The day had finally arrived.
For most students at Hoshikawa High School, it was a day of excitement, fun, and freedom.
For Yuuto Hoshino…
— …it's too noisy.
He stood in front of the classroom turned themed café, watching the intense movement in the hallway. People passing by, voices overlapping, loud laughter… a true endurance test for someone like him.
— And way too amazing! — Sakura Aoyama appeared beside him, fully dressed in her costume, spinning lightly. — Look at this! It's perfect!
— It's… functional — Yuuto replied.
— FUNCTIONAL?! — she put her hands on her hips. — This is beautiful!
He looked again.
Improvised decorations, but full of energy. Handmade posters, organized tables, small details that clearly had Sakura's touch… and Misaki's precision.
— …it's better than I expected — he admitted.
Sakura smiled.
— I knew it!
---
— EVERYONE, POSITIONS! — Haru announced, completely fired up. — CUSTOMERS ARE COMING!
— You're way too excited — said Ren, leaning against the wall.
— That's the spirit!
— That's chaos.
Misaki checked her clipboard for what felt like the thousandth time.
— First shift: Sakura and Yuuto on service. Haru in the kitchen. Ren… observing.
— My favorite role.
— And I'll handle overall organization — Misaki concluded.
Sakura clapped her hands.
— LET'S GO!
Yuuto took a deep breath.
— It's started…
---
The first group of customers entered.
Three girls from another class, clearly curious.
— Welcome! — Sakura said with maximum energy. — Please, have a seat!
— Wow, this is so cute! — one of them said, looking around.
— I love the theme! — another added.
Yuuto stepped forward.
— Good afternoon.
All three looked at him.
Silence.
— …is he part of the concept? — one of them asked quietly.
— Totally! — Sakura replied quickly. — He's the "mysterious attendant"!
— That's not official — Yuuto muttered.
— Now it is!
The girls smiled.
— I like it.
— Me too.
— He's serious.
— He's quiet.
— He's interesting.
Sakura froze for half a second.
— …of course he is! — she said, forcing a smile.
Yuuto ignored it.
— What would you like?
— Hm… what do you recommend? — one of the girls asked.
Sakura opened her mouth—
But Yuuto answered first.
— Something simple.
Silence.
— Why? — the customer asked.
— Because… — he said calmly — …sometimes, the simple lasts more than the exaggerated.
The three fell silent for a moment.
— Wow…
— That was deep.
— I want that.
Sakura stood still.
— …
— Sakura — Yuuto called.
— Hm?! — she snapped back. — YES! Order noted!
She turned quickly, almost tripping.
— Careful — Yuuto said.
— I KNOW!
---
— He's stealing your spotlight — Ren whispered, appearing beside her.
— HE IS NOT!
— He is.
— HE IS NOT!
— A little — he said.
Sakura crossed her arms.
— This is part of the plan!
— What plan?
— …the plan!
— I see. There is no plan.
— THERE IS!
— Sure.
---
The crowd kept growing.
And with it…
the chaos.
— Wrong order! — Haru shouted from the kitchen.
— WHICH ONE?! — Sakura yelled back.
— ALL OF THEM!
— HOW?!
— I GOT CONFUSED!
— I KNEW IT! — said Ren.
Misaki appeared immediately.
— Reorganizing orders.
— I can help — Yuuto said.
— Stay on service — Misaki replied.
— Understood.
Sakura looked at him.
— You're way too calm.
— Someone has to be.
— I am calm!
A tray fell in the background.
CLACK
— …relatively — she corrected.
---
More customers entered.
Among them…
a couple.
Or at least… someone paying very close attention.
— You two — the girl said, smiling — are you a couple?
Silence.
Absolute.
Sakura froze.
Yuuto blinked.
— No — they both said at the same time.
They looked at each other.
— You answered too fast — Sakura said.
— You did too.
— Suspicious.
— Coincidence.
The customer laughed.
— You have chemistry.
— WE DON'T! — Sakura said immediately.
— I disagree — Ren said in the background.
— SHUT UP!
Yuuto just sighed.
— Your order?
— Ah, right! — the girl smiled. — Two coffees.
— Order noted — Yuuto said.
Sakura was still… frozen.
---
— You're acting strange — Yuuto said quietly.
— I AM NOT!
— You are.
— I AM NOT!
— You are.
— STOP!
— I'm observing.
— STOP OBSERVING!
— I can't.
— WHY?!
— Because you're interesting.
Silence.
Again.
Sakura quickly turned her face away.
— You can't say that while people are watching!
— I said it quietly.
— THAT DOESN'T MATTER!
— It does — he said.
She took a deep breath.
— You do that on purpose.
— No.
— You do!
— I don't.
— YOU DO!
— …
— …
— …maybe a little.
— I KNEW IT!
---
Time passed.
The movement didn't slow down.
But something was different.
Yuuto… wasn't uncomfortable.
At least, not completely.
He observed.
Responded.
Interacted.
A little… but enough.
And Sakura noticed.
— You're doing well — she said unexpectedly.
He looked at her.
— I'm doing the minimum.
— You're not.
— I am.
— You're not!
— …
— …
— …maybe a little more — he admitted.
She smiled.
— I knew it.
---
In the middle of the rush…
a small moment appeared.
Silent.
Rare.
Sakura stopped beside him.
— Yuuto…
— Hm?
— Are you… having fun?
He thought.
Longer than usual.
— …it's not bad.
She smiled.
— That's already a lot.
— For me, yes.
Silence.
But not heavy.
— Even so… — he said — …it's noisy.
— It always will be.
— I know.
— But… — she tilted her head — …you're not running away.
He looked at her.
— I said I wouldn't run.
— I know.
She smiled.
— And I'm here.
— I know that too.
---
The shift-change bell finally rang.
— First shift over! — Misaki announced.
— WE SURVIVED! — Haru shouted.
— Barely — said Ren.
Sakura leaned against the table.
— That was… intense.
Yuuto closed his eyes for a second.
— It was.
She looked at him.
— And?
— …
— …
— …interesting.
She smiled.
— I knew it.
---
While the second shift prepared…
Yuuto stepped away a bit.
Notebook in hand.
He wrote:
"The noise continues.
But… it doesn't bother me as much.
Because… she's here."
He paused.
"…that's dangerous."
— Yuuto!
He looked up.
Sakura was running toward him.
— You're not going to escape during the break, right?
— I'm not trying to.
— Good!
— …
— …
— We still have the second half — she said.
— I know.
— And it'll be even more chaotic!
— I figured.
She smiled.
— So… get ready.
Yuuto closed his notebook.
— I'm ready.
— Liar.
— Probably.
— I knew it!
They stood in silence for a moment.
Watching the movement.
The festival.
The people.
And something else…
growing.
Slowly.
But impossible to ignore.