The Kansai Villain’s Rebirth: I Accidentally Ended Up With a Harem. - Chapter 41: A Kansai Kid Takes on the School Festival.

A Kansai Kid Takes on the School Festival.

“Alright, everyone—let’s decide what we’re doing for the school festival!”

The moment the new week began, the whole academy was buzzing with festival talk. In just two weeks, the cultural festival would be here.

Last year… yeah, I skipped it. Not good. This year I’m participating for sure. First, our class needs to decide on what we’ll be doing.

At this school, each class can choose between three types of events: a research presentation, something like the drama club’s stage performance, or—if they clear the lottery—a food stall.

Personally, since I like cooking, I’m rooting for a food stall.

“Okay then, anyone in favor of doing a food stall?”

When the class rep called out, a bunch of hands shot up. Nice. Looks like our class is set on a stall. Now we just need to win the lottery. I’m counting on you, class rep!

“Alright, then it’s decided. Class 2-C will enter the lottery for a food stall. Once we’re approved, we’ll decide what to make.”

Good, good. Let’s hope we get it.
Yakisoba, okonomiyaki—whatever it is, I’ll cook!
If that doesn’t work out… well, maybe I could present an analysis of the Leyte Gulf naval battle?
No, no, that’s way too self-indulgent. I’ll think of something else.

***

Three days later, good news arrived.

The class rep won us a spot in the food stall lottery! Nice job, rep! The class erupted into excited chatter.

“So now that we’re officially doing a stall, what should we sell?”

“Okonomiyaki!” “Yakisoba!” “Crepes!”

Ideas flew across the room—until Momodani spoke up with a single decisive suggestion.

“I vote takoyaki!”

“Ohh, takoyaki sounds great.”

“That’d be delicious!”

“Takoyaki, yes!” “I’m for it!” “Same here!”

Takoyaki, huh? Not bad. Might as well give everyone a taste of Osaka at the festival.

“Daichan, what about you?”

“Hmm, takoyaki’s my pick too.”

“Right? It sounds so good! I want takoyaki too!”

On the board, the teacher wrote down every proposed item and tallied the votes. Takoyaki was winning by a landslide— but then, the teacher raised a hand to stop the momentum.

“Well, takoyaki seems to be the favorite. I don’t mind it, but… you know it’s hard to make, right? If you’re going to sell it, you can’t serve a bunch of half-mangled balls. Can you handle that?”

The classroom instantly fell silent. The teacher had a point.

Flipping takoyaki is harder than making okonomiyaki. If we can’t make it properly, no one will buy it.

But if that’s the only issue—well, I can fix that.

“Sensei, I can make it. If needed, I’ll stand there and cook all day.”

“Tennouji? Ooh… that’s reassuring, but are you sure? It’s hot work, you know.”

Standing and cooking takoyaki for a whole day? Way easier than a ten-day death march in my past life.

I can handle it.

“No problem at all. I’ll do the cooking.”

The class burst into cheers.

“So, if Tennouji-kun is willing to cook… is everyone fine with takoyaki?”

“Oh, and I’d appreciate some help chopping green onions and red ginger.”

“Yes! I’ll help!”

The first person to raise her hand, full of energy, was Mio-san.
With her on board, we’re already solid.
If she handles the chopping—negi, beni-shoga, the octopus— I can focus solely on cooking, fast and efficiently. Looks like several others volunteered too. Good. Very good.

“Then it’s decided! Class 2-C will run a takoyaki stall! Let’s start thinking about the booth design and decor!”

“Sensei, will we be able to borrow the takoyaki grills?”

“Oh, of course. I have connections for that. One thing, though—Tennouji, I trust you, but once the equipment arrives, can you make a test batch? Based on that, we’ll give the official green light.”

“Got it, Sensei. I’ll make something good—look forward to it.”

“Hah! I like that confidence! Tennouji, you really have changed, haven’t you? Good, good. I’ll have the equipment arranged right away.”

“Much appreciated.”

And just like that, the whole class—and the whole school—shifted fully into festival mode.

***

What kind of connections does Sensei have…? The equipment arrived in a single day.

“Attach the gas hose here… alright, you’re all set. Be careful with fire and burns, okay?”

“Thank you, Sensei.”

After school, with the Home Ec teacher’s permission, we brought the takoyaki grill into the kitchen classroom.

I made a quick run to the supermarket with Shiina-chan to buy ingredients—smooth as always. With Mio-san’s discerning eye helping us choose, we were perfectly stocked.

“I’ll mince the red ginger and green onions.”

“Thanks, Mio-san. I’ll mix the batter.”

Don’t underestimate a Kansai kid. Every Kansai household has at least one takoyaki grill. Mixing the batter was easy—water, dashi powder, flour.

This was just enough for a test run, but when festival day comes, I’ll have to calculate large-batch proportions.

“Wow… Mio-chan, you’re amazing!”

“My mom drilled me on mincing vegetables. Tennouji-kun, is this okay?”

“Perfect. The octopus pieces are just right too. Okay then—fire it up.”

Prep complete. Time to cook.

I ladled batter into the molds in even amounts, then added onions, ginger, and octopus. Back in my previous life, I was too buried in deadlines to cook, but before that, I used to make these all the time— I’ve got the technique burned into my hands.

“Tennouji~ give me one from the first batch, I’m starving.”

“Sure thing, Momodani. Hold on.”

He and Tenma stood there staring like hungry wolves. Guess I’ve gotta make ones that look as good as they taste.

…Alright. Time to flip. Gas stoves heat way faster than electric ones—nice.

Just don’t burn them… and flip, flip—

“Whoa… you look like a real pro…”

“Holy crap, Tennouji! That looks insane!”

The smell of takoyaki filled the kitchen classroom. Nostalgic. I remembered eating until my stomach nearly burst because it was too good to stop.

Looks like these are ready.

“Ooooooh…!”

A wave of awe rolled through the small crowd. Not bad—very not bad.

“They look amazing…”

“Tenma, Momodani—how about fifteen each?”

“Oh, hell yeah!”

“I can totally eat that!”

Growing boys, huh. I piled fifteen takoyaki onto each paper plate and grabbed the sauces.

“Want mayo?”

““YES!!””

In perfect unison—figures, those two are the basketball club’s star duo. I drizzled sauce, mayo, sprinkled bonito flakes and aonori—done.

“Uooooh! They look so good!”

“I’m taking one—”

“Hot!? Hot—!! H-hot!!”

“Gross, Tenma—”

“Told you they’re hot.”

“Say that first!!”

“Sorry, sorry. Next batch coming up.”

And so, I kept cooking until the batter ran out.
Mio delivered plates to classmates still planning the festival in the classroom— apparently they went crazy over it.

Even the homeroom teacher and Kaminari-sensei tried them— Kaminari-sensei practically beat my shoulder off praising me.

It hurt.

“Daiki! Amazing! But don’t overdo it! I’m buying some during the festival, alright?! Wahahaha!”

“I’ll make more, Sensei. I want to experiment while prepping anyway.”

“Good! I’ll be waiting!”

Yeah… I’ve still got it. Now all that’s left is budgeting, pricing, and all the logistics. I’ll start planning tomorrow.

The festival’s gonna be fun.

While washing dishes with Mio-san, I already had numbers running in my head.