Lonely Me And The Lonely Caring Goddess - Chapter 292: The Rinka Festival Begins.

The Rinka Festival Begins.

When we reached the headquarters tent near the main gate, quite a few people had already gathered—teachers, newspaper club members, and others.

But more than that…

More than that… what the—!?

“Fueeeeh!? W-What is that line!?”

“…It’s way more than we heard.”

“…Whoa, this is clearly bigger than last year…”

“…No way… we’re already way off-script right from the start.”

I was honestly shocked too, so it was only natural everyone else let out those stunned voices.

What that line was for… well, the front of it was right at the gate. No need to guess.

Of course, it was the waiting line to enter the school festival.

But… the sheer number of people!!

We’d been told there would be a decent line, but this wasn’t “decent”—this was insane!

“Uesaka-san, this is…”

“Hmm… this is my third year, but yeah, this year is noticeably bigger. It’s been growing every year, though. Last year was definitely more than the year before. Still… this is…”

I hadn’t seen last year’s line, so I couldn’t compare directly, but one thing was certain: it was far beyond what we’d anticipated.

And today was Saturday. The real peak for visitors was supposed to be tomorrow, Sunday…

Which meant tomorrow would be even worse.

“T-Takanashi-kun, this means…”

“Hold on a second…”

I could feel the slight bewilderment in everyone, myself included… but we didn’t have time to hesitate. With Sara-san not here yet, it fell to me!

“Yes, the crowd is large, but our duties don’t change. Let’s stay calm. That said, if this many people rush in at once, there’s a high chance of trouble around the entrance. So… how about we adjust the entry flow a little?”

The gate itself was one thing, but the entrance area had several art club sculptures on display. If this many people surged through, congestion could easily turn dangerous. That spot had already been flagged as a patrol caution point anyway—better to be extra careful.

“Y-Yeah, good idea.”

“Let’s line up all the spare traffic cones and barriers so the line doesn’t spread out!”

“Um, we’ll help too!”

“No time to waste—let’s do it all at once.”

“Thank you. We appreciate it.”

The newspaper club members who’d overheard jumped in to assist, and we split up the work. We narrowed the path from the gate using cones, set up tables on both sides for the newspaper club to handle guidance and hand out papers. That should at least slow the entry pace.

We also lightly restricted the entrance area… Once the waiting line stabilized, we could remove everything. Right—better assign some people specifically to manage the line too…

It might have been overkill, but nipping potential trouble in the bud was always better.

“Takanashi-kun, you were surprisingly calm.”

“Yeah. I was ready to step in if you started panicking, but…”

“No, if something this small rattled me, I wouldn’t have the face to look Sara-san in the eye…”

I tried to downplay it humbly.

Truth was, I’d only noticed because we’d just reviewed the caution points around the headquarters tent on the way here. And the reason I could stay composed was simply that I’d been mentally preparing myself since morning.

The rest… well, it was probably thanks to Sara-san.

“When the person giving orders stays calm, the people carrying them out can move calmly too. You did wonderfully this time, Takanashi-kun. At this rate, we might not even need to step in extra.”

“Then should Uesaka-kun just retire right here? I’ll stick around till the end, though.”

“Same here~. Honestly, things got way more fun the moment Takanashi-kun joined the student council.”

To be honest, we’d be grateful if the seniors stayed a bit longer until we got more used to things—especially me; there was still so much I wanted to learn from Uesaka-san.

But I knew that was just my selfishness, so I wasn’t about to beg.

It was only a wish, nothing more.

“No, I’m having fun too, so I want to help right up to the last possible moment. Besides, when I recommended Satsukawa-san for president, I made it a condition that I’d stay till the end.”

Come to think of it, I’d forgotten—she did say something like that as part of the deal…

But if that was the case, then honestly, we were grateful.

“Takanashi-kun, you looked really cool. If Satsukawa-senpai had been here, she would’ve praised you for sure!”

“No, if Sara-san had been here, she would’ve given instructions before I even moved.”

I probably would’ve done the same thing whether she was present or not, but… yeah, Sara-san would’ve reacted faster.

“Even so, the one who actually took action right now was you, Kazunari. No need to be modest. Since my wife isn’t here, big sister will praise you in her place.”

So saying, Hanako tugged lightly at my sleeve—tug tug.

Wait—no, if she patted my head right here, with teachers around and people lined up outside watching…!

“Muu~”

Since I wouldn’t lower my head, Hanako stretched up on her tiptoes and stubbornly reached to pat me anyway.

The contrast was something else: the people around us watching in puzzled curiosity versus the student council members who understood exactly what was happening and were grinning like idiots.

Keeeeen—

Just as that heartwarming(?!) exchange was unfolding, a piercing feedback screech suddenly blasted from the school’s outdoor speakers.

“Ah—ah—test, test… mic test!!”

What followed was the same old, cheerful-to-the-point-of-chaotic high-tension(?) voice.

The midday school broadcasts weren’t usually piped outside, so being at the far edge of the grounds like this, we almost never heard them.

So this felt like a rare treat…

“Hiii everyone, sorry to keep you waiting~! We’re going all out today!! Brought to you by the Broadcast Club!! Special pre-opening edition of the school broadcast for the Rinka Festival daaaaays!! And of course, your host is none other than me—the Broadcast Club’s idol, everyone’s beloved Minamin!!”

“““Miiina~min!!!”””

“““… …”””

Ugh… the difference in vibe, in energy levels… Look at how the mood around me just plummeted.

From inside the school came the guys’ hyped-up, super-intense “thick” cheers, unintentionally poisoning this area with an awkward atmosphere.

Why? Because the stiff-faced teachers were visibly displeased, and that subtle displeasure was spreading.

“Ahh, Fukayama-san is the same as ever.”

“But it’s the festival—let her have this much fun, right?”

“Well, Fukayama-san can actually be pretty serious when she wants to…”

“HEEEEY!! Don’t call me Fukayamaaaa!!”

“““!?”””

How did she hear that!?

The perfectly timed scream made everyone flinch… and then the seniors immediately started checking under chairs and behind tables.

No way… surely not… probably.

“Fukayama-san, if you’re not going to take this seriously, I’ll just proceed on my own, all right?”

“W-Wait!? I told you it’s not Fukayama… and anyway, it’s too early to use my voice!!”

The conversation leaking from the speakers was clearly starting to fall apart. And of course, that voice—one I could never mistake—was my beloved person who wasn’t here right now.

“Then let’s move forward quickly. I want to hurry and see Ka—”

“DAAAAAAA!! DON’T SAY IT HERE!!!”

Ugh… this was way too sloppy.

Also—she was clearly about to say my name just now.

“Fukayama-san, it is unbecoming for a lady to shout like that.”

“Mi・na・min!!”

“Minamin-san, you mean.”

“It’s Minamin!!”

Click—!

With a noise like the mic had been cut, the broadcast abruptly stopped.

And just like that, silence fell over the school grounds as if the earlier commotion had been a dream.

For the record, Sara-san hadn’t meant any harm, and she definitely wasn’t doing it on purpose. It was just… her natural self. Her adorable airheaded side peeking through, that’s all.

So yeah… Sara-san is cute…

Keen…

The mic powered back on with another chime.

“S-Sorry about that. We’ll resume the broadcast now. Haa… everyone listening has probably figured it out already. No point in dragging it out, and I’m about to get yelled at anyway, so let’s cut straight to it. This is a special pre-Rinka-Festival edition, so we’ve invited a truly fitting special guest!! De-de-de-de-de~n, ta-da!! Recently softened up a bit and become even more approachable according to rumors, yet still shattering boys’ hearts at record speed—the super heroine. Now student council president and somehow even more unfairly cute!! Yes, everyone’s favorite, our school’s proud solitary goddess—Satsukawa Sara-saaaan!!”

“Um… Fukayama-san, that introduction is a little…”

“…Hey, Satsukawa-san… I’m trying to hype things up here, and you react completely deadpan? That’s just cruel… And it’s Minamin!”

Laughter erupted from all over campus at the almost-comedy-sketch exchange. Even the visitors waiting at the gate were chuckling…

“Pfft… that’s so Satsukawa-san.”

“Never thought I’d live to hear Satsukawa-san doing manzai.”

“She hides it well, but she’s actually pretty airheaded in moments like this.”

That’s how it looks, sure—but from my perspective, it’s a little different.

It’s simply because Sara-san is so earnest that she responds to jokes with complete sincerity, which ends up making her seem that way.

Though if people call that airheaded, then fair enough.

“Sorry, that was rude of me. But we’re running out of time, so I’ll continue. Everyone—hello. This is student council president Satsukawa Sara.”

“““Ooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!”””

The roar that answered far surpassed the reaction to Minamin’s introduction—something dark, gross, and indescribable poured out like a collective guttural howl…

It felt like the entire school was rumbling.

Yeah… creepy.

“In less than five minutes, the first day of the Rinka Festival will officially begin. For the sake of this day, everyone has—”

“Satsukawa-san has really changed, huh.”

“Yeah. Compared to last year’s school-wide assembly greeting, it’s like night and day.”

“Her voice is completely different. There’s emotion in it now—warmth, even.”

“See? Women really do change when they fall in love. Right… Takanashi-kun?”

“Uh… well…”

The girls all turned toward me with teasing, knowing smirks.

As for the indescribable looks from the boys…

“What? If you have something to say to Kazunari, say it to me.”

““Nothing at all.””

They immediately looked away.

Even Hanako’s normally blunt tone carried emotion in its own way right now.

Just… wrapped in arctic-level cold.

“Whether this school festival succeeds or fails depends on the actions and mindset of every single student here. Please do not get swept up in the atmosphere and lose control…”

Even as the speech continued, I—and everyone around me—found ourselves drawn in, listening intently to Sara-san’s voice from the speakers.

She wasn’t saying anything particularly novel; she was simply confirming the obvious mindset we should all have. Yet we couldn’t look away… or rather, couldn’t stop listening.

It was because Sara-san had that special something—the kind that made people naturally want to hear her out.

In other words… this was the power of Sara-san’s charisma at work.

“…That is all from me—and from the student council. Thank you for listening. Now, enough of the serious talk. Everyone—enjoy these two days to the fullest. I’m looking forward to seeing all of your wonderful events as well.”

Clap…

Clap clap clap…

Clap clap clap clap clap clap!!!!!!

From inside the school, outside, around me, from places we couldn’t see…

It felt like everyone who had listened to Sara-san was giving her a standing ovation.

A massive wave of applause and cheers rose all at once, enveloping the entire campus.

The sheer emotion made my body tremble…

…Sara-san.

“Saaaa—countdown, here we gooooo!!!”

“““Oooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”””

It wasn’t just the guys responding to… Minamin’s call. Girls, teachers, visitors outside—even us!

There was no way we were sitting this out!!

“Ten・nine・eight・seven・six・five—”

“““Four・three・two・one…”””

***

“““ZERO————————————!!!!”””

“The Rinka Festival—is officially underway————————————!!!”

Amid the thunderous applause and roaring cheers that shook the whole school…

Our school festival had begun!!

***

“Fufu… Kazunari-san, you did so well…”

“No, um… Sara-san…”

Pat pat…

Sara-san smiled gently and stroked my head over and over.

Of course I was happy—thrilled, even…

“…W-What… is this…?”

“…No way… for real…? I thought it was just a rumor…”

“…This… we could publish an article right now, couldn’t we…?”

“…Uoooooh, God is deaddddddd…”

R-Right here in public…

They’d pulled back a bit, and everyone had formed a human wall(?) to block the view from the guests, so it probably wasn’t too obvious…

But if someone looked closely, they’d definitely figure out what was happening.

And why had this suddenly started? Obviously—as a reward for earlier.

“S-So suddenly!?”

“Who was it that reported to Satsukawa-san about what happened just now!?”

“Uuu… s-sorryyyyy!!”

“Good thing B-shift made it in time…”

B-shift… was this human wall!?

Wait—there are more shifts!?

The moment Sara-san showed any sign of wanting to pat me, I’d been sat in a chair, and immediately a wall of people appeared on the guest side.

But… from behind, this was completely visible…

The newspaper club people had been hanging their heads and muttering something for a while now.

And Todou-san had been apologizing profusely ever since—apparently she was the one who’d excitedly reported the “moving moment” to Sara-san.

…Anyway, we couldn’t keep relaxing like this. Time to get serious with work.

“Sara-san, thank you. That’s enough for now.”

“Yes. I’ll give you more good-boy pats later, okay?”

“…You’re still planning more?”

“…That’s just an excuse to flirt, isn’t it.”

“…These two really never let their guard down.”

“…Takanashi-kun seems surprisingly fine with PDA too.”

No, I’m not exactly fine with it…

It’s just that when I weigh my embarrassment against how happy Sara-san looks when she spoils me—the latter wins out. That’s all.

“Wife, it’s about time… what are you doing?”

Hanako and the others, who’d gone to check the entry line, returned and gave us a cold stare upon seeing the scene. Sara-san, who had just been about to stop anyway, obediently let go, glanced toward the gate, and signaled everyone with her eyes.

“The entry flow has calmed down, so let’s lift the restrictions. From here, we’ll proceed as planned—split into your assigned pairs. Please head to your posts and begin patrols.”

“““Yes!”””

Even though things had been so chaotic moments ago, she instantly assessed the situation and issued clear instructions… As expected of Sara-san.

Everyone quickly formed their pairs and began confirming plans with each other.

As for me—I’d be on standby at this tent with Uesaka-san for a while, handling guest reception.

All right… the student council was finally kicking into full gear!