When I found out about the student council president's secret, she became my exclusive maid [Haitus] - Chapter 38 - Reunion
The school campus, unlike usual, was decorated everywhere. Origami rings were made and hung on the windows, lantern-like paper crafts adorned the hallway ceilings. Balloons and other decorative items floated around, giving off a festival atmosphere.
Even the path from the entrance gate to the main gate, after passing through the entrance, was lined with class booths resembling a proper summer festival. The enticing aroma filled the school grounds.
It was a festival. Everyone was looking forward to it, excited about the festivities. Was I also caught up in the excitement…?
“Man, I’m starving. Hey, Akira,” said Shogo as we walked together.
Shogo’s cheerful voice reached my ears, and I couldn’t help but smile.
“It’s still early. It hasn’t even started yet.”
“But seriously, my stomach growls even though I had breakfast. Can you believe that?”
“I can understand that.”
Takoyaki, grilled squid, frankfurters, candy apples, baby castella, yakisoba, grilled corn, and fried chicken. All the classic festival stalls were here. I already had breakfast, but I shared Shogo’s sentiment.
“Hold on, hold on. Let’s wait until we meet Yoshi from our group.”
“You’re right.”
Shogo seemed to agree, and we hurriedly walked towards the main gate.
The main gate was also decorated with balloon art, transforming it into something completely unrecognizable. There were many people who had been invited from outside, as we could tell from the front of the gate. Our cultural festival could be considered a typical one. It was precisely because it was ordinary that it was famous in the local area for being enjoyable. In addition to us, there were also our school’s students mingling with the visitors. Among them, I spotted a familiar short-haired, well-groomed young man.
“Yoshi.”
When I called out to him, Yoshi, who had been looking at his smartphone, noticed us and greeted us with a smile much brighter than Shogo’s.
“Heyyy! Akira!”
Shogo, with his imposing presence, rushed towards Yoshi. Seeing that, I smiled wryly and approached him as well.
“Yoshi, it’s been a while—”
I stopped mid-sentence.
From a distance, I couldn’t tell, but Yoshi had grown much more muscular than Shogo, looking somewhat like a professional athlete rather than a high school student. However, he had a small face and a refreshing idol-like appearance, making it a bit of an unbalanced combination.
“It’s been a while, Akira-kun, Shogo-kun,” he said, knowing our reactions or not, with the same smile he always had, raising his hand to greet us.
“Damn, Yoshi, you’ve gotten way too ripped,” Shogo exclaimed.
Naturally, I reached out and touched Yoshi’s arm, and it was so solid that I couldn’t believe we were the same age.
“Hahaha, yeah. I used to be short, so the coach told me to eat as much as possible.”
“I couldn’t tell from watching TV, but were you already this built during the summer tournament?”
“Yeah. I ate like crazy in winter and grew rapidly in spring.”
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
Impressed, Shogo spoke to Yoshiki, saying, “However, you know…'”
“Well, I’m surprised they allowed the prestigious school’s baseball team to participate in a regular high school cultural festival like this.”
Indeed, Yoshiki was a regular at Koshien, a renowned baseball powerhouse. He lived in the dormitory and spent every day immersed in baseball. It seemed that he needed permission to go outside, and it was said that he was always forbidden from going out.
Upon hearing Shogo’s words, Yoshiki lightly chuckled.
“Back in the old days, it might not have been allowed. But times have changed now. Of course, it’s not permitted every time, but I don’t go out much, so it was easily granted.”
Certainly, in the past, the image of baseball teams being more like internment camps was prevalent. It seems that things have changed quite a bit since the Reiwa era.
“That’s good. I’m glad you came.”
“Well, it’s the cultural festival of our two best friends. I would have come no matter what.”
He’s truly a good guy. There’s no ulterior motive behind his words. Whether he becomes a star at Koshien or a professional baseball player in the future, he’ll always be the same.
“Akira, are you going to say it?”
As I envied Yoshiki for remaining unchanged since those days, Shogo said something those words.
“Yeah.”
In response to my brief reply, Yoshiki tilted his head and asked, “Huh?”
“‘Nice batting.'”
I formed a fist and thrust it toward Yoshiki.
During the summer Koshien tournament, Yoshiki didn’t just set foot on the hallowed grounds of a baseball enthusiast’s dreams; he also got a hit. That’s a great honor. Although I’ve said it many times in our LOIN conversation, sometimes you just have to say it directly.
However, it’s not easy to say it directly to Yoshiki. So, today, at this cultural festival, where we met again after a long time, I wanted to say that much.
“Akira-kun… Shogo-kun…”
Looking at us with teary eyes, Yoshiki clasped his fists together, as if on the verge of tears.
“Thank you.”
When the fists of the three of us came together, I remembered our Junior League and Senior League days.
Back then, whenever someone achieved something, the three of us would put our fists together.
Just like this, with the three of us…
“Now, the 17th annual…”
The voice of the announcement reached us from inside the school. It signaled the start of the cultural festival, which we could hear through the microphone. Following that signal, the people who had been waiting at the main gate started entering in a line.
“Let’s go too.”
“Yeah.”
After a brief reunion greeting, the three of us entered the school and decided to enjoy the cultural festival.
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TL : Zenon#4120