The school was alive with energy as students bustled about, making the final preparations for the long-awaited festival. The once-ordinary halls were now transforming into a lively display of banners, fairy lights, and colorful decorations. Some students were busy arranging the festival stalls—small booths lined the courtyard, selling everything from homemade sweets to charming crafts, while others prepared fun little games to entertain the guests. The scent of freshly baked goods mixed with the crisp autumn air, adding warmth to the excitement that filled the school.
In their classroom, Axel and Emi sat together, fine-tuning their song for tomorrow's performance. Axel's fingers danced over the strings of his guitar, each chord resonating beautifully with Emi's soothing yet powerful voice. Every now and then, she would glance at him, a soft, appreciative smile gracing her lips as they fell deeper into their music. Their harmony was effortless, drawing the occasional audience of curious classmates who paused to admire their talent before hurrying back to their own tasks.
Meanwhile, near the windows, Ito and Kyomi were locked in what could only be described as an intense debate. In front of them lay a set of curtains—one with pastel-colored polka dots and another with a sleek, deep-blue design.
"I'm telling you, the cute one matches the festival vibe better!" Kyomi insisted, holding up the pastel curtains with enthusiasm.
"But cool ones give the place a refined and classy feel," Ito countered, crossing his arms. "Besides, aren't we supposed to appeal to everyone?"
"Oh? So you think 'cool' is better than 'cute'? Should I be worried about your taste in things?" Kyomi narrowed her eyes, leaning forward with a teasing smirk.
Ito blinked, suddenly aware of the trap he was walking into. "W-Wait, that's not what I meant—"
Before their playful argument could escalate, a voice cut in. "Why not mix both?" Axel suggested from his spot, pausing from his practice. "Balance is important, right?"
Emi giggled beside him. "Axel's got a point. A bit of both wouldn't hurt."
Kyomi and Ito exchanged glances, both reluctant to admit defeat. After a moment, Kyomi huffed, "Fine. But only because I like the idea."
Ito smirked. "Sure, sure. Whatever you say."
Their banter continued as they worked, but beneath it was an unspoken warmth—a closeness that even they seemed to be oblivious to.
With the festival just a day away, everyone poured their heart into the final touches, their anticipation growing with every moment. Excitement buzzed in the air, setting the stage for what promised to be a festival to remember.
As the evening deepened, the school was still buzzing with the sounds of last-minute festival preparations. After wrapping up their practice session, Axel and Emi went their separate ways—Axel joined Ito in setting up decorations, while Emi and Kyomi focused on sewing costumes for the performances.
Seated by the sewing machine, Emi carefully stitched fabric together, her fingers moving with precision. But every so often, her gaze wandered toward Axel, who was across the room helping Ito lift and position decorations. The warm glow of the overhead lights cast soft shadows on his face as he worked, his usual calm demeanor making everything he did seem effortless.
A small smile crept onto Emi's lips before she realized what she was doing.
"Oh-ho? Somebody keeps looking in a certain direction," Kyomi teased, nudging her lightly with her elbow.
Emi nearly jumped, quickly looking down at the fabric in her hands as if it suddenly became the most interesting thing in the world. "W-What? I was just checking on the decorations," she said, feigning annoyance.
"Right, right," Kyomi grinned knowingly. "And I suppose you've been checking on them every five minutes?"
Emi let out a huff, her cheeks slightly flushed. "You're imagining things."
"Uh-huh." Kyomi chuckled, clearly enjoying Emi's reaction. "But I think it's cute. And hey, it's not like he hasn't been looking at you, too."
Emi's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly brushed it off. "Just focus on your sewing, will you?"
Meanwhile, across the room, Ito and Axel were hanging up a banner when Ito leaned in slightly and whispered, "So… you and Emi, huh?"
Axel, caught off guard, almost lost his grip on the fabric. "What?"
Ito smirked. "Don't play dumb. You two have been getting real close lately. I mean, you've got eyes for her, right?"
Axel's ears burned at the comment, but he tried to keep his expression neutral. "She's my friend," he said simply, though his fingers fidgeted slightly with the edge of the banner.
Ito raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. Sure. Just a friend." He chuckled, clearly enjoying how flustered Axel was getting. "You're just as bad as Emi. Bet she's sneaking glances at you right now."
Axel sighed but didn't deny it, which only made Ito grin wider.
As the final preparations for the school festival wrapped up, the air buzzed with anticipation. The halls were decorated, the stalls were set up, and the costumes were nearly finished. With all the hard work coming to an end, a sense of relief settled over the students.
Outside, in the open field near the school, a large bonfire crackled to life, its golden flames dancing against the cool autumn night. The warmth drew in students who had just finished their last tasks, their laughter and chatter filling the space as they gathered around. The sky above stretched endlessly, a vast canvas speckled with countless stars.
Axel, Emi, Kyomi, and Ito sat near the fire, their exhaustion melting away in the glow of the flames. But they weren't alone. More classmates joined them—some bringing snacks, others dragging over benches and mats to sit on. The fire's light reflected in their eyes, a mix of excitement and pride for what they had accomplished together.
"Man, I can't believe we actually pulled it off," one student sighed, stretching out with a tired grin.
"We're gonna have the best festival ever," another added, leaning back on their hands to gaze at the sky.
Emi, sitting beside Axel, looked around at their classmates—her friends—and felt a warm contentment settle in her chest. Then, she glanced at Axel, who was quietly staring into the fire, lost in thought. A soft smile played on her lips.
Kyomi, ever the sharp observer, caught the look and nudged Emi playfully. "You're staring again," she teased, keeping her voice low.
Emi flinched slightly, turning away with a small huff. "I am not."
Kyomi just smirked. "Right. Sure."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the fire, Ito nudged Axel with his elbow. "So, Emi, huh?" he whispered, barely containing his amusement.
Axel blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "What?"
Ito grinned. "Don't 'what' me. You two have been real close lately."
Axel sighed, shaking his head, but there was no real denial in his response. Ito just laughed, enjoying how flustered his friend was.
As the night deepened, someone pulled out a guitar, and soon, music filled the air. Axel was eventually coaxed into playing, and when he strummed the first few chords, Emi naturally joined in, her voice blending effortlessly with the melody. The entire group fell silent, captivated by the harmony.
When the song ended, a wave of applause and cheers erupted, some students even whistling.
"That was amazing!" one of them said.
"Can we hear another one tomorrow at the festival?" another added eagerly.
Axel chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck, while Emi, still basking in the moment, simply nodded. "You'll just have to wait and see."
They sat in a loose circle, their faces illuminated by the dancing flames. Above them, the night sky stretched endlessly, stars twinkling like tiny fragments of light scattered across the darkness.
"Tomorrow's the big day," Kyomi said, stretching her arms behind her head. "Hard to believe we actually pulled all this together."
"We make a good team," Emi added, her voice soft yet full of warmth.
Ito poked at the fire with a stick. "It's gonna be fun, but I just know our class is gonna run out of food halfway through the festival."
Axel chuckled. "Then we better enjoy it while we can."
Silence settled between them for a moment, but it wasn't uncomfortable—just the kind of silence that came with knowing you were in good company. The flames crackled, casting gentle shadows on their faces.
Then, Emi looked up at the sky, her gaze distant yet serene. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
Axel followed her gaze. "Yeah. It really is."
And as they sat there beneath the endless expanse of stars, the quiet hum of friendship and something more lingered in the air—unspoken yet understood, like the notes of a song waiting to be played.