Be careful with the laid-back beauty who took a liking to me. Otherwise, it will be too late! - Chapter 40: Things I Want You to Know

Chapter 40: Things I Want You to Know

It was decided that seven classmates would go to the summer festival together. It’s probably the first time since becoming second-year students that we gathered outside in such a large group.

We bought some food from the stalls and found a place to eat, chatting as we enjoyed our purchases.

“Wow, Mai Sakura, you’re going to run for the student council president in the second term?”

“Yeah, as of now, there aren’t any candidates, so if no one runs, I’ll probably be the president. But what’s troubling me are the other positions. Most of the student council members are underclassmen, so I hope some of my classmates will run too.”

I wasn’t participating in the conversation between Shiina and Mai Sakura; I was just listening, but for some reason, Mai Sakura was looking over here.

When I tilted my head in confusion, Mai Sakura smiled and subtly waved me over, so I decided to approach her.

“Hinata, join the student council. You helped out when we were in middle school, right?”

“Uh, yeah, but I’m not joining the student council.”

“I see. Koga, would you join?”

Somehow, Mai Sakura was now inviting Saya, who was next to me, eating cotton candy.

“Absolutely not… I don’t want to be in Oohara Mai Sakura’s student council.”

Saya said this while starting to eat her cotton candy again, and Shiina seemed to have figured out the nature of Mai Sakura and Saya’s relationship.

“That’s too bad. But if someone says they want to join, let me know.”

After finishing the discussion about the student council, the topic naturally shifted to Asahi and Maruyama, who were getting excited about something.

“Hey, Hinata, do you want to buy anything else?”

Saya, who ate faster than anyone else, tugged at the hem of my shirt.

“Got it. I’ll go with you.”

I didn’t want to let Saya go off alone, so I said this, and she smiled happily.

“I’m going to check out some stalls with Saya.”

Not wanting to leave without saying anything, I informed everyone, and I caught a glimpse of Takasaka grinning at us.

It seemed they thought we wanted to sneak away together. That’s not what I meant, though.

“Have fun—feel free to stick together!”

As we moved away, I heard Maruyama’s words from behind us.

“Hehe, they think we’re sneaking off. Hinata, are you ready to buy a ton?”

“Huh, how much are we buying?”

Takoyaki, grilled rice balls, yakisoba, cotton candy, and candied apples—Saya had finished everything before I knew it, so how much more could she possibly eat?

“Isn’t summer festival all about eating on the go? Didn’t you know that?”

What kind of reaction was that, as if I was the one who didn’t know? It was just obvious to them.

“What do you usually eat at a summer festival, Saya?”

I rarely eat when I go to summer festivals. When I was younger, I would eat and play games, but as I grew older, I stopped doing those things, and now I just wander around looking at the stalls.

“Definitely grilled rice balls. I always eat those.”

“Right, that’s what you were eating earlier. I might want to eat some too since it’s been a while.”

“Yes, you should definitely eat some! Oh, Hinata, I want fries.”

(Today, she’s eating a lot… Oh, wait, is that…?)

While Saya was buying fries, I spotted someone familiar from behind.

I was thinking of calling out to them since they were alone when they noticed me and waved as they approached.

“Hey there, Kawai-kun. Saya-chan is… wow, she’s eating a lot!”

The person who said this was Chisato, the manager of the café “AMAOTO.” She mentioned that she had just parted ways with an acquaintance.

“Chisato, do you want some fries?”

“Oh, can I? Thanks!”

Since it would be in the way of passing people if we ate where we were, we decided to move to a less crowded spot before eating the fries.

“By the way, did you two come together?”

I thought Saya would answer Chisato’s question, but she was too busy enjoying her fries.

Wait a minute. Didn’t she just have fries? Now she’s buying takoyaki too.

It seemed she bought them while we were moving.

“No, we’re with a few friends.”

“I see. Saya-chan told me you two started dating, right? Tell me some sweet stories, won’t you~?”

“Sweet stories?”

I wasn’t sure what to say since I had never bragged about it to anyone before.

While I was at a loss, Saya, having finished her fries, opened her mouth.

“I went to Chinatown, a food tour spot, with Hinata the other day. It was awesome!”

Saya said this with a proud smile, but what Chisato wanted to hear wasn’t about food.

“Huh, did you eat the panda cream puffs? I want to go too!”

“Yeah, I recommend going… everything was delicious, right, Hinata?”

“Yeah, everything was really good.”

“Is that so? I might go next time. Oh, by the way, I have a great place to recommend to you both. I think Saya will absolutely love it.”

With that, Chisato told us about a place she thought Saya would like.

After parting ways with Chisato and returning to where the others were, I saw them playing games and having a great time.

“Come on, Saya, join us!”

Maruyama beckoned to Saya, inviting her to join.

While everyone was having fun, I noticed one person was missing. Looking around, I spotted Mai Sakura sitting alone a little distance away.

(Is something wrong with her…?)

Feeling worried, I walked over to Mai Sakura, who looked up when she noticed me approaching.

“Are you tired from the crowd?”

“! W-How did you know…?”

Mai Sakura said this, averting her gaze from me.

“I can tell; we’re childhood friends, and I’ve known you for a long time.”

“…I’m not good with crowds. But today is fun, and I’m glad I came to the summer festival…”

She watched the people enjoying the festival with a happy expression as she spoke. Then, as if she had made a decision, she looked at me with a serious expression.

“Hey, Hinata… You don’t need to respond, but I want you to know this. I like you.”