The school auditorium buzzed with murmurs as students gathered for an assembly. The principal stepped up to the podium, offering a warm smile as she adjusted the microphone.
"Good morning, everyone. I'm excited to announce that this year, we'll be hosting a 'Cultural & Charity Festival,' an event where each class will showcase different cultures while also raising funds for a local charity."
Excited whispers rippled through the crowd. Some students perked up with interest, while others groaned at the thought of extra work.
Ara exchanged a glance with Ningning, intrigued.
The principal continued, "We'll need student volunteers to take on leadership roles. If you're interested in helping organize, sign-ups will be posted outside the student council office."
A few students immediately began whispering about the opportunity. Some looked eager, others indifferent.
Later, Ara, Ningning, Giselle, and Chenle sat around a table, surrounded by scattered notes and planning sheets. The Dreamies were involved too, though Jaemin and Chenle didn't look particularly thrilled.
Ningning grinned, elbowing Chenle. "Why do you look like you're being forced to eat wasabi?"
Chenle groaned, flopping back in his chair. "Because I am being forced to do something against my will. You and Giselle dragged me into this."
Giselle smirked. "You should be thanking us. We're making sure you actually contribute to something meaningful for once."
Jaemin leaned back, arms crossed. "Why do all school events involve work?"
Ara laughed lightly, shaking her head. "Because they don't run themselves."
Despite their complaints, the group started dividing responsibilities. Ara took the lead in structuring the festival layout. Ningning handled public relations, Giselle managed scheduling, and... despite his grumbling... Chenle was assigned to coordinate the entertainment acts.
Chenle raised an eyebrow. "Great. So now I'm a talent manager. Should I start wearing sunglasses indoors?"
Ningning grinned. "That might actually help your vibe."
Meanwhile, at a corner table, Karina, Danny, Winter, Hendery, and Yeri sat in hushed discussion, their expressions unreadable.
Danny leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "So let me get this straight. Ara and her little friend group are basically running the festival?"
Winter rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately."
A slow smirk spread across Karina's lips as she drummed her fingers on the table. "Then this is the perfect opportunity."
Hendery frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
Karina raised an eyebrow as if the answer should be obvious. "If they're in charge, they'll be the ones who get blamed if things go wrong. And wouldn't it be a shame if... things did go wrong?"
Danny grinned, catching on immediately. "I like the way you think."
Hendery crossed his arms, hesitant. "Messing with a school event is risky. If we get caught..."
Karina waved a dismissive hand. "Relax. We won't get caught. We'll just make sure Ara and her friends fail spectacularly."
Winter shrugged, her voice indifferent. "I don't see the harm in shaking things up."
Hendery and Yeri exchanged uneasy glances.
"I don't know... this feels like too much," Yeri murmured.
Hendery nodded in agreement. "Maybe we should just... let it go."
Karina turned to them with a sweet, practiced smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Oh, come on. Where's the fun in that?"
Despite their hesitation, it was clear Karina, Danny, and Winter were already scheming.
Back at the planning table, Ara, Ningning, Giselle, and Chenle were deep in discussion.
"Okay, so we need to finalize which cultural booths go where," Ara said, pointing at a map she had sketched.
Ningning nodded. "I'll handle the PR and make sure the school gets excited about it. Posters, announcements, social media..."
Giselle added, "I can schedule volunteers and make sure each activity runs smoothly. We don't want anyone waiting too long."
Chenle stretched lazily. "And I'll take care of entertainment. Music, performances, that kind of thing."
Ara smiled faintly. "Perfect. Let's just make sure we communicate so nothing overlaps."
Meanwhile, Karina, Winter, and Danny whispered among themselves, planning small ways to disrupt the festival without anyone noticing at first. A mix of pranks, small errors, and carefully timed interruptions was all they needed to create chaos.
As the two groups worked, the contrast was clear. Ara and her friends were determined, cooperative, and focused on making the event a success. Karina and her group were quietly plotting, enjoying the thought of causing trouble from behind the scenes.
The stage was set. Excitement and tension intertwined, and it was only a matter of time before the Cultural & Charity Festival became the most talked-about event of the year... for all the right or wrong reasons.
