NOVEL NEXT Chapter 340
“Please take lots of pictures, Uncle Yuto.”
“Yes. Understood, Young Lady.”
At Hikari’s request, Yuto nodded.
“Ah, I really wanted to go with you~.”
“…Then how about going with me, Young Lady?”
Despite the atmosphere of disappointment, Yurie made a suggestion, but Hikari quietly shook her head.
“To be honest, I want to go too… But if we happen to run into each other, it might get awkward. So today, I’ll be satisfied with photos.”
As she said that, Hikari pouted her lips.
Even though she said that, her face clearly showed she wasn’t satisfied at all, making Yuto and Yurie chuckle.
Fundamentally, Hikari isn’t someone who shows a lot of emotions.
She knows that even her trivial actions can decide the fate of her users.
But when she’s mixed in with the Star’s Flow members, Hikari shows a side of a typical girl you could see anywhere.
Laughing over small things and sulking over minor issues.
That’s why Yuto and Yurie, like every user of the Shirazaki family, genuinely liked that Hikari was active in Star’s Flow.
“Still… I know it can’t be helped, but I thought Izumi would at least encourage me once.”
Hikari, oblivious to the warm laughter of the two, grumbled.
“I’m going to a festival next time with Yurie and Yoru, so even if Izumi asks, she won’t let me join!”
She puffed her cheeks at the last remark.
“Then I’ll be off, Young Lady.”
“Yes. Please take lots of photos of everyone having fun.”
“Yes, understood.”
“…Especially lots of photos of Izumi.”
“Yes.”
Thus, Yuto, assigned the role of escort, headed to the festival and took numerous pictures.
Starting with Ayaka buying candy apples and sharing them with everyone.
Izumi and Nekoto posing cozily with their arms linked.
Chasing behind them, pictures of Aoba and Iro caught in action.
All seen through the lens were moments that Hikari couldn’t help but love.
And the last picture Yuto took was….
★
“I’m exhausted….”
How many hours have we been wandering around?
The promised time was 6 PM, and the festival started at 6:30 PM.
And now it’s 7:30 PM…
So we’ve already been wandering for about an hour.
With so many people around at the festival and not resting, it’s no wonder I’m tired.
“Shall we take a short break?”
“Sounds good. To be honest, I’m a little worn out too….”
Luckily, everyone agreed with me, allowing us to take a break.
“Uncle Yuto, shouldn’t you sit here too?”
“No. My role today is to escort you all.”
“You’re too rigid! It’s a festival, you should have some fun too!”
“Ah, then I’ll go buy some drinks!”
“Huh? Then I’ll go with you, Midoring!”
With that, Ayaka and Hibana went off to buy drinks while the rest of us sat on a bench, enjoying our break.
“Huuaaa….”
The time showed it was already evening, painted with a red sunset.
“Are you very tired?”
“Yeah….”
After wandering around, taking in everything, and enjoying various games, I felt quite tired.
I find it strange that Ayaka is still lively.
Most of the Star’s Flow members are homebodies like me.
“There’s still about 30 minutes until the fireworks start.”
“Can’t we just head back…?”
“No. We can’t.”
Today, Nekoto seemed unusually firm.
I guess because she has a younger sister, she used to listen to requests well.
“Since we’re all together like this, let’s enjoy until the end, Mina.”
“…Alright.”
Fireworks, huh….
Thinking about it, I’ve always been fascinated by fireworks festivals.
But when I was a student, I had no friends to go with, and after graduating, I never had the time.
It’s not like I had no time, but when I had free time, it was never during the fireworks festival period.
Well, I suppose being a natural introvert has something to do with it.
Typically, I’m satisfied just watching OnTube videos.
Yet, as Nekoto said, since we’re all gathered together, I’ll try my best to enjoy until the end.
★
“This is the best spot.”
After about a 10-minute break, we moved to enjoy the highlight of the festival, the fireworks.
According to Nekoto, this open space behind the shrine is the best spot.
But typically, shouldn’t a good spot be filled with people?
No matter how much I look around, there are barely two or three people here, so it feels a bit unconvincing…
Since we’ve decided to enjoy, I want to experience the best fireworks.
“…Do you all have doubts?”
While I was lost in thought and looking around, Nekoto chuckled and spoke.
“Well, it’s understandable to think that way when you first arrive. Haruna thought the same…”
“From what you’re saying, it seems you’re quite confident, Ruka?”
“Yes. Look forward to it, Ren.”
Heh~. And Nekoto struck a pose.
Seeing her so overflowing with confidence made it hard not to believe her…?
Before I knew it, the time was 7:58 PM.
Only 2 minutes remained until the fireworks started.
Feeling the cool evening autumn breeze, I looked up at the sky.
Just 30 minutes ago, the sky was painted with a red sunset, but now it had turned pitch black, adorned with stars and the moon.
That scenery made me think it was beautiful enough to not need fireworks.
So isn’t it okay to head back now…? But that thought wouldn’t do.
I’m not that oblivious, even if it’s me.
Rather, as a professional loner of my level, I tend to be quite perceptive of my surroundings. Yup.
“Ah, it’s almost time to start….”
Boom! Just before Kaguya’s words finished, the sound of fireworks burst forth.
“Wow….”
And I couldn’t help but gasp at the sight.
The stars and moon adorning the now dark sky.
And the spectacular fireworks that adorned the night sky again… twice… and then thrice.
How could I possibly take my eyes off this sight?
It was truly foolish to have only known about such a scene through videos until now.
“What do you think…? Isn’t it magnificent?”
“Yeah….”
I could only nod at Nekoto’s words.
“Right in front of that shrine, there are lots of people, and the feeling of the fireworks bursting right there is so intense. That’s why this spot is just perfect….”
“Yeah. It really seems that way.”
Red. Blue. Gold. Silver. Countless colors of fireworks illuminated the sky.
The fireworks felt so close, I unconsciously reached out, but obviously, nothing I could grasp.
That made it even more beautiful in my eyes.
“Everyone, is it okay if we take one last picture?”
At Uncle Yuto’s words, we all nodded.
“Then please line up here… and jump lightly when I signal.”
“Okay~!”
“Eh…?”
I thought we would just take a regular picture, but he’s making us do something so tricky.
…But if it’s a request from Kurokami-senpai, I guess it can’t be helped.
“Alright, then I will take it.”
With that, click! A bright light flashed from the camera in Uncle Yuto’s hands.
And in the photo Yuto showed us…
“You were so nervous, Mina-chan!”
I was the only one avoiding the camera’s lens.
I thought I was smiling…
★
With the fireworks marking the end, the festival concluded.
Ayaka, Kaguya, and Hibana said that Uncle Yuto would take them home, and I ended up staying over at Nekoto’s house for the first time in a while.
I planned to return the yukata I borrowed to Kurokami-senpai later.
“Are you still sleeping with Haruna?”
“Yeah. She doesn’t want to sleep alone.”
Haruna is still quite the siscon.
She should learn to be okay being alone like I am.
Speaking of which, Nekoto calls Haruna by the nickname ‘Haru’, which reminds me of Tateyama.
They seem to have similar personalities.
Anyway, I’m currently lying on Haruna’s bed.
Whenever I come over, Haruna always sleeps in her mother’s room.
No matter how much I insist that I’ll sleep in the living room, she always says it’s fine and ends up half-forcing me.
“Well, time to sleep, Izumi.”
“Yeah….”
Exhausted from today’s activities, as soon as I turned off the light, fatigue rushed over me.
Just as I was about to quietly close my eyes.
“…Ah.”
“Huh?”
As a question I had been meaning to ask arose, I gently tugged on Nekoto’s hand.
“By the way, there’s something I’m curious about before sleeping.”
“Something you’re curious about?”
“That ‘last resort’ you mentioned last time, what is it?”
“…Ah, that. …Do you really want to know?”
As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could see Nekoto’s face.
And as she spoke, Nekoto wore a mischievous smile.
This was clearly a pattern of ‘I’ll tell you if you give me something in return.’
In the end, this would leave me at a disadvantage, but still, it’d be better to settle this ‘last resort’ once for all than to keep getting tangled in it.
“…Okay.”
“Hmm…. Actually, you know what? There’s nothing.”
“…Huh?”
“I just wanted to play with Izumi, so I lied… Are you mad?”
Nekoto smiled sleepily.
I could easily tell that wasn’t a lie.
“Is… is that really true…?”
“Yeah. Are you angry?”
“Uh, no… that’s not it…”
“See, neither of us really likes going out. But… I still wanted to create some normal memories with Izumi at least once.”
As she said that, Nekoto gently hugged me.
“How was today for you, Izumi?”
“…I got tired from all the people.”
“And…?”
“I ended up spending a lot of money too….”
“And…?”
“But still… it was fun.”
“Yeah. I enjoyed it a lot, playing with Izumi… and everyone else.”
“Really… saying that just leaves me with no words.”
Seeing how Nekoto was, she’s definitely a charming woman.
I’ll have to make sure to indict her in the Empress’s Trial one day.
With that thought, I quietly closed my eyes.
Nekoto’s embrace felt pleasantly warm.
Like a cat.