Chapter 375: The Upcoming Hoshin Festival

"It's about time, huh?"

"Yeah…"

"Only about a week left."

"The Hoshin Festival is almost here."

Tuesday, in the student council office—all members were present.

"Ishigami, has your class decided what they're doing yet?"

"Yeah, it's finalized," Ishigami replied. "We're doing a haunted house."

There had been talk of a maid café or a play, but for some reason, those options always ended with classmates trying to harass Rinji. So he strongly objected and they settled on a haunted house.

"A haunted house, huh… that's not bad," said Shirogane. "But the setup is a lot of work. Can your class handle it?"

"No need to worry about that," Rinji cut in.

"I'll help set it up. If I do it myself, it'll be done in no time."

"…That so? Alright then."

Since Rinji said so, Shirogane could only nod and write the project down on his sheet.

All student-led or club projects had to be registered with the student council ahead of time.

"Oh, Rinji," Fujiwara suddenly spoke up. "We're performing on stage on the first day—five shows total. We should practice again."

"Sure."

"Okay… then I think we're mostly good." Shirogane glanced over his sheet and muttered, "But having the Hoshin Festival last only one day feels kind of short. If only we could…"

"You don't need to worry about that, President."

As he spoke, Rinji pulled a document out of his pocket and handed it to Shirogane.

"I already submitted a request to the principal. This semester's Hoshin Festival will be extended to two days in total."

"Huh? You already got it approved?"

"That's amazing." Fujiwara beamed. "Rinji-kun truly is 'Shuchiin's Dictator'."

Rinji: "When did I ever get that title?"

"One last thing," Shirogane said, addressing the student council. "The festival's executive committee needs people from the council to help. Any volunteers?"

The so-called festival executive committee was responsible for the venue layout and event planning prior to the Hoshin Festival, approving class and club proposals, promotional planning, and opening ceremony design—a ton of work, in short.

"I'll go."

Rinji raised his hand without hesitation.

"Alright. Anyone else?"

"I will."

Iino Miko also raised her hand.

"Okay, just you two?"

"No." Rinji reached out and grabbed the retreating Ishigami by the shoulder. "You're going too."

"Huh!?"

"You thought you could escape after pulling what you did at the sports festival? If I'm stuck with this, you are too. Bros suffer together."

"..."

"Alright, I'll submit your names."

With everything settled, the members gradually left the student council office.

Only Shirogane and Rinji remained.

"President, you've decided, haven't you?"

"Yeah."

Shirogane fell silent for a moment before nodding.

"After submitting my application, I kept checking for updates. Yesterday, I found out—it's official. My application to Stanford University was accepted."

"Congrats, President."

"It really is something to be happy about… but it also means I can't waste time aimlessly anymore."

His gaze sharpened with determination.

"The final moment will be at the Hoshin Festival. If Kaguya doesn't confess… I will."

"…Alright."

Maybe the mood got too serious, but Shirogane let out a chuckle.

"What's up, Rinji? Normally, you'd be trying to talk me out of confessing."

"Just preparing for both outcomes. If Shinomiya chickens out, it's better for you to act. This can't be dragged on anymore." Rinji replied. "Doesn't matter who confesses—what matters is that you two get together."

"True enough…"

"Only success is allowed."

"…Right."

For some reason, Shirogane found Rinji unusually serious today.

---

"Thanks again, Takamine-kun."

"No need for thanks—just stop bringing up the crossdressing thing and we're good."

With final exams over, there weren't any more classes, and the whole class was now preparing for the upcoming Hoshin Festival.

Setting up a haunted house was a time-consuming job. Unlike other events that just needed costumes or a stage, the haunted house needed the entire large classroom remodeled, with traps, effects, props, and costumes prepared.

Yet Rinji had finished the entire setup in just one day.

Seeing the completed spooky classroom, Onodera Rei couldn't help but comment.

"Never knew you had this kind of skill."

"There's a lot you don't know about me."

"True. Like how no one expected you'd look that good in a dress."

"Shut it."

"No need to be mad. Lots of people envy your popularity. They'd love to be you."

"Don't. I can't even imagine how deranged you all must be."

"Well, you've handled the setup. We'll take care of the costumes and props."

"No need—I've already made them."

"That fast!?"

"Want me to try one on for you?"

Rinji ducked behind the curtain. The other students gathered curiously to see what kind of outfits he had prepared.

Haunted house costumes were usually predictable—long white dresses with hair over the face, samurai corpses with arrows stuck in them, or traditional Japanese ghost suits.

"What do you think Takamine-kun will come out wearing?"

"Hopefully Sadako."

As they waited eagerly, Rinji pulled the curtain open—and left everyone dumbfounded.

"Takamine-kun… what are you wearing?"

He wasn't dressed like a traditional ghost. He wore a bulletproof vest, ammo belts slung over his shoulder, a rifle in hand, and his face painted in camouflage.

"I thought about it. This outfit inspires real fear," Rinji said seriously in full military gear.

"Uh…"

"The scariest thing nowadays isn't open warfare—it's urban combat and guerrilla warfare," he said matter-of-factly. "Picture this: you're just doing a patrol like usual, then suddenly a rebel dressed like me pops out with a rocket launcher. Scary, right?"

"…You seriously misunderstand what a haunted house is."