— School festival?
The word echoed through the classroom like a kind of dangerous magic.
Or, in Yuuto Hoshino's case… like a warning of imminent disaster.
— That's right! — the teacher announced, writing on the board with far too much moderate enthusiasm for something so chaotic. — The school will hold a cultural festival next month. Each class will be responsible for an activity!
— YESSSSS!! — Sakura Aoyama practically jumped out of her seat. — FINALLY!
— This is going to be good — said Haru, already excited. — Food, games, performances…
— And chaos — added Ren.
— Lots of chaos — Sakura agreed, smiling.
Yuuto rested his face on his hand.
— Crowds… noise… mandatory social interaction…
— Your worst nightmare? — said Ren.
— Precisely.
---
— Alright! — Sakura was already on her feet again. — Ideas! Let's decide now!
— It's not time to decide yet — said the teacher.
— But I already have an idea!
— I don't doubt that — Yuuto murmured.
— A themed café!
— Predictable — said Misaki.
— But efficient! — Sakura shot back. — Everyone likes cafés!
— Not everyone — said Yuuto.
— Do you like it?
— It's acceptable.
— Then it's settled! Approved!
— That's not how it works — said Misaki.
— It is! Emotional democracy!
— That doesn't exist.
— Now it does!
Ren raised his hand.
— I support the café… as long as there's something weird.
— Like what?
— Like… costumes.
Haru's eyes widened.
— A THEMED CAFÉ WITH COSTUMES?!
Sakura froze.
Then…
— …GENIUS.
Yuuto slowly closed his eyes.
— This just got worse.
---
Minutes later, the entire class was debating ideas.
Or rather…
Sakura was debating with everyone at once.
— Normal uniforms are boring! — she said. — We need something eye-catching!
— We need organization — Misaki replied.
— We need fun!
— We need structure.
— We need excitement!
— We need logic.
— WE NEED BOTH!
Silence.
Misaki paused.
— …fair.
Sakura smiled victoriously.
— VICTORY!
— You really do decide your own victories — said Yuuto.
— And you've already accepted that!
— Unfortunately.
---
— Then it's decided — said the teacher, interrupting the chaos. — The class will do a themed café.
The classroom exploded in celebration.
— Now, we need to assign roles.
Sakura raised her hand immediately.
— I'll serve the customers!
— Surprising — said Yuuto.
— Are you being sarcastic?
— A little.
— I like it when you do that!
— Don't get used to it.
Haru raised his hand.
— I can help in the kitchen!
Ren replied immediately:
— Terrible idea.
— HEY!
— You'll burn something.
— I won't!
— You will.
— Maybe a little…
— See?
Misaki was writing everything down.
— I'll handle organization and logistics.
— As always — said Yuuto.
— Someone has to.
Everyone looked at Yuuto.
— …what? — he asked.
Sakura smiled.
— You're participating too!
— I already am.
— No, no! — she pointed at him. — Really participating!
— Define that.
— Interacting with customers!
— No.
— Yes!
— No.
— YES!
— That doesn't suit me.
— Exactly why!
— That's a bad justification.
— It's a perfect justification!
Misaki intervened:
— He can handle the register.
Silence.
Yuuto thought.
— …that's acceptable.
Sakura made an indignant face.
— NO! That's too easy!
— That's the point — said Yuuto.
— Not for you!
— Especially for me.
Ren laughed.
— He always escapes.
— Not this time! — Sakura crossed her arms. — I'll find a way!
Yuuto sighed.
— I expected that.
---
After class, the group gathered again.
Now with a clear objective.
Which, somehow…
made everything more dangerous.
— Alright! — said Sakura. — We need to test ideas!
— Test…? — Yuuto repeated.
— Yes! Simulations!
— I don't like that word.
— Too late!
She pulled a chair and sat in front of him again.
— Customer and server!
— No.
— Yes!
— No.
— YES!
— This already happened before.
— And it was great!
— It was embarrassing.
— It was educational!
Ren lifted his phone.
— This is going to be good.
— Are you recording?
— Maybe.
— Don't.
— Too late.
— Delete it.
— No.
— Ren.
— Fine, fine… — he put the phone away, still laughing.
Sakura hit the table.
— Let's begin!
She stood up, fixed her hair, and struck an exaggerated pose.
— Welcome to our café!
Yuuto looked at her.
— You're being dramatic.
— It's acting!
— It's exaggerated.
— It's charm!
— It's noise.
— It's personality!
— …
— SAY SOMETHING!
Yuuto took a breath.
— Good afternoon.
— Good afternoon, sir! — Sakura replied with a bright smile. — Table for one?
— Yes.
— Right this way!
She made an exaggerated gesture… and nearly knocked over a chair.
— Careful — said Yuuto.
— I know what I'm doing!
The chair fell.
CLACK
Silence.
Ren started laughing.
Haru too.
— It's part of the show! — Sakura declared, quickly lifting the chair.
— It shouldn't be — said Misaki.
Yuuto simply watched.
— Continue — he said.
Sakura blinked.
— Hm?
— You said it was a simulation.
— Ah! Right!
She returned to "character."
— Here is the menu!
— Thank you.
— What would you like?
— Coffee.
— Just that?!
— Yes.
— Boring!
— Efficient.
— You're way too consistent!
— I know.
She sighed dramatically.
— Then I recommend… something special!
— What?
— Today's surprise!
— I don't like surprises.
— You will!
— Unlikely.
She leaned closer.
— Trust me.
Silence.
Yuuto looked at her.
For a second longer than usual.
— …that's risky.
— But interesting, right?
He looked away.
— Maybe.
Sakura smiled.
— Then it's working already!
---
Later, while everyone was getting ready to leave…
Yuuto stood by the window.
Thoughtful.
Notebook open.
"She creates noise…
but also creates moments."
He paused.
"…this is new."
— Yuuto!
He turned his head.
Sakura was there.
— Thinking about me?
— No.
— Liar.
— Maybe a little.
She smiled.
— I knew it!
— Don't get excited.
— Too late!
She stood beside him, looking at the sky.
— The festival is going to be fun.
— It's going to be loud.
— That too.
— It's going to be chaotic.
— Definitely.
— It's going to be exhausting.
— Probably.
— …
— …
— …but not bad — Yuuto finished.
Sakura blinked.
Then smiled.
— You're changing.
— Your fault.
— I know!
He almost smiled again.
Almost.
But this time…
he didn't try to hide it as much.
And Sakura saw it.
Again.
— Ah… — she murmured softly — …this is going to be interesting.
Yuuto closed his notebook.
The silence was still there.
But now…
he wasn't alone in it.