Chapter 28: HOPE BEHIND THE FESTIVAL

Night was growing late. The lights of the "OUR FAMILY" restaurant were still shining brightly, creating a warm atmosphere in the middle of the darkness that was starting to envelop the streets. Through the glass window, two figures could still be seen sitting facing each other—Kai with his serious expression, and Katrin looking at him with hopeful eyes, her hands still clenched on the table, waiting for an answer that would determine everything.

Katrin was trembling slightly. Fine tremors could be seen in her shoulders, in her still-clenched fingers, in her lips that were nervously biting her lower lip. But her gaze was firm. Straight. Facing directly toward Kai without ever blinking. There was no doubt in her eyes, no fear left—only burning determination, determination she’d been holding in for too long and finally released with all the courage she had.

Kai looked at Katrin. He saw the tremors in the girl’s body, but also saw the firmness in her eyes. He saw hidden fear, but also saw unquenchable courage. He saw a girl who had been through a lot, who had fallen many times, but who still chose to get up and fight. And in his heart, he knew he couldn’t lie to her. He couldn’t give false hope that would later be shattered. He had to tell the truth, even if it hurt.

"Katrin," Kai said in a soft voice, his eyes looking at Katrin gently but seriously. "That’s impossible."

The words fell like a blow hitting Katrin’s body. She, who had been standing firm, slowly lowered her head. Her hopeful eyes now closed, like she was holding back something that wanted to come out. Her tense shoulders now slumped, like a heavy weight had fallen on them. On her face, deep disappointment was slightly visible—disappointment she couldn’t hide, disappointment she had expected but still hurt when finally heard.

Katrin didn’t move. Didn’t speak. She just stood there, with her head down and her hands still clenched on the table. The air around them felt heavy, filled with piercing silence. In the distance, the sounds of the restaurant could be heard faintly—laughter, conversation, the clinking of glasses—but all of it felt far away, like being in a different world.

But suddenly, Kai continued his words. "For now, it’s impossible."

Katrin lifted her head slowly. Her closed eyes now opened, looking at Kai with a confused expression. There was a little hope starting to creep in there—hope she didn’t dare show fully, hope she still held back because she was afraid of being disappointed again.

"But," Kai continued in a firmer voice, his eyes looking at Katrin with full conviction, "if you can perform impressively at the school festival, there’s a chance you can move to the class of your choice. The principal—Ms. Reina—has the authority to transfer students if there’s a strong reason. And if you show that you’re worthy, that you can compete, that you have a spirit that can’t be extinguished... then there’s no reason for anyone to refuse."

Hearing that, Katrin quickly lifted her head. Her dim eyes now sparkled, like a light had turned on inside them. The disappointment on her face slowly faded, replaced by hope starting to grow—hope she couldn’t hide, hope that made her want to smile even though tears were still glistening in the corners of her eyes.

"Is that true, Sir?" Katrin asked once more, her voice trembling with emotion she couldn’t hold back. Her eyes looked at Kai with full hope, seeking certainty, seeking belief that this wasn’t a dream. "Can we really do it? Is there a chance?"

"It’s true," Kai answered firmly, his eyes not blinking. "So you have to try too. I’ll also help as much as I can. But in the end, what matters is you yourselves. The festival is your stage. Show everyone that you’re worthy. Show them that you can."

Kai raised his hand, and with a slow but warm movement, he gently patted Katrin’s head. His warm palm touched the girl’s dark gray hair, and he felt a slight tremor in Katrin’s body—a tremor that came from emotions she couldn’t hold back.

Katrin looked down, unable to hold back the tears starting to fall down her cheeks. Not tears of sadness, but tears of happiness. Tears she’d been holding back for a long time, tears she could finally release because there was someone who believed in her. Someone who gave her hope. Someone who said she could.

"Thank you, Sir," Katrin whispered softly, her voice barely audible amid the restaurant’s growing noise. "Thank you for giving us a chance."

"You don’t need to thank me," Kai answered in a gentle voice. "You’re the ones who try. You’re the ones who dare to take risks. You’re the ones who deserve that chance."

Katrin lifted her head, wiped the tears on her cheeks with the back of her hand, and smiled. A wide smile, a sincere smile, a smile she hadn’t felt on her face in a long time.

Not long after, the food they’d ordered finally arrived. A waiter brought two portions of special fried rice with fried eggs and fried chicken, along with two opened canned drinks. The fragrant aroma immediately spread around the table, making Kai’s hungry stomach growl even more.

Kai and Katrin looked at their food with enthusiasm. The fried rice looked appetizing—shiny grains of rice glistening with oil, a fried egg with a still slightly runny yolk, crispy fried chicken with perfectly absorbed seasoning, and slices of cucumber and tomato on the side of the plate as complements. Everything looked made with care, with attention to every detail.

They both immediately started enjoying their food. As the first bite entered Katrin’s mouth, her eyes widened. She chewed slowly, savoring every flavor spreading across her tongue—savory, salty, slightly sweet, and the perfect aroma of spices. Her face changed, from tense to relaxed, from sad to happy. A wide smile formed on her face, a smile she couldn’t hide.

"This is so good, Sir!" Katrin exclaimed with sparkling eyes, her voice full of joy. "I’ve never had fried rice this good before!"

Kai smiled seeing Katrin’s expression. "Yes, it is good. I chose the right place. This restaurant is indeed famous for its cooking."

They both continued eating heartily, enjoying every bite with complete happiness. For a few moments, all the worries and tension that had enveloped them disappeared, replaced by the simple pleasure of delicious food. Occasionally they laughed softly, occasionally they exchanged glances, and for the first time that night, the atmosphere between them felt light and comfortable.

When their food was almost finished, Kai raised his hand to call a passing waiter. "Excuse me, I’d like to order an extra drink."

The waiter who approached with a friendly smile asked, "Can I help you, Sir?"

"I’ll have one orange syrup iced drink," Kai said calmly. "Cold, with lots of ice."

The waiter quickly noted the order. "Very well, Sir. One orange syrup iced drink. Anything else?"

"That’s all, thank you."

When the waiter left, Katrin looked at Kai with a confused expression. "Sir, you already have a drink, don’t you? Why are you ordering another one? Is your drink not good?"

Kai smiled slightly, not answering directly. He took his favorite canned drink, still half full, looked at it for a moment, then looked at Katrin. "I know you don’t like the taste of this canned drink. I saw your expression when you tried it earlier. Besides, usually after people drink this canned drink once, they never want to drink it again. The taste is indeed strange."

Katrin blinked, a little surprised. "H-How did you know?"

"I saw your face when you tried it earlier," Kai answered with a small smile. "You tried to hide it, but your expression couldn’t lie."

When the waiter arrived with the new drink order—a tall glass with sparkling ice and bright orange syrup that looked refreshing—Kai quickly took the glass and handed it to Katrin.

"Drink this iced syrup," Kai said, pushing the glass toward Katrin. "I’m sure it tastes better than that canned drink. I’ll finish the canned drink later."

Katrin stared at the glass Kai had given her, then looked at Kai, then back at the glass. Her face started to turn red—red that crept from her cheeks to the tips of her ears, making her look like a ripe tomato.

Kai took the canned drink that Katrin had half-finished and quickly drank it without hesitation. He gulped down the can’s contents in one long pull, without thinking about anything.

"Eh, Sir!" Katrin exclaimed in a half-panicked voice, her eyes widening. "But that was mine! If you drink it, that would be an indirect kiss—"

But before Katrin could finish her words, the can’s contents were already finished by Kai. He set the empty can down on the table with a loud clack, then let out a satisfied sigh. His eyes looked at Katrin with a flat expression, not realizing what had just happened—or maybe he was pretending not to.

"Ah... huh," Kai sighed, then looked at Katrin who was still silent with a bright red face. "What is it, Katrin? Did you want to say something? Your face is very red. Are you hot?"

Katrin, still silent with a face red to her ears, finally answered in a soft voice, almost a whisper. "Nothing, Sir..."

Kai just nodded, not asking further. "Then let’s finish this food. It’ll get cold later."

They both returned to their meal, but Katrin still couldn’t contain her embarrassment. She occasionally glanced at Kai with a still-red face, then quickly looked down again when Kai looked at her. The orange syrup iced drink Kai had given her became the only thing that could calm her rapidly beating heart.

After they both finished their meal—plates were clean, glasses were empty—Kai and Katrin decided to leave the restaurant. Kai called the waiter to pay, then they both walked toward the exit.

When they stood in front of the restaurant, the cold night air immediately greeted them. The sky was completely dark, only illuminated by streetlights and stars starting to appear one by one. The night sounds felt quiet, only occasionally a vehicle passing in the distance.

"Katrin," Kai said in a soft voice, his eyes looking at the girl in front of him with full attention. "It’s getting dark. Do you want me to walk you home? I don’t want you walking alone at night. It’s quite late."

Katrin quickly shook her head, her hand raised like refusing the offer. "No need, Sir. My place isn’t far from here. I can walk home alone. I’m used to walking at night."

"Are you sure?" Kai asked once more, his eyes still looking at Katrin with concern. "I don’t mind walking you. It’s no trouble."

"I’m sure, Sir," Katrin answered firmly, although her eyes were still a little red. "I’m used to it. And I don’t want to trouble you further. You’ve already done so much for us tonight."

Kai was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly. His eyes looked at Katrin gently, and he raised his hand once more, patting Katrin’s head softly—like he’d done earlier inside the restaurant.

"Alright then," Kai said in a gentle voice. "Be careful on your way home. Don’t forget what we talked about earlier. Tell your friends. We’ll start training more seriously starting tomorrow."

Katrin nodded, a small smile forming on her face. "I’ll tell them, Sir. They’ll be very happy to hear this news."

"Good," Kai said. "Now, go home quickly. Don’t linger on the road."

Katrin walked away, stepping in the direction opposite the restaurant. A few steps later, she turned around and waved at Kai—a small wave full of meaning, a wave that said "thank you" and "see you" at the same time.

Kai returned the wave with his own hand, then turned and left the restaurant. He walked along the sidewalk that was starting to empty, his mind still filled with everything that had happened tonight. The conversation with Katrin. The confession about what they’d been through. The request to join Class IX-9. The hope he’d given. And everything he’d heard about those six students—about their struggles, about their sacrifice, about their courage to keep surviving even though everyone ignored them.

Kai’s mind was restless after learning what had really happened to the other students. He realized there were still students who shared the same fate as his students in Class IX-9. Students who were excluded, ignored, treated unfairly by a system that should have protected them. Students who didn’t know why they were treated that way, who didn’t know there was a big secret behind all their suffering.

"Hah..." Kai let out a soft sigh, his voice barely audible amid the night’s silence. "Seems like there’s still a lot I need to do."