"Onii-chan, Onii-chan, are you even listening?" Natsumi tugged on my hand, her voice rising over the bustle of the festival.
I blinked, shaking myself out of my thoughts. "Ah, yeah, sorry. What were you saying?"
She huffed, puffing her cheeks in a pout. "We're supposed to be heading to Ai-Onee-chan's cat café, remember?"
I smiled and patted her head. "Yeah, let's go. Sorry, I got distracted."
She looked up at me, a hint of worry in her eyes. "Onii-chan, is it… about that day?"
I brushed off the thought quickly, forcing a light chuckle. "Nah, nothing like that. Don't worry about me. Let's just enjoy the festival today, okay?"
Natsumi's smile returned, though her gaze lingered for a second. "Alright, but remember, I love you. You can tell me anything." With that, she grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the stalls, her energy boundless.
The school festival was in full swing. The air was filled with the tantalizing smell of grilled meat and fresh noodles, mixing with the sweet scent of candy apples and chocolate. Laughter and lively chatter echoed around us, while a soft, festive tune played over the school speakers, giving the day a cheerful, bustling energy. Everywhere you looked, students in festival attire were manning booths or walking with friends, excited for the festivities. I just hoped there wouldn't be a sudden demon attack to spoil the fun. We'd worked hard for this festival, and it felt like we deserved at least one day of peace.
"Onii-chan, look!" Natsumi tugged on my sleeve, pointing at the food stalls. "They have yaki-soba, hot dogs, and tapioca drinks! Can we get something?"
I laughed at her enthusiasm. "What do you want?"
"Actually… let's wait. We're supposed to eat at Ai-Onee-chan's café, right? Oh! Let's do goldfish scooping instead! Look, they're giving away teddy bears if you catch more than five!" Her eyes sparkled as she pointed at the sign hanging above the booth.
"Alright, alright," I said, chuckling. "Let me show you my skills. I'm not just some random guy who fights demons, you know."
"Yay!" Natsumi jumped in excitement and dragged me toward the stall.
We paid our 100 yen and I was handed a poi. As I started, I quickly caught one fish after another, each scoop smooth and precise. The paper net stayed intact as I focused on my task, goldfish wriggling in my hand before I gently dropped them into the bowl. Soon, a crowd began to gather, whispering in amazement. Natsumi cheered me on, clapping every time I caught another fish. By the time I was finished, I had caught around twenty of them.
The stall owner handed over a large teddy bear, and Natsumi hugged it tightly. "Onii-chan!" She tugged on my arm again, pulling me down so our faces were close. Her cheeks were flushed as she kissed me lightly on the cheek. "Thank you for winning this for me. I'll keep it close to my heart forever."
I grinned. "It's yours. Now, shall we go meet Ai?"
"Yeah!" she nodded eagerly, holding onto her new teddy bear like it was her most prized possession.
As we walked through the festival grounds, the sounds and smells seemed even more vibrant. Students and visitors crowded the stalls, and distant laughter drifted from other classes' activities. Natsumi pointed at a haunted house set up by the older students, but we continued on our way to our class's café. The anticipation in the air was palpable, and the day seemed like it would only get better.
Finally, we reached the cat café. The door jingled softly as we entered, and the interior was cozily lit, with soft pastel colors and low, soothing music playing in the background. Ai, dressed in a cute cat-girl outfit complete with fluffy ears and a tail, greeted us with an energetic, "Goshujin-sama, welcome to our café, meow!"
I froze for a second. Ai's costume was… perfect. The way her cat ears flicked and the swish of her tail—it was almost too much.
Natsumi quickly noticed my stunned reaction and pouted. "Stop staring, baka! Come on, let's sit down."
Ai blushed lightly but led us to a table, trying to act professional. We sat down, and I couldn't help but glance around. Other girls in similar cat-girl outfits moved between tables, their playful "meows" and giggles blending into the café's cozy atmosphere. The place was packed, and the energy was lively but relaxed.
As I scanned the room, I spotted someone unexpected. "Mayuri?!" I called out, and she jumped in surprise.
"YES, SIR!" she barked out, her usual military-like tone catching me off guard.
I blinked. "Wait, you're participating in this? I didn't think you'd be into a cat café."
Her face twisted into a grimace. "I'M NOT! AI FORCED ME INTO IT!"
I looked over at Ai, who gave me a sheepish smile. "Well, you look great, Mayuri," I said with a thumbs-up, trying to encourage her.
Mayuri's face turned a deep shade of red, but before I could say anything more, Natsumi whacked me on the head. "Ow! What was that for?"
Both Natsumi and Mayuri spoke in unison, "Baka!"
I rubbed the back of my head in confusion, and Natsumi folded her arms. "You didn't say Ai-Onee-chan looked good!"
Realizing my blunder, I quickly turned to Ai, taking her hand gently. "Ai, you look absolutely adorable. I'm the luckiest guy in the world to be your boyfriend."
Ai's face flushed bright red, and she promptly fainted.
"AIIIIIIIII!" I yelled, leaning over her.
When she came to, still blushing furiously, I chuckled awkwardly. "You okay?"
She nodded slowly, muttering, "Just… don't do that again in front of everyone."
I smiled. "Promise."
Mayuri, looking relieved, chimed in, "You guys can leave if you want. I'll take over here."
Ai's eyes lit up. "Really? I can go? Yay!" She hugged me tightly in excitement.
Natsumi immediately latched onto my other arm. "Hey, Onii-chan is mine!"
Ai smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? How about we settle this with a competition? Whoever gets more scared in the haunted house and get the most clingy to Asahi will win."
Natsumi narrowed her eyes at Ai, and the two of them glared at each other, sparks practically flying. "You're on!"
"Wait, hold on, do I get a say in this?" I asked, feeling like a lamb being led to the slaughter.
"Absolutely not!" they shouted in unison.
Sighing in defeat, I stood up. "Alright, let's do this. See you in *Chapter 8*."
"WHAT?!" they both shrieked, glaring at me.
END OF CHAPTER 7