Vol. 2 — Chapter 14: After the Festival
The next morning, the campus was quieter than usual.
Paper lanterns swayed lazily in the breeze, the once-lively stalls now nothing more than empty frames waiting to be taken down.
Yuto arrived early. He didn't know why maybe to help clean up, maybe because he couldn't sleep well after yesterday.
Did Rika really have to say that?
Her words echoed in his head.
"Are you going to tell her?"
He sighed, dragging his feet toward Class 2-B.
Inside, Yuna was already there.
She wore her casual school uniform, her hair tied up in a loose bun, sleeves rolled to her elbows as she folded tablecloths.
"Morning!" she said cheerfully when she noticed him.
Yuto blinked. "You're early."
"So are you," she replied with a grin. "Couldn't stay still at home either?"
"…Something like that."
They worked quietly for a few minutes, tidying up the remnants of yesterday's café.
It should've been peaceful. But Yuto's heart wouldn't calm down.
"Just say it," he told himself. "It's just Yuna. You talk to her every day."
But it wasn't just Yuna.
Before he could open his mouth, the door slid open.
"Yo!" Souta entered, holding a plastic bag full of drinks. "I brought juice. Cleanup fuel!"
Yuna waved. "Perfect timing. We're almost done with the tables."
Yuto sighed inwardly. Another chance gone.
---
By lunchtime, most of Class 2-B had gathered to finish dismantling their decorations. Daiki was making dumb jokes, Ren was complaining about lifting heavy chairs, and Rika — as usual — was quietly watching everything.
At one point, Rika caught Yuto's eye from across the room.
She mouthed: "Did you tell her?"
Yuto shook his head quickly.
Rika smirked.
Why does she look like she's enjoying this?!
---
When the cleanup was finally done, Yuna clapped her hands.
"Great work, everyone! Now… how about one last treat?"
"A treat?" Daiki asked.
"Yeah," she said. "Cotton candy. We didn't get to go yesterday."
The whole group cheered in agreement.
Yuto froze.
That meant spending the rest of the afternoon with Yuna.
And maybe… finally saying what I need to say.
---
The cotton candy stall was still up, run by some seniors cleaning up their own booth.
"One pink one, please!" Yuna said excitedly, handing over a coin.
"Of course!" the senior replied.
"Blue for me!" Daiki added.
Yuto stood there, awkwardly, as Yuna received her cotton candy.
She took a big bite, then turned to him.
"Want some?" she asked, holding it out.
Yuto blinked. "Wh—what?!"
"Come on, I can't finish it all. Just a little bite."
"Y-You… do you know how embarrassing that looks?!"
"Then it's good practice!" Yuna giggled.
Yuto hesitated… then leaned forward and took the tiniest piece possible.
"Wow," she said. "That was the smallest bite I've ever seen."
"S-Shut up."
From behind them, Souta whispered to Daiki, "…Are they on a date?"
"Pretty sure they are," Daiki whispered back.
"Shut up, both of you!" Yuto barked, his face red.
---
The group eventually found a bench in the schoolyard to sit and chat, but Yuto barely heard any of it.
The sunset, the laughter, the way Yuna's eyes glowed when she smiled — it was all too much.
"I have to say it."
But before he could…
"Hey," Rika said suddenly, cutting in. "Yuto. Walk me to the gate?"
Yuto froze. "…Huh?"
"Please," she said simply.
The group looked at him curiously. Yuto scratched his head, confused, but nodded.
As they walked off, Rika whispered, "You're hopeless, you know that?"
"Huh?!"
"You had so many chances today."
"I—I was waiting for the right moment!"
Rika smirked. "If you wait too long, someone else will take that moment."
Yuto stopped walking.
"What do you mean?"
"Think about it," she said, then walked ahead.
---
And just like that… the words stuck in his throat again.
But deep inside, he knew — if he didn't say something soon, he might lose his chance for good.
When they returned to the bench, the group was still laughing over something Daiki said.
"Hey, you two took a while," Yuna said, licking the last bit of pink fluff off her fingers. "What were you talking about?"
"Nothing important," Rika replied casually, sitting back down.
Yuto mumbled something incoherent and avoided Yuna's eyes.
Yuna tilted her head. "You're acting weird today, Yuto."
"Am I?"
"Yeah. You keep spacing out. Did something happen?"
Yes. I want to tell you I like you.
"No. Just tired," he said instead.
She didn't seem convinced, but she didn't push it. "Alright… but you better tell me if something's wrong, okay?"
Her words warmed his chest, but also made him feel even more frustrated with himself.
---
As the sun began to dip low, the group started heading home.
"Same time tomorrow?" Daiki asked.
"Tomorrow's not a festival, idiot," Ren said.
"Still! We can hang out!"
Yuna giggled. "Let's plan something later."
She turned to Yuto. "You coming?"
Yuto opened his mouth to say yes — but Rika suddenly spoke up.
"Actually, I need to borrow Yuto for a bit. We have… student council business."
"Huh? Since when is he in the student council?" Daiki asked.
"Since now," Rika said, grabbing Yuto by the sleeve. "Bye."
Before he could protest, she dragged him off toward the school gate.
---
"Student council business?" Yuto deadpanned.
"Please. That was the only excuse I could think of."
He sighed. "What do you want, Rika?"
She stopped walking and looked at him seriously.
"Yuto. You need to stop being scared."
"H-Huh?"
"You like her. Everyone knows it. Even she probably knows it by now."
Yuto's heart skipped a beat. "…You think so?"
Rika nodded. "But if you keep running away, you'll regret it."
He stared at the ground, her words sinking in.
"Don't wait too long," she said. "Moments like today don't last forever."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving him alone at the gate.
---
Yuto stood there for a long moment, staring at the fading sunlight.
"Don't wait too long."
He clenched his fists.
"Next time… I'll say it."
But for now, he could only watch Yuna's figure in the distance, laughing with the others as they walked away.
---
End of Chapter 14.