Smell the flowers in the air
It was finally the day. Ino couldn't be more excited to unveil her club to the entire school. She found herself at the center of the setup. There was four tables in total. Two were across from the other two. In a square. The main table, where she will be, is behind the four tables. It's wide enough to have three people sitting behind it. There was a banner in front of the table with the club's name.
Being more fancy, there was lights hanged up at all sides along with fake snow even though they had real cold snow around. Thankfully, it wasn't too cold.
Choji and Sasuke were covering the tables with red and green table clothes. Sakura and Sara were decorating the main table. Ino was supervising the whole thing, checking to see if things are according to plan. She had a clipboard with that information.
"I can already smell the food already" Choji said drooling a little.
"Remember, you have to focus here first" Sasuke states.
"I know...but it's hard…" Choji said in a low tone. "IF THE DELICIOUSNESS IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR!"
Besides the main clubs, there were food stalls positioned in specific points around the school. One just so happened to be right next door to the card club. Though, Ino saw it has an advantage.
"Alright" Sara said placing a box on the main table. "Who's going to post these Flyers up"
Everyone stared at Sasuke since he has experience. He had a displeased look but gave his hand. Sara smiled and gave him the flyers.
"That's taken care of" Sara said.
"What about these?" Sakura said opening a box revealing a few deck of cards.
"We'll have them on each table" Ino answers her.
"so how are we going to explain them the game...we will be looking at around...10 people coming and going, how can we speak to them all?" Choji asked.
"The point of this is having them watch while a few play...whoever is interested in playing this card game will be told the instructions" Ino states. "Since there's five of us...you will each take one table...while I, keep things running smoothly"
Ino went behind the table and placed a clear bucket on the table along with her purple deck.
"The way the voting works for the best club is different from the last festival….every student will be given a ticket...they will decide where they should place there ticket, depending on their enjoyment" Ino exclaims.
"That's interesting...so we need to keep the energy up through the week" Sara states.
"It's going to be tough" Sakura said chuckling nervously.
"Don't worry...everything will work out fine like the last festival" Ino said.
"But the only reason we were popular was because of Naruto" Sara said.
Frowns started to appear on everyone's faces. Naruto's absent still is missed. Ino needed to brighten the mood.
"We worked hard for this day...don't let it go to waste" Ino said raising her fist. "we will be number one!"
Their expressions started to change but not because of her. They all looked surprised and shocked. Ino didn't know why and wondered if someone was behind her. She slowly turned and soon had the same reaction like the others.
"Hai Ino" Sai said with a smile.
In front of him was someone Ino didn't expect to see show up. She felt her chest tighten.
"Hey, Ino" Neji spoke standing right in front of her.
Choji quickly started doing his job as well as Sasuke who left to hand out flyers. Sakura and Sara were huddled together playfully, organizing the playing cards in the books but glances up at the two.
"H-Hi Neji" Ino said nervously, unable to respond still after what he said. "I-I"
"Don't worry" Neji said with a small smile. "I'm not here for your answer...I thought, since you helped with my club during the last festival...we should return the favor"
"You have us at your disposal" Sai said with his signature smile.
Sara and Sakura slightly gasped. Ino's eyes twitched never suspecting this. It's nice of him to want to help but the way things are now between the two of them made her unable to act the same as before. Still, judging from his sincere eyes, this was just to repay her.
She can't stay like this and she knows that. She shakes her head and calms her nerves. She gives a smile and her hand.
"Alright...but you better not slack off….we're going to get busy" Ino states with a slight smirk.
"I won't, you have my word" Neji said shaking her hand.
With that, two more editions were added to bring the club to first place.
OOO
Meanwhile, Naruto had to wait until it was time to explore the festival. Normally, he would ditch it but this time was different. He wanted to go which brings him another issue. What should he do there. He ponders on the thought while Iruka was teaching a lesson.
Time was slowly ticking and Naruto decided to sleep until class was over. He had notes already written in his book along with answers to questions that Iruka wrote on the board. The bell loudly rings and everyone quickly got up from their seats.
Naruto wasn't the only one excited. Everyone couldn't wait to enjoy the winter festival along with not spending more time in class. Naruto opened his eyes and wiped away the drool from his mouth.
Naruto was given a pamphlet of the festival and his ticket. The Pamphlet had information of the five clubs participating in this festival and their location.
The Gardening Club
Block A
The Card Club
Block B
The Supernatural Club
Block C
The Movie Club
Block D
The Anime Club
Block E
Each blocks are the locations where it can be seen on the map. From what Naruto can tell, The Card club is between the anime and supernatural club. A tough competition since he thinks those two clubs sound cool. Along with the clubs, there a food vendors in between each club. At the back end of the pamphlet, it said that the last day of the festival will be the voting for the top club.
"This whole week...uh" Naruto said to himself.
The time frame is much longer than the first festival. He wondered what Ino has planned for this whole week including tomorrow since thats, Christmas day. The busiest time of the year. It could also snow.
"Naruto!"
Naruto quickly turns to see Hinata walking toward him with the same pamphlet.
"Hi, Hinata...I'm guessing your going to check out the festival too?" He asked.
"Y-Ya" Hinata said nervously. "Im quite excited to see what the club's have to offer...are you also going to?"
"Uh..ah..well" Naruto said scratching the corner of his cheek.
"Come on" Hinata said nudging his arm. "Your club is out there...don't you want to see what they did?" Hinata ask in a kind tone.
Naruto lightly blushed from her tone then nods. He looks straight with confidence and went through the doors. He could already hear the chatter from everyone. Crowds of people were formed at the food vendors and the club nearby which was, the gardening club.
"Let's look there first!" Hinata said excitedly. "Sure" Naruto said simply wasn't planning to go into other clubs besides the Card club.
The two enter and were greeted with a fresh and sweet fragrances.
"Welcome everyone!...and smell what we have to offer!"
There were many plants being displayed around the perimeter. Each were different and fully grown. At the center, was a garden full of life. Normally plants wouldn't survive in this kind of weather but, the Gardening club planned ahead.
They did the planting in doors and in a facility where the temperature is just right. That's why the flowers could stand this weather plus it wasn't that cold.
Hinata was amazed by the colours each plant was showing off. Naruto didn't know which scent he was smelling. He was enchanted by the smells. His nose got up close and personal with some of the flowers. He started to imagine himself in a green clear field with a warm breeze passing by. He was alone in peace and quiet. He had a peaceful smile on his face.
"Naruto" Hinata calls him but he was stuck in his daydream. "Naruto!"
"Uh what?" Naruto said snapping out of his dream.
"You were smiling like never before" Hinata states staring at him curious. "Do you like flowers that much?"
"No" Naruto said simply without any showing excitement in his expression.
Even though he said that, his nose started sucking the scents without him noticing what he was doing. Hinata wasn't sure if she should tell him or just move on. It soon started getting crowded causing Hinata to get pushed towards Naruto.
"S-sorry" Hinata said softly with a blush.
"D-don't worry about it" Naruto replies feeling uncomfortable the way they were positioned. "W-why not we go somewhere else"
"G-good idea" Hinata agreed.
The two slipped through the crowd and made it out. Naruto looks back at the club thinking how successful it has gotten in just minutes. This could be trouble for the card club. He started getting nervous but soon gets pulled by Hinata by his sleeve.
"Naruto look" Hinata said and pointed toward the line up of students in front of the food vendors.
"Woah..they must be really hungry" Naruto states.
"Well its about that time of day...everyone must be starving" Hinata said and her stomach growled right after.
Naruto heard that and saw Hinata lower her head. He was hungry to but not to the point where is stomach growls like a lion. He tried looking for the shortest line. He soon spotted one and grabbed Hinata by the hand. She was startled but she let him drag her.
They reached the line. Naruto lets go and stares at the sign. They were selling pork buns. Hinata's eyes sparkled seeing the pork buns being given out. Naruto smiled at the reaction. This was a little repayment he can give to her for being kind and his friend. Food is the best way from what he heard. Getting to a girl's stomach would make her day.
OOO
"Welcome everyone!...take a seat and join in the fun!" Sakura shouts with a big smile.
Things were starting to run. A crowd of people came into the club. Everyone were at their stations. Sakura, Sara, Neji and Sai were watching over the gaming tables. Some students were enjoying their time with one another playing cards. While some were lined up in front of Ino. They were infatuated with her but she knew this was going to happen. That's why she had the whole table to herself. She brought out her cards and challenge each one to a matching game. She was going to get rid of them by defeating them in the kindest way possible with a smile that hides her true intentions behind it.
However, this also had a negative effect. The crowd started shrinking. Whoever was left was here for the club itself and not her so she was fine with this result. Though, looking at the ticket jar, she hopes that Sasuke would be able to bring in more customers.
During the mini matches in each table, whoever won Choji gave them a bag of snacks. Simple but its an incentive to have students participate with enjoyments in their eyes and smiles in their faces. Thats what Ino wanted the experience to be.
That's where the christmas miracle comes to play. If she's able to even make that happen.
OOO
Naruto and Hinata were eating the pork buns happily on the bench. Enjoying the taste and flavour it provides in their mouth.
OOO
The next day…..
Christmas is finally here and day two of the festival. Naruto didn't get a full chance to enjoy all the clubs yesterday. He got a phone call from his parents about them arriving later that night. He quickly left to go and prepare for them.
Even today, he's going to leave early. Since, it's christmas, he was going to have dinner with his parents. From what he learned through the announcements, the festival will end shorter than yesterday so everyone can enjoy their time with their families for this special day. He waited at entrance of the school for Hinata to go explore the movie club but she hasn't shown up yet. His pocket started to vibrate and he picked up.
"Sorry, I'm going to have to leave right after school" Hinata texted.
Naruto was saddened by this and wasn't sure what to do now. He could go alone but he never explored the festival alone. He was lucky yesterday with Hinata but he was getting cold feet and it wasn't because is socks were wet from the snow. The more he stares out the window, the more nervous he gets. Maybe he should just go home early than expected.
Just before he opens the door, a familiar face opened the door before him. His eyes met with his. It was Sasuke who stopped before completely going outside. Naruto gulps feeling a sense of awkwardness between them. They haven't talk ever since the incident. Naruto was mad at him for going after Kabuto. Doing such a risky thing. It almost got him killed. The two were staring off not showing any signs of talking.
It felt like eternity for Naruto. He felt like he was somewhere else in a dark void of Sasuke's creation. He felt trapped and unable to move. Similar to his dream with Yusei. He could almost see Yusei in Sasuke. The coldness in his eyes match with Yusei. Well the old Yusei.
"Naruto" Sasuke spoke softly.
Naruto snapped out of his thoughts. He was soon given a flyer to the card club. He takes it and saw an improvement from the last poster. Sara was skilled in making unique and interesting designs.
"Don't forget to stop by" Sasuke said walking away.
Naruto eyes slightly widen with a small smile appearing on his face. Sasuke was a man with little words but when he does talk, there is always a deeper meaning. Naruto observed him a lot to know that, Sasuke cares deeply for his friends. Which is why, it is difficult to stay mad at him for trying to protect him from Kabuto. Which is why he doesn't expect him to apologize if he didn't do nothing wrong.
Naruto lets out a chuckle and starts walking out the door. He wasn't nervous anymore.