Emelio sensei descended upon the courtyard like a well-groomed storm. His cape fluttered dramatically in the winter breeze. His hair shimmered unnaturally. His teeth sparkled: "Ah yes. Rejoice! For today, is a day of celebration!"
Yuji who was forced to accompany him squinted: "You mean a day to sell takoyaki."
Despa pointed at him: "Crude phrasing, my unpolished student. We're not selling food, we're curating culinary experiences!"
Yuji sighed as they continued to their stall.
Meanwhile, Austin and Remi were gorging themselves.
Remi: "Should we really be stuffing ourselves like this. I mean, not that I mind."
Austin: "We deserve it after surviving that winter break training."
Remi: "Unhealthy logic, but as long as it's just this once it's fine."
By midday, things had escalated, as they always did. Emelio had declared a Booth Presentation Contest, simply for the fun of it. The area instantly became a war zone.
Sylvie's tea stand evolved into a full-on Victorian café, complete with lace, piano music, and attendants in tuxedos. Yuji's takoyaki booth countered by going full street-style: neon lights and a dangerously high level of fire tricks.
Marlon: "Let's make the food so spicy it changes people's lives!"
Dakota: "Changes their lives by killing them?"
Erika clasped her hands, sparkling with determination: "We have to win too! Our choco-bananas won't lose!"
Esmarie: "Nothing's going to beat a good ol burger and hot dog stand!"
As the competition started heating up, Yuji's booth was smoking, literally.
Yuji: "Who turned the oil to maximum?!" he roared, wielding skewers like a weapon.
Marlon shouted over the sizzle: "I'm not backing down! We're feeding souls, man!"
Shinatsu smirked across the courtyard, pouring tea with lethal grace: "Pathetic. They're about to self-destruct."
Sylvie: "Hehe. At least it's fun watching them."
Despa strutted by, inspecting booths like a king among jesters: "Presentation: 10 out of 10! Elegance: 12! Fire safety: zero."
Austin and Remi continued eating food from every booth they could.
Austin: "These burgers might be the winner."
Remi: "Dang girl, what's the secret ingredient?"
Esmarie: "A chef doesn't kiss and tell."
Austin: "That is definitely not the saying."
As the sun began to set, Emelio gathered everyone around his makeshift stage: "Students! The time has come!" he declared dramatically. "I shall now declare the most refined, beautiful, and utterly unnecessary booth of the day!"
The crowd hushed.
Emelio wiped a tear: "It was beautiful. The choco-banana stand is the winner!"
The crowd erupts into celebration and disappointment, as Erika and Esmarie jump with joy.
Marlon: "Tch. This was rigged."
Dakota: "We might've had a chance if everything didn't go up in flames."
Night fell. Lanterns lined the courtyard, and fireworks exploded over the campus. The group gathered near a fountain, exhausted but content.
Erika leaned against Dakota's shoulder, smiling: "That was fun."
Dakota: "I almost became an inferno. And don't get me started on the haunted cafe. That also almost killed me."
Esmarie grinned beside him, hugging her knees: "You? I was the one in full Frankenstein makeup."
Sylvie: "I think my makeup deserves some praise."
Erika: "Your costumes were both amazing!"
Dakota sulks, not being included in the compliment even though he didn't like his costume.
Austin tossed a pebble into the fountain with a lazy flick: "You guys had the longest line of the day. I heard the principal stopped by, and that he screamed."
Dakota: "Esmarie got him real good, jumping out from behind the curtains."
Esmarie smirked: "Couldn't resist. His reaction was priceless."
There's a moment of silence before Sylvie speaks: "I hope times like these never end."
Everyone silently agrees.
Shinatsu: "That would be nice."
A burst of purple light reflected in her eyes as if to agree.
Sota sat at Dakota's side: "I like this. Just… all of us here."
Dakota: "Yeah. It's not bad at all."
For a while, no one spoke. They just watched as the sky bloomed in slow motion. Esmarie hummed a tune under her breath, matching the rhythm of the fireworks.
For once, the future didn't feel heavy.
It felt bright.