A Certain Flying Head in MHA

The Ichihanaransai is a cultural festival-like event that takes place across the entirety of Academy City. Being a city state full of schools, it is considered the world's largest cultural festival.

The Ichihanaransai is a cultural festival, similar to those found all over Japan. Like Japanese schools, the event is held around the latter half of November with the exact date left in the hands of each individual school to decide. Discussions regarding the production of each class's preparations on the festival apparently occurs at least an entire month before the event. Money is given to each class of each schools of the city to set up groundwork for it.

Usually by the fifth of November, the student body is now busy with the arrangements, and sometimes after the the thirteenth of November, the student body should at least be in their in their last adjustments. The long preparation time of the event is because it made the entire city an open campus, and has a direct effect on the number of people wanting to attend each individual school.

Ichihanaransai is a collection of cultural festivals occurring large-scale at the same time. Unlike the Daihaseisai, the festival is an internal event. It did not allow normal visitors from outside the city, and each schools festivals mainly targets the other students from other schools. Because of this, it is used as a large-scale advertisement for the school as they also use this opportunity to start trial enrollments.

However, it is the sole fact that it is targeted towards people who see cutting edge technology on a daily basis, and are not easily impressed, the world's most difficult cultural festival to pull off. Despite being an internal event, it was not unusual for high-ranking officials from important cooperative institutions to visit the city for the festival, as well as spies to enter during the festival.

During the preparatory period, despite the curfew still in place, the city is apparently lenient to the students, allowing them to finish their preparations. However, the school rules still apply regarding a student staying over in school for days in a row, though this can be bypassed by students making shifts. During the preparatory period, it is not unknown for thugs to destroy the students' work during the night, necessitating for the students to make countermeasures, such as bringing panels that they can easily put together on the day of the festival. There was no official system inviting in students from other schools, but there was an implicit understanding that some would secretly come for a look. However, there was also a danger of festival spies pretending to be taking a look at the school, so the more prestigious schools had very strict security, such as Tokiwadai, and probably the rest of School Garden. Both Anti-Skill and Judgement are deployed for such a busy time.

Each class in each school has different kinds of events, stalls, or displays prepared, ranging from the mundane such as a takoyaki stand, to the uncommon such as the Comedy Bath.

Normally, Tokiwadai as a whole is closed off to the public, however, during the middle of November, The Tokiwadai Dormitory opens up it's doors yo the public for one day.

On this particular day, the students of the Tokiwadai Dormitory would dress up in maid outfits --For some reason-- and serve the guests by giving them pamphlets and showing them around the place where the events are being held. The students themselves are also allowed to invite guests, though the exact number is unknown.

We have been invited to go along but only Me, Saten and Uiharu have accepted. Haru and Shiina have both declined under the excuse of being too busy --A quick scan of my senses told me that they were apprehensive-- but appreciated the gesture nonetheless. Kuroko has also invited Hii-chan and --Suprisingly-- Mugi as well but they too, declined on other reasons.

When we arrived, the three of us were treated to the sight of Kuroko having her cheeks pinched by a Misaka wearing a maid outfit, presumably having done something with the now smoking camera that hung around her neck. We greeted them as we walked over, with Uiharu being the most excited one of us. I don't blame her. Looking around, this place is genuinely high-class ranging from the lighting and chandeliers all the way to the pristine floor.

Before we began the tour however, a girl came and called out. She is a friend of them both and is helping out with the event as part of her curriculum. Said friend is studying at the Ryoran Girl's Housekeeping School, a school that is overseeing the cooking for the festival. Kuroko apparently forgot that she was supposed to lend a helping hand to the buffet and was dragged off.

I admit that it was a bit comical seeing this in person, both because she's my girlfriend and because she's normally either being my support or teasing me to oblivion.

Misaka offered to show us around anywhere we wanted to. Me and Saten decided to let Uiharu take the reigns since she is the one most excited about this. Seeing the normal shy girl be so fired up was quite a sight.

At her behest, the first one we came to is the Pastry Decorations display. They looked cute. And as Saten put it: 'Its every bitt sugar...' when she ate a petal of a sugar rose. Uiharu saw what she did and was a about to say something against eating the display, but her complaints died when the one's that made them were enthusiastically offering them to Misaka.

The next one we visited is the Embroidery display. The ones put up on a frame were very elegant and nice to look at, I can practically feel all the effort it took in their creation. Uiharu saw the sign by the door and immediately set us all up to try embroidery ourselves. Misaka and Saten did well --One is a genuine, although tomboyish, ojousama and the other has experience with needlework thanks to her little brother-- but I placed a hand on the dejected Uiharu's shoulder to cheer her up and showing her my abysmal work in contrast to her average one. Needlework and painting are different kinds of art, after all.

Came next is the Flower Arrangement display, something that shocked the three girls when I discussed the works in-depth with the ones that made it. --Some of the lessons back at temple school still stuck around.-- Afterwards came the Calligraphy and Tea Ceremony display. Next, we did spend some time at the library even when Saten fell asleep.

After all of that, came the time to refuel and eat lunch. There were plenty of food that were both familiar and unfamiliar. At least a quarter of them were something with names that I couldn't even pronounce properly. And other than that one Anti-Skill that ate too much and had to be dragged away by her partner, along with Index who's eating the table clean --Does she have a matter converter for a stomach? Seriously, where does all that food go? Going by the plates, she's already ate at least her own bodyweight-- in one corner, there weren't anything else to note that happened.

As we were walking down the hallways, Misaka excused herself to use the bathroom and left. She was acting odd enough that both Saten and Uiharu noticed her change in demeanor, so when they turned around to continue walking, I lagged a few steps behind to discreetly send a head to say a few words of encouragement for her. Because if I recall correctly, she would be putting on a show and the pressure and expectations is building up on her.

When we arrived to the courtyard, there was a gathering near the stage of what appears to be an auction. We arrived just on time to see Konori-senpai receiving her newly bought luxury purses. When she left the stage and saw us staring at her, she started stumbling on her words about how it was actually for charity or something before deflecting the topic and saying that we should try it too, relieving the two girl's worry about their wallets by pointing out that the auction is genuinely cheap with the average increment being a hundred yen- up until a Kuroko in a maid outfit appeared to bet ten thousand on a stationary set.

From the stage, Kuroko noticed us and took her winnings. She arrived on our side and explained that the stationary set was actually Misaka's and that she only bought them to keep them away from the hyenas, whoever they are.

Saten pointed out that wasn't she supposed to be in the kitchen helping out ta the buffet. This got her flustered --Cute-- but got lucky when someone appeared from behind us. We turned around and- is that a shrine maiden?

I was on guard for a moment before realising that she isn't exuding spiritual energy. When I got out of my thoughts, the girl was talking about being 'The maid of maids' and that her 'Japanese-English maid outfit is superior' and that she would win this battle --There was a fight?-- against her self-proclaimed rival while pointing at Kuroko.

When I looked at Kuroko, she was wearing a deadpan expression and accepted.

It was a battle of maid on who can be the most hospitable. Kuroko won by default when she used her opponent's hospitality against her by sending her away on an errand. She turned to us and explained that she wasn't a bad person, just eccentric.

We stayed at the courtyard and waited until the auction ended so we can find good seats for the next show. We came here to watch the first performance specifically to support Misaka but she put on a great show with her skill on the violin. From a quick scan, she isn't as nervous anyone.

From the faint locks of spiky hair behind one of the windows, it looks like I wasn't the only one to help her out.

All in all, it was an enjoyable day.

~~~~~~~~Short Omake~~~~~~~~

It is a normal day. Kuroko and Misaka are visiting their friend's school for their cultural festival. They know that regular Cultural festivals were different from that of Tokiwadai. As neither of the two of them were told what their friends were doing, they don't know what to expect this year but are anticipating it.

"What did they do last year, again?" Asked Misaka as she looked around the school.

"They did a food stall, Oneesama." Kuroko replied. She, too, is looking around. It isn't everyday she sees a crowded hallway that doesn't involve panic or overzealous fans.

As they navigate through the school, they came across Shiina who was holding a sign. They knew of the harpy being a part of their friend's class and inquired her of the location. They thanked her goodbye when she gave them directions and it was also from her that they learned of what to expect.

Since the classes have an entire month to plan ahead, it was a coincidence that their friend's class is doing a maid cafe this year.

When they arrived at the front door of the classroom, they were welcomed by Uiharu working at the cashier and was given a small menu.

They found a table for themselves and raised a hand to order.

"I see that you're ready to order. May I inquire as to what you desire, Goshujin-sama?"

Kuroko blanked out.

It was her boyfriend.

In a maid outfit.

It was her boyfriend in a maid outfit and it felt as if she was blessed.

She felt something wet on the top of her lips.

"Ara?~" Kuzuki set his gaze on her. "Or perhaps, you. Want. Me?~"

It was a critical hit. Kuroko fainted when too much blood rushed out. Both of them were so into their own world that they forgot about the fact that they haven't told their friends about them dating just yet.

They also forgot that they were in a public space. In front of their friends. Uiharu at the register, Saten as a maid, Haru at the improvised kitchen, Shiina who back for her break, and Misaka who witnessed everything in close proximity.

All in all, it was a good day.