Chapter 102: Beautiful Girl, Finishes the Cultural Festival

The sound of my alarm woke me up.

I slowly reached out and turned it off.

The room was chilly, and the temptation to stay wrapped in my blanket was strong.

I hadn’t been able to fall asleep last night… Once it sank in that Ryouji and I were officially a couple, I got so excited I couldn’t sleep. Even now, just remembering what happened yesterday makes my face burn bright red.

I lightly slapped my cheeks—pat pat—to pull myself together.

If I stay this mushy, I’ll end up forgetting my lines again. And since we’re keeping our relationship a secret from both my family and my friends for now, anyone who doesn’t know anything would just think I’m some suspiciously giddy weirdo.

It’s not like we have to keep it a secret, but… I mean… announcing it feels embarrassing, and I can’t bring myself to say anything.

For now, I’ll just wait until someone asks.

After getting ready, I stepped outside.

Ryouji was already there waiting with his bike.

“G-good morning… Ryouji.”

The moment I saw his face, heat rushed up my neck and I got all nervous.

I’ve been way too aware of the fact that we’re dating now, and I can’t even look at him properly.

“Hey. Morning, Ayumi.”

While I was busy malfunctioning on the spot, he greeted me with his usual calm expression.

Is it seriously just me who’s embarrassed!? Why does he look totally fine? I wondered—until suddenly clatter! His bike tipped over onto the road.

Ah… so he is flustered.

Feeling like I’d just scored a tiny victory, I couldn’t help smirking a little.

“I—I mean, come on! I can’t look straight at you! Once I start thinking about it, I can’t handle it!”

Ryouji hurried to lift his bike—only to drop his school bag right after. The usually composed Ryouji was clearly falling apart.

After brushing the dust off his uniform, he cleared his throat with a small ahem.

“Well then, shall we go? My princess?”

“Uh, I’m playing the village girl, though.”

“I can’t believe you hit me with a deadpan response after such a cheesy line…”

Ignoring his sudden wave of disappointment, I sat sideways on the back carrier of his bike.

“Alright, let’s head out.”

“Okay.”

I grabbed the back of his uniform.

Hmm… actually, since we’re dating now…

I wrapped my arms around his torso and hugged him tightly.

“Uh… Miss Ayumi?”

“What?”

“My energy level just shot through the roof!”

He yelled that and took off with a sudden burst of speed. The cool morning air whipped past us as we rode. It wasn’t anything special, but just being together like this made me so happy.

Even after arriving at school, I stayed in a great mood.

Moeka-chan and Sakurako-chan kept glancing at me with big grins. They’ve… definitely figured something out. It’s embarrassing, but I’ll tell them properly later.

But as the time for the Miss Contest approached, even my excitement started turning into nerves.

Since this is our second performance of the play, I’m confident that part will go fine. But standing in the way before that is the Miss Contest—and that part is a huge pain.

Even though my feelings for Ryouji are finally clear and the fog inside me has lifted, I’m still introverted and get nervous easily.

Ugh… why did I ever submit an entry for this thing? I wish I could go back in time and physically tackle my past self. While I was busy whining internally, less than thirty minutes remained before the contest. I really needed to head to the venue.

“Ayumi-chan! Do your best!”

Moeka-chan cheered brightly.

My classmates followed with calls of “Good luck!” and “You’ll definitely win!”

“Y-yeah…”

With the whole class looking at me with such warm encouragement, there was no way I could say something like Nope, I’m backing out.

I had no choice but to brace myself.

“You’ll be fine! If it’s you, Ayumi-chan, you’re totally getting first place. And even if you don’t win, nothing bad will happen, so don’t worry.”

I nodded at Sakurako-chan’s reassurance.

I don’t have to win. I just need to take it easy. And during the contest, all I have to do is a simple interview and a short comment on stage. It’ll probably be okay… probably.

The gym was filled with an intense, almost overwhelming energy.

All the Miss Contest participants had arrived, including Student Council President Mitsui-senpai.

We’re in different grades, so I don’t see her often, but her bold—almost outrageous—personality has earned her a bit of a legendary reputation among the underclassmen.

“Oh my, Ayumi-san. It’s been a while.”

I hadn’t expected her to remember my name, so I froze in surprise.

“I never forget the names of cute girls. Never.”

“Ah… yes. It’s been a while, Mitsui-senpai.”

She was the same as ever, but I made sure to greet her properly.

By the way, at Mikawa High, the student council president is replaced right after the cultural festival ends. So for now, she’s still the president.

There were fewer Miss Contest participants than usual, and as for first-years, I was the only one. I knew that beforehand, but… how did it end up like this? Honestly, it makes me feel like I didn’t need to enter at all.

“Are you feeling uneasy because you’re the only first-year?”

“Fweh!?”

Why can she tell exactly what I’m thinking? Why are there so many psychic-level people around me!? Do my emotions really show that clearly on my face?

“Hehe. It’s written all over your face—so easy to read.
But of course no first-year would enter. After all, you are participating.”

“E–ehhh?”

“With you entering, no one can possibly win. Anyone who still shows up is just a silly little fool.”

Um, “silly little fool”—her wording is as sharp as ever. And based on that logic, doesn’t that make Mitsui-senpai a silly little fool too…?

The second- and third-year participants looked over with sharp gazes. Well, obviously. She just suddenly called people “silly little fools.” Feeling intimidated, I shook my head quickly.

I’m not thinking anything! I’m not arrogantly imagining I could win or anything reckless like that!

Everyone gathered here is beautiful, with better style than me. There’s absolutely nothing about me that would guarantee a win.

“Even if a cute, cutesy type entered, she’d explode the moment she stood next to you. It’s impossible.”

She keeps reading my mind so casually.

She’s supposed to be from a well-off family—maybe she actually mastered some kind of mind-reading technique?

“Say, Ayumi-san.”

Mitsui-senpai suddenly made a serious face and gently lifted my chin.

“Today, you’re wearing a truly lovely expression. Lovely enough that even I might get jealous.”

Having someone do the chin-lift thing—something I’ve only seen in shoujo manga—was surreal.

And to think it’d happen with a female senior. Shock froze me completely.

Senpai leaned closer toward my face—

“Oh dear… what a tragedy. This scent… This is the smell of someone who’s been claimed by a bad bug.”

She said it with dramatic disappointment.

Do I really smell like Ryouji that strongly!? Just from the bike ride!?

“If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve made a move sooner.”

She sighed wistfully. Honestly, she’s such a hopeless person. If she’d just stay quiet, she’d be a flawless beauty—a top student and a perfect Yamato Nadeshiko.

“Hehe, just kidding. Whether you or I win today… who knows? I’m looking forward to it.”

With that, she stepped away from me.

“Next, Entry Number Eight—Ayumi Sakuraaa! Please come on stage!”

Following the announcement, I climbed up onto the stage.

A wave of applause filled the venue.

Oh no. This is a completely different type of nerves than acting… I don’t even know what I’m supposed to say! Isn’t this even harder than the play!? Thinking about it now, the person before me was clearly reviewing her speech! Am I seriously the only one who came in with zero preparation!?

“Sakura-san, that’s some amazing cheering! How does it feel standing up here?”

“H-heep! I—I’m super nervousss!”

I somehow managed to stop my voice from cracking. The weird intonation had slipped out because of nerves, and I wanted to sink through the floor.

From the audience, I heard shouts like, “You can do it!” and “You’ve got this!” They were cheering like I was some struggling little child. It was mortifying. I felt like I might actually die of embarrassment. And if I died here… who would play the lead in the play?

“Your nervousness is very cute and refreshing! Let’s ask a few questions.”

The interviewer was a second-year girl wearing a Cultural Festival Committee armband.

“First question. Sakura-san, what are you good at?”

And so began a kind of self-introduction-style interview.

Thankfully, she didn’t ask anything difficult, and little by little, I eased into the atmosphere.

Favorite foods, daily habits, recent hobbies, things I wanted—light, personal stuff. Some questions were even similar to the ones I answered when I first entered the contest, so I could handle them easily.

I glanced at her flipping through her cue cards; it looked like only a few questions remained.

I’d made it this far without incident. Hopefully, it would end smoothly.

“Sakura-san, I hear you’re also the lead in your class’s play. Did you volunteer for the role?”

“Um… no. I didn’t volunteer.”

“A recommendation, then? If you don’t mind, could you tell us what made you accept the lead role?”

“Well…”

I took a moment to think.

At first, I really didn’t want to do it. I wasn’t good at standing in front of people. I always just followed along with everyone else and never did anything on my own initiative.

But everyone gave me the role and cheered me on, so I decided I had to try my best.

I wondered if maybe… I could change too. That’s why I tried to give my all as the lead in the play.

That’s how I answered the interviewer’s question.

“I see. Then for our final question. You performed the play once yesterday—how did it feel? Do you think you changed?”

Right. A lot had happened, but I truly enjoyed doing the play—the rehearsals, the performance, everything.

So I answered her final question with a big, bright smile.

“Yes! I messed up a little bit, but… I think I was able to act in a way that didn’t even feel like me!”

The interviewer froze for a second, her eyes widening.

As I stared at her, wondering what had happened, she jolted back to life and hurriedly looked down at her cue cards.

“Th-thank you very much! Sakura-san, you may return to your seat!”

When she finished, the audience erupted into loud applause.

“Good job, Ayumi.”

All the interviews for the contestants were over, and as I headed from backstage to the bleachers, Ryouji called out to me.

“Hehe, really?”

Relief washed over me, and the corners of my mouth relaxed into a smile.

The results of the Miss Contest would be announced at 2 p.m. Until then, we’d be busy eating lunch, promoting the play, and running around everywhere.

“Ayumi-chan! Ayumi-chan! Let’s go get lunch!”

Moeka-chan and Sakurako-chan, who had been waiting just like Ryouji, joined us, and the four of us headed off to eat together.

Two o’clock. Whether I laughed or cried, the results were about to be announced.

I stood onstage again with the other contestants. Even though I knew there was no way I’d be chosen, I couldn’t stop myself from getting nervous.

“Now then, we will begin announcing the results…”

The seniors were called one by one.

Wait… I still haven’t been called!? Before I knew it, we were down to the last three.

And then someone else—someone who wasn’t me—was called again.

The only ones left were Mitsui-senpai and me.

“In second place: Kyoko Mitsui!”

A roar of applause burst from the audience. If senpai is second, then…

“In first place: Ayumi Sakura!”

Ehhhhhh!? I froze in shock.

My heart legitimately felt like it was about to leap out of my body. Or maybe it actually had leapt out and I was just hallucinating. I couldn’t tell anymore.

“Wow, what a surprising result!”

You’re telling me! I’m more shocked than the festival committee is!

“Now then, let’s have our first-place winner, Sakura-san, step forward!”

The venue filled with applause once again.

Instead of joy, an overwhelming wave of embarrassment hit me. I still couldn’t believe it.

“Sakura-san, congratulations on winning!”

“Th-thank you very mush!?”

I bit my tongue so hard it echoed in my soul.

“How does it feel to be the winner?”

“Um… honestly, I still can’t believe it…”

Even now, I barely believe it! I’m still convinced this is some kind of hidden-camera prank!

“We’ve heard that Sakura-san alone earned over fifty percent of the total votes. Incredible! Now, please give us a final comment!”

I hadn’t expected this outcome at all, so obviously I hadn’t planned a comment.

They were asking me to improvise—the thing I’m worst at. But I had to say something. Think, think, THINK—!

“Um… to everyone who voted for me, thank you. I mean, I really wonder if you’re sure it should’ve been me, but… I’m happy. Thank you so much!”

As the words left my mouth, the realization finally began to sink in, and I found myself smiling naturally.

Once again, the venue erupted in applause.

The cultural festival really did give me so many good memories.

“Oh, right! After this, my class is performing our play, so please come watch!”

I didn’t forget to make the announcement everyone kept telling me to say.

For some reason, the applause grew even louder.

The play after the Miss Contest had far more guests than on the first day.

This time, I didn’t forget any lines. I didn’t trip, either.

Class 1-A won first place in the performance category.

Everyone in the class was overjoyed. I don’t know if the Miss Contest results helped, but even so, having everyone’s hard work recognized made me truly happy.

And just like that, my chaotic first cultural festival came to an end.

Starting tomorrow, life would return to normal. And I knew those days would be fun, too…