Chapter 259: Opening Festival
The opening ceremony of the cultural festival took place in the auditorium.
The one who stepped up to give a speech was the president of the cultural festival executive committee, none other than Koyasu Tsubame-senpai.
Sakurai Saki stood under the stage, his mind wandering somewhere else.
In a little while he would have to hand out flyers, because Shuchiin's annual cultural festival allowed outside visitors to come, and today there would be a huge crowd.
To help the class earn extra funds, Sakurai had to go to the gate… and sell his handsome looks.
Sakurai: "(ノ _ <,, ) yare yare~
On the first day of the cultural festival, many of Shuchiin's clubs held their own events.
The rhythmic gymnastics club had a performance, the basketball club had an exhibition match, the marching band would perform in the schoolyard… In short, there was no shortage of interesting things.
The student council members all had jam-packed schedules today.
Ishigami Yuu was a member of the executive committee, so even though the festival had started, he still had to run all over dealing with issues.
Sakurai Saki had a two-hour shift.
Shinomiya Kaguya as well — besides her shift, tomorrow night she would also be in charge of lighting the campfire for the bonfire party.
After a week of practice, Shirogane Miyuki had finally mastered balloon art. Even the balloons of higher difficulty could now be made with ease. This pace of progress, if displayed on the stat chart of a Stand User, would at least be ranked A.
Secretary Fujiwara, together with her board game club, provided the chance to experience a game the club created themselves — a game titled Happy Life Game. The last time they played, Sakurai and Shinomiya ended up with 11 children, but unfortunately in old age Sakurai cheated, causing Kaguya to demand a divorce.
Miko's class seemed to be running a 4D haunted house? It was said the first half was a normal haunted house, while the second half was a sound experience zone.
As for the others…
Ai-chan, besides her shift, was dragged by her two best friends to join a stage performance. Her idol outfit for the performance would surely be worth seeing. Sakurai had already decided he would go cheer for his girlfriend when the time came.
Sakurai to Hayasaka: ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ ૮₍˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ₎ა
"… That concludes my speech." Koyasu Tsubame finished speaking, then handed the stage over to the principal.
The principal did not disappoint either, speaking at length, once again making Sakurai Saki's mind drift off.
...
The opening ceremony ended, and the lively cultural festival officially began.
Sakurai first returned to his class booth, then picked up the stack of flyers already prepared.
"Sakurai, we're counting on you — use that unrivaled handsome face of yours to attract a bunch of cute girls here!" Toyosaki Saburou patted Sakurai Saki's shoulder.
"Make them so smitten they forget themselves, turning into fools who only know to come eat our coffee and sweets!"
Toyosaki: ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧
Sakurai: (¬_¬")
"I'm not an incubus, you know," Sakurai Saki muttered under his breath.
"Don't say that, just flash your trademark smile and no girl will be able to refuse you." Next to him, Kazamatsuri Gou also came over, throwing an arm around Sakurai Saki's shoulder.
He cast his gaze toward someone nearby, "At first we actually wanted Shinomiya-san to be the advertising girl, but you're pretty good too — really a tough choice."
"You could just pick both," Sakurai Saki replied speechlessly.
Why was it that he had to go outside and endure the cold wind, while Shinomiya Kaguya could sit inside enjoying the warmth? Totally unfair!
"It's freezing today, the temperature's been down to single digits lately. If you feel cold, just tell us, we'll swap shifts with you." Toyosaki Saburou said that, but his hands pushing Sakurai Saki out the door didn't stop at all.
Two-faced betrayal? No, this was the friendship of men.
"Sakurai-chan! Wait!"
Hearing this voice, Toyosaki Saburou suddenly noticed that Sakurai Saki was no longer moving, no matter how much force he used to push. Glancing back, he instantly wised up and returned to the classroom.
Hayasaka Ai carried a hand warmer over, "It's really cold outside, don't let yourself freeze."
She slipped her hand inside Sakurai's jacket, then pressed it against his body.
"Much warmer now." Sakurai Saki smiled at her.
"Hehe, right?" Hayasaka Ai gave a sweet smile, looking incredibly cute.
ღ´͈ ᵕ `͈ )♡⃛(´͈ ᵕ `͈ ღ
The intimate moment between the two was witnessed by their classmates.
"So lovey-dovey~"
"Nice, I also want my girlfriend to stick a hand warmer on me."
"Toyosaki, go get plastic surgery first, then we'll talk." Someone teased.
"Go on already, don't just stand there." Hayasaka Ai, perhaps out of embarrassment, lightly tapped his chest, then turned back.
Hayasaka: (∩⸝⸝╸▵╺⸝⸝∩)
...
In front of the school stood ginkgo trees, but now they had no vitality left. Their leaves had all fallen in autumn, leaving them bare, yet still standing tall and firm.
Back in autumn, not going with his girlfriend to Meiji Jinguu Gaien to see the rows of ginkgo trees, Sakurai felt a bit regretful.
Standing at the gate, Sakurai Saki was like a flyer-dispensing machine.
Tourists entering, after seeing Sakurai Saki, would almost always take a flyer from his hand.
At first it was just schoolgirls, then more and more people, until imitation spread — many even mistook it for a festival guide, only to realize afterward it was actually a flyer for Class 2-A's café.
On the flyer it was clearly stated that the coffee beans used were Shuchiin Coffee, a premium variety used to entertain foreign guests.
Thanks to Sakurai Saki's overwhelming efficiency, Class 2-A's café even began to see a line forming. Unfortunately, Sakurai himself was still zoning out at the gate, not witnessing the lively scene at all.
"This is the school of my good-for-nothing son."
Suddenly, a familiar, haunting voice rang out.
Sakurai Saki snapped back to reality.
"Shirogane-ojisan?"
"Oh, Sakurai." Shirogane Papa held up his phone, pointing the camera at Sakurai Saki.
[Oh my god! Handsome guy!]
[Unbelievable, so handsome… even I have to admit, his aura far surpasses mine!]
[I thought Shuchiin students were all bookworms, who knew there was such a hottie.]
[Hey handsome, give me your LINE!!!]
"Ojisan is livestreaming?" Sakurai Saki smiled at the camera.
[UWU~♡〜(∩˃ω˂∩)〜♡]
[Eyebrows sharp like blades! Eyes shining like stars! Truly someone who cultivates!]
[This is the first time I've been captivated by a man, truly struck at first sight, i am gay now!]
"Sakurai, don't mind them, everyone's just being a little excited." Shirogane Papa shifted the camera away.
"Miyuki's probably on shift right now, Shirogane-ojisan, would you like to go see him? Here, this is my class's flyer." Sakurai Saki handed him one.
"Thanks, I'll stop by later."
Shirogane Papa said a few words, then left with style.
Thinking about Shirogane Miyuki's increasingly pained expression lately, it was surely connected to this.
His father becoming an internet celebrity was truly hard to accept, especially when that man was a middle-aged guy over forty.
Sakurai lowered his head, looking at the remaining flyers in his hand, just wishing to finish handing them out soon.
When he reached the very last one—
"Ah! This is so annoying, I just want to disappear already!"
Once again, a familiar voice, brimming with a defeated aura.
"Maki?"
"Saki-chan?"
( ≖_≖) (≖_≖ )
The two stared at each other.
"Hey, help me hand out flyers a bit." Shijo Maki looked at him as though seeing a savior.
Maki: (..◜ᴗ◝..)
Sakurai Saki didn't pay her any attention, instead quickly smiling and handing the last flyer to a schoolgirl, then dashed away.
Sakurai: 三三ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
Want me to do it for you? No way!