The light and shadows of numerous fireworks spread across the shimmering river, illuminating the water in a dazzling array of colors, like a flowing painting.
This scene between the two was cleverly captured by the camera Shizuka had brought with her.
As the last firework faded into the night sky, leaving only a faint plume of smoke lingering in the air, the crowd gradually dispersed.
The chief priest at the shrine halfway up the mountain watched the final fireworks vanish into the sky. She suddenly took out the two coins the girl had given him, and as she gazed at the night returning to silence, she couldn't help but chuckle:
"Two more kids have been tricked."
——————
Shizuka quickly reviewed the footage on her camera, then looked up and around. Seeing that there were few tourists, she chuckled:
"Let's go back too."
"Let's go."
"Yeah."
It took them about ten minutes to drive home, and Tsuna and the others moved the dolls from the back seat of Daisuke's car to the Nishimiya residence.
Shouko also asked him why he didn't want any, and his answer was that there didn't seem to be any difference between putting it at your house and putting it at mine.
Later, Shouko felt that it made sense.
After everything was settled, Shouko and Tsuna took a shower, changed back into casual clothes, and sat in the living room watching funny variety shows on TV.
At this time, Shouko took out the amulet from her pocket and handed it to someone who was eating an orange by the coffee table.
"This peace amulet is for you."
Tsuna glanced at the ugly amulet, swallowed the orange in his mouth, took it, and looked at it.
He asked in confusion, "Do you dislike it because it's ugly?"
"Pat, patt, patt!" Shouko patted seehis arm lightly and glared at him with her beautiful eyes.
"This thing is meant to keep you safe after all.
And you've already bought it—how can you say it's ugly? What if it doesn't work?"
"Okay, okay." Tsuna chuckled and stuffed the amulet into his pocket casually, then picked up the half-eaten orange and handed it to Shouko, jokingly saying:
"You gave me an amulet handcrafted by the shrine's chief priest. It would be a bit unreasonable if I didn't return the favor.
So, here's half a mandarin orange peeled by Miyamura Tsunayoshi himself. Eating it will keep you safe.
And it has an extra benefit over that amulet: you'll definitely marry a handsome husband."
Shouko chuckled and rolled her eyes at him, but she still took the orange, muttering under her breath, "So narcissistic! You're eating and taking it at the same time."
She quickly devoured the half orange, and then, feeling unsatisfied, patted him again.
"I want more."
"Yes, yes, I'll peel it for you right away," Tsuna said fondly, removing his gaze from the TV.
"I want one too," Shizuka said, walking into the living room, wiping her still-dry hair with a towel.
Tsuna suddenly teased, "Ask your husband to peel it for you."
This teasing earned him a furious face-pulling and rubbing from Shizuka.
Later, Daisuke walked into the living room in his pajamas and saw Tsuna's red face.
He asked worriedly, "What's wrong with your face? It's so red. Is it an allergy?"
"I offended the one who's at the top of the family," Tsuna replied without turning his head, and continued peeling the orange.
Daisuke immediately understood, but after confirming that Shizuka was drying her hair and hearing the sound of the hair dryer, he chuckled and said to Tsuna,
"Really? How come I didn't know you offended me?"
"What? It's a bit noisy. Dad, can you repeat it?" Tsuna stopped peeling the orange.
Daisuke thought it was nothing, so he repeated it.
This time, Tsuna didn't say anything, but silently handed the peeled orange to the laughing Shouko.
After a while, Shizuka walked into the living room with her hair draped over her shoulders. After confirming that Tsuna's face had recovered, she walked to the sofa and sat down to watch TV.
But at that moment, two sudden voices rang out:
"You offended the one who is at the top of the family."
"Really? How come I didn't know you offended me?"
After the recording ended, Tsuna patted his head and cast a guilty look at his father.
"Oh, I accidentally clicked on the recording earlier. I meant to click on delete, but I ended up pressing play instead.
Dad, you won't blame me, right?"
The result was not what he expected. He was subjected to a mixed doubles match between husband and wife, and Shouko also secretly punched him lightly from behind.
——————
"Pa, pa, pa!" As soon as Mr. Takeuchi entered the classroom, he raised his hand and slapped the blackboard vigorously. Seeing everyone's eyes on him, he slowly said,
"Alright, everyone, be quiet. I have an announcement to make."
Everyone slowly began to quiet down.
Tsuna, slumped over in his seat, knew what he was going to announce. He ignored Mr. Takeuchi on the podium and turned to look out the window at the blue sky. He hadn't expected time to fly so fast. In the blink of an eye, it was already the second month of the next semester.
Ah!! Where had all my good times gone?!
At the podium, Takeuchi noticed Miyamura Tsunayoshi, who was ignoring him, but chose not to pay him any attention. He then slowly said,
"The school is holding a singing competition at the beginning of next month. We'll be making some small changes to our curriculum. We'll have an extra music class every day for practice."
"Mr. Takeuchi, does that mean we'll all be dismissed a little later?" Class A's president, Miki, asked curiously.
"No, school will still end at the usual time. That music class will replace some less important classes," Mr. Takeuchi replied calmly, pushing up his glasses.
As soon as he finished his announcement, the classroom erupted in excitement—mostly cheers.
"Pa pa pa!" Mr. Takeuchi, a bit fed up with these students, even after more than half a year, still couldn't stand it, and slammed the blackboard again.
After the students quieted down once more, he continued,
"This singing competition has more prizes than previous ones."
"Quiet! Listen to me!" Takeuchi, seeing them about to stir again, shouted at them, pausing them so he could speak.
"But this prize is only for first place. I can also tell you something: it benefits everyone in the class, including the homeroom teacher."
The class erupted in commotion again, but he ignored it.
Any sixth-grade homeroom teacher would know what the prize was, but he hadn't expected President Miyamura to be so generous.
But that wasn't the point.
The point was that they didn't know the first-place winner had already been chosen.
Haha! Of course, he couldn't tell those kids that.
The bald guy also made it clear to him that as long as the class chorus didn't have any major issues, first place would be a foregone conclusion.
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