After Tsuna confirmed everything was fine, he pushed the door open.
Buzz—
The high-decibel noise in the corridor instantly felt muted. Inside the door was another world. Tsuna felt as if the air had become clearer and quieter.
The two tiptoed in a couple of steps before realizing it wasn't empty, only sparsely populated.
"Look at this blue…", "Doesn't it look like…?", "I don't understand…"
The voices were blurred, only fragments slipping through, as though separated by a thin veil.
"Senior Yuki?"
The Girl called turned back in confusion toward the doorway. When she saw Shouko and Tsuna, she stepped toward them.
Her heels made a soft "tap, tap" as they met the wooden floor.
"Senior Miyagi, long time no see."
"Long time no see."
Yuki smiled and nodded. In contrast, Tsuna bowed slightly.
"Senior Yuki, why are you here? Didn't you go to the School Festival?" In the quiet atmosphere, Shouko's voice softened naturally.
Yuki led them toward the exhibition area, explaining as she walked:
"The Teacher said something urgent came up. She seemed in a hurry, so I'm helping her cover for a while until she gets back."
Her high ponytail swayed gently with each step. The simple white dress she wore fluttered softly in the breeze, the fabric forming gentle ripples. Her tone carried an inexplicable fondness.
Tsuna did not join the conversation. His pace was steady, and his eyes drifted over the passing exhibits.
Pedestrians brushed past, and colors and light slid through the corner of his vision.
Until a somewhat familiar illustration caught his eye. Compared to the other works, it seemed rather ordinary, yet it made him stop without hesitation.
The heroine in the painting was exactly the heroine of the light novel he planned to release in April next year, and the artist's name below the piece was "Nishimiya Shouko".
"Miyamura-sensei, is this the heroine of your book after next?"
There seemed to be a subtle, almost imperceptible spark in Yuki's voice.
"Hmm… huh?"
Tsuna, pulled out of his thoughts, turned toward the voice. As soon as his gaze focused, it met Yuki's slightly upturned smile.
"Hmm." Tsuna recovered from his daze and nodded calmly, answering clearly and decisively:
"It is indeed the heroine of the new book releasing in April next year."
"Eh…?"
Yuki immediately looked toward Shouko in surprise. "Then doesn't that mean Shouko exposed her identity as Nishimiya-sensei by drawing this?"
Before Shouko could respond, Tsuna waved it off:
"It's for April next year. We don't even know if anyone will remember what works were in the Art Club at this year's School Festival."
Yuki nodded. It made sense, considering the memory span of high school students.
If someone were asked next year about the Art Club's exhibition, they might even respond:
"Eh!? Last year's School Festival, did the Art Club even do anything?!"
After circling the classroom-turned-exhibition hall, every piece worth appreciating or discussing had already been taken in.
Tsuna and Shouko turned toward Yuki and said in unison, "Then we'll take our leave," before walking out hand in hand.
The moment they stepped through the doorway, a heatwave and a burst of noise rushed over them. Tsuna subconsciously paused, feeling a small urge to go back inside.
"Where should we go next?" he asked, looking at Shouko, who was half a head shorter.
"Go check out the sports field?"
"Alright."
When they left the exhibition, it was just past five-thirty. The once-crowded corridor had thinned out, and many classrooms were already closing.
"Shouko, it looks like there's a fortune-telling room over there. Do you want to go in and take a look?"
As they walked hand in hand past a dimly decorated classroom, Tsuna spotted tarot cards and a crystal ball glowing faintly inside.
"Back in junior high, you always loved fortune-telling rooms, especially choosing romance readings. Now that your romance is settled…"
Tsuna tilted his chin toward the classroom, a smile spreading at the corners of his mouth. "Do you want to try something else? I think… it's pretty accurate."
Shouko was still wondering why he had stopped until his teasing reached her ears. Her cheeks turned pink, and she playfully pinched his arm before tugging his sleeve and hurrying away.
During those three junior high years, she had indeed often had her romance read. And most of the time, Tsuna had been right beside her, listening…
— — — —
As they pushed open the door leading to the sports field, a cool breeze blew over them, washing away most of the stuffiness from the school building.
The sunlight was no longer the harsh glare of noon but a warm golden red, spreading lazily across the sports field.
The stall owners were no longer shouting as energetically. Most were leaning against their stalls, only calling out weakly when someone passed.
"Ah… takoyaki… only a few portions left…", "Apple candy… 500 yen now…"
Their voices were stretched thin with fatigue.
The sparse crowd made it feel easier to breathe, and the outlines of the surrounding tents and distant treetops appeared more clearly.
"I wonder if Ajitani-chan and the others are still here…"
Shouko whispered, unconsciously tightening her grip on Tsuna's hand. Her gaze moved between the crowd and the slowly closing stalls.
"Let's go. We'll look around as we walk."
After only a few steps, a stall owner Girl wearing an apron but already packing up glanced up, asking with little hope:
"Student… want some oden? We're closing soon… I can give you a discount?"
Her voice carried clear weariness.
Tsuna glanced at the pot, which had only some vegetarian items left, and shook his head. The Girl simply murmured an "Oh" and continued packing.
"Yes! What else do you have?"
"…"
Tsuna and the Girl who had been looking down both turned toward Shouko, who had spoken. Tsuna knew it was probably too late to cover her mouth now.
"Tofu skin, konjac blocks, daikon, kelp, bamboo shoots, lotus root."
As the Girl listed the items, Shouko scanned the pot. There was a little of each remaining.
After thinking carefully, she raised her hand confidently. "Give me all of these, more—"
Before she could finish, Tsuna quickly covered her mouth and smiled apologetically at the Girl. "Shouko, that's too much. You won't be able to eat it."
There wasn't much in the pot, maybe two servings at most, and Shouko could finish that by herself… but only if there was meat.
"Mmm mmm mmm…!"
Shouko struggled in his arms, trying to speak, but Tsuna refused to give her the chance.
"Three hundred yen, only three hundred. You can have all of it packed," the Girl added. "I'm in a hurry to close."
"Thud…!"