Chapter 4 – The School Festival

After a month, the most awaited occasion in every school has come. It's Seisou Academy's School Festival. There were booths and small stores in this event. Both the General Ed. and Music Ed. students will perform different kinds of different kinds of presentations like dancing and playing different kinds of instruments. It was arranged beautifully, because of the help of some sponsors and the organizer of the Student Council, Nawaguchi Sayuri.

"Welcome, everyone. This is the occasion you've all been waiting for. Today is our school's festival. We've been celebrating this in years… (Blah, blah, blah)" Director Kira Akihiko said on the microphone.

"Wow that was a long, inspiring speech, oji-san." Etou Kiriya teased.

"Shut up. You better get out of my office. I didn't call you, what do you need from me?" Director Kira said angrily.

"Well… I don't really have anything to do with you. I just wanna tease you." Etou Kiriya smirked.

"Kiriya, before I get angry at you, get out of here." Director Kira warned.

"Okay, okay. I'll get out already, sheesh." Etou Kiriya said. While going to the door, it suddenly opened.

"Director Kira." A girl with emerald-green eyes entered the room.

"Oh. Nawaguchi-san, finally you're here." Director Kira said to the emerald-eyed girl.

"Director Kira, why did you call for me?" Sayuri asked.

"Good work, Nawaguchi-san." The director praised.

"Uhhh… arigatou?" Sayuri replied curiously.

"You made the festival perfect." The director explained.

"Uhhh… actually without the help of the whole Student Council and the sponsors, this event won't be possible." Sayuri said.

While they were talking, Etou Kiriya left the room. Why do I have a feeling I know that girl? Why do I even bother? Etou Kiriya thought.

"Well… I must also thank them for making this festival unforgettable for all of you especially for the seniors." The director said.

"Okay, Director Kira. I should tell them." Sayuri said excitedly.

"There's no need for that. I'll take care of that. All you need to do is to enjoy the festival." Director Kira smiled.

"Okay, Director Kira. I'll leave now. Thank you very much for the gratitude you gave me." Sayuri answered happily.

When Sayuri reached the door, someone opened it and almost hit her. She got out of balance, but somebody held her hand that supported her from falling.

"Hey, watch out!" a boy with a crimson eyes held Sayuri's hand. He pulled her up so she can stand.

"Thanks for saving me." Sayuri thanked the crimson-eyed boy. When Sayuri looked up to the boy…

"You?!" The two said in unison.

"So you know each other?" the director asked.

"What are you doing here?" the crimson-eyed boy asked.

"I'm sorry Etou-kun, I'm quite busy. I gotta get going." Sayuri said. She excused herself.

The boy was speechless. Silence entered the room. Sayuri left the room.

~AT THE FIELD OF THE SCHOOL~

"C'mon Kaho don't be such a kill joy!" a journalist holding a camera said.

"Yeah, Kaho-chan you're the most popular among us." Mio said cheerfully.

"PLEASE!! Just one picture…" the journalist holding a camera begged.

"NOPE!" Kahoko answered quickly.

"Even a tini-tiny picture…" the journalist said.

"I told you NO!" Kahoko said.

"Oh, okay. I give up." The journalist said. She was exhausted in pleading for taking a picture of Kahoko.

"Good." Kahoko said happily. "Uhhh… Manami-chan, do you know where Sayuri-chan is?"

"Nope." Manami answered. "I have absolutely no idea where she is. Ever since I came to school all I saw in her desk is a score sheet. It looks like a piece, o not a piece but a song."

"May be, she's busy. I heard that she's the organizer of every event in our school." Nao added.

"Yep, you guys are sure right." Manami agreed.

"Really?! I never thought she's an important person here in our school." Kahoko was amazed.

While the girls were talking about the event, Nami noticed Ryoutarou was walking towards them.

"Yo!" Ryoutarou waved to the girls.

"Ohayou, Tsuchiura-kun!" Kahoko greeted.

"Mornin', Hino." Ryoutarou greeted back.

"Kaho-chan! Tsuchiura!" a lime-green-haired boy called.

"Huh?" Kahoko turned around to see who called them. "Oh. Hihara-senpai, good morning."

"Good thing I found you two." Kazuki said. "All of the concours participants will have a meeting."

"A meeting with whom?" Kahoko asked.

"With the school's organizer." Kazuki answered.

"Who's the organizer?" Ryoutarou asked.

"I don't really know." Kazuki answered.

Maybe the organizer Hihara-senpai is talking about is Sayuri-chan. Kahoko thought.

"Are the others already there?" Ryoutarou asked again.

"Yep, you two are the only ones who are left." Kazuki answered.

"Then we better hurry." Ryoutarou said.

The three ran to the music room where their co-participants were waiting for them.

When they reached the room, the door suddenly opened. It was Ousaki Shinobu, he noticed them and signaling them to enter the room.

"Sorry if we're late." Kahoko panted.

"Nope, you're just in time." Kanazawa Hiroto said, holding his cigarette.

"Now, all of you are here. Our meeting will start. Here is Nawaguchi-san; she will say an important announcement." Ousaki Shinobu gestured to Sayuri.

"Sorry if it's sudden, but this is for the sake of the event. You guys have to perform solos." Sayuri said apologetically. "You guys will perform an hour or two before the Confession Night."

"It's all right Sayuri, we're used to it." Yunoki Azuma smiled.

"Yeah, don't worry Nawaguchi we'll survive." Kazuki said energetically.

"Then it's all settled." Sayuri said happily.

"What?! We will perform before the Confession Night!" Kahoko complained.

"Why, is there any problem?" Sayuri asked.

"It's all so sudden. I haven't picked a piece yet!" Kahoko complained.

"Your problem is very easy to solve, Kaho." Sayuri chuckled.

"Hey, it's really hard to pick a piece you know!" Kahoko objected.

"Don't worry I've already solved that problem for you guys." Sayuri grinned.

Sayuri gave each participant a hand-out.

Yunoki Azuma - Vocalise by Rachmaninoff

Kaji Aoi - Nocturne in D minor, op. 19 by Tchaikovsky

Hihara Kazuki - Jupiter by Holst

Tsuchiura Ryoutarou - Revolutionary by Chopin

Tsukimori Len - Caprice no. 24 by Paganini

Shimizu Keiichi - Prelude "Suites for solo cello no. 1" by Bach

Fuyuumi Shouko - Clarinet Polka-Polish Folk Songs

Hino Kahoko - Ave Maria by Schubert

Stella Quintet - Salut d' Amour by Elgar

Kahoko took a closer look at the 9th performer. She was curious about the name. Is this a band or something? "Who is the Stella Quintet, Sayuri?" Kahoko asked.

"Actually… they're already here." Sayuri answered. "They're all around you."

Kahoko was confused on what Sayuri said. "What do you mean they're around me?"

Sayuri sighed. "You didn't get do you? The Stella Quintet are…" she paused.

"Are who?" Kahoko asked.

"They are… Tsukimori-kun, Azuma, Hihara-senpai, Kaji-kun, Tsuchiura-kun, and lastly Shimizu-kun." Sayuri grinned.

"Wait, did you just say Azuma?" Aoi emphasized Azuma's name.

"Yeah, is there any problem?" Sayuri asked.

"You just said his name without any honorific." Aoi added.

"So?" Sayuri reasoned.

"Are you two dating?" Nami asked. She entered the room without anyone noticing.

"W-What are you saying? Dating?!" Sayuri flushed. Her face was red as a tomato.

"We're not dating. We're only childhood friends." Azuma said.

"You two are childhood friends?" Kahoko asked. "How come?"

"Sayuri and I met each other in a party when I was 8 years old and she was 7." Azuma answered.

"Wow… that was ten years ago." Kahoko said.

Sayuri coughed. She caught their attention. "Back to our subject, did you guys like the pieces I pick? Is there any objections about them?"

"Nice pick." Kazuki grinned.

"Thank you." Sayuri smiled. She looked around. "It's seems there will be no contradictions about my choices."

"Well, then it's settled." Kanazawa Hiroto said.