Chapter 43: THE FESTIVAL BEGINS (Part 4)

The sun was starting to shift toward the center of the sky when the break arrived. The Phoenix Academy Sports Festival had been ongoing since morning, and now the participants and spectators were given time to rest for a while before the next matches began. The atmosphere on the field slowly changed—from the roar of cheers to a more relaxed crowd. Students scattered to various corners, looking for shady spots to rest.

On the eastern side of the field, under the shade of a large tree, the students of Class IX-9 gathered. Only the eight of them—Ella, Rin, Mira, Iris, Luna, Nora, Aria, Eve, and Fay. The additional students from Class 2.2 weren’t with them. Their families had come to the festival, and they were gathering with their respective parents on the other side of the field.

The tree they were sheltering under was quite large and shady. Its dense leaves created a natural canopy that protected them from the scorching midday sun. Underneath, the grass felt cool and comfortable to sit on. Occasionally a gentle breeze blew, carrying the fresh scent of grass and earth. From this spot, they could see the entire field clearly—students running, parents smiling, and families gathering together.

Mira sat restlessly, her legs moving as usual. Her eyes looked toward the stands where parents and guardians sat with their children. A mother could be seen opening a lunch box for her child, feeding them with affection. A father could be seen laughing with his daughter while enjoying snacks. A family could be seen sitting in a circle, sharing stories and laughter under the midday sun.

In the distance, they could also see the students from Class 2.2 sitting with their parents. Katrin was laughing with her father and mother. Maya was smiling beside her mother. Sera sat calmly between her parents. Rina was showing her notebook to her father, who smiled proudly. Irene was hopping in front of her parents, who were laughing at her antics. Liliana sat quietly beside her mother, her dark blue hair loose. Fay sat between her father and mother, her hands gripping theirs tightly.

They all looked happy. They all had families who came to support them.

Mira let out a long sigh, her eyes a little sad. "Mira misses Mom," she said softly, her voice almost a whisper. "But Mom has to work today. Dad too. They can’t take leave. Dad said there’s a lot of work at the office, and Mom has to look after the shop because her assistant is on leave."

Rin, hearing that, immediately turned her head. Her usually spirited face now looked a little somber. "My mom couldn’t come either. There was a sudden matter that couldn’t be left. She said an important guest suddenly came to the house. My dad is also out of town for work, said he can only come back in three days."

Aria, sitting beside Nora, bit her nails restlessly. "I-I also... my mom couldn’t come. There was a sudden matter at the market. My dad also went out of town. I sent a message to Mom this morning, but she just said ’sorry, dear, Mom can’t come’."

Nora, sitting beside her, just stayed silent, her pale blue eyes staring into the distance. Her family wasn’t here, as usual. She never expected much.

Eve pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, her eyes looking at her laptop screen open on her lap. "My parents couldn’t come either. They’re working. Besides, they never have time for things like this." Her voice was flat, but her eyes were a little dim.

Luna, sitting in the corner, just looked down, not saying anything. But everyone knew her family wasn’t here either. She was used to it.

Fay, who usually smiled to herself, was now silent. Her empty eyes stared toward the stands, toward the families gathering together. No one knew what was on her mind.

The atmosphere among them started to feel heavy. An awkward silence enveloped the circle. Some of them looked down, some stared blankly toward the stands, and some just quietly played with the tips of the grass between their fingers.

Mira took a deep breath. "We really don’t have anyone here," she said softly. Her voice wasn’t sad, just honest.

Rin bit her lip, trying to find the right words. "We have each other," she finally said. Her voice was soft, but there was conviction in it. "We’ve been together from the start. We’ve been through a lot together. From the first time we were placed in this class, until now. We’ve always been together."

Ella nodded, trying to smile. "Rin’s right. We’re family too, right? We’ve been together since first grade. We’ve been through a lot together. We support each other, protect each other, look out for each other."

Mira nodded, although her eyes were still a little teary. "Yeah... we have each other."

Aria let go of her fingers from her nails, trying to smile. "I-I also... I’m glad I have you all. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

Nora, who had been silent, now spoke in a flat voice. "Me too. You’re the only family I have now." Her words were simple, but there was deep meaning behind them.

Eve closed her laptop and looked at her friends. "Logically, family doesn’t always have to be related by blood. What matters is the bond. And we have that bond. We’ve been through a lot together. We’ve trusted each other."

Luna lifted her head slightly, her half-closed eyes looking around. "I agree."

Fay smiled to herself, but this time her smile looked more sincere. "Family... we’re family."

But the atmosphere still felt heavy. They all felt the same thing—a small emptiness in their hearts that no one could fill except their own parents. They tried to smile, but the smiles felt forced. They tried to talk, but their words felt hollow.

Mira looked down, her fingers playing with the tips of the grass beside her. "But... still... Mira wishes Mom was here. Wants to see Mom smile proudly at Mira."

Rin let out a long sigh. "Me too. Want to see Mom smile proudly. Want to hear Dad say ’good job, sweetheart’. Want them to see me compete."

Aria bit her lip, holding back the tears starting to well up in her eyes. "I-I also... I want them to see me compete. Want them to be proud of me."

Eve looked down, her eyes behind her glasses looking a little teary. "I... I do too."

Luna was silent, but her usually half-closed eyes were now wide open. There was something there—something that couldn’t be expressed in words.

Fay reached out her hand, holding Aria’s hand beside her. Her hand was warm, and Aria flinched slightly, then returned the grip.

The atmosphere became silent. No one spoke. Only the sound of the wind blowing and distant laughter could be heard.

Then, from a distance, a voice broke the silence.

"Hey! Everyone!"

They all turned toward the voice. In the distance, Kai could be seen walking toward them with quick steps. His hands were full of various bags and plastic carriers. In his left hand, he carried several cold drink bottles still beaded with condensation from the cold air inside. In his right hand, he carried several snack packages and boxes of food that still looked warm.

Kai was no longer wearing the suit he usually wore at school. Now he was wearing a simple white t-shirt that was a little loose on his body, and long gray training pants that were a little worn. His appearance was much more casual, much different from the teacher they knew every day. His usually neat hair was now a little messy, and there was a smile on his face that was rarely seen.

Mira was the first to see him and immediately jumped to her feet. Her previously sad eyes now sparkled. "MR. KAI! What are you carrying?!"

Kai smiled, approaching them with casual steps. He stopped in the middle of their circle, then started placing all his belongings one by one on the grass.

"I thought you’d be hungry after competing," he said, his voice warm and casual. "So I bought some food and drinks. Come on, let’s eat together."

He placed all his belongings in the middle of their circle. The cold drink bottles clinked as they touched each other. The snack packages were opened one by one, releasing appetizing aromas. There were sandwiches with various fillings, small cakes that looked soft, fresh fruits already neatly cut, and several other snacks that looked delicious.

Mira didn’t wait. Quickly, she grabbed a sandwich and bit into it eagerly. "Hmm! Delicious!" she exclaimed with her mouth full.

Rin, seeing that, immediately laughed. "Mira, slow down. You’ll choke."

Mira just shook her head, continuing to chew eagerly. "Mira is hungry! Mira hasn’t eaten since morning! Mira’s stomach has been growling for a while!"

Ella laughed, then reached for a cold drink bottle. "In that case, I’ll join too. I’m also hungry. I only had one piece of bread this morning."

One by one, they started taking the food and drinks Kai had brought. The previously gloomy atmosphere slowly thawed. Laughter started to be heard among them again.

Aria, who had been looking down, now started smiling, taking a small piece of cake and eating it slowly. "This is delicious, Sir. The cake is really soft."

Kai smiled. "I bought it from a regular shop. They say their cakes are famous. I haven’t tried it myself, but just from the looks of it, it already looks delicious."

Nora, who had been silent, now started talking, telling about the basketball match earlier in her flat voice. "In the first round we won easily. But in the second round, the opponents started playing rough. The referee didn’t see it."

Katrin listened carefully. "We need to be more careful in the next match. We already know how they play."

Kai sat among them, taking a drink bottle and opening it. He didn’t drink immediately, just held it while watching his students starting to enjoy their food. A faint smile appeared on his face, a smile rarely seen.

Amid their chattering, Ella, sitting beside Kai, looked at him with curiosity. "Mr. Kai, you changed clothes?"

Kai looked down at the t-shirt he was wearing, then back at Ella. "Yes. The suit was too stiff for an occasion like this. I thought it’d be more suitable to wear something more casual when eating together like this. Besides, outdoors like this, it’s more comfortable in a t-shirt."

Ella nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. "You look more relaxed in this outfit. Usually you look stiff and serious. Now you look more... human."

Kai laughed softly. "I’ve never been comfortable in that suit. But for teaching, I need to look professional. But here, outdoors like this... this is more suitable."

Rin, hearing that, immediately chimed in, her voice full of spirit. "You look cooler in a t-shirt! The suit makes you look old!"

"Rin’s right!" Mira added, who had finished her sandwich and was now reaching for a handful of cut fruit. "Mr. Kai is more relaxed and fun in a t-shirt! Like an ordinary person!"

They all started laughing. The atmosphere among them grew warmer.

Mira told how she almost fell during the relay race earlier, and Rin teased her for it. "Mira almost fell! Lucky she got up quickly!"

"I didn’t fall!" Mira exclaimed, her cheeks flushing. "I just wobbled a little! But I still ran fast!"

Rin shook her head, still laughing. "Yeah, yeah. You still ran fast. Fast enough to win."

Katrin told how Sera managed to block the opponent’s attack in the basketball match. "Sera was cool! She didn’t let the opponents in at all!"

Sera just shrugged with a flat expression, but her eyes sparkled from the praise. "That’s my job. I just did my job."

Maya slowly started joining the conversation. Her voice was still soft, but this time more confident. "I... I felt nervous when I first held the ball in the match. But after seeing all of you so spirited, I became more confident."

Ella listened carefully, occasionally giving comments that made Maya more confident. "You’ve developed so fast, Maya. You used to be afraid to even hold the ball. Now you can dribble past two opposing players. That’s amazing."

Maya smiled, her cheeks flushing. "That’s because you all always support me. I wouldn’t be able to without you."

"We’re a team," Ella said firmly. "We support each other."

"Me too!" Mira exclaimed. "Mira also supports Maya! Mira was shouting from the stands!"

"You shouted too loud," Iris said, sitting beside Mira with a mysterious smile. "The person next to me covered their ears."

Mira pouted her lips, but couldn’t hold back her laughter. "What matters is the spirit! People need to know we have spirit!"

Iris laughed softly, then looked at Kai. "Mr. Kai, what did you think about the matches earlier?"

Kai nodded, his eyes looking at all his students. "You fought well. I’m proud of you. Win or lose, what matters is you gave your best."

Rin, hearing that, looked down, still remembering the loss in the second round. "But we lost in the second round, Sir."

Kai smiled. "Losing is part of learning. You’ll be even better in the next match. I believe in you."

Rin lifted her head, a small smile starting to form on her face. "Thank you, Sir."

Amid their conversation, Rin suddenly turned to Kai with curiosity. "Mr. Kai, why don’t you eat with your family? You have a family too, right?"

The atmosphere fell silent for a moment. All eyes turned to Kai. They had never asked about Kai’s family before.

Kai was silent. His eyes stared blankly at the grass in front of him. "I... don’t have a family," he finally said, his voice soft. "It’s been a long time."

They all fell silent. The air felt heavy for a moment.

Then, Mira reached for a piece of cake and handed it to Kai. "In that case, Mr. Kai now has a new family! We’re your family now!"

Kai blinked, surprised by Mira’s words. His eyes moved from Mira to Rin, then to Ella, then to Iris, then to all the students around him. They were all looking at him with the same smile—a warm smile, a smile full of acceptance.

"Yes," Ella said firmly. "We’re your family now."

"A strange family, indeed," Rin added with a small smile. "But we’re family. We’re not perfect, but we care about each other."

"A loud family," Iris said, her eyes sparkling.

"A chaotic family," Mira added, laughing.

"But we care about each other," Ella said.

Maya nodded, her previously sad eyes now sparkling. "We’ll always be here for you. Just like you’re always here for us."

Aria stopped biting her nails and smiled. "Yes, Sir. We’ll always be here."

Nora nodded. "We’ll protect you."

Eve pushed her glasses up. "Logically, this is a stronger bond than blood. Because this is a choice. And choice is more valuable than obligation."

Luna, who was usually silent, spoke this time. "We’re family."

Fay smiled to herself, then said in a soft voice, "Family... together."

Kai looked at all of them, and for the first time in a very long time, he felt tears starting to well up in his eyes. But he held them back with all his strength, then laughed softly.

"You really are strange students," he said, his voice a little hoarse. "But... I’m grateful to have you."

Mira laughed, then extended her hand. "Eat first, Sir! The cake will be gone!"

Kai laughed, then took the cake Mira had given him and ate it. It tasted sweet on his tongue—sweeter than anything he’d tasted in a long time.

They all laughed together. The sound of their laughter echoed under that shady tree, spreading to every corner of the field. They no longer felt lonely. They no longer felt alone. Because under that shady tree, they had found their own family—an imperfect family, but full of love and togetherness.

But as they were enjoying their food, Kai’s eyes caught something in the distance. A woman in a simple black dress, a black umbrella in her hand, walking across the field. Her long black hair was loose over her shoulders, and her graceful posture made her easy to recognize even from a distance.

Kai blinked. He recognized that woman. The same woman he’d met in the park when he had a headache. The woman who gave him medicine and disappeared without a trace. The mysterious woman who always appeared and disappeared without a trace.

Kai set his drink bottle down on the grass and stood up. His students looked at him with confusion.

"Wait here, I’ll be right back," he said, trying to sound casual. "Your drinks are empty, I’ll get you more."

Without waiting for an answer, he walked quickly toward the woman. His students just exchanged glances, but no one asked.

Kai approached the woman with quick steps. The closer he got, the more certain he was that this was the same woman. The same black dress. The same black umbrella. The same posture.

"Good afternoon," Kai greeted politely, bowing slightly.

The woman turned. Her eyes met Kai’s, and a faint smile appeared on her face. She returned the greeting with a slight bow, her movements graceful and calm.

"Good afternoon," she answered in a soft voice. "We meet again."

Kai smiled. "I didn’t expect to meet you here."

The woman looked toward Kai’s students still sitting under the tree. "Your students?"

"Yes," Kai answered, his eyes following the woman’s gaze. "They’re resting after competing. Today is the school’s sports festival."

The woman nodded, then looked at Kai with an unreadable gaze. "You’re a good teacher. They look happy with you."

Kai didn’t answer, just smiled slightly. There was something in the woman’s eyes, something that made him want to ask more. But he didn’t know where to start. The woman was like an unsolvable puzzle. Every time he met her, there was a familiarity he couldn’t explain.

"What brings you here?" Kai asked, trying to find out more.

The woman smiled, but didn’t give a direct answer. "I’m just passing by. I like seeing happy people. It’s a beautiful sight."

Kai looked at her. "You always appear in unexpected places. In the park, here..."

The woman laughed softly, a quiet and soothing laugh. "The world is small, Sir. Sometimes we meet the same person in different places."

Kai wanted to ask more, wanted to know who this woman really was. But before he could open his mouth, the woman stepped back.

"I have to go," she said, ending their brief encounter. "I hope you have a pleasant day. And I hope your students keep smiling."

She turned around, her black umbrella once again protecting her from the sunlight, and walked away. Her steps were calm and graceful, like nothing could disturb her.

Kai was still standing in his place, watching the woman’s back slowly disappear into the crowd. There was a nagging question in his head, the same question that always appeared every time he met that woman.

Who is she? Why does she always appear at unexpected moments? And why is there something familiar about her?