During a short break, Haruto suddenly remembered the conversation between two boys he'd overheard the previous night at the convenience store. They had been talking about a fireworks festival. Sitting at his desk, he picked up his phone and started searching for information.
"Chuo Ward, huh? Ujigawa Fireworks Festival."
Reading the event details, Haruto's face revealed a trace of surprise—it was tomorrow. The festival was happening tomorrow night.
He thought about the girls he was currently in that vague relationship of "more-than-friends" with… and then about who might show up at the festival. Haruto's brows furrowed deeply as he began calculating the best possible approach in his head, trying to come up with a flawless plan.
From across the room, Tsubota, who'd been stretching his sore neck, glanced over and saw Haruto with a serious expression on his face. Assuming he was deeply focused on solving a tough problem, Tsubota gave him an approving look.
"Are you free tomorrow?"
After finishing classes at the cram school, Haruto headed toward Mito Yuka's place. On the way, he contacted Sekai and asked about her schedule for tomorrow.
_ _ _ _
Out of curiosity about Sayu, Sekai—who had been feeling too restless to stay home—had visited her family's restaurant that afternoon to catch a glimpse of this girl named "Sayu Ogiwara ."
Coincidentally, Setsuna was also at the restaurant. She was similarly idle today, though what had brought her here wasn't clear. Surprised to find her friend there, Sekai sat down beside her after a brief silence, her gaze drifting to the book in Setsuna's hands.
"I thought you'd be at home. Didn't expect to see you here."
"You're here too, aren't you?"
"I came to see if they needed help with anything, but it looks like things are pretty calm today."
Closing her book, Setsuna turned to Sekai. Their eyes met and held for a moment before Sekai shifted her attention to the main dining area, searching for Sayu.
"She's working the afternoon shift, right? Why don't I see her?"
"She just stepped out."
"Hm?"
Following Setsuna's gaze, Sekai spotted Sayu emerging from the kitchen with a tray carrying a burger and a drink. She watched the girl move gracefully across the room, serving a customer before heading back to the kitchen.
Even after Sayu disappeared behind the door, Sekai kept her eyes on the kitchen entrance for a few seconds longer. Then she let out a soft sigh, her eyes dropping to the empty table surface in front of her. She looked a bit lost in thought.
Eventually, she seemed to snap out of it and glanced over at Setsuna again, as if wanting to ask her something. But knowing Setsuna's personality—and how often she'd already asked these same questions—she didn't speak.
Her lips parted, then closed again.
In the end, she simply slumped forward, resting her arms on the table and her chin atop them, watching Setsuna read while she herself spaced out. All the while, she quietly pondered what she should eat for lunch tomorrow.
Time slipped by slowly. Sayu, who had noticed the two girls long ago, didn't approach or disturb them. She simply continued with her work in silence.
Around four o'clock, just as Sekai's thoughts were drifting off to wild tangents—like whether she and Haruto would allow their future kids to date during high school—a sudden ringtone brought her back to reality.
Setsuna glanced at her curiously as Sekai slowly reached into her pocket, pulled out her phone, and checked the caller ID.
"..."
Her eyes flicked to the screen, then to the girl sitting next to her.
"It's him?"
"..."
Not sure how to describe her feelings, Sekai straightened up and pressed the answer button. On the other end of the line, Haruto's familiar voice came through.
"'XX', are you free?"
Morning, afternoon, tomorrow, the day after—almost every call from Haruto started with this question. It always meant he needed something from her.
She wished sometimes he'd call just to chat, like she'd heard normal couples did—daily calls, long conversations, playful texts. But then again, she knew. She and Haruto weren't exactly a couple.
Still...
"Tomorrow? I don't have anything planned. Why?"
"Nothing much. Just... there's a fireworks festival tomorrow night. Want to go together?"
"Huh?"
Sekai froze. Sitting so close, Setsuna had heard everything, and her gaze subtly turned toward her friend.
"Fire... fireworks festival?"
"Yeah. I've got cram school during the day, but I'm free in the evening. Figured I'd head over to Chuo Ward for the festival around sunset."
"I mean, I'm free, so that's fine, but... what about Setsuna?"
"I haven't told her yet. I was worried I'd forget, so I called you first. I'll tell her when I get home."
"I see..."
Sekai fell silent, sneaking a glance at Setsuna. She wasn't sure what she was feeling—a little awkward, maybe—but deep down… was that a tiny flutter of happiness?
"Oh, and invite your mom too. I'll also tell Mai-san. That makes five. Oh, right—and Sayu, who's staying at my place right now. Six of us in total."
"...Got it."
"Alright then, talk later."
With that, he hung up.
Sekai slowly lowered her phone and turned to Setsuna.
"Fireworks festival. Six of us are going together."
"Okay."
Without reacting much, Setsuna returned to her book, as calm and unreadable as ever. Sekai, however, looked over to where Sayu continued working.
"Fireworks, huh… Chuo Ward. I guess this will be the last big one of the summer."
Setsuna gave no reply, and Sekai simply lowered herself onto the table again. Even with the air conditioning running, the lazy summer heat clung to everything, wrapping the restaurant in a sleepy haze.
Arriving at Yuka's place, Haruto let himself in and noticed she wasn't home yet. He pulled out his phone and sent a message to Rio Futaba.
"Where are you right now?"
"Home."
"I'm coming over."
"You're at my door?"
"About to head out. Should be there in 30 minutes."
In her room, Rio had been browsing academic forums when Haruto's sudden call came in. Before she could even reply, the call was already disconnected.
They hadn't seen much of each other this summer. The sudden visit left her wondering about his motive.
She glanced down at her white shirt, hesitated, then instinctively raised an arm and sniffed near her underarm.
"Doesn't smell… but still."
She'd taken a shower last night, but it had already been a full day. Just to be safe, she stood up, grabbed some clothes, and headed for the bathroom.
"Showing up empty-handed... feels kind of rude."
While walking down the street, Haruto spotted a traditional Japanese sweets shop called Toraya. He paused for a moment, thinking. Come to think of it, he hadn't really given Rio any gifts—besides that one time they went shopping and he bought her some clothes.
Summer break had been going on for a while now—almost halfway through, in fact—but he hadn't seen her wear any of the clothes he picked out.
He stepped into the shop and bought a small box of sweets before continuing on his way.
The walk took a bit longer than he'd expected—nearly forty minutes—and by the time he arrived at the Futaba residence, his forehead was slick with sweat and his nose damp from the humidity. The stifling summer heat was beginning to wear on his patience. He raised his hand and pressed the doorbell.
Rio had just stepped out of the shower when the chime rang through the house. She rushed back to her room, quickly pulled on some clothes, and hurried to the front door.
When she opened it, Haruto was greeted with a sight that made him freeze. Her clothes were hastily thrown on, her skin still glistening with droplets of water, damp hair clinging to her neck, and her breathing was just slightly uneven.
"...What were you doing?"
"I just got out of the shower. Heard the doorbell and came straight here. Why?"
Haruto stared at her in silence. Then, reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone, opened the camera, and without hesitation snapped a photo of the flustered girl in front of him.
The shutter made a soft click.
"Had to capture the moment. Can't let a scene like this go to waste."
"..."
Rio, realizing how she must've looked, felt her face grow hot with irritation. She wasn't exactly presentable, and now he had the audacity to take a picture?
SLAM—
She shut the door in his face.
Left standing there in stunned silence, Haruto blinked. Maybe... he'd gone a little too far.
He lifted his hand and rang the doorbell again.
Rio, still fuming on the other side, hadn't really intended to leave him outside for good. If she let him walk away just like that, it would feel like her shower was for nothing.
Still annoyed, she opened the door again and glanced at him with barely concealed disdain before turning and walking back inside.
Haruto followed her in, quietly closing the door behind him.
Across the street, the tinted window of a black sedan slowly rolled down. Inside sat a girl with a camera in hand. She pressed the shutter just as Haruto stepped into the house. With a soft mechanical whirr, the window rolled back up, and the girl continued watching the Futaba residence in silence.
Unaware that he was being followed, Haruto entered the house and handed the box of wagashi to Rio, who was walking ahead of him.
"Some sweets."
Still in a mildly sour mood, Rio glanced back at the offering.
"Unnecessary."
She muttered under her breath, but still reached out and took the box. She pulled out a piece for herself and placed the rest in the fridge. Then, without a word, she led Haruto to her room, poured him a glass of cold tea, and handed him a damp towel.
"So? Why'd you come over today?"
Haruto looked around her room, his hands drying off with the towel. Rio watched him warily.
"Nothing serious. Just wanted to ask if you're free tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Why?"
She frowned. At first, she'd assumed he came over for... other reasons. But now, seeing his unusually straightforward demeanor, she started to second-guess that assumption.
No way. He's not the herbivore type. There's no way he came all this way just to ask that. If it were that simple, a text would've done the job.
Suspicious, she stared at him, waiting for the real reason to come out.
"There's going to be a fireworks festival tomorrow. Just wanted to ask if you'd like to go."
"A fireworks festival?"
She'd heard of it, but hearing Haruto personally invite her still felt a little off.
"Why?"
"What do you mean, why?"
"Why not ask your girlfriend instead? Coming to me... don't tell me you're planning for us to accidentally run into each other there?"
Rio folded her arms under her chest. That simple movement only served to accentuate her already impressive figure. Haruto's eyes were involuntarily drawn to the motion, making her flush slightly before her expression turned darker.
Noticing her mood shift, he quickly looked away and rubbed his chin in thought.
"You know... that's actually not a bad idea. We could play it off like a coincidence. I'll bring a couple more people along to keep things casual."
"...You're serious?"
Rio gave him an incredulous look.
Haruto chuckled and nodded.
"..."
Her brows furrowed. Her gaze dropped for a moment before she let out a sigh and gave her answer.
"Forget it. I've got plans tomorrow. I won't be going."
"You don't want to see her?"
"I just don't want to make things harder for you. In the end, you're the one stuck in the middle. She's your girlfriend. I'm just the outsider. Nothing good will come of it—for me, at least. So why go looking for trouble?"
~~~~~~~~~~
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