For three days, White Seagull High School was surrounded, at the center of news and public opinion.
During these three days, Principal Chiyoda Naoto experienced both hardship and joy.
The hardship was that the school was in turmoil, beset by internal and external troubles. To maintain order, he was utterly exhausted, having not slept well for three consecutive nights.
The joy, however, was the drastic increase in White Seagull High School’s media exposure.
In Neon’s society, where the issue of a declining birthrate was increasingly prominent, White Seagull High School likewise faced a severe student recruitment challenge. Therefore, publicity and media exposure were crucial in the competition among high schools.
The youngest Super Chef in Neon’s history.
A student with this nickname could also be called the strongest ace in the history of White Seagull High School.
Chiyoda Naoto was well aware that holding onto this card tightly would mean that for at least the next three years, White Seagull High School wouldn’t have to worry about publicity and exposure.
After the last exam, Nishimura Eiki raised his hands high in the schoolyard, his face a picture of relieving collapse.
These three days, he was under tremendous pressure.
Imagine, a gastronomy rising star who shook the online and offline world was sitting right next to you during the exams, and this very star was going to participate in a riveting culinary battle the next day...
Nishimura Eiki felt it was a miracle he hadn’t collapsed.
Recalling the past three days’ experiences, he couldn’t help but weep. Whenever students took sneaky photos of Xia Yu, he often ended up as a random passerby in the images, sometimes only half of him visible, other times just a head.
On the rare occasion his face was fully in the shot, the damned food media would Photoshop it out in the editing process.
Nishimura Eiki howled to the sky. It was already evening, and the students had nearly all left, so it didn’t attract any onlookers.
"Are you going to the culinary competition tomorrow?" A cool voice asked unexpectedly.
"To the competition?"
Nishimura Eiki stopped shouting, stunned for a moment, and then said bitterly, "Sakamoto, I want to go, but I don’t have a ticket..."
"Eh...?!" Nishimura Eiki blankly stared at the ticket handed to him, rubbing his eyes in disbelief and gasping, "This, this ticket, how did you get it? They’re selling for a fortune online right now!"
Without another word, he snatched the ticket and clutched it tightly in his hand.
Then, to his surprise, Sakamoto pulled out a second ticket from his pocket, "Then come with me."
Nishimura Eiki bobbed his head like a pecking chicken.
The old shopping street.
Recently, this block, too, was lined with police tape and barricades.
Fed up with the media hassle, Feng Zhizi Yaeko’s ’City Life Planning Company’ had no choice but to temporarily suspend work, withdrawing workers and construction equipment, and completely isolating the area.
In a corner, Xia Yu turned to wave goodbye to Main General Liangzi, who had dropped him off, then he tugged at his mask. Only after making sure there were no suspicious people lurking around did he dash off at high speed.
He didn’t head towards Xia’s Main Store. Going home was like walking into a trap; even with ground isolation, aerial photography couldn’t be stopped.
Therefore, after returning to Tokyo, Xia Yu was actually staying at the Sen Tian family’s place.
He didn’t announce his arrival, merely lowering his head and pushing open the door to the Sen Tian Pastry Shop, rushing in.
It was too late to stop when a cry of surprise came from ahead; he bumped into a soft body. He was fine, but the other party exclaimed as they lost balance, about to fall, and Xia Yu hastily steadied their waist.
Then, they looked into each other’s eyes.
"Why are you at the Sen Tians’?" Xia Yu straightened her up, asking with a wry smile.
"I should be asking you that..."
The other party rolled their eyes at her. Tiqie Helinai composed herself, her heartbeat steadying.
"I’m temporarily staying with the Sen Tian family."
"I just brought Makki back, and Far Moon started summer vacation today." Tiqie Helinai pointed outside the door. It was only then that Xia Yu noticed the car parked across the street, with Niho Fuyuka standing outside the Sen Tian Pastry Shop’s transparent glass, staring dumbfounded at them.
"She needed you to escort her?"
As she spoke, Xia Yu realized something was amiss.
Hand on chin, she scrutinized the blonde beauty who had changed her outfit, clicking her tongue in praise.
The western-style summer uniform that accentuated her cuteness and figure had been replaced with a set of carmine-colored women’s yukata.
The originally loose, slightly curled golden hair had also been tied up into a bun at the back of her head, with a stray strand braided into a triple braid and wrapped around her ear.
As a result, Tiqie Helinai, who already possessed an angelic appearance, now had more pronounced and delicate features, complemented by the carmine-colored yukata with cherry blossom patterns adorning her body, looking extremely elegant and sweet.
Annoyed by the strange clicking sounds coming from his mouth and his head-to-toe gawking, Tiqie Helinai glared at him and snapped, "What are you looking at? Your gaze is truly disgusting!"
"Please, this is a gaze of admiration, very pure."
He turned his head to look at Niho Fuyuka, who was waiting outside, the girl known as Secretary also wearing a yukata.
At that moment, a shadow flickered inside the pastry shop.
A third girl clad in a yukata appeared gracefully, "Let’s go..."
It was followed by exclamations of surprise.
Also changed into a new outfit and holding a small bag was his childhood friend, who after her initial astonishment, showed unmistakable joy without any attempt to hide it, quickening her pace towards him, "Yu, you’re back!"
Xia Yu had been staying at her place for the past three days, which Makki knew, and Xia Yu’s guest room was right next to her own bedroom. Unfortunately, Far Moon had just started its holiday today as well, and she had only recently dragged her suitcase back.
Observing the attire of the three girls, even someone as slow as Xia Yu could figure it out.
"Are you planning to go to a cooling-off festival?" He was curious.
In summer, Tokyo actually hosted many festivals.
A cooling-off festival was one of them.
"No, it’s a fireworks festival!" Makki said with a smile.
"Eh, there’s a fireworks festival in Tokyo today?"
"Yeah, right by the Sumida River! The Sumida River Fireworks Festival!"
So it was the Sumida River!
Xia Yu slapped her forehead, cursing herself for being so stupid.
At the end of July, it indeed was the time for the annual Sumida River Fireworks Festival. Today was July 30th, falling perfectly on a Saturday.
The Sumida River Fireworks Festival was considered the most famous, the oldest, and the largest fireworks festival in Tokyo. Xia Yu had been there several times in previous years, and searching her memory, it seemed that her childhood friend was always there.
Tiqie Helinai asked, deliberately posing with a nonchalant air.
Makki, hearing this, panicked and waved her hands, "No way, tomorrow’s the 31st; the food competition starts promptly at 3 PM!"
A shadow of melancholy flitted across her eyes.
Xia Yu, however, waved her hands and went into the Sen Tian household, returning a short while later holding a fox demon mask.
She put on the fox demon mask, having already taken off her face mask.
"What do you think, would those media reporters still recognize me now?" Xia Yu chuckled, striking a pose with hands on hips, twirling in front of the utterly astonished Makki and Helinai.
Makki covered her mouth, and Xia Yu winked at her, "It’s been at your place all along, hasn’t it?"