Maybe This Year’s Festival Would Be Different

As Hachimura continued to share his ideas, his enthusiasm was hard to ignore. I found myself getting drawn into his vision for the festival, imagining the vibrant booths and lively crowds.

“And then, we could have a fortune-telling booth! It’d be a hit!” Hachimura suggested, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Fortune-telling? That could be interesting,” I replied, allowing a hint of intrigue to seep into my voice.

“Yeah! But we should also have something for everyone to try. You know, something different,” he insisted, leaning closer. “What do you think?”

I shrugged, feeling a bit hesitant. “I usually just help out wherever I can. I’m not the best at coming up with ideas.”

“C’mon! You’ve got to have something you want to do!” Hachimura pressed, his energy infectious. “What about a calligraphy booth? You could showcase your skills!”

“A calligraphy booth? You think people would actually want to try that?” I asked, unsure.

“Definitely! It’s unique! People love trying new things. Plus, you could make some cool decorations for it,” he said, practically bouncing in his seat.

“Alright, I’ll think about it,” I replied, feeling a spark of interest. “But only if you help me set it up.”

“Of course! I’ll make sure it looks great,” Hachimura said, grinning widely. “This is going to be awesome!”

Just then, the teacher cleared her throat, interrupting our conversation. “Alright, class! Settle down, please. We have a lot to cover today.”

As she began her lecture, I stole a glance at Hachimura. He was scribbling notes but kept looking over at me with a smile, his excitement palpable. I felt a warmth spread through me at the sight. It was rare to see him this animated, and it made me smile in return.

The day passed quickly, with Hachimura and me exchanging ideas during breaks and after class. By the time school was over, we had a rough outline of our booth and a list of supplies we needed.

“Alright, Takumi. First things first, we need to hit the art store,” Hachimura declared, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

“Right after we finish our homework?” I asked, teasingly.

“Homework can wait! The festival is coming up, and we need to get started!” he replied, practically dragging me out of the classroom.

“Okay, okay! I’m in,” I laughed, shaking my head at his relentless energy. “Let’s go!”

As we walked to the art store, the sky began to darken, and a few stars peeked out. Hachimura was in high spirits, chattering away about the decorations we could make. “We could use black and gold paper for an elegant look! Or maybe some red to really make it pop!”

“Sounds like you’ve already got this planned out,” I said, amused by his fervor.

“Just wait until you see what I can do with some markers and washi tape!” he grinned.

We reached the art store, and Hachimura immediately dashed toward the craft aisle. I followed, my heart inexplicably lighter as I watched him browse through the supplies, his excitement bubbling over.

“Do we need glitter?” he asked, his eyes shining with mischief.

“Only if you want to spend the next week cleaning it up,” I replied, laughing.

“Fair point,” he said, then picked up a roll of decorative tape. “But look at this! We have to get it.”

I nodded, feeling a thrill of anticipation as we gathered more supplies. “Alright, we’ll get it. But you’re responsible for any mess!”

“Deal!” he said with a laugh, his enthusiasm infectious.

As we made our way to the checkout, I realized how much I enjoyed planning this festival with him. The way he lit up when discussing ideas was captivating. I felt a strange flutter in my chest, something I hadn’t experienced before. Maybe it was just the excitement of the festival, but part of me wondered if it was something more than that.

While Hachimura chatted away about the festival plans, I stole glances at him, admiring the way his hair fell into his eyes when he leaned forward and how he gestured animatedly with his hands. I caught myself smiling softly, feeling a warmth spread through me.

“Are you even listening?” Hachimura asked, waving a hand in front of my face.

“Uh, yeah! Totally!” I stammered, caught off guard. “Just thinking about how much fun this is going to be.”

“Right? I can’t wait!” he exclaimed, his smile infectious. “We’re going to make this the best festival yet!”

“Yeah, I’m starting to think it might be,” I said, feeling a surge of warmth.