Chapter 13: Festival Sparks, Part I

The school courtyard had transformed.

Paper lanterns hung from every tree branch. Colorful booths lined the pathways—some decorated with neon paint, others with handmade signs clearly done last-minute. The smell of fried food, sugar, and something vaguely burnt filled the air.

Hoshikawa High's Autumn Festival had officially begun.

---

Setting the Stage

Naoto stood behind the food stall, wearing a simple black apron and trying to keep the station from falling apart.

Rika, on the other hand, wore her school uniform with a neat headband—simple, elegant, but somehow... cute.

"Don't burn the skewers," she muttered as she handed him a tray.

"I didn't last time."

"You almost did."

He smirked. "That's progress."

Rika rolled her eyes, but she didn't look annoyed. More like... amused.

Their classmates moved around the booth—laughing, yelling, tossing things. It was chaos. But somehow, the two of them were in sync.

---

Unexpected Visitors

A group of first-year girls passed by and giggled as they pointed at Naoto.

"Isn't he the one who lives with Rika?"

"I heard he's her tutor!"

"Or her boyfriend."

Naoto pretended not to hear, but Rika stiffened beside him.

Before she could say anything, he leaned closer and said quietly, "Told you they'd talk."

She scoffed. "Let them. They're wrong."

"…Are they?"

She blinked, caught off guard.

He smiled faintly and turned away to flip the food.

Rika stood there, unsure how to answer. And even more unsure why her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

---

Class Competition Chaos

An announcement rang out over the speakers.

> "Attention! Booth competition begins in ten minutes! Judges will visit each stall!"

Panic.

"Where's the signboard?!"

"The sauce is missing!"

"Who let Sakamoto try to decorate?!"

Rika took control—snapping orders, organizing students, fixing banners.

Naoto watched from the side, impressed. For once, she looked completely in her element—not as the cold heiress, but as a determined leader.

When she finally finished and walked back to him, slightly breathless, he handed her a drink.

"You're good at this," he said.

She raised an eyebrow. "At bossing people around?"

"At making people move. You've got that… annoying charisma."

She smiled—really smiled this time. "Thanks, peasant."

---

Later That Evening

The lights dimmed. The lanterns began to glow. Music echoed across the campus.

Naoto stepped away from the booth for a moment and looked up at the night sky.

His phone buzzed again.

> [Unknown]: "You seem... different lately."

He typed, then paused.

> Naoto: "Maybe I am."

---

[End of Chapter 13]