Earthside: Stitches of Distance

Kael - Entry 10

It's been some time since I wrote in this diary. A lot happened after that night. When Mom came back, she nearly fainted at the sight of the scar. I told her during the fireworks—that it was dark, I tripped, and cut my arm on the pavement. About who attacked us, I have a big hunch.

When the second semester started, Riku didn't show up for the first few days. Then when he finally returned, his nose and arm were broken. He told others it was from a car accident, but every now and then he gives me this wounded-dog side-eye. To go that far and attack with a knife is very serious. Having that level of hate in school is too much for a first-year high schooler—assuming it really was him.

I don't see him with Daichi and Takumi anymore, especially Takumi, who's now messing with Kyotaro. To my surprise, Kyotaro insists he'll deal with him on his own. I don't know if it's because he has a girlfriend now or because his girlfriend's military father, who's also our gym teacher.

As for me and Hana… things are complicated. After that night, she's been avoiding me, keeping our interactions short and distant. I don't know where we stand right now. Did I ruin this before it even began, or is there something else going on that I don't understand?

Anyways, something called the Cultural Festival is coming up, and every class and club will be doing something for it. Tomorrow our class will decide on what we'll do.

The next day, in classroom, the class representative, Ayaka Mori, stood at the front with the student council president, Miyuki Mai.

Ayaka clapped her hands once, drawing the chatter to silence.

"Alright everyone, let's begin. Today we have the student council president with us to help finalize our class's activity for the cultural festival."

Miyuki Mai, the president, gave a small nod before speaking.

"The reason I'm here is simple. First, we need to make sure no two classes choose the same thing. Second, every class has a budget—don't go overboard. And lastly, since Hoshinomiya High opens its cultural festival to the public, the baseline quality must be upheld."

While Miyuki spoke, Kael leaned against his desk, staring absently out the window, barely listening.

The president turned and wrote a short list on the board:

Classroom café

Haunted house

Art & Science exhibit

Food stall

"You can also propose plays, dances, or musical performances," Miyuki added, "but for your class, these are the remaining options."

The boys immediately raised their voices.

"Classroom café!"

"Yeah, let's do that—I can't wait to see our girls in maid outfits serving us!"

One of the girls scoffed. "How about we make it fair and have both boys and girls in outfits so everyone serves?"

The boys groaned. "What, you want us to wear dresses?"

The girl stood, hands on her hips. "No, silly. Girls wear maid outfits, boys wear butler uniforms."

The class fell quiet. Miyuki tilted his head, intrigued. "Interesting… both maids and butlers. But outfitting everyone might exceed your budget. How do you plan to manage that?"

Ayaka raised her hand. "Two other girls and I are in this class are in the tailoring club. We already have a number of maid uniforms ready. We discussed it before hand with the council and they gave some of that budget to us. All we'd need are fittings and a few adjustments. As for the butler outfits—if everyone contributes a little from their allowance, we can cover it."

The students muttered complaints. "Why should we pay extra?"

Ayaka's eyes gleamed mischievously. "Don't forget—we have the most popular boy in school right here. Don't you want Kazuki-kun serving you with a smile?"

Kazuki froze, eyes widening. Hana hid a giggle behind her hand.

The girls immediately rallied.

"That's a wonderful idea!"

"I'd love to see Kazuki in a butler outfit!"

The boys exchanged glances. "What about us, then? What do we get out of this?"

Ayaka hesitated, but Miyuki stepped in smoothly. "Remember, this is a competition. The class that puts on the best attraction wins a prize."

A boy leaned forward eagerly. "What's the prize?"

"A trip to the hot springs."

The boys erupted. "Hot springs?! Perfect—we can peek at the girls!"

"Ugh, disgusting!" the girls murmured back in unison.

Ayaka smirked, seizing the moment. "So? Will you contribute or not?"

One of the boys shot to his feet. "Fine! We'll put money in—not to peek the girls, of course, but to see Kazuki in a butler outfit, right boys?"

"Right!" the boys chorused, some grinning shamelessly.

Miyuki nodded and wrote Maid & Butler Café neatly on the board. "I'll record this as your choice. Good luck, everyone."

As he left, Ayaka bowed slightly. "Thank you, President." She turned back to her classmates, clapping her hands again. "Alright, decision made! Let's get ready. After class, everyone head to the sewing club room—we'll start your measurements."

The room filled with a mix of groans, laughter, and nervous excitement.

When classes ended, everyone headed to the clubroom for measurements. The girls gathered on one side, the boys on the other. As Kael stepped in, Ayaka waved him over.

"Kazuki, let me introduce you," she said, pulling him toward the girls. "This is Kaguya—the one who suggested the boys wear butler outfits—and this is Erika."

Both girls smiled politely.

"Will you take your shirt off so we can get your measurements?" Erika asked.

Kael did as he was told. The room went quiet for a moment as his lean, muscular build came into view. The girls exchanged whispers, but it was the boys who crowded closer, patting his shoulders and arms.

"Damn, Kazuki, what kind of training do you do?"

"Those abs are unreal!"

Kael managed only a faint smile. When his eyes drifted across the room, he noticed Hana. She wasn't watching—she had turned away, her face unreadable.

Once everyone finished, Ayaka clapped her hands.

"Alright, tomorrow bring your allowance money so we can buy fabric and supplies. We also need to start decorating the classroom little by little."

The boys groaned.

Ayaka grinned. "Don't forget—the prize is the hot springs trip. And some hot springs are mixed, you know."

That changed their tune. "Wait—mixed hot springs?" "Ohhh, yeah…"

"Disgusting!" the girls murmured back once more in unison.

The following days blurred into busy preparation. Students chipped in their money, and thanks to the boys' extra contributions, the tailoring team had more than enough fabric. The leftovers went into decorations, making the café more elaborate than anyone expected.

Hana helped diligently but kept her distance from Kael. When they had to interact, she spoke to him formally, her tone careful and polite. One afternoon, while standing on a ladder to hang decorations, she lost her balance. Kael caught her just in time. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Hana quickly looked away.

"…Thank you," she said stiffly, as though speaking to a stranger.

On the final evening before the festival, the class stayed late to finish sewing the uniforms. Tired but satisfied, they managed to complete everything just in time.

And so, the day of the Cultural Festival arrived. Their classroom café stood waiting, filled with laughter, nerves.

For Kael and Hana, the memories born that day were carved into their hearts—ones neither would ever