𝟹𝚛𝚍 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙿𝙾𝚅

Shuchiin Academy holds its culture festival every year before winter break.

Thanks to Shirogane's efforts, this year's festival will span an entire two days. It's a big event rarely seen in recent years!

However, a big event has its drawbacks.

"What? Me and Iino have to help the festival committee?" Ishigami sweatdropped.

"Yes, they want you to join them tomorrow." Shirogane confirmed.

"Sure, I guess, but what exactly does the committee do?" Ishigami inquired. Shirogane quickly answered him.

The committee members review event proposals, publicise the event, prepare costumes, plan the opening ceremony, create schedules for event spaces.

They also manage equipment and design pamphlets. They negotiate with the students and patrol the campus, along with other miscellaneous tasks.

Pretty much, they're important and they do a lot for the school.

"That kinda sounds like a lot of work." Ishigami sighed, not liking the amount of work he has to do. Plus, he didn't like the idea of working with Iino.

"It's fine if you don't want to do it. But I'll have you know that the Photography club will be cooperating with the committee." Shinomiya whispered to Ishigami.

"I'm in!" Ishigami immediately shouted after hearing that the Photography club will be there, meaning Y/n will also be there.

And so, the committee members and the Photography club members met the next day.

"Oh, Ishigami-kun, Iino-chan." Y/n's eyes widened at the sight of her fellow freshmen.

"Hello, Y/n-san." Iino smiled at the person whom she admires very much.

"G-Good afternoon, L/n. You look extremely pretty today as well!" Ishigami exclaimed.

Ishigami silently slapped himself, he was supposed to compliment her hairstyle. He just embarrassed himself!

"Oh, uhm...thank you. You look good as well, Ishigami-kun." Y/n blushed, look away from him.

The committee and Photography club discussed about what the tagline should be. The tagline must capture the 'Shuchiin is awesome' vibe.

A lot of male students from the committee tried to impress Y/n multiple times which made Y/n very uncomfortable.

They thought she was just being shy and cute but she wanted to run to the bathroom and cry since there was too much people in the room.

Ishigami quickly shot down their attempts to flirt with his goddess by pointing out the flaws of their ideas and by sitting close to Y/n.

"So, since Miko-chan got help from the neighborhood association to submit an application to the fire department to conduct fire drills for the last day of the festival, all we have now is the tagline." Koyasu reminded.

Iino went to far lengths just to have a bonfire at Shuchiin Academy. She truly is a hard worker.

"I've been thinking about the tagline for a while, do you mind?" Y/n raised her hand.

"Go for it Y/n-chan!" Koyasu winked, wanting to hear her idea since she hasn't said a word yet.

Y/n is the type to stay silent. That's why when she finally says something, everyone has their attention on her and only her.

"The festival is called 'Open Heart's Festival', right? Our tagline should have something related to love as well." Y/n dragged along her idea.

"We're listening." Koyasu's eyes sparkled as she watched Y/n speak. She loved it when Y/n talked, it's rare.

"So, how about this." Y/n grabbed the board marker from Koyasu who handed it to her. Y/n wrote on the white board.

"Get those burning feelings out! Have a heart-to-heart at our Open Heart's Festival!!"

"What do you all think?" Y/n questioned, turning around to face them. She suddenly felt insecure.

What if they don't like it?

What if it's dumb and not eye-catching at all?

What if she won't get the approval of others?

"That's dope! I love it!" Ishigami cheered. Others then cheered as well and agreed with her idea.

And so the festival draws ever closer...

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𝚈/𝚗'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅

It's gotten so lively around here now that the culture festival is getting closer.

"An interview?" I repeated, staring at the two girls standing in front of me.

"Oh my god! It's Y/n in the flesh!"

That must be Kino Karen.

"She's gorgeous!"

And that's Kose Erika.

"However, I don't participate that much in the club anymore due to my position in the Student Council. I'm not sure if I'm the best candidate for an interview." I hesitated.

"Aaah! It's Y/n being hesitant, in the flesh!" Kino-san exclaimed.

"I can't believe we got to experience her pure, undiluted discomfort!" Kose-san squealed. They're intense...

"But you're the one who was chosen to photograph Kaguya lighting the bonfire! We would love to hear your thoughts and feelings about that." Kino-san explained.

"Well, uhm...I'm very honored to be chosen and uh...about my feelings...I...uhm..." I stammered, what do I feel about it?!

Ishigami-kun, help me! I feel like crying right now.

"It's Y/n being shy, in the flesh!"

"She's so adorable while I look like an insect!"

"She's very excited about it and nervous at the same time. She's honored to be chosen, but she's nervous." Ishigami-kun came back with the drinks.

"Oh, Ishigami...well, would you mind telling us what you're nervous about, Y/n?" Kino-san ushered.

"Well, I'm nervous because I might miss the shot and I might not capture a picture of Kaguya-san lighting the bonfire." I nervously chuckled.

"It's Y/n chuckling, in the flesh!"

"Her chuckle is so cute! Mine sounds like a dying cat!"

"I know right!" Ishigami-kun joined them as well.

Things are getting weirder and weirder everyday...

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"Got it. So when the performance on stage #2 is done, go ahead and retrieve the wireless mics." Ishigami-kun explained.

"Sorry 'bout the trouble, Ishigami." the captain apologized.

"No worries, dealing with equipment is part of my job, so don't worry about it, Captain." Ishigami-kun stated.

"Sorry I'm late, I had some trouble getting here." I entered the room they were in.

"Sup, Y/n! How's it going with the Photography club?" the Captain rested his arm on my left shoulder, pulling me closer to his chest.

"It's going well. We've already assigned roles and we're displaying the souvenirs, the rest are getting ready to hand out the pamphlets." I answered.

"That's good to hear!" he ruffled my hair. He's like an older brother that I never had.

"Miko-chan, do you have any extra blackout curtains?" Osaragi-chan came in the room.

"Oh, Koba-chan. The festival starts in just a few hours, but it's still so hectic." Iino-chan sweatdropped.

"That's exactly why it's hectic. If something can go wrong, it will." Ishigami-kun pointed out. He has a point...

"Do your best out there, Kobachi." the Captain said.

"I will. You too, Senpai." Osaragi-chan said.

"Yeah! Well, catch ya later!" the captain left the room with Koyasu-senpai.

"Osaragi-chan, you know the Captain?" I questioned, I've never seen them interact.

"You could say that. After all, we're dating." she stated.

"Wow, congrats then." I congratulated, staring at my clipboard.

"Ah, I see. That's unexpected." Ishigami-kun calmly said as he bent down to look at my clipboard.

"I didn't think Koba-chan would be into sweaty jocks like him." Iino-chan scoffed.

Wait...Osaragi-chan is dating the Captain?!

"WHAAAA?!" the three of us exclaimed.

"Well, I never really talked to Kazeno-senpai until recently. We ended up talking every now and then. When preparing for the festival and one thing led to another, I guess." she shrugged it off like it was nothing.

"I guess it's what they call culture festival magic." she mentioned.

Culture Festival Magic. Preparing for the culture festival gives students more chances to interact with the opposite gender.

It's quite common for couples to hook up afterward, swept up in the excitement of the festival.

This phenomenon is known as the 'Culture Festival Magic'. How interesting.

"We were texting each other and ended up talking about that kind of stuff. And he was like, 'Wanna try going out?', so I said, 'Yeah, why not?'." she continued.

"Yeah, why not?!" Iino-chan and I screamed.

"I mean, yeah. It'd be kind of lame to just go around the festival with my girl friends and after this, there's Christmas coming up too." she elaborated.

"Logically speaking, you need a man." she concluded. You're surprisingly thirsty!

"At this time of year, confessing to someone who's single has a 60% success rate, so this is the best time to confess to someone." she mentioned. Really?!

𝟹𝚛𝚍 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙿𝙾𝚅

"Like I'd subscribe to that dumb relationship stuff. I'm going to the bathroom." Ishigami walked out of the room.

Ishigami has been wondering for a while. Not only are Y/n and the Captain awfully close, they also looked cute together.

'Could they be dating?' that's what he wondered all the time when he saw the Captain and Y/n hanging out.

However, if the Captain is dating Osaragi, that changes everything! The Captain x Y/n ship has sunk!

"YEEEAAAAAAAH! THIS IS LIIIIIIT! THIS IS MY CHANCE!" Ishigami yelled in joy. The chances of L/n Y/n being single were greater than ever.

"Please...don't yell." Shinomiya covered her ears. The sound of Shinomiya's voice made Ishigami jump.

"Shinomiya-senpai, when did you?" Ishigami stared at her, tremendously horrified.

"I was already here when you came bursting out the door. I do understand why you're in such high spirits though. Your most fearsome rival has just dropped out of the game." Shinomiya smirked.

"Not to mention, if you take advantage of the culture festival's unique atmosphere to confess, your victory is all but assured. I'm sure you were thinking of something along those lines." she teased.

"I would never think of anything so shallow!" Ishigami shouted. Shinomiya was thinking of something along those lines.

"It doesn't matter when I confess.
I just happened to get my chance during the culture festival. I would never confess just based on calculations." he sighed.

"You can confess whenever you want. If you love someone, you'll eventually get a chance to confess, right?! Shouldn't you deepen your relationship and wait until the other person confesses?" Shinomiya questioned.

She was making excuses for herself.

"But, I don't have that kind of time. I can't afford to let this chance pass me by." Ishigami mumbled, staring at the ground.

"L/n's going to be focusing on her studies and at this rate, we'll only stay as friends. That's why, I need to become someone special to L/n." Ishigami stood up.

"I'm scared of being rejected, but just leaving things like they are is even scarier. I was planning to tell her how I feel after getting good results on the final exams, pretty bad plan though. To L/n, I'm probably just-" he got cut off.

"That's not true at all! I'm sure it'll turn out all right! You don't have to hide your feelings! Have courage, Ishigami!" she cheered for him.

"It's better to confess! You could confess right now even! Right now! Now!!" she ushered him.

Shinomiya really wanted to drag someone along with her for solidarity.

"Now's a bit too early. Anyhow, I feel a bit more confident. For now, I'm going to ask her is she wants to go around the culture festival together." he mentioned.

"And Shinomiya-senpai, thanks." Ishigami thanked her before leaving. He has found his courage.

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"Without further ado, let the Shuchiin Culture Festival, The Devoted Hearts Festival begin!"

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𝙸𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚐𝚊𝚖𝚒'𝚜 𝙿𝙾𝚅

L/n Y/n is almost certainly single right now. This culture festival is the perfect time to confess to L/n!

But if I'm going to confess, I need to set up some sort of opportunity. I just need some time alone with her.

But it's almost time for the Photography club's break. I need to find a way to take her on a date during the culture festival!

But seriously...how the hell am I supposed to ask her?!

Just talking to her already makes my heart pound like crazy. There's no way I can ask her out!

I'm just going to end up tripping over my words, legs shaking, unable to speak, what am I supposed to do?!

And all those losers hovering around her are probably waiting for their chance to ask her out too...

"Guess who!" someone covered my eyes. That voice...it's Tsundere-senpai or rather Shijo Maki.

The Shijo family is a branch family of the Shinomiyas, meaning she's a relative of Shinomiya-senpai.

"Hey Ishigami, who's that you've been ogling this whole time? Hmmm? Oh ho...ah, I see now. Mm, I totally get it." she smacked my back repeatedly.

"What? What is it you get?" I questioned.

"That's L/n Y/n, the Historian of the Student Council, right? She's pretty, isn't she? I get where you're coming from, Ishigami." she smirked.

"The culture festival only comes once a year, and you want to enjoy it together with the person you like! And if all goes well, you want to confess to them, but you can't muster the courage! Mm, yes! I completely understand!" she mocked me.

"Really...I understand all too well." she then switched to her gloomy side. Her mood still changes at the drop of a hat.

"You know, I thought you might have a crush on someone. I just didn't think it'd be the Cherry Blossom of the first years." she smirked.

She then continued on about her teasing. In the end, Tsubasa-senpai, the boyfriend of Kashiwaga-senpai, and Kashiwaga-senpai found out about my crush on L/n.

And now they're thinking of ways to help me ask her out. This isn't a situation I had in plan, but it's better than nothing.

"Oh! If you need an excuse to hang out with her, why not invite her to your class's event?" Tsubasa-senpai suggested.

"Yeah! That's a great idea!" Kashiwaga-senpai agreed.

"Your class is doing a haunted house, right?" Tsundere-senpai asked.

"Yeah. Classes 1A and 1B are doing the 'House of Horrors' together." I added. Class 1A is the class L/n is in.

"Well, you're in luck. I've heard that L/n Y/n is secretly a fan of horror stuff." she mentioned.

"My friends told me about the haunted house. The two of them were locked in a cleaning closet for five minutes. They said it was absolutely terrifying." she said.

"Yeah,we were hoping that adding a gimmick like that would draw customers." I told her.

"Which means, you get locked in an enclosed space, just the two of you, for five minutes." she hinted. That's...

"She'll be so scared, she'll grab on to your hand. Maybe even cling on to you without thinking! If a boy and a girl go in together who knows what could happen!" she pointed out. That's true!

"It's the Photography's time to have a break! We'll shoot you a message on LINE if we need anything." Koyasu-senpai announced.

"Hurry up, Y/n's going to have her break now. C'mon, go for it!" Tsundere-senpai pushed me.

"But...but..." I hesitated.

"Don't worry. I know she won't reject someone like you." she gave the final push.

Why does Tsundere-senpai have to suffer so much even though she's such a good person?

"L-L/n!" I called for her.

"Ishigami-kun...is something wrong?" she inquired, staring at me with those shiny e/c orbs of hers.

"Um...well..." I just stared at the ground, my legs shaking uncontrollably.

"Take your time. I don't mind spending my break waiting for you." she smiled at me, a really cute smile too!

"Our class is doing a haunted house, and I think we did a pretty good job. And um, I heard that you liked scary things, so if you've got some time-" I didn't even get to finish my sentence.

"Let's go! I heard our class worked together but we focused on two different things. You're also on break, right? Let's go then! If you don't mind that is..." she mumbled.

"Ah...okay!" I exclaimed. Hell yeah! Tsundere-senpai! Shinomiya-senpai! I did it!!

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