SCHOOL FESTIVAL:AIKO

As Kyoshi wandered through the festival grounds, his mind was full of the recent experiences he’d had with his friends. He found himself smiling as he reminisced about the photo booth with Mayumi, wondering where he should head next. The festival was still buzzing with energy, with people moving from one booth to another, laughter echoing through the air.

Just as he was about to turn toward a nearby game booth, he felt a sudden tap on his back.

“Boo!” Aiko’s playful voice rang out.

Kyoshi jumped in surprise, turning around so quickly he nearly bumped into her. Aiko burst out laughing, clutching her sides at how startled Kyoshi was.

“A-Aiko! You scared me!” Kyoshi exclaimed, his heart still racing a bit.

“Ha! Your face was priceless!” Aiko teased, still laughing. “You looked like you saw a ghost!”

Kyoshi grinned, shaking his head at her antics. “Well, you caught me off guard. What’s up?”

Aiko, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, gestured toward a booth nearby. “I was wondering if you wanted to check out the flower booth with me. It looks pretty cool.”

Kyoshi raised an eyebrow. “The flower booth, huh?”

“Yeah, why not? It’s kind of relaxing, don’t you think? And besides, it’ll be fun,” Aiko said with a wide smile, her energy completely different from how she used to be.

Kyoshi couldn’t help but notice how much she had changed. Gone was the gloomy, reserved Aiko from before. Now, standing before him was a girl full of life and vibrance, someone who had started to embrace herself and the people around her. It warmed his heart to see her like this.

“Alright, let’s go then,” Kyoshi said with a nod.

The two made their way toward the flower booth, which was beautifully decorated with various types of flowers—roses, sunflowers, lilies, and more. The scent of fresh blooms filled the air, giving the area a calm, serene atmosphere despite the liveliness of the festival.

As they walked around the booth, admiring the flower arrangements, Aiko was the one who kept the conversation lively.

“So, Kyoshi,” Aiko began, picking up a small bouquet of daisies, “I have a question.”

Kyoshi glanced at her, curious. “What’s up?”

Aiko smirked, a mischievous glint in her eyes again. “If you had to choose one flower to represent yourself, which one would it be?”

Kyoshi paused, caught off guard by the question. “Uh, I don’t know. A flower to represent me?”

“Yeah!” Aiko nodded eagerly, clearly enjoying herself. “Come on, don’t tell me you’ve never thought about it.”

Kyoshi scratched his head, thinking. “Hmm... maybe a sunflower? They’re pretty simple and they follow the sun. Kind of like me—always chasing after something bright.”

Aiko giggled, her smile wide. “That’s so cheesy, Kyoshi!”

Kyoshi laughed too. “Hey, you asked!”

“Well,” Aiko said, twirling one of the daisies between her fingers, “I think you’re more like... a dandelion.”

“A dandelion?” Kyoshi raised an eyebrow, amused. “Why?”

“They’re tough and can grow anywhere,” Aiko explained, a thoughtful look crossing her face. “No matter what happens, they keep popping up, even in the most unlikely places. And when the wind blows, they spread their seeds and grow more. You’re like that, Kyoshi. You have this way of reaching out to people, even when they don’t expect it.”

Kyoshi was silent for a moment, touched by her words. “Wow, Aiko. That’s... that’s actually really deep.”

Aiko blushed slightly, but she quickly hid it by changing the subject. “Okay, okay! Enough about flowers. Let’s move on!”

They wandered around the booth for a while longer, talking and joking as they went. It was different from their usual interactions. Normally, Kyoshi would be the one throwing out jokes and trying to lighten the mood, especially back when Aiko was more reserved and melancholic. But today, Aiko was the one taking the lead. She was smiling, making jokes, and even teasing Kyoshi—a side of her he hadn’t seen before.

At one point, Aiko held up a particularly large sunflower and grinned mischievously. “Hey, Kyoshi, do you think this would suit you as a hat?” she teased, holding the flower above his head as if to crown him with it.

Kyoshi laughed. “You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”

Aiko giggled. “You have no idea. It’s fun seeing you flustered.”

He shook his head, still smiling. “I’m glad to see you like this, Aiko.”

Aiko paused, her smile softening as she looked at him. “Yeah... I guess I’ve changed a lot, huh?”

Kyoshi nodded. “You really have. You’re more open, happier... it’s nice to see.”

Aiko looked away for a moment, her gaze falling on one of the flower arrangements nearby. “I think... I owe a lot of that to you, Kyoshi. You’ve always been there, even when I didn’t realize I needed someone.”

Kyoshi felt his chest tighten a little at her words, but before he could respond, Aiko quickly added with a teasing grin, “But don’t let it get to your head, okay? You’re not *that* amazing.”

He laughed, the lightness of the moment returning. “Don’t worry, I won’t.”

They continued to hang out for a while longer, moving from flower arrangements to other parts of the booth. Aiko, in particular, seemed to be in her element, cracking jokes and even throwing playful jabs at Kyoshi. It was such a stark contrast from the quiet, withdrawn girl she used to be that Kyoshi couldn’t help but feel proud of her.

After a while, the two of them stepped away from the booth, still chatting animatedly. Aiko’s phone buzzed, and she glanced at it, her face lighting up.

“Looks like the girls are calling me,” she said, her smile still present. “They probably want me to help with something. You know how they are.”

Kyoshi nodded. “Yeah, I can imagine.”

Aiko looked at him for a moment, a warm smile on her face. “Thanks for hanging out with me today, Kyoshi. I had a lot of fun.”

“Same here,” Kyoshi said, returning the smile. “It was great to see you like this.”

She gave him a small wave before turning to leave. “See you later!”

As Aiko walked away, Kyoshi stood there for a moment, watching her go. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction, knowing that Aiko had come so far. The gloomy cloud that had once surrounded her was gone, replaced by the vibrant energy of a young woman who had found her place.

And as he continued to wander through the festival, Kyoshi couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face. He felt genuinely happy for her—and for the friendship they had built.

Chapter end