Chapter XIV: Come One, Come All! Part 2
At lunch, Inoshiro, Haruto, Hageshi, and Ryujin goes out of the classroom and heads to the cafeteria.
"Man, cafeteria again? Should we at least go to the dike and look at the food stalls?", Hageshi groans.
"Yeah, we should try looking for some baguettes or cwossaint." (Haruto)
"It's crossaint man, not cwossaint." (Inoshiro)
"Says the dude who has been recently watching Jimmy Neutron memes on YouTube." (Hageshi)
"Hah, glad I got a coupon at the cafeteria for some Chai Tea" (Inoshiro)
"What did you just said?" (Haruto)
"Chai Tea?" (Hageshi)
"Chai means Tea, bro. You're saying Tea-Tea!" (Haruto)
"Yeah, don't look that word in Tagalog, it will mean another word." (Ryujin)
"Damn, then maybe I'll just have some Queso Cheese" (Inoshiro)
The three face palms hearing this.
"Uhm, what's the big idea?" (Inoshiro)
"Man, you need to think before you say it aloud." (Hageshi)
"I agree" (Haruto)
"Why? What's wrong with Queso Cheese?" (Inoshiro)
"Queso Cheese is another redundant food name along with Chai Tea. Queso literally means cheese in Spanish, dude." (Ryujin)
"Hmm, wait there for a sec, dudes." (Inoshiro)
Inoshiro goes far from the group and screams like a Super-Saiyan Goku, and goes back to them.
"Ok, where were we?" (Inoshiro)
"We were going to the cafeteria?" (Ryujin)
"Maybe not anymore, I'm skeptical with these coupons anyway." (Inoshiro)
"Wait, lemme see those coupons." (Hageshi)
Haruto and Ryujin takes a peek too.
"Idiot! These are just some hand drawings!" (Hageshi)
"Yeah, there's indication there, Crayola and pencils too" (Haruto)
"Huh, I didn't notice those." (Inoshiro)
"Maybe you need some glasses. Go to EO, Executive Optical." (Ryujin)
"Man, could be a good slogan for Senior Citizens. LOL (Hageshi)
"I second that." (Haruto)
"So, are we going to the cafeteria or not?" (Inoshiro)
"I don't know anymore, we could go to the food stalls outside." (Hageshi)
"Maybe the guards won't allow us." (Haruto)
"Actually, we can. Check your ID Cards, there's a lunch pass there right?" (Ryujin)
All of them check their ID Cards and so it is, they have lunch passes, and already signed by the Principal and the President of the University.
"According to my aunt, we can go out of the University if we show the guards the lunch passes." (Ryujin)
"Then, what are we waiting for, dudes? Let's go hit the stalls!" (Inoshiro)
Upon reaching the gate, they show their lunch passes, and they get out of the university and go directly to the stalls at the dike.
"This isn't so bad" (Hageshi)
"C'mon, it's just a few meters away school, along this 300 meter dike here." (Ryujin)
"Ok, what should we buy?" (Haruto)
"Let's go see the other stalls there." (Inoshiro)
They go to the other stalls. On the other hand, Kitsune, Saki, and Rikiyo are also venturing through the food stalls.
"Girls, where should we eat?" (Rikiyo)
"I don't know about you, but I'm starving right now" (Kitsune)
"Hmm, let's just see what these stalls have to offer." (Saki)
Then, as they go deeper into the stalls, as Saki leads them on, she bumps into someone.
"Hey, you should watch where you're goi-" (Kitsune)
She looks in front, to see Ryujin massaging his head from the bump, with Hageshi, Inoshiro, and Haruto behind him.
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry about that." (Ryujin)
Saki looks in front of her, and as she sees Ryujin, she is surprised.
"Here, let me help you up.", Ryujin extends his hand for Saki.
Saki is at a loss of words, and she snaps out of it, and holds Ryujin's hand to stand up.
"Thank you, Ryujin. I'm also sorry." (Saki)
Saki then blushes and turns around to hide it.
"Is there something wrong, Saki?" (Ryujin)
"Na-na-nandemonai! (It's nothing)", Saki blushes.
Kitsune and Rikiyo are smiling mischievously seeing Saki like this, while Hageshi and Haruto have no idea. Inoshiro might as well have an idea judging from Saki's expression, and Ryujin's question mark of expression. Since he is a heat user, he can feel the heat of any situation, and can give any interpretation to any of it.
"I think I can reach a conclusion based on observation and experimentation to which this situation would be hypothesized or et so facto in which I feel through my power." (Inoshiro)
All of them freeze. As Inoshiro explains more,
"Haruto, give me the gag." (Hageshi)
"You mean this one?", Haruto showing a cycling's mask.
"No, the Nezuko gag." (Hageshi)
"It's highly remarkable, where did you buy it?", Haruto gives Hageshi the Nezuko gag.
"Oh, just a novelty I bought from Rakuten. Glad it's gonna come in handy after all." (Hageshi)
"Going back to the conundrum of this situation, my heat waves sense some-", Inoshiro says but gets cutoff as Hageshi gags him.
"Ok, buddy, please don't make this awkward anymore, we are all hungry so let's find the best lunch here ok?" (Hageshi to Inoshiro)
Ryujin, Haruto, Hageshi, and Inoshiro, together with Saki, Rikiyo, and Kitsune find a ramen shop and they eat lunch there. After that, they all head back to the university for the prepartions for the opening program in the evening.
As evening approaches, the campus comes alive with anticipation for the grand opening of the Starlight Festival. At 6:30 PM, the sky illuminates with a spectacular display of fireworks, setting the stage for the festivities to come. A parade started from the Administration building that would go around the University and will end at the Grandstand.
"Good Evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'm Hajime Senshi of the Highschool Department from the Aquarius District, and I'll be your Masters of Ceremonies in the opening of the Starlight Festival 2018! To get started, here comes the colors with our University Flag, and the National Flag of Japan. Then, here are the 12 districts of our university, represented by the colleges of each district. Here comes, the Audacious Aries! Followed by the Tenacious Taurus! Then coming up, the Dynamic Gemini! What's this? Here comes the Courageous Cancer! Then coming up, the Legendary Leo! Followed by the Vigilant Virgo, then there's the Lethal Libra, then there's also the Savage Scorpio, then not to mention time to shoot, the Sharpshooter Sagittarius! We also have, Commanding Capricorn, then I think it's gonna rain, just kidding! Raining with thunder and lightning to the battle, it's the Adaptive Aquarius! And for the final touch and piece to complete all teams, it's the Persistent Pisces! Followed by the Emergency services." (Hajime)
He pauses for a bit.
"The Starlight Festival started its early roots in 1946, as it celebrated the University's 100th Foundation Anniversary. It is a commemoration of talent, skill, powers, and abilities. As the 12 founders founded this institution way back in 1846, it was just a small dojo before it transformed into its grandeur state. However, as it grew, there was turmoil as each constellation had different views and perspective. Due to many disputes between staff and administration, the university ended up in turmoil. But in one moment in 1945, it all changed during the administration of Former University President Hiroshi Aoshima. He brought peace to this campus until today and it was this festival. It visions the bond of each student, teacher, without discriminating one another. And it's layout with proper planning and engineering, it came to be the university we all know today. A place of equality, equilibrium, honor, prudence, and resiliency. As we celebrate its 6th Stella Alignare, we may now witness the passing of the torch between the Pisces District and the Aries District to mark this Stella Alignare."
The head athlete of the Pisces District passes the torch to the head athlete of the Aries District.
"Once again, there you have it ladies and gentlemen, the torch have been passed. Now, may we all witness the lighting of the Intramurals Torch by Asian Games Gold Medalist in Archery, Tomomo Sugimoto!"
The archer, symbolic of the festival's spirit, steps forward, igniting twelve flaming arrows—one for each constellation. Mr. Hajime, serving as the inaugural Horoscope adviser, delivers a heartfelt introduction, reflecting on the university's history and its enduring commitment to unity and harmony.
"And without further ado, we may all rise to sing the university hymn to be led by the Special Power and Defense Class – the Highschool Pioneers,"
The Special Power and Defense Class students, filled with pride and camaraderie, take to the stage, their voices ringing out in harmony as they sing the university hymn, a testament to their shared values and aspirations.
Following Mr. Hajime's address, Dr. Yoshida extends a warm welcome to guests and visitors, acknowledging the hard work and dedication of every student who contributed to the festival's success.
"Welcome, honored guests and students alike, to the Starlight Festival. Tonight, we come together to celebrate our unity and diversity. I extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for making this event possible," Dr. Yoshida declares.
With his remarks concluded, the attention turns to the University play—a highlight of the evening's festivities.
As the play unfolds, Ryujin, ever the diligent student, remains alert, diligently taking notes and immersing himself in the rich tapestry of history unfolding before him. While some succumb to the allure of sleep, Ryujin remains focused, determined to capture every detail for posterity.
With the conclusion of the opening program, the students gather beneath the starlit sky, marveling at the beauty of the meteor shower—a fitting finale to an evening filled with wonder and celebration. As the festivities draw to a close, they bid farewell to the festival's inaugural night, cherishing the memories created and eagerly anticipating the days to come.