As the class discusses, Shiori writes in her notebook before getting frustrated and closing her notebook and laying her head down, blushing. Hikigaya notices her frustration.
Hikigaya "Hey Shiori, you okay? You seem distracted."
She sits up, a bit surprised by his question.
Shiori "What? Oh yeah, I'm fine, just… thinking."
She says shyly. Hikigaya looks confused but interested and pries more.
Hikigaya "Thinking about what? It must be pretty big if it's distracting you from writing."
He laughs as she blushes and pouts a bit. She thinks for a moment before perking up just a bit and getting a little embarrassed.
Shiori "Well, if you really want to know… I'm thinking about.. My crush."
Hikigaya "Eh?"
He is stunned as he stares at her with a frozen smile.
Hikigaya "Your… crush?"
She nods softly. Hikigaya quickly snaps out of it.
Hikigaya "Oh, yeah. Of course, just because you gave up on Ryuji doesn't mean you'd never fall in love again! Silly me!"
He bonks his head a bit as Shiori gets a little upset.
Shiori "I'm just thinking of ways I could ask him out maybe. Or just talk to him about it."
Hikigaya "Well you know I always got your back. If you need help with anything, just let me know."
Shiori "Sure, you can help me."
He looks surprised.
Shiori "By shutting up and not talking anymore!"
She shouts while throwing a book at his face, causing him to fall out of his chair. Chizuru is surprised by the act but smiles warmly.
Chizuru "You guys are so cute together."
Shiori/Hikigaya "We are not together!"
They shout while blushing as Chizuru giggles.
The class immediately begins building their set and gathering supplies, doing all the necessary prep work needed for the Cultural Festival. Soon, the day of the festival begins. Many people walk around with family and friends as the school buzzes with laughter and joy. In a second year classroom, Tsuki sits at a desk by the entrance of his class wearing a fake moustache and a top hat and cape. He sighs as he lays his head on his gloved hand.
Tsuki "This sucks…"
He says as Milo steps out from the curtain blocking the view of their classroom. The words "Magic Show!" on a sign pointing to their classroom.
Milo "Let me guess, you're bummed cause you can't be with Shiori right now?"
Tsuki "Mhm. I know I said I'd get over her but I can't help it. Her class is doing a maid cafe right now. What I'd give to see her in a maid outfit…"
He daydreams about her in one as Milo looks at him confused.
Milo "Really? I heard they were doing an all male fashion show."
Tsuki looks at her confused. In their classroom, Hikigaya, Kitaro and Touma stand next to each other in their maid outfits. Hikigaya and Kitaro look upset and not having fun.
Kitaro "This is totally lame."
Hikigaya "These costumes aren't very comfortable."
Touma "I don't know, it feels rather freeing for me."
He says while flexing in a few different poses. Suiyoubi rushes to him as he flexes his arm.
Suiyoubi "Touma! I told you to be careful! These were made as a rush job and are tailored exactly to your bodies! If you flex too much, you might-"
Suddenly, a tearing sound is heard along the sleeve of his uniform. Suiyoubi is stunned as Touma sweats.
Touma "Sorry…"
Suiyoubi sighs.
Suiyoubi "It's alright. Luckily, I thought of this. Come on."
She says as she pulls out a needle and thread while they walk to the back.
Daiki "I don't know what you guys are complaining about, you chose the designs."
Kuzan then rushes past them holding two plates of food.
Kuzan "Come on guys, these tables aren't going to serve themselves."
Haru then approaches them while looking around.
Haru "Have you guys seen Suga?"
There's suddenly some screams from a mix of girls, boys and others. There is a small crowd gathered around Sugawara who stands there embarrassed as people with heart eyes take pictures of him, saying he is super cute. The girls of the class are running the food service stand. Alice stares at Sugawara as Chizuru and Shiori plate some food behind her.
Alice "It must be hard being that cute. Not like I'd know what that's like but who cares. Not like I really care about that stuff anyway."
She says while looking forward as Hikigaya approaches the stand.
Hikigaya "Table four still needs their buns."
Alice's eyes burst into hearts as he says that shyly.
Alice "Hubba hubba! Who is this cutie?!"
She shouts with her tongue out as Hikigaya blushes and gets embarrassed.
Hikigaya "It's still me! Just give me my damn food!"
Alice hands him a small basket of buns as Shiori watches him leave, her face seems a little upset. Chizuru notices as they continue to plate food from a window behind them.
Chizuru "You okay Shiori? You've been pretty quiet tonight."
Shiori "Yeah, I'm fine."
Chizuru looks at her for a moment as she blushes a bit. Chizuru smiles smugly.
Chizuru "You like Hikigaya in the maid outfit, don't you?"
Shiori blushes harder and looks away.
Shiori "...a bit…"
She says softly as Chizuru laughs.
Chizuru "You're so cute."
In the makeshift kitchen, Ryuji cooks as Lucy and Airi help and prep.
Ryuji "Could one of you ask how many people are still left?"
Lucy nods before poking her head out of the curtain.
Lucy "What's the guest count looking like?"
Hisana steps up and looks outside.
Hisana "Uh, there's at least eight more but the line goes pretty far."
Lucy sweats a bit before going back in the kitchen.
Lucy "Hisana says the line is still going long outside."
Airi sweats as Ryuji nods.
Ryuji "I'll have to pick it up then."
He says before swiftly flipping between pans and pots while manipulating ingredients. Airi is shocked.
Airi "So fast!"
Lucy smiles warmly.
Lucy "My loving cook. Come on Airi, let's provide support!"
Airi "Right!"
They say with confident smiles before helping him cook. In the classroom, people enjoy themselves as the boys in their maid uniforms continue to serve. People take pictures with some of the nervous boys while Kuzan, Touma and Haru serve happily. After a while, things begin to slow a bit.
Chizuru "Shiori, why don't you take a break first, we can handle it here."
Alice "Yeah!"
She gives a thumbs up as Shiori nods a bit before stepping into their "break room". She sits down and exhales in relief as Hikigaya steps in. They stop when they see each other before they both blush. Hikigaya takes a seat next to her as they sit in silence for a moment.
Shiori "You look cute…"
She says with a soft, embarrassed smile.
Hikigaya "Thanks but can we not talk about me right now? This is a bit embarrassing…"
Shiori "Right, sorry…"
They sit in silence again before Hikigaya perks up a bit.
Hikigaya "Oh yeah, how about we talk about your crush?"
He asks, excited. Shiori looks at him blushing a bit but getting timid and looking down.
Shiori "Oh yeah, that."
Hikigaya "So who is he? Is he in the class or does he go to a different school, I just don't know him?"
He says with a slight laugh.
Shiori "You're so stupid."
She says disappointedly before looking back down.
Shiori "It's not like that… You do know him."
Hikigaya "Oh yeah? Well then this should be easy, unless he has a childhood crush like Ryuji did, haha!"
Shiori "Well, he sort of does. At least, Chizuru mentioned he did."
She says softly thinking back to that moment.
Shiori "Does Hikigaya have any other crushes you know of?"
Chizuru "Well he does have this crush on a girl he met a long time ago."
Shiori is shocked.
Shiori "Like a childhood friend??"
Chizuru "I guess so. But I forgot I shouldn't mention that to you so forget I said that."
She says with her tongue out and a knock on her head as Shiori sweats.
Shiori 'Although, I don't know what she meant by that…'
Hikigaya "That may complicate things… but I'm sure we can figure it out."
He says while his hand on his chin before giving her a smile.
Hikigaya "So why don't you tell me his name?"
Shiori blushes and gets embarrassed.
Shiori "Uh, well I don't really want to say that yet."
Hikigaya "Huh? But, you want my help, right?"
Shiori "Yes, I do."
Hikigaya "It'll be a little hard if I don't even know who he is. If you're worried about what I'll think, don't be! I won't judge."
Shiori "It's not that, it's-"
Hikigaya "You can tell me anything. We are bestfriends after all!"
Shiori blushes a bit at his words but focuses on the subject.
Shiori "It's not that I don't trust you, it's just more complicated than that."
Hikigaya "If you're worried our situation might affect it, don't be! I'll make it clear you don't care for me at all and he has nothing to worry about. We would never be together like that!"
He says with a smile despite feeling the opposite inside.
Hikigaya 'I don't want to help her with her crush. Does that make me a bad person? I'm not even sure why not. Could it be… I want her all to myself?'
Shiori hears his words and blushes in frustration, getting angry and upset. She gets an upset look before standing up and rushing out of the room. Hikigaya is stunned and confused.
Hikigaya "What did I say?.."
He gets up and chases after her.