112. Then, the School Festival of Resolve. (16)

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The third day of the school festival.

I still couldn't find a way to connect with Tsuki. For three days straight, I had been wearing a borrowed maid outfit, greeting students who came to visit our classroom.

While I harbored the secret wish to explore the festival with him, I knew deep down that this hope would likely remain unfulfilled. Though feeling dejected was inevitable, the moment I saw him being accepted by those around him, I couldn't help but feel a swell of joy for his sake.

"Welcome! Oh?"

He appeared before me, just like that, without any warning.

"Tsuki... Jinguji-kun, what are you doing here?"

"The morning performance is over, so I came by the classroom to see how things were going."

Only then did I notice that it was already noon.

"How is it going?" he asked.

"Sales are good. It’s not quite as busy as the first day, but everyone who visits seems to be having a great time."

"I see."

It was truly incredible. We were only having a simple conversation, yet I felt so happy just from this trivial bit of small talk. Perhaps just the act of speaking with him in our classroom made my heart flutter.

In truth, even if we didn't get to tour the festival together, just being able to talk like this within the school walls made this year's festival feel truly wonderful.

"Oh? Jinguji, you finally showed up."

Tsuchiya-san walked toward us after seeing off a group of customers. She was a bit flashy and outspoken, but I didn't think her heart was in the wrong place. It would be even better if she could cover up the cleavage on her chest; I really didn't want Tsuki’s eyes to wander in that direction.

"Finally?"

"I haven't seen you for three days. I thought you weren't planning on showing your face in our class at all during the festival."

"Sorry, there was a lot of work to be done for the committee."

I knew Tsuchiya-san didn't mean any harm; that was just her nature, the way she spoke to everyone. But Sakurakoji Sakura is, after all, someone who likes to protect her own, and he shouldn't feel like he has to apologize for everything.

"Jinguji-kun is very busy. He’s the one in charge of overseeing the performances at the auditorium."

"Eh~~ is that so?" Tsuchiya-san looked clueless, clearly showing no interest in such matters.

"Tsuchiya-san, Sakurakoji-san, we’re here to take over your shifts. You two can go take a break now."

Asakura-san and Hanamori-san arrived to relieve us. I was just wondering where to go for lunch; I’d been too busy the past two days to visit the food stalls outside, and today I really wanted to try the takoyaki.

"Hey, let’s go get something to eat. The takoyaki the first-years are selling outside is actually pretty good."

"Eh?!"

Was he talking to me? Right in front of everyone?

"Is that okay?" Tsuki asked, looking at me.

"Y-yes, it is..."

There wasn't a single fiber of my being that could refuse him. I agreed instinctively—I really am pathetic.

As we left, Tsuchiya-san’s voice drifted from behind us.

"Those two, they aren't actually dating, are they? Seriously, that’s hilarious."

Tsuchiya-san, please wait until we’re completely out of earshot to say things like that. Your voice is too loud!

Ah~ ah~~ how embarrassing.

"What’s wrong?"

As we walked down the stairs, Tsuki kept looking at me. He had done something completely out of character for him, yet here he was, looking as calm and indifferent as ever, as if he were deliberately trying to watch me make a fool of myself.

"What?"

"Your face is bright red. Do you have a fever?"

"...No, I don't."

I grew nervous, terrified that he might suddenly reach out to touch my forehead. Thankfully, that didn't happen. No, actually, I probably *wanted* him to touch me, preferably when we were alone.

"Why are you staring at me like that? I know I don't look good in this outfit. If you dare laugh at me, I’ll fight you right here, so I suggest you think carefully."

Out of embarrassment—and a desire for his approval—I quickly changed the subject, secretly hoping from the bottom of my heart that he would notice how I looked.

"I haven't said anything yet."

"Hmph, whatever."

After changing our shoes, we reached the stalls. We bought our takoyaki and happened to run into that underclassman from the committee who had secretly confessed to Tsuki. She looked shocked to see us together and hurried away after a brief exchange of pleasantries. I looked at Tsuki, but it was hard to tell what he was thinking from his expression alone.

We sat in a quiet corner of the campus, and as I ate my takoyaki, I stole glances at his profile.

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Overall, Tsuki hadn't changed much. He still usually kept a straight face—though he claimed that was just his expression when he was relaxed—but I still wished he would show a more cheerful face.

"Is everything okay at the auditorium? There’s a closing ceremony today, right?"

"Yes, it will go off without a hitch."

Since Tsuki said so, it meant he was confident, so I had nothing to worry about.

"Lately, everyone in class has been talking about you, Tsuki."

"It’s not like it’s the first time I’ve been talked about."

"No, it’s not like that. It’s different from before," I hurriedly explained.

"The festival is going really well. It’s not just our class; students from other classes are praising you too. It’s even helped boost our sales."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. A lot of first-year girls are coming to our class, apparently just to see you. If only you had shown your face more, our sales might have doubled."

"Am I a mascot for bringing in customers?"

"Hahaha."

I laughed without restraint, and he joined me with a slight upturn of his lips.

Thank goodness. He seemed to be genuinely enjoying the festival without forcing himself to fit in. I had always worried that he was suppressing his emotions or forcing himself to do things he didn't want to. But before I knew it, Tsuki no longer wore that expression in class—the one where he acted like a complete stranger and treated everyone with a cold demeanor.

But I knew in my heart: he wasn't cold to others; he was cold to himself.

Someone who had once been so twisted was now truly on the right path.

"Why not take this opportunity to join the class LINE group? You could interact with everyone more," I suggested.

"Don't make it sound like I'm a transfer student. Joining the class group at this point would be too embarrassing. It would only make everyone feel awkward."

"Would it really?"

"Absolutely," Tsuki answered with conviction.

Since that was the case, I didn't press him any further.

After finishing the takoyaki, I planned to return to class alone. Tsuki was genuinely busy, constantly sending messages in the festival committee chat, and I was afraid that staying by his side would only be a nuisance.

"Sakura, is there anywhere you want to go? I have some time, I can accompany you."

"Eh?"

I turned to look at him, stunned. He didn't seem to be joking. Even though a second ago I thought I shouldn't bother him, my body acted honestly.

"Are you sure?!"

"Yes," he nodded.

Even without looking in a mirror, I knew the corners of my mouth were curling up uncontrollably.

I had never toured a school festival with him before. In middle school, we were in different classes and didn't have much connection, and high school was even less so. So, when he proactively offered to accompany me, a feeling of joy flooded my chest. This was likely the last time I would ever get to enjoy a school festival with him.

Eating a chocolate-covered banana, we walked through the courtyard. He observed the students' expressions intentionally or unintentionally, as if conducting a customer satisfaction survey. Even so, I felt so happy just walking the festival with him.

We visited the haunted house run by the first-years. That underclassman named Yomogi was very welcoming, pushing us into her classroom with a mischievous grin. As expected, she tried her best to scare us, screaming as she popped out from the floor, only to have Tsuki flick her on the forehead. The following protest of "No violence against staff!" was truly cute.

As for me, my attention was entirely on Tsuki; my dulled senses didn't feel any fear at all. In short, the haunted house trip felt like a sweet school date. I felt a bit guilty for thinking that, given how hard the underclassmen worked.

"Is there anywhere else you want to go?"

"You're being very proactive today, Tsuki."

"I was busy at the auditorium for the past two days, and everyone told me to relax today."

"You're being relied on quite a bit, Senior Jinguji~" I said teasingly.

He gave me a helpless look, and I couldn't help but giggle.

"Also..."

"Also?"

"I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me, Sakura, that’s why I wanted to walk around the festival with you."

"What’s with that? Saying it so formally, are you trying to make me blush?"

"Would you blush at something like that, Sakura?"

"How mean. I am a girl, you know."

"Yes, yes."

I puffed out my cheeks and gave him a playful hit.

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But I wasn't angry at all; instead, I felt incredibly happy.

I never thought that one day I would be able to walk openly in school as his childhood friend. The things Sakurakoji Sakura pursues are just such ordinary, mundane days.

Just being like this is enough. I selfishly wished, over and over again, that time would stop at this very moment.

No matter how much I hoped, time would always march on. We wouldn't be high school students forever; we would inevitably grow up and become boring adults. But as long as it was with Tsuki, I wouldn't mind becoming a boring adult alongside him.

But that probably wouldn't happen. Because he is Jinguji Tsuki—he isn't someone meant for an ordinary life. Even if the sixteen-year-old Jinguji Tsuki didn't want to interact with others, his future would surely be magnificent. He is not a man who can remain ordinary.

"Then, I want to go visit the senior’s class," I said to him.

"President Hoshinomori’s class?"

"Yes."

I observed his expression, but there were no obvious changes.

"I see. Let’s go."

On the third floor, we arrived at President Hoshinomori’s class, only to find the President herself sitting at the entrance, greeting visitors.

"Senior, we're here to visit~"

"Oh my~ Sakurakoji-kun, Jinguji-kun, welcome. I was wondering if you two weren't going to show up at all for the whole festival."

"Did you go to Yomogi-san’s class?"

"We just came from there."

"Oh~ that’s great. Remember to give us a rating! I’m still keeping track of the competition."

As we walked into the classroom, President Hoshinomori suddenly grabbed my hand and leaned in, whispering mysteriously into my ear.

"Sakurakoji-kun, you two are finally walking together. I’m so happy for you."

I was a bit stunned, looking at the light smile on her face, not knowing what to say.

...

...

Today, time seemed to flow at a different speed than the previous two days. It raced toward the afternoon, and the broadcast bell rang all too quickly.

The class program concluded, and I headed toward the school auditorium with Sayaka and the others. Standing in the bustling, noisy auditorium, I spotted President Hoshinomori in a corner, and she gave me a quiet wave.

The host on stage spoke at length. Not long after, my childhood friend walked onto the stage alone to begin the closing ceremony speech. I didn't listen to a word of it; I just kept staring at his posture, at his face.

His expression remained calm, his voice deeper and more alluring than usual. He could probably be a voice actor or a singer in the future. But with his personality, he wouldn't care for the spotlight, so that was just my imagination.

He stood on stage with poise, and under the stage lights, he looked several times more handsome than usual.

Everyone was watching him intently, but I was looking elsewhere. Behind him, I seemed to see that thin, lonely figure who had been isolated and pushed aside.

They were the same person—both the Student Council Vice President receiving the attention of the entire school, and the Jinguji Tsuki who hid in a corner and was the first to go home every day after school.

Guided by that person, the two had merged into one.

I wanted to tell everyone—tell them that this person was my first love, my childhood friend. I wanted to see the look of shock on the faces of those who had looked down on him before.

And yet, I knew in my heart that his transformation had nothing to do with me. Therefore, I had no right to enjoy the satisfaction of this successful "revenge."

But... I really do love him.

Seeing him shine like that, my heart began to beat uncontrollably, thumping away in my chest.

But I knew that for Jinguji Tsuki, while Sakurakoji Sakura currently held an important place in his heart, the person occupying that spot was the Sakurakoji Sakura of three years ago.

I wanted him to see the *current* me.

Not out of guilt or anything of the sort, but I wanted him to be attracted to the current Sakurakoji Sakura from the bottom of his heart.

I knew very well that this would be difficult, and compared to *that* person, I would likely become an inconspicuous background character.

Even Tsuki was chasing the shadow of that person. Sakurakoji Sakura had to do something.

Perhaps I would regret it in the future, regret that I, as a high school student, made the wrong choices, but I would regret it even more if I did nothing at all.

Watching his upright figure on stage, it seemed his eyes were only on that person quietly waiting in the corner of the auditorium.

He didn't look at me even once.

I think it’s time for me to make up my mind.