Chapter 3 The School Festival Chapter

A/N: I had to make it "fast" now, because as I said before, this fic is only five chapters. :)

I don't write good. I don't own the characters.

Gosei Gakkuen had been waiting for this special day…

The day for the summer festival to happen in their school.

No more of the mind mortifying cultural festivals that the previous student body president did.

Alata and Eri

I

Alata had never been so busy in his whole life.

Firstly, he was made their section's representative and now he was appointed as the over-all head for their section's presentation for the school festival. Moreover, he had to practice much for the impending All-Japan Karate meet in the next few months. But setting those aside, he had put his ideas into action already. With the approval from his classmates, his idea of putting "Sentai History" theatre was close to finish.

Alata couldn't be happier because two of his favorite arts were combined into one: martial arts and theatre.

Meanwhile…

Eri's section (which was Moune's as well) decided to sell cold soba noodles, iced barley tea and snow cones. Eri's first task was to get the barley from Moune and Agri's mini farm. With that finished, she had to take orders and serve their customers for a certain period. Apart from that, Eri couldn't hide her excitement for she's scheduled to receive another letter from an anonymous admirer called "Gosei red".

However, Eri found herself in a rather big dilemma. It's true that she'd get giddy whenever she would look at Gosei red's letters. Gosei red's letters were composed of poems and drawings of her. But on the other hand, she enjoyed more of Alata's company whenever they'd lunch together at the school's rooftop. Alata had been spoiling her with sumptuous bentos (packed lunch). He would even give her a nicely picked flower from the school's garden. Alata would sometimes barge in their room just to ask if she did her homework already. Alata had been too sweet that Eri's classmates thought that they're a couple. Eri couldn't explain the strange feeling on her chest upon hearing the word "couple".

II

Alata relieved himself from his duties for a while. He was a few minutes late already for his very important task. He took a quick glance from his pocket and found a nicely made letter with the initials, "Gosei red". Alata had to deliver his letter quickly otherwise Eri would find about his secret.

He studied his environment carefully before going to the lockers. He himself was too much of a popular figure that he had to be cautious of his actions. He found the summer festival a blessing because it would take his fans' minds off him momentarily. Declaring the lockers 100% safe, he walked freely until he reached Eri's. He peeked inside her locker and placed his hand inside his pocket—touching the letter that he made for her. Just as when he's about to take the letter from his pocket—

"Aha!"

Eri jumped from behind and did a fake punch.

Alata froze. His heart was beating too fast. He can't breathe.

"What are you doing to my locker?" She asked, smiling.

"N—nothing?"

Eri squinted her eyes. She knew that Alata was hiding something—especially that she's seeing that he's cupping something from his pocket. Without hesitation, Eri offered a free hand and said, "Give me that thing from your pocket".

Alata hesitated.

"I'll tickle you" she grinned.

Alata grinned back, "Then you just have to catch me" He sidestepped away from her and stormed off outside the premises. Ah, mou! Eri thought. Alata's speed was like the wind whenever he's running. But because she's a good runner herself, Eri flattened her skirt and ran outside the building as well.

III

Eri marveled at the sight of the school grounds. There were tents, booths, rides, and beach side imitations. There were big electric fans everywhere with mists attached so as to feel the breeze from the beach. Eri looked at the pool side and thought that the water games had already begun.

In short, the Gosei Gakkuen students were having so much fun.

From the crowd, Eri saw her friend Moune who was running after the ex-student body president. She tilted her head to the side and wondered, what are they up to?

She almost wanted to follow them herself but she had to find Alata first. She spotted him with his gaze fixed at a white tent. She was calling out his name, but he was not responding to her. Stealthily, she walked from behind and flailed her arms wide.

Yes, she tickled him big time.

Alata's was laughing so hard that he fell on the ground. Eri locked his arms and continued tickling him. Witnesses were looking at them sheepishly, but Eri wouldn't stop. She had to get that "thing" from Alata's pocket. Alata's face was too red like a freshly-picked tomato.

His laughs were too loud that it caught the attention of the leader inside the tent.

Agri's head sprouted from the inside.

"Alata, Eri, you're disturbing our rituals" He said.

Eri stopped tickling her friend and looked up, "Are you doing fortune-telling Agri-sempai?"

Agri shook his head, "No, we're doing a wedding and I'm the minister."

Alata and Eri fell silent.

"Would you like to try?" Agri asked. He knew that there were rumors of Alata and Eri as a couple.

Alata smiled and looked at Eri, "It's like fulfilling my promise to you, Eri. How about doing it for old time's sake?" Eri liked the idea. She smiled back and nodded in approval. She tried to hide the color from her cheeks by looking at the ground. Getting married—to Alata? Nah, it's just for fun, right?

The other couples emerged out from the tent as Alata and Eri followed Agri inside. They looked around inside and marveled at the perfect imitation of a real chapel. There was an altar table in the middle and wooden chairs lined up facing the altar. Candles of white and red roses were spread all over the place. Alata tried to suppress his laughter because Agri was wearing a white cassock.

"Now couples, please face each other" Agri instructed.

Alata and Eri looked at each other. Agri took out two rings from a drawer and handed the first ring to Eri. He instructed Eri to repeat the vows after him and to place the ring on Alata's index finger if he said the words, "I do". Alata blushed as he said the right words. Now in his turn, he repeated the vows as instructed by Agri and placed the ring on Eri's index finger. Eri grinned and said, "I do".

"and now—Alata, you may kiss the bride".

It's just a peck on the cheek, right? Alata thought.

Alata moved a bit closer—albeit nervously—and readied himself to land a kiss on Eri's cheek. But just as he's only a centimeter away to do so—

Rrrriiiiinggggg!

It was Eri's phone.

Eri took out her phone quickly and answered it.

"Eri? Eri thank heavens you've answered!" The voice was definitely from Moune. Agri moved closer to hear Moune's voice as well. He had an inkling that his sister was in trouble. Well, she always does, Agri thought.

"Eri, I'm in a pinch right now. Hyde-san and I are in warehouse 3 near the pier. We're kidnapped by a pack of delinquents."

"That's not good," Agri said, "those bullies had been eyeing Hyde for a year now." He took his kendo sword under the table and looked anxiously at Alata.

It was as if Alata read his thoughts. "Hyde-sempai and Moune can fight, but they're outnumbered. We need to help them."

Hyde and Moune

I

An hour before the kidnapping incident…

Moune realized that it had been three weeks since she was rescued by Hyde from being drowned. She still felt funny for remembering Hyde's unexpected "tending" at the clinic. But Moune thought that the incident didn't change Hyde at all. He's still the same know-it-all snob who would criticize her of how she did her student body duties. She had a special nickname at him. Whenever she's irate, she'd call him, oyaji (old man). Hyde also had a special nickname for her. Whenever Moune's reckless, he'd call her child.

The summer festival was Moune's first big project. As she did her routine inspection on the school grounds, she can't help but to heave a big sigh. Everything's perfect, she thought. Students of Gosei Gakkuen were really good with fun festivals. She even received an email from "Water Boy" who congratulated her for doing a job well done. Now all she need was a criticism from the ex-student body president. That criticism would make her day.

Well—it always does make her day—and Moune couldn't figure out exactly why.

Now, where is that old man? She thought. By this time, Hyde's figure should be seen following her with his ultra-harsh remarks. But it's almost noon and Hyde was still out of bounds. She felt strangely sad for the old man's absence.

She left her clipboard inside the student body tent and went back outside to stretch. She thought of taking the rides to take the old man out of her mind for a while.

Just as when she's about to take a ride, she saw Hyde emerging out from the building with a book on his hand. He seemed preoccupied with his reading. Moune thought that he didn't have the idea of "fun".

She broke herself from the line and decided to follow him.

II

Hyde went out of school premises. He thought best that if he didn't follow and criticize Moune today then Moune would be perfectly fine executing her duties for the festival. After the pool incident, Hyde had a special regard for her efforts of leading the school. But as the sempai, he also had the duties to form his kouhai—because a kouhai's recklessness is a no-no.

While he was reading a book on psychology, he felt something hit his head.

He looked down and found an empty can. He looked up to see a pack of delinquents who were wearing the same Gosei Gakkuen uniform. He frowned. They were the same pack whom he had sent to the discipline office for breaking school rules during his term as the president. They've been bullying him for a year, but he didn't mind nor fear at all for he'd just send them over to the police anyway.

Everything's fine as long as he's targeted alone. However—

"Leave Hyde-san alone!"

Hyde found Moune's figure blocking him from the sight of the delinquents.

"Oh, the new student-body president!" as said by someone in a mocking tone.

Hyde heaved a sigh and rolled his eyes. "Why did you follow me here, kaicho?"

Moune looked over her shoulder and made a face. "Are you the only one who's allowed to follow someone around?"

You have a point, Hyde thought.

"Just take Hyde" the gang leader said to his followers.

"No, you won't". Moune bent her knees and showed some fists. She's ready to fight.

"A word of advice, kaicho," Hyde said, "unless you don't want to be removed from your student body position then don't fight." It's true. Since the student council was a highly regarded organization in the school then members were obligated to show some decency. Since Hyde was no longer a part of it, he can defend himself. But as a fourth year student, he had to restrain himself until a good university accepted his application. For more than a year of encountering with this same pack of delinquents, Hyde had no choice but to be bullied.

In the end, Hyde and Moune were both taken away.

III

Hyde and Moune were left in a dark lit room with no windows inside warehouse 3. Hyde suffered bruises and wounds from all over his body. But he felt alright—as long as Moune's unharmed. Moune was pacing back and forth. She glanced at Hyde who was taking a rest on the cold hard floor. She felt stupid for letting him be harmed. The bullying images played inside her head—Hyde being punched and kicked at repetitively—Hyde telling her not to fight in order to preserve her position at the student council—Hyde—Hyde—

"Hyde, you baka!" she said loudly.

Hyde's eyes widened. It was his first time to hear Moune dropped her honorifics. But what made him surprised the most was Moune looked as if she was forcing herself not to cry. He wondered what kind of emotions were playing inside her heart.

"They didn't confiscate our phones, try to contact someone." He suggested.

Moune quickly reached for the phone in her pocket and dialed Eri's number.

Eri was not answering.

She tried Agri's number—But Agri was not picking up his phone either.

"Ah mou!" She cried. Then she thought about "Water Boy". Since her chat mate was a student at Gosei Gakkuen, then it's worth a try to contact him. She felt shy at first—because she neither heard his voice nor talked to him in person. "Eri and oniisan are not answering their phones. I'll try Water boy".

When Hyde heard this, he froze in an instant. "No! how about Alata? He's a good friend of yours."

Moune shrugged, "I don't have his number." Then she started dialing Water boy's number.

Hyde panicked and struggled to stand up. But he winced in pain. He thought that Moune shouldn't contact Waterboy. Not now. "No, kaicho. Don't—"

Rrrriiiiingggg!

Moune looked around to find the sound. Her eyes were wide in shock to see that Hyde took the ringing mobile phone from his pocket.

"I told you" he said as he smiled at her for the first time.

Moune's heart went thump, thump, thump.

Hyde smiled at her.

Hyde was that ever-fun and kind Water boy.

"Kaicho?"

Moune went back to her senses. She tried to call again for Eri. This time, Eri picked it up.

I

Hyde and Moune were dragged at the center of the warehouse. Moune was tied up on a chair while Hyde was being prepared to be beaten up once again. Just as when the gang leader was about to fire away, the figures of Agri, Alata and Eri appeared from the shutter.

"Release them or you'll suffer from my sword" Agri warned. He, Alata, and Eri were already in their fighting positions.

The delinquents just snickered and made their first attack at the trio.

Eri managed to squeeze in between them as she forced herself to reach Moune. She untied Moune while Agri and Alata fought back at the delinquents.

Agri and Alata were too good at fighting. Agri's sword hit the delinquents easily on the head. Alata blocked some punches and kicks and did advanced Karate moves that left persons collapsing on the floor.

It was as if the delinquents were increasing in number. Ten more people managed to get inside. Moune, Eri and Hyde positioned themselves near Agri and Alata. They were surrounded. The air inside the warehouse was faint. They had to finish the fight quickly or they'll suffocate.

The gang leader emerged himself from the group with a 2X2 wood in his hand. He swayed it infront of the five and said, "Look, the goseigers." He was mocking them because they were five in number, like a super sentai team.

Alata looked at his friends and grinned. "If so, then I'm gosei red!"

"gosei blue!" Hyde said.

"gosei black!" Agri said.

"ah mou—gosei yellow!" Moune said. This time, she'll forget about being the student body president.

"gosei pink!" Eri said happily.

As if they're invincible, the goseigers attacked back as the delinquents swarmed over them.

II

The five managed to get bruises and wounds on themselves. But they won the fight and the delinquents surrendered themselves again to the police. The police force headed by a Gosei Gakkuen alumnus (he called himself Gosei Knight), said that he'll tell the school authorities about it—but (to Hyde and Moune's satisfaction) will convince them that Hyde and Moune fought for self-defense only.

They managed to get back (hungrily and feeling wasted) at the school festival. It was already 3PM and they only have remaining few hours to enjoy it.

Alata and Eri left Agri, Moune and Hyde standing near the student body tent.

"Your phones were beaten like pulp" Agri said sympathetically.

Suddenly, Moune had an idea. She smiled widely at Hyde and asked,

"Hyde-san, would you like to buy a phone with me tomorrow?"

Agri almost spilled the water that he was drinking while hearing Moune's blunt expression.

Hyde looked nervously at her. "I don't mind".

"Hyde-san" Moune said again.

"Hai?"

Their eyes were locked at each other for some seconds. Hyde's cheeks were starting to color until Moune blurted out,

"Tour me around the city tomorrow. I'm just a transferee".

Agri butted in, "but you already know the—"

Moune kicked her brother's shin and raised her eyebrows menacingly at him. Agri howled in pain and walked back struggling to his old post.

"If you say so" Hyde said, surprised at Moune's invitation to go out.

III

Meanwhile, Eri served cold soba noodles and milkshake for Alata in their room.

"I just received another letter from gosei red" Eri chirped in.

Alata smiled at her freely as he looked nervously at his own noodles. He knew that a while ago during the fighting incident, he blurted out accidentally that he was gosei red. He knew that Eri had heard it clearly.

"You have a very long story to tell me" Eri said as she joined Alata to his table.

"Eh?"

"Haha, Alata—you're gosei red."

Alata had no choice but to tell the truth to her. For some minutes, Eri patiently listened to Alata's side of his story.

Before the festival ended, they were seen holding hands together while eating popsicles.

Confirmed. Rumors about Alata and Eri as couple had already ended.

A/N Next chapter is about Spying :)