CH 29

It may be obvious, but college festivals were larger than those in high school. Nevertheless, in high school, it was nice and full of student-like freshness.

Well, I was too busy practicing for the baseball team, so I couldn’t participate in the preparations as much as I would have liked. Still, I think it was a good memory. The college festival was a little more glamorous than the high school festival.

It was a bit more mature. I remember being quite surprised when I was a freshman in college to see the tents lined up like a proper business establishment, rather than full of handmade things.

So, our university’s school festival is a lot of fun. On the other hand, as for us, ……

“…. Well, this is about as comfortable as it gets~”

The place for the film screening was a lecture room that we usually used. The university lecture halls were divided into L, M, and S buildings. As the initials suggest, L stands for large, M for medium, and S for small lecture rooms.

Our film was shown in a lecture room called M32. As for me, I would have preferred a smaller lecture room in the S building. …

I mean, there were unexpectedly a lot of visitors. Hiyori was well-liked by the girls.

I get along well with the boys, too. In other words, a movie starring a couple, who are highly liked by the same s*x, would draw a surprisingly large number of people…

“Oi oi, Are you serious? This Hidetsugu…He is so popular~!”

“Kya~, Hiyori-chan is too deredere~!”

… Right now, my life gauge is zero.

It’s a precarious situation.

But I was not allowed to leave. I was left sitting on a chair, completely white.

I glanced at Hiyori next to me. She was turning bright red in contrast to me.

“Heh~~, I’ve done quite a good job, if I do say so myself~!” said Ebina, our super director, with a look of satisfaction.

“Hey, Ebina. We can’t walk around campus properly anymore. …”

“Don’t worry. Everyone is giving you their blessings.”

Ebina gave a thumbs up.

“”YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!””

The guests were excited. Just like the idiots in our circle.

“U-um, Shoko-chan.”

“Hmm? What’s up, Hiyo-tan?

“Do we still have to stay here?”

Ah, Hiyori was indeed getting embarrassed. Ebina is sweet to Hiyori, so if Hiyori tells her, we may be able to escape from this humiliating space.

“It’s not that you can’t…but what happened?”

“You know, it’s the college festival, so… I want to go around with Hidetsugu-san.”

“Huh!”

I was the one who raised my voice. Ebina smirked. Then she turned to the guests.

“Everyone! The lovebirds are leaving! To go around the festival together~!”

“Ebina, you b*****d!

And then…

“”KYAAAAAAAAAA!!””

The guests were boiling over again.

Damn, that pisses me off somehow.

“So lucky~~, Hidetsugu-kun~~, being able to flirt with your lovely wife~”

“Really, showing it off so much~”

I snapped when the idiotic duo of Shuji and Nobukazu said.

Gachin!

“”OWWW””

The two guys who had been punched by me held their heads and yelled.

“Seriously…”

I put my hands on my hips and let out a sigh. My eyes met Hiyori’s.

Then my mouth naturally broke into a smile.

“Hiyori, let’s go around the festival together.”

“Y-yes.”

She smiled happily, and I smiled again. Then, we left the lecture hall, being teased by the noisy crowd. As we strolled out of the lecture hall, we witnessed the bustling scene of the college festival.

“Come to think of it, this is the second time I’ve been to a festival with you, Hiyori.”

“What?”

“You know, the summer festival.”

“Oh, yes.”

“That time was …….”

As I was about to say this, a memory came back to my mind. I remembered Hiyori in her yukata, and my face heated up involuntarily.

“Hidetsugu-san? Are you okay?”

“…. yeah, it’s nothing.”

I said, holding my mouth.

“Well then, shall we go?”

“Yes.”

Hiyori and I started walking hand in hand.

******

Was it the effect of that movie?

“Oh, here comes the lovebirds~! What will you have?”

“Hidetsugu, make your wife happy~!”

“Hiyori-chan~, congratulations~!”

We were graciously blessed all over the campus festival. I was fed up at first. But when I saw Hiyori walking next to me, smiling shyly and happily, my heart gradually became calmer.

“Hidetsugu-san, it’s fun, isn’t it?”

I saw her smile,

“Yeah, it’s fun.”

I also smiled naturally. At that moment, I heard a ping, ping

[Mr. Shuji Matsuo, a second-year student in the Department of Economics, Ms. Hiyori Ando, a second-year student in the Department of Economics Please come to the festival stage immediately!]

When I heard the announcement, I was a little startled.

“W-What? Why are we…”

I was perplexed, and the people I knew around me were looking at me.

“… No choice but to go. Hiyori, you …”

“Hidetsugu-san, I’m going with you.”

“You sure?”

“Of course. Because, I am Hidetsugu-san’s….Hauu~~~”

Seeing Hiyori make such a shy and cute voice, I was at peace.

“Then, let’s go together.”

“Y-Yes.”

I grabbed Hiyori’s hand and moved.

******

Breathless, I made my way to the stage. There was a huge crowd packed in there. The density of the crowd was incredible, as there were visitors from outside the university.

“Matsuo-san~, is Hidetsugu Matsuo-san here yet~? Ando-san~?”

The hostess said through the microphone.

“Ah, here we are!”

I said, raising my voice.

“Ah, thank God. You came~!”

The MC girl said, relieved. The audience’s eyes also turned toward us.

“Excuse me, could you please come to the stage?”

I was puzzled seeing the festival staff going out of their way to wade through the crowd.

“Please, come this way.”

They led us to the stage. Hiyori and I went up to the stage holding hands.

“Welcome, welcome~!”

The hostess said,

“No, um, …, what in the world is this ……?”

“Actually~, today’s special guest wants to see you~.”

“What? Special guest?”

“Well, let’s have her~! There she is!”

The MC girl said, and a figure emerged from the curtains at the side of the stage.

I heard the clack of heels.

The silhouette that emerged gradually sent shivers down my spine.

“Y-you are …….”

I bite my teeth when I see her appear in front of me.

And Hiyori ……

“…… M-Marina ……-chan?”

Seeing Hiyori say this in a frightened manner, the fellow–Marina Ando–smirked.

“I missed you so much,…… HI.YO.RI”

(T/N:- Happy Valentine’s Day folks)