Chapter 63: Beautiful Girl Goes to the Summer Festival (Part 1)

Steam rises in the bathroom of my house. I’m sitting in the bathtub.

Soaking up to my shoulders, I let out a soft sigh and stare at the faint reflection of my face wavering on the surface of the water.

I feel like I’ve just been going with the flow way too much lately… I think back on everything that’s happened. Until recently, drifting along was fine—fun, even—but now it feels like I’m starting to slide in directions I never chose, and it’s been weighing on me.

I lean forward, resting my stomach against the edge of the tub.

In the end, I somehow ended up agreeing to go to that all-you-can-eat sweets buffet with Aoi-kun. It’s a “boy-girl pair” campaign, which means it’ll be just the two of us. Sakurako-chan told me to just treat it like it doesn’t mean anything, and I figured that if I did that, maybe it would be fine… so I let myself get swept along. But honestly, it’s not like I even wanted to go to a sweets buffet in the first place.

Letting myself get carried by the moment like that isn’t good. I want to be able to speak my mind more clearly. It’s embarrassing—after being a boy, here I am being timid and wishy-washy.

People say I’m weak to pressure or that my guard is loose, and I always thought, “No way.”
But actually—yes way! My friends understand me better than I do. And that’s… frustrating.

Ugh… what am I supposed to do about the buffet next week?

I pinch a bit of my bangs between my fingers and twist them absentmindedly. Whenever I’m deep in thought like this, I end up fidgeting with my hair.

Well, I already agreed, so it can’t be helped. I do like sweets, and since I’m going, I may as well enjoy it. Even if I didn’t choose it myself, I’ve already dragged Aoi-kun into it. It’d be rude to show up and look bored.

…But from now on, I really should try to be clearer in how I act.

I get out of the bath and stand in front of the bathroom mirror. I’ve grown pretty used to the girl reflected there by now. I clench a fist and pump it toward the mirror. Okay—time to do better.

After my bath, while I’m drying my hair with the hair dryer, my smartphone suddenly starts buzzing—brrr brrr.

Aoi-kun? No—it's Ryoji calling.

"Hello? What’s up?"

"Ah, is now a good time?"

"Yeah. I just got out of the bath, so I’m fine."

"Just hearing you say ‘I got out of the bath’ is kinda… moe, you know?"

…Should I just hang up?

Maybe he notices the shift in my breathing, because Ryoji immediately gets to the point.

"Hey, wanna go to the shrine festival tomorrow?"

"The shrine? The one next to our old middle school?"

"Yeah, that one."

Next to the middle school I used to attend, there’s a small shrine—nothing big. Since Mikawa City doesn’t have many parks, it’s one of the few places small kids can play. On weekends, you can usually see them playing badminton or tossing balls around. These days there are even elementary schoolers sitting around with handheld consoles for some reason.

Still, I had no idea they held a festival there.

"Well, it’s not a big festival or anything, just a few food stalls and stuff."

"Oh, I see."

"So… you wanna go together?"

Hmm… what should I do?

I haven’t been to a festival since elementary school, so part of me does want to go. But it’s not a big event—if I’m being harsh, it’s just a tiny, unimpressive local festival—so it doesn’t feel like something worth going out of my way for.

But he invited me, and I’m free anyway… Maybe I’ll go. He never bought me that water candy at the fireworks festival, so I can get him to treat me this time.

Still, back in middle school, Ryoji never went to these little festivals. So I can’t help wondering—why the sudden interest now that we’re in high school?

"Sure, I can go—but what made you suddenly want to?"

"Huh? I mean, well… I just kinda felt like going again, you know? And I wanted to see you in a yukata at least one more time this summer."

"Eh—?"

"Um, Ayumi-san? Are you… that against going with me?"

Through the phone, I can tell Ryoji is getting flustered.

Looks like I gave him the wrong idea.

"It’s not that. I just thought wearing a yukata again sounds like a hassle."

Right—it’s not that I don’t want to go with Ryoji.

The yukata is the problem…

It’s hard to move in. Doing my hair takes forever. And most of all—it’s hot.

In my mind, yukata always seemed cool and refreshing. You know, like wind chimes and breezy summer nights. But wearing one is actually insanely hot. Sure, it’s obviously warmer than a camisole or T-shirt, but it’s way hotter than I expected. I was honestly shocked. I suffered through the fireworks festival.

Mom says that making the heat “look effortless” is what makes a girl graceful… but even so, hot is hot.

So I really don’t want to wear it again…

"No, the yukata is great! You looked amazing last time! Please, please, pleeease wear it!"

"Ahaha. You're way too desperate."

On the other end of the phone, it sounds like Ryoji is practically bowing on the floor.

Still, hearing that he liked how I looked in the yukata makes me a little happy. At least all that suffering wasn’t for nothing. Even if it’s Ryoji saying it, I don’t exactly dislike hearing it.

"Anyway, yukata talk aside, what time should I meet you tomorrow, and where?"

We quickly settle on a time and place. Ryoji still clings to the yukata topic, though. I’m not convinced it’s worth all the fuss, but… well, if he’s looking forward to it that much, maybe I should just wear it for him. Am I too soft…?

We say goodnight and end the call.

Honestly, Ryoji might be the only person I can really talk to about what I’m feeling.

I sit down on my bed and hug a not-so-cute plushie to my chest. Game center plushies always include a few characters that make you go, “What even is this?” And the one I’m holding is exactly that type.

This was also something Ryoji just grabbed and gave me without asking. When he first handed it over, I thought, “Of all things, why this?” One eye is white, the other black, the mouth looks torn, and the claws look like they have dried blood on them. Calling it cute would be a lie. But after having it around long enough, it’s grown on me, and I play with it whenever I’m bored. Since it wasn’t cute to begin with, I don’t feel guilty treating it roughly. Whenever I’m stressed, I squeeze it tight or bonk its head lightly. It’s starting to look a bit worn, though…

After messing around for a while, I realize I need Mom to take out the yukata, so I head to the living room.

The next evening, I’m waiting in the entryway, already in my yukata.

Last time I had to rush out in a panic, so this time I’m waiting early to avoid that.

But after just a few minutes, I regret everything. It’s hot. Obviously the entryway doesn’t have air conditioning, so the heat is brutal. The outdoor temperature is already high, but the trapped, unmoving air makes it even worse. I’m just about to give up and retreat to the cool living room when the doorbell rings.

Perfect timing. Really.

"Coming."

I open the door, and there’s Ryoji. He looks… unusually cheerful.

The moment he sees me in the yukata, he gives me a big thumbs-up.

"Yup, yukata really are the best! Honestly, with how reluctant you were yesterday, I didn’t think you’d wear it. So I’m seriously happy you did."

"I'm glad to meet your expectations."

He’s so happy that it rubs off on me. I guess events like this really do call for dressing up.

"Ahem. Well then, shall we go?"

Ryoji clears his throat once and gestures for us to head out. The moment we step outside, harsh westward sunlight blasts us—way hotter than inside.

Ugh… being complimented feels nice, but the yukata is still way too hot.

We walk down the street side by side.

To get to the shrine near our old middle school, we have to follow the same route we used to take to school. Since it’s the opposite direction from the station, I’ve hardly walked this road at all since starting high school.

"It’s been a while, huh? Since we walked this road."

"Yeah. Not since graduation, I think."

Ryoji nods with nostalgic enthusiasm.

"Back then, I never would've guessed you'd turn into such a cute girl."

"I didn’t think I’d become a girl either."

"No kidding."

We look at each other and laugh.

"You always had a face that could easily be mistaken for a girl—your features were already pretty, so it makes sense you'd become cute. Although you did turn out a bit more cute than I expected."

"Is that so."

I let his words slide off me.

"Ayumi-san, don’t you think you brush off what I say way too easily lately?"

"Well, you’re always joking around and teasing me. I can’t take everything you say seriously."

If I took him seriously and got flustered, he’d just tease me more.

"No no, I’m not teasing you. I’m being really—"

"Really?"

I prompt him to continue, but Ryoji suddenly falls silent.

I’m not sure what’s going on, but he turns away and scratches his cheek. I’m a little curious, but the sound of festival drums draws closer, and my attention naturally shifts toward the festival instead.

"Wow, a lot of people came."

Once we pass the middle school, the festival grounds are just ahead. I’d underestimated this tiny local festival—there are way more people than I expected. Mostly families, elementary school kids, and middle schoolers. Once people hit high school and get more freedom, they don’t show up to small hometown festivals as much, so there aren’t many high school or college-aged people around.

I’m relieved to see a decent number of people in yukata, too. I’d secretly been a little worried—would anyone dress up for a neighborhood festival this small? But even little kids and some middle schoolers are wearing yukata, so I probably won’t stand out too much… I mean, I do get told I look like a middle schooler myself…

As we get closer, the drumbeats grow louder.

By the time we reach the shrine’s torii gate, the place is bustling. The sun has just set, and lanterns light the area with a soft, dreamlike glow.

"Ayumi, don’t wander off, okay?"

Ryoji gently taps me on the head—tap tap.

"I'm not a kid. I have my phone, you know…"

I puff my cheeks at him. We’re the same age, so why treat me like a child? Do I really look that scatterbrained?

"Well then, shall we?"

Ryoji flashes a grin and steps through the torii. I hurry after him so I won’t fall behind.

Inside, the smell of grilled chicken skewers and yakisoba drifts through the air. It’s around dinnertime, and my stomach is already growling—the scent is pure torture.

"Wanna get something to eat?"

"Yeah. I’m starving—let’s."

We walk side by side, looking for a good stall. But that doesn’t last long; soon enough I’m trailing slightly behind him. The grounds are packed, and people are coming toward us too, making it hard to stay perfectly side by side. Ryoji’s in regular sneakers and can walk quickly, but I, wearing geta sandals, am nowhere near as nimble.

At this rate, I really might get separated… I’m just thinking that when Ryoji suddenly holds out his hand toward me.

…He wants me to take it? What am I supposed to do? Even if it’s Ryoji, holding hands feels a little nerve-wracking. And embarrassing. Well, we did dance together during that folk dance, so it’s not like it’s completely new…

While I hesitate, someone bumps into me from behind and I stagger forward.

"Ayumi, careful."

Ryoji grabs my wrist and pulls me toward him.

"Yeah. Sorry…"

I shouldn’t have been spacing out in the middle of a crowded path. With this many people, getting bumped is inevitable.

I twist my wrist slightly so he’ll loosen his grip. Then I reach out and, this time, deliberately take his hand myself.

Ryoji immediately turns his face away, flustered.

Oh come on. You offered your hand, and when I finally take it, you get embarrassed? Seriously? His reaction makes me embarrassed too. I wish he’d just stay his usual laid-back self.

"Well, you know… I might get lost. So don’t mind it."

"R-right."

Our conversation turns awkward.

Strange. We’ve held hands before during the folk dance, and he’s even given me a piggyback ride—so why is simply holding hands making things weird now?

Normally this is where Ryoji would crack a joke or do something mildly pervy like he did back then. Oh—well, he did promise not to do that anymore. And Yazaki-san scolded him too. Not having that is totally fine, but still, this atmosphere… what is happening?

It is a little different from the folk dance, but…

"Hey, Ryoji, come on. Let’s hurry and find a stall."

Since he’d gone stiff as a board, I take the lead and tug him forward.

He follows behind me slowly, being pulled along.

Seriously… Ryoji’s acting weird today. No usual energy, no quick comebacks. Just… weird. Is he really thrown off just from holding hands?

As we walk through the shrine grounds, I can’t help feeling a strange uneasiness from the way he’s acting.