It is finally here. After a month of practice, hard work and preparation, the opening of the foundation festival has now begun. The food stalls, different booths, lively clubs, and sounds of instruments.
The first day of the famed Fuyumizu Foundation Festival. Today's events are the opening ceremony, battle of the bands, and booth and food stall openings. The cheer dance competition that we practiced for will be held on the second day of the festival.
We are gathered in the gymnasium for the principal's words through the mic,
"On this day, the 16th of September marks the opening of the 50th Fuyumizu High Foundation Festival. We are gathered here today to celebrate this momentous occasion for our school. May we all have memorable experiences in the 3 days of this festival and of course let us all enjoy it."
As soon as the principal said her words, the gymnasium lit up from all the screams of celebration from the students. This was one of the more awaited events in the school, students ran to get out of the gymnasium to get in line for food stalls that were about to open.
Most students were lining up for the famous Yatsu Barbecue stand. The owners of this store enrolled all their children to Fuyumizu, thus it's known throughout the school. And yes, this is Ramil's family barbecue restaurant.
I went to class to help with the costume making and noticed that Astrio wasn't there. Dean told me he went to class C. I was asked to pick him up from there to help with costume making.
I reached the class and asked a student to call Astrio for me. As he was calling him, my eyes widened as I saw them talking and smiling. I can't explain it but I felt pretty surprised. There was another feeling but I'm not sure what this is.
Astrio went out because of my call and I asked him, "Since when were you guys talking?"
"Just last night, I offered to help her with you. You like her too don't you?"
"I-I don't."
His eyes lost color and face went pale. I felt the sudden change in his emotions and tension of the atmosphere. He stopped talking as I looked at him surprised with his reaction.
We reach our classroom, "there you are Astrio, where have you been?" Arby asked Astrio while he was working very hard on the costumes.
"The mystic wizard requested my presence, I had to partake in the discussions regarding the black emperor." Astrio said with his hands in front of his eyes and his legs spread apart for his pose.
His chuunibyou tendencies are showing again.
While the class prepared the costumes, sweat was falling from them. The intricate patterns on the costume were heard to see and paint. Even though the other first years helped us, it was still difficult to produce results.
While this was happening, the battle of the bands was about to begin. I wanted to go to cheer for Marco and Miguel. I asked to take my leave and went to the gymnasium for the event.
-Gymnasium-
The order of performance was chosen by draw lots. The 2nd years will perform first. The song of their choice was "Sankanaction" by Shin Takarajima.
Some of the students and teachers in the gymnasium sang with the second year's as they're up beat rock tunes kept the audience fazed. Their performance was very enjoyable to say the least.
Up next, the 3rd years were called to perform on stage. The song of their choice was an original composition by their vocalist, the title was "Deviating Night."
As soon as they started, you knew it was going to be a good performance. The gymnasium lit up with light sticks from the audience. It wouldn't be exaggerated to say that the composition was as good as a professional's.
After their performance, the audience gave them a standing ovation. The whole gymnasium echoed with all the clapping.
"Last but not the least, we have the first years. They will perform "Racing into the Night" by Yoasobi."
They started off strong but midway in the Performance, Marco the guitarist lost the tempo and strummed too fast which made the performance out of tune. The band was able to recover but it was too late. The damage was already done.
The crowd was entranced by the performance. The performance was happy, lively, and youthful. Even if they didn't get a standing ovation because of their mistake, the audience applauded their efforts as the band cried on stage for their mistake.
I went backstage to congratulate them on the good performance and I saw Marco crying to his members. He prostrated himself and apologized again and again.
To him, the band wasn't just a band, it meant everything to him. It was his PASSION and his LIFE. It's his goal as either the lead or rhythm guitarist to perform a legendary song that surpasses all songs.
To perform a great guitar solo by using every technique the world knows and to be the best rhythm guitarist is his ultimate dream.
The award ceremony will be held on the 3rd day of the festival so the first and second day is where the competitions will be held. Although it was obvious who was first in the battle of the bands. The battle for second place was still unclear since it looked like a close fight.
I decided to leave because the band was having their moment and I finally decided to buy food from the stalls.
I was going around these stores to find something to eat. Wherever I go there was already a long line in every stall. I decided to sit in the grass and wait for a line to shorten. That's when,
"Haha."
I heard the laughing of a familiar voice. A beautiful feminine voice that lit up the skies as I saw her, her voice alone made a clear path of bright light. It was her.
I saw Yarah walking about in the lively yard. I was about to say hi when I saw Astrio right behind her, they laughed as Astrio treated her to some food stalls. I wondered when they got this close.
Then and there, I felt a slight pain in my chest, something quite heavy as a few folks might say. In my mind I knew what this meant, her kindness, housework skills, generosity, caring nature, and joyful aura. If seeing Astrio and her together makes my chest feel these things, it seems I might've fallen slightly in love.
This can't be, right? I've already fallen for someone else, so why? Why does it hurt when I see these two right before me? I feel so deprived even when I've already fallen once. I irked at the thought of them together. I felt as if I'd lose something very important.
Yarah noticed me standing in the middle of the yard and pulled me toward her with her smile leading me through the crowd. Her kindness just kept giving me internal conflict as I started to question if this was really okay.
I decided that it is not, I firmed my resolve to let go of her. I decided to lead her by the hand instead and took her to the back of the school.
"I'm sorry." I told Yarah blatantly as she looked at me all surprised.
"W-what's the matter Glenn? You're acting all weird." She replied.
We started talking and I told her that I already have someone and asked her forgiveness for not telling her sooner. It seems she didn't know about Winter.
"O-oh, I'm sorry." She said while trying to hold back her tears. She ran off to the bathroom and I was left at the back of the school alone. I decided to buy food then go cool off on the rooftop.
Astrio witnessed all of this as he looked at the two. A hint of pain stained his heart as he heard the conversation. Astrio has never felt these unknown feelings before now.
-Girl's bathroom(front)-
Astrio arrived in front of the bathroom door as he heard Yarah howling in pain. He hesitantly knocks to ask her if she was okay.
Yarah went out of the bathroom and they sat on a bench in the courtyard, "Thanks Astrio, you're a great friend."
Astrio offered Yarah a handkerchief with a slight smile on his face.
"Thank you." Yarah said as she wiped the glistening tears off of her face. Yarah stood up from the bench and made a vow that day,
"I won't give up! I won't be beaten!" Yarah shouted as few tears fell off her face while Astrio supported her cause. They started to plan on Yarah's next move on Glenn.
-School's rooftop-
Glenn looks at the empty skies while feeling bad about what happened. He was eating the barbecue he bought when all of a sudden, the door of the school roof slowly opened. The creepy sound of the opening door gave Glenn chills and once he looked behind him, it was.... Winter.
She walked quickly toward Glenn, stopped, and....
*slap*