Chapter 20 - Festivals and Fireworks
(1)
At a certain junior high school ground.
"Ah!"
"So close!"
"Do your best~!"
We had come to cheer for Makoto... for the Ueda Minami Junior High Soccer Club.
The time was stoppage time in the second half.
They were losing by a single point.
Three markers were on Makoto. Passes weren't getting through as intended.
Tweet tweet tweet!
The final whistle blew heartlessly.
Ueda Minami Junior High lost in the prefectural qualifying finals.
"That was so close~"
"It really was~"
"Well, it can't be helped. Not with three markers on Makoto."
We shared our impressions while heading home.
"If Toya-kun had been there, it might have been a different story, right?"
She's overestimating me too much.
"That's not true."
"What should I send Makoto?"
"Something like 'That's too bad...' should be fine, right?"
"I guess that's all there is to say."
Kanna tapped away at her smartphone as she spoke.
Ping
Kanna's smartphone rang.
It seemed a reply had come immediately.
Just to be clear.
We were walking while pushing our bicycles.
Even so, I think using a smartphone is not allowed.
"Haha!"
Kanna suddenly burst out laughing.
"Kanna, what's wrong?"
"Toya, he says, 'It's not too late even now. Please join the Soccer Club!'"
"Is that so? Why don't you join, Toya-kun? It seems your skills haven't faded."
"I don't have the stamina to run for 60 minutes."
"Wouldn't something like being a substitute be fine?"
"Tell him I'm good because it's tiring."
"Stop talking like such an old man."
Kanna tapped away at her smartphone as she spoke.
Ping
His replies were fast as always.
"He says, 'I thought you'd say that.'"
Well, I suppose so.
For the record, even in elementary school, there was never a time I played a full match.
The reason was a lack of stamina.
Also, I feel like I was used in crucial moments, like Airi mentioned.
I don't remember ever appealing like the people on TV, saying "I can go in anytime!"
"By the way, about the festival at the beginning of next month."
"Oh, I'm going, I'm going."
"I'm okay too."
Kanna was tapping her smartphone.
She was probably confirming with Makoto.
"Going is fine, but should we do the first day or the third day?"
Honestly, the second day doesn't matter.
The first day is mainly large floats and dancing. The third day is mainly fireworks.
"Wouldn't both be fine?"
"Right? It's a holiday, so it's fine, right?"
It seemed both of them wanted to see both.
If it were just the two of us, Airi and I, the fireworks alone would be fine, but I wanted to show Kanna the floats.
"Makoto says he can do both too!"
"Then, let's go to both."
Both of them nodded.
(2)
The first day of the festival.
Both of them had come in casual clothes.
Since we were moving by bicycle, I guess yukata weren't an option.
Makoto appeared late, wearing his Soccer Club jersey.
"Sorry, I'm late."
Everyone was gathered, so let's go.
By the time we reached town, it was already crowded with people.
I took Airi's hand, and Makoto took Kanna's, to ensure we wouldn't get separated.
We managed to secure a position where we could see the floats.
The dancing had already begun.
The process involved proceeding while dancing for a certain amount of time, and once the dancing ended, spinning the floats around vigorously.
The dancers wore various types of makeup.
Kanna was filming the spinning floats with her smartphone.
Makoto was watching while eating yakisoba.
As for Airi, she let go of the hand we were holding and hugged my arm.
Airi smiled brightly when our eyes met.
After watching for a while...
"I've had enough, I'm hungry, let's eat something,"
Kanna said.
"Well, there's no end to it if we watch until the very finish."
And so, the four of us ended up looking around the stalls.
Stalls were lined up inside the park; I bought okonomiyaki, Airi and Kanna bought crepes, and Makoto bought shaved ice.
Tables and chairs were set up in the park, so we decided to eat there.
Kanna was having Makoto feed her shaved ice with an "aaahn."
Airi was watching that enviously.
As I watched Airi, she noticed me.
Airi looked up at me with upturned eyes.
Good grief.
"...What flavor do you want?"
"Strawberry!!"
I bought shaved ice and fed it to Airi.
"It's col-d!"
Airi screamed happily.
"Hey, hey, I'll do it for Toya-kun too."
"It's fine, really."
"Do you hate it?"
...Stop that expression. That's unfair.
Airi gazed at me with an expression as if begging for something.
I silently handed the container of shaved ice to Airi.
Happily, she took a scoop of shaved ice and brought it close to my mouth.
I opened my mouth, and she popped it inside.
"It's delicious."
"Yeah..."
Makoto and the others teased us as they watched.
You guys were doing it too, weren't you?
"Wow, you're really putting it on display, aren't you?"
"Really, really."
"We're not putting it on display."
"Don't be shy."
"I'm not shy!"
"You're as dishonest as ever."
Saying that, Makoto wrapped his arm around my neck and squeezed.
"Stop it!"
Airi and Kanna laughed while watching that.
However, Kanna's laughing figure somehow lacked vitality.
The second day of the festival.
Bon dancing and such were the main events.
I wasn't very interested, so I didn't go.
I studied at home as usual.
However, it seemed Makoto and Kanna went.
For the first time in a while, it was just the two of us studying.
"It's been a while, just the two of us."
It seemed we were thinking the same thing.
"True."
"It's lonely without Kanna, isn't it?"
"True."
"As I thought?"
...She trapped me.
I hadn't expected her to go that way.
"Isn't it nice to have some quiet time once in a while?"
"I guess so."
After that, silence continued for a while.
Airi abruptly brought up a topic.
"I wonder if Kanna and Makoto-kun are doing well?"
"Aren't they doing well? They're going to the festival together today, right?"
"That's the thing, when I ask via message, something feels off, you know? She had a gloomy face yesterday too."
"Was she not enjoying herself?"
"It looks that way from Toya-kun's perspective. Maybe I'm overthinking it?"
"What do you mean by 'something feels off'?"
"Well, even when I ask various things, it's just 'I guess' or 'True.' I feel like there should be a bit more to it."
"Isn't it better not to pry too much? You're becoming like a neighborhood old lady."
"I see, you're right. Alright! Let's finish today's and tomorrow's assignments quickly. No, if I finish more, maybe I can play more in the latter half."
Airi started saying terrifying things.
But isn't playing in the latter half a bit ambiguous?
"...Once the Bon festival is over, the sea gets full of jellyfish."
"...A pool would be fine. Hmm? Do you want to see me in a swimsuit?"
There's no way I wouldn't want to.
"I already bought this year's. I'm looking forward to it~"
Saying that, Airi solved the problems while feeling excited.
The final day of the festival.
Today was the day of the fireworks display.
Kanna and Makoto said they would go separately.
They probably want to be just the two of them after all.
I sent a message saying understood.
Father said he would take us by car.
The distance from the parking lot to the venue was far, and above all, I didn't know if we could park, so I said that was fine.
"Let's leave early and eat dinner outside together,"
Father said, so I tried asking Airi by phone for now.
"Got it♪ Then, I'll go to Toya-kun's house at 16:00♪"
That's what she said.
She was strangely excited.
Is there something going on?
I found out the reason immediately.
Ding-dong
The doorbell rang.
She's an hour early.
If we're going by car, let's go in yukata.
I was in the middle of changing with that thought, but...
"Welcome, oh my, Airi-chan looks so lovely."
Mother's voice was bouncy.
"Excuse me for disturbing you~"
W-wait, I haven't finished changing yet.
However, Airi opened the door without mercy.
"Hello... kya!"
Airi hurriedly closed the door.
I also hurriedly tightened my obi.
"...You can come in now."
This time, she opened the door gently and came in as if confirming.
Airi had her hair gathered up and held with a hairpin.
A yukata with a floral pattern on a white background and a red obi.
She looked at me with eyes saying "say something."
"...You're cute."
Airi's face turned red.
"When I said we were going by car, Mother said 'then...' thank you. Toya-kun... you look wonderful too."
Being told that makes me embarrassed.
Thanks to Airi coming an hour early, we were able to depart early, and we found a parking space immediately.
However, we needed to kill time until we ate dinner.
We looked around at the strips of paper and decorations adorning the arcade street.
Various wishes were written on them.
If I were alone, I would just pass through quickly, but with Airi, they became just the right conversation topics to kill time.
I think it would be the same with anyone other than Airi, though.
But I don't think there's any girl who reacts as much as Airi does while looking at various wishes.
She gets so absorbed that she's sometimes warned by my parents, "We're leaving you behind."
After returning to the station building and eating dinner, we headed to the venue.
It was about a 30-minute walk.
Actually, there are parking lots closer, but they're crowded anyway and you can't get in.
The riverbed at the venue was full of people.
"Don't wander too far."
Told by Father, I proceeded so as not to lose sight of him.
Airi was clinging to my right arm.
"Father, don't walk too fast!"
I told Father in a loud voice.
Father, sensing the reason, immediately said "Sorry" and shortened his stride.
"Thank you."
"Do your feet hurt?"
"No, I'm okay."
After securing a suitable spot, we sat on the ground.
"Toya-kun, there are night stalls."
"You just ate a while ago, right?"
"I want to eat shaved ice."
"Don't blame me if you chill your stomach."
"I told you it's okay."
"Then, I'll go buy some. Don't move from here. ...And that thing is a no. Father and the others are here."
"I know~"
Her voice sounded a bit dissatisfied, but it felt like she reluctantly consented.
I stood in line to buy shaved ice.
But I didn't realize this many people would gather.
I bought Blue Hawaii for myself and strawberry flavor for Airi and brought them back.
It was difficult to climb the slope with luggage in both hands.
"Here."
I handed the strawberry shaved ice to Airi.
"Thank you."
After saying that and taking a bite, she let out a "It's cold!"
After that, she cast her gaze toward the Blue Hawaii flavor I was holding.
"Do you want to eat it?"
"Yes."
When I said "Here" and handed it over, she puffed out her cheeks dissatisfiedly.
"I told you that thing is a no, right?"
"It's fine, there's no need to be embarrassed at this point."
I guess once you do it, you get used to it.
"Can't be helped..."
I took a scoop of my own and put it into Airi's mouth.
"It's delicious."
She looked satisfied.
My parents were grinning while watching that, but I didn't mind.
The fireworks began.
An announcement played.
Fireworks were launched one after another.
"Ta~maya~"
People who say that don't exist in my hometown.
We just quietly watched the fireworks, captivated by the fantastical night sky.
Among them, there were couples flirting, intoxicated by the mood.
I'm saying this haughtily, but I felt that I was probably one of them.
Does sitting side by side with Airi, linking arms and looking at the night sky, count as flirting?
For example, that couple kissing, taking advantage of the commotion... huh?
They're two people I recognize.
I stared. It was Kanna and Makoto.
I instinctively looked away.
They didn't notice.
Airi, perhaps noticing that state, asked.
"Hey? What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Hmm..."
It seemed Airi hadn't noticed Kanna and the others either.
The fireworks ended after about an hour.
I hurriedly left the spot.
"Wait, walk a bit slower."
I had forgotten Airi's attire.
"Sorry, sorry."
Saying that, we headed home.
As expected, it was crowded on the way back.
One shouldn't watch until the very end.
We arrived home just before 22:00.
It was late, but well, I'm acquainted with Airi's parents, so it should be fine.
It seemed I was trusted even so.
"Well, thank you for today."
"It's fine, please come again if there's another opportunity."
"Yes."
After finishing the exchange with Mother, she said to me.
"See you tomorrow."
Saying that, she went inside her house.
I was listening with my mind elsewhere.
To think Kanna and Makoto had become that intimate.
It was a state of mind where I couldn't honestly be happy.
I shook my head and forgot what I had just thought.
"I'll think only of Airi."
Because I had sworn that.
The festival was over, but summer vacation had only just begun.