The festival arc begins!
I say "arc" and not "chapter" because it will be a very, very loooooong~ day. I'll divide it into several parts. How many parts? That's still unknown... I got a bit carried away with the festival thing, but encountering all of the GoM takes a lot of time and energy. And who says "festival" mean silly moments and bonds. Nobody can escape the merry mood!
Hope you'll enjoy the Festival Arc!
On this perfect sunny day, the school had opened its doors to the public, families and friends were welcomed by cheerful mascots holding big colorful signs or students handing out leaflets who spared no effort to appeal potential customers to their class. Sweet aromas were floating in the air making the hungry ones drool and heading to the different rows of food stands lined up at the main entrance; meanwhile others were taking their time with idle chatter, enjoying the festival's lighthearted atmosphere. As time ticked by, the hallways crowded, people got in line in front of most popular class attractions where a couple of students tried to regulate the flow holding a small sign indicating the waiting time.
Amidst the crowd, Ritsu was reading the school festival program and circled all the activities that seemed fun with a pen, trying to organize her time on the side as the play her class was performing was set in the afternoon, so she only had the morning to wander around.
Half past ten. She still had time, picking her first destination, she climbed the stairs to the third year floor where a class was doing fortune-telling as an attraction, interested by what fate awaited her during this day. Fortunately, they were fewer people than on the first year floor.
Welcomed by a student, she entered the dark room, where the windows were completely shut by night blue curtains preventing any ray of light to penetrate, yet she was bewitched by the starry sky replicated just above her. The stars were reproduced by little diodes fixed on the ceiling, creating a certain enchanting atmosphere.
Lowering her eyes, she examined the room: There were a total of seven tables at which students sat, their heads covered by a veil. Some were reading cards while others were fortune-telling by waving their hands above a crystal ball.
Noticing a free table, she sat down and was greeted by a shady girl; her head was almost completely covered by the veil.
"Ohoh...Are you troubled by love?" Ritsu raised an eyebrow having the impression to have heard this voice somewhere. "Spring has finally come for you."
"No it hasn't." She narrowed her eyes suspiciously as she tried to discern her fortune-teller's identity.
"Your dear senpai Hoshino won't be pleased to hear that."
Ritsu leaped off the chair and unveiled that familiar figure who was, like she guessed, Hoshino herself. "Hoshino-senpai!"
The tall girl hushed her kōhai. Sensing all eyes were on them, they quietly sat back down.
"Since when are you doing fortune-telling, plus it's not even your class?" She said in a low voice leaning forward for Hoshino to hear her among the other people in the class.
"I've never done fortune-telling! I have to replace a friend of mine." Her senpai sighed dejectedly putting her hand under her chin. "Her boyfriend was only free this morning so she begged me to do it. Ah! This sucks! Why did I say yes? It's my last school festival in Teikō...! Damn it!"
Her face laid flat on the table, lamenting like she was reciting some mantra.
"Say, Ritsu. Do you have the festival program?" Handing over the plan, Hoshino skimmed through when her jaded eyes widened. "I totally forgot about that!"
"What?"
"The Stamp Rally competition!" She clarified, smiling from ear to ear.
"What's so special about that event?"
"Of course you wouldn't know about it. It's a sorta traditional event organized by the Riddle club during the festival. There's a rumor about it. It says if a boy and girl pairing are first to cross the finishing line, they'll be blessed by Love! You hear that!"
Ritsu backed away as her senpai's face came closer in excitement. "I see...And you believe it? That sounds a bit ridiculous."
"Don't underestimate ancestral legend!" She slapped the table and crossed her arms, leaning back on her chair. "Hey Ritsu, I need some counselling!"
"Normally it's the other way around. Aren't I supposed to be the one asking for counselling...? I'm the customer."
"Shut up Ritsu! In exchange for my great teaching, tell me what the best approach would be." Ritsu expected the worst, every time she came up with an idea it was always weird suggestions. "Participating in the Stamp Rally competition, do my utmost to win and bind someone with love or trying to find my soulmate the old rough way?"
«None» was the answer she kept to herself, what kind of approaches were those? She really didn't understand why she was so frantic to find love.
"Participate in the competition...Even if you don't win, you'll keep memories. And who are you going to bin...ask?"
"Don't mind small details! As far as I know, there's a ton of guys in this school!"
What had she done, thought Ritsu right at this instant. Soon there would be a crazy girl running around the school in search for a partner.
Before her senpai requested anything more from her, she decided to take her leave. Quickly.
"G-Good luck, Hoshino-senpai. Spare us any commotion and don't involve the captain in your mad plan."
That said, she rushed to the exit bowing to the boy at the entrance.
Ritsu breathed a sigh when she came down to the first year floor as crowded as it was before. Taking a brief look at the program, she slalomed between people, reached the outside door and exited the main building.
As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, a faint sweet smell tickled her nose. Maybe she could grab some food before heading to the gymnasium where the school's orchestra was scheduled to perform in ten minutes.
In front of a stand of takoyaki, she heard a soft voice calling out to her. When she turned, she faced Momoi running in an astounding dress-up and happily waving her hand above her head.
"Why are you dressed like that, Momoi-chan?" Ritsu was baffled at what she was actually seeing.
Momoi stopped before her dressed in the Teikō boy uniform, wearing a short light pink wig coiffed in a masculine hairstyle and on top of her head was a crown of white flowers. Honestly she was really cute in this formal attire, her blue shirt was buttoned to the neck where, instead of the usual ribbon of the girl's uniform, a black necktie was perfectly tied falling straight to black pants hiding her beautiful long legs which may have broken the hearts of her devoted admirers.
"It's our class concept. It's a café where all the boys and the girls of our class swap gender. Apparently it's really popular nowadays." Momoi explained clearly, handing her a leaflet of her class's café.
Unable to take her eyes away from her, she couldn't help but think how the boys' uniform changed Momoi's perfect silhouette and wondered how the opposite would work. How a boy would look in a girl's uniform... All of a sudden, she realized something very, very wild.
"Momoi-chan, does that mean that..." She stammered at the preposterous idea.
Guessing perfectly what she was trying to say, a smile curved on Momoi's lips. "Aomine-kun and Midorin are also dressed. As girls!"
"«Mi-Midorin»...?" She repeated the cute nickname stupidly, already anticipating a certain green-haired boy's annoyed reaction.
"You'll understand when you see them." Momoi drew her face near her with scintillating eyes. "Are you curious?"
It was too tempting to actually miss such a unique sight.
"You don't know how."
Momoi giggled happily and led the way to her class.
In front of the class, curious people peeked inside from the hallway commenting on how funny this café seemed and hesitated to enter when they witnessed the awful service of two particular boys.
"Ah! Momoi, perfect timing! I know you're on your break but could you help us with those two?" Also dressed as a boy, Yagami was dejectedly glimpsing at her two stubborn classmates then glancing back she noticed her volleyball partner next to Momoi. "Oh Asaka! Wanna take a look inside? I have to warn you, this zone is really dangerous. If you don't want to have tea or café spilled on you or be yelled at, you better avoid this place."
Likely Midorima and Aomine were better off in a basketball court than in a café.
"Y-Yagami! You're supposed to appeal customers not scare them off!" Momoi intervened in exasperation covering her eyes with her hand.
"Well, I'm speaking the truth. Those two are lost causes." Yagami stepped away from the door inviting them to go in. "But if you want to take the risk, I won't hold you back. Have fun, you two! I'm going to see Tomoe. Momoi, don't forget to do something about them."
Momoi and Ritsu stepped inside the café. Inside, the decoration had a rural feel, painted tree cardboards were placed in each of the corners and small paths of grass was created which stretched from the entrance to the exit. The tables were covered in white-red checkered table cloths and decorated with daisies here and there. A lot of effort was put into creating a sort of greenery spot giving the impression to be on a picnic.
"Woah. Your class did a great job. Well done." Ritsu said, impressed by the pastoral decoration and glanced around curiously.
Momoi chirped. "I knew you'd like it!"
Still at the entrance, both girls went on commenting the decoration before a green-haired boy...no girl interrupted their idle talk glowering at them who dared to step in that cursed room.
"Why are you here?"
"Midorin!"
"Momoi, I told you to stop calling me that." mumbled Midorima at his wit's end. Then he shot daggers at Ritsu who was hiding her smile behind a leaflet, careful not to stir the poor boy even more when she heard his grave voice in this girly appearance. "Why did you bring her here?"
"Asaka-chan was curious."
"Are you here to mock me?"
It wasn't her intention but taking a close look at him it was difficult to remain indifferent.
Overall Midorima could be a pretty cute girl. He was wearing a long green wig with bunches to each side tied with thin red ribbons under his ears, leaving two long strands of hair fitting his slender body closely. His classical hairstyle combined with his black glasses gave him the impression of a very shy and innocent girl which was even more emphasized by his neat appearance. There was no eccentricity. Simple as he was, his shirt was buttoned to the top with the usual black ribbon of the girl uniform tied in a perfect knot, and his black skirt, hidden behind a white apron, revealed his firm legs covered by long white socks just under his knees.
But the ultimate item that made him real cute was that crown of flowers on his head. Despite his tense face which sort of wasted the outfit, he was overflowing with cuteness.
Momoi as well was wearing one certainly to fit the rural mood. However on Midorima, it was too laughable.
"Y-You're beautiful dressed like this." She stuttered behind the leaflet avoiding eye contact with him or she would literally laugh right under his nose.
"Asaka. Leave at once." He said back narrowing his eyes.
"Geez! Midorin, she's a customer!" Momoi reprimanded the green haired boy as he skipped the warm welcome he was supposed to give for customers. "What welcoming is this? You have to smile, Midorin! I showed you how to do it yesterday."
Momoi drew her face close to his, showing him a business-like smile. "Like this! That's not complicated."
"And as far as I remember, yesterday Aomine and you doubled up with laughter when I was exercising."
The pink haired girl stiffened then scratched her cheek having a little sense of guilt over what happened the day before.
"I-I'm not used to seeing you smile so...brightly, Midorin...! Anyway you have to make some effort or the customers won't come! It's a festival, don't look so gloomy."
She stared at him trying to convince him. It seemed Midorima had a soft spot for his manager as he just sighed and put a crown of flowers on Ritsu's head without any comment.
"What is it for?" She asked curious of the meaning of this sweet attention.
"Hehe. We give each customer a flower crown to welcome them. They can feel the mood of our café and leave with a little souvenir like this." Momoi explained with a chuckle.
"You even thought of small details." Ritsu said impressed by their surprising organization. From the decoration to the service everything had been carefully thought up.
"A festival has to be enjoyed!"
Momoi was a ray of sunshine. She was an outgoing and a bit of a carefree girl who enjoyed every moment she could share with her friends to the fullest. Even the distant Midorima could not remain indifferent to her cheerful personality, no wonder she was a respected manager.
"Uwaaa! Aomine-kun, be extra careful with these this time!"
Appearing behind a screen separating the improvised kitchen and the café, Aomine was carrying a tray with four cups of tea and two slices of cake in his hand and brought it to a table where four girls were sitting, chattering loudly.
"Here." Aomine said curtly as he dropped the tray abruptly on the table, rattling the dishes on it that even some tea had spilled, and retraced his steps leaving the four girls completely dumbfounded.
That was what Yagami meant by dangerous zone.
"Da...Aomine-kun!"
"What?" He perked up as soon as Momoi called out to him.
"You can't do that! What kind of service is that?" Facing the weary tanned boy, she reproached his lack of manners with the customers.
"You think I'd be all smiles and sunshine in this stupid get-up?!"
Here comes another time bomb Momoi had to disarm with extra care. Thickheaded as he was, Aomine wasn't the kind to obediently listen when he felt annoyed so talking some sense into him was a real pain, even Akashi admitted he was a very rowdy boy sometimes.
"We're looking ridiculous! Especially the guys! Just look at Midorima, he's creeping me the hell out!"
Momoi burst out laughing followed by Ritsu who was still hiding half of her face behind the leaflet. Listening to his complaints in that outfit was too hilarious.
Unlike Midorima, he looked like a fiery girl just as he was. Coiffed with a lovely bob hairstyle separated with a red headband, short hair seemed to suit him more than long hair matching his usual fresh image that was so particular about him. Not changing his habit in spite of the girl uniform attire, he wore it very casually. His blue shirt was a bit disheveled, loosened near the neck where the compulsory black ribbon was dangling around the collar as he was certainly too lazy to tie it. The apron he had tied around his waist wasn't a good omen for the future considering how messy it was with tea and coffee stains all over that showed how brutal his service was.
Fortunately the magical crown of flowers was there to readjust his poor behavior. Ritsu didn't know who came up with this simple idea but it really changed a person's appearance.
"I could say the same, Aomine." Midorima reacted unexpectedly. Just by glancing at him, everyone could tell he was at the end of his rope. "It is unsightly to see you like this as well."
"For a library girl, you sure talk a lot."
A sudden cold wind blew through the class and lightning sparked between the two proud «girls» staring each other down. No matter how Ritsu looked at it, that scene was too absurd. Her two manly friends dressed as girls were bickering like...two girls whose rivalry was just caused by trivialities.
"Okay you two, that's enough! Get the hell out of here and go hand out leaflets! I can't stand it anymore!" a boy with twintails intervened as he kicked them out of the classroom and threw two stacks of leaflets after them which Midorima and Aomine stared at, pissed off.
"By the way, call Takeda and Maeda back if you see them! We need their help."
"Ah?! There's no way I'm walking around school in that outfit!" Aomine exclaimed, definitely against parading around like that.
"See if I care! You two are useless here! Now do your job!" The boy flipped them off.
Behind the door, the two continued to argue loudly putting the blame on each other until they stopped; both focused on something in the distance when Aomine suddenly took a sprint in the opposite direction followed promptly by Midorima who tried to keep a low profile.
Both girls exchanged curious look and glanced back at the door window where they briefly caught sight of a familiar red haired boy passing in front of the café.
As everything became clear, the two girls laughed.
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