The Prefectural Tsudaka Cultural Festival is very famous in the surrounding area and even in the entire Tsuzen City. Even though it is not the weekend yet, many people from outside the school have already come to visit.
The majority of them are college students with nothing to do.
With the intention of maybe getting to know some of the handsome guys, Haixing's hot girl friends left the classroom early and blended into the crowd in the school atrium.
And she was forced to stay, replacing one of her friends, and responsible for providing drinks to the audience who came to watch Class E's homemade movie.
"Am I alone?"
With the last line, the actor, who was walking alone in the wilderness, suddenly stopped, turned around and stared at the camera.
Then, the camera zoomed out, lifted up, and slowly moved up to the blue sky.
After a pause for a few seconds, the screen turns dark.
The End.
The originally quiet classroom suddenly became filled with coughs and whispers, accompanied by the sound of chairs moving.
Staring at the projection screen where the production list was scrolling, Haixing could not help but sigh even though he had watched it several times.
Is this the script written by Kazuyo? It’s clearly promoted as a doomsday theme, but the actual content is too stream-of-consciousness.
I can't understand it at all.
Snap, the lights in the classroom were turned on, and the audience left one after another. Lunch break was approaching, and this morning’s screening ended here.
Starfish stretched.
There were ice cubes and various drinks in the foam box in front of me. In the whole morning, only a few bottles were sold, and the operating income was just over 500 yen.
Only fools from outside the school would buy the drinks here, she murmured in her heart.
Because these drinks are no different from those bought from the vending machine at the end of the corridor, but the price is fifty yen more expensive.
She also didn’t think Class E’s homemade movies were interesting enough to make the audience reluctant to leave for a minute.
In the final analysis, this is just a group of students entertaining themselves unwillingly.
During the cultural festival, the classroom of Class E was turned into a temporary theater. Because some equipment was piled up, the front door was closed and the back door became the only entrance and exit.
Starfish looked over there, thinking about his next plan, and suddenly noticed a small commotion near the back door.
Then, she saw Hikaru Takigawa, who was greeting people and squeezing in.
It turns out to be light.
Are you here to find friends in Class E?
Starfish closed the lid of the foam box, counted the morning's sales again, and then threw the few coins into the change jar originally used to hold cookies.
"Starfish——"
Eh?
She raised her head, and Hikaru Takigawa came over, "You are indeed in the classroom."
"Ah, um."
Starfish looked at her blankly.
"Is the work over?"
"It's over..."
"That's great." Hikaru Takigawa smiled, "Let's go to the cultural festival."
"..."
Did she hear it wrong?
"Eh?"
More than half an hour later, the two of them finished shopping in the atrium filled with stalls and arrived at the bottom of the annex building.
"Ah, wait a minute."
Takigawa Hikaru held a half-eaten crepe in his hand, "It's better to finish eating before going in."
Haixing looked at the unfinished crepe in his hand and nodded.
The benches in the atrium were already overcrowded, and the two of them sat down next to the flower bed.
Takigawa Hikaru looked around, the smile on his face never stopping. Starfish bit the crepe and looked at her for a while, "Hikaru."
"Huh?" She turned around.
"No, that..." Haixing hesitated for a moment, then said: "Why did Guang invite me?"
Takigawa Hikaru smiled, "Because Haixing seems to be more relaxed."
"Is that so?"
"That's it."
But she just came to Class E clearly as if she was running after her.
A small piece of cream fell off the crepe. Hikaru Takigawa licked his fingers and said casually: "Chunhai asked me to go to Class E to see the condition of the starfish, so I..."
"..."
This is the point!
Hearing her mention Naruse, Haixing subconsciously looked up at the third floor of the main building, only to see him lying by the window in the corridor, looking down.
She squinted her eyes and her vision became clearer.
He is not looking here.
Lying by the window, just because you are bored?
Haixing looked away, and was just about to continue asking Takigawa Hikari why he asked her to come, when he lowered his head and saw a familiar figure in the crowd.
It’s Shangzi.
She seemed to have just come out of the main building. After walking a few steps into the atrium, she turned and looked upstairs again.
Haixing raised his gaze and saw Naruse waving to Naoko and pointing in one direction.
Shangzi walked over there and stopped in front of the crepe stall. There was no one around, so she quickly bought a crepe.
Naoko raised the crepe and waved it to the upstairs with a smile on her face. Naruse raised his hand, then turned around and disappeared from the window.
During the whole process, Haixing kept watching from a distance, not even noticing the call of Hikaru Takigawa next to him.
"...starfish!"
"Ah." She suddenly came back to her senses.
Hikaru Takigawa looked in the direction she was looking at, "Did you see your friend... Hey, isn't that Naoko?"
She stood up directly: "Shangzi——"
As soon as Shangzi took his first bite of crepe, he heard the call and quickly noticed them.
"Light, starfish."
She walked over and seemed a little surprised by the pairing of the two of them, but didn't ask anything.
"Isn't the crepe delicious?" Hikaru Takigawa said with a smile.
Shangzi also smiled, "Yes."
"Harunami accidentally knocked over his lunch box, so I gave him my share, so I can only use this to fill my stomach."
"The lunch box was spilled? Are you okay?" Hikaru Takigawa asked.
"It's okay, it's just a small accident."
"That's good. Sit here."
Shangzi sat down between the two of them, and the three of them ate crepes together.
"How is the situation at the handicraft club?"
“There are many people coming to visit, it’s very lively.”
"Great, Haixing and I happened to be visiting the cultural festival. Let's go there with Naoko later."
"Okay."
When Naoko came over, she had the largest amount of crepe left in her hand. Takigawa Hikari and Haixing finished eating and waited for her for a while.
"Is it enough?" Hikaru Takigawa asked, "The teppanyaki noodles over there are also delicious, Haixing and I have both tasted them."
Shangzi smiled and shook his head, "No need."
"Shangzi's appetite is really small."
She patted her cheek gently: "I feel like my face has become a little rounder recently..."
"Ah, Naoko, are you losing weight?" Hikaru Takigawa reached out and touched her, "But I think the fleshy ones are cute too, so I think it's just right now..."
Starfish watched silently.
Along the way, she was used to seeing Hikaru Takigawa touching and touching the girls she met.
"Okay, let's go to the handicraft club."
"Yeah."
In the annex building, which mainly houses the club room, there are countless places to visit during the cultural festival. However, Naoko still had something to do when she went back, so Takigawa Hikari decided to accompany her back to the club room first, and then slowly visit the other clubs. p>
Climbing up the colorful stairs and passing through the corridor where even the floor was painted in various patterns, the three of them arrived at the handicraft club.
"Hi, good afternoon everyone~"
Hikaru Takigawa strode in, as if he had returned to his own club, and greeted him warmly, but quite a few people responded.
"Light!"
"Takichuan, why are you here?"
"Come over here and see what I've been working on for a month."
The eyes of some of them turned around on her, but stayed longer on Shangzi who came back with her.
During the cultural festival, the layout of the handicraft club room was also greatly adjusted. In order to facilitate visitors, the original long tables and the small tables made by members were gathered in the middle of the club room, forming an approximate oval.
With its shape, visitors only need to walk around to see all the works.
After saying hello to Takigawa Hikaru and Haixing, Naoko walked in through the gap in the corner of the oval and returned to his seat.
The two of them walked and watched, stopping from time to time to chat or observe carefully. They stayed in the handicraft club for more than ten minutes before leaving.
"Shangzi, we are going somewhere else."
Shangzi smiled and waved, "Bye."
I wonder if it was her misunderstanding, but Takigawa Hikaru and Haisei left together, seeming to have taken away the lively atmosphere in the club room with them.
No...
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a few glances directed at him, and Shang Zi pursed his lower lip.
This is not an illusion.
"That first grader Hikaru Takigawa is really popular."
Someone sat down next to her, "Speaking of which, she seems to be this flower's childhood sweetheart?"
"Yes." Shangzi didn't even raise his head.
Seeing her cold reaction, Takahashi Tomoyo also turned cold and said, "Don't make any mistake, she is the popular person, not you."
Naoko turned to look at her with a calm attitude, "I don't think so, Takahashi-senpai."
"I thought you had become a little more honest recently, but it seems that you still look down on us seniors in the club."
How could she look down upon her? If it weren’t for the so-called senior who was always looking for trouble, she wouldn’t even look at her...
There is no way to say this.
Takahashi stared at her, "Why are you laughing?"
Shangzi smiled slightly, "It's nothing."
She stared at her for a while, "Don't be too arrogant, this flower, do you think I don't understand why you brought Hikari Takigawa here with you? Don't you just want to say that you have someone to support you?"
Prejudice is really harmful, Shangzi thought.
"I just came here on my own."
Takahashi sneered, "Yes, of course she came here on her own. As long as you give a little hint, of course she will come over on her own initiative. Just like the method you used with those boys - pretending to be bullied
You look like that, even if you don’t say anything, they will take the initiative to stand on your side... dirty bitch."
Is the reason here?
Shangzi couldn't help but glance at her.
This should be the truest statement from the heart, right?
Before she was targeted, she really had no interest in the emotional life of this senior member of the club, and naturally she had no idea who Takahashi was interested in.
The problem is that in the handicraft club, there seem to be many boys who are interested in her, although she treats everyone equally.
It’s really troublesome...
It is clear that the only thing he cares about is Harumi.
"You've been guessed, do you have nothing to say?" Seeing that she was silent, Takahashi took the initiative to provoke her.
Naoko shook her head and held back her impatience, "Senior Takahashi thinks too much."
Takahashi still sneered.
She looked left and right, and accidentally caught a glimpse of the director, Ritsuko Sugiyama, who was looking over here, and suddenly thought of something.
She leaned closer and lowered her voice: "Ritsuko gave you a guarantee to become the next minister that day, right?"
"..."
Shangzi looked over immediately.
Takahashi made no secret of his pride, "Want to know how I learned about this?"
Shangzi looked at her without saying anything.
"Because Ritsuko didn't just say this to you." Takahashi smiled, "Ritsuko likes to strike a balance in the club, and you should be very clear about this, so she also chose a successor from my side.
.Do you want to know who this person is?"
Shangzi is still silent.
Regardless of whether this matter is true or not, she understands that as long as she shows the slightest concern, she will be greeted by Takahashi's intensified ridicule.
"It's so boring."
She didn't speak, and Takahashi quickly turned cold, "Don't worry, it was just a joke. Ritsuko likes this flower very much. You are the only candidate in her mind to be the next minister. As for Ritsuko, I promise you this
Qianjia happened to hear it in the toilet."
She suddenly patted Shangzi on the shoulder.
"No, how can you do such a private transaction so casually? At least check to see if there is anyone else in the cubicle."
Shangzi looked at the hand on his shoulder, then at her, and finally said: "I don't understand what the senior is talking about."
"You——"
Takahashi suddenly changed his color, but he calmed down quickly, "It's okay if I don't want to admit it. I understand, it's not a glorious thing. However, Ritsuko left the position of minister for Ika, and as a senior member of the club, I also want to give it to him.
There is a little 'surprise' left for the younger generation."
She thought about it and decided not to reveal it now.
"This flower will also go to the celebration party the day after tomorrow... No, you have to come. I will announce it then."
Shangzi looked at her, unable to show a trace of worry as she wanted.
She was just tired of being harassed and provoked all the time.
"Takahashi-senpai has stayed at my place for too long."
Takahashi frowned, "What do you want to say?"
"What I mean is that it is not easy for the senior sister to make the paper apple tree stand up again without changing the original design by her own efforts. We should pay more attention to that now."
"..."
Takahashi suddenly stood up.
The surrounding eyes gathered together, she glanced quickly, then bent down in front of Shangzi, staring at her with a vicious look, squeezing out a sound from her throat.
"What do you really want to say?"
Seeing the shock and panic that could not be concealed in her eyes, Shangzi suddenly smiled.
She guessed it right.
"Stay away from me."
"..."
"Ah!" An exclamation made most members of the handicraft club and visitors cast their gaze over.
Tomoyo Takahashi squeezed out from the narrow gap between the two tables, almost knocking the exhibits on the table to the ground, but she did not look back and left the clubroom with a sullen face.
Holding on to her precious work, Suzuki Kazumi carefully straightened the crooked table, responded to the many faces looking at her with a helpless smile, and then glanced at Naoko.
Among the first-year club members, Naoko is the only one who dares to face that evil-looking senior sister, right?
"Hemei, are you okay?" She even had time to comfort her.
"It's okay."
Kazumi shook her head and stood up to straighten another unmanned table that was knocked crooked.
"Shangzi..."
Shangzi smiled slightly, "I'm fine too."
Kazumi nodded, sat back down, and remembered the conversation the two had while taking out the trash yesterday afternoon.
If you persist for two more days, as long as you survive the cultural festival, everything will get better...
On the other side, Takahashi Tomoyo, who left in a hurry, kept walking and came to the atrium.
In front of the corridor connecting the main and auxiliary buildings, there is a large open space, and the paper apple tree, this year's annual work of the Handicraft Society, is placed in the center of the open space for everyone to visit.
In order to avoid unexpected situations, a cordon has been set up around the paper apple tree. Visitors can only stand outside and are not allowed to touch the work directly.
This has never happened before.
But there has never been such a tall handmade work before.
As the main designer and the only "contributor" who made it stand up again, Takahashi could only stand on the outside of the cordon and watch.
Inside the cordon, in front of the paper apple tree, an introduction sign was erected.
【Paper Apple Tree·Tsumae High School Handicraft Club Annual Works
Designer: Tomoyo Takahashi
Material: 100% waste paper
For the sake of environmental protection, this work is assembled entirely using the principles of structural mechanics, without using any glue or other connecting materials.]
Takahashi stared at his work and bit his fingers unconsciously.
"How did she know... No, even Ritsuko didn't know about this, and it's impossible for her to find out..."
She kept looking for various reasons, trying to dispel the doubts in her heart, but Naoka Naoko's expression as if she had already known everything was like a shadow that never went away.
"This matter is related to the reputation of the entire handicraft society. She dare not tell it... Whoever tells it will be the sinner of the handicraft society."
A sharp pain suddenly came from her fingertips, which brought her back to consciousness.
Takahashi looked at her hands. In order to wash off the super glue that she accidentally got on during her previous "work", several of her fingers had been severely damaged, especially her left thumb, which even had bloodshot eyes. If...
What if Ika Naoko uses this matter to blackmail her?
She looked at the tall paper tree in front of her.
Because the evidence is conclusive, he will have no power to fight back.
In addition, she had insisted on retaining her original design against all objections. If this happened, she would never be able to hold her head high in the handicraft club.
"..."
Takahashi bit his finger unconsciously again.
Being crushed by this flower Naoko in the club would definitely be more uncomfortable than dying.
"Absolutely... don't."
People came and went around her, and she didn't know how long she stood in front of the paper apple tree until the school radio suddenly sounded.
"Dear teachers, students and guests, this is the end of the first day of the Tsuzen University Cultural Festival..."
Listening to the radio, Naruse leaned back, and Hikari Takigawa next to him turned his head.
"It's over."
"Yeah."
"Thank you for your hard work today~"
"So is light."
Takigawa Hikari stretched his body and said, "There will be another person on duty tomorrow. You can go to the cultural festival as you like."
Naruse smiled and said, "I'm really looking forward to it."
"Yeah~"
The two packed their things and separated. Takigawa Hikaru went to find his sister, while Naruse waited for Naoko who came from the club, and then left the school together.
When dusk deepens and turns into night completely, most students leave, and the campus of Prefectural Tsuga becomes completely quiet.
Until a certain moment, a flash of fire flashed and smoke shot into the sky.