The cafe grew in size as two other groups joined them to form a bigger place. Now it could seat around forty people. Flower pots and a simple fence would border its area as Rigaku had seen the design beforehand.
One corner occupied the kitchen where all meals and snacks would be made. The cafe had to be close to the building since it needed fridges to store ingredients and run machines.
Three students, two girls and one boy, led the whole group and were thrilled for the cooperation. Promoting each other's stall would benefit all of them. The duo in charge of meals worked immediately on the design of the promotional sandwich.
While munching, Kagetsu helped them with sketching it, settling on cutting the top bread with a cookie cutter and filling it with vegetable, cream cheese, or anything else the customer could order as an extra. The cut bread would then form small sandwiches, using everything for widening their menu.
Poor Kenta got almost a heart attack when Rigaku dragged him into the cafe with a quick idea of offering the customers to listen to short stories or poems. However, they didn't need to persuade him for long to agree. This was the best advertisement their Literature Club could gain.
The idea of sale or special offer tickets spread like wildfire, and leaders of groups came to discuss details. They soon settled on customers picking a random ticket from a magic hat or getting it for using specific service.
Before the day ended, Rigaku worked on the collaboration of almost ten stalls, supporting each other. That included short life music performance in the cafe every hour, winning price tickets in three game corners, and exchange for buying products.
"This is going to be hard." Rigaku sighed, almost cursing his quick thinking, but ultimately he couldn't wait. None of the Summer Fests did this collaboration, so he hoped for it to stay. "I need to make sure it runs perfectly like Sweden clocks."
The evening had come, signaling the end of the first preparation day. Freya stretched her body.
'What a day!' A wide smile spread across her face.
Last time she skipped the entire event, but now she could see how amazing this fest could be. All around her, as far as she could see, stood half made stalls. Some needed only a few touches to be finished, and other needed days of work like theirs.
Looking back at theirs, she was proud of their hard work. They did only the base since they spent half of the day discussing the collaboration with others. The noblest students looked at them with disgust since they didn't want to participate in meddling with commoners.
Surprisingly, Nobu Mori tried nothing towards her this time. The Student council Head even promised to promote this chain of stalls from the podium where most of the live performances took place. Regardless of the differences, Rigaku kept his poker face, having a calm conversation.
'I need to check some stalls too.'
She strolled down the road, getting back to the entrance. Along the way, she had seen a place offering quick portrait, a game of tossing rings, a future takoyaki stand, and the famous Cat Coffee near the school fountain.
The pegs marked where each table would go and how many chairs would be around it. There had to be enough space for waiters and waitresses to pass and customers to move.
In one box, laid decorations with cat heads and paws, including plastic flowers, boxes for napkins, and packages with plastic utensils and plates. All of it would be then recycled.
Even when the number of students halved, the air was still full of laughing and murmur. Freya closed her eyes, listening to the chaotic song.
\\_(''>_<'')_//
Aiyoku unbuttoned his shirt. "It's so hot!" He dripped a handkerchief in water, rubbing his chest and face. The sun would set a few hours later, but by now, he was drenched. Not a single cloud gave them the needed shade. Thankfully, the forecast expected more clouds by tomorrow noon.
He checked his fingers, finding several plasters over scratches and cuts. Kagetsu kept snickering every time he hurt himself. This time it wasn't him being clumsy like in childhood.
No matter how far his hands were from perfection, he loved every single cut. 'The feeling of hard works is so...' His fingers twitched as he closed them, giggling. "It hurts a bit."
Even he stopped to close his eyes to listen to the outside murmur. Going through several school festivals, he could tell this one would be the best. Last time he was always a model for a shop, luring cute girls inside for a cup of tea and snacks.
'Those were fun times, I suppose.' He opened his eyes. 'But this is better.' He traced the platform with his fingertips.
His eyes glanced a movement among the trees, so he narrowed them to see who it was.
'Ueno-san?'
Remembering her recent behavior, he followed her. She kept her distance from them, doing nothing that would hinder them. Even the preparations for the Fest proceeded fluently. No group experienced problems beyond minor injuries, adjustments to the original plan, or tripping over equipment.
'Where is she going?' Missing the gracefulness of a ninja, Aiyoku made noise as twigs and leaves crumbling under his every step.
Yet Ueno failed to notice him, heading forward.
'What is that place?' The blonde boy peeked from behind a tree, eyeing the old hut which the girl entered. 'It's far from the festival.' He stood up, looking back, but the trees blocked his vision.
His head snapped back, as for a moment, he had heard a shout. He sprinted forward, expecting to see Ueno in pain. A thick twig snapped under his feet the moment Ueno's hands lifted a black furball.
He stopped dead on his track, and the girl looked over her shoulder, calling, "Freya-cha—" Her voice died as she saw the last person she wanted to see, standing behind her.