Chapter 126: Cultural Festival ③

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Translator: Soafp

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In the end, we joined up with Kokoa and the others and headed for Class 2-4, where Airi was.

Nodoka narrowed her eyes and asked Kokoa,

“…Don’t tell me you were waiting here because you predicted we’d be coming to Airi-senpai’s class?”

“Ehh? I don’t even know who Airi-senpai is~.”

“…”

She definitely waited here on purpose.

Well, it would probably become a good memory for both Kokoa and us, so I didn’t really mind.

Honestly, she could’ve just asked me to show her around from the beginning.

Then again, maybe she just wanted to surprise me.

“U-Um… I look forward to your guidance…”

Ayano awkwardly bowed to me.

She was probably being swept along by Kokoa’s pace.

From her perspective, I was practically her boss now, so it was only natural that she’d feel uncomfortable.

Whether Kokoa genuinely didn’t realize what Ayano was feeling, or was simply pretending not to, she innocently pointed ahead.

“I think it’s over there!”

Before we knew it, we’d arrived in front of Class 2-4.

Perhaps because their attraction was so unusual, the crowd gathered outside was much larger than at the other classrooms.

We joined the end of the line.

However, the student handing out numbered tickets stared at us in shock the moment she saw Kokoa.

“Huh? W-Wait… are you from Jirai-chan Syndrome…?”

“Yep! I’m Kokoa!”

“Y-You’re really her! I’m a huge fan! I’m so happy!”

Before long, people started crowding around Kokoa again.

…Since this was a school full of young people, it seemed plenty of them recognized her.

Being a popular idol really was exhausting.

(Still… the difference in popularity between her and Ayano is way too big.)

Just like in my class earlier, nearly everyone flocked to Kokoa while completely ignoring Ayano.

Sometimes people even mistook Ayano for Kokoa’s assistant—or just an ordinary visitor.

This situation was becoming a real problem…

While I was thinking that, the line moved much faster than expected, and soon it was our turn.

“Oh… this is more elaborate than I expected.”

Inside, students dressed as warriors stood in formation on both sides, wearing armor, helmets, headbands, and carrying imitation swords.

The costumes weren’t incredibly elaborate, but they looked much more convincing than I’d expected.

Since the classroom wasn’t very large, they’d reduced the number of pieces compared to a normal shogi board.

Our guide began explaining.

“You may already know the rules, but let me give you a quick explanation of how shogi works!”

Apparently, we’d play as the actual shogi players, while the students dressed as the pieces would move around the board.

There was also a turn limit, and if we spent too long thinking, the guide would offer hints.

After all, the main attraction was the performance itself.

(Airi’s playing the attendant.)

She was wearing a white kimono decorated with floral patterns.

As expected of Airi, even among the other girls playing attendants, her beauty stood out immediately.

Even the opposing team we’d be facing couldn’t stop staring at her.

Airi noticed me looking and turned my way.

Without making a sound, she slowly exaggerated each movement of her lips.

“I… love… you.”

In an instant, every male student playing the warriors glared at me.

Even the ones on my own side.

At this rate, they were going to stage a mutiny.

The announcer raised his voice.

“Now then… let the match begin!”

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Since there were fewer pieces than usual and a turn limit, the match ended much more quickly than I’d expected.

To be honest, the acting was a little awkward in places, but for me, it was a fresh experience and a lot of fun.

“Ahh, that was so much fun!”

Kokoa stretched with a bright smile.

Nodoka nodded in agreement.

“Honestly, regular shogi makes me kind of sleepy, but this wasn’t like that at all!”

“Now I’m curious what real-life human shogi is like, aren’t you, Nono-san?”

“Yeah! I was thinking the same thing!”

As the two of them chatted excitedly, Yui smiled at me.

“Ren, you’re actually pretty good at shogi, aren’t you? I didn’t expect you to win so easily.”

“No, it’s not that I’m good. They were just really inexperienced. It didn’t even seem like they fully understood the rules.”

“Come to think of it, you always liked light novels about shogi too.”

“Yeah. That series got me interested enough to look up the rules.”

Just like with mahjong…

I really had been ridiculously easy to influence back in middle school.

“Ren-kun.”

The moment Airi stepped out of the classroom, she walked over and naturally wrapped herself around my arm.

Apparently she hadn’t changed clothes yet, since she was still wearing the same kimono.

“Done with your shift?”

“Yep. So? How did I look? Was I cute?”

“Yeah. You kind of stood out from everyone else.”

“Hehe, really? You know… I kind of liked being moved around by your commands.”

I hadn’t been paying special attention to Airi in particular…

But there was no reason to say that out loud.

Airi slowly looked me over from head to toe.

“You look wonderful in your butler uniform too, Ren-kun.”

“Really? I don’t know… it feels like I’m all dressed up in clothes that don’t suit me.”

“Maybe that’s true. You’re not the type who serves others, Ren-kun. You’re the type others serve.”

“…”

That’s… not what I meant.

Before I could respond, Airi lightly kissed the corner of my lips.

“I’m your attendant alone, Ren-kun.”

“O-Okay…”

There were so many people around, yet she did it so openly.

Then again… knowing Airi, she probably did it on purpose.

Sure enough, Nodoka immediately clung to my other arm.

“U-Ugh… I-I want to kiss Ren too, but doing it in public is way too embarrassing…”

“You don’t have to force yourself.”

“When you say that, it just annoys me enough that I feel like I actually could.”

“…Why?”

What kind of logic was that?

Kokoa smiled warmly.

“Fukagawa-senpai, you’re really popular.”

“Well, he’s Ren-kun.”

“Yeah. He’s Ren.”

Airi and Nodoka answered almost simultaneously.

But I had no idea what they meant.

Had the two of them somehow convinced themselves that I’d always been popular with girls?

Nodoka asked,

“Where should we go next?”

“Ah, wait a second!”

Kokoa suddenly interrupted.

She took out her phone and rapidly typed something.

A moment later, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

Apparently she’d sent a message to our group chat.

Nodoka and Airi both pulled out their phones and looked at the screen.

Aya-chan says she has something she wants to tell Ren-sama directly!

Hm?

She wanted to tell me something?

What was it?

When I looked at Ayano, she flinched and quickly looked away.

…Did she really have something she wanted to say to me?

Kokoa hadn’t forced her into this, had she?

As that concern crossed my mind, Airi typed a message into the group chat.

Then I know a place where no one should be around. Let’s go there.