Chapter 67: The High School Festival!
On November...
"Grill's hot and cooking!"
"Deep fryer's operational!"
"Soda dispenser ready for service!"
"Nice! We're ready for this!" The scene reveals a food stall and running it are Kappei, Emma, Cruz, Hank and Kurt. Gumchi will be the backup as he jumped up and down for joy.
And what is the purpose? Today, the school is having their school festival. As mentioned before, it celebrates their 10th anniversary since it's establishment. Already, the football field has many booths that sell food and beverages and host games. The badminton and tennis courts also have a few game booths. And in the gymnasium, there are more game booths and there are merch booths where souvenirs and goods are sold. Likewise, the main hall but with a few additional F&B booths.
Now back to the field, "We're running a burger stall. What are our other classmates planning?" Kappei asked.
"Jeong along with some of the tech-savvy students have some Space Invader arcade game stall in the gymnasium, Marcel, Bull and Shane have a game stall involving stacks of cans and balls at the tennis court, Miyumi and Midori along with 2 girls from Class 2-C are selling cat plushies, Dedrick, Yamikage and a student from Class 2-G are selling satay which is barbequed pieces of meat on a stick." said Hank.
"I also know that Alec is selling his sketched artworks at his own booth in the gymnasium, Ryotarou along with a few students from Class 2-E and 2-J are selling ebi and tempura here, Colette is selling crepe with Maeve and Chantelle." Emma added.
"Anything from the freshmen or the seniors?" Kappei asked.
"Oh hear this out guys! Ivy set up a kissing booth!" Cruz exclaimed.
"Damn! Is that even allowed or something? Because it sounds way too cheesy to do so." Hank asked while scratching his hair a bit.
"Interesting. But that's not our concern. Because thanks to cooking class, we learnt how to grill and deep fry." said Kurt. "We'll be selling hamburgers, cheeseburgers, double cheeseburgers and a specialty I worked on, the Meat Galore Ultraburger in which it's a triple cheeseburger with 3 quarter pounder beef patties, 3 slices of cheese, grilled onions and 6 strips of crispy bacon sandwiched between 2 large potato buns." That is enough for Hank and Cruz to drool over the awesome burger.
"We'll also be deep-frying french fries, potato wedges, curly fries and waffle fries as side dishes." said Kappei.
"For the drinks, we got a soda dispenser that dispenses coke, sprite, iced lemon tea, apple soda, orange soda, grape soda, peach soda and mountain dew." said Emma.
"It's a good thing we scrapped the root beer for the beverage selections." Kurt told her.
"What? How can root beer be classified as soda? I mean, beer is an alcoholic drink right?" Kappei asked.
"It's just...root beer tastes...kinda unusual. I got no other answer to describe it." Kurt replied to him. But suddenly, "WHAT THE HELL!?" They looked to see Kuryu as, "YOU SHITHEADS COPIED OUR IDEA!"
"What are you talking about?" Kappei asked in anger.
"DON'T ACT STUPID! There was a rule that we cannot copy each other's ideas based on category!"
"Really? I don't think a rule like this existed in the Student Council." said Emma.
"SHUT UP! Don't you dare speak back to me!" Kuyru warned her.
"And don't you dare disrespect my girlfriend!" Kappei warned him and they exchanged serious glares as those nearby watched. But seconds later, "What is going on?" All looked to see Optic accompanied by 2 members of the student council standing before Kuryu and Kappei. "Optic! Why did you let them run a stall where their category for running it is the same as ours! It's not allowed and I won't accept this!"
"With respect, I did not say or mention anything about it. When the students submit their ideas for the school festival, I accepted them all without compromise." Optic answered wisely. "Oh the other hand, you attempt to screw up a false claim just to discredit these students and shut down their idea. This, I will not allow. So if I were you, you better return to your stall or you'll deal with me. You don't want things to get really ugly between me and you, do you?"
Still angered, Kuryu stormed off as Optic shook his head. "He still won't learn anything as long as his behaviour is like that." He thought as he greeted Kappei and his group. "Do not worry about him. If anything happens, let me know and the Student Council will investigate."
"We can handle ourselves but yes, I'll contact you if there's anything." Kappei replied.
"Excellent. Now, may I order your Meat Galore Burger with large fries and a large coke?" Optic ordered and the other 2 student council members also wanted to order from them as well.
Meanwhile...
In the principal's office, "How is the school festival?" Principal Bingram asked Vice-principal McKenna.
"Progressing well. The people outside are visiting the game booths, shops and food stalls enjoying themselves." She replied.
"And the VIPs?" He asked.
"They are scheduled to arrive at 12pm. So far, the school festival kicked off at 11am." She replied.
"Excellent. Come now, we must be ready when they make their arrival." The two leaders then left the office.
Back at the festival...
(BGM: Blinded by the Lights from The Weeknd)
From the football field to the courts, to the main hall and to the gymnasium, everyone had a blast as many went to visit the stalls and booths to buy food and drinks or try out the games and buy some cool merch.
Scenes show Ryotarou and his peers deep frying tempura as he handed to a visitor a small styrofoam box containing 3 tempuras, another scene shows Alec selling some of his artwork to some visitors and after that, he began sketching new ones and using his powers to colour it afterwards and at another scene, Marcel, Bull and Shane are promoting their game as the children had fun throwing balls onto the stack of cans knocking them down. One boy threw a ball at the cans but missed and the ball hit the support pole and, "BONK!" Bull got thwacked on the face as he fell down while everyone laughed at him.
At the gymnasium, Midori and some of her peers sell cat merch like cat plushies, cushions with the appearance of a cat head and many more, Aretha and Athena have an archery game booth for people to shoot toy arrows at a target board using toy bows and win prizes depending on the points they scored through the arrow and a mini-golf course is all set as students and visitors lined up for a good game and it's run by some seniors.
And at the main hall, Maeve, Colette and Chantelle sold crepe and other french desserts and beside them, Declan, Kolton and Slick have a darts game booth with goodie bags as prizes depending on the scores totaled up from the 5 darts they provide to the visitors. The rest of the students not participating in the services just hang around or patronize any game booth or food stall up to their liking.
(End BGM)
An hour later...
A limo stopped before the school. The doors opened and yes, the VIPs are here and accompanying them is Laura Warren. "We are here on schedule."
"Excellent. Are you ready to have fun Dareeda?"
"Yes father."
"Make sure you behave yourself and try not to eat too much. We'll be having dinner back at the hotel after this. Understood?"
"Yes mother."
The VIPs visiting this high school are none other than the Docona Royal Family. King Daredess, Queen Daresqa and their preteen daughter, Princess Dareeda who's still holding onto her favourite Marmot Dolls that she had with her from young till now. (Just like in Episode 101 where she has the ones with red and yellow bow ties) They are also accompanied by 2 security guards besides Ms Warren.
While the limo drove off to find space for parking, Principal Bingram and Vice-Principal McKenna came out to meet them. "Good to see you. You both must be the heads of this high school correct?" King Daredess asked as he and his queen shook their hands and they introduced themselves. After that, they royal family is given a tour around the high school.
Meanwhile, Kuryu and several of his peers are running a hot dog booth. "Kuryu, how are you feeling?" Sid asked as he ate a loaded hot dog bun topped with shredded cheese, beef chili and bacon bits.
"What do you expect? I'm damned pissed!" Kuryu replied with anger but not too extreme. "This bastard...he thinks he's better than me! Beating me at the Olympics, lecturing me and worse, having an ancient-ranked awakened power in which I was suppose to be entitled with!" He then took a deep breath. "Sid, I need you to send 2 people to observe the burger booth. If they find anything useful to screw them up, let me know and we'll make arrangements."
"Should you be more concerned that the SCP has tied a knot around our necks should he find out about this?"
"Screw Optic. I don't give a damn about him." Kuryu replied rudely regarding the SCP.
"If you say so..." Sid replied and began texting. "I'll probably send Skipper and Walter to scout ahead."
Back to the royal family as the tour is concluded and they're allowed to have some fun at the school festival. This made Dareeda most excited as she began to play at the game booths and win some prizes. She tossed rings into the pole, knocked cans down, played around some maze game on a board and used a dart gun to shoot down some dummy targets. The King and Queen smiled at their daughter having fun and they also participated a bit even buying a few gifts for their little princess.
At the same time, a line of students and visitors are queuing for the luscious burgers as Kappei and his peers worked through. Kurt grills the beef patties, Emma manages the soda dispenser, Kappei worked on the deep fryer, Cruz assembles the burgers and Hank settles the orders and payment. "Is it just me or a lot of folks and students are frolicking here for lunch?"
"Ha! Ha! Business is really good!" Kurt cheered as he flipped 5 burgers in a go and tossed them one by one onto the buns as Cruz began the assembly with slices of cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and bacon depending on which type of order is requested.
Unknown to them, "So Kuryu just needed us to see how we can screw up their booth?"
"Yeah...but it's hard to do so because we haven't come up with a solution just yet. For now, we just observe."
As Kappei and his peers worked through, the royal family noticed them. "Hey...those 2...I remember them..." Dareeda recognized as she ran to meet them. "Welcome! How may I serve you?" Emma asked her and then, "Oh my gosh...Kappei!"
"What is it?" He then noticed her and gasped.
Soon enough, the three of them are sitting on the stadium bleachers as they drank soda and talked. "So your family is visiting Komerika for some rare metal deal with the WNA?" Emma asked.
"Yes. My parents and I plan to meet the heads tonight at the hotel so while waiting, Ms Warren brought us here for the festival and have a look around to see this ninja high school." Dareeda told them.
"To think it was a few years ago when we first met you and we have to fight some bad guys that tried to harm you at that Marmotz event." Kappei recalled. "By the way, are you aware of Ron and Jane's backstory?"
"Of course. They were adults once and they became children. I never knew of this until they visited me at the kingdom as adults and I learned about everything from them. I was taken aback at first but I soon came to an understanding. After all, I had so much fun with them even when they're around my age!" She replied and her parents and Laura arrived with their own lunch. The King has 2 chicken wraps, the Queen has a six-inch chicken club sandwich and Laura has fried rice with satay. "Lunch hour has come. What would you like for lunch?" She asked the princess.
"Hmmm...how about that cheeseburger that you and your friends are serving?" She requested to them and, "I'll see to it!" Kappei then texted Kurt.
Back at the booth, "I got a text message that the daughter of the VIPs requested for a cheeseburger with a side of crispy fries and a soda which is mountain dew." Kurt briefed his peers as they nodded at each other and went to work.
"Will Kappei drop by to pick up the order?" Hank asked while settling a payment from a student using his credits.
"Yes he will." He replied.
"Hopefully we can manage even when he's entertaining the VIPs with his girlfriend." said Cruz as he assembled a double cheeseburger. However, "VIP? Hey Skipper...this could work."
"Yeah Walter...send word to Kuryu. I'll wait for you." He complied and left to find him and once he reached him. "I see...that could work." Kuryu smirked about it. "Okay, make sure you're discreet and also, I need you to do me a favour."
A while later...
"Sorry for the wait, we got some people to serve but still, we have your lunch." Kappei presented the cheeseburger and fries to Dareeda as her eyes sparkled over it. "Oh my gosh! It's top quality in appearance and the smell is tantalizing to my nose!" She took the burger and got ready to bite it when, "WAIT!"
Emma's hearing is in effect as she looked around. She went to one of the benches and, "KICK!"
"OW!" Walter is exposed as, "What did you do?" Emma asked and she's dead serious now as Walter panicked in horror. "Uh...how did you know I was...hiding here? I'm pretty sure my concealment jitsu which disguised me as a random object like this bench can conceal very well."
"I can hear what you're scheming even when you're muttering to yourself quietly so spill it! What did you do?" Emma asked again and she's really furious to the point she wants to jab him on the face.
And then, Kappei received a text message and gasped. "Emma, We got trouble." And it now cuts to the burger stall as, "Tell me now, how can you serve good, quality burgers when I find a roach in it! Huh? HUH?!" Skipper is seen confronting Kurt as many people murmured about it. And then, they showed up as, "What is going on?" Kappei asked and Emma also dragged Walter along.
"This punk here claims our grub is unhygienic." Cruz told him as Emma looked at the burger Walter is holding. She saw the cockroach but somehow, she took it by the hand with the crowd gasping in shock and throwing it on the ground! "It's a fake cockroach." She then stomped on it and it remains the same.
"No wonder...it's suppose to get splattered dead!" said Hank and then, "What are you both trying to do huh?" Kappei asked confronting the 2 boys but they ran away hastily in fear. "Well I've seen everything now. They're just trying to mess up your efforts!" A customer exclaimed and everything cooled down afterwards with relief at least.
Some time later...
"Optic will investigate Skipper and Walter's actions. Should it be that they are found guilty in following Kuryu's orders, his entire class will be severely punished." One of the student council members told them for Kappei texted him about it and he sent one of his peers to inform him.
"They almost harmed the princess. She could have suffered from diarrhea or food poisoning through their actions!" Laura added. "To think one of them had the nerve to sneak into your stall to put laxatives and poison on the patty."
"I'll make sure we're extra vigilant." Kappei stated as, "Kappei! I got another one ready! Don't worry, nothing's tainted on this one!" Kurt called out from the stall. So they took it and returned to the royal family as Dareeda received the new burger and bit into it. "Mmmm! This is the best burger I've eaten in my life!" She ate it all up as her parents chuckled at her happiness. "May we order some for takeaway?" The Queen asked.
"Sure thing!" Emma then texted Kurt about it as Maeve showed up with some crepe. "Here's your dessert as ordered."
"Thanks!" Kappei thanked her and paid her with his credits as they ate dessert together and talked with each other. After that, "C'mon Emma, let's check out the others and have our own fun."
"Alright Kappei, since our peers can handle themselves, time for us to enjoy the festival!" The couple held hands as they walked together. Laura was proud of them as she went to talk with the King and Queen while Dareeda finished up her crepe and joined the couple to have fun with them.
Around 5pm...
Time to wrap up the festival as the visitors took their leave as they left the school feeling gratified from the fun they experienced. The students wrap things up by cleaning up the field and the hall. Well, only Kuryu and his entire class as they all grumbled and complained while doing this. "How did they know? The people I sent are discreet enough and yet they got exposed?! ARGH! This makes no sense at all!" Kuryu is too frustrated over this as he stomped a soda can flat in extreme anger.
From a distance, "Heh. Sabotage will never produce the results for them!" said Cruz.
"So Kuryu sent a few of his lackeys to spy on us, commit this sabotage which would not only tarnish us but also would harm the royal family. They really are too careless." said Kurt.
"Exactly. On the bright side, we made a lot of dough in cash and credits!" said Hank and the 3 boys cheered together. "As of now, the principal has gathered all the earnings in cash and storing them in his office."
"What will they do with the money?" Cruz asked.
"Probably have it deposited to the main back account of the WNA soon." He replied. "Right now, they're saying their goodbyes to the VIPs."
So outside the gate, "Thank you once again for this high school experience." The King thanked the heads as he shook their hands. Dareeda also hugged Kappei and Emma. "Thanks for the burger and the fun we had together!"
"No problem!" Emma replied.
"Take care!" Kappei added as she joined her parents and Laura in the limo as it drove off with the people watching them. There inside, "Father?"
"What is it Dareeda?"
"When I grow up and rule the country, I would like to establish a WNA Outpost and an academy in our kingdom."
"That's very wise of you. I know for sure, you will become a great ruler one day." He replied with his wife agreeing with him as the limo drove them back to the hotel.
Later that night...
Everything seems quiet. Too quiet. But in the principal's office, a window was opened and a silhouetted figure entered the office. The figure went to a wall and used both hands to press onto the wall. A click was soon heard and a terminal opened up. Typing onto it, a hidden door opened on the wall revealing a vault which is the size of a closet. There's a lock on it as it's being turned a bit until, "Click!"
The vault door opened and inside are briefcases containing the money earned from the festival. The figure then made a bold move by snatching all of the briefcases, locking back the vault and escaping the office silently without leaving any trail behind as the window ended up closed.
Wow! It was a blast to enjoy the fun and games and bring in the Docona Royal Family that first appeared in Episode 101 from the anime! The callback from the first cooking class where Kappei and Kurt discussed running a burger stall has come to light in this chapter also. Mmmm...I love the smell of chargrilled burgers and the juicy taste from them.
So while I eat a good burger, I'll also work on the next chapter! Yeah! Also, about that last scene in this chapter, it will foreshadow something...sinister. So wait and see for this one.
Character of the Chapter
Name: Marcel
Profile
Born in France, Marcel's parents are high-ranking military leaders in the French Army but also, they're ninjas. So he was taught to fight in the way of the shinobi and had military training at a young age.
After that, he was enrolled into the WNA Academy and spent his 3 years there. Also, he met Colette and they became acquainted with each other all the way. They even attended the same high school together.
In his free time, Marcel likes to assemble military vehicle models like tanks, artillery vehicles, recon vehicles, fighter jets, battleships, aircraft carriers and submarines. All into one militaristic collection.
Awakened Power: Bullet Fingers
Marcel's awakened power enables him to morph his finger tips into gun muzzles. He can choose to morph any number of his fingers into the weapons and every single finger can fire armour piercing bullets.
To fire the weapons, Marcel must focus his fingers to point at the desired direction and through his mind, fire at will. A side effect is that if firing too long, his fingers will get strained so he needs to cool them down before he can resume firing.