Thus, the festival opened its curtain first thing in the morning; the entrance gate of the Academy had been filled with many tourists, families, and even the people from the guild waiting in crowds.


    Their gaze, expectant and filled with hope, became a whispering chime of excitement followed by the opening gate that was weed merrily.


    Meanwhile, the situation within the ss-A stall was tense, for this was the first time they would experience something new for the first time, be it the festival or organizing a stall.


    "Okay, everyone this is it!".


    Soma''s calm and confident voice stiffened everyone in the ce; for the morning shift, there would be him, Hina, Xiao Lian, Lydia, Lin Fan, and three other figures standing in circles, preparing their heart to wee their first customer.


    "We already done what we have, even training to improve our skill. So, don''t burden yourself and just enjoy the festival for the rest of the day".


    The atmosphere shifted as Soma chose to change his demeanor, bing more rxed without any tension, and extended his right hand forward, waiting for the other to catch his meaning. Hina and Xiao Lian ced it underneath him while the other followed suit, andstly, Lin Fan who reluctantly ced his palm on top.


    Everyone in the group turned to Soma, who put on a smile of reassurance for the members'' peace of mind.


    {...The gate opened, and the festival officially started. Everyone, let the fun begin!}


    As the voice from the sky sentences its judgment because of its near ce, a chorus ofughter brought everyone''s attention to a single point.


    "Let''s have fun, Ooh!".


    "Ooh...".


    They began to go toward their post as Soma, Hina, and one other female stood in front of the stove with a small bucket of supplies, ready to face their war. Xiao Lian and Lin Fan helped with one other male ssmate who stood as a stall face. As for Lydia and the rest of the males, they stood in front of the stall holding a sign and some tes for samples to taste.


    Slowly, as the flood of people approached their ce, Lydia, with her timid nature, pped her own cheeks to encourage herself and put on the best smile she had.


    "Wee to our Takoyaki stall,...would you wind to taste our sample?".


    "Wee".


    Xiao Lian and Lin Fan say their part, and probably because of the top figure they have, it managed to pique the interest of a family.


    "Excuse me, let me have one, please!".


    "Mm, understood, please wait for we will make it, Soma".


    "Allright. Let''s go you two!".


    Following Soma''s enthusiasm, they began to turn on the fire on the stove, which had generally been heated first. He put a little oil in the fan, then once it boiled, he began to pour batter, and a sizzling sound apanied by the fragrant aroma wafted through the area, attracting many other people.


    "Wee, would...".


    Lydia greeted another male customer who came, but her words got cut off before she finished.


    "Excuse me can I have some too?".


    "Me too, please!".


    "Can I have two. please?".


    Feeling overwhelmed, Lin Fan took a tone and began to list the order that came into a piece of paper as he tore it, giving it to the male behind him.


    "Allright, young master, Ordersing up!".


    "Alright!".


    The kitchen staff replied, which harmonized together, picturing the hot and how difficult it is to face the hardship before you.


    After that, orders keeping mainly from the tourists thate from the outer region of Japan, telling themselves to try a famous street food from Japan that is known worldwide.


    Thanks to yesterday''s practice, the group could handle the job pretty well without making many mistakes. Well, there were some order mistakes at first, but eventually, they began to get used to the job.


    Some time passed when the warm air of Autumn hit his body; under the re of the sun from above, Soma, while facing the grilling batter, turned down the fire a little bit because of their scarce customers.


    "Akabane, should we make another batter for the day our supply in this small bucket had almost plummeted?".


    The female ssmates who worked facing the stove tried to check to the back and saw the batter had depleted significantly. She turned to Hina, who happened to meet eyes with her.


    "You are right, can we Soma?".


    "Go ahead, don''t overdo it".


    "Okay, take care of the stove".


    "Okay".


    After getting permission from Soma, Hina turned to the back and began to mix the ingredients to create the batter to fill up the supply for the day.


    Watching Soma humming pleasantly, Xiao Lian, who seemed not to have any customers, turned to him and, with drool on her lips, stared at the still frying Takoyaki. At the same time, Lin Fan followed from behind.


    "Soma, can I?".


    "Hold yourself back! This is for customer".


    "Mm, I understand".


    Even though she understood it in her mind, but her instinct of hunger couldn''t betray her body. Xiao Lian keeps her gaze toward the hot piping Takoyaki, letting Soma shed a sigh of resignment.


    "Fine, I will make you some".


    "Really!? Thank you".


    Her face brightened as it put a smile on Soma''s face. Soon, he took out a small card box and filled it with Takoyaki before giving it to Xiao Lian, who suddenly rushed to the back and enjoyed the meal with Hina and the other girl.


    "Xiao Lian!? What are you?".


    "Let''s enjoy it".


    Soma could hear the girls exim in happiness as they also invited Lydia, who kept standing in front of the stall. Lin Fan approached the stove and kept his gaze straight at Soma.


    "I didn''t know you are that soft to a woman?".


    "Well, because they were not just some friend for me".


    "Hmm...".


    Lin Fan alternated his gaze, and then he found it absurd, as he was baffled at the situation he was in. Never had he thought that formidable Soma, who could even defeat the headmaster, had this soft side of him.


    He couldn''t understand what sort of thinking he had to have that much disparity from the one Lin Fan knew. "Is this because of the power of affection? How ridiculous!". He turned ahead and saw another female he recognized who was always near Soma with her friende.


    "Wee, Sera".


    "Soma, we came. How was the business?".


    "Well, it was smooth or rather it was not a business when we didn''t get a profit".


    "Fufu, you are right".


    True to Soma''s words. It might sound ridiculous, but the stall Soma and his friend built actually didn''t spend any dime, for it was being covered all by the Academy. The Takoyaki they grilled and served didn''t cost the customer any penny.


    At first, there was some disappointment for those who hoped for profit, but after they thought this through, all of that would be a hassleter.


    First off, the system of currencies in these Inds used Gold, the highest currency in the world that had ever existed; second, even if they profited from the stall, where should they spend the money when they spent their time inside the Academy for almost twenty-four hours?


    So, they practically did some charity while also experiencing how society works. Luckily, no one objected to that policy, so it was pretty good.


    Soma prepared another card box and put some Takoyaki in it before shing a smile to Lin Fan, who stood before him.


    "Lin Fan, can you check the grill for a second".


    "...Whatever!".


    "Thanks, as a chance why don''t you try to cook some".


    "Mind your own business!".


    Exchanging banter with Lin Fan feels fresh as Soma is d that he could slightly change the route of this Viin from the path of no return. But this was only a small change. Soma still hasn''t fixed the root of Lin Fan''s trouble.


    Standing in front of the counter wearing an apron made Serafina, who understood his attempt, smile happily, letting her face loosened in joy. The smell of the sea and green onion that entered her nose topped with ayer of colorful sauce on top, brings out the yesterday event when he visits him at night.


    "Here for you, make sure to share it with Senior Lucy".


    "...I will, maybe, thank you, Soma".


    "Thank you, Soma".


    Lucy, who stood behind Serafina, overheard his word and showed her appreciation by smiling and approaching her friend, only to find it was gone from her hands.


    "Sera? Where is my portion?".


    "...Right, Soma, when your shift will end?".


    Ignoring her best friend behind, Sera looked intently at Soma as he took out his phone and saw it was almost a chance of shift.


    "Probably around, thirty minutes".


    "Okay, I will visit againter. Let''s go, Lucy!".


    "Hey, Sera what about my meal?".


    Both of them leave the stall in usual banter, showing their close bond as a friend, making Soma slightly parted his lips.


    However, all of a sudden, a bad premonition crept as his body hair stood up, ck smoke loomed over, and the smell of charcoal filled the entire stall, shifting his attention to the source.


    "I didn''t do anything!".


    Lin Fan''s hands are up in the air, and he meets his gaze with Soma. On the other hand, the other pped their face, and Soma sighed while saying.


    "You could at least lift it from the grill!".