"Points?"
Horikita Suzune looked up in confusion. The school staff member immediately offered a friendly explanation:
"Yes. Every visitor is allocated a set amount of personal points. Adults receive 10,000, while minors receive 5,000. One point equals one yen."
"In other words, it's like pocket money provided by the school. Since the points can't be exchanged for real money after the event, we encourage everyone to just enjoy spending them."
After thanking the staff, Suzune returned to Kitagawa Ryo's side, commenting with some amazement:
"The Advanced Nurturing High School is really generous. There are at least five hundred guests today. That alone is a few million yen in expenses."
"Well, they do get criticized now and then for using too many public resources."
Kitagawa nodded and added, "The school only accepts 160 students per year. All three grades combined probably don't even match today's number of visitors."
"Are you going to see your brother?"
Suzune shook her head. It was her first time in such a lively place. Just past the school gate, various festival booths had already been set up by different classes. From food stalls to entertainment attractions, the air was bustling, giving off a festive atmosphere.
"Let's look around first."
She gazed toward the Special Building. Apart from the two wealthy classes that had bought out the golden path between the gate and the building, most of the other classes had set up their events across the first three floors of the building.
It was already chilly in November. Suzune wore a thick coat and fur-lined boots, a handmade scarf wrapped warmly around her neck, making her delicate face appear even smaller.
Incidentally, the scarf was her first successful knitting project. Her earlier attempts had become toys for Hotaru.
Kitagawa was wearing gloves that day, opting not to wear the scarf Suzune had given him. While his neck might be cold, he was more sensitive to the temperature of his hands. That's why he always chose full-coverage mittens instead of fingerless ones.
As they walked down the long corridor, third-year students trying to boost their class's revenue quickly noticed the two. Although adults had more points, kids were easier to persuade. Two upperclassman girls came over.
"Hey, little brother and sister, want a candied apple? We also have cotton candy!"
Kitagawa was about to ask the price when Suzune nodded first.
The girls quickly handed them each a candied apple after Suzune paid using the point reader.
"It's 100 yen more than the outside price."
Kitagawa glanced at the remaining balance and remarked.
"It's free money from the school anyway."
Suzune took small, awkward bites of her apple. The fruit wobbled precariously on the stick, making Kitagawa wonder if it would fall.
She came up with a solution: rotate the apple while eating.
While this prevented disaster, it left her face sticky with juice and sugar. She wiped it off with the tissue Kitagawa handed her, then shifted her attention to the entertainment booths.
Food was just for novelty—what she really looked forward to was Kitagawa's cooking. That apple had nothing on his desserts.
The class that had bought out the whole street was clearly well-prepared. Besides the usual goldfish scooping, shooting games, and ring toss, they had even set up a giant inflatable bounce house.
Kitagawa guessed the guest ratio of adults to children was about one to one. If they could entice most of the children, their sales would skyrocket.
And by the look of things, their strategy was working.
They had lined up the booths right along the main path from the gate to the special building, catching kids' eyes immediately. Combining snacks and games, many children had already spent their full 5,000 points and were begging their parents for more.
"Ryo, I want to try that."
Suzune pointed at the huge inflatable bounce house, where five-to-seven-year-olds jumped and squealed with joy.
"Uh... aren't you a bit too old for that?"
Kitagawa imagined fourteen-year-old Suzune chasing kids around in there and shuddered.
"...Not that. The one next to it."
She tugged at his sleeve and led him to a nearby booth.
The two of them, bundled up, waddled like penguins.
"Two hundred points for ten paper nets."
A third-year boy manned the goldfish scooping booth and cheerfully explained.
"Ten nets, please."
Seeing Suzune crouch with enthusiasm in front of the tank triggered Kitagawa's memory. He recalled a similar scene from a past simulation—Suzune hadn't done very well.
Sure enough, she broke three nets in quick succession.
"Let me show you."
Kitagawa took off his gloves, breathed into his hands, and warmed them. He grabbed a net and said, "Goldfish scooping is all about being gentle and steady. Use the current, predict their movement..."
He remembered teaching Hotaru the same way. They weren't fans of the game back then since they had nowhere to keep the fish.
A moment of distraction, and he moved too abruptly. Just as his net was about to tear and the fish slip away, Suzune slid her own net under his.
"Careful. Let's lift it together."
Focusing intensely, their shoulders touching, they worked in tandem until they successfully scooped the fish.
"I've mastered it," Suzune declared proudly.
Her technique improved quickly, catching a fish with each of her remaining six nets.
But she declined to keep the fish, not wanting the hassle of carrying water bags. For her, the joy was in the experience, not the result.
They made their way into the Special Building.
The first floor, a prime location, housed two classes: one ran a haunted house, the other a maze. Neither appealed to them, so after politely refusing the flyers, they headed to the second floor.
"Come to think of it, I haven't seen Sakayanagi-san today," Suzune said.
"After bringing us in, she disappeared."
"She hasn't been feeling well, and her father didn't want her to exert herself."
Kitagawa paused.
"Didn't you say she had a congenital heart condition?"
"Yeah. Inherited from her mother. The type that can't be fixed with surgery. Her mother passed away from it too."
The mood turned heavy.
But that didn't last. Loud background music soon caught their attention—a concert, judging by the noise.
Posters plastered the hallway. Girls in revealing idol costumes struck flashy poses, drawing in male visitors.
"They'd go that far just for revenue? It's still a school festival."
Suzune covered her face, pulling Kitagawa away.
"You're not allowed to go in."
"Wasn't planning to."
He stared at a poster. "Still, they don't hold a candle to you."
"Shut up. I am not wearing that."
"But you wore cat ears and a maid outfit..."
Flushing red, Suzune covered his mouth.
"Don't say another word!"
"Alright, alright."
They resumed walking. The second floor had lower rent than the first but better location than the third, making it the most popular among classes.
Maid cafes, butler shops, dessert stands with photo services...
But no sign of Horikita Manabu. None of the shops were labeled as Class 1-A.
So he must be on the third floor.
Realizing this, Suzune's pace quickened.
They skipped the rest of the second floor and headed upstairs.
"I wonder what kind of event your brother prepared," Kitagawa mused. "Maybe a butler cafe? Serving us tea in a tux?"
Suzune laughed despite her nerves.
"He's too serious for that."
"Didn't I hear he's better at piano than you? Maybe it's a concert."
"Who knows."
The third floor had the cheapest rent but also the worst location. Only two classes had set up shop here, and the number of visitors was low.
Quiet, yes—but ideal for certain themes.
Class 1-B's leader, Ishikura, had chosen this floor for that very reason. He rallied every musically-inclined classmate to host a live concert.
He believed the school's guests would include elites and upper-class individuals. Maid cafes and food booths wouldn't appeal to them.
But a concert? Classy.
It took forever for anyone to show up, though.
Finally, he saw a pair of middle schoolers arrive. Eager to make his pitch, he grabbed a flyer and approached them—only for them to walk straight past him.
They were heading to the other room: Class 1-A.
Sighing, Ishikura turned back.
At the start of the year, he thought the gap between B and A was small. But after a semester under Manabu's leadership, A had pulled far ahead.
Rumor had it Manabu might soon become the vice president of the student council.
The other three classes had finally realized the grim reality and were even discussing alliances.
This Cultural Festival was just the first battle.
-------------------------------------
Horikita Manabu stood at the entrance to the area designated for Class 1-A. Kitagawa Ryo glanced into the classroom. It seemed that, since there were no guests at the moment, the performance had yet to begin.
The inside was dark, with only the outline of a large stage occupying half the room.
Most likely a stage play or something of that sort.
Noticing the two approaching, Tachibana Akane was just about to step forward and greet them with an explanation of their class's event. However, Manabu raised a hand to stop her.
He stepped forward himself and walked directly up to Suzune.
Truth be told, their reunion after a long separation was far from some explosive emotional encounter.
Kitagawa Ryo folded his arms and stood quietly in the corner, giving space to the siblings.
"Onii-sama."
Suzune took a step forward.
"When you received my message and still chose to come find me at this school, our relationship was already over."
"It seems you still haven't understood that."
Adjusting his glasses, a cold glint flashed across the right lens.
"Also, I already told you that liking long hair was just a lie from the past, didn't I? Keeping it like this only makes me think you haven't grown at all."
His expression was devoid of emotion, and his gaze was that of someone looking at something uninteresting.
Based on past experience, Suzune should have fallen into confusion and panic at this moment.
But to Manabu's surprise, Suzune firmly shook her head.
"No, that's not it."
Looking directly into her brother's eyes, Suzune slowly reached up and untied the ribbon bow that held her hair.
Her long, beautiful hair cascaded down to her waist like flowing water.
Long hair was a troublesome hairstyle. It took time to maintain in the morning, needed to be tied up while cooking to avoid interference, and took much longer to wash and dry than short hair.
In the past, Suzune had changed her preferences just because of a single comment from her brother, gradually getting used to it.
But at some point, she had begun to notice and reflect on her hairstyle. Her attitude toward long hair had shifted from mere habit to genuine [liking], becoming her own choice.
Suzune spoke calmly, as if stating a simple truth:
"This is something I chose for myself. I really like the way I am now."
She remembered.
It probably started with Kitagawa Ryo's compliments every morning.
That had been the beginning of her journey to reevaluate herself.
They might have sounded like polite remarks, but they never stopped, not even to this day:
"Suzune, your hairstyle looks great today."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To Read Advanced Chapters, and support this novel, please join me on [email protected]/geats2000