Helping Hand

"Hey, Tsuki," Sakuno said. "Check it out."

I turned away from my phone. Along the main path sprawling out in the main frontal courtyard, a whole festival area was being worked on by hundreds of students.

"Are they working on the New Year's festival?" I asked.

"Looks like it," he replied.

"But isn't the festival being held after New Years? We've still got about two weeks until then."

"Even then, I thought Shiro said that it was gonna be a small one. This looks... pretty big."

That was only an exaggeration. Left and right, stalls were being set up along the path that led to the main gate. In front of the auditorium was a massive stage. I vaguely recall Taiyori mentioning that one of the theater clubs let us borrow their stage, but I didn’t expect it to be this big.

"It's pretty cool actually," Sakuno grinned. "I wonder how it's gonna look when it's complete. All the lights, the colors, and the festivities! Hehe, I'm kinda excited."

"Definitely my first time seeing anything like it. You really think it'll be interesting?"

"For sure! You just gotta know how to have fun."

"Tough luck for me, I suppose."

"Ah! Tsuki! Sakuno!" a voice cried out to us.

We both turned around to see Shiro running at us with a clipboard resting in her arms. Something that I noticed right away was her unusual attire. She was wearing nothing but a tank top while her jacket was tied around her waist. Isn't she cold?

"Good to see you two again," she grinned.

"Likewise, Shiro," Sakuno smiled back. "Gotta say, this place looks neat so far. Well done."

"Thanks! But it's far from finished. Speaking of which, are you here to help out? We could use some extra hands."

"We were just passing by, but since we're members of the culture club now, we might as well."

"Great! So, how confident are you guys at lifting heavy things?"

"I'd say we're decent," I said.

"Awesome. Follow me."

As we made our way through the bustling worksite, Shiro kept getting stopped by other students bombarding her with questions. Unlike Taiyori's usual interactions, each of Shiro's encounters ended in shared smiles and laughter.

"Hm... Shiro seems pretty popular," Sakuno noticed. "Maybe even more so than Taiyori."

"I was thinking the same thing," I agreed. "Unlike Shiro, Taiyori's personality is..."

Repulsive...?

What just happened? Why couldn't I finish that sentence? Suddenly, memories from yesterday came rushing back, particularly the moments when Taiyori smiled at me. Why am I thinking about that all of a sudden?

"Definitely what?" Sakuno asked.

"...Forget it," I sighed. "It's nothing."

Eventually, we stopped at a stockpile of cardboard boxes filled with random decorations. From what I could see, there was an uneven line of dedicated students who were going back and forth, grabbing one box at a time.

"Alright!" Shiro exclaimed. "Could you two help out with distributing these? We especially need some on the far side of the festival grounds."

"Sure thing!" Sakuno cracked his knuckles and said. "Ready, Tsuki?"

"Yeah."

Sakuno began picking up one box at a time and stacking them on my arms.

"Uh... G-guys?" Shiro stuttered.

"Hm? Is something wrong?" I asked.

"Are you... sure you can handle that?"

I looked up and counted five boxes stacked on top of each other. Is this supposed to be heavy? I probably shouldn't ask that question out loud.

"I'm fine," I said. "Sakuno, I'm going on ahead."

"Sure thing," he grinned. "Don't trip now."

"I won't."

As I made my way down the path, I couldn’t help but notice the unusually large number of eyes staring me down. Is it really that strange for someone to carry a few boxes? Should I pretend like I’m struggling or something?

"Oh, hey!" someone shouted. "Over here!"

I walked over and gently rested the boxes on the ground.

"Thanks, man," he smiled. "Saved us a long trip back. We were just about to run out."

"No problem," I bowed my head and said.

With that out of the way, I headed back the way I came. Subconsciously, my eyes began to wander.

To my right, a group of four students was busy building a stall from scratch. They must've missed a screw or bolt somewhere because the entire thing collapsed. But instead of panicking, they just laughed it off and started over.

On my left, two students were handing out water bottles to each stall, their smiles wide and gracious—a clear sign they were happy to help.

So many students, all working together as one big community. For a moment, a rush of warmth spread through me, though it was tinged with a faint sense of melancholy.

I wonder... Can I ever be like them?

"Hey, Tsuki!"

Suddenly, I snapped out of my trance. Standing before me was the Belle herself, staring at me with one brow raised.

"Ah... Hey, Taiyori," I greeted her.

"Eh? What's wrong with you?" she muttered. "What happened to your classic, 'What do you want,' or, 'It's you again?' I don't think you've ever once greeted me normally."

"I was feeling nice today."

"...Huh...? Are you mocking me?"

"Whatever could you mean?"

"Tch... Is this what I get for showing you around yesterday?"

"I wonder."

"Hmf..."

She crossed her arms and tilted her head away, clearly irritated. What's this now? She's been hanging around me pretty often recently. Did she really turn over a new leaf? Or is she just getting too comfortable?

Well... Fine. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to be polite this time around.

"Anyway, how was your day?" I asked.

"...The hell?" she muttered. "Where is this coming from? Just a minute ago, you didn't hear me calling your name until the fourth time, and now this. Are you sick or something?"

She rested her hand on my forehead, and I immediately froze. "Doesn't feel that hot. Strange... This isn't the Tsuki I know."

"You're overexaggerating," I sighed as I gently pushed her hand away. "I woke up today and decided not to choose violence. That's all."

A confident smile then appeared on her face. "Is that so? Then, since you're feeling so awfully nice for once, why don't you help me out with a little something?"

"I'm sure there are plenty of guys around here ready to do whatever you need with a simple snap of your fingers. Go get them to help you."

"Didn't I tell you that they're just a bunch of weirdos? Why would I want them to help me?"

"...It was no more than a week ago that you called me a weirdo."

"Well, there's a difference between you and them."

"Which is?"

"Tch... Are you really making me say this now?"

She then turned around normally. Everything was normal. From her face to her pose, there's nothing out of the ordinary... So why is it that I still find myself caught in her illusion?

"You're honest with me," she said. "That's the most I could ask of a weirdo, don't you think?"

There it is again. This... feeling. I first noticed it when we went to the mall together. Sometimes, the way she looks at me sends my heart racing, and I just stand there, staring back like an idiot.

Taiyori is a beautiful girl. I’ve always known that. But that's all there is to her, right? So why am I reacting so strangely? She smiles at me, and suddenly, I'm left completely speechless.

"Hm? Tsuki?" she tilted her head with a playful smirk. "What's wrong? Finally falling for me?"

After a brief pause, I mumbled incoherently. "You're right."

Her smile faded almost instantly, replaced by shock. "...Eh...? Wait... W-what... did you just...?"

With a much sterner tone, I repeated myself. "You're absolutely right. I think I'm sick, so I'll be heading back to my dorm now. See you later."

"W-wha—Hey! Wait!"

I quickly shuffled away while Taiyori was tailing me. All the while, necks were breaking to look at us in awe. The Belle is chasing after some random guy. What a sight, huh?

"Tsuki!" Taiyori shouted. "Hold on a minute! I was kidding, alright?"

"Mhm."

"How come you're saying that, but you're still walking away?!"

"I told you. I'm sick."

"Quit lying... Come on, I still need help with that something I was talking about! Ugh! I don't even remember what it is anymore, and it's all because of you!"

"Well, when it comes back to you, go and ask someone else—?!"

One of the stalls next to us suddenly snapped, and a large wooden beam was plummeting at an angle right toward Taiyori. Instincts took over as my body moved on its own.

"Taiyori!" I shouted as I quickly reached for her.

Before she even had time to react, I snatched her by the wrist and pulled her into my arms just in time. The wooden beam fell and pierced through the dirt ground thereafter.

"Are you alright?" I quickly asked.

"Uh... U-um..." was all that came out of her mouth.

I looked back at the wooden beam, which was snapped in half and littered the path with fallen debris. If I were just a second later, Taiyori might've been seriously injured.

"T-Tsuki...?" she mumbled.

"What is it? Are you hurt?"

"No... b-but... Could you... let go of me?"

I hadn't even noticed that I was still tightly holding her in my arms until she said it.

"S-sorry..." I said as I released her.

"Oh my gosh!" a girl came over and exclaimed. "Are you two alright!"

"Yeah, we're fine."

"I'm so sorry! It was all my fault!"

"Like I said, it's fine. Don't worry about it."

"Whoa, hey!" a guy shouted. "Look, dude! Your arm!"

Confused by the abrupt announcement, I raised my left arm. A decent gash, dripping with blood, marred the surface. The wooden beam must've scraped me when I pulled Taiyori out of the way.

Is my tolerance for pain really that high? I didn't even notice until someone pointed it out, and even now, I barely feel it. If anything, the sting from the cold air is more noticeable than the wound itself.

"T-Tsuki..." Taiyori gasped, her hands cradling her mouth.

"It's nothing," I said.

"What do you mean, 'nothing?' There's so much blood!"

"Trust me. It's not that serious. But, hah. Now I have a real excuse to go home, right?"

"What?! No! Not a chance!"

Taiyori latched onto my other arm and began pulling me over.

"W-whoa! Taiyori?!"

"Shut up. You're coming with me."

"I said I'm fine!"

"Don't care."

Despite my reluctance, she continued dragging me away.