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Chapter 8 - “I Tried to Break Up During the School Festival and Somehow Ended Up Cosplaying as a Magical Girl”

Scene: Homeroom, one week before the school festival.

Class Rep:Okay! We need volunteers for the café, the haunted house, the live band, and—wait, who suggested a "Magical Girl Butler Café!?"

Nanami (hand raised calmly):That was me. I have detailed designs, themed menus, and outfits prepared. I call it: Sparkle Sweetheart Heaven.

Yuuya (whispering in horror):I thought we were doing a haunted house! Where did she even get costumes!?

Kai:You still don't know her storage closet has no bottom?

Riku:I heard it's a pocket dimension where dreams and nightmares share a shelf.

Scene: Backstage on Festival Day — a whirlwind of chaos.

Yuuya (staring at the outfit):There is no way I'm wearing this.

Nanami (holding a glittering, frilly costume):You agreed to help. And this is helping. Trust me, you'll be adorable.

Yuuya (panicking):This has lace. And a wand. And pigtails.

Nanami (smiling sweetly):I even bought matching bloomers. Don't test me, Kanzaki-kun.

Scene: Inside Sparkle Sweetheart Heaven Café.

Yuuya enters in full costume. A hush falls over the crowd. Then—rapturous applause.

Girl in audience:Kyaa! He's blushing! He's so into character!

Yuuya (through clenched teeth):I want to vanish. Into the void. And never return.

Nanami (serving crepes beside him, perfectly composed):Say your line, Kanzaki-kun.

Yuuya (dead inside):W-welcome to Sparkle Sweetheart Heaven... Master.(Mutters under breath) I hate everything.

Scene: Break Time – Behind the Gym

Yuuya (finally out of costume, slumped on the ground):This was supposed to be the moment. I was gonna break up with her after handing her the last bento. In a respectable, mature way.

Kai (handing him juice):And instead?

Yuuya:I was force-fed glitter mochi and made to dance to a theme song called "Love's Justice Beam."

Riku (scrolling through his phone):I uploaded the dance. It's viral.Like, "anime convention finale act" viral.

Yuuya (screaming internally):AAAAAAAA—

Scene: Evening – Fireworks Show Begins

Nanami finds Yuuya sulking by the vending machines.

Nanami (softly):You okay, Kanzaki-kun?

Yuuya:Define "okay." If it includes being emotionally fried and sparkly in places that shouldn't sparkle, then sure.

Nanami (smiling):You were amazing today. Really. Even when you were trembling like a leaf in those heels.

Yuuya (sighs):Nanami… this might sound insane, but I was planning to break up with you today.

Nanami (gently):I know.

Yuuya (startled):Wait—what?

Nanami (laughs):You always get this specific twitch in your eyebrow. Plus, I heard you rehearsing in the boys' bathroom.

Yuuya:I… wow. That's—wait, why are you smiling!?

Nanami:Because every time you plan to leave, you end up deeper in.Today? You made over 200 customers smile.You wore a magical girl dress for me.You stayed.

Yuuya (murmuring):It's not fair. You always win.

Nanami (offering him a bento box wrapped in a star-patterned cloth):I brought you this. Midnight snack. Tamagoyaki and takoyaki.The theme is: "Victory tastes like eggs."

Yuuya (holding back a laugh):...I hate that that actually works on me.

Scene: Final panel – The sky lit up with fireworks. Yuuya and Nanami sit under a tree, sharing a bento. Sparkles in the sky mirror the faint glitter still stuck to his cheek.

Yuuya (narrating):She wins again. I never stood a chance.And somehow… I think I'm okay with that.

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