NOVEL NEXT Chapter 386
In my previous life, I didn’t even know this about myself, but I seem to enjoy lively and boisterous places more than I thought.
Oh, but that doesn’t mean I’m the type to eagerly search for clubs or anything like that.
I liked places like this festival scene or streets filled with people. Just walking nearby, I could hear the excited murmurs of people, the laughter of children, and the calls of shopkeepers trying to attract customers.
Until recently, I thought I really didn’t like such places in my past life.
…Maybe it was because I had become an adult. Working in such noisy environments, I probably just wanted to relax somewhere quiet after work.
Or perhaps I was… in an extremely depressing situation. Well, it wouldn’t be surprising.
Now, my daily life is peaceful anyway. There’s no need to smell something burning, and I don’t have to carry injured people around. I go to school and leave much earlier than adults do from their jobs.
On days when I don’t go out with friends, I can enjoy a leisurely afternoon.
I liked having Kagami at home. Kagami always prepared something for me, but if there was nothing to do, I would just sit on the living room sofa, relax, and watch TV. Then I’d lay my head in Kagami’s lap and watch TV together.
I was really lucky—just as I drew immense comfort from Kagami’s existence, it seemed that Kagami felt comfort from me as well. Kagami would gently stroke my shoulder or head, their face melting like they’d just petted a cat.
Spending time in silence, doing nothing, wasn’t bad either—but still, doesn’t daily life need a fun twist every now and then?
Although I don’t just like one side of things, it’s always been fun to come out to festivals with friends since childhood.
We three walked side by side, carefully holding a goldfish in our hands, wandering around—
“…Ah!?”
Shii seemed a bit flustered as she suddenly looked somewhere.
See? After all, fateful meetings can’t simply be separated by just pulling two apart.
“Shii!”
It was Sota.
Before Shii could turn us around, Sota, far away, recognized Shii almost simultaneously and waved.
“Kotone!”
Hearing Sota call my name, Yuka blinked.
Seeing Shii’s gaze returning this way made me ponder on what to explain. Hmm… I mean, we do have a close relationship, even if there are kind of boundaries set to it.
For example, Shii often holds my hands or wrists, but Sota has never done such a thing. I also try to be careful not to touch Sota.
…
Wait, is that normal?
“Because we’re close neighbors.”
“Is that so?”
Yuka smiled strangely. Why? No, is there even a reason to ask?
I’m unsure if I’m in my puberty, but Yuka must definitely be in that phase. Even if she pretends not to be, she’s probably very interested in guys.
And being interested in guys means she’s also very interested in romance. That romance includes not just her own but others’ as well.
“Yuka.”
I forced back a sigh as I spoke.
“My dad doesn’t think highly of Sota, so that’s not happening.”
“Hmm, really?”
“…”
Ah, she clearly doesn’t believe me.
The truth is, I don’t even regard Shii as someone to be wary of. Lately, Sota has treated me like a younger sister too.
…
But I have no idea why he treats me like a little sister. I think Sota is a good guy and a close friend, but honestly, that aspect kind of annoys me.
“I feel like it’s fine.”
As Sota approached closer, I said that, and he chuckled.
Seeing Sota’s gaze shift toward Yuka, I opened my mouth.
“This is Yuka.”
“Yuuuki Yuka.”
As I omitted my surname during the introduction, Yuka immediately corrected me. It was definitely a softer voice than when she first met me. The atmosphere must have contributed, and knowing Shii as a friend must have played a part, but I believe this is much closer to Yuka’s true self.
“Yuuuki-san?”
“Just call me Yuuuki; that’s fine.”
Once Sota called me Yuuuki, Yuka looked a bit more relaxed.
Shii also told me to call her Shii, and I said to just call me Kotone, so I guess Sota thought it would be the same for him.
“Uh, I don’t think I’ve seen you at our school.”
“Well, that’s true. It’s another school.”
“Oh, I see.”
Hmm. This Yuka isn’t the tsundere type.
It’s a bit fresh. Though to be fair, the only tsundere Yuka I’ve known is the one from stories.
“…”
I glanced at Shii. She was looking back and forth between her older brother and me, then Yuka with an anxious expression. Does she seem that worried?
But interrupting out of nowhere could be troublesome. It might be fine if Yuka and Shii didn’t know each other well, but since Yuka is friends with me, Shii isn’t the type to be so bad as to ruin a friend’s feelings because of her personal emotions.
Or could it mean I’m that important to Shii? Shii’s world is still small. In that case, the meaning each person carries in a relationship must be larger than mere words can express.
Well, whatever.
There’s still plenty of time until we become high school students.
I decided to give a little help to Shii.
“Those people coming from behind.”
I pointed a bit towards Sota’s back.
“Your friends?”
“Ah, yeah.”
Sota nodded.
Seeing as Shii said, it seemed Sota had been playing with his friends. Well, when a bunch of people come together all excited like this, it’s usually fun.
But frankly, I didn’t want to get tangled up with those friends.
Those guys stumbling over from afar must definitely be ‘puberty boys.’
I’ve been through that phase, and even if adults try hard to block it, middle school and high school kids will date regardless. Everyone knows that.
So those kids trying their hand at ‘dating’ could be plenty.
It seems one of them is looking at me with a peculiar sense of expectation.
…Well, they’re probably just ordinary and decent kids, but I didn’t come out here to hang out with people I’ve never met before.
“By any chance, is there anyone from those guys who usually talks about me?”
“Uh?”
At my question, Sota momentarily looked dazed.
However, he wasn’t completely oblivious in this area. He quickly understood what I meant. Well, at least in our grade, I’m pretty popular. Mainly because of my appearance.
Sota scratched his head with a bitter smile.
“Indeed, on days like this, it’s best to play with people you came with, right?”
“That sounds good.”
As I gently nodded, Sota burst into laughter and waved his hand.
“Well then, see you later!”
I waved back at Sota, and Yuka lightly waved too.
“Phew.”
Shii exhaled noticeably relieved and looked up at me with sparkling eyes.
No, I really don’t think I did anything that remarkable.
Well, it didn’t feel bad either.
When I turned my head because I felt a light tap on my arm, Yuka had a somewhat awkward expression.
“You have a lot of confidence, huh…”
“Um, well.”
I can feel the gaze, you know?
“It feels like your personality is on a slightly different level, though.”
Seeing that I didn’t deny it, Yuka laughed as if finding it ridiculous.
“It’s because I take after my mom.”
I received that compliment with joy.
Yuka laughed even harder, looking even more incredulous.
*
The highlight of the festival is always the splendid fireworks.
“Are you sure it’s okay not to watch them with your older brother?”
“It’s fine. Summer festivals aren’t just about this one event.”
Looks like she already has plans to wander around with her brother. How organized!
…
Truly impressive. Just like that, she could have collapsed, but she has the strength to wander around looking for happiness. I was almost moved to tears.
Yuka waited quietly for the fireworks without saying much.
It didn’t take much longer to wait.
After the crowd’s chatter quieted, and the person in front took the microphone to announce something—
Boom!
With a little sound, one firework shot high into the sky.
Then, Bang! it exploded in a wide circle and brightly decorated the sky.
The three of us sat together, blankly gazing at the fireworks. The plastic bag with the goldfish in my hand sparkled in the light.
“…Struggling.”
“Hmm?”
As I was dazed by the fireworks, Yuka quietly spoke from my side.
“I like the word ‘struggling.’”
“Uh?”
But even when I asked back, Yuka didn’t continue with her next words.
In the end, leaving behind a bit of confusion, our summer festival came to a close.