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Chapter 37: The Cultural Festival – Part I

As I wait for homeroom to start, I sketch Mishima in my notebook.

"Ah, how can we be back already, it seems like we were just here!" Asahina complains.

"I know what you mean, Hiroko," Mishima responds.

"Don't remind me, I didn't finish my homework," Mamoru says.

"Torigai, you told me you finished a long time ago!"

Mamoru shrugs and says, "Hey, I was having too much fun with you, Hiroko."

Asahina shakes her head and takes out her notebook.

Mishima looks at me and says, "What are you drawing, Kamina-kun?"

Blushing, I reply, "Well, I hope you don't mind, since I didn't ask, but I was sketching you."

Looking interested, she says, "Really?  Can I see?"

"Sure," I say as I hand it to her.

"As good as always!"

I smile and say, "Thanks, Mishima."

She hands it back to me and, after I look at my watch, I realize that homeroom is going to start soon.

The class representative walks to the front of room to start the usual announcements.  Uninterested, I look out the window and watch the rain fall.

"Good morning, everyone, I have great news to announce today."

Hearing the word 'great,' I turn to listen.

"The administration and student council have come to an agreement to re-instate the practice of having an annual cultural festival at Sakuraba.  Each of the homerooms will be participating.  So, we'll need to decide what we would like to do."

Sudden and loud chatter fills the room as the representative tries to re-gain order.

"Please, please, one person at a time.  Raise your hand and I'll call on you.  I'll write the ideas on the board and then we can vote."

Random students raise their hands and make suggestions, mostly centering around food. In the end, the popular vote is to serve tea and snacks.

As we eat our lunch at the water fountain, Asahina says, "Doesn't this sound like fun, Reika?"

Her mouth full, Mishima shakes her head yes in response.

Asahina holds her chopsticks up near her face as she says, "I'm so excited that the girls are supposed to wear kimonos, it seems the only opportunity we get to do that is at New Year's!"

"That's true, Hiroko, but I don't like my kimono very much, it's a hand-me-down from my mom. I wish I could get a new one."

"Oh, that's too bad, Reika, maybe you can ask for a new one for Christmas."

"That's a good idea, Hiroko."

Asahina smiles as she shakes her head yes in agreement.

"I'm looking forward to you serving me, Hiroko," Mamoru says.

Asahina jabs him with her chopsticks and says, "Idiot!  You'll be helping, too!"  She sticks out her tongue and defiantly looks away from him, while he chuckles as he watches her.

"What do you think, Kamina-kun?" Mishima asks.

I respond, "Oh, I'm looking forward to it, Mishima."
Mishima smiles and says, "That's good."

Things become busy soon afterwards.  I lead the decorations committee, Mishima and Asahina are on the food and tea committee, and Mamoru helps on the finance committee.  The homeroom had voted to have sakura as the theme, so committee members have painted pictures of blossoms and I painted a sakura tree in blossom for the door to the classroom.

At dinner the Friday before the festival, my mother says, "Ayato, your school is having a cultural festival this Sunday, correct?"

I wonder how she heard about that?  I had intentionally not told her.

"Uh, yeah."

"Since you didn't let me know, I found out about in a letter from the principal. Honestly, I could think you didn't want me and your father to attend," my mother says, with an angry expression.

"No, of course not," I say, hoping that it wasn't too obvious that I was lying.

"See, Maya, I told you so," my father says, smiling, making me feel guilty, but I get over it quickly when I think of the problems that could be caused if they did come.

"Will you be able to come?" I ask.

"Unfortunately not.  We'll be visiting friends that day," my mother answers.

Great!

"Oh, that's too bad," I say, feigning disappointment.

"Maybe another time, Ayato," my father says.

"Yes, maybe," I answer, looking at my mother, who still appears to be angry.

As I walk from the train station to the school, I look forward to seeing Mishima in her kimono. Since we weren't able to be together for New Year's, this will be the first time I'll see her in one; I'm sure that she'll look beautiful. 

The four of us will be working the first shift, but we'll be free after that to see what other homerooms have done.

I step inside the classroom, pleased with how the decorations turned out.  I see Mamoru and Asahina, but not Mishima. 

"Hi, Mamoru, Asahina.  Good to see you."

"Hi, Kamina-kun."

"Yo, Ayato.  I bet you're looking for Mishima."

"Well, yeah, actually."

"She's in the cafeteria, since, as any girl should be able to, she's helping to make the tea and snacks."

Noticing the jab directed at her, Asahina promptly hits Mamoru with her tray and shouts, "YOU JERK!" before stomping away.

I shake my head and say, "I'll help soon, I just want to say hi to Mishima."

Mamoru chuckles and says, "Sure, Ayato."

I make my way to the cafeteria, anxious to see Mishima, and looking forward to our day together.

Next Chapter

The Cultural Festival – Part II