Chapter 142 - Fireworks
(1)
White sandy beaches.
A blue sea.
I gazed at the rows of palm trees and the towering skyscrapers.
I was stunned.
"Isshy, what are you doing? Aren't you going sightseeing?"
Startled by Eguchi-san's voice, I spun around.
She was wearing a white dress with a thin pink cardigan, carrying a small bag on her shoulder, and wearing sunglasses and a hat.
Wearing sandals, she urged me, "Let's go, hurry."
I slung my bag over my shoulder and left the hotel room.
Emi arranged for a private car, visited various tourist spots, and interacted with all sorts of foreigners.
Emi's English was fluent.
I wonder if she's been here many times before?
As the car drove through the streets, I looked back on the events that had led to this.
It was around the time final exams had ended.
"Isshy, we're going to pick up your photos," Eguchi-san had told me, and we headed to the photo studio.
After receiving the photos, she told me, "Prepare the things on this list by the end of the week."
At that time, she handed me something called a General Passport Application Form.
"Fill this out too," she had said.
When I had everything ready over the weekend, I was taken to the basement of the city hall. Upon handing over the documents, I was told, "It will be ready in about a week."
"Emi, what are you doing? What on earth am I..."
"Preparing for a vacation."
A week later, I went to the city hall and was handed something that looked like a navy blue notebook.
Engraved on it were the words "JAPAN PASSPORT."
A passport!?
"It's done. I'll come pick you up at a later date, so be ready."
"Where are we going?"
"Overseas, obviously."
"Overseas!?"
"Hawaii."
Ha... Hawaii?
"Where would you get that kind of money..."
"You don't need to worry about that. I'm the one inviting you."
Then, four days later in the evening, my smartphone rang.
"I've come to pick you up."
When I went outside, a black luxury car was waiting.
From there, we went to the airport, completed the procedures, went through screening, and waited until the flight's departure time.
We killed time at a cafe inside.
"U-um. I still don't quite understand the current situation."
Setting her teacup on the table, she explained it to me.
We are going to Hawaii.
For that purpose, we applied for passports.
Since the preparations were complete, we were now at the airport.
From here, we would head to Hawaii.
"Will that suffice?"
No, in the first place, I want to know why we are going to Hawaii?
It was exactly a "Why?" situation.
"To have a vacation with me."
Having dated her, I had learned one thing.
In times like this, it is better to just follow along quietly.
I mean, I had already completed the departure procedures.
And so, we boarded the plane and set off for Honolulu Airport in Hawaii.
"How long do you plan to stay?"
"Let's see, maybe about a week?"
I canceled the reservation for my part-time job.
I felt at least some gratitude.
Because she had added color to my vacation.
If she hadn't suggested it, I would have spent every day buried in my part-time job.
It seemed she had already completed the ESTA applications, so we entered the country without any trouble.
And that brings us to now.
The car arrived at the Ala Moana Center.
She had just finished arranging the hotel and restaurants.
We had a meal there. A restaurant where we could enjoy exquisite dishes focused on local production for local consumption, such as seafood caught in nearby waters and pork raised on the island of Hawaii. The frozen yogurt, which was rich in milk flavor, was delicious.
Since I had eaten nothing but airplane food, it soaked into my stomach. Delicious.
Emi watched me gorge myself and laughed.
"We didn't just come here to eat. I'll show you the sightseeing spots."
While sightseeing around Waikiki Beach, we headed for Diamond Head.
A view where one could overlook all of Waikiki Beach. An impressive crater.
After that, we finished dinner. In a stylish interior like a beach house, we fully savored an exquisite menu using plenty of local Hawaiian ingredients.
After returning to the hotel, I took a shower and fell asleep as if my battery had run out.
Our long vacation had only just begun.
(2)
That day, as I was preparing to leave after finishing my part-time job, my smartphone rang.
It was a summons from the Watanabe group.
"Everyone in the Watanabe group who can gather this coming Sunday, gather."
Those who could go were me, Honoka, Sashihara-san, Kiritani-kun, and Oshima-san.
Seven people in total. It seemed the others had plans elsewhere.
"I have a training camp," said Shimizu-san.
"We're in Hawaii," said Eguchi-san.
"Sorry, I'm currently traveling with Toya-kun," said Tosaka-san.
"Bad timing for that day, pass!" said Makoto-kun.
Everyone is fully enjoying their summer vacation, huh.
I consulted with Honoka.
"There are a lot of absentees, so maybe we don't have to force ourselves to go..." I suggested, but Honoka was keen.
"Since we're already doing it, and it's after your job, let's go," Honoka said.
If Honoka says so, there's no reason to refuse.
"What time does your job end?"
"In the evening..."
"Then let's meet at Blue Bird at that time."
Around 3 o'clock on Sunday, Watanabe-kun and the others gathered.
They were drinking beverages while waiting for our jobs to end.
"So, where do you plan on going today?"
I asked Watanabe-kun.
"Fireworks. Everyone said they haven't gone yet."
I was surprised that there was a fireworks festival this late in the month.
"I had quite a hard time searching for it," Watanabe-kun said.
Mika-san and Sashihara-san had come wearing yukatas.
Honoka said, "Maybe I should wear a yukata too?"
I told her it would just be hard to move around in, so it was fine.
"Really? You're not interested?" Honoka asked, to which I replied, "I am, but it doesn't have to be this year; I can wait."
Eventually, the relief staff arrived, and after finishing my job, we made our way to the venue.
On the way, we bought food at a convenience store and ate it while coming to watch.
When it became 20:00, the fireworks began to go up.
The fireworks were beautiful, but she was beautiful too.
But I didn't put that into words.
If I said it to her while she was coming straight from work without any dressing up, it would probably sound like nothing but sarcasm.
For now, let's concentrate on the fireworks.
Poke.
Honoka poked my back.
"What is it?"
"The fireworks are beautiful, aren't they?"
Yeah, the fireworks are beautiful, but you are beautiful too.
Illuminated by the multicolored lights, you look beautiful.
The fireworks flash and bloom.
Surely, the summer that hasn't ended yet will connect our ambiguous hearts.
I wished that this night would last forever.
The fireworks bloom in the night with a flash.
They bloom in the night and quietly vanish.
The light that seems like it would disappear if I gasped in surprise still remains in my chest.
A warm future that I could touch if I reached out is secretly watching us.
"I wonder how many more times I'll be able to see the same fireworks as you," Honoka said with a smile.
"We can see them as many times as you want," I said.
I hope that's how it is.
And so, the fireworks festival came to a close.
On the way back, we had dinner at a family restaurant.
"This guy is seriously the worst. Even though I went through the trouble of wearing a yukata, he seemed uninterested, and he yawned halfway through the fireworks. He even started saying he was bored and wanted to go home."
Sashihara-san complained.
"I didn't say I wasn't interested."
"Your face told the story."
"Should Eita get trained too? By Eguchi-san?"
"N-no, please spare me from that."
Kiritani-kun desperately refused as Watanabe-kun said it with a laugh.
You wouldn't want to experience that. Though it's my place to say, having experienced it myself.
"By the way, has Eita changed since then?"
"Well, yeah, he's started going to school properly. I occasionally go to Eita's house too..."
"That's good."
Saying that, Watanabe-kun finished his cola and went to get more juice.
"It's nice, having friends you can talk to like that..."
Oshima-san murmured softly.
"We're not just friends, we're technically lovers," Sashihara-san said.
"What do you mean by 'technically'!? What's with 'technically'!" Kiritani-kun retorted.
"If that's how you think, then act accordingly," Sashihara-san said, hitting Kiritani-kun on the head.
"Lovers, huh, that's nice~"
Ah, you shouldn't say things like that in front of them.
"What? Oshima-san, you don't have a boyfriend?"
See, Sashihara-san bit.
"I don't, there's no way I would have one~"
Oshima-san said and laughed.
"If that's the case, just say so. We'll give you advice!"
"What's this, Sashihara-san is getting excited all by herself."
Watanabe-kun returned. Lucky you, with this, your school life is about to be painted pink.
"Oshima-san apparently wants a boyfriend."
She hasn't said a single word about wanting one, Sashihara-san.
"I see. Oshima-san was in the same faculty, right? Then things should proceed easily. Is there anyone you're interested in?"
Watanabe-kun pressed further.
"There's absolutely no one! Besides..."
"Besides?"
"The men who follow me are never any good..."
"What do you mean?"
When Sashihara-san asked, Oshima-san answered.
Apparently, Oshima-san has androphobia.
She was bullied by boys in elementary and middle school, and when she finally thought she had a boyfriend in high school, he suddenly pressured her for a physical relationship; in short, it seemed she had only ever dated men who were no good.
"I see, that's a severe case."
Watanabe-kun thought deeply. Wouldn't it be better to just leave her alone? It might make things worse.
"For now, is the goal to overcome that?"
"Even if we say 'for now,' we still have to find a good property... Oshima-san, do you have a preferred type?"
Sashihara-san was keen. Even so, calling a person a "property"...
"Someone kind and funny, maybe?"
It's a very cliché expression, but I think it's actually incredibly difficult.
"A commonplace request. Do you have a preference for looks?"
"It's probably absolutely impossible, so it's fine."
"Maybe Junichi Matsuyama of Kogarashi."
Kogarashi is an idol unit that has been around for a while and is currently gaining immense momentum.
Each member is cast in leading roles in dramas and movies, or has their own regular variety show.
Junichi Matsuyama, also known as Matsujun, is particularly popular among them.
"That would be difficult..."
"Right?"
"Then, let's search prioritizing personality."
When Watanabe-kun said that, Sashihara-san nodded.
With these two, it seems they'll actually find a property that fits the conditions.
"It's fine even if they're at a different university. Eita! You're going to cooperate too!"
"What!?"
Kiritani-kun shouted.
"'What!?' You're a member of the group too, aren't you!"
"I get it... someone kind and funny, right..."
"Alright, Sakai-kun, do you know anyone?"
Watanabe-kun asked. That kind of talk is impossible for me. Even if I talk about my social circle, it's only Nakajima... Nakajima, huh.
"I have one person in mind..."
"Who is it!?"
Sashihara-san bit.
"Is that Nakajima-kun?"
Honoka asked. She has a general grasp of my social circle.
"Yeah, I don't have any friends other than him and Katagiri-kun..."
"Then let's try with this Nakajima-kun person. What, we're not saying he should suddenly date her. Starting as friends is fine for now."
"It's decided! Now it's just a matter of how to set it up."
When Sashihara-san said that, everyone thought.
I pretended to think too, but there was no way I'd come up with a good idea.
"I think it would be best to just keep it simple and go out as a group?"
When Watanabe-kun said that, everyone nodded.
"Then, on the day, Oshima-san will be accompanied by me, Mika, Sashihara-san, and Eita. As for calling Nakajima-kun... Sakai-kun, can you handle it?"
"I'll do my best..."
"You're unreliable. I'll come along too."
"Yes."
"Alright, let's leave it at that for today. Sakai-kun and I will finalize the detailed date and time, so I'll let you know in the group chat as needed."
When Watanabe-kun said that, the strategy meeting that had started before I knew it ended.
On the way home.
"Sakai-kun, are you sure? From my perspective, I think Nakajima-kun is the popular type."
"You've got a good eye, you're right. He is popular."
"If you pair someone like that with Oshima-san, she might fall even deeper into her distrust of men."
"I'll make sure to explain it to him. I have no choice but to tell him the circumstances."
He's a cool guy. He should be able to understand that part.
Besides, if I did something to hurt her, the Watanabe group certainly wouldn't stay silent.
"We're here."
Honoka said as she stopped the car in front of the apartment where I live.
"Thanks, see you tomorrow then."
"Yeah. See you tomorrow."
Saying that, I returned to my room.
"Do I have no charm? He hasn't invited me to anything since then..."
That one word from her also scattered and vanished like the fireworks.
(3)
"Nice shot!"
The hangers-on applauded, saying so.
Despite being a first-year, how did the other upperclassmen see me walking while letting my hangers-on carry my golf bag?
A little while ago, I would have walked at the front with a smile.
But for some reason, now I feel only emptiness.
I know the reason. Because he isn't here.
The fake love created by my hostility toward that woman had, before I knew it, become real.
And that was the moment I realized that what my hangers-on held for me was nothing more than an idol.
The world woven by vanity and idols seemed beautiful, but once the mask was peeled away, it was nothing but a monochrome world.
Empty.
I, hiding that self, put on a fake smile.
Because if I didn't, the self I had built up felt like it would collapse with a loud noise.
The only person in the world who can save me is you.
Just by passing a plain man through the filter of love, he reflects as beautifully as a kaleidoscope.
Is this what Tosaka-san was talking about?
The things that are truly necessary are found among the pebbles rolling around everywhere.
The words that woman said.
I fell in love for the first time. Only you were there.
The words I let fly on impulse changed me.
Even if I fly because I want to see you and then fall, I will throw all my feelings toward you again and again.
Even if I cry, I will absolutely not break, until you smile.
The final day of the training camp.
A wrap-up party was held.
Men swarm around me.
But he is not among them.
Putting on a fake smile and acting friendly, what can be gained from that?
But I don't stop it. I can't stop it.
Because that would mean defeat to that woman.
That day, that woman self-destructed by showing her flaws to others.
Can people really drift away with a single phrase like "I'm disillusioned"?
Was that not a terror for that woman?
Cracked, shattered, and yet she claimed there was something she wanted to obtain?
Is it something with that much value? That thing.
I still couldn't understand it.
I returned to my room and looked at the clock.
His part-time job should be over by now.
Before I knew it, I was making a call.
It was a single room.
I paid extra to get a single room.
There is a limit to continuing to act as a certain persona.
I wanted to be alone and feel at ease, so I had it arranged that way.
What value is there in a vanity that requires going that far to obtain?
Something that even overturns one's sense of value?
I want to confirm that.
"Hello?"
Sakai-kun answered the phone.
"It's been a while."
"...What do you want?"
His languid voice. You're the only one who makes a voice like that in front of me.
"Oh? Do I need a reason to call someone I like?"
Is "because I like you" not a reason?
"I'll say it many times, but I already have a girlfriend."
"I'll also say it many times, but I won't give up."
"To me, it looks like nothing more than you teasing me."
"That's unfair. I didn't call with that intention."
I'm not that dexterous of a woman.
"Then, let me ask, what is it about me that you like?"
"Your eyes."
"!?"
The eyes that broke through the wall of my vanity.
The eyes that looked at me languidly, and the eyes that clearly looked annoyed as if thinking "I've been dragged into a nuisance" when you took me away that day.
I was drunk, but I haven't forgotten.
"That's an answer I struggle to understand."
"I imagine so."
Feelings that cannot be put into words. I wish we could share this world.
"I'll be honest too. I have absolutely no interest in you."
His piercing words; as expected, he pierces through the barrier of my heart.
"I'll make you look my way eventually. Besides..."
"Besides?"
His suspicious voice.
"The fact that you haven't blocked my number means you aren't rejecting me entirely, right?"
"...I'd probably go as far as changing my phone number... and it would be troublesome if you came directly to my house."
You're the first man who hasn't yielded to me this much, Sakai-kun.
I'll make you look my way someday. So, listen to me seriously.
It is a formless, nowhere-to-be-found love.
"Right, you'd probably do that much."
"Then that's that. I have my job tomorrow too."
"I understand. Well then, see you tomorrow."
"...Good night."
The call ended.
I'll call again and again until you look my way.
(4)
We set out on our journey back to Japan.
Apparently, it's better not to sleep on the flight back.
It's a measure against jet lag.
My first overseas trip.
And with my first girlfriend.
It was fun.
But there were regrettable parts.
Because if possible, I wanted to go on a honeymoon.
When I told Emi that...
"I won't allow you to settle for a cliché place like Hawaii for a honeymoon," she told me.
Well, it's not necessarily Emi who would be the partner.
I wonder how long our love will last?
"Hawaii was more boring than I thought."
"Eh?"
Emi suddenly said something completely unexpected.
"I thought that in the land of the free, drinking would be free too, but I can't believe it's stricter than Japan."
Apparently, she was dissatisfied that she couldn't drink cocktails.
"It would be nice if we could come again."
"Of course we'll come. With you."
"I'm praying for that."
"You don't need to pray. Because I wish for you to be by my side."
I see, but let me pray too.
"More importantly, why did you suddenly suggest Hawaii?"
"I told you, didn't I? That I wanted to enjoy a vacation with you... A week was just enough. It would have been far more enjoyable to stay at a villa or something."
I don't understand Emi's values.
"I enjoyed it. My first overseas trip."
"I see, that's good."
Emi finally smiled for me.
So that smile doesn't fade, I'll do my best.