Chapter 94: Again?

“What? Another school festival? Didn’t we just have one not long ago?” Masashi asked, looking up while eating lunch on the rooftop.

“The day after tomorrow is the anniversary of Kawaki Private High School, which is affiliated with our school. They’re holding the festival during their school celebration. Of course, you wouldn’t know since you’re always skipping class,” Kazumi said, rolling her eyes.

Seeing Rumi’s delighted expression, Masashi couldn’t help but ask, “Rumi, you seem really happy. Do you like school festivals that much?”

“Yes! I missed the last one, so this time I can finally make up for it,” Rumi said cheerfully.

“In my opinion, school festivals are only slightly exciting because they mean no classes. Otherwise, I don’t see the appeal.”

“No way! You have to come with me to this one,” Rumi declared firmly.

“Why?”

“Because…” Rumi turned to Kazumi for help, her eyes pleading.

“Because Rumi is participating in the baseball competition at this school festival. As her senior, you have to be there to cheer her on,” Kazumi interjected.

“Baseball competition? Aren’t you in the kendo club? How did you end up in a baseball game?” Masashi asked, confused.

“You really don’t know anything, do you? While Rumi is in the kendo club, she’s also a member of the baseball club. So, of course, she’s part of the match,” Kazumi explained.

“Hey, kid, are you sure you can handle being in two clubs at the same time?” Masashi asked Rumi.

The kendo girl fidgeted nervously. “At first, I didn’t want to join, but one time while playing baseball with some classmates, the baseball club coach saw me pitching. He said I was really good and wanted me to join. I told him I was already in the kendo club, but he said it was fine, so I agreed to practice after finishing my kendo training.”

“Well, just don’t overdo it. If it gets too much, you should stop. Don’t push yourself, okay?”

“I understand, Senpai,” Rumi said, her heart warming at Masashi’s concern.

“In that case, I’ll come cheer for you. Should I tie a headband with the word ‘Victory’ on it for effect?” Masashi teased with a grin.

“Stop teasing me, Senpai!” Rumi whined playfully.

Kazumi chuckled softly at their banter.

***

“Naoko, what a coincidence! I didn’t expect to run into you here,” a man’s voice called out just as Naoko stepped out of the magazine publisher’s office.

“Mr. Nishinaka, hello,” Naoko greeted with a polite nod.

“What brings you here?” Junichirou Nishinaka asked with a cheerful smile.

“The editor-in-chief of this magazine was a high school classmate of mine. She asked me to help translate some materials, so I came to deliver the finished work.”

“I see. Lucky I was in the area on some business, or I wouldn’t have bumped into you. If you’re free, how about grabbing a coffee?”

Looking at the woman in her polished office attire—white blouse, light yellow jacket, knee-length skirt, and black high heels—her intellectual beauty coupled with her stunning figure left Nishinaka feeling restless.

“Sorry, Mr. Nishinaka, but I have plans. I need to head back,” Naoko said, thinking about the boy who might be waiting for her at the apartment. She felt an urgent desire to return.

“You’re always so distant, Naoko. It’s heartbreaking,” Nishinaka joked lightly.

“You’re too kind, Mr. Nishinaka. I’m sure there are many lovely ladies who’d be happy to accept your invitation. I really must go. Excuse me,” she said with a polite bow before heading to her car.

Nishinaka’s smile froze as he watched her car disappear into the distance, his face contorting with a mix of desire and frustration.

“You wretched woman. If you ever fall into my hands, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Imagining a day when he could have his way with her, Nishinaka felt an uncontrollable surge of excitement.

He had anticipated her visit today, knowing her routine through another round of private investigations. He had also learned of a boy named Gennai Masashi in the report—a name that seemed vaguely familiar.

The realization that this boy, likely one of her former students, was spending so much time with her in recent days filled Nishinaka with suspicion.

“I refuse to believe there’s a woman I can’t get!” he muttered, crushing his cigarette and starting his car.

***

After a series of dull firework sounds, which Masashi thought sounded like flatulence, the festival marking Kawaki Private High School’s founding day officially began.

Compared to their public school, Kawaki Private High was on a whole different level. The gleaming buildings, well-maintained track, lush football field, professional-grade baseball diamond, spacious grounds, and indoor gymnasium made their public school look like a prison in comparison.

Of course, the tuition here matched its grandeur, not as exorbitant as elite private academies like Naoko’s alma mater, but close enough.

Unlike public schools, Kawaki also had a middle school division, though it was separate from the high school.

“I still can’t understand why a prestigious school like Kawaki would host a joint event with our rundown place. Could it be that our principal and Kawaki’s have some mysterious bond of friendship?” Masashi joked, a wicked grin on his face.

“Such a dirty imagination,” Kazumi said, pinching his arm.

“Then enlighten me. What’s the reason?”

“I heard our principal and Kawaki’s used to be university classmates. If the rumors are true, their schools working together isn’t surprising,” Kazumi explained.

“And how do you know that?” Masashi found it hard to believe someone like Kazumi would dig into such gossip.

“Our class has plenty of people who love spreading rumors. You’d have to plug your ears not to hear it,” she said helplessly.

“Isn’t that great? You get to expand your knowledge and keep mosquitoes at bay,” Masashi teased.

“Ridiculous,” Kazumi muttered, exasperated.

Nearby, Rumi giggled at their antics.

While the school’s facilities were vastly superior, the festival activities were much the same: food stalls, games, makeshift cafés, and fortune-telling booths.

Just like the previous school festival, Kazumi and Masashi showed little interest in the barely edible snacks or the shooting games and goldfish scooping stalls. However, Rumi was brimming with excitement, wanting to try everything.

Seeing how happy she was, Masashi didn’t want to dampen her mood, so he accompanied her while Kazumi watched from the side.

It wasn’t every day that such a cute and beautiful girl visited the stalls, and the boys running them quickly lost their composure. Many male customers who had planned to leave stayed put, hoping to linger near her. Some outgoing boys even seized the chance to chat with Rumi, and two particularly bold ones directly asked for her phone number.

Overwhelmed by their enthusiasm, Rumi quickly hid behind Masashi, her distressed expression only further igniting their admiration. They were on the verge of rushing over to comfort her. The small booth was suddenly filled with tension, like wolves circling their prey.

“Don’t worry, it’s fine,” Masashi reassured her with a smile. The scene was amusing, though he couldn’t help but admire these boys’ audacity.

Seeing his smile, Rumi felt more at ease. Still, she whispered nervously, “Senpai, let’s go quickly.”

“You liked that stuffed toy, didn’t you? Let me win it for you first,” Masashi said, patting her hand.

“Thank you, senpai,” Rumi replied sweetly, smiling at him. Strangely, her fear seemed to melt away.

The sight of such an innocent beauty being so gentle and obedient to an ordinary-looking boy filled the other guys with envy. They wanted nothing more than to pummel Masashi.

“Hey, can we start now?” Masashi called out to the booth owner.

“Oh… yeah, we can start,” the boy stammered.

Three minutes later, the booth owner looked as though he might cry.

“Senpai, I don’t really need this many. Can we give some back to him?” The kendo girl, holding an armful of plushies, asked Masashi.

“Rumi, you’re such a kind kid. Do whatever you like,” Masashi replied with a smile.

Rumi grinned happily, selecting her two favorite toys from the pile and returning the rest to the booth owner.

“These… these are your prizes. I can’t take them back,” the boy said, his face bright red.

“I really don’t need that many. Thank you,” Rumi said with a smile before pulling Masashi away.

The boy stood frozen, staring at her slender figure disappearing into the crowd, unable to utter a single word.