Blue Archive - Story of Joshua Sensei

Chapter 20 - A Request: Momoyodou

...

The day after meeting Mika, I received a call in the morning while working.

RING RING

"Huh...? Someone's calling instead of texting? That's a surprise." I say out loud, reaching for the phone. I place it to my ear and speak. "Hello?"

A somewhat nasally, feminine voice speaks over the line. "Ah! He picked up! Wh-What do I say?!" She shouts, likely talking to someone else.

Another feminine voice, this one very cheery, further back speaks. "Calm down and take a deep breath, President! Breathe in...! Breathe out!"

"G-Good idea. Alright then..." The nasally voice says, calming down. "Hi! Um, pardon me, but is this the number for Joshua, the popular Sensei in charge of Schale?"

"Well, I wouldn't say popular, but yes, I'm Joshua. Who's this?" I ask, leaning back in my chair.

"Ah! I knew it! So I was right! Wait, I mean...!" The girl clears her throat. "Hello, Joshua, the teacher of Schale!" She says, in a happy voice, similar to Nonomi's. What a change of tone. "I'm Kawawa Shizuko! It's nice to meet you! I'm the president of the Allied Hyakkiyako Academy's Festival Operations Department, as well as the idol of Momoyodou!"

"...Nice to meetcha, even if it's over the phone." I say back, a bit stunned from that cutesy introduction. It was a bit too sweet, even.

"Likewise. Anyway, I have a good reason for contacting you like this." She begins. "It's to cordially invite you to the Hyakkiyako annual Cherry Blossom Festival!"

"Y'all are having a festival over there?" I ask, sitting forwards, intrigued.

"Yes! We'd love for Schale's famous Sensei to participate and celebrate with us!" She says, happily. "We'll be trying all kinds of new things to make this Hyakkiyako Cherry Blossom Festival the best one yet! Oh and before I forget, there's one thing I want to talk to you about face-to-face, so make sure to come by."

Face to face? She might be having some kinda problem. "All right then, I'll swing by."

"Great! We'll be looking forward to your arrival!" She says, hanging up. Rather quickly, at that. She must've been nervous to call.

A moment later, my phone dings with a text, likely from Shizuko.

Hey, it's Shizuko again. I'm sending you a picture that will help you find the venue.

All righty, then. Until we meet, Sensei!

I'll be waiting for you at Momoyodou! Nyan!

...Nyan? Is she some kinda cat?

"Hey, Arona, mind clearing my schedule for tomorrow?"

—————

The next day, I walked into the Hyakkiyako district, bustling with a plethora of people. A bit too many people, actually.

The place was beautiful, filled with Japanese architecture and Sakura trees.

As I ruminate, a feminine voice shouts from behind me. "Ah?! Watch out!" My instincts kick in, as I jump out of the way of a small girl.

"Ow..." She says, rubbing her head, as she sits up on the stone street.

"Are you alright?" I ask politely, holding my hand out to help her up.

As she sees me, she gasps, shooting up to her feet, allowing me to get a better look at her.

The girl has short, dark brown hair with a small hair clip, shaped like a kitsune mask on the left side of her head. Her hair is tied into a small, side ponytail with a white, round and fuzzy ball-shaped thing, with two pink-red ribbons coming from it that have been tied into a braid. Atop her head are two dark brown fox ears, light brown on the inside. Her eyes are golden with red makeup on the outsides of them.