“Next is the second-year exhibition,” Josette said.
After viewing the third-year exhibits, Kent and Josette decided to look around at the second-year exhibitions.
“I actually wanted to see the exhibits being held outside the classrooms too, but we’re running out of time for our rounds. Once we finish this floor, we have to return to the classroom.”
“That’s strange… Why are we running out of time?”
Kent and his companions were supposed to be patrolling during the times set by the school festival executive committee, but it had taken longer than anticipated, leaving them with very little time. They had wanted to see the stage events in the auditorium, which were held outside of classrooms, and the food stalls set up outdoors, but it was looking unlikely with the time they had left.
“Well…”
“Ah, that’s right… I thought it would only take a moment, but quite a bit of time has passed, hasn’t it?”
Josette remembered the incident at the rest area and realized she had spent a lot of time there.
“Time just flies when I’m with Kent,” Josette said, blushing and looking embarrassed as she recalled the moment.
“Prim’s class is having an exhibition at the cafeteria,” Kent said.
“They’re apparently offering a different menu than the usual cafeteria fare, using carefully selected ingredients. I wanted to go, but I’m disappointed we don’t have time.”
They passed by Prim’s classroom, but the class exhibition wasn’t being held there, and the door was closed. Seeing this, Josette remembered the cafeteria exhibition and lamented that she had missed it.
“Um, this class seems to have put together a history of the school.”
“That’s right.”
After looking around at a few more exhibits, they came across a class that had compiled a history of the school and decided to enter.
“This school has quite a history, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. It has about 100 years of history. Before that, only wealthy families primarily attended private schools, and literacy rates were quite low.”
“Private schools?”
“Nowadays, students from all over the country gather at one school like this, but before that, educational institutions run by individuals or groups were scattered throughout various regions. I heard that attending them wasn’t free like it is now; it required a considerable fee.”
“I see.”
Kent, who knew nothing about such things, listened with great interest to Josette’s explanation.
“Well, well, isn’t this Josette and Kent?”
“Oh, Cedric. This is your classroom, isn’t it?”
Cedric, the son of a minister, approached them. It turned out this was Cedric’s class. He addressed Josette with respect but turned a hostile gaze towards Kent.
“Kent. You’re still with Josette? What audacity for a commoner to associate with Josette, the daughter of a Duke! Have some self-awareness!”
“Kent and I are just members of the school festival executive committee, doing rounds of the exhibits?”
“I-is that so?”
When Cedric spoke to Kent, Kent explained their reason for being together. At that, Josette looked incredibly sad.
“School festival executive committee? A Duke’s daughter would never take on such a role. Stop with the lies.”
Cedric spat out the words at Kent.
“Um… Cedric-sama… if you could lend me your ear for a moment…”
As they were talking, a male student whispered something to Cedric from the side. Although they had never spoken, Kent and Josette had seen him several times at meetings of the school festival executive committee. Therefore, they could vaguely understand what was being said.
“Hmph, so you really are part of the school festival executive committee. But Josette, why are you involved in such a role…”
“That’s because I wanted to be with Kent,” Josette replied clearly to Cedric’s question.
“What!”
“Don’t you understand that you and Josette are not a good match? The only one who can match Josette is me. You saw the results of the final exams, didn’t you? You were last, and I was second! Josette said she would only date the top student in the grade. Anyone can see who is closer.”
“That was the condition I gave you on the last test. Don’t expect it to apply every time. Next time, Kent will be first.”
Josette retorted to Cedric’s provocation.
“Then let’s bet on who ranks higher, Kent or I, in the next midterm exam. If I lose, I’ll cease all contact with Josette. But if I win, Kent, I forbid you from accompanying Josette. How’s that for good terms?”
“There’s no way I’d accept such a one-sided condition!”
“I accept. There’s no way Kent will lose to someone like you.”
Kent rejected the one-sided condition, but Josette clearly stated she would accept it.
“If Josette says it’s fine, then there’s no problem, is there? Then I’ll look forward to the next midterm exam. (Though I’m sure to be last again, hahaha).”
“Kent, let’s go.”
“Hey, Josette, don’t pull my hand.”
Josette grabbed Kent’s hand and quickly led him out of the classroom where the exhibition was being held.
“Oh dear… I let my emotions get the better of me. Kent, what are we going to do???”
“What do you mean, what are we going to do? Since we made a promise, we have no choice but to win the competition, don’t we?”
Kent said to Josette, who was clutching her head.
“I’ll consult with Rachel later. She’ll surely have a good idea…”
They had been rivals in the past, but now Josette trusted the knowledgeable Rachel and often asked for her advice. This was mainly to find things that Kent would like, though Kent was unaware of this.
“Welcome home, Kent, Josette.”
“I’m home, Patty. Was everything alright?”
“Well… a few people fainted and had to be taken away, but other than that, no major issues occurred.”
“I see. That’s good then.”
Upon returning to their classroom after their rounds, Kent asked Patty if there had been any incidents while they were away.
“Patty, could I have a moment?”
“Yes, Josette? What is it?”
After confirming the situation, Josette and Patty left together.
“Master~. I’m home~.”
“Oh? Aren’t those Al, Emily, and Hanako? Did you come to enjoy the school festival?”
“Yes, Al insisted on coming, so we did. Was it an inconvenience?”
“No, not at all, it’s fine. Are you enjoying yourselves?”
“Ate lots of food~. So satisfied~.”
Just as Kent was about to help with the exhibition, Al, Emily, and Hanako arrived. The three of them had come to see the school festival. Hanako was holding food she had apparently bought along the way in both hands and looked content.
“A haunted house… Can we go in too?”
“You can,” Kent replied.
“Thank you.”
“Hehehe. I’m really looking forward to it.”
“I’ll make your teeth chatter.”
When Emily asked, Kent had no reason to refuse and allowed them to enter. He didn’t think much of it at the time, not expecting the great disaster that would soon unfold. Kent watched as the three of them went inside.
