“Now then, the school festival is officially open!”
““““Waaaaaaaaaaa!!!!””””
The opening ceremony of the school festival had begun.
A simple stage had been set up in the courtyard, which the entire student body was looking down upon from their classroom balconies. On top of it, either the student council president or the school festival executive committee chairman was making the declaration with a smile.
Applause broke out from all directions, and the popping sound of crackers, likely set off by someone in the crowd, could be heard.
“It’s finally starting, Konuma-kun...!”
As we watched the courtyard from the window of Class 2-6, Ichikawa, standing next to me, tightened her fists in front of her chest and let out a sharp breath through her nose.
“I guess so...”
In contrast, it wasn’t that my energy was low, but rather I was sinking into a strange sense of sentimentality as I realized I barely remembered anything about last year’s school festival.
No, I really don't remember it. Was there even an opening ceremony like that? All I remember is... Ichikawa’s singing and guitar live, and the bad performance of ‘Cherry’ that happened before it.
I’ve heard it said that when you’re alone, memories don’t easily become memories, and that’s exactly what it was.
“I’m glad it’s sunny.”
“Yeah.”
The school festival at Musashino International High School is held for only one day, on Saturday.
There are class exhibits—haunted houses, food stalls, maid cafes, and mazes—and exhibits for each club. To mention something a bit unusual, the track and field club even has an event where they deliver letters by running.
Since most of the performances, including the Rock Club’s live show ‘School Festival Rock-On,’ are held indoors, they aren’t affected by the weather. Still, considering the feelings of those coming to visit, it’s a good thing it’s sunny.
“What should we go see?”
Saying that, Ichikawa innocently opened a pamphlet beside me.
Apparently, it’s a given that we’re going around together. I have no objections, though...
“Let’s see, the Dance Club at 11:00 in the gym, the Instrumental Music Club at 13:00 also in the gym... and the Rock Club at 15:00 in the lecture room. If we watch these three, it looks like we won’t have much time for anything else?”
“Hmm,” Ichikawa pondered, resting her hand on her chin.
That said, there probably weren't many other options besides watching those three. Though for the Rock Club, we’d be performing rather than watching.
By the way, Sakosh and Hazama are standing on stage twice in one day? That’s impressive...
“Well then, let’s go see the Dance Club in the gym first!”
“Right.”
And so, we headed toward the gym.
Along the way, Ichikawa was looking around restlessly for some reason.
“...What’s up, Ichikawa?”
“Ah, yeah, just a little...”
‘Again?’ I thought, letting out a small sigh.
“...Is it Tokugawa-san?”
“Eh? No! That’s not it! Ah, I see, sorry.”
“No, it’s fine, but...”
What am I being apologized to for?
“Actually, Ariga-san... the manager from when I made my debut, contacted me yesterday. She said she was coming to this school festival...”
“Eh? Seriously?”
“...Yes. Ariga-san is also a graduate of Musashino International. I think it was ten-something years ago.”
“Hoh...”
Seriously, amane’s old manager is coming. I wonder if that’s the person who discovered Ichikawa’s talent? That’s amazing, maybe I should ask for an autograph...
My mind was almost entirely occupied by this unseen Ariga-manager, but Ichikawa, unaware of that, continued talking with a chuckle.
“Actually, during the time I was debuting, the stories Ariga-san told me about her high school days during our chats seemed so sparkling and fun that they stayed in my memory. That’s why I decided to take the entrance exam for this high school.”
“I see...”
But something else bothered me more than that.
“Is that Ariga person coming to watch for amane’s re-debut?”
I noticed my voice sounded somewhat excited.
“There you go again, saying ‘amane’ so casually... well, it’s fine. Hmm, maybe. She did say, ‘I heard through the grapevine that you can sing again!’... I wonder how she found out I could sing... what does ‘grapevine’ even mean?”
“I don't know, but... either way, she’s coming to see the live show, right? We’re the last act for the Rock Club, so won’t she be coming a bit later?”
“Hmm, maybe.”
While we were talking, we arrived at the gym.
Even though it was thirty minutes before the start, there was already a line that included people from outside the school. For some reason, I felt like there were many girls wearing uniforms from other schools.
“Is the Dance Club this popular...?”
“It seems so... I’m glad we came early, right?”
As we were standing there stunned, a voice called out.
“The Dance Club is always popular, but this year’s great success is the Kenji-san effect!”
I turned around.
“Tsubame, don’t just suddenly talk to people...”
Standing there was my master, Yuri Azuma, with an exasperated face, and her disciple, Taira-chan.
“Wow, Yuri!”
“Amane, Konuma, good work!”
The Greeting Club president raised her hand nonchalantly.
“Oh, good work. By the way...”
Looking at Yuri, there was something I was worried about.
“Yuri-neesan, how is the progress on *that* part...?”
That’s right.
Since receiving the lyrics from Yuri about two weeks ago, I still haven't been able to read the last phrase.
“Ah, that. I’ll have it ready properly before the actual performance!”
“It’s already right before the performance?!”
I understand the Instrumental Music Club is busy, and I don't mean to blame her, but at this rate, the end of that song will just be ‘Lalala~♪’.
“Come on, I’ll definitely manage somehow.”
Yet, Yuri didn't seem to have any sense of crisis at all. That was so unlike her that I was actually more unsettled by that fact.
“The Kenji-san effect? Is Kenji-san referring to Hazama-kun?”
Our band’s natural angel also had no sense of crisis and was happily talking to Taira-chan.
“Exactly!”
The small-animal junior answered Ichikawa’s question with a beaming smile and whipped out her smartphone.
“About two weeks ago, on the official Instagram of a fashion magazine for high schoolers, Kenji-san’s photo was uploaded under ‘#StreetHandsomeUniformHighSchooler’ because his style was so good! Here it is!”
She showed us the screen with a smile.
“Heh~ Amazing!”
Ichikawa let out a voice of admiration.
Come to think of it, I feel like Erina-san was saying something like that the other day... She was in a bad mood when I heard it, so I probably barely gave a proper response...
“So, girls are swarming to see Hazama...”
“Swarming is a bit... well, I guess they are swarming. Ah...!”
As I looked at the line with exasperated eyes, Yuri unusually agreed with me.
“Right?”
When I looked her way, Yuri’s expression had suddenly turned pale, as if the blood had drained from her face.
“Hey, Yuri, are you okay?”
When I asked, she seemed to come back to her senses.
“Ah, yeah, I’m fine... I think. It’s the culmination of Sakohasu and Erina’s youth, so I’ll manage... but,”
As she said that, she grabbed the hem of my shirt with a trembling hand.
“Sorry, can you stay with me?”
“...Yeah.”
While inwardly tilting my head at Yuri’s sudden weakness, I first gave a firm nod.
“Yuri...?”
“Master, are you really okay? For now, should we just line up...? If you need to go to the nurse’s office, I’ll go with you, so please just say so.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you...”
Saying that, we joined the back of the line.
“...So, what happened?”
When I asked in a low voice, Yuri, who was still clutching my hem, glanced toward Taira-chan before putting her hand to my ear and whispering.
“...A classmate from my middle school is in line.”