LIGHTNOVELSTORY chapter 88
88. Lunchtime with Leo
When lunchtime arrived, I visited Fusegawa Raito, who had taken on the role of summarizing our class’s cultural festival efforts.
I was there to show him the dessert menu ideas I had thought of yesterday and to get his opinions on any other potential crowd-pleasing items.
Next to me was Hanazaki Yuna, and in front of me was Himeno, both watching Fusegawa Raito’s demeanor with serious expressions.
As for Fusegawa Raito, he appeared calm as he reviewed the dessert menu I had written.
“I’m really surprised. I didn’t know Shindo was knowledgeable about sweets.”
“As I said yesterday. I’m good at this kind of thing. So, do you think it will be useful?”
“I also looked it up on my smartphone yesterday, but this is more detailed and easier to understand.”
“I see. Well, I’m glad it seems useful.”
As I sighed in relief and patted my chest, Fusegawa Raito closed the notebook containing the menu ideas with a snap.
“I’ll hold onto this for now. Later, I’ll survey the classmates about it, and we can decide based on the results.”
“Please, don’t make decisions on your own. It wouldn’t be fair to everyone else. Make sure it’s something that everyone can agree on.”
Fusegawa Yorito stood up with my notebook in hand.
Then, he took Hanazaki Yuna with him and headed toward the student council room where Sakuramiya Miyuki was waiting.
Himeno seemed to have let out a big yawn before heading off to the cafeteria alone. It really feels like the gap between the protagonist and the heroine is quite deep.
After watching the backs of the protagonist and the heroines as they left, I returned to my seat and opened my lunch.
The cultural festival only has meaning when the entire class cooperates. By uniting as a class and succeeding in our presentation, bonds are formed, and it becomes a great opportunity to build trust among classmates.
I believe that the essence of the cultural festival lies in students who haven’t had much chance to talk getting to know each other while preparing for the event and making new friends.
I want to make new friends at the cultural festival too.
I want my classmates to understand me well and to become close.
I think to myself that I’m quite excited.
But this is also something I should do to avoid repeating the sad events of the original story.
Even the relationship between the protagonist and the antagonist, which could never understand each other in the original, might be changed by my efforts.
Talking to Himeno has become a trigger for that hope.
“You seem to be in a great mood, Ryusuke.”
“Reo, can you tell?”
“Of course. Your expression is much brighter than usual today.”
“When I think that my efforts yesterday are benefiting everyone in the class, I feel glad I worked hard.”
Reo, who returned from buying lunch at the cafeteria, sat down next to me and placed a yakisoba bun and a bottle of tea on the desk from the plastic bag.
“By the way, Reo. You usually have lunch with Nishikawa or the basketball club, but today you’re eating in the classroom.”
“Actually, Kyoya didn’t finish his summer vacation assignment… I got called out by the teacher.”
“That’s… unfortunate.”
“Seriously. I told him so many times. He was hiding the unfinished assignment from me. And in the end, he gets called out—what goes around comes around, I guess.”
“He must have been having too much fun at basketball practice, running around the court and neglecting his studies… I can imagine.”
“Ahaha… Kyoya really hates studying. He’s a handful.”
Reo laughed helplessly as he opened the yakisoba bun and took a big bite. I also picked up my chopsticks and started eating my lunch.
Mashiro seemed to be sharing the design of the maid outfit she thought of yesterday with the other girls, and they were coming up with suggestions and working hard toward the actual event.
I think our class is gradually making progress with the preparations for the cultural festival as well. I spent lunchtime with Reo, wishing for our success.