Suzakura High School was located at the top of a long hill, and as I climbed the slope among the many visitors, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Does Kobayashi-san ride her bike up this hill every day?” That thought suddenly made sense of why Kobayashi-san’s bike saddle was unusually high. It was to fully extend her knees and generate enough power.

I noticed a few Aotaka High School students here and there, their faces turning pale at the sight of the steep slope. Two students walking just ahead of me grumbled, “We should’ve taken the bus.” If I remembered correctly, Iori commuted by bus.

After finally making it up the hill, I was greeted by a large gate with “Suzakura Festival” written boldly across it. The wooden gate looked worn, likely reused every year. The flowers painted in bright colors decorated the gate beautifully — it felt distinctly Suzakura-like. If the Aotaka students had made it, it probably wouldn’t look like this.

At the entrance, I grabbed a pamphlet and quickly skimmed through it. Since I didn’t know anyone from Suzakura High School, my main stops would be Iori’s class, Kobayashi-san’s class, and perhaps the highlight of the event — the Miss Contest. I had heard beforehand that Iori’s class was Class 2-1, and Kobayashi-san’s class was Class 1-4.

“…What the heck is this?”

Each class’s display section featured cute illustrations and descriptions of their activities, but Class 2-1 was different. It only had two bold words: “Tachibana Iori.” I had no idea what their event was, but one thing was clear — Iori was the main attraction.

As for Kobayashi-san’s Class 1-4, their setup was much simpler. There was an illustration of crepes and drinks, with the words “Kobayashi Café” written beside it. Why Kobayashi-san’s name was featured in the title was a mystery, but at least it was clear they were running a café.

“Kobayashi-san sure is loved.”

Ever since Kobayashi-san joined Cyberia, the atmosphere had undeniably brightened. Kobayashi-san even got along well with the college guys working in the kitchen — or rather, he wasn’t afraid to bite back at them, which made the older guys find him amusing and naturally led to them interacting more.

I actually once looked up “how to get along with coworkers” before starting my job at Cyberia. One piece of advice stood out: “Being a little cheeky makes people take a liking to you. Just make sure not to cross the line.” In the end, I never had the courage to try it myself, but Kobayashi-san embodied that advice perfectly. I really should learn a thing or two from his communication skills.

“…Alright.”

Right on cue, my stomach growled, and my destination was decided. Following the school map, I headed toward Class 1-4.