Chapter 115 Pretty Boy Café
The bell had barely stopped ringing when Donny stepped up to the podium, his voice carrying easily over the low chatter.
"Everyone should know that in one week, Prestige High School will be celebrating its twentieth anniversary."
A ripple of anticipation moved through the room.
"As in every year, we will hold an event for the occasion. This year, however, the board has decided to make it something different… a school fair."
A school fair? Heads tilted, curious. The words alone sounded like fun.
One student raised a hand. Donny smiled and elaborated. "Imagine the entire school transformed into a theme park. You can form teams—no limit on size—and work together to create lively, interesting attractions. For example, you could set up stalls on the sports field selling handmade crafts or all kinds of snacks."
He gestured toward the rows of desks. "Classrooms will be open for you to decorate however you like. You might turn one into a haunted house, a restaurant, a themed café… or go for something more unique—tarot readings, fashion runway shows, darts, frisbee challenges, live music. Anything that will draw people in."
"And this year, the fair isn't just for our students. Friends, family, even people from outside the school are welcome. You can promote your team's project however you wish."
His tone sharpened slightly. "The school does not want you to rely on your parents' money. If your project needs funding, you will have to secure sponsorships from outside. The more you raise, the better your project can be, and you'll gain valuable experience in negotiating real-world partnerships."
"On the day of the celebration, the school will rank the top three teams by popularity. First place will receive two million dollars, second place one million, and third place five hundred thousand."
He glanced at the wall clock. "We will skip the first period today so you can discuss ideas freely. Choose a team leader and submit your team list and project proposal to the class monitor."
The moment he finished, the classroom erupted into excited voices. The idea of turning the school into a buzzing, colorful fair was intoxicating. Friends could work side by side, invite family to visit, and maybe even walk away with a hefty prize.
Dorian's eyes were bright. "I've spent years in a school with military-style discipline. I never imagined something this… free."
Aurora College's affiliated high school was one of the most prestigious public schools in the country, but its rules were suffocating. Their version of a school celebration meant sitting in the auditorium listening to the headmaster's speech. A fair like this felt almost rebellious.
Amelia was intrigued too.
Asher's excitement was instant. He shoved together the desks in the back row until they formed one large table for the four of them. "This is perfect. We've got four people—let's think of something we can do together."
Zander opened his mouth, but Asher slapped a hand over it. "Please," he drawled like a soap opera caricature, "come down from your ivory tower and mingle with us mortals for once. Otherwise I'm convinced you'll disappear into the mountains the day you turn eighteen."
Zander didn't answer, but the faint arch of his brow was enough to show he wasn't opposed.
That alone made Asher grin like he'd just won a bet.
"How about a café?" Dorian suggested immediately. "I make a mean cup of coffee, and my latte art is unbeatable."
"A café?" Asher's eyes lit up. "That could work. What theme would pull the biggest crowd?"
"Hold on." Amelia stood and crossed the room to Leroy, who had been sitting quietly, as always, in his corner. He was used to solitude, so her sudden attention caught him off guard.
"Let me introduce you. This is Leroy—my only friend in class before you guys showed up." She smiled. "And you already know him, though maybe not in person. He's HY from the K.A group chat."
Dorian's eyes went wide. "HY? You mean your quiet seatmate is the legendary hacker?"
Most of them had interacted with Leroy online. His skills were unmatched, and in a world run by the internet, that made him invaluable. He charged modest fees for his work, which only added to his reputation.
Dorian had always pictured HY as a heavyset guy with thinning hair and acne—not this lean, sharp-featured boy with calm, steady eyes.
The K.A club had only thirty-five members in all of Celestria, and now five of them were sitting in the same classroom. The thought was almost surreal.
The back door swung open.
Tobias strolled in like he owned the place, ignoring the fact that he was crashing another class. He headed straight for Amelia, wrapping her in a hug and ruffling her hair. "Amelia, did you hear about the fair? Want to team up?"
"We're already brainstorming," Amelia said, stepping back and pointing to the group. "That makes six of us now, including you."
Tobias turned to Zander, eyebrows raised. "You're actually joining a team? Well, I'll be damned… You really do look like your twin."
Dorian glanced between them. "Not that your vibe is anything alike."
Her gaze drifted over the four boys, assessing them with a critical eye.
Zander was all cool detachment, his presence shadowed but magnetic. His features were so perfectly cut they looked sculpted, the small mole at the corner of his eye only adding to the arresting effect.
Tobias was pure energy, his grin edged with wildness. Strong lines defined his face, his eyes bright and restless.
Asher's red hair was a flare against his pale skin, his boyish face offset by a streak of mischief. When he spoke, the flash of his small, sharp canines was impossible to miss.
Leroy's dark lashes framed eyes that held quiet intelligence. The clean lines of his profile and the understated curve of his mouth gave him a certain refined grace.
Four completely different kinds of handsome.
"I've got it!" Dorian slapped her thigh and turned to Asher. "You asked about a theme for the café? Let's make it a Pretty Boy Café."
She grinned. "Amelia and I will handle the coffee. You four will wear waiter uniforms and stand at the entrance to draw customers in."
She leaned back, confident. "With your looks, we'll have every girl in school lining up. Popularity first place, guaranteed."