"Haru?"
Takamatsu Tomori's soft voice held a hint of confusion as she gently tugged on his sleeve. Clearly, she looked quite different from usual today.
Her light ash-brown hair was adorned with a pure white satin ribbon, and her delicate silk kimono added a graceful elegance to her figure. A pale gray bow cinched her slender waist, and the embroidered sleeves of her kimono swayed gently like drifting clouds.
Shyly raising her small, pale hand, her soft amber eyes shimmered with quiet beauty. Framed by the kimono, her already snow-fair face looked even more refined and lovely.
Always as adorable as a little penguin, Tomori now exuded a stunning level of cuteness.
If anyone claimed that nothing in the world was "perfect," Kazami Haru would've gladly pointed straight at the girl before him.
"Tomori, you look really cute in a kimono."
"Mm… thank you… my mom helped me put it on…"
Blushing at the sudden compliment, Tomori's lips pursed slightly as her fair cheeks lit up with soft pink.
She had no idea how destructive even her so-called "normal" smile could be. The gentle way she spoke her thanks hit Haru like a wrecking ball, his attention now completely hijacked.
Every extra glance felt like it stole a bit more of his soul. One more look, and he might just explode.
Crap, I'm really gonna pass out from the cuteness at this rate.
"Haru… weren't you supposed to be preparing for your performance?"
Even the penguin girl, who could go full silent mode on cuteness alone, gave his arm a gentle nudge once she noticed him spacing out.
That's when Haru realized, it was just her here. He blinked, surprised.
"There's still some time before I go on. I came here with Kita and Bocchi to look around the festival, but we got separated in the crowd. I was just about to go look for them when I ran into you."
He glanced around, noticing no one else nearby.
"Wait, Tomori, did you come here alone?"
Possibly… a lost child?
Looks like it's time to download Blue Archive again—
"Mm…"
Caught off-guard by the question, Tomori nodded slightly, not quite sure how to answer.
In truth, she had come to the fireworks festival alone. Both Chihaya Anon and Shiina Taki had invited her to go with them, but she'd turned down both.
Because Tomori had something more important in mind.
She wanted to find a way for the band to truly stay together forever—but had no idea how, or who could help her. In her mind, Anon or the strong-willed Taki would probably think her idea was too far-fetched.
So she decided to talk to someone else. She'd considered speaking to Kita, who had left the band, or even Bocchi.
"I came alone…"
Haru nodded thoughtfully, glancing down at her bashful, soft face. He spoke with an easygoing smile.
"Then how about you help me find Kita and Bocchi, and we can all walk around together before my performance?"
Tomori's amber eyes sparkled slightly, but her joy quickly faded into hesitation. After a moment of silence, she murmured—
"…Wouldn't I be bothering you?"
"The moment you asked that, Tomori, you already knew how I'd answer, didn't you?"
Haru smiled and shrugged. That familiar, confident grin instantly settled her nerves, and her anxious face broke into a soft smile.
Honestly, he didn't mind being "bothered" by Tomori. As long as Rikki didn't punch him to death with a god blow, he was good.
Seeing her nod, Haru smiled wider. He carefully tucked the three omamori charms into his jacket pocket and turned to the little gray penguin beside him.
"Anyway, let's start by finding Kita and Bocchi, yeah?"
Easier said than done, Tokyo's summer fireworks festival was no joke.
As time went on, the crowds thickened with parades and performances. Just glancing around, all he could see was a sea of colorful heads.
Finding two specific girls in this mess would be like finding a needle in a haystack.
To avoid getting separated again, Haru decided to hold Tomori's hand firmly, just like escorting a child.
But midway through the search, Tomori in her kimono suddenly tilted her head and stared off at something. Haru followed her gaze and spotted a cotton candy stall.
"Want some cotton candy, Tomori?"
"Umm…"
Busted. Caught in the act, her face flushed deep red.
Like a bobbing metronome, she shook her head furiously. Her tied-up bangs revealed her blushing ears, exposing her true thoughts.
"N-No… We still need to find Kita-chan and Bochi-chan…"
Haru chuckled at her reaction.
"With this crowd, we might just bump into them anyway. A short break won't hurt."
"Plus, I kind of want to try it too. But if you don't, that's okay."
He pretended to sigh dramatically. Tomori, flustered by his theatrics, waved her sleeves in panic.
She quickly tugged his sleeve again and said, "Haru! Let's go already…"
"Then I won't hold back!"
Grinning, he gently pulled her toward the cotton candy stand. Without waiting, he handed the vendor a 1,000 yen bill.
The vendor, a cheerful older lady, gave Haru a knowing look and swiftly handed over a dual-flavored cotton candy bundle.
To Tomori's surprise, the fluffy mass was shoved into her hands.
"This is our Summer Festival Couple's Special! Two flavors in one!"
Haru: ???
She even had the change ready in a flash, like she knew he'd object if she waited.
Tomori blinked at the giant cotton candy, but her brows soon furrowed with determination. She looked up with an adorably serious face.
"Haru… Let's share it!"
Before he could even respond, she pushed the candy toward his mouth. Feeding each other wasn't new to them, they often shared lunches at school.
Seeing her offer it so earnestly, Haru didn't hesitate. He took a bite. It was unexpectedly sweet, making him raise an eyebrow.
Tomori smiled softly and leaned in slightly so she could feed him again. Only then did she take her own bite.
"So warm…"
Whether from joy or something else, her cheeks and neck turned pink. Her crystal-clear amber eyes sparkled, and a few strands of hair tucked behind her ear caught the golden-orange light—
Haru inhaled sharply. His mental image of the cute little penguin was beginning to shift.
At this rate, are they even starting a lifelong band anymore?
"Tomori? Haru?!"
A familiar voice rang through the air.
Reflexively, Haru turned and locked eyes with a kimono-clad Shiina Taki near a hot dog stand. Beside her was Yahata Umiri.
Wait, they're here too?
He hadn't expected to run into his two close friends and judging by Taki's expression, this definitely felt like getting caught sneaking candy by your wife.
"Taki-chan?"
Seeing Shiina Taki suddenly threw Takamatsu Tomori off a little. After all, she hadn't accepted Taki's invitation to come to the festival together.
"Haru, weren't you supposed to be prepping for your performance today?"
Wearing a deep violet kimono adorned with cherry blossom embroidery, Rikki furrowed her delicate brows. She seemed to forget how awkward it was to move in a kimono, her fair toes, round and soft like blooming petals, tapping quickly in her tall geta sandals as she strode over.
Taki's emotions right now? Complicated.
She was just casually wandering the festival, only to suddenly stumble across Kazami Haru, whom she had complicated feelings for, holding hands with none other than her most doted-on junior, Takamatsu Tomori and the two of them looked very close.
That stirred something in Taki that she couldn't quite name.
"I've still got time before I go on stage. I was just wandering and happened to run into Tomori alone."
Haru kept his response short, echoing a familiar tone Taki herself often used.
Though her face stayed stiff, the pang in her chest softened just a bit. She quickly controlled her breath and returned to her usual composed state.
"I was just hanging out with Umiri. We were gonna stop by your performance later. Didn't think I'd see you here first."
"And you're about to face a band like SIDEROS, yet you don't seem nervous at all…"
"…SIDEROS? Who's that?"
Haru furrowed his brows in thought and couldn't help asking.
Even when the official posters were released, he'd barely glanced at them. He hadn't paid attention to which bands were performing. To him, focusing on others didn't matter much—his priority was his own band's music.
"…Are you seriously one of the performers?"
Taki sucked in a breath and shot him a look of disbelief, then helplessly shook her head. She pulled out her phone, opened the official event site, and held it up for him as they walked.
She explained about the other bands as they strolled down the festival street.
But Haru wasn't really listening.
Up close, he realized something, Taki looked absolutely stunning in her kimono.
Her silky black hair cascaded like a waterfall over her flawless white shoulders. A tiny beauty mark beneath her left eye added a captivating charm, and her refined face now carried a new elegance, different from her usual sharp demeanor.
And that pale gold obi wrapped perfectly around her slim waist…
From this close, it felt like Haru was witnessing a scene from a painting. He'd probably remember it forever like a visual CG implanted into his mind.
"…Haru, what are you staring at?"
Taki paused mid-explanation and noticed him staring, wide-eyed, at her.
"Nothing. I just think you look really beautiful in a kimono."
It was the honest truth.
He never expected how much of a transformation Taki would go through in traditional clothing. If she just softened her voice a bit, she'd be the very image of a yamato nadeshiko, the ideal traditional Japanese wife.
Yeah… it was a bit much.
Taki clearly hadn't expected such a direct comment. Her lips, coated in soft gloss, pressed into a line as her face flushed like fine wine.
"…Huh?"
"Are you stupid or something?"
Flustered and embarrassed, Taki stumbled back a couple of steps. In her confusion, she looked at Umiri beside her, who, at that moment, was casually munching on takoyaki with a blank expression.
"Tomori, you think so too, right?"
"Mm! I think Taki-chan… is really beautiful too!"
Encouraged by Haru, Tomori nodded sincerely. The praise made Taki blush all the way down her neck, her face frozen in place.
"You heard her. I was being serious."
Haru smirked slightly, making Taki frown harder.
Normally, Haru never treated her like a girl. Why was he suddenly saying something like this now? Her burning cheeks made her feel utterly embarrassed.
"…You should be saying that to Tomori, not me."
Suddenly regaining her composure, Taki's voice turned cool again. Tomori also caught that comment and hesitated, her eyes flickering with uncertainty.
If it's Taki… would she be willing to help me with this? But Taki was always so strict, Tomori wasn't sure if she should bring it up.
As the live performances near the main stage were about to begin, the once calm crowd began to move. Taki was nudged aside slightly as a parade passed through, drums and bells ringing out.
Tomori, holding her cotton candy, was still deep in thought when she suddenly realized, she'd gotten left behind.
The crowd shifted. Being small, all she could see was Taki nearby.
…
All it took was a moment of inattention and Tomori was gone. Haru suddenly felt someone tug on his sleeve. Snapping back to awareness, he reached out and pulled the person to safety from the throng.
Only to meet a pair of calm emerald-green eyes.
"Umiri?"
"Forgot to say hi earlier. Good evening, Kazami."
Her cool greeting left Haru slightly taken aback. But her usual unbothered air somehow grounded him, and he relaxed a little too.
"Evening. But… Umiri, have you seen Taki or Tomori anywhere?"
"Sorry. When I turned around, I only saw Taki's back. By the time I got there, I found only you. I didn't notice where Tomori went."
Even lost in the crowd, Umiri remained unfazed, her composure unshaken. With one hand holding her takoyaki, she stood calmly like nothing had happened.
Haru rubbed his temple, feeling a headache coming on.
He'd gone to find Kita and Bocchi, and now Tomori had vanished too. Right near the main stage, of all places, one of the most chaotic parts of the festival.
"Kazami, could you… let go for a moment? I can't use my chopsticks like this."
Umiri, eyes calm as ever, glanced down at the hand he was still holding.
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