Ramona
Oh, so this is a Japanese cultural festival...! I saw the preparations, but when everything comes together on the day, it's magnificent!

Lilja
Where should we look first?

Lilja
There's so much to see, it's dizzying.

Koyomi
Indeed...we also have shifts to watch over our exhibit, so if we take too long, we might not be able to see everything.

Ramona
Then let's start by visiting people we know.

Ramona
The closest from here is...Iroha and her classmates' room, I think?

Lilja
Haah...Iroha and the others were so cute. Their costumes suited them well.

Ramona
Yes. As expected of Denki, their worldbuilding was perfect.

Ramona
You helped with the costumes and makeup, right Lilja?

Lilja
Yeah. Kamira asked me for advice. When I complimented her earlier, she got really embarrassed.

Ramona
Haha, how adorable.

Ramona
What about you, Koyomi? How was it? Being served by your sister must be a rare experience.

Koyomi
Eh!? Um, yes.

Koyomi
It suited her very well. Yes, very. Extremely. Wonderfully.

Ramona
I see, that's good. You've been looking down this whole time, so I was worried you might not be feeling well.

Koyomi
There's no need to worry!

Koyomi
It's just that...I'm a bit flustered.

Lilja
Your face is red.

Lilja
So, where to next? If we're talking about people we know...Xue and Hikari's class?

Ramona
That's right.

Ramona
They had a cotton candy shop, right? Let's go see.

Xue
Welcome! Please come in! How about some jumbo rainbow cotton candy!

Ramona
Whoa!? Is that Xue's voice?

Ramona
Let's check it out!

Xue
Sweet and delicious jumbo cotton candy! Right now, buy two and get 50 yen off, limited time sale~!

Lilja
She's standing on a chair talking through a megaphone, but is this what cotton candy shops are usually like?

Ramona
Who knows...

Ramona
But that's Xue's business spirit for you. They must be doing pretty well, right?

Koyomi
You're not suggesting that this entire crowd is waiting in line for Xue-san's shop, are you...?

Student A
I heard the cotton candy place has a photo spot inside, and if you post a picture, you get a discount.

Student B
What, this is the photo spot? It's super cute! The dreamy kawaii style matches perfectly with the rainbow colors of the cotton candy. I can't wait to take pictures.

Ramona
Haha. Looks like Koyomi is right.

Koyomi
Such a long line just for cotton candy...that's a talent in itself...

Xue's Classmate
Xue-chan! Can you help with the register inside?

Xue
Got it! Coming now.

Koyomi
...It seems Xue-san is getting along well with her classmates.

Ramona
What, were you worried?

Koyomi
I'm just concerned as it affects Gingaza's reputation. Come on, let's go. If we wait in this line, we won't make it to our shift.

Lilja
Fufu, you're not being honest.

Xue
Alright. The limited time sale is over, and things have calmed down a bit. It was the right decision to increase staff during this time.

Classmate A
Just now, there were some girls taking pictures in front of our shop sign. They immediately posted them on social media saying it was "cute".

Xue
That's great. Even though it was put together in a hurry, it seems to be attracting attention.

Hikari
Yeah, yeah! The photo spot is popular too, so it looks like we'll be a big hit for all three days of the festival!

Xue
Hmph. Of course! Just sugar and food coloring, yet we're making this much profit, and the advertising is free.

Xue
Hehehe, I've found a good business...!

Hikari
Whoa...that's an evil face...!

Hikari
Well then, let's keep up this momentum until the final day-

Festival Committee Member
Sorry, Yonaguni-san! There's an emergency...!

Hikari
Ehhh!? What, what!?

Festival Committee Member
Actually...

Hikari
Huh! Yeah, yeah. Oh no, that's serious!

Hikari
I understand! I can help-ah, but at that time...

Xue
What's wrong? Did something happen?

Hikari
Yeah...a senior committee member broke their bone, so they're short on staff.

Hikari
So we need to share the workload for the next three days until the end of the cultural festival, but...

Hikari
The time for that work happens to overlap with our dance stage performance...

Festival Committee Member
I'm sorry, we just can't find anyone else who can work during that time...is it...impossible?

Hikari
B-But if there's no one to do the committee work, that would cause trouble for a lot more people...

Hikari
...

Hikari
...I understand. I'll give up the stage performance. I'm sorry for Koyomi-san and the others, but there's no choice.

Xue
...Are you sure?

Hikari
I'm a committee member, after all.

Hikari
...Koyomi-san and the others will graduate, but there will be another dance stage next year.

Xue
...

Xue
(She talked about wanting to fill the Higashiueno High School gym with people and enjoying the cultural festival, but now she's acting all grown up.)

Festival Committee Member
M-Maybe we should just cancel your shift...?

Festival Committee Member
We'll try our best to manage without you.

Hikari
No, it wouldn't be fair if only I got special treatment.

Hikari
...Ah! Wait! I might have a great idea!

Xue
When you said "great idea", I was wondering what it was...

Xue
Why am I the one who's going to be in the dance performance!?

Hikari
Because I thought that would allow Koyomi-san and the others to still perform on stage!

Hikari
Xue, I lent you the CD, so you must remember the song, right?

Ramona
Now, now, you two, you're tired, so don't make so much noise...

Xue
You could help with the committee work, and you could perform on stage!

Hikari
That wouldn't work! I'm the committee member, and there's sooo much to learn about the job!

Xue
You'd have to learn a lot for the dance too!

Xue
Haah, fine, whatever. I pretty much have the choreography in my head anyway.

Hikari
As expected of Xue! You can handle anything quickly!

Lilja
Is the fight over?

Ramona
No, I understand the committee situation, but the performance is the day after tomorrow, right? Can you really be ready in time?

Koyomi
You seemed busy with your class booth today too. Isn't this too much of a burden? Don't worry about us-

Xue
It's not a fight, and I'll be ready for the dance. It's a "youth memory", right?

Hikari
Then, let's start the special training! The super talented and beautiful dancer Xue, makes her appearance!

Xue
Wait, what's with that title...

Edit

Pub: 28 Aug 2025 16:45 UTC

Edit: 15 Sep 2025 09:43 UTC

Views: 3