Autumn Festival and Baby Castella 4
In the city where Sōma and his friends lived, a large autumn festival was held every November.
Known as the Ebisu festival, its origins were a festival to pray for a good harvest and prosperity in business to Ebisu, one of the Seven Gods of Fortune.
This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.
However, today, such purposes are almost a mere formality, and the event has become simply walking down the main pedestrian street, teasing the stalls, heading to the Ebisu Shrine, throwing in some money, and returning.
Perhaps in the depths of the Ebisu Shrine, a serious and sacred ceremony is being performed, but Sōma didn’t know, nor was he interested.
For him, the festival was all about enjoying the atmosphere and browsing the stalls.
“It’s been two years since I last went because I was studying for exams last year. It feels a bit nostalgic.”
It was past six o’clock, and the day had completely turned to night.
In place of the sun, the lanterns lined up on both sides of the pedestrian street were lit up in red.
The lights from the various stalls were also shining brightly, and it might even be brighter than during the day.
The endless festival music flowing from the old speakers tied to the telephone poles, combined with the bright and festive atmosphere, filled the air as Sōma waited with Shōhei at the starting point of the pedestrian street for Chika and Miki to arrive.
“I made sure to go last year too.”
While watching the people walking towards the shrine, his best friend said with a bit of pride.
“Shōhei, do you like festivals?”
“Well, I like them quite a bit.”
“Is that why you suggested we all go to the festival?”
When he had proposed such an idea during the baby castella conversation, it was honestly surprising.
Normally, he would have said something like, “Why don’t you and Satomi-san go together?”
Suggesting that the four of them, including Miki and him, should go together was something he had never imagined.
As he stared at him intently, Shōhei showed a slightly troubled face and scratched his neck.
“Ah… well, yes and no, I guess.”
He spoke as if he had something stuck in his teeth.
“What’s that supposed to mean? I don’t get it.”
“Well, actually—”
Just as he was about to say something, they were interrupted.
“Sorry to keep you waiting!”
Chika arrived, waving her hand energetically.
“There are so many people! It’s so lively and bustling, it’s really exciting!”
“Huh? Where’s Saito?”
Miki, who was supposed to come with her, was nowhere to be seen.
“Miki-chan will be a little late.”
“You managed to come here all by yourself. Everything okay?”
Chika was a beauty that ten out of ten people would call beautiful.
Walking alone in the festive mood, it wouldn’t be strange if some unscrupulous folks tried to hit on her.
“Don’t worry! When I showed them this, everyone quietly walked away.”
Chika proudly showed a yellow egg-shaped object.
“You brought that nostalgic thing, huh?”
It was a personal alarm that she used to carry around every day when she was in elementary school.
“I managed to come to the meeting place while defending myself!”
“That’s great. Well done. Good, very good.”
Sōma then pats the head of his classmate, who puffs out her chest with pride.
“Are you making fun of me by any chance?”
“Not at all. I think it’s amazing that you managed to come here all by yourself in such a crowded place and even fended off any advances. I’m just surprised because you used a method I, as a high school student, would never have thought of. Yeah, that’s some incredible creativity.”
“I still feel like you’re kind of making fun of me…”
As Sōma continues to pat the sulking Chika’s head, Shōhei, who seems to have made up his mind about something, steps in between us.
“Hey, I have a favor to ask you two.”
“A favor?”
“What might that be?”
Sōma and Chika both turn their attention to him.
“Could you guys create a situation where Saito-san and I can be alone together?”
“…I see, so that’s why you suggested we all go to the festival.”
“Um, what do you mean by that?”
Sōma catches on immediately, but Chika, still not understanding, tilts her head with a question mark floating above it.
Leaving her aside for the moment,
“Got it. I’ll keep it in mind. But you know that Saito is always glued to this girl. I can’t promise that I’ll be able to get you two alone.”
“I know. I’m not asking you to force anything. I don’t want to push it too far and end up really bummed out.”
Chika, still not grasping the conversation, continued to alternate her gaze between the two boys.
“――Hey, Chikaー”
While this is going on, Miki arrives.
“Ah, Saito-san, you’re here.”
Shōhei is the first to approach her.
Sōma started to follow but was stopped by Chika grabbing his arm.
“What was that request from Kikuchi-san earlier?”
“You really don’t get it?”
“I wouldn’t be asking if I did.”
He paused for a moment, considering what to do. Chika was too close to Miki, but Shōhei’s request required her cooperation.
“Don’t tell Saito, okay?”
“To Miki-chan? Yes, I understand.”
“Make sure you keep it absolutely secret. If you break this promise, I’ll give you a serious lecture for three hours.”
“I’m not the kind of person who breaks promises lightly.”
After emphasizing this strongly, he explained why Shōhei had made such a request.
“Shōhei likes Saito. So, he wants to create an opportunity to be alone with her and close the distance between them.”
“…!”
Chika’s beautiful eyes widen in shock.
“Um, this ‘like’… does it mean in a romantic sense?”
“That’s right.”
“Ah… that’s… such a thing…”
As Sōma nodded, her surprise grew, and her mouth opened and closed in shock.
“You look like a goldfish.”
Seeing a stall with goldfish scooping nearby, he couldn’t help but make that comparison.
Actually, Sōma had faintly suspected that Shōhei might have feelings for Miki.
It started last month when Miki, who didn’t know the address to Sōma’s house, asked Shōhei to show her the way to the Ichinose residence.
As Miki said at the time, there was no need to go as far as giving directions. A simple screenshot of the map with a mark on it would have sufficed.
Yet, Shōhei chose the more troublesome method of guiding her himself.
One might think that Shōhei wanted to play with Sōma or was after the sweets Sōma was making, but that day Shōhei didn’t play a single fighting game with Sōma, nor did he touch the soufflé Sōma made.
If that’s the case, there must be another reason.
Could it have been――
Looking back, he seemed to be having a great time playing fighting games with Miki.