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The school was quite busy during the preparation period for the cultural festival.

The cultural festival required more preparation than expected.

This was especially true for the haunted house that our class was planning to do.

I had to make the classroom scary and dark, decorate it myself, and create gimmicks to scare people.

It was also important to plan long routes in this narrow space.

‘And cosplaying is also important.’

There are quite a few gimmicks that are not performed by humans, but the gimmicks that are performed by humans are still slightly more effective.

The most classic of them are cosplay and things that appear and disappear in places you can’t see.

So, our class decided that about three people at a time would go in and manipulate the gimmicks.

‘Too much is counterproductive.’

Anyway, the people who decided to go in on the first day were me, Yuwon, and Hoyeon for the first half, and for the second half, it was three male students I wasn’t particularly close with.

Since the people inside also had to enjoy the cultural festival, it was divided into the first half and the second half.

When I tried to do it, Riya seemed to want to do it too…

Given her personality, this was difficult to do.

I’m trying to surprise you, but what if you’re a little saggy?

‘Riya also hates scary things.’

So, we had no choice but to say that Riya did not participate this time.

He seemed a little, no, quite a bit disappointed that he couldn’t be with me, but it was something he couldn’t help.

“You can do it together when I’m not doing it.”

“Until then… what do you do?”

Even though I was only doing the first half of the cultural festival, she spoke as if she was sad that she had to leave even during that time.

“Go with Asuka. Asuka and Yuwon will be in the first half, so there will be no one to stay with.”

“…Still.”

Asuka, the only person she goes out with is the amusement park, but since the amusement park is the same group as me, there is no one to go with her.

The two were quite close, and she didn’t seem to have any major complaints about it either.

Something didn’t seem to like it.

“At first, I wanted to go together. With Sihyeon.”

Riya leaned her little face against my shoulder.

It wasn’t particularly strong, and the head fell with a weak pop, but the ripples were bigger than anything else.

My heart, which had been a little quiet these days, started beating again.

“I want to go with you too.”

The reason I chose the first half was because I wanted to do everything quickly and stay with Riya.

Although there were some excuses in this regard.

I didn’t need to say it.

I knew I shouldn’t rebut here.

“Once my role is done, let’s move around together from then on.”

“Don’t keep falling.”

“Yes. Don’t fall.”

Even if she hadn’t said it in the first place, there was no intention of leaving during the cultural festival.

I will go around and enjoy the festival with her.

We will walk around, eat snacks, enjoy fun things according to the theme, and spend time together.

This was just my thoughts that I had decided from the beginning, now expressed.

“There are a lot of interesting things in the theme, let’s go together.”

We talked about where we would go on the day of the cultural festival and what would be fun.

#

When the day before the cultural festival arrived, our class looked completely different from before.

Black paper was stuck to the windows, blocking out the light, making it completely dark inside. The surroundings were covered with black cloth, so there was no bright atmosphere.

The spacious, empty classroom was filled with sculptures and gimmicks that were rotated around.

Upon entering, an eerie space without any light was created.

‘Did you say it would take about 7 minutes?’

7 minutes was a fairly reasonable time for this cultural festival.

It may be quite short considering an ordinary haunted house, but this is a school cultural festival, not an amusement park.

The total time is short, but most people will not be able to enjoy it if it lasts too long for a maximum of 2 people.

In that sense, 7 minutes is an appropriate time.

Of course, it is difficult for those who operate the gimmick inside.

Anyway, we decorated everything roughly, and when it was time to leave school, Ho-yeon suddenly approached us.

Shaking the cell phone screen.

“Hey, did you see the notice?”

“Notice? What kind of notice.”

“The last event of the cultural festival was held.”

The last event of the cultural festival he mentioned was left blank when the cultural festival schedule was first released.

The only thing written on the timetable was [Look forward to the day before!], but I guess it was to create anticipation. Attention was definitely drawn.

It seemed like the event was revealed today, literally the day before the cultural festival.

“So what is it?”

It is the last event of the cultural festival, and if it is to be revealed at the end like this, it will be a central event.

So, it will be given more weight like this.

It was natural to be curious about what kind of event it would be.

When I asked Hoyeon about it, he showed me a screen and answered.

“I heard there’s an awards ceremony?”

“…Awards ceremony?”

What kind of award ceremony is this award ceremony all of a sudden?

That award ceremony I know?

It was more unexpected than I expected, and when I questioned him in confusion, he pointed to the screen of his cell phone.

It was a notice from the class.

“Voting is held during the cultural festival and awards are given in each field. One by one.”

“…It’s novel. Although it’s quite unexpected.”

It was a so-called popularity vote targeting the entire school.

It would be a problem if there was an award with a negative connotation, but otherwise.

If you think about it, it seemed like a pretty fun event.

Moreover, the target is the entire school, including all 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students.

“So what is the prize?”

Looking at the notice, there were quite a variety of awards available.

It was in a direction that had nothing to do with academics as much as possible, and if you look at it roughly, it was like this.

There were also things that were standard at school award ceremonies, such as the male popularity award and the female popularity award.

There were also some unusual ones, such as the sports club popularity award and the model student appearance award.

and.

“…Best Couple Award?”

There was an image that caught my eye the most.

The name is Best Couple Award.

Just looking at the name, it seemed like it would be the most popular award among these.

Both to the recipient and to the person voting.

At least one name is sure to attract more attention than anyone else.

“It’s the center of this award ceremony.”

“Why does this exist?”

“It’s fun, right?”

It was fun.

I think it would be fun just to watch.

Best couple, and that too, voting. There is no shortage of highlights of this cultural festival.

But… why am I so anxious?

‘…I guess not.’

In the first place, Riya and I were not a couple or anything.

Not yet.

I never told anyone around me that I was dating, so there was no way I was going out.

“Still, don’t worry because you are the one applying to run for office.”

“In that case…”

The good news among the misfortunes is that being nominated for this award is not based on someone else’s recommendation, but on your own application.

If I or Riya didn’t apply, there would be no need to be nominated.

That Best Couple award had nothing to do with me.

‘I guess so… right?’

It will happen.

I trusted Riya.

#

Not long after that, school ended, and Riya and I got on our way home from school.

Meanwhile, there was one topic that came to mind.

“Riya, did you hear about the awards ceremony?”

When Hoyeon came to talk just now, Liya was somewhere else.

This topic was brought up because Riya, who is not very interested in external situations, may not know about this award ceremony.

“Uh, huh…?”

But as soon as those words were said, Riya’s body trembled slightly.

My body was shaking so much that it was clearly visible.

“I heard…uh.”

Riya responded softly and walked forward, avoiding my gaze.

Her ears, seen from the side, were slightly red.

‘what?’

Anyone who saw him seemed to be embarrassed for a moment, but I couldn’t find the reason.

What did you just say?

The only thing I could do was ask if they had heard about the awards ceremony.

But why?

‘…I guess not?’

I felt the cold and uneasy feeling I felt before creeping back up again.

I still don’t know what I was anxious about, but I was anxious.

Just my intuition told me so.

“Who told you?”

“Asuka.”

“Asuka? It’s worth it.”

Asuka was the type of person who was very interested in things like school events.

In a way, it was natural for her to tell her close friend, Riya, about this big event.

‘It’ll be okay.’

When she responded like that, I tried to shake off my slightly anxious mind.

It is unacceptable to doubt Riya.

#

‘…sorry.’

Riya blushed and remembered what happened a moment ago.

Asuka said that there is a best couple award.

He also said that he would go out with Yuwon.

Of course, Yuwon’s opinion is not there.

As soon as she heard that story, she also lost her hesitation.

‘I applied.’

To be honest, you could say it was impulsive, but I don’t particularly regret it even now.

It felt good just hearing the name of the Best Couple award.

If they win that award, Riya and Sihyeon will become school’s official lovers.

It was the best future she could hope for.

That’s why she applied without Sihyeon’s knowledge.

Is it okay for now for a while? I thought… but it was already too late.

‘I’ll tell you tomorrow.’

Anyway, on the day of the cultural festival, you will find out who has come up to vote.

So she planned to tell me tomorrow.

“…”

Riya laughed.