Unseen Connection

The School Festival

The energy at the school was electric as the annual festival approached, and the air buzzed with anticipation. Students raced around, setting up booths and preparing for performances. Every corner of the campus seemed to overflow with excitement, and you couldn't help but get swept up in the festive atmosphere. Even Saiki, who typically avoided anything that drew too much attention, seemed unable to escape the pull of the event.

Saiki's friends were, unsurprisingly, at the center of it all.

"We have to do something big this year!" Nendou declared, his voice booming as usual as the group gathered around during lunch. "How about a haunted house?"

"Too cliché," Kaidou said, dramatically crossing his arms. "We should do something more exciting, like a hero's challenge! A test of bravery against the Dark Reunion!" He flashed his signature "Jet-Black Wings" pose.

Teruhashi, always one for appearances, let out a soft laugh. "Why don't we just keep it simple? Something that will make people want to come see us. After all, if I'm there, the line will never end."

Saiki's expression remained unreadable, though you could tell he wasn't thrilled about any of these ideas. He glanced at you, raising an eyebrow as if to say, What have I gotten myself into?

"I think we should do something fun but not too complicated," you offered, hoping to steer the conversation in a direction Saiki might tolerate. "Maybe a cafe? We could have different themes for each section."

Hairo's eyes lit up. "That's perfect! We can work together to make it great, and it'll bring everyone to the heart of the festival."

Nendou clapped his hands together, sending a shockwave of sound through the group. "Alright! A cafe it is!"

Saiki sighed quietly, but you caught the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. It wasn't his ideal situation, but at least it was manageable.

The day of the festival arrived, and the school grounds were transformed. Booths lined the walkways, laughter and excitement filled the air, and music blared from different stages set up around the campus. Your class cafe was bustling with activity, and the group had split into teams to manage the different sections.

Nendou and Hairo, both in bright aprons, manned the front of the cafe, drawing in guests with their infectious enthusiasm. You couldn't help but laugh at Nendou's attempts to greet everyone personally and Hairo's never-ending positivity as he hyped up the event.

Kaidou was stationed in the back, weaving stories of conspiracies and secret organizations to anyone who would listen while serving tea. The guests didn't seem to mind; in fact, many found his wild imagination entertaining, especially when he referred to their cafe as a "sanctuary from the Dark Reunion."

Teruhashi, of course, was stationed at the prime serving spot, where she could dazzle guests with her radiant smile and perfect demeanor. The line to be served by her was predictably long, with people constantly complimenting her appearance and grace.

You and Saiki worked quietly together in the kitchen, preparing the orders. It was the calmest place in the cafe—exactly where Saiki wanted to be. Every now and then, you'd catch him glancing at the chaos outside the kitchen doors, and you'd both share a knowing look. It was almost comical how predictable everyone was.

"Still think this was a good idea?" you asked, handing him a tray of desserts to take to the counter.

Saiki shrugged, adjusting his glasses. "At least I'm not the one out there."

You laughed. "Fair enough."

As the day progressed, the cafe became even busier, but everything seemed to run smoothly—until Kaidou burst through the kitchen doors, his eyes wide with panic.

"There's a problem!" he cried, dramatically pointing to the entrance. "The Dark Reunion has infiltrated the festival!"

You blinked, confused. "What are you talking about?"

Saiki, without even looking up, muttered, "It's just Nendou in a weird costume."

Sure enough, when you looked outside, you saw Nendou lumbering around in a ridiculous monster suit, trying to "scare" the guests. His attempts were more laughable than frightening, but the crowd was loving it.

Kaidou, however, remained in full "hero mode." "We must stop him before he causes mass panic!"

"Right," you said, stifling a laugh. "Go get him, Jet-Black Wings."

Kaidou dashed off, leaving you and Saiki to exchange another amused glance. Moments like these, where the absurdity of his friends became the highlight of the day, reminded you of how much you enjoyed being a part of this group, despite how wild things could get.

As the festival drew to a close, the cafe wound down, and the group gathered outside to take a break. Nendou, still in his costume, was munching on snacks, while Kaidou recounted his "battle" with the monster to anyone who would listen. Teruhashi continued to bask in the compliments from the guests, and Hairo, ever the motivator, was already talking about ideas for next year's festival.

Saiki stood quietly beside you, looking out over the festivities. You could see the faint exhaustion in his eyes, but there was also a sense of contentment there. He didn't say it, but you knew he didn't mind being part of the event—even if the chaos wasn't exactly his style.

"So," you said, nudging him lightly. "Not as bad as you thought, right?"

Saiki gave you a sideways glance, his expression neutral but his eyes giving away the tiniest hint of amusement. "I suppose."

A comfortable silence settled between you as you watched the festival lights flicker in the distance. The laughter of your friends echoed around you, and for the first time in a while, everything felt perfectly balanced—chaotic, yes, but balanced.

And as you stood there with Saiki and his friends, you realized that these moments—filled with laughter, absurdity, and connection—were what made the school events so special. You wouldn't trade this for anything.