Chapter 55: Beautiful Girl at the Fireworks Festival (Part 2)

Even after stepping out of the station, the crowd was unbelievable.
I had a firm grip on Ryoji’s sleeve so we wouldn’t get separated—but if we did, finding each other again would be next to impossible.

“Uh… what about Togo and Aikawa?”

Ryoji veered off the main road leading toward the festival grounds and ducked into a narrow side street. It was still hot outside, and with so many people packed together, the humidity was stifling. Sweat was already forming under my yukata collar.

He tried to make a phone call, but it didn’t seem to connect.

“Ah! There you are, Ayumi-chaaan!”

Moeka-chan and Sakurako-chan came rushing toward us from the station street—with Togo following close behind.

“I’m amazed you found us in all this crowd!”

“Hehehe~ I sniffed out Ayumi-chan’s scent!”

“Moeka, you’re not a dog, you know…”

I wanted to take it as a joke, but honestly… if it were Moeka-chan, I could almost believe it. She doesn’t actually have any special powers, of course, but weird things always seem oddly possible around her.

“Ayumi-chan, you were just thinking I’m some kind of spacey psychic girl, weren’t you?”

She’s weirdly perceptive, too.
I let out a weak laugh—“Ahaha”—to cover my tracks. Sometimes she’s too sharp for comfort; it sent chills down my spine.

“Anyway, you’re especially cute today.”

Sakurako-chan reached out and gently patted my head.

“Your black hair goes so perfectly with that yukata. So adorable yet so alluring… are you trying to make me die of moe?”

Her breathing grew slightly heavy, and a dangerous glint flickered in her eyes. Step by step, she inched closer—like a predator closing in. I could practically feel my life in danger.
Ugh, why didn’t Yoshino-san come today? I was really regretting that now.

“Sakurako-chan! Sakurako-chan! Snap out of it!”

Moeka-chan pressed a cold plastic bottle against Sakurako-chan’s neck.

“Yahh! Moeka!”

Startled by the chill, Sakurako-chan jumped and quickly clasped her hands together in apology.

Seriously, she’s a hazard without Moeka-chan around. I really wish she’d learn a bit more self-control.

“Anyway, shouldn’t we get going? We should find a spot for the fireworks before they’re all taken,” said Togo, who had been watching the whole exchange with a gentle smile.
Though honestly, it wasn’t exactly something to smile warmly about.

Still, his words reminded us why we were here. Right—this wasn’t a back alley comedy routine. Time to move on.

We merged back into the flow of the crowd, slowly making our way toward the festival grounds.

“Moeka-chan, Sakurako-chan, you two are wearing yukata too!”

Sakurako-chan’s was a deep indigo patterned with wind chimes. With her tall figure and elegant posture, she looked incredibly mature.
Moeka-chan, on the other hand, wore a pink yukata with morning glories—almost identical to mine, except for the flower color. Standing next to Sakurako-chan, the two of them looked like sisters.

…And yes, I know I’d look the same next to her, thank you very much.

“Hehehe, Ayumi-chan and I are matching today!”

“Wow, you’re right—the color and pattern are almost identical.”

Moeka-chan and I giggled together.

“This is strange… Why do I feel like I’m losing somehow? We’re just wearing the same yukata, and yet… I’ve never been so jealous of Moeka’s petite figure!”

“Wait, wait, Sakurako-chan! Why are you bringing up my body now!? Ayumi-chan’s almost the same as me anyway!”

“Ayumi-chan is… well, she’s an angel.”

“That’s true.”
“Yeah.”

The guys immediately nodded in agreement with Sakurako-chan.

“Then what about me?”

“Uh… psychic?”

“That’s true.”
“Yeah.”

Instant agreement again.

“Why am I suddenly the weird psychic girl!?”

Poor Moeka-chan. Everyone always teases her, though I couldn’t help but laugh quietly from the sidelines.

“Ayumi-chan! I’m normal, right!?”

And just like that, the fire spread to me.
How was I supposed to answer that?

If I were being totally honest, she does come off a little eccentric sometimes. She’s like a cute little animal—adorable, but a bit mysterious.
Not abnormal, just… unique.

“Yeah, you’re normal. Cute, too—and bright, like a sunflower.”

When I said that with a smile, Moeka-chan’s face lit up. Her cheeks turned pink as she smiled back.

“As expected of you, Ayumi-chan. To charm even a girl so effortlessly…”

“Ahh.”
“I wanna be charmed like that too…”

I’m not charming anyone! You make it sound like I’m some kind of femme fatale or something!

I turned away from the three of them with an indignant hmph and took Moeka-chan’s hand instead.
…By the way, it really was a coincidence that we ended up wearing similar yukata, okay?

“S-sorry, Ayumi-chan. Don’t be mad, please?”

Sakurako-chan clasped her hands together again in her usual “I’m sorry!” pose, and I couldn’t help but smile softly.

“I’m just joking.”

“Lately, Ayumi doesn’t fluster easily when we tease her… kinda takes the fun out of it,” Ryoji muttered.

“Hey! I’m not your toy, you know.”

I sighed, exasperated.

“By the way, Togo-kun—you’re not wearing a yukata either, huh? Ryoji’s just in normal clothes too.”

Togo was dressed in a T-shirt, shorts, and sandals—super casual.
Ryoji looked about the same. Neither of them had bothered with yukata.

“Yeah. I mean, not many guys wear them. And honestly, who’s dying to see a guy in a yukata anyway?”

That’s… a bit sexist, don’t you think?

“I actually think you’d both look really handsome if you did,” I said offhandedly.

At that, both of them simultaneously tilted their heads toward the sky with exaggerated regret.

“Oh no… I’ve chosen poorly. Is this the weakness of my manly instincts?”

“Yeah, seriously… missing out on a chance to be called handsome by Ayumi…”

You’re both being dramatic!

“Well, even if you two did look good in yukata, Ayumi-chan’s aura would outshine you anyway,” Sakurako-chan said.

“That’s true.”
“Yeah.”

…They sure agree with her a lot.
And for the record, I’ve said it countless times—I don’t have any kind of “aura.”

Even so, I could feel all the stares around me. Why? Just why?

Maybe they sell masks somewhere. If they did, I’d totally wear one just to block out everyone’s gazes!

“You know, Ayumi-chan, when you tie your hair up and show your neck like that—it’s kind of sexy,” Sakurako-chan teased.

…And now she’s thinking exactly like Ryoji.

Ryoji shot me a smug See? Told you so look. Don’t give me that face! What am I supposed to do about it!?

And Togo—don’t silently stare at my neck like that! I can tell, you know. It’s embarrassing, so stop!

Moeka-chan nodded enthusiastically beside them. Which, okay, was the least weird reaction of the bunch—but still!

As we chatted, the riverbank finally came into view. The rhythmic beat of taiko drums echoed in the distance.
Come to think of it, a fireworks festival isn’t quite the same as a summer festival, is it? I wonder if they’re selling candy syrup or sweets here…

I did kind of jump at the offer when Ryoji said he’d buy me some, but if they’re not selling any, then that plan’s sunk.
Wait—was that his plan all along? What a terrible guy!

Not that I could prove it, but I still grumbled inwardly about it.

At least there were banners for the usual festival food—yakitori, shaved ice, grilled corn.
At this point, I’d settle for cotton candy! Anything sweet would do, honestly.

“Oh! Ayumi-chan! I bought some mizu-yōkan at the convenience store earlier, so let’s eat it later!”

Moeka-chan proudly held up a convenience store bag in front of me.

Okay, yeah, forget the candy syrup. Festival food’s overpriced anyway.
Ryoji’s offer was nice and all, but I’ll be sharing this mizu-yōkan with Moeka-chan, thank you very much.

When we climbed up the embankment, the riverside was already packed with people. The ground was covered in picnic sheets—every inch taken, barely any space left to sit.

The slope leading down from the bank, though, was less crowded.
Still, sitting directly on the grass would definitely stain our yukata with green streaks or something…

As I looked around uncertainly, Togo stepped forward.

“I brought a plastic sheet, so let’s just find a spot and sit.”

What perfect preparation. Compared to me and Ryoji—who showed up late and brought absolutely nothing—Togo was on another level.

He spread out the sheet neatly on the slope.

“Alright then, Ayumi-chan, Togo-kun, and I will go buy some snacks. Ryoji-kun, Moeka, you two stay here and hold our spot, okay?” Sakurako-chan said, taking charge with her usual confidence.

Moeka-chan pouted. “But I wanted to go too…” Still, she didn’t press the issue.

I’d assumed the drinks and mizu-yōkan she brought were for everyone, but apparently those were just her personal stash. The plan was to buy shared snacks and drinks once we got here.

Well, to be fair, her convenience store bag had been tiny—definitely not enough for five people.
Still, the fact that she bought my favorite mizu-yōkan for herself, yet planned to share it with me anyway… really, she’s like an angel.

We headed to a nearby convenience store and started picking out drinks, chips, and candy. The place was absolutely packed—everyone had the same idea.
If I got separated here, I might never find them again, so I stuck close behind Sakurako-chan.

Togo, meanwhile, moved through the crowd like a pro—swift, steady, and efficient, grabbing bottles and snacks in one smooth motion. What incredible footwork.
Bringing him along might’ve been the best decision of the night.

After paying, I picked up one of the lighter bags. Togo, ever considerate, had already taken the heavier ones before I could even offer.

…Come to think of it, this feels familiar somehow. I couldn’t quite place it, but a wave of déjà vu washed over me.

Then, suddenly, my phone—tucked inside my small drawstring pouch—started to vibrate.

Startled, I fished it out and checked the screen.

A new message had just arrived.

“I’m at the Mikawa City fireworks festival right now—could it be that you’re here too, Sakura-san?”

The sender was… Aoi-kun.