The clamor of the Cultural Festival swept through Sobu University like a tide. After the opening ceremony performance ended, Okabara Kyogumichi had just stepped off the stage when Kaguya Shinomiya called out to him.
She stood at the backstage exit with her arms crossed, a relaxed smile on her face from the successful performance, and her black long hair shimmered softly in the sunlight.
"Have you thought about what request you want to make?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in her tone.
The student council's promised rewards usually involved priority use of activity rooms or additional funding, and she was very curious what request this student who always brought surprises would make.
He stroked his chin and said seriously, "I want to apply for a stall to sell special firearm-shaped Taiyaki."
"Firearm...-shaped Taiyaki?" Kaguya was stunned, her delicate face full of confusion. "What is that? Making Taiyaki in the shape of firearms?"
"Exactly," he nodded, his eyes sparkling. "Making rifle and pistol-shaped Taiyaki with molds, and filling them with a double-layered cheese and chocolate filling. They're sure to be popular."
This idea came from a sudden inspiration he had last night while discussing Cultural Festival stalls with Shiina Mahiru, combining Nyanko-sensei's favorite Taiyaki with the Rokushiki skills he had just mastered. It sounded full of contrasting cuteness.
Kaguya massaged her forehead and sighed helplessly. She had anticipated all sorts of reasonable requests, but she had never expected such a strange, creative idea.
But looking at his expectant eyes, and remembering how calmly he had saved the day on stage just now, the words of refusal caught in her throat.
"Reasons?" she maintained her presidential dignity, trying to find some rationality in this absurd proposal.
"First, it can enrich the variety of stalls at the Cultural Festival," he analyzed seriously, counting on his fingers. "Second, the unique shape will attract more people; third..." He paused, revealing a sincere smile, "I want to see if the Taiyaki I make can be popular."
(Actually, he just purely wanted to use his newly acquired skill, "Culinary Sharing," because why not use it if he had it?)
Kaguya looked at the pure anticipation in his eyes and suddenly felt that this reason was more convincing than any high-sounding excuse.
She turned and walked towards the student council office: "Come with me to do the paperwork. I'll arrange a prime spot for your stall at the main thoroughfare corner, but if they don't sell, don't come crying to the student council."
His eyes lit up, and he quickly followed: "Guaranteed to sell out!"
[Character: Kaguya Shinomiya] [Bond Progress:12% → 15% (Triggered Event: Absurd Request and Indulgence)] [Event Evaluation:She chose to indulge your outrageous request; this special treatment quietly warmed your bond]
On the morning of the first day of the Cultural Festival, he and Shiina Mahiru got busy.
Mahiru brought her family's oven and molds, while he was responsible for preparing the batter and fillings.
Looking at the fierce firearm shapes on the stainless steel molds, Mahiru couldn't help but chuckle: "Will anyone really buy these? They look so imposing."
"They definitely will," he said confidently as he poured the batter into the molds. "Look how perfect the curve of this muzzle is, and the trigger is just right for a chocolate chip."
At nine in the morning, the Cultural Festival officially opened to the public.
As soon as the school gates opened, students in various costumes and citizens who had heard about it poured into the campus, instantly surrounding the stalls.
His "Firearm Taiyaki" stall had just put up its sign when it attracted a large number of gazes.
"Wow! What's that? The Taiyaki are shaped like rifles!"
"They look so cool! Boss, I'll take an AK47-shaped one!"
"I want the sniper rifle one with a scope!"
"Boss, I want an AUG!"
He and Mahiru were swamped, the golden firearm-shaped Taiyaki were snatched up as soon as they came out of the oven.
The savory aroma of the cheese filling and the sweet richness of the chocolate mixed together, filling the air around the stall and attracting even more customers.
When Kaguya was inspecting the stalls, she saw a long line in front of his stall and couldn't help but stop to observe.
The boy's busy figure in an apron was faintly visible in the steam, his face dusted with flour but smiling exceptionally brightly.
He cooperated seamlessly with Mahiru, occasionally looking up to say something to customers, drawing laughter from the crowd.
"President! Would you like to try one?" he saw her and held up a freshly baked pistol-shaped Taiyaki. "It's warm, with chocolate filling."
Kaguya hesitated for a moment but still took it. When she bit into the crispy crust, warm chocolate sauce flowed out, and the sweet but not cloying taste was surprisingly good.
She looked at his cheeks, flushed from the heat, and suddenly felt that this absurd proposal was perhaps exactly what a Cultural Festival should be—full of whimsical ideas and pure joy.
Chitanda Eru brought the Classics Club members to show their support, buying five different shaped Taiyaki in one go: "Okabara-san's are so delicious! Everyone in the Classics Club loves them!"
When Kawasaki Saki passed by and saw the bustling stall, her eyes widened in surprise: "I didn't expect you had this skill. Give me two, cheese-filled ones."
Even Hitori Gotou, who usually kept to herself, hugged her guitar and hesitated by the stall for a long time, finally blushing and whispering, "Please, please give me one... the smallest kind."
He specially made her a mini pistol-shaped one, adding extra double cheese.
[Character: Hitori Gotou] [Bond Progress:5% → 8% (Triggered Event: Comfort for the Taste Buds)] [Event Evaluation:You remembered her preferences; this thoughtfulness reduced her sense of distance from you a little more]
As the sun set, all the firearm Taiyaki batter and filling were sold out.
He and Mahiru sat on chairs behind the stall, looking at the empty molds and the mountain of empty paper plates, and smiled at each other.
"We sold so much today!" Mahiru counted the change, her eyes curved into crescents. "After deducting costs, we made quite a profit."
"What's important is that everyone was happy." He looked at the still bustling crowd on campus, heard the distant band music and students' laughter, and felt a warmth in his heart.
He took out the last Taiyaki he had saved for himself, broke it in half, and offered it to Mahiru, "Try it, our signature product."
Mahiru took a bite, and the warm filling melted in her mouth, bringing a sweet aroma and a feeling of pure happiness.
She looked at his satisfied profile and felt that this Cultural Festival was the happiest one she had ever attended.
As night fell, the Cultural Festival's fireworks display began. Brilliant fireworks bloomed in the night sky, illuminating everyone's smiling faces.
He stood in front of the stall, looking at the cheering crowd around him, listening to the melody of "Uchiage Hanabi" coming from afar, and understood that the meaning of the Cultural Festival was not in a perfect process, but in these moments full of life—the sweat of hard work, the shared deliciousness, the pure laughter, and the warm companionship around him.