I arrived at school earlier than usual, making sure everything was in place. Today was the first day of our festival, and our fantasy cafe was ready to open. My notebook was filled with checklists, hourly plans, and every little detail organized down to the minute. I made sure to remind everyone of the schedule, although… I might have gone a bit overboard.
"Okay, everyone, listen up!" I called out as my classmates gathered around me. I held up my notebook, reading over the timeline. "We open at exactly 09:00 hours, and our first break will be at 10:45. We'll be running rotations in 30-minute intervals, and let's make sure everyone gets their tasks done with maximum efficiency. Each shift change is logged right here, so no one should go over their allotted time."
Ayumi raised her hand, trying not to smile. "Um, Reina… what's '09:00 hours'? And why are we talking in military time?"
I blinked, glancing back at my notes, my face warming up a little. "Oh… right. I mean, 9 a.m. Just… normal time." I quickly flipped the page, deciding not to explain the military language I'd accidentally slipped in. It was just easier to be precise, that's all.
Everyone chuckled, and I heard Kaito whispering to Hana, "Our commander's all set to lead us into battle." They laughed quietly, but I ignored them, determined to stay focused.
The first hour went smoothly, even better than I'd expected. Students and teachers started trickling in, drawn by the rumors about our cafe. Ayumi had worked magic with the decorations, transforming the classroom into a cozy, whimsical space that felt like a scene from a fantasy novel. The gentle fairy lights, soft music, and warm tones created a perfect atmosphere.
I stayed near the back, watching everything unfold. It was oddly satisfying to see people enjoy the space we'd all worked so hard to create. Some of the teachers were even leaving with smiles and compliments, telling Kaito and Hana how impressed they were with the setup.
"You guys did a fantastic job," one teacher said to Ayumi. "The atmosphere here is so unique! You should all be proud."
Kaito caught my eye and gave me a thumbs-up. "See, Commander? They love it."
I nodded back, my heart lifting just a little.
A few visitors even requested to meet me, though I stayed in the background. I wasn't exactly thrilled about being the "face" of this project. Besides, it was enough to see that people were genuinely enjoying themselves.
About halfway through the morning, a familiar face appeared at the door—no, actually, several familiar faces. My mom, dad, and little brother Hiro all stepped into the classroom. My heart skipped a beat as I watched them take in the scene. My parents exchanged proud looks, while Hiro was already racing over to inspect the menu.
My classmates noticed immediately. Kaito leaned over and whispered loudly, "Uh, Reina, is that… your family?"
Before I could respond, my mom waved at me with a grin. "Reina! Look at you, running a whole cafe!"
I felt my face heat up. "Mom… it's not… I mean, we're all doing this together."
But she just smiled, clearly proud. My dad nodded approvingly, glancing around at the decor. "This is amazing, Reina. You've done a great job. I didn't know you had a knack for this sort of thing."
My classmates looked at me, some of them with raised eyebrows. It wasn't every day they saw me interact with my family, and they seemed surprised at how different I was around them.
Ayumi leaned over, whispering to Kaito, "She looks like a little kid in front of them. It's kind of adorable."
Hiro tugged on my arm, grinning up at me. "Reina, are we going to get a special discount?"
I rolled my eyes. "You know it's already free for family, Hiro."
"Awesome!" Hiro shouted, already digging into the snacks on the table. My classmates laughed, clearly entertained by how Hiro seemed to mirror some of my studious habits. Well, I supposed it was true—he did spend a lot of time with me studying.
I watched my family enjoy the cafe with a strange sense of happiness. For once, I wasn't just the "weird space girl" but part of something everyone else could see and appreciate. My mom even took a photo of me with my classmates, despite my protests, saying, "This is a memory, Reina. One you're going to want to keep."
As the afternoon wore on, the cafe continued to stay busy, with a constant flow of students and teachers coming in and out. The fantasy theme was a hit, and the word spread quickly through the school. I was glad to see everything running smoothly and efficiently, just as I'd planned.
Then, in the evening, our "final boss" arrived.
The principal walked in, accompanied by a few teachers, including a few from other schools who had come to see what the fuss was all about. I quickly lowered my head, hoping I wouldn't have to do much talking. But I could feel my classmates nudging me forward, whispering encouragement.
"Reina, come on, it's the principal. You should say something."
I finally stepped forward, keeping my gaze down and mumbling, "I'm glad you could all visit. We hope you're enjoying it."
The principal chuckled, clearly amused by my awkwardness. "Reina, I've heard a lot of good things about this cafe. You've done an incredible job as the leader of your class. You should be proud."
I tried to muster a response, but all I could manage was a nod. I could feel the heat in my cheeks as I kept my gaze fixed on the floor. My classmates knew me well enough to recognize this silence for what it was: pure, unfiltered embarrassment. They were used to my quietness by now, so no one pushed me to say anything more.
After a few more words of praise from the teachers, they left with smiles, satisfied with what they'd seen. I felt a strange mix of relief and pride, glad that we'd managed to impress them.
As the sun began to set, it was time to start cleaning up for the day. I took charge again, giving everyone their assigned tasks to make sure everything would be back in place for Day 2.
"Alright, let's keep it organized. Ayumi, you handle the decorations, make sure everything's still secure. Kaito, take care of the tables, wipe them down, and stack them neatly." I paused, glancing at my list, mentally ticking off each item.
Kaito rolled his eyes playfully. "Commander Reina strikes again."
I ignored him, determined to stay focused until the end. We all worked together, cleaning and reorganizing the space until everything was back in place. It felt satisfying, knowing that we'd put in a full day's work and created something memorable.
As we finished up, Ayumi patted me on the shoulder. "Good job, Reina. We're lucky to have you leading this."
I managed a small smile, feeling a warmth in my chest that I couldn't quite explain. Maybe… maybe this festival was more than just a distraction. Maybe it was something special, something I'd remember long after it was over.