The morning of Day 2 arrived quickly, blending in so seamlessly with Day 1 that it felt like we were simply continuing where we'd left off. I woke up earlier than usual, a faint buzz of excitement running through me as I prepared for the day. I wasn't entirely sure why. The idea of running a festival cafe wasn't exactly related to my interests, but I couldn't ignore the sense of pride I felt seeing everything come together yesterday.
After quickly checking through my mental checklist, I left home, arriving at school just as the first rays of sunlight crept over the building. I slipped inside, glad to find the hallways empty and quiet. As I walked to our classroom, I thought back to yesterday, picturing each moment as if I was logging it for an experiment: the unexpected compliments, the pleased faces of my classmates, my family's smiles…
And, of course, the small, quiet thrill that came with seeing people enjoy what we'd worked so hard on.
The classroom-turned-cafe looked different in the soft morning light, almost like it was waiting to come alive again. I took a moment to look around, making sure everything was in place. The tables were neatly arranged, the decorations were intact, and the little chalkboard menu by the door was already listing today's specials.
My classmates started trickling in soon after, rubbing their eyes and stifling yawns. Ayumi was one of the first to arrive, carrying a fresh box of decorations.
"Morning, Reina," she said with a tired smile. "Looks like you're ready to go."
I nodded, glancing down at my notebook. "We open at exactly 09:00 hours. Let's do a quick setup and make sure everything is ready before that."
She giggled. "There you go with the '09:00 hours' again. Reina, it's just nine o'clock."
"Right… right, nine o'clock." I mumbled, feeling the slightest hint of embarrassment. I couldn't help it—precision was part of who I was. Ayumi just laughed, giving me a playful nudge before she started unpacking the decorations.
Hana, Kaito, and the others joined us soon after, each greeting me with grins or sleepy waves. They all seemed more relaxed today, and I could see the excitement in their faces. I guess, in a way, we'd all been looking forward to this second day, especially after yesterday's success.
Kaito stretched, yawning. "Alright, Commander Reina, what's the plan today?"
I cleared my throat, trying to hide a smile. "Same as yesterday, except we'll be ready for more guests. Word spread fast after yesterday's success, so let's prepare for a bigger crowd."
Once we were all set up, the doors opened, and the steady stream of visitors began. The atmosphere was warm and lively, the room filled with the soft hum of conversation and laughter. The decorations Ayumi had added brightened up the space even more, giving it an inviting feel that made everyone who stepped inside smile.
I stayed near the back again, occasionally peeking out from behind the scenes to see how everything was going. It was oddly satisfying to watch the place fill up, to see students and teachers alike enjoying the atmosphere we'd created. My classmates were handling things well, working together seamlessly. Ayumi was taking orders, Hana and Kaito were helping with food preparation, and everyone else was doing their part to keep things running smoothly.
I didn't say much, but whenever someone had a question or needed guidance, they'd look to me, and I'd respond with quick, precise instructions. It was almost like conducting a science experiment with a team. Every detail mattered, and we all had our roles to play.
As the morning wore on, the steady flow of students began to include more teachers, some of whom had come just to see what all the fuss was about. They left with pleased smiles, and a few even stopped by to say hello.
One teacher, Ms. Tanaka, walked up to me with a warm smile. "Reina, you've done a wonderful job here. I don't think I've ever seen a classroom transformed quite like this."
I looked down, feeling a bit awkward under her praise. "Thank you, Ms. Tanaka. We all worked on it together."
She chuckled. "Well, you've certainly made an impression. And don't worry, we're all talking about how great it is. You're making us proud."
I nodded, feeling a warmth in my chest that I couldn't quite explain. It was strange… this feeling of pride that had nothing to do with my usual interests or achievements. But I wasn't about to let that distract me. I had a festival cafe to run.
Just before lunch, my family showed up, and suddenly, all eyes were on them. I hadn't exactly expected them to come today too, but there they were, smiling and waving as they entered the classroom.
Hiro ran up to me, grinning. "Reina! We came to see you again!"
I felt my cheeks warm up. "Hiro, it's only been a day. Didn't you see enough of this place yesterday?"
My mom laughed, gently ruffling Hiro's hair. "We couldn't resist. Besides, we wanted to see how you're doing today." She glanced around the room, nodding approvingly at the decorations. "You and your classmates really did an amazing job, Reina."
Hana and Ayumi were watching with wide eyes, clearly amused. Kaito nudged me with a grin. "So this is the family behind the genius, huh?"
I shot him a look. "It's nothing like that."
But my dad chimed in, his voice warm. "Reina's always been a hard worker. Even as a little girl, she always knew what she wanted. We're just here to cheer her on."
I wished I could disappear for a moment as my classmates snickered, clearly entertained by my family's comments. Even Hiro was getting in on the fun, waving at my friends and making himself at home. For a moment, I felt a bit like a little kid again, standing there with my family's support in front of everyone. But I supposed… it wasn't so bad.
As the afternoon went on, the crowd grew even larger. Our cafe was bustling, filled with laughter and conversations. I was keeping an eye on everything, trying to ensure we stayed on schedule. I reminded Ayumi to keep an eye on the tables, asked Kaito to restock the food, and generally stayed busy overseeing each little detail.
Then, just as the day was beginning to wind down, the principal returned, this time with a group of teachers, some of whom I didn't even recognize. They must have come from other schools, curious to see what we'd done.
The principal greeted me warmly, her eyes shining with approval. "Reina, you've done something truly impressive here. I've heard nothing but praise about this cafe."
I nodded, feeling my cheeks flush. "Thank you, Principal. We… we worked hard on it."
The other teachers were smiling, clearly impressed by what they saw. One of them, a tall man with glasses, nodded approvingly. "It's clear that a lot of thought and effort went into this. I can see why it's been such a hit."
My classmates watched me, some of them holding back laughter as I awkwardly tried to answer the teachers' compliments. I felt like I was back in the spotlight again, the center of attention in a way that I wasn't used to. But somehow… it didn't feel quite as overwhelming as it once had. I glanced at Ayumi, Hana, and Kaito, grateful for their support.
After a few more minutes of polite conversation, the principal and the teachers left, leaving us to finish up our day.
As the sun began to set, it was time to clean up once again. I called everyone together, quickly assigning tasks for the final cleanup.
"Ayumi, take down the decorations carefully. Kaito, please handle the tables again. Let's make sure everything's back in order for tomorrow."
My friends rolled their eyes with fond smiles. Kaito chuckled, giving me a mock salute. "Aye, aye, Commander Reina."
Ayumi and Hana joined in, laughing as they got to work. I couldn't help but smile as I watched them, feeling a sense of pride in what we'd accomplished together.
We all worked quickly and efficiently, each of us carrying out our tasks until the classroom was once again spotless. It was satisfying, knowing that we'd pulled off another successful day. I didn't say much as we worked, but I think my classmates could see the pride in my expression.
As we finally finished up and prepared to leave, Ayumi walked over, giving me a warm smile.
"Reina, you did great today. I don't think we could have done this without you."
I looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed. "It was a team effort… we all did this together."
Kaito joined us, clapping me on the shoulder. "You're right, but still… you were the one who kept us all on track. We'd have been lost without you."
I nodded, a quiet sense of satisfaction settling over me. Maybe… maybe this festival cafe had been worth all the effort. I didn't say much as we all walked out of the classroom, locking up for the night, but as we made our way down the hallway, I found myself smiling, feeling something warm and bright swelling in my chest.
For once, I wasn't just the "science girl" or the "genius"—I was Reina, part of a team, part of something meaningful. And that, I realized, was something worth remembering.