The first few weeks of festival planning were… intense. I never imagined myself as a "leader" for something so social. I kept thinking back to the moment Ayumi and the others asked me to step up, and somehow I couldn't refuse them. It wasn't a decision I'd expected, but here I was, poring over ideas and jotting down plans.
At first, I approached it methodically, like any other academic project. But it wasn't long before I realized there was so much more to it than a simple schedule and task list. People were depending on me, and they wanted this festival to be special. With each meeting, each brainstorming session, I could feel their excitement building. So I began to take it seriously, treating it as another challenge—like solving a difficult math problem or figuring out how to align a telescope perfectly.
"Reina! Do you have a theme in mind yet?" Ayumi asked one afternoon, leaning over my desk with a bright, eager smile.
I tapped my pen thoughtfully on the notebook in front of me. A theme. Something that would work for everyone. For a second, my mind went blank, like I was caught between two worlds: my usual world of science and logic, and this new one of entertainment and creativity.
"I was thinking… maybe a cafe with a twist?" I ventured. "But we'd need more. It can't just be a regular cafe, right?"
Ayumi's eyes lit up. "Oh, like a food stall! And maybe some kind of entertainment?"
I nodded slowly, piecing it together. "Right. We could make it feel like an experience—different from a normal classroom. Something that feels a little… magical."
The rest of the class murmured in agreement, and I felt a spark of excitement. Ideas were starting to form, bit by bit. That night, after school, I went straight to my lab, threw open my notebook, and began sketching a rough outline of what this "magical cafe" could look like.
I thought about the colors, the decorations, the kind of music that could play. Even the lighting—it all had to be just right. At one point, I found myself considering tablecloth textures and menu designs, the sort of things I'd never thought I'd care about. But somehow, I did.
The next evening at home, my family got involved too.
"Reina, what's that you're working on so seriously?" My mom's voice broke through my concentration, making me look up.
I hadn't realized just how much of the dining table I'd taken over with my papers, sketches, and scribbled notes.
"Oh, it's… it's for the school festival," I mumbled, slightly embarrassed.
My dad raised an eyebrow. "A festival? And you're in charge? That's new."
"They wanted me to lead it," I said, shrugging. "So I'm trying to come up with a theme that everyone will like. It's not really my thing, but…"
My little brother Hiro chimed in, grinning. "Ooh, are you going to make it all space-themed?"
I shook my head, though part of me wanted to do just that. "Not exactly. I was thinking of a cafe, food stalls, maybe some performances? I want it to be something everyone will enjoy, even if they're not into… you know, planets and stars."
My mom smiled, stepping over to glance at my notes. "Why don't you try a theme that's both cozy and exciting? Like… a fairytale or fantasy world. Cafes can have different themes, you know."
That idea stuck with me. I jotted down a few more notes and decided on a whimsical, fantasy-inspired cafe. Something that would feel like stepping into a different world, if only for a few minutes.
The next day in class, I presented my ideas to everyone. This time, I was prepared to explain each part, confident that they'd see my vision.
"Alright," I began, raising my voice a little to get everyone's attention. "So, here's the plan. We're doing a fantasy-themed cafe, with food stalls and entertainment. I'll be managing most of the setup and decorations, but I'll need everyone's help too."
I noticed a few surprised glances; they weren't used to seeing me speak up so confidently. Normally, I kept my head down, answered only when asked, and focused on my studies. But this felt different. I had a goal to accomplish, and I wanted it to be perfect.
Kaito, one of my close classmates, raised his hand, a smile spreading across his face. "What kind of food are we serving, then? Just drinks, or…?"
I considered this. "We'll serve some basics for the cafe, but I was also thinking we could have bento boxes for people who want something more substantial. And maybe, for the people who just want snacks, we could have small take-out options?"
Kaito's face lit up. "Hey, Hana and Ayumi, we could make those bento boxes together! I've got some ideas for flavors and designs."
Ayumi nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! And we can make them look like fantasy characters, like knights or dragons."
The whole room filled with laughter and excited whispers as people started throwing around ideas. It was a strange feeling, seeing everyone so animated over something we'd all be working on together. In that moment, it felt like we were all connected, as if this festival was somehow more than just an event—it was our project, our goal.
Then Hana looked over at me, raising an eyebrow. "Reina, you're really into this, huh? I mean, aren't you more about… science and space and stuff?"
I hesitated, feeling a little nervous. They weren't wrong; I wasn't usually the person you'd expect to lead a class festival. "Well… yes, normally I am. But… I want to do this right. I don't want to let you all down."
Everyone started laughing again, but it was a friendly kind of laughter, warm and reassuring. They weren't mocking me—they were happy. Ayumi even reached over to pat my shoulder.
"Reina, you're doing great. Don't worry, we're behind you," she said with a smile.
I nodded, feeling a surge of confidence. Maybe I wasn't a natural leader, but I could put my mind to it, just like I did with everything else. And if that meant stepping out of my comfort zone, then so be it.
Over the next few weeks, we threw ourselves into preparing for the festival. Every afternoon, our classroom turned into a mini-workshop, with everyone bustling around with various tasks. Ayumi was in charge of decorating, Kaito was experimenting with bento designs, and Hana sketched out the menu and posters to hang up around the school.
I'd become something of a drill sergeant, raising my voice to give instructions, reminding people of deadlines, and making sure everyone stayed on task. I could feel my shyness creeping up at times, especially when I had to shout across the room. But my classmates were supportive, responding quickly and enthusiastically, and that helped me push through my nerves.
"Kaito, those bento boxes should be ready by Friday. Can you make that work?" I called out one afternoon as I checked off items on my list.
Kaito gave me a thumbs-up. "No problem, boss! I'll make them look amazing."
Ayumi rolled her eyes playfully, nudging me. "Reina, I never thought I'd see you as a leader. You're always so quiet!"
I shrugged, pretending it was no big deal. "I just want this to go smoothly. And if that means… leading, then I'll do it."
She laughed, patting my back. "It's a good look on you, you know. Maybe after this, you'll be running the entire school."
Even my family got involved again as the date drew closer. My mom and dad helped me shop for decorations, carrying bags filled with streamers, fairy lights, and tablecloths. Hiro insisted on tagging along, holding up various decorations and asking if they looked "fantasy enough."
"Reina, you should put up some stars," Hiro said, holding a pack of glow-in-the-dark stickers. "Make it feel like people are stepping into space."
I chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Thanks, Hiro. I'll see if we can add a little starlight."
My parents watched us with amusement, occasionally offering their own suggestions. In a way, it felt like they were as excited about the festival as I was.
By the final week, our cafe setup was coming together beautifully. We'd transformed our classroom into a cozy, magical space with soft lights, enchanting decorations, and themed music playing in the background. I felt a surge of pride seeing it all come together, realizing that, despite my doubts, I'd managed to pull this off.
As we put the finishing touches on the decorations, Ayumi stepped back, admiring our work.
"It's perfect, Reina," she said, a proud smile on her face. "You really outdid yourself."
I couldn't help but smile back, feeling a strange warmth in my chest. "It's not just me. Everyone here made this happen."
Hana nodded, grinning. "Yeah, but you kept us all on track. We couldn't have done it without you."
I didn't know what to say to that. I'd never thought of myself as someone who could lead others, let alone inspire them. But here we were, standing in a room transformed by all our efforts, ready to welcome people into our fantasy cafe.
The night before the festival, I sat alone in my lab, surrounded by notebooks and starlight stickers Hiro had insisted I use. As I looked over the final plans, I felt a mixture of pride, relief, and excitement. I'd taken on something completely different, something I'd never imagined myself doing, and we'd made it happen together.
Maybe, just maybe, this festival would be something special, something people would remember. And as for me… well, perhaps there was more to learn out there than I'd originally thought.
This was only the beginning.