Festival Night
By evening, Sobu High had transformed into another world. Lanterns swayed on wires strung between buildings, their warm glow falling over crowded stalls and painted banners. The air smelled of oil and sugar, yakisoba sizzling in pans, taiyaki steaming fresh, candied apples glistening under lights.
Laughter ran across the grounds like music. Girls in light jackets posed for selfies. Boys shouted over target-shooting stalls. The hum of the stage performance near the gym blended into the background.
Ras walked calmly through it all, his hands tucked loosely beside his pockets, a faint smile curving his lips. He wasn't swept away by the chaos, but he didn't stand apart either. Just a student, for once.
"Ras-kun!" Yui's voice rang out. She waved from behind a booth with a tray of candied apples, almost spilling them in her enthusiasm. "Come try one! I'll give you a discount!"
Ras tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Discount? What's the catch? Extra sugar? Hidden poison?"
"Mou!" Yui puffed her cheeks, glaring without heat. "I worked really hard on these!"
Yukino, standing nearby with arms folded, cut in with her icy tone. "If you want people to take you seriously, Yuigahama, you should focus on selling properly instead of begging for favors."
Yui groaned. "Yukinon, that's too harsh!"
Ras chuckled lightly, adjusting his sleeve. "Harshness might sell better than pity. But if pity comes with sugar, maybe it's worth it."
Yukino glanced at him, faint annoyance hidden behind her calm face. "You would think so."
"I only think in limited quantities," Ras replied smoothly, smiling faintly.
Behind them, Hachika leaned against the booth, hands in her pockets, her trademark dead-fish eyes fixed on the crowd. "Why am I stuck babysitting this? If I die of secondhand embarrassment, I'm blaming all of you."
"Duly noted," Ras said, his chuckle drawing a few surprised glances.
---
Chuuni Club Interruption
Of course, peace never lasted long.
"The East Magic Society arrives!"
Rikka burst in, eyepatch gleaming, staff raised high. Yuuta swept a cape dramatically behind her, almost knocking over two passing students.
"We demand recognition!" Rikka cried, striking a pose. "The forces of darkness gather, and only our alliance can hold them back!"
A few students stopped to stare. Some laughed, others shook their heads.
Rikka turned dramatically, pointing her staff at Ras. "Bearer of the Contract! Have you prepared your booth of destiny?"
Ras blinked once, then let out a quiet laugh. "Booth of destiny? Sorry, my schedule's already full. Destiny will have to wait."
Yuuta gasped as if struck. "So humble! To hide his true shrine among mortals!"
Nearby, Yumiko groaned. "Do they always talk like that?"
"Yes," Yukino muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Hachika sighed. "Kill me now."
Ras's shoulders shook with a chuckle. "Careful, Hachika. That might be the curse talking."
"Shut up, Ras," she muttered, but her ears were faintly red.
The Service Club and Chuuni duo clashed in verbal chaos, Yukino's sharp logic bouncing off Rikka's fervent declarations, Yuuta backing her up with increasingly absurd theatrics. Somehow, impossibly, the Chuuni girls "won," dragging the Service Club into joining their festival patrol.
Ras? He walked alongside them with his light smile, quietly amused at both sides.
---
Hiratsuka-sensei Appears
"Oi! Brats!"
The sharp voice cut through the crowd. Hiratsuka-sensei appeared, beer can in one hand, the other waving casually. Her cheeks were a little flushed, tipsy, but not sloppy.
"You all enjoying the festival?" she asked, grinning wide.
"Sensei, are you… drinking on campus?" Yukino's voice was horrified.
"Don't sweat the small stuff," Hiratsuka laughed. She leaned in suddenly, bending over Ras. For a second, her expression softened, warmth glimmering through the alcohol haze.
"You're a good kid, you know that?" she said, and before anyone could react, she pressed a light kiss against his hair.
The entire group froze.
"...Eh?" Yui squeaked.
"W-What the hell, sensei?!" Hachika snapped, face burning.
Even Yukino's composure cracked, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Ras, meanwhile, chuckled lightly, running a hand through his hair as if brushing it off. "Sensei, you could get a trip to an iron cell if you do that to other boys you know...."
Hiratsuka blinked, then laughed it off, straightening. "You are not any other boy~ Don't overthink it! Now behave yourselves, or I'll drag you to karaoke until morning!"
She walked off, leaving chaos behind.
The girls glared, whispered, or flushed. Ras just faintly smiled...
---
Festival Games
They moved through the festival as a group, pulled along by the Chuuni duo's relentless energy.
Goldfish scooping turned into Rikka declaring every catch a "familiar of the abyss." Yuuta dramatically tried to "seal" each fish in a cup of water, earning baffled stares.
The haunted house made things worse. Rikka charged in like a general, Yuuta screamed dramatically at every shadow. Yui clung to Ras's arm with a yelp, and even Yukino tensed slightly when a fake skeleton lunged.
Ras walked calmly, his light laugh carrying in the dark corridor. "If the ghosts start charging admission, let me know."
"Shut up!" Hachika hissed, though she stayed closer to him than usual.
By the time they emerged, the group was louder, flustered, and slightly embarrassed. Ras? Still smiling, sleeves neat, as if he'd gone through a stroll in the park.
---
Tent Assignment
When the festival wound down, the announcement came: Service Club and Chuuni Club would share the same tent.
"What kind of sadistic grouping is this?" Yukino muttered.
"Destiny's alignment!" Rikka shouted triumphantly.
Yuuta nodded. "Our bonds deepen!"
Hachika groaned. Yui tried to look cheerful. Ras chuckled. "At least it's warm."
They set up inside, the air thick with awkwardness. The girls argued lightly over space, blankets, and who got the corners. Ras stayed unbothered, simply laying down near the edge and closing his eyes.
"You're too calm," Hachika muttered.
"That's the idea," Ras said with a faint laugh.
---
Midnight
The tent grew quiet. The Chuuni duo snored softly, Yui's breathing was even, Yukino slept with perfect composure.
Hachika, though, couldn't sleep. Her eyes stared at the ceiling of the tent, then drifted sideways.
Ras slept soundly beside her, his face relaxed, his lips curved faintly in a smile even in rest. Something about it pulled at her in ways she didn't understand.
Her cheeks warmed. Her chest felt tight. She rolled onto her side, watching him quietly.
Her hand twitched, then moved almost on its own. Slowly, carefully, it hold against his chest. Warm. Steady. His heartbeat thrummed under her palm.
Her breath caught. She lingered for a moment too long, face burning in the dark.
Then she jerked her hand back, shoving it under her blanket. Her heart pounded so loud she thought it might wake him.
Ras stirred faintly, his lips curving just a little more. Did he notice? Maybe. Maybe not.
Hachika buried her face in her pillow, whispering to herself. "Idiot…"
But she didn't look away. Not for a long time.