School festival (1)

“Set of six matcha mochis for table twelve!”

“Earl gray and shortcake for table two”

With the exam session passing one could think it was a time for some relaxation, but not in Kinishiro High. To celebrate almost all of the students getting a passing score of at least ‘60/100’ it was a tradition to host a school festival just two weeks after the grades have been revealed.

Just like in any other type of event, each class had to choose what they were going to do and, oh the irony, Makoto’s style just had to decide on a cafe. But not any cafe. A themed one that included cosplay. And what the theme was? Of course nothing else than Japanese mythological creatures.

So all of the classmates couldn't force Onitsuka Makoto to dress up as a Red Oni.

If Watanabe comes today, it’s all over. God, I hope that if she comes over today, she will be too distracted with all the stalls and events happening around to notice me.

There was no way she would be able to ever ignore the red-haired delinquent and deep inside he knew about it but still held onto this tiniest remaining hope.

“Here you go,” Makoto said to the group of girls sitting by table twelve handing them their order. “Set of six matcha mochis. Have a nice meal.”

“Kyaa~ You’re so handsome in this costume, senpai!” one of them squealed.

Of course, he was, girls liked to look at him in his usual uniform. With his chest uncovered for the sake of the cosplay, they now had an even better view. So he only halfheartedly thanked the girl for the compliment and moved forward to serve another table.

If he could, Makoto would rather help out by baking and making tea but by the decision of the whole class, he was unable to. The reason for it? His classmates already felt a loss in customers because Tomoya couldn’t serve as he was the best baker and barista. Heck, he got even better since the old lady from the cafe promised him to share her baking secrets if he worked a part-time job at her place.

That is the entire reason why it was up to Onitsuka Makoto to be the token pretty face. Well… Handsome would be probably a better fitting adjective in his case.

The gang leader didn’t even know why was he stressing over Watanabe seeing him in the costume so much. All the girls so far appreciated it. It’s not like he was embarrassed about wearing it either.

Was he… No! It couldn’t be!

Or could it?

…was he feeling anticipation more than nervousness and embarrassment? Did he want to see the black-braided girl’s reaction?

Studying with her all the time had to affect his brain cells if he truly started enjoying the cosplay and all the praises that came with it…

“Oi, Onitsuka, quit dazing off, we have a line waiting to be served!” one of the delinquent’s classmates yelled out to gain his attention.

“Right, sorry. I’m on it!”

Makoto jogged to the entrance and started his usual greeting, “Welcome to the Yokai cafe, would you like to take a…”

He stopped once he noticed who had finally graced him with their presence. Of course, it was no one else than Watanabe Mami, dressed up casually and holding crazy amounts of different bags which most probably contained some sort of goodies that were given out by other classes during this festival.

“Well someone here is fully experiencing the festival, huh?”

“Indeed I am, Red Oni!” Mami cheerfully agreed. “But this,” she shamelessly checked out Makoto by looking at him up and down, “this is the true highlight of this fascinating event!”

“I had a feeling you would enjoy it,” he slowly turned 360 degrees just to show off the entire costume.

Maybe it was the festival magic or maybe he was getting soft towards the girl after spending more time with her but he didn’t feel like bickering with her or trying to shoo her.

“I knew one day I would be destined to see your true form, I have not expected it to come so soon!”

At this point, the girl’s eyes were practically sparkling from excitement.

With all of that, Makoto nearly forgot that he was supposed to serve her just like any other customer. “So… I assume it will be a table for one?”

Before Mami could answer, the red-haired delinquent heard a loud voice coming from the distance, “No, make it for two!”

It was no one else but Nakano dressed up in black clothes running past all the people in the quite crowded corridor. The different attire must have been somehow connected to the attraction the younger teen’s class was holding but Onitsuka couldn’t remember what exactly were they doing.

“Cutting the line by joining Watanabe, huh?”

“Wha-!? No!” Nakano gasped, “Tell him it’s not true, Watanabe-chan!”

“By all means, I have made an offer to Karasu Tengu to accompany me for a lovely meal at your tavern after his spectacle has been finished.” Mami nodded confirming.

Does it count as her asking Nakano out?

“Hehe, yeah, I wanted to go to your cafe after the stage play we did but I was held back for a bit,” the black-haired boy scratched his head. “Watanabe-chan admitted she was going to come here too so I asked her to hold the line for me as well and she thought that getting a table together would probably also be better for you guys here. I heard your attraction is quite popular!”

“Ah, I see.”

Well, that was a relief.

What relief?

“That’s true,” Makoto continued while brushing away his intrusive thought that came out of nowhere, “We are so busy that I haven’t even had time to check out any of the festival attractions myself,” he added as he led two black haired teens to the table.

“Eh, no way,” Nakano retorted.

“It’s fine, it’s always up to second years to carry the entire festival so third years and first years could have some fun,” the red-haired delinquent reassured. “Now, dear customers, tell me what your order will be.”

Both teens sitting by the table took the menus lying right in front of them and scanned all of the possible options.

“The names are boring,” Mami mumbled.

Of course, she would think that.

“I think I’ve decided,” the black-haired teen exclaimed. “One castella for me!”

“My choice is to obtain the sweetness of dorayaki and a cup of warm potion called green tea,” the girl declared, clearly not being happy with the lack of immersion caused by normal names for the positions on the menu.

With their order completed, Makoto went to the ‘kitchen zone’ to take the snacks for the duo. Thankfully, Tomoya was preoccupied with baking so he didn’t have a chance to tease his childhood friend about Mami. Once he got what he needed, Onitsuka went back to the table to give out their orders.

Sadly, he knew he couldn’t stay and chat with them seeing how the waiting line was still there, meaning work came first.

After a few minutes of taking orders and going back and forth, he felt someone tucking on the back of his costume. When he turned around he saw no one other than Watanabe Mami with all of her belongings hung over her shoulders.

“I have informed your scholar companions of your absence for the rest of this event.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Makoto asked not hiding his confusion.

The girl looked a bit flustered as for once it looked like she couldn’t find the right words to convey her message. She fiddled with her fingers and was looking in every direction other than the Red Oni’s face.

“It- It is unfair you haven’t had time to enjoy the festival, so I just told them to give you a break,” she murmured breaking out of her character.

Was it possible that when her confidence disappeared, she forgot about her grandiose delusions?

“T-that is why, I am offering you to accompany me for today and show me the paths that I may not be aware of existing!”

And she went right back to how she was…

“I guess I do owe you now that you managed to convince them to give me a break from this hellish cafe…” Makoto chuckled slightly. “Fine, let’s go check out some other attractions.”

“Let’s set our departure!” the girl cheerfully exclaimed while Onitsuka let his classmates know that he was leaving now.