Chapter LVIII: Preparations II, Part 1
Days go by, yet not in sudden leaps or dramatic upheavals, but in gradual motion; so quiet, patient, and inevitable. The University of the Constellations breathes with a rhythm that mirrors the slow turning of celestial bodies themselves. Each sunrise brings anticipation, and each sunset carries preparation. Something approaches, and everyone knows it.
It's the Starlight Festival. It is not merely an event. It is a declaration, yet the reopening of it, following the mysterious events not so long ago.
This is a declaration that the university still stands strong beneath the heavens, and a declaration that the stars above still recognize their children below. And so, every student, every faculty member, every worker, and every soul within the university walls moves with purpose.
Beyond the classrooms, beyond the courtyards, and beyond the dormitories, the university's outer walls hum with silent activity.
A barrier is being constructed, and it is unlike anything ordinary eyes might recognize. From afar, it appears like a faint shimmer in the air like heat rising from asphalt, but upon closer observation, one can see faint threads of blue and gold energy weaving together. Faculty members in long ceremonial coats walk slowly along the perimeter, their hands raised, their eyes glowing faintly with focus. The barrier is actually now being constructed with special materials that would go against dark magic and supernatural forces.
The faculty chant softly, not loudly, not dramatically but with the calm certainty of those who know exactly what they are doing. Professor Halcyon of the Defense Faculty raises his palm, and light pours from it like liquid starlight.
The barrier responds, it strengthens. Nearby, other professors hold crystalline devices, mapping the barrier's structural integrity. Their expressions are serious. Focused. Prepared.
This is no decoration. This is protection, because the Starlight Festival does not only attract celebration. It attracts attention. And attention, in this universe, can be dangerous.
Inside every building of each departments, new sheets of paper appear on walls and bulletin boards. These are not just simple maps, but Evacuation Maps. They are very detailed; meticulously drawn, with arrows, emergency exits, safe zones, and fallback points clearly labeled. Each district head personally oversees the mapping of their territory.
At the Aquarius District, Sadalmelik Head Principal Kimura stands before a large blueprint of the building. His fingers trace every hallway, every staircase, every exit.
He marks escape routes with blue ink, alternative routes with gold, and final refuge points with white stars.
Around him, faculty members nod, memorizing every detail.
"Memorize this," Principal Kimura says calmly. "Not just with your eyes. With your instincts."
His tone is not fearful. It is prepared.
In the Pisces District, at the Alpherg Building, the atmosphere is entirely different. There is laughter, music, and color. A palette of fun, and enjoyment or crafts, and arts. Art students work tirelessly, their hands stained with paint, their clothes speckled with blue and gold.
They create banderitas or rows upon rows of triangular flags, strung together like chains of starlight. The blue represents the cosmos. The gold represents the stars.
Brushes glide across fabric. Paint dries beneath electric fans. Students argue playfully over color gradients.
"No, no, the gold should be brighter—like sunrise!"
"No, like sunset!"
"No, like explosion!"
They laugh, because for them, this is joy. They are not preparing for danger. They are preparing for beauty.
At the university grounds, the Criminology students march in perfect synchronization. Their boots strike the earth in unison. Left, right; Left, right; a cadence in uniformed sync. Their voices echo across the campus.
"ONE!"
"TWO!"
"THREE!"
"FOUR!"
Sweat glistens on their foreheads, but they do not stop. They practice not only for the parade, but for security. Their eyes remain sharp. Their posture remains disciplined. They are the shield.
At the Virgo District, in the Medical Wing of the Vindemiatrix Building, the Medicine students simulate emergency response scenarios. A student lies on a stretcher. Another checks pulse rate. Another administers mock treatment.
"Injury to left arm," one announces.
"Stabilize," another responds.
Their hands move quickly, efficiently, precisely. There is no panic. Only readiness. This is because healers must be faster than death.
Within the Aquarius District classroom, the atmosphere is calmer. Classes proceed as usual. Lectures and notes, quiet murmurs, and pens scratching against paper.
Ryujin sits beside Hageshi, Haruto, and Inoshiro. He listens. He writes. He observes.
The morning passes peacefully for now.
At noon, the four of them walk to the cafeteria. The air smells of fried rice, noodles, grilled meat, and sweet drinks. Students laugh loudly. Chairs scrape. Trays clatter.
Ryujin sits with his friends. They eat. They relax. They exist as ordinary teenagers again. For a moment, the universe feels simple.
Back in the classroom, they wait for Shinse. Time passes slowly... too slowly. Hageshi leans back in his chair.
"So," he says casually, "have you seen that meme where the cat stares into nothing and the caption says, 'When you remember your embarrassing moment from five years ago'?"
Haruto bursts out laughing.
"That cat represents my entire life."
Inoshiro adds, "No, the best one is the distracted boyfriend meme, but the boyfriend is labeled 'Me,' the girlfriend is labeled 'Responsibilities,' and the girl walking past is labeled 'Sleep.'"
Ryujin chuckles softly. He doesn't always speak loudly. But he listens. He enjoys. He belongs.
As boredom creeps in, Ryujin turns to Hageshi.
"Hey," he asks casually, "don't you have practice for the festival dance today?"
Hageshi nods.
"Not today, dudes. Thursday, Friday, and Monday. 4:30 PM."
Inoshiro whistles.
"Man, that's late."
Hageshi shrugs.
"I'll probably get home around 6... or maybe 8."
Haruto raises an eyebrow.
"What a solid dedication you have, my friend."
Hageshi smiles.
"It's the Starlight Festival, doing it for the enjoyment, fitness, and pursuit of loyalty."
That is reason enough.
Haruto lifts his water bottle. He stares at it, and it's half empty or half full. Or perhaps, just enough. He grins.
"Dudes! I have an idea."
The others look at him.
"Water Bottle Flip Challenge."
Ryujin blinks. Hageshi smirks. Inoshiro leans forward.
"What's the rule?"
Haruto grins wider.
"The loser gets smacked on the head."
They laugh. They accept. The challenge begins. Haruto flips first. The bottle spins... and lands perfectly.
"YES!"
Inoshiro flips, but fails. A smack on the head it is.
Hageshi flips, and it's perfect.
Ryujin flips, and fail. A large smack to the blow it is again. Ryujin rubs his head. But he studies. He observes. He learns. He adjusts his grip. He flips again. Closer, and better. He flips again, again, and again.
Failure becomes lesson. Lesson becomes improvement. And Improvement becomes mastery.
Across the room, Saki sits with Rikiyo and Kitsune. They talk about animation. About dreams, and about worlds beyond reality.
"And the way the wind moves in those films," Saki says softly, "it feels alive."
She sketches as she speaks. Her pencil moves carefully, slowly and precisely. The subject of her drawing, is none other than the apple of her eyes, Ryujin.
She glances at him occasionally. Then back to her paper. She smiles faintly.
Just nearby, Samero leans toward Arita.
"You know," he says teasingly, "you might be the emcee for the festival."
Arita raises an eyebrow.
"Why is that?"
Samero grins.
"You're the top student. And your father is the PTA president."
Fujima laughs.
"He's not wrong."
Arita sighs.
But she does not deny it, because deep down... she knows it could happen.
In the far corner of the classroom, chaos reigns.
"ATTACK!"
"RETREAT!"
"NO WAIT!"
"HELP ME!"
Takeshi screams dramatically. Okaki groans.
"You went alone again!"
Miran laughs uncontrollably. Kuebiko shakes his head.
"This is why we lose."
But they keep playing since losing together is still fun.
About thirty minutes later, the door opens. Shinse enters, carrying papers. Everyone scrambles. Chaos becomes order. He distributes the sheets. The sheets turn out to be the Lyrics for The University Hymn, and The National Anthem. Practice begins.
Shinse looks at the boys.
"Boys, help me carry the piano."
Ryujin, Hageshi, Takeshi, Inoshiro, Miran, and Kuebiko obey. The piano is heavy. But together, they lift it. They carry it, and they set it down.
Shinse plays, and the music begins. The voices follow.
Suddenly, just out of the blues, Shinse receives a call. He steps outside, and he looks at Ryujin.
"Furukawa, please take charge."
Ryujin freezes, but he nods. He sits at the piano, and his fingers move. The music flows and the class follows him. He leads, naturally and effortlessly; like he was always meant to.
One hour later, Shinse returns. He stops. He listens. He watches. The class sings beautifully, and perfectly. It's because of Ryujin. Shinse smiles faintly. He says nothing, but he understands.
Practice ends. Students pack their bags. They leave. One by one. Well, except for Hageshi. He stays since he must dance and prepare and it's because the Starlight Festival is almost around the corner.
And as Ryujin walks home beneath the darkening sky, he looks upward. The stars shine faintly. Watching, waiting, and preparing. Just like them. The days go by gradually and inevitably.
And soon, the Starlight Festival will arrive.