Chapter 115: Festival

Kai arrived at the designated area and immediately noticed Naomi standing in the distance, lost in her thoughts.

He looked at her for some moments, to analyze her behavior.

She was holding a small notebook, staring at it intensely, as if searching for hidden answers in the lines.

Moreover, she scratched her own arm several times.

Then, as if sensing his presence, she lifted her gaze and scanned her surroundings.

When her eyes finally landed on Kai, a look of pure relief washed over her face.

It looked like she finally met her savior.

A bright smile spread across Naomi's face, and she rushed toward him as if he were her lifeline in a chaotic storm.

Her joy at seeing him was evident, and Kai couldn't help but feel a bit of comfort from her presence, despite the lingering tension that still gripped him after his encounter with Haruto.

"Kai, thank you so much for coming! There's so much to go over, and we have the meeting with the clubs coming up any minute," she said, her voice a mix of relief and urgency.

He nodded, and together they made their way toward a gazebo set up as a temporary base for organizing the upcoming school festival.

The structure offered some shade with its canopy, and beneath it were tables, chairs, and a stack of papers for each club representative who'd be discussing their plans.

As they walked, Kai noticed that Naomi's usually cheerful demeanor was marred by something deeper.

Her steps were hurried, but her movements lacked their usual grace.

Her hands clutched her notebook tightly, and he could see that she was subtly glancing around, as if she were being watched.

"What's wrong with her…?" Kai asked to himself, trying to figure out what was happening.

Then, the realization hit him when he noticed that Naomi's body was slightly trembling.

Naomi was afraid.

Whatever she was keeping to herself had clearly shaken her, and Kai could only hope that he'd have a chance to talk to her about it when they were alone.

But Kai decided not to ask anything in order to not raise any kind of suspicious.

They reached the gazebo, and soon club representatives began approaching.

The first to arrive were two girls with a commanding presence: Aurora Sakimi, the head of the gymnastics club, and Olivia Kirishima, the leader of the dance club.

Both carried themselves with the confidence and poise of seasoned performers.

After their greeting, their discussion about the festival started.

Aurora, with her high ponytail and determined blue eyes, spoke first, laying out her club's plans.

"We're planning an acrobatic showcase in the afternoon. Something big and exciting to capture everyone's attention," she announced with a tone that carried unwavering enthusiasm.

Kai listened intently, nodding. "That sounds fantastic," he replied. "But maybe we could arrange for a smoother transition between the gymnastics performance and the dance club's showcase, to keep the energy flowing. What do you think, Olivia?"

Olivia, who had been listening closely, gave a confident nod. She wore an elegant smile, her posture straight and composed. "I think it's a wonderful idea, and that's why I came here with her. I had already thought about something like that." Olivia said with a smile on her face. "We could coordinate the two acts, maybe even end with a joint performance to leave a lasting impression," she added.

Her eyes sparkled with creativity and a touch of pride.

Kai felt reassured by the presence of these two leaders.

He perfectly knew that he could rely on them to make the event a memorable one.

The three of them worked through the details together, with Kai suggesting adjustments and both Aurora and Olivia eagerly contributing ideas to refine their plans.

By the end, they had sketched out a seamless schedule for the festival performances.

After finalizing everything with Aurora and Olivia, Kai continued meeting with other club representatives for the rest of the afternoon.

Each one brought forward their plans and proposals, and Kai listened attentively, making mental notes of which activities would require additional support and how best to allocate resources.

A lot of people came to speak with Kai, and he wrote every information on his notebook he used for school.

There were important things to do, like buying materials, speaking with professors, etc.

Hours passed, and as the sun began its descent, Kai wrapped up the last meeting with a sigh of relief.

The day had been long and intense, but the plans for the festival were coming together. He gathered his belongings, preparing to finally head home.

Naomi thanked him for his patience and professionality

"Thank you, Kai." Naomi said with a small bow of gratitude.

"You're welcome." Kai said with a smile.

But just as he was about to leave, a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Hey, Kai!" A strange voice rang out, friendly yet carrying an undertone that made Kai's skin crawl.

Kai looked up to see Haruto approaching with Emi Fujimoto at his side, her usual cheerful expression intact.

Kai's heart sank.

Seeing them both here, together, was unsettling.

Moreover, a lot of million questions appeared into his mind.

He would've never expected something like that.

Haruto's presence felt ominous, and it made the hairs on the back of Kai's neck stand up.

Haruto gave a polite smile as he suggested, "How about grabbing a coffee nearby? It's been a long day, after all."

Kai forced himself to maintain a calm, pleasant expression, though his instincts were screaming at him to get out of the situation.

Standing next to him, Naomi instinctively shifted, taking a small step behind Kai, her body language betraying her discomfort.

She barely managed to hide her unease, her hand gripping her notebook even tighter.

Kai felt Naomi's tension and realized he couldn't refuse the offer without raising suspicions.

He glanced at her reassuringly before turning back to Haruto and Emi with a practiced, composed smile.

"Sure, sounds like a nice idea," Kai replied, his voice steady, hiding his discomfort under a mask of friendliness.

Inside, though, he was preparing himself for whatever might come next, aware that this meeting would be anything but casual.