Fireworks exploded overhead.
The atmosphere at Taisho Academy buzzed with energy and excitement.
Students darted between booths, and visitors strolled about with smiles on their faces.
It was finally the school festival for Taisho. The students were already in their respective booths, waiting to welcome the visitors.
"Come! Welcome to Class 1-B's haunted house."
"That was so scary!" A girl clutched her chest, walking out of the haunted house.
Everywhere was lively on that day. The students were happy that their events were a success.
"Mama! Look, sister is a butler!"
"Oh dear~"
"Bwahaha! Son, what on earth are you wearing?!"
"D-Dad?! I told you not to come today! It's so embarrassing."
"I'm really sorry, Kageyama-san." Mei apologised, standing before Sakura.
They were both outside the classroom. She held out a white piece of cloth for Sakura.
Sakura grabbed the cloth, "… it's alright."
*I just have to stand outside here, right? Doesn't seem hard.*
"Th-then… please do your best in welcoming the guests." Mei smiled nervously before heading back inside.
*Ha… and I ended up outside the classroom. I knew i should have sat this out.* She adjusted her tie, standing outside the classroom.
Some visitors walked by, some stopping to try out Class 2-C's cafe and some others standing in line for a totally different reason.
"Wow! They're doing a cross dressing maid cafe!"
"Little butler, let's take a picture." One of them said, standing beside Sakura.
"Aww, she's really cute with that butler outfit. I'll take a picture after you."
Sakura glanced at the girl who stood beside her, clutching her arm tightly.
*Does she have to hold onto me?*
「"Please! If they ask for pictures, don't refuse 'em." Haryu had pleaded earlier.」
*I have no choice but to put up with this…*
"Kyaa~! Look how cute it turned out!"
"Her expression's adorable!"
*How's that even adorable?* Sakura sighed internally.
"My turn next!"
"Hey, no cutting!"
Sakura tried calming them down, but all to no avail.
Haryu popped his head out, "The cutie out there would be going on break in a bit. Why don't you come have something in here."
"Of course we would!"
After taking more than a dozen pictures, Sakura was finally relieved from the 'pests'
She sighed, resting her back against the wall.
"Bwahahaha." She heard someone laugh, followed by footsteps.
She furrowed her brows, her eyes flicking to her right.
Mayu walked closer to her, her hands on her abdomen as a drop of tears rolled down her cheek.
"You must have enjoyed that, huh?"
*She really came… I wasn't expecting that.*
"Haha, ha… I got a really nice video of that." Mayu laughed, holding up her smartphone.
Sakura turned to see the phone, "Hey! Delete that."
She walked towards Mayu, who stepped back, shuffling to her left immediately.
"Hehe, I'm gonna hold onto this for a while." She grinned mischievously, waving the phone at Sakura.
"Ha…"
"Ah! Mayu~" Mei called, walking out.
"Mei-Chan~! I knew you'd look great in the outfit."
"You came to see me? I'm so embarrassed~"
"Eh? Errmm… mn. I came to see you, definitely. Ah-haha." She laughed nervously, glancing at Sakura, who scoffed softly while looking away.
"You're really rocking that butler outfit."
"And you look good with your… uniform?"
"He-he, we're doing a play. It's by noon, so I'm free right now."
"I'll come visit during my break."
"Cool."
"Class president!" Someone called from inside.
"Oh, I'll see you later, Mayu."
"Mmn."
"So… when's your break?" Mayu asked after waving at Mei.
"… in about 30 minutes, I guess."
"Cool then! I'll be in there till your break, so let's check out other class booths together."
"Mn."
Mayu looked at Sakura after Mei left.
She grinned widely, "I'll be in there, cutie."
"You--!"
Mayu walked into Mei's class before bursting into laughter.
———
By noon, Sakura was finally free from her classmates and their visitors.
She was given a break since she stayed outside for a longer time and also had time to serve some visitors inside the cafe.
Her hands were stretched out as she extended her limbs.
She walked down the stairs, finding her way to the school's gym hall.
*I'm a little late. Should I still go watch Mayu's play? She won't really blame me for not showing up.* She sighed, looking into the hall.
The play had just started a few minutes earlier, and Mayu was currently on stage.
*How far have they gone with the play? Ha… I guess I'll just sit and relax. I'm really tired now.*
The lights in the hall had already been dimmed, and many visitors and students were seated in the hall.
Sakura took a seat at the back, beside a girl who looked gloomy.
"The journey might be a long one, but I promise you that we'll meet again."
Sakura watched them closely, her eyes fixed on the stage, *Oh? That's some good acting there.*
She adjusted on the chair to get a better view as the piece of cloth Mei gave her earlier fell on the floor.
The girl beside her bent to help her pick up the cloth just as Sakura bent.
"Uh—" Sakura started as their eyes made contact.
They stayed in that position, their eyes locking for a moment.
Sakura sat up slowly, leaving the piece of cloth for the girl who sat up.
Reina smiled weakly, handing the cloth over to Sakura, "Here."
"Ah… thanks."
She reached out to the cloth and grasped it.
Sakura turned back to face the stage, stealing glances at Reina, *This girl…*
"No! I refuse to forget him! I believe he'll come back!"
"He won't! Come back to your family now that you have the chance!"
"No… don't say that about him. He'll… definitely come back…"
*Something's wrong with the leading character of this play. How could you trust someone so blindly? He must be hooking up with some foreigner right now.* Sakura sighed, shaking her head disapprovingly.
"You don't seem to like the play." Reina said, fiddling her hair with her fingers.
Sakura threw a side-glance at her before looking back at the stage.
"I never said that."
"So you do?" Reina asked, staring at her.
"… it doesn't seem bad. It's watchable." Sakura responded.
It was finally time for Mayu to come on stage to play her part as a…
"A tree?" Sakura asked almost immediately.
*I came here just to see a Christmas tree?!*
Reina giggled softly beside her, "You know Mayu?"
"Ah…"
Sakura leaned back, clearing her throat nervously, *Got too excited there.*
"Kinda."
"Hm… you came to watch the play because of her?"
"… kinda."
*We just met. Why's she talking so much?*
"I was supposed to take part in the play too…" Reina started.
Sakura glanced at her, noticing her sudden change of expression.
"Oh?"
"I'm Reina Ueda, from Class 2-A." Reina smiled radiantly, extending her right hand.
Sakura's eyes widened for a second before blinking, "A-ah… Sakura Kageyama, Class 2-C."
She grasped Reina's hands, their eyes locking for the second time.
"Oh, that explains the butler outfit."
"… yeah."
"So you're the little butler everyone was taking pictures with."
"Ah… you saw that?"
*That's kinda embarrassing.*
"Mn… it looks good on you." Reina smiled, facing the stage.
Sakura pursed her lips, looking away, *Obviously.*
"Thanks."
"Some trains arrive late. Some never do. But that doesn't mean the promise was a lie." The leading character said.
*Oh? She finally realised the dark realities of life.*
"Well that was a good line." Reina said.
"Yeah… it was."
The play finally ended a few moments later.
The visitors and students began scattering in different directions.
"It was nice meeting you." Reina smiled, standing from her seat.
"…"
*She doesn't even remember me. Am I that forgettable?* Reina pouted.
"Hey, you really came, Sakura-san." Mayu smiled, walking over to Sakura and Reina.
"Reina-chan." Mei called, waving at Reina.
Mayu turned to Reina, "Oh? Reina, you came too. I thought you'd be at home."
"Of course I'd be here."
"Hm… looks like you both have met each other. I bet Sakura didn't bother with you. Don't mind her."
"We had a great time," Reina said, tilting her head and smiling knowingly.
"Eh?! This Sakura?"
"Mm-hm,"
"Well that's surprising. Sakura, this is Reina, my cousin. And Reina, this is Sakura, we're best buds."
"Don't go deciding that on your own." Sakura muttered, standing from the seat.
"Eh? I thought we finally hit it off."
"Ha… I'm leaving." She mumbled, leaving the hall.
"Wait up, Sakura-san." Mei called, running towards her, "Bye then, Reina, Mayu."
"Buh-bye!" Mayu shouted, waving at them.
Reina watched Sakura as she left the hall with Mei, "How'd you both know each other?"
"You mean Sakura? He-he, are you interested in her?" Mayu asked, grinning mischievously.
"Oh, come on~"
"Hm… well, we are in the same club… so…"
"Mm-hm? Mm-hm?"
◇◇◇
"Aww! Just one more point, and we would have come first!"
"Yeah! But we still went up compared to last time."
"Let's take a picture to commemorate today's festival." Haryu suggested, smiling at Mei.
"Yeah, let's do that!"
"Sakura-san, would you join us?" Mei asked.
Sakura glanced at her before nodding, "Mn,"
"Really? Thank goodness." Mei smiled, walking over to her. "Then, let's get in there."
"O-oh… mn."
CLICK.
*Lately… something feels off. Not bad, just… strange.*
"Hey! The picture came out well!"
"Wha! So cute~"
*Well, not all strange feelings are bad. Is this what it means to change?*