Chapter 72

“If it’s just an ordinary triangular bikini, just choose a smaller size, and your cleavage will be fine. If it’s just a matter of constructing some cleavage, you can use a NuBra or a pad. And some people even tape their boobs to get the right kind of rigging in place, you know?” “Really?!” “Yep! Time to choose something else!” Haru clenched her fists and said, “Let’s do this!” while Yuzuki grumbled, “How come you only listen to Yuuko?” Meanwhile, Ucchi, who’d been quietly watching everything going on, calmed everyone down by saying, “Now, now, girls.” Oh my gosh, this is so much fun. I love this. I freaking love it. I still don’t know if I’m close enough to the basketball duo to say we’re besties, but I realized that at some point, I’d surrounded myself with friends who treat me normally, just like they’d treat anyone else. —They’re all such precious friends to me. We spent hours choosing swimsuits until we were satisfied. I have no idea how many swimsuits Yuzuki and I had Haru try on. Haru found a super-cute one, and even Ucchi got really into the process. After that, we had drinks at Starbucks, then went our separate ways. We had a lot of fun and laughed a lot, so I was a little disappointed that it was over. But I knew we’d see each other again soon, at the fireworks display. By the time I left the mall, the sun had already begun to set. Mom told me to call her on the way home, but I felt that if I went home by car, the afterglow of our fun time would disappear, so I walked leisurely instead. I love summer sunsets—the big clouds turning pink or purple, the shadows growing longer. The chirping of frogs and insects was audible now, and suddenly the smell of the rice paddies and rivers seemed more intense. I don’t know why, but I can feel the day ending more tangibly in summer than in other seasons. I wonder if everyone else heading home was looking up at the sky, just like me. When I got home, I’d try my new swimsuit on again in my room, just to check if it really looked good. Just imagining it made me feel cute. …Yep, trying on all my clothes as soon as I get home is something I do every time. I was wandering along, thinking about this and that, when… “Yuuko!” …I saw a bicycle approaching from the front, its rider waving their hand. I couldn’t help but laugh to see that big frame on that old-fashioned bicycle. “Hey, what a coincidence, running into you!” Kaito’s brakes squealed as he came to a halt before me. “’Sup. Whatcha doing out here? “I’m thinking of going to the sports shop in the LPA. What about you?” “I went shopping with Ucchi, Yuzuki, and Haru, and now I’m on my way home.” “So then, does that mean…?” “Yes, I bought a cute swimsuit!” “Oh, man!” “Ew, Kaito! Gross!” He smiled and pointed at the bicycle’s luggage rack. “You live nearby, right? I can give you a ride home.” “It’s okay; I feel like walking today.” “But it’s getting dark. Isn’t it dangerous for a girl to walk home alone?” “Not really. There’s no one around in the first place.” “Hmm.” Kaito got off his bike with a smile. “Well, I’ll walk with you, then.” “Egh, you’ll ruin my afterglow.” “I don’t know what that means, but that’s not very friendly of you.” In the end, the two of us started walking together. Walking beside him like that really made me realize how tall he was. I only came up to his shoulder. “Kaito, you know…” I never usually spend much time looking at him, but right now I gazed up at his side profile as we walked. “Why are you not more popular with the girls?” “Whoa, at least give me a warning before you roast me like that!” He made a miserable face. But this aspect of him is kinda relaxing. Saku and Kazuki are always so super cool. “I mean, you’re tall, you’re decently good-looking, you play sports… Sure you’re a bit dumb sometimes, but your personality is really positive and upbeat…” “Well, one of those things isn’t like the others!” Mumbling, Kaito scratched his head, looking embarrassed. “If you think about it rationally, it doesn’t really make sense why you’re not popular, you know? I mean, has anyone ever asked you out?” “Ah, uh…” After hesitating for a moment, he spoke in a tone that indicated defeat. “I mean, yes. Some of the girls on the girls’ basketball team. I guess I don’t know why I’m not more of a stud, though.” “Isn’t that so?! I’m so happy!” Mysteriously, I was getting excited. “Huh? Why are you happy about that, Yuuko?” Kaito looked at me curiously. “Because I don’t understand why only cool guys like Saku and Kazuki are so popular! I mean, from a girl’s perspective, someone like you is the most comforting option, right?” “Is that so?!” “That’s right. Even if you did go out with one of those two, they’d still have girls coming up to them all the time, and I guess it’d be kinda nerve-racking to be the girlfriend.” Of course, I know I’m not that kind of person, so this would only be from the point of view of other girls who don’t know Saku very well. Or that’s what I thought, but come to think of it… It sounded plausible. Saku did tend to make offhand remarks… It would probably be hard to get him to fix that. “So if someone became your girlfriend, Kaito, I bet you’d be super honest with her and treat her really well. I bet you’d completely stop messaging other girls, too!” “…I would! She wouldn’t even have to ask!” “See? It’s not about wanting the guy to quit other girls, it’s the sentiment behind him being the one wanting to stop! But if I said that to Saku, I’d be worried he’d start lecturing me. ‘Listen here, Yuuko, just because we’re dating, doesn’t mean I have to ditch my friends,’ he’d say. I can just hear it.” When I imitated Saku’s pompous way of speaking, Kaito burst out laughing. “Hey, that sounded just like him! He’d be like, ‘The thing about me is, even if my girlfriend and I are apart, I want us both to be secure enough to be able to talk to other people without it affecting our relationship in any way,’ right?” “Stop, I can’t take it! It sounds exactly like what he’d say, but hearing you imitate him makes it even funnier!” “Hey, that sounds like you’re dissing me, too, here?!” After the two of us doubled over laughing, we stretched out. ““Ahhh!”” “Saku really is a piece of work, isn’t he?” I said. “He’s lucky to have friends like you and me, huh, Kaito?” “…” There was no reaction, so I looked over and saw him supporting the bicycle with one hand, the other hand against his mouth, holding back more laughter. “But in a lot of different ways, isn’t it Saku who you’re meant to be with, Yuuko?” “Wait! What do you mean?!” “…I mean, there are reasons.” Kaito mumbled, which wasn’t like him. There was a weird moment, so I tried to smooth it out. “You know…of those girls who asked you out, didn’t you ever find one that you liked? I mean, you’re always going on about how much you want a girlfriend.” “Hmm…” “Ah, I get it! There’s actually a girl you do like!” “No…” Kaito smiled, looking placid. “Right now, I just want to focus on club stuff.” Oh really, I thought. I didn’t know much about it, but Kaito seemed to be super good. Maybe he didn’t want anything to distract him from his basketball game. He really was ambitious and driven. And so I wanted to ask him an important question. “Hey, Kaito…” “Hmm?” “What would you do if a very dear friend of yours fell in love with the same person as you? What if you realized that the person you were in love with seemed to kinda like them back?” “Who do you mean…?” “It’s just for instance! Recently, when I was hanging out with Nazuna, we talked a bit about it.” Had I been too transparent? But I had a feeling that Kaito, of all people, would give me a straight response. I looked over at him. He seemed to be thinking hard, his brow furrowed. “If it were me…” Then Kaito exhaled, as if he’d achieved some sort of clarity. “—If they were such a good friend, then I guess I’d take on the challenge, even if it meant coming between the two of them.” His grin seemed…somehow dazzling. Sure, if you think of it in those terms, there’s really nothing to agonize over. I smiled, too. “Right! That’s just what I’d expect you to say, Kaito!” “…Really?” Beside me, he smiled a little and continued in his Saku voice. “‘If that was enough to put a damper on your feelings, Yuuko, then that means our love never amounted to much, huh? For real. Like, seriously.’” “Hey, when you mix in aspects of your own personality, it sounds even funnier, so cut it out! Besides! I never said I was talking about me!” After all that joking around, Kaito seemed to suddenly remember something. “Yuuko, do you remember the entrance ceremony?” “Huh? What about the entrance ceremony?” “You know, when we all lined up at the gym.” “Hmm…” I tried to remember, but I was filled with anticipation and anxiety at the time, and all I could really recall was that Ucchi did the greeting speech. “Er, what happened, again?” I meant it seriously, but Kaito just laughed it off. “Ah, nothing in particular.” “What? Now I wanna know!” “It’s no big deal.” “Come on, tell me!” He kept avoiding it all the way home. I didn’t want to press the issue too much, so I just said thanks for walking me home, and that was that. “Bye, Yuuko.” “See ya, Kaito!” I kept waving at his back as he walked off. “See you at the fireworks!” Kaito turned, said, “Sure!” and waved. It’s odd, though… His smile in the sunset light looked a little sad. Then came the day of the Fukui Phoenix Fireworks. I had Ucchi help me put on my yukata in my room. Actually, I was going to ask if we could do it at Saku’s place, but Ucchi said, “I bet Saku’s expecting that, too, so why don’t you stun him by showing up already dressed in it?” and I was like, “Great plan!” Knock, knock. “Yeees?” After I responded, Mom came in. “Thank you so much for going to all the trouble, Ucchi,” she said as she put down a tray of tea and snacks. Mom and Ucchi have met several times before. “As a mother, I would like to dress her in a yukata, but neither Yuuko nor I have any knack for this sort of thing.” “Hey! At least I’m not as bad at it as you are, Mom.” “You’re not exactly persuasive, you know, standing there looking like a malfunctioning robot.” “Oh, be quiet!” But she was right. Up until a few moments ago, I’d been stiffly rearranging my body in response to prompts like, “Can you raise your arm a little?” and “Can you straighten your back just a bit?” Listening to us argue, Ucchi giggled. “It’s okay, I like doing it. And it’s not like anyone ever taught me. I actually had to look up videos online of new ways to tie the obi and stuff. Then I did a lot of practice.” Mom sighed and shook her head, smiling. “First of all, it’s impressive that you did your research, and the fact that you’re prepared to look up new ways to tie the obi, well…that’s a cut above.” Yeah, I got it. Actually, I’d been surprised myself when Ucchi said it might take a little longer, but she still wanted to try out the new techniques she’d recently learned. As Ucchi skillfully manipulated the obi, she said, “This is called a marigold knot. It’s perfect for Yuuko, right down to the name.” “Hey, Yuuko, where did you find this angel?” “Mom, hurry up and get out!” “No way, Mommy wants to chat, too.” “Okay, you’re really embarrassing me.” “—Yuuko, stay still!!” “Sure thing!” Now look, Ucchi’s mad at me. Mom saw my face and sat down on the chair. “Yikes.” Could she please just not, in front of my friends? Still, she always seems to enjoy it so much, so I can’t really get angry. “Still…” Mom picked up one of the chocolates she’d brought. “Ucchi, you can cook, clean, and do laundry, you’re cute, elegant, and graceful. I bet the boys at school won’t leave you alone.” Ucchi looked embarrassed as she responded. “No, unlike Yuuko, I have absolutely no experience with that.” “You must be kidding! You’re just being humble, right?” “When I started school, I wore glasses, and I was really plain. Forget about being asked out. I don’t think the boys ever even spoke to me if they didn’t have to.” I remembered being so surprised when I heard that. After a moment, Mom let out an exaggerated sigh. “Men are idiots. If it were me, I’d make you my number two girl, Ucchi. After Yuuko, of course!” “Hey, Mom, take responsibility for the daughter you actually raised!” Well, in reality, it’s true. It makes me happy when my classmates say things like “Yuuko’s so feminine,” but any way you slice it, I think it’s a compliment that fits Ucchi more. “But you know,” Mom said, “you became friends with Chitose after you started high school, right? I actually finally met him myself just the other day!” “Oh, ah-ha-ha,” Ucchi laughed awkwardly. “At first, I actually kinda hated him. It was like he had no filter.” I thought back to that scene in the first homeroom. When Saku got mad at me. It gave me a warm feeling. I never thought the day would come when the three of us would go to the fireworks like this. “Really? Then how come you and him got to be such good friends?” “Mom, stop interrogating her,” I complained. But Ucchi just smiled. “It’s fine,” she said. “Hmm, I guess… Saku never looks away from the person in front of him. It’s like he knew better than I did that I was Yua Uchida. Sorry, I guess this doesn’t make much sense.” Thump, went my heart. “It’s okay,” Mom said, basically cutting off my thoughts. “My daughter’s had a lot of friends, ever since she was little, but never a close friend like you, Ucchi. I think it would be very nice if both you and Chitose would keep Yuuko in your sights.” “Saku aside, I don’t think I’m really that special…” “That’s not true. I’d love it if you’d dress Yuuko in her kimono for her coming-of-age ceremony as well. I want you two to remain good friends forever.” “I’m… I’m not sure I could handle a kimono with furisode sleeves…” “Hey, that’s not something you talk about in front of your daughter! This is way too embarrassing!” After the three of us laughed together, Ucchi said, “All right,” and stood up. “It’s finished, Yuuko. What do you think?” I stood in front of the full-length mirror in the corner of the room. The yukata I bought for today was in the Taisho Roman style, with random black lines on a white background and a pop of camellias in bright red. The front of the obi was a beautiful scorpion-grass color, and the back was a forget-me-not color… At least, according to the store clerk. Forget-me-nots are a soft blue, and scorpion grasses are a little lighter than that, but still pale, as blue goes. The obi knot that decorated the middle of the obi, and the strings hanging down, were meant to call to mind a Japanese mizuhiki paper knot. Yes, this looked super cute. I’d agonized over it, but I think I made a good choice. I turned around and looked back, and… “…It’s beautiful.” I let out a sigh. I wasn’t talking about my rear view, of course. —There, two flowers were blooming side by side. The colors of scorpion grasses and forget-me-nots. For some reason, the knot, made using the front and back of the obi, looked like two flowers to me. Similar, subtly different, and yet seeming to hold hands in friendship. In the flat mirror, I could see Ucchi smiling from behind me. …Just like she did that day—bright and sunny. I felt a prickling in the back of my nose. “How is it?” I turned to Ucchi, who was watching the mirror with a self-satisfied look on her face, and hugged her. “I love it, Ucchi! It’s really cute!!” “Yuuko, watch it! Don’t mess it up when I just spent ages tying it.” “Well, I’ll just have you fix it again, Ucchi!” “C-come on…” I squeezed her, my arms tightening around her. “Stop it, you’ll wipe off all your makeup.” Listening to that reassuring voice, I thought… Someday. Someday, surely… Ding-dong! Ding-dong! I smiled a little. I could hear the impatience through the doorbell. Yuuko was so the type to repeatedly hammer on the elevator call button. It was five thirty PM. I’d gotten an update call, but it was half an hour past the time we planned. It was pretty unusual for Yuuko to come by, let alone with Yua. I got up from the sofa where I’d been lying and opened the door… “Hello, Taisho-era girl delivery service!” Waiting outside was a crimson camellia that could have been made of a piece of sunset sky. I gulped. The style of the yukata, which combined traditional Japanese colors and motifs in a modern style, suited Yuuko’s not-so-Japanese features very well. Her hair was pulled up so that the nape of her neck could be clearly seen, and blue earrings that looked like mizuhiki-style paper knots dangled from her ears. A soft breeze blew in, and there was a delicate plum-like scent, different from the usual. Was she wearing more blush than normal? Or was she simply blushing? Small camellias bloomed on both white cheeks, like a tiny springtime. Yuuko was waiting impatiently for a reaction, so I said… “You look…I mean…really cute.” I was planning to say something more casual and offhand to hide my true impression, but I stumbled over my words and ended up saying something pretty lame. Even so, Yuuko smiled happily. “…All right, looks like it was a success!” She high-fived Yua, standing beside her. …Then my jaw dropped. “What the heck?!!!” I bellowed at the top of my voice, no doubt angering the neighbors. “Saku! Don’t yell like that! And hurry up and let us in!” But… But… But… Yua wasn’t wearing a yukata at all… “Sob… Sniffle…” I was crying. “—So I’d changed my clothes early so I could help Yuuko, but when I was doing housework in the extra time we had, I accidentally spilled cooking sauce on my yukata.” “Sob… Sniffle…” “I’m so sorry.” “In this moment, I curse your organization and predilection for housework, Yua. Leave the household chores alone and choose your hairstyle, makeup, and accessories. Run around, panicking, being like, ‘Oh, whatever shall I do?’ That’s what I wish you’d done today.” “Er, Saku? Who is that supposed to be an impression of?” Yuuko fixed me with a glare as cold as shaved ice in midsummer. “Because I was looking forward to seeing you both in your yukata today! This is like… Like I’ve been swindled!” “You’re starting to sound like Kentacchi.” Yua laughed awkwardly. “Well, I tried to choose a dress with a floral pattern so it wouldn’t totally ruin the atmosphere.” “That’s beside the point! All right, Yua, if I told you that today’s dinner was going to be Seiko crab, and then I served you crab sticks, would you be like, “Oh, this is fine”? And incidentally, say that I served it the same way, boiled with soy sauce!” “Um, what are you talking about?” Yua’s shoulders slumped. “Sheesh, Saku.” “Then I’ll wear a yukata next time, too, so let’s go to the festival together, okay?” “…You swear?” “Yes, yes, definitely.” As Yua and I nodded at each other… “Hey!!!” Yuuko yelled. “Hey, I worked so hard to dress myself up! Why aren’t you paying attention to me?! No, you’re just disappointed you can’t see Ucchi in her yukata! Before you start making festival dates, take a good look at me!” “Sorry, I was grieving.” “Look! Look at this obi knot! Ucchi tied that!” As she spoke, she whirled around. “Really? Hey, that looks pretty good.” “Right! Say more nice things like that!” “Uh, good job, Yua.” “Hmm, that’s definitely true, but I didn’t mean like that!” Yua and I exchanged looks and grins. “It suits you, really.” “Hee-hee!” Yuuko let her face soften then. “Now, then,” Yua said, getting up. “It’s getting a little late, so let’s start dressing you right away, Saku.” “Ah, thanks.” As Nanase said at Takokyu, it’s not like it’s impossible to put on a guy’s yukata by yourself. But I’d previously just watched a tutorial video and given it my best shot, so having Yua do it properly would probably be worth it. That time I went out with Nanase, I’d ended up fiddling with the darn thing for close to half an hour. I handed over the bag I took out from the closet. The yukata, with its white dragonfly on a black background, was a gift from Yuuko on my birthday. Yua checked the obi before asking, “Saku, do you have underclothes to put on under your yukata?” “Er, do I need them?” “Actually, it’s better to wear them because they absorb the sweat, but it’s up to you.” “I’d rather not. It’s too much hassle.” “Yeah, I understand. Okay, could you take your top off?” “Sure.” As I started peeling my T-shirt off… “Wait a sec!!!” Yuuko yelped. Whoops, I messed up again, I thought. “You’re just going to tell him to strip right in front of us?! And you! You’re just going to whip off your clothes the moment you’re told to?” We exchanged glances, then Yua scratched her cheek awkwardly. “Sorry, I guess I’ve gotten too accustomed to it.” “You’ve gotten accustomed to what, exactly?!” “But of course I’d ask him to head to the bathroom to change his shorts, though!” “Why are you saying that as if there was ever any question that you wouldn’t?!” It was the same with Nanase, but especially in the summer, I often end up coming out of the bathroom shirtless. For Yua, who’s been to my place a bunch of times to cook and so on, it wasn’t really something that would floor her or make her get flustered. …Although the first time I did it, she practically ripped me a new one… I explained the situation, but Yuuko continued pouting. “Hmm, so you have the kind of relationship where you let her see you half-naked on a regular basis.” “Yuuko, don’t say that!” Yua said, and I was quick to follow. “Well, if she’s going to dress me, she can’t exactly do it with her eyes closed, can she? If you don’t want to see, though, why don’t you turn around, huh?” “Unacceptable!” “Yuuko, think rationally. At the beach, all the guys will be shirtless.” “…Oh, right!” Yuuko clapped her hands, as if finally convinced. Hmm, still, I kinda got how she felt. A bikini at the beach isn’t the same as a bikini in my apartment. I mean, the latter would definitely get me way more flustered. I put on my yukata and held out my arms. “All right, do your magic.” “Okay. I’ll do a front knot, so watch how I do it. You too, Yuuko, if you want.” Saying that, Yua pinched both sides of the collar and lightly pulled them toward herself. …Ah. After everything I’d said to Yuuko, I didn’t want it to show on my face, but I was more embarrassed by this than I’d thought I would be. It kinda looked like she was taking off my shirt. It doesn’t bother me at all when I’m completely bare, but it was oddly embarrassing to be seen from the front like this with my yukata open. Yua didn’t seem to care at all and quickly wrapped the lower front and the upper front. “Saku, can you hold this a sec?” “Sure.” I did as I was told and held the top part so the yukata wouldn’t flap open. Then Yua reached out and carefully felt around my waist. I think she was checking where my skeletal structure was, but it felt odd and made me think yikes. Yua got down on her knees, threaded the waist tie behind me in a hugging motion, and then tied it in front. Then she gently pushed in the excess cord with her fingertips, tracing my lower abdomen. I felt sweet tingles running from my lower abdomen to my waist and all around my back. Yua stood up with the obi in her hands and wrapped her arms around me the same way as before. The scent of her usual gently scented shampoo now came wafting up into my nose. As she wrestled with the thick obi, she pressed her body tightly against mine. I glanced down and saw a pure-white valley, smushed up against my chest. “Saku? What are you looking at?” “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Damn, I completely forgot that Yuuko’s here, too. Kimono dressing is delightful… I mean terrible! These kinds of shocks aren’t good. I looked up at the ceiling to hopefully calm down, and… “Saku?” …I heard a cold voice, near the back of my neck. “You and I need to have a discussion later.” Please, it was instinctual. I was helpless. I swear. After getting ready, the three of us left together and headed for Higashi Park. It seemed like too much trouble to meet up at the riverbed, which was the venue, so we decided on this as the meeting place. It was six thirty PM. The fireworks were due to start at seven thirty PM, and it would take less than five minutes to walk to the riverbed. That would give us plenty of time to buy food and drinks after securing a good spot. Here and there were groups of people in yukata. From the rooftops and balconies of private houses, the sound of happy voices drifted our way, and the smell of barbecue wafted through the air. It was tradition that the adults who watched from home would start drinking around this time, waiting for the first burst of color in the sky. The fireworks display is held in a location reachable on foot from Fukui Station, so every year on this day, the downtown area is filled with a festive atmosphere. When I was little, I used to wait for the night with a strange feeling of restlessness. By and by, we came in view of the Europe-Ken next to Higashi Park, and I immediately saw three people: Kazuki, Kaito, and Kenta. I raised my hand lightly as we approached… “Whoa! Huh?!” the biggest guy bellowed. “My bad, I already did that whole bit, so let’s skip it.” The “Whoa” was for Yuuko’s yukata, and the “Huh?!” was for Yua’s lack thereof. “Kenta, did you go all the way to Donki to buy that?!” Oh yeah. Kaito was wearing a black jinbei, and Kenta was wearing an indigo-blue jinbei. “Well everyone else was wearing yukata, so we didn’t want to be left out, huh, Kenta?!” Kenta looked a little nervous and fidgety. “I would have been fine with wearing normal clothes, but I’m not like you, Kaito. On me, this kind of thing makes me look like a poor farmer’s boy in the Edo period…” I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at his way-too-accurate analogy. Yuuko smiled. “Aw, come on, Kentacchi, you look cute!” “Y-you look radiant yourself, Yuuko.” “Is that good or bad?” “It… I mean…” But before he could finish… “Man! Yuuko, you look freaking cute!!!” Kaito bellowed again. “Right? Go on, feel free to heap on the praise! Because someone’s reaction was entirely lackluster!” Yuuko glared at me, and Kazuki, who was wearing a gray yukata, finally spoke. “If Saku didn’t give you any superficial compliments, that must mean that he found you far more beautiful than he’d been expecting, Yuuko. In fact, his mind must have gone completely blank.” “Is that true, Saku?” “It could be true. I don’t really appreciate having Kazuki spell it out, though.” Looking around as we chatted, I saw a certain amount of people spreading out their picnic vinyl sheets even here, in Higashi Park. Even though it’s a big summer event, the main venue, the riverbed, is never so crowded that you can’t find a place to sit. Compared with the cherry blossom viewing and fireworks festivals in Tokyo that you see on the news, it’s barely even crowded. Nonetheless, from the point of view of Fukui citizens, it’s quite daunting. With this kind of spacious and relaxing spot nearby, it’s not surprising that some people are okay with not being at the main venue. When I was thinking about that… “’Sup, everyone!” “Sorry we’re a little late!” It was Nanase and Haru, walking toward us. “““Whoa…””” My friends expressed their admiration. I’ve seen Nanase in a yukata before, but this one had a different pattern from what I remember. Ripples like drops of water spread across a pale-blue background, and red goldfish swam swiftly among aquatic plants. A design that might look childish at times, but with a black and gold obi, it was quite sophisticated. I remember that day. I’d felt sad, realizing that moment in time would never come again. The two of us had a blast, scooping goldfish. I wondered if Red Fish and Black Fish, or perhaps Chitose and Saku, were still swimming around together somewhere. Nanase looked at me and smiled sweetly, somewhat provocatively. Ah, I thought so. It was a strong feeling. No surprise, the kind I’d felt that day. No uncertainty, as there’d been that day. No longer boyfriend and girlfriend, as we were that day. …And Nanase looked so much more beautiful now than she did back then. “Chitose!” Haru yelled my name, blasting away my frustrated thoughts. She ran swiftly up to me in clunky geta sandals I was sure she wasn’t used to. “Chitose, what do you think of Mistress Haru’s yukata? ” Her yukata had a crisp-white background, with large blue morning glories stretching out their vines, just like summer itself. Here and there, dazzling yellow morning glories bloomed, reminding me of a certain girl’s bright smile. Her hair, done up with much more elegance than usual, was offset by a colorful hairpin, and in contrast to her playful demeanor, she radiated femininity. I felt a sizzling sensation inside. “You look beautiful. Extremely so.” I found myself saying exactly what was on my mind. But my reaction seemed to take her by surprise. “What?” Haru looked quickly away. I get it. I wasn’t expecting me to say something like that, either. “Um…thank you.” “Sure.” Then without finesse, Nanase butted in. “Hmph, yes. That level of reaction is about what I’m owed. After all, everything, from the selection of the yukata and the accessories to the dressing, hair, and makeup, was produced by me, Yuzuki Nanase. And by the way, this is the reason why we were late.” “Yeah, I know.” Haru stopped looking away bashfully and turned her eyes on me with a “Huh?” noise. “Wait a minute, hubby—what does that mean?” “Well, the styling is just too good.” “What does that even mean?!” Yuuko, Yua, and the guys all chuckled at us. And so our second summer vacation of high school started with a lot of laughter and good vibes all around. As predicted, the riverbed where the fireworks were to take place was still only loosely crowded. When we settled on a good place, I realized we hadn’t prepared anything to sit down on—but of course, Yua had an old-fashioned vinyl sheet, one that showed signs of heavy use, and Nanase had an outdoorsy brand one with a stylish pattern on it. Of course, I thought, smiling wryly. Leaving our stuff on the sheets to weigh them down, we headed toward the food stalls together. I bought a random selection, like french fries, takoyaki, fried chicken, baby castella cakes, candy apples, and cotton candy. Actually, it would be smarter to stock up on enough food to last us while it was still fairly uncrowded, but I think that’s kinda bad form. One of the best parts of being young is sneaking out in the middle of the fireworks to browse the food stalls. So even though we know it’s more efficient to split up, no one even suggested it. We all lined up together at one stall, then headed to the next one as a group. Haru, walking ahead while gnawing on a candy apple, stole one of Kenta’s takoyaki. Nanase and Yua were chatting together, while Kazuki was coolly observing the surroundings from a distance. Kaito and I brought up the rear, while Yuuko was walking right in front of us with a stick of cotton candy. Looking at everyone’s backs as they walked, I thought, This is nice. I don’t usually think about it while we’re all hanging out and having fun, but seeing Haru and Kenta interact, or Yuzuki and Yua, it gets me thinking about how we all have different levels of familiarity with each other. Everyone really is an individual, after all. I mean, our personalities and hobbies and tastes are quite different. However, some of us have things in common, as well as interests that are complete opposites. Bound together by gossamer-thin threads, we swim together through the night, like migratory fish. …I guess festivals get me into a philosophical headspace. When I was lost in my thoughts, Kaito suddenly slung his arm over my shoulder. “Hey, Saku, which yukata-clad beauty is your favorite?” I gave him a light smack on the arm as I responded. “A man who makes frivolous judgments will never be popular.” “Aw come on, indulge me! It’s a festival.” “Well, what do you think? And could you get your face outta mine?” Kaito, arm still around me, seemed to mull it over and drew his free hand into a fist. “I want to answer immediately with Yuuko, since she’s been my favorite since the entrance ceremony, but… Yuzuki’s yukata is so sexy that I don’t even know what I’m looking at, and I even think Haru looks kinda cute tonight. And then there’s Ucchi in ordinary clothes while everyone else is wearing yukata. Actually, the contrast there kinda makes her stand out, in a way.” “Hmm. I won’t object to any of that.” “Do I really need to choose just one favorite?” “Ask yourself, thirty seconds ago.” The two of us laughed and I thought, Yeah, what if…? Really, if I were to confess who’d caught my eye the most tonight, maybe it would be… Yuuko, walking in front of me, glanced back. Her fluffy cotton candy bounced. “Hey, what are you talking about?” It was her usual smile, but in a different kind of setting. “Just about how beautiful you are, Yuuko.” Beside me, Kaito bellowed. “Exactly!!!” Yuuko smiled back at us. “You know it! ” The ground was dirt, so it should have been inaudible, but… Clop, clop. Clack, clack. I could hear the sound of geta sandals in my mind. Finally, after buying eight bottles of Ramune, we headed back to our spot. Before I knew it, everything around us stood on the threshold of night. After seven PM, the number of people increased, and the usually deserted riverbed was decorated everywhere with colorful floral patterns. “Haru, I can see too much of your legs.” “Oh, but this yukata is so tight, and it doesn’t have any stretch to it.” “Don’t expect the functionality of sportswear from traditional clothes.” “Haru, if you sit sideways, it won’t come open as much.” “Oh yeah! Thanks, Ucchi!” “I wish you could have told us sooner. I’m sick of sitting on my legs.” Listening aimlessly to the conversation of the basketball girls, I thought, Yep, it’s summer. This was the picture-perfect summer of being seventeen. Then my phone vibrated. Asuka’s name showed on the display. Oh yeah, after our trip to Tokyo, we finally exchanged phone numbers and LINE details with each other. It’s a little sad that we lost the mystery of when we’d next encounter one another, but this was way better than her remaining the cool, older girl and me, the adorable boy. I was going to change, she was going to change—we all were. Bit by bit. I opened up her message as my mind whirled with thoughts, and… “…” There was a picture of Asuka, wearing a yukata. I automatically tapped it, expanding it to fill the screen. The pattern was fleeting, ephemeral-looking white lilies on an indigo background. She wore a turquoise-blue hair ornament with her slightly grown-out hair tied back. She’s probably not used to taking selfies. Asuka’s eyes were embarrassed, looking away from the camera, and there was something lovely about it. Yikes, I was grinning for sure right now. After that, I received another message. “Send me a yukata selfie now!!!” I couldn’t take it; I had to cover my mouth with my hand. What the heck? She was being so cute. Where did the phantom woman disappear to? My thoughts were dry and sarcastic, but even so… At times like this, I really felt the weight of a year. Asuka would be gone soon. Would she be watching next summer’s fireworks in Tokyo? Next year, by her side, would there be…? “Huh?” Kazuki snatched up my phone. “Yo, what?!!!” I yelped. “You jerk! Here you sit, surrounded by such beautiful women, and you’re drooling over yukata pictures of Nishino!” “Don’t just grab my phone! What are you, some jealous woman convinced her boyfriend’s cheating?!” “‘Send me a yukata selfie’? What are you, newlyweds?” “Don’t read it out loud! You jerk! I’m going to bundle you up in a tube and shoot you into the sky as the first firework of the evening!” When I was trying to wrestle my phone back from Kazuki… “Saku?” “Er, Saku?” ““Chi-to-se?”” A hard, cold voice, like an azuki ice pop fresh out of the freezer, called my name. When I finally looked over, Yuuko smiled and spoke. “Can I borrow your phone for a moment?” “It’s… It’s a private message.” Yua, Nanase, and Haru beside her were all grinning at me, too. Help! “I’m not going to read your LINE messages; relax. I’ll just take a photo of you. You want to send one to Nishino, right?” Kazuki desperately hid his mouth with his arm as he handed the phone over to Yuuko. “Okay, Saku, big smile.” “Oh, ah-ha-ha…” I looked at the lens, the corners of my mouth twitching. With a snap, Yuuko hit the shutter, then handed the phone to Yua. “Aren’t you done?” “All right, Saku, try making a mischievous face.” “Er, Yua?” Snap. Then it was Nanase’s turn, apparently. Kaito and Kenta looked like they were trying hard not to laugh. “Chitose’s face, when he was smushed up against my boobs and yours, Yuuko!” “Isn’t he just awful?!” Snap, and then it was Haru’s turn last. “Hmm… Okay, Chitose, make a face like you’re in love with Mistress Haru.” “Are you sure you want to send that to Asuka?!” Once the photoshoot was done, the girls all started cracking up, like they couldn’t hold it back anymore. Their cackling was loud enough to drown out the sounds of the festival. Like they were trying to make this moment last. Like they were dreaming of a summer that never ends. —Psssh. The first firework shot up into the sky. After enjoying the fireworks for a while, I went to the food stalls to do some shopping. Thanks to Haru and Kaito, we ran out of food in no time. Usually, we decide who’ll do something by rock-paper-scissors or other games like that, but for some reason, everyone was silently staring at me with intense smiles. Wait, what? You want me to go? Did I do something that bad? Lining up at a food stall by myself isn’t exactly what I’d call enjoying my youth, you know? Incidentally… When I sent those four shots to Asuka, she found it all extremely funny. So anyway, there I was, walking alone on the night of the festival. The area was bustling, as if all the lively voices of the city streets had been collected together and then dropped over the riverbed. This was the first time I’d seen the fireworks at the actual venue like this. Heard this close, the boom of each explosion seems to kick inside your stomach. Being right on the scene makes for a good, social time, but well, I prefer to watch it from a little distance, I thought with a little smile. Delicious smells wafted on the air, drowning out the scent of soil and summer grass. Before the fireworks started, there were long lines at all the stalls, but now it’d calmed down to the point where it wouldn’t take me too long to shop by myself. I bought two packs of yakisoba, three round marumaruyaki pancakes, two frankfurters on sticks, and two chocolate-covered bananas, and managed to stuff them all into the large plastic bag I got at the first stall. And those last two items for the four girls—I swear, I’m not trying to get revenge for what they did to me earlier. Well, time to go back and enjoy the fireworks, I thought—and when I turned around, Nanase was standing there. “Hi.” “If you came to help me, I’m done already.” “Hmm, I don’t really feel like helping out.” Huh, I guess she saw me on the way back from the bathrooms and just waited for me. I let out a short sigh and said: “Wow, that’s not very friendly of you.” “No, no, look, I’m kidnapping you.” Then she gave me a mischievous smile. “Hey, Chitose, let’s take a look from the top of the embankment.” “I don’t think a little height makes much of a difference.” “Just come on.” I did as I was told, hurrying after Nanase as she walked off. Reaching the embankment soon after, we stood side by side at a random spot. Huh, the view up here actually is kinda different. “So,” I said. “What do you want to talk about, then?” If she was bringing me all the way up here, she wanted to discuss something she didn’t want the others to hear. Nanase turned to me…and she looked surprisingly blank. “Huh? No, it’s not that! I saw some, uh, Yan High guys, so…” “Aaaaah,” I sighed, extending it to make a point. “I know very well what you think of me. Well, my bad for bringing you so much trouble and inconvenience!” Unusually for her, she appeared to be actually sulking. “Hmph!” she huffed, looking away. “Ah, I’m sorry, really! But then… What was it you wanted?” Nanase stared at me, then rolled her eyes. “I think there’s only one reason for a girl to ask a boy to leave with her when they’re at a fireworks display with all their friends?” She took a half step closer. “I wanted to watch the fireworks alone with you.” Uh-oh. Shouldn’t have done that. “We can’t stay long. Everyone’s waiting.” “Thousands of fireworks will go off tonight. Can’t you spare just ten of those for me?” Nanase brought her hand close to mine, seemingly without hesitation. My fingers twitched. “There’s nothing between us. We’re not dating anymore. So the least you can do is let me hold your sleeve.” As she spoke, she squeezed the edge of my yukata tightly. Flowers burst above our heads, each one illuminating Nanase’s beautiful profile. One, two, three. I felt like I was going to cry all of a sudden, as I looked up at the sky. Four, five, six. The upside down heart-shaped fireworks disappeared into the night. Seven, eight, nine…