From Trash to Villain Master of Card: With Harem of Evil women-Chapter 88: Festival Day - The Beginning

Kaito’s Room — Festival Dawn

Kaito woke at his usual time.

5:30 a.m. Precision that required no alarm.

He dressed routinely: functional clothing, no ornamentation.

But when he opened the door to leave, he found something unexpected.

A large box on the floor.

A note on top, in Drake’s handwriting:

"Commander. For today. Not negotiable. —Drake"

Kaito picked up the box and carried it inside.

He opened it.

And stopped.

Clothing he hadn’t seen in... years.

A haori — traditional Japanese jacket — in deep black with subtle gray embroidery.

Hakama — formal wide-legged pants — in the same shade.

An obi — belt — carefully folded.

Everything slightly adapted. Materials from this world fused with the design of his original world.

Aurelia’s work. Without doubt.

He touched the fabric.

He should feel... nostalgia. Connection to a lost home.

Instead, he processed: Appropriate attire for formal occasion. Functional.

But there was something else. Small. Distant.

An echo of memory.

Japan. Graduation ceremonies. Summer festivals where he had worn similar yukatas.

When he could still feel completely. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

He changed slowly.

The haori fit him perfectly. The hakama, the exact length.

He looked at himself in the mirror.

And for a moment — a very brief one — he didn’t see the military commander.

But Kaito Yukimura.

The Japanese student transported to an impossible world.

The person he had once been.

Before five summonings.

Before losing pieces of himself.

A knock at the door interrupted the reflection.

"Come in."

Drake entered.

He stopped and smiled widely.

"Perfect. I knew it would fit you well."

"You organized this?"

"Aria designed it. Aurelia built it. I just took the measurements."

Drake approached and adjusted the obi slightly.

"Today you’re not just the commander. You’re the host. The leader celebrating with his people."

"Required function," Kaito said, automatically.

Drake looked at him seriously.

"No. Required humanity."

Kaito didn’t respond.

He didn’t know how.

---

Central Plaza — Mid-Morning

Kaito arrived at the plaza, completely transformed.

Hundreds of citizens were already gathered. More arriving constantly.

Decorations everywhere: colorful fabrics, flower garlands, Neudämmerung banners waving.

Food stalls lined the perimeter. Smells mingled: freshly baked bread, roasted meat, something sweet he couldn’t identify.

The central area, cleared for music and dancing.

And the stage — still covered with tarps.

The mystery to be revealed later.

The people saw him arrive.

Murmurs.

"It’s Lord Kaito."

"Look at his clothes. Never seen him like this."

"He looks... different. Younger, maybe."

Gorman appeared immediately.

"Lord Kaito. Perfect timing. Speech in ten minutes."

He handed him a scroll.

"I prepared some words. But if you prefer to improvise..."

Kaito scanned the text.

Technically solid. Appropriate themes: sacrifice, reconstruction, shared future.

"This works."

Gorman nodded.

"Then, to the platform in five minutes."

---

Inaugural Speech

Kaito climbed onto a small platform — not the covered stage, but a temporary structure.

Hundreds of faces looked at him.

Families. Veterans. Merchants. Children on their parents’ shoulders.

His people.

For whom he had sacrificed so much.

Drake gave the signal.

Silence fell.

Kaito began.

"Citizens of Neudämmerung. Welcome to the First Festival of our kingdom."

His voice was clear. Projected. Technically perfect.

"A year ago, this kingdom did not exist. We were fragments. Refugees. People without a home."

"Today, we are a nation. Small. Young. But ours."

A calculated pause.

"We arrived here through sacrifice. Soldiers who gave their lives. Citizens who rebuilt with bleeding hands. Leaders who made impossible decisions."

He looked around.

"And we survived. Three invasions. Countless challenges. Odds that favored destruction."

"But we were not destroyed."

His voice rose slightly — not passion, but emphasis.

"Because when we knelt, we chose to rise."

"When they told us we would yield, we chose to resist."

"When they told us we would be forgotten, we chose to build something that endures."

He touched his chest.

"I gave much. You gave much. We all paid a price."

"But today... today we don’t commemorate the price. We commemorate what we bought with it."

He extended his hand toward the crowd.

"The future. For you. For your children. For the generations to come."

"That is what we fought for. That is what we sacrificed for."

"And that is what today we celebrate."

He lowered his hand.

"Welcome to the First Neudämmerung Festival. May it be the first of many."

"May each year we remember: we are not defined by what we lost, but by what we built."

A final pause.

"Celebrate. Live. Remember."

He finished.

Silence for three seconds.

Then, APPLAUSE.

Massive. Thunderous.

People shouted their approval.

Technically, the speech had worked.

Kaito should feel satisfaction. Pride. Connection with his people.

Instead, he processed: Speech executed satisfactorily. Audience response positive. Objective fulfilled.

He descended from the platform.

Gorman waited for him, smiling widely.

"Perfect, Lord Kaito. Absolutely perfect."

"It fulfilled its function."

Gorman frowned slightly.

"You did more than that. You inspired them."

Kaito nodded.

But internally: no emotional connection to that inspiration.

Only recognition of an efficient outcome.

---

Walking Through the Festival — Noon

Drake stayed with Kaito as he toured the festival.

Observing.

Processing.

Evaluating.

A family near a food stall. The father lifted his young son to see the musicians.

The child laughed.

He should feel: warmth, hope for the future.

He processed: Family unit intact. Morale high. Positive for social stability.

A group of veterans sharing stories. Visible scars. But they smiled.

He should feel: deep respect, gratitude for sacrifice.

He processed: Veterans integrating socially. Psychological recovery progressing. Acceptable.

Children playing a game: a mock chase with wooden swords.

They imitated battles.

They played Naporia with exaggerated roars.

He should feel: joy for preserved innocence.

He processed: Healthy youth. Capacity for play indicates absence of severe trauma. Functional.

Drake observed Kaito’s expression.

Or rather, the lack of it.

Neutral. Processing. Mechanical.

"Commander."

Kaito looked at him.

"Yes?"

"When was the last time you actually enjoyed something?"

The question took him by surprise.

He processed.

Enjoyment?

Pleasure without function?

Joy for its own sake?

He couldn’t remember.

"I... don’t know."

Drake touched his shoulder.

"That worries me."

"Why? I function efficiently. The kingdom thrives."

"Yes. But you... you’re fading."

Kaito frowned.

"Explain."

Drake gestured around them.

"Look at all this. Joy. Life. Celebration."

"And you process it as data. Not as experiences."

He paused.

"I don’t blame you. I know what the fifth summoning cost. But... I’m worried you’ll lose more."

Kaito didn’t argue.

Because Drake was right.

"And what do you suggest?"

Drake offered a slight smile.

"That you try. Actively. To feel something today."

"I don’t know how."

"Then observe others. Imitate them. Until it becomes real again."

Kaito considered it.

Questionable logic. But... without an obvious alternative.

"I’ll try."

"Good."

They continued walking.

Kaito tried to feel.

He forced emotional connection.

Small successes: the taste of sweet bread from a stall triggered an echo of pleasure.

The music activated distant memories of festivals in Japan.

A child’s laughter created... something. Small. Warm.

Not much.

But something.

---

Sunset Approaching

The sun was beginning to set.

The festival was in full swing.

Music, louder. Dancing, beginning. Energy, growing.

Drake consulted his pocket watch.

"Almost time."

Kaito looked at him.

"Time for what?"

"For the surprise."

"What surprise?"

Drake smiled mysteriously.

"The kind I hope makes you feel something."

He began walking toward the VIP area, near the covered stage.

Kaito followed him.

"Drake. What have you planned?"

"You’ll see. In ten minutes."

They arrived at the designated area.

Seats prepared. A perfect view of the stage.

Kristina and Theron were already there.

Kristina smiled when she saw him.

"Lord Kaito. An impressive festival."

"And impressive clothing," Theron added. "Reflects your cultural heritage."

Kaito nodded.

"Thank you."

He sat down.

He processed the situation.

All queens absent. Aria too.

Drake, nervous, but expectant.

The stage, still covered.

Conclusion: an important event was imminent.

Nature: unknown.

But a part of him — small, distant — felt something.

Anticipation.

Curiosity.

Perhaps even... hope.

That whatever was coming could reach him.

Through the emotional distance the fifth summoning had created.

Please, he thought — a rare moment of internal plea.

Please let it work.

Because I don’t know how much more I can lose before I disappear completely.

The sun continued its descent.

The magic crystals on the stage began to glow softly.

The music changed — became softer, more formal.

And then.

Aria appeared at the side of the stage.

Dressed elegantly.

Smiling.

Ready to announce.

Ready to begin.

The moment that would change everything.

Or nothing.

Only the next second would tell.

---