I got swept up in the excitement of making new friends, and the idea of confessing my love suddenly felt less daunting, more like a natural step. So, with a surge of newfound courage, I blurted out, "I will do it. I'll do it at the school festival! I'll confess my love to her during the school festival"
Then came the sinking realization... Oops, did I just say that out loud?
CRAP!!
"Eh? Really?" Yozora replied, his eyes wide with surprise.
"What's with that reaction? Weren't you expecting me to say that?" I asked, my tone laced with a hint of frustration.
"Well, to be honest, I wasn't," Yozora admitted, giggling softly.
"That's my boy! You gotta have the courage to follow your heart," Kai said, patting me on the back.
"But, uh, truth is, I'm still not sure if I truly love her or not. I just don't know," I admitted, feeling overwhelmed by my conflicting emotions.
"In that case, I have a question for both of you," Kai announced, his tone serious.
"Oh, for crying out loud! Not that question again! I've answered that more times than I've had hot dinners!" Yozora groaned, rolling his eyes.
"But it's important! Kousei, it'll help you understand how the concept of love is unique for every person," Kai explained.
"Umm? What exactly are you talking about?" I asked, feeling confused.
"So, Kousei, what do you think of the idea I told you about impure love?" Kai asked, his gaze intense.
"Well, I disagree with you, so count me out on that theory." I stated firmly. "Our ideas about love are vastly different. Love is pure and it's a true feeling that comes from the heart."
"And what about you, Yozora?" Kai asked, turning to him.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm on Kousei's team, but honestly, I'm not into theories. I just want my first love to be a forever love," Yozora sighed, oozing romance. "One life, One girl, One love, One her"
From that moment on, our conversation only grew more lively and heated, as we discussed plans for my confession.
"You could always invite her for a romantic noon-time stroll during the school festival," Kai suggested, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Well nope, not happening. Kai, you forgot about Teishi Kumori," Yozora chimed in, his voice carrying a tinge of melancholy.
Suddenly, the mood shifted, like they were discussing the ultimate villain of our story.
"Who's this Kumori?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Picture Kumori as this cloudy force that's always shielding Tsuki Chan's radiance, playing the role of her involuntary bodyguard," Kai elucidated. "So, if Kumori's lurking around, getting close to Tsuki becomes a Herculean task."
"Does that mean my grand confession plan is a bust during the school festival?", I asked, confused.
"Yup! That is exactly why, we will be aiming for the day before the festival," Yozora added.
The day before? "What's the big deal about that day?", I asked
"Nothing especially grand, but it'll be our sole chance to catch Tsuki without Kumori lurking around," Yozora revealed.
"How can you be so confident about that?" I questioned, feeling perplexed.
"It's preparation day. Let me tell you how exactly it will go okay? Everyone will get chores to complete on that day except Tsuki. However, she will insist on having some too. My bet? She'll be doodling for the first-floor classroom's bulletin board, just like our junior high days," Yozora laid it out, confidently
"Art for a board? I'm lost," I confessed.
"It's our school thing. The first-year students are on the third floor, second-year students on the second floor, and third-year students on the first floor. Since this is the final school festival for the third-year students, they'll concentrate on decorating their own floor, while the second-year students will assist on other tasks. The first-year students are tasked with all the remaining decorations, including throughout the school," Yozora elaborated.
"Ohhh ok. Got it. But what if Tsuki's got a different job?" I wondered.
"Just trust me, it'll pan out as I said," Yozora affirmed.
I wanted to believe him, but I couldn't shake off my doubts.
"Solid plan, but there's a problem," Kai chimed in. "Everything will depend on the task you're gonna get, Kousei. Easy job? Bam! Confession-ready. Tough job? Problem"
Uh-oh. Kai had a point. If I was assigned a tough task, there was no way I could finish it before Tsuki, who only had to decorate the bulletin board.
"Don't worry, I'm sure luck is on your side," comforted Yozora.
Luck. That was the word I despised the most.
"Any other questions or are we out?" Kai inquired.
"Oh, I've got plenty," I admitted.
"Spill it. What do you want to know about this place?" Yozora asked.
"Tell me about this school. Honestly, I'm clueless. Got in here purely on grades. What's the deal with this school?" I asked, trying to wrap my head around it all.
Kai and Yozora exchanged a look, a silent conversation before Yozora responded.
"This place is something else. It is a beast. It's got this insane aura and enough money to make your head spin. Clubs? Top-tier, thanks to that cash flow. Don't worry about the school, it's a place of wonder, but there is a small piece of advice I would like to impart upon you. You may come across some unsavory sights, things you'd rather not see, and you may be tempted to get involved. But, I implore you, let wisdom be your guide and look the other way."
"Wait, what kind of unsavory sights?" My curiosity was piqued.
"Really? I tried to be scary as possible but you still wanna know? Ah, the shady side of things," Yozora continued, "hidden depths of this school. But since you're asking..."
I leaned in, eager for some insider info, and boy, did I get an earful.
The evening passed in a haze as we bid our goodbyes, my mind reeling from what I'd just heard.
The next day, I was in for the shock of my life. Little did I know, that was just the start of a roller coaster ride.
"So, it begins," I thought to myself, "the start of all my troubles."