"Since when did all festivals become a game of capital? They use festivals to harvest everyone's wallets! Is there no other way to celebrate besides couple hotels? No! I want to say no to such a world!"
Ishigami Yu slammed his glass down with the conviction of a revolutionary.
"Such a festival is too sad! It's too hard to accept! Sakurai-senpai! Promise me—don't spend Qixi with your girlfriend! Come conquer the battlefield with me in the game! Tonight, the drop rate is super high—it's a brand new version you've never played before—"
"Hiccup—~!"
After that long string of nonsense, Ishigami Yu hiccupped—and promptly collapsed onto the sofa next to the dining table.
The Student Council members were currently gathered at Kaguya Shinomiya's mansion.
Originally, Ishigami Yu had said he wouldn't come. But—his mother had insisted: When others invite you to an event, especially respected seniors, it's not good to refuse. Mom can watch the shop herself today. Our family has a big business; opening a flower shop is just Mom's hobby.
So, Ishigami Yu came.
He came—and then he got drunk—all within half an hour.
Damn. How can someone be so weak? The alcohol content in this juice is even lower than beer, yet he's down after one glass!
"Where did he even see that game ad?" Sakurai sighed.
"Super high drop rate" is here—so are there also Dragon Slaying Blades and Sand City attacks?
Don't ask why Sakurai Saki knows; he's seen them too.
It can only be said that unscrupulous game developers from the Dragon Country have even come to the Island Nation to fleece people. Low-quality web and mobile game ads are everywhere. The fat middle-aged men of the Island Nation, who haven't experienced such a baptism, couldn't see through it—and were unknowingly squeezed for a lot of money.
The higher the revenue, the more ads. Just like a virus.
"Sakurai, I'm quite surprised you're not spending time with Hayasaka-san today," Shirogane Miyuki said, taking a sip of juice.
"Hayasaka-san?" Beside him, Shirogane Kei held a juice cup with both hands, her beautiful blue eyes blinking.
She'd heard that name before!
"That's the one Saki-nii confessed to at the Sports Festival, right! I know!" Kei raised her hand enthusiastically.
"It was super romantic—I want a boy to confess to me at the Sports Festival too!"
"If you say things like that—look at your brother, his face has turned dark," Sakurai said with a smile.
He was quite happy today.
After all, it was a party—and even for Sakurai Saki, this was a first.
When he lived with his mother in Kyoto, he'd never attended a party.
His mother, however, would regularly attend women's gatherings with wealthy ladies—drinking tea, arranging flowers, discussing their children's education—doing all the things wives did. It's just that his mother's appearance stood out among the wealthy ladies like a crane among chickens.
"Big brother's opinion? It doesn't matter," Kei said, her words a sharp blade that instantly pierced Shirogane's chest.
Shirogane Miyuki clutched his heart.
His expression was so exaggerated that everyone's attention was immediately drawn!
"Big brother, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Kei's tsundere facade crumbled instantly—she became genuinely worried.
"It's an old problem—stomach ache," Shirogane lied, just to get his sister's concern.
"But big brother—you're clutching your chest," Kei exposed him without mercy.
Beside them, Hayasaka Ai—still in her butler persona—listened to their conversation and smiled.
Indeed, Qixi is better when it's lively.
It's just that the topic of the Sports Festival confession made Ai-chan a little shy.
However, she was currently in Hayasaka-kun mode, so it didn't matter.
"Hayasaka-kun, you should eat something too!" Fujiwara Chika said, a shrimp in her mouth, its tail wagging as she spoke.
"Chika, don't talk while eating," Sakurai reminded her.
Chika nodded and swallowed the shrimp.
"As a servant, one cannot dine with the master. Standing here is already the limit," Hayasaka Ai said, standing motionless in her butler uniform like a statue.
Kaguya Shinomiya spoke up: "Hayasaka, take a seat. There are no outsiders here anyway."
Hayasaka didn't move.
"Take a seat! That is the master's command."
Hayasaka was really stubborn in some ways.
This caused Kaguya Shinomiya considerable distress.
But thankfully, after only two commands, Hayasaka obediently took a seat.
Right next to Sakurai Saki.
And then.
After drinking some more juice, Hayasaka Ai felt a bit dizzy.
Sakurai Saki didn't notice at first.
If he had known it was Hayasaka Ai, he definitely wouldn't have let her touch alcohol!
Hayasaka Ai dazedly leaned on Sakurai Saki's shoulder, murmuring: "Sakurai-san... you smell so good. Like lavender."
She was still maintaining her last shred of sanity.
"That's the smell of laundry detergent," Sakurai said, turning his head to look at him, then helping him sit upright.
Upon closer inspection, Sakurai realized.
Hayasaka-kun looks so delicate.
He clearly has the makings of a good cross-dresser.
[You have accepted the quest: Cross-dressing]
[Make Hayasaka-kun wear women's clothing]
[Reward: Scumbag Undying by Cleaver (Armor)]
Why hasn't this Superpower ended yet?
Right—it said it would last for a whole week.
This side effect was actually pretty good. Not bad at all.
After all, side effects are inherent to the ability—not just an obstacle for Sakurai. Some medicines even utilize side effects to treat illnesses.
After dinner, everyone prepared to hang their written wishes on the sasatake.
Sasatake is a type of dwarf bamboo, and in the Island Nation, it's popular to hang paper slips with wishes on them to pray for the Cowherd and Weaver Girl to fulfill their desires.
But it's just for peace of mind.
The Cowherd and Weaver Girl are very busy people—fulfilling the wishes of so many people in the Island Nation in one day? Even gods couldn't manage that.
Oh, right—Santa Claus can't fulfill all children's wishes either.
Hmm? You ask why I'm saying this?
Because there are only 86,400 seconds in a day. Even if Santa climbed one chimney per second, he wouldn't finish delivering.
No! No! Perhaps there aren't even 86,400 homes with chimneys anymore—so maybe he really could finish!
Go, Santa Claus!
"Sakurai, what is your wish?" Shirogane Miyuki looked at Sakurai, who had just hung his paper slip.
"My wish is—to fulfill everyone's wishes!" Sakurai replied with a smile.
It wasn't that he was selflessly dedicating himself—it was mainly that he could do anything, so he had no particular dreams.
"What about you?"
"I hope my family and friends are healthy." Shirogane's expression was gentle—even his usually fierce eyes softened at this moment.
Sakurai stood beside him, waiting for him to finish hanging.
Midway, he glanced at one of the newly hung paper slips. On it was written—
"I want to go to the fireworks festival with my friends, go to the beach together, go to the festival together!"
Shirogane noticed it too.
"It's probably Shinomiya's wish."
Sakurai nodded, uncharacteristically refraining from speaking ill of her:
"I hope the Cowherd and Weaver Girl can make it happen for her."