Chapter 17: Preparations and Schemes

A week before the school festival, a wave of excitement began to sweep through the school halls. Paper decorations, raised voices, and constant chatter about booths gave the place an entirely different rhythm. For Yaso, the shift in atmosphere wasn’t entirely unwelcome—rather… oddly refreshing.

That day, Yaso stood in the corner of a clubroom, watching Daichi argue animatedly with Sunohara over the position of the takoyaki stand's table.

"I told you, it has to be near the entrance!" Daichi exclaimed, throwing his arms up in frustration.

"And how many times do I have to say that’s stupid?" Sunohara snapped back. "If it’s by the door, it’ll block traffic!"

Yaso let out an audible sigh. “You’ve been arguing about a few centimeters for ten minutes.”

Daichi turned to him, flashing a mischievous grin. “That’s why we need you, Yaso-kun. We need someone calm... rational... and brave enough to wear this!”
He dramatically pulled out a small box from his bag and opened it like it held treasure.

Inside was a pair of soft gray cat ears, a matching tail, and a collar with a tiny bell.

“No,” Yaso said flatly.

“I haven’t even said anything yet!” Daichi protested with a laugh.

“Your face said everything,” Yaso replied coolly.

Sunohara chuckled under her breath, raising a brow. “You seriously thought Yaso would agree to this?”

“Oh, but I haven’t told him about part two...” Daichi added ominously.

Yaso narrowed his eyes. “There’s a part two?”

“Of course! Fluffy paw gloves! Just imagine how cute you’ll look greeting customers with a soft voice and a jingle!” Daichi said, mimicking a cat with exaggerated gestures.

Sunohara sighed. “You’re ridiculous, Daichi.”

With a hand over his heart, he replied, “I’m just faithful to my craft.”

Despite all that, Yaso didn’t seem too annoyed. In fact, he seemed… resigned. A part of him was beginning to accept these two in his daily life. Daichi, with his loud voice and endless antics, and Sunohara, who—despite her sharp tongue—had a strangely reliable sense of order.

The next day, the trio gathered again in the courtyard near their designated booth space. Daichi had brought a large sign that read “Tako Tako Nyan~!” with a hand-drawn picture of a kitten holding a takoyaki pan.

Yaso, holding a toolbox to mount the sign, stared at it and said dryly, “Did you draw this yourself?”

“Yep! I’m an artist, my friend!” Daichi beamed.

“I feel secondhand embarrassment for you,” Yaso said as he secured the sign.

Sunohara was arranging napkins and plastic plates inside the booth. She walked over to Yaso and said softly, “You seem like you're getting used to us.”

While tightening the final screw, he replied, “I guess I just... don’t hate this as much as I expected.”

She smiled, saying nothing more. But she noticed that faint look on his face—something softer than his usual cool detachment.

By the end of the day, the booth was almost ready. Only a few final touches remained—decorations, costumes—but the structure was complete.

The three of them sat on the ground beside the booth. The sun had started to dip below the horizon, and the air had turned pleasantly cool.

“This is going to be the best festival ever,” Daichi said, gazing at the sky.

“You say this every year, don't you?” Yaso replied without looking at him.

“But this year... we have Yaso-kun in a cat costume!”

Sunohara threw a tissue box at his head. “Stop it!”

They all laughed quietly together.

On his way home, Yaso found himself thinking about the day’s events. None of this had been part of his original plans. Yet, strangely enough, he didn’t regret it.

As he neared his house, he looked up at the darkening sky and smiled faintly.

“Maybe…” he muttered to himself, “trying something new now and then isn’t so bad.”

He reached into his pocket, where the cat ears Daichi had insisted he keep still rested.

He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t given them back.