking, “Could you… come here tomorrow night?”

And her soft, gentle smile.

‘No…!’ I shook my head, trying to dispel the thoughts, but they lingered, Aya’s image firmly imprinted in my mind. And as a result…

“Rina, what are you doing?”

“…Huh?”

“Are you stupid?”

I stared at him blankly. ‘…Did he just say something to me?’

I tried to remember, but my mind was a fog. I only registered that Fujimoto had spoken. “…What did you say?”

“…Never mind,” he said, waving his hand dismissively and walking away. I stared after him, but for some reason, his usual annoying presence didn’t bother me. And then…

“Wow~ you’re completely out of it, aren’t you?” Shirazuka-senpai observed, sipping her tea with an amused smile.

“…Huh?”

“Did something happen with Aya?”

“…!!” I flinched. How did she know…?

“Oh my, it’s true, isn’t it? Rina, it’s okay to be more discreet, you know?” she said, chuckling and setting down her teacup.

I couldn’t respond, my heart still racing from the memories of last night.

And throughout the day, I’d kept my distance from Aya. She seemed slightly bothered by it, but she was also keeping her distance, both of us aware of the unspoken tension between us.

As a result, I spent the day in a daze. And then, I was given an errand.

“Could you take these documents to the student council room?” Shirazuka-senpai handed me a stack of papers.

Ah, right, work. I took the documents and headed towards the student council room, my mind still foggy. And just as I was about to open the door… I heard voices from inside.

“…I knew from the beginning.”

And then, another voice, familiar yet… unexpected. “Tachibana, I…”

Hiiragi-senpai? Tachibana-senpai?

I froze, then quietly pressed my ear against the door. Judging by the tone… he was confessing.

“H-Huh?!” I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand. Hiiragi-senpai was speaking to Tachibana-senpai, his voice firm and resolute, befitting his “Black-Haired Prince” nickname. I waited for her response.

“…I knew it,” she said calmly, then added, her voice low and seductive, “So I told you to stop flirting with other girls.”

She’d accepted his confession.

‘Eeeeeeh?!’ I was stunned. ‘Wait, what just happened?!’

This hadn’t happened in the novel. Just because the protagonist was gone… Tachibana-senpai, a supporting character, had ended up with Hiiragi-senpai?

“Tachibana, I’m sorry. And I love you,” he said, a calm smile on his face.

“…!” I was speechless. And then, I realized. I had to deliver these documents after they left. But they didn’t leave the student council room for a long time.

****

The document incident… the fact that Hiiragi-senpai and Tachibana-senpai were now a couple… it was a shock.

And now, I was on my way to another potentially earth-shattering encounter.

I knew there would be a spectacular fireworks display tonight, even more impressive than the one during the pre-festival celebration. It was on the official schedule. But the fact that Aya had specifically asked me to meet her at this time…

“…” I stood before the cafe door, my heart pounding.

“…You came.” A quiet voice startled me, and I slowly looked up.

There she was… Aya, standing in the moonlight, her uniform neat and crisp, her long silver hair swaying gently in the breeze, her blue eyes, strangely… wavering, as she looked at me.

I took a step closer, my heart racing. I knew… why she’d asked me to come here, why tonight…

Aya took a deep breath, then spoke, her voice soft and hesitant.

“Rina.”

“Yes…” I replied instinctively.

“I…”

And in that moment… BOOM!

Fireworks erupted in the night sky, a cascade of colors painting the darkness, illuminating Aya’s face. And in that light, she said, “I… like you, Rina.”

All other sounds faded away.

My heart pounded in my chest, my breath catching in my throat. She’d said it, clearly, unequivocally, without a moment’s hesitation.

“So, Rina… will you go out with me?” Her words, soft and trembling, struck me harder than any firework.