Chapter 26: Winter Interschool Festival (2)

"The rugby tournament is officially over! Taking first place is Miskatonic High, led by an outstanding performance from its captain and tournament MVP: Ryan Foster!"

It was already late afternoon when the announcement echoed from the loudspeakers scattered throughout the festival grounds.

"Yeeeees!"

For a moment, Emily forgot all about maintaining her composure and let out a cheer of joy right in the middle of serving a customer.

The girl, who was wearing another school’s uniform, sighed in disappointment.

"Damn... I really thought we’d win this year. We had an incredibly strong team, but I guess it still wasn’t enough."

Emily raised two fingers in a victory sign.

"And it’s not over yet! I’m sure they’ll be announcing our volleyball team’s victory soon too!"

"You’re pretty optimistic, huh?"

The girl thought about it for a moment.

"...Oh, right. Camila von Rosen is on your team."

She made a resigned face.

"Then I guess I might as well congratulate you already. So you’re taking both rugby and volleyball this year. Damn, it’s been ages since a single school managed to win both!"

As the various competitions came to an end, students and teachers poured into the stalls set up across the outdoor festival grounds.

In previous years, the lines had been one of the biggest problems.

Even buying a simple bottle of water could mean a long wait, because the same stalls also served sandwiches, desserts, and all sorts of other things.

To solve the problem, Emily had decided to set up a larger number of smaller stalls, each dedicated to just a few products.

That way, only two or three students were needed to run each stall, while visitors spread out among different lines instead of all crowding around the same few spots.

Judging by the comments from the people around her, the idea seemed to have worked.

"The volleyball tournament has just come to an end as well! And once again, the title goes to Miskatonic Girls’ Team 1, led by their star player: Camila von Rosen, the legend of the Winter Interschool Festival!"

At that announcement, Emily burst into an even more euphoric cheer than before.

Even Lars, busy churning out sandwiches one after another to keep up with the orders, allowed a faint, satisfied smile to appear on his face.

He certainly wasn’t surprised that Camila had gotten the better of ordinary humans in a sport based on strength, speed, and endurance.

Still, hearing her praised like that pleased him all the same.

"Lars, would you mind letting me take over the cooking station and covering the register for me?"

"Why? Did someone complain?"

He asked it in such a sharp tone that Emily almost felt guilty for bringing it up.

"N-No, it’s not that. It’s just that... Camila and the others just finished playing, and they told me they were coming here to eat. So, well... I’d like to make their sandwiches myself."

"Fine. Do as you like."

Lars placed the spatulas in her hands, then took off his apron and handed it to her.

Emily hesitated for a moment before taking it. She almost looked like she was having second thoughts.

"J-Just remember, with the customers... patience and kindness. Patience and kindness. And most importantly, a nice smile."

Lars gave her a sideways glare.

"Do you take me for some kind of brute?"

"N-No! I’d never presume to, really..."

"I should hope not."

By the time the two switched roles, Emily was already bracing herself for the worst.

Surprisingly, though, Lars turned out to be nowhere near the disaster she had feared.

Patient, he was.

Polite, too.

As for the smile... well, at least he was patient and polite.

That tiny hint of a smile vanished completely, however, the moment he spotted Camila pushing her way through the crowd and charging toward the stall like a runaway train, with Jessica and Mia right behind her.

"Big broooooooo!"

Camila skipped the line, vaulted over the counter, and threw herself bodily at Lars.

The only reason he caught her instead of stepping aside was that Emily was standing directly behind him. If he had dodged, Camila would have crashed straight into her.

And then...

SMACK!

...a loud smack rang out as Camila enthusiastically pressed her lips to his.

"Eeeeh?!"

Emily practically froze, the spatula suspended in midair and her eyes wide open.

Her bright, professional smile faltered for a moment.

Jessica and Mia, on the other hand, reacted very differently.

"I’m starting to think those two aren’t actually brother and sister..." Mia murmured, still incredulous. "And if they are, well... they have a pretty weird relationship."

Jessica kept staring at them.

"Weird or not, if that’s how Lars treats his sisters, I’m seriously considering asking his parents to adopt me."

Mia gave her an exasperated look.

"Jessica, you really are the worst..."

A murmur began to rise from the customers all around them.

"Wait... is that really the famous Camila von Rosen?"

"Yeah, that’s definitely her. And I guess that guy must be her boyfriend."

"I don’t know... she called him big bro."

"Maybe it’s some kind of kinky roleplay between them."

Lars couldn’t even remember how many centuries it had been since he had felt this humiliated.

He abruptly let go of Camila, sending her down onto her butt.

"Ow, big bro! Why’d you do that?!" she protested, offended.

Then she started sniffing the air like a bloodhound, and the smell of cooked meat made her stomach growl.

"...Anyway, I’m starving! Is my sandwich ready?"

Before Lars could even answer, Emily handed Camila the sandwich she had just finished making especially for her.

Right after that, she gave Jessica and Mia theirs as well.

"Nom ! This sandwich is seriously delicious! Did you make it, big bro?"

"No. Your friend did."

"Why didn’t you make it for me? You promised! Ugh!"

"I never promised you anything like that. And I just told you your friend made it."

Only then did Camila turn toward Emily, flashing her a wide smile with ketchup still smeared around her mouth.

"Nice job! Nom, nom... it’s seriously delicious!"

"T-Thank you. And congratulations on the win. I couldn’t watch the match, but I’m sure you were amazing..."

"Yep!"

Camila spread her arms and pulled Jessica and Mia into a hug.

"...They even called us the Wonder Trio! At this rate, next year they might as well skip the tournament altogether and just hand us the medals!"

"I’m really happy for you. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to get back to work."

Camila looked taken aback for a moment when Emily turned away and immediately went back to tending the stall.

"Well... then good luck with work. We’re heading back to the field for the awards ceremony, and then we’ll come back here, okay? Wait for us!"

"And where exactly would I go? Certainly not to collect a medal."

Emily said it so quietly that her voice was swallowed by the noise of the festival.

"That asshole even has the nerve to claim she’s his sister..." Ryan Foster growled.

He was standing in line at a nearby stall. From there, he had seen Camila vault over the counter, throw herself at Lars, and kiss him on the lips.

His jaw tightened.

"Now I’m going to teach him what happens when he makes a fool out of me."