They Gather Here

The girl couldn't help but took a deep breath and opened her eyes wide.

Then, there was a "bang!", and the blade and the chopping board came into contact with each other magnificently, making a loud sound——

Seven rows of lamb ribs were cut from the middle, and the cut surface was neat, as if it was made by a machine.

There is a proverb (allusion?) that says, "One chopstick can be broken, but a bundle of chopsticks can't be broken." That's because the strength is not strong, just like cutting lamb chops. Can be done cleanly.

Luo Zhen is quite relaxed now.

With a knife in his hand, he cut the lamb chops into several sections, and then cut them into small pieces with a chef's knife, soaked them in cold water, and rinsed them clean.

Then, put the lamb chops into the pot with cold water, add some black vinegar, boil it and skim off the foam, then take it out with a colander, rinse off the foam attached to the lamb chops, and drain the water for later use.

Luo Zhen washed the knife with running water, then took out the cloth from the tool bag and wiped it dry.

He said: "There are still processes such as frying sugar, cooking, etc., which cannot be done now."

Kato Megumi nodded: "Then let's attend the opening ceremony first."

As she spoke, she glanced at the watch on the wall, and there was about half an hour left.

The cultural festival is also considered part of the educational activities, so attendance will be checked. However, since most of the classrooms are buried by exhibits, the attendance confirmation is changed to the assembly every morning during the cultural festival.

In other words, being late for the Opening Ceremony will also be treated as late.

Yukinoshita cleared his throat, took a deep breath, and said in a very polite manner: "Then, the work will be carried out according to the prior assignment. The first day's phased goal is to defeat the summer of the Far East Magic Siesta Association, everyone let's work hard together!"

Five people walked out of the home economics classroom.

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

?

After signing in at the monitor's place, Chitanda stood on tiptoe in the noisy crowd and looked around.

The indoor gymnasium accommodates more than a thousand students, and all the windows are covered by dark curtains. Although it is the end of September, the heat is gradually gathering, and the surroundings seem unseasonably hot.

Everything around was plunged into darkness, only the stage was illuminated.

It's about to start!

After all, the girl is only a freshman in high school, so excitement is inevitable.

Desperately suppressing her beating heart, she took out the "Cultural Festival Guide" and read the program list of the opening ceremony.

The first is the speeches of Chairman Shirogane and senior Irisu, and then there are various performances.

She ran her fingers across the program list and muttered to herself: "Guitar performance, laser dance, Manzai (two-person rakugo), science fiction drama..."

As expected of a high school of science and engineering.

The girl feels admiration.

At this moment, someone called her from behind: "Come backstage and help me."

It is a winter fruit.

Chitanda showed a surprised expression: "Nursu-senpai?"

Irisu Fuyumi sighed: "I have contacted almost everyone I can, but there are still not enough people. Now I can only count on you to repay my help to your club."

"No problem, what do I need to do?"

"You are in charge of on-site guidance. In short, you use your fingers to sign 'it's time to go on stage', 'there is still time to spare', etc. I will give you a detailed timetable down to the minute, which is relatively easy."

"only me?"

"No, you're just an insurance policy. We have other people who are also responsible for this."

"That's good."

"Come with me."

The two came backstage together.

It was pitch black all around, echoing with the noise of the students.

Irisu Fuyumi handed the "Time-Program Comparison Table" and the ear report to Chitanda, and left immediately to direct the work on the spot.

Time passed minute by minute.

Chitanda held the phone in her hand, keeping an eye on the electronic clock.

08:15:22 am...

08:21:31 am...

08:26:49 am...

almost.

The girl pressed the switch of the headset, and after a burst of electrical sound, she said in a panic: "Senior, senior with beard, it's twenty-six past eight."

All kinds of good-natured laughter sounded in the channel.

Three seconds later, Irisu Fuyumi's steady voice came: "3 minutes before the start of the show, 3 minutes before the start of the show, all units are ready."

Then Baiyin Yuxing: "Come according to the plan, I'm ready."

After that, the call was cut off.

Various departments such as lighting, backstage, and broadcasting room immediately contacted to express their readiness.

Irisu Fuyumi stared at the phone, pressed the switch of the headset, and started counting down: "10...9...8..."

Every time the number of the second hand changes, the venue will be quiet for a few minutes.

All held their breaths.

Suddenly, someone took her command right: "3..."

Chitanda raised her head in surprise.

I saw Shinomiya Kaguya nodding to Shirogane Yuyuki, with the index finger and middle finger of his right hand stretched out, making a "2" gesture.

then……

"1!"

Chapter 29 Opening and Thirteen Fragrant Lamb Chops ([-])

?

Kato Megumi and Luo Zhen stood together.

She looked at the playlist and asked in a low voice, "Speaking of which, what's the matter with this guitar performance?"

"I don't know." Luo Zhen shook his head, "Is there any problem?"

"Have you heard of clubs like the Guitar Association in our school?"

"No, I have listened to the light music department, but like many literary and art clubs, it is currently in a half-dead state."

A light guitar?

Kato Megumi stared at the program list, lost in thought.

Suddenly, she spoke as if thinking of something: "Speaking of which, what is the program of Class A..."

Before the words fell, the lights focused on the center of the stage dimmed.

The only light source disappeared, and the gymnasium fell into darkness for a moment, but then, a spotlight hit the stage again.

The figure of Baiyin Yuxing appeared.

He took a deep breath, a movement that could be seen even in the last row.

Immediately afterwards, he announced loudly: "From now on, the cultural festival of the High School Affiliated to the Faculty of Engineering of Tokyo Institute of Technology will be grandly opened!"

At the same time, a burst of heavy bass trickled out from the speaker, and the students became lively.

Then, Fuyumi Irisu appeared from upstream.

She changed her usual cold temperament and shouted enthusiastically: "The campus is a big stage——"

Everyone echoed in unison: "It's even more exciting to have you and me—"

Obviously, the slogan has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

It's just that everyone is a high school student. Wouldn't it be shameful to say such a thing?

Luo Zhen was extremely skeptical, and a large number of trustees from the Social Federation and the Student Union were mixed in the audience.

Of course, no one cared about his conspiracy theories.

The atmosphere at the scene had been ignited, and Fuyumi Irisu and the audience below continued the singing and harmony just now.

"Sail of youth—"

"Exhibition of campus style -"

"Our cultural festival—"

"Open! Curtain!!! La!!!"

Amidst the booing, the curtain was pulled open with a bang.

The sudden light was a bit dazzling, Luo Zhen squinted his eyes, and barely recognized the leader on the stage.

Under the snow?

The girl changed clothes at some point——

The upper body is a cute and lively dress, a loose striped short long-sleeved T-shirt; the lower body is wild, with short jeans without edges, and the slender thighs are bare, shining white under the light.

Before Luo Zhen realized what was going on, the torrent of sound waves poured out.

Five girls, five cool guitars, and five different dressing styles make it impossible to stop.

Yukinoshita's guitar was outstanding, and the whole venue could feel the deep sound as if it was crawling on the ground. People's eyes were unconsciously drawn to it and gathered together.

The entire indoor gymnasium was completely boiling.

……