Translator: RaidenTL
"Thank you so much... We're so grateful..."
The nursery director thanked us over and over again.
After delivering not thirty, but forty boxes of takoyaki, Miyuki and I started to head back to the shrine.
Just then, we heard a tapping on a window and turned our heads.
Looking up at the second floor, we saw the little boy who had stolen the takoyaki mouthing a small "thank you."
You little brat... Don't go stealing things from now on.
Actually, you can steal, but only from Miyuki. And make sure I'm the one who catches you.
"That's the boy from before, isn't it?"
Miyuki said, waving at the kid along with me.
"It all happened in a flash, but you saw his face? You've got a sharp eye."
"Yeah. I think I do. But, Matsuda-kun."
"What."
"How did you come up with something like this? You're so selfish, aren't you?"
She's started teasing me again.
I let out a dry laugh and scratched my cheek.
"It's just... we're kind of in the same boat, not having parents... It's... what do you call it..."
"A sense of kinship?"
"Right. Kinship. That's what I felt. But will your dad be okay?"
"With what?"
"The loss must be huge. Forty boxes is 12,000 yen."
"My dad loves to share, so he won't think of it as a waste of money at all."
"Well, that's a relief... but I still feel bad that this happened because of me."
At my words, Miyuki stared intently at me.
Her expression was unreadable.
After a moment, her eyes fell to my yukata, and the corner of her mouth lifted into a smirk.
"By the way, Matsuda-kun, have you finally kicked the bucket after eating nothing but junk food all the time?"
"What are you talking about? You trying to jinx me?"
"Sorry. But you've folded the right lapel over the left. That's how you dress the deceased in their burial shrouds."
"Who even pays attention to that kind of stuff..."
"I do. Hold on, stay still for a second."
Miyuki stepped right in front of me and began to untie the obi securing my waist.
For some reason, the rustling sound was strangely erotic.
To think she's already stripping me because she wants to have sex outdoors.
So my Miyuki has an exhibitionist fetish.
I'll have to make her take a naked stroll around Tetsuya's house later.
Holding my obi, Miyuki turned her back to me and said.
"Cross the left lapel over the top, then say something."
Smacking my lips in disappointment, I did as she said.
"Something."
Miyuki turned back to me and let out a hollow laugh.
It's an annoying joke to react to, right? I know.
Shaking her head, she meticulously tied the obi for me.
She could have just told me to do it myself. The fact that she's doing it for me must mean my stock has gone up after this incident.
Once she was finished, Miyuki checked the time on her phone.
"We still have plenty of time, so we can enjoy ourselves. Let's hurry."
"Don't you have to work the stall?"
"I don't have to. Dad told me to enjoy the festival with you."
"Really? Leaving your father to work all by himself? What a terrible daughter."
"Where did you buy that yakitori earlier?"
She's even grown to the point where she can change the subject so naturally.
I'm so proud.
"It was at the shrine entrance. Want to go get some?"
"Yeah. Isn't the weather so nice and cool?"
"I know, right? What are the odds it would be like this on the day of the festival."
We walked along the dark path, chatting idly.
I had my hands clasped behind my head, tossing jokes at Miyuki.
She would giggle in response, then pose a silly riddle of her own.
The atmosphere was pretty good.
I wonder if Miyuki thinks so too.
"I'll have the thigh meat."
"Wasn't the one I bought for you thigh meat?"
"It was."
"And you're having it again?"
"It's delicious. What are you getting, Matsuda-kun?"
"Breast meat."
"Okay. Sir! Two thigh meat and two breast meat skewers, please!"
Miyuki ordered in a cheerful voice and was about to take money out of her drawstring pouch-like wallet.
But I beat her to it and paid first.
Miyuki's eyes widened.
"Hey... I was going to pay..."
"I just used up my spare change, don't worry about it."
"Still... I'll buy the next thing, then. Thanks."
"Do whatever you want."
"But Matsuda-kun. Your yukata doesn't look like it has any pockets. Where did that money come from...?"
"Curious?"
My face twisted into a sly grin.
Miyuki's eyes, which had been scanning my yukata, darted down before her mouth slowly fell open.
"N-No way... It can't be... right...?"
Her gaze, on the verge of horror, was fixed on my lower body.
To be precise, it was aimed at my underwear, which couldn't possibly be visible from here.
I clicked my tongue and said.
"Are you thinking I just pulled money out of my underwear? I'm wearing shorts underneath. Want me to show you?"
Miyuki's face instantly turned bright red, and she lowered her head slightly.
"N-No... That's what I thought, that you were wearing shorts..."
She was so flustered that even her ears turned red. It was cute.
"What do you mean, that's what you thought... Why not just admit it?"
"There's nothing to admit, so how can I..."
"Doesn't your conscience bother you?"
"...Haaah..."
Miyuki let out a long sigh and confessed.
"Well, you're always making lewd jokes, and your expression just now was weird... so of course I would think that..."
"Did I ever say I pull money out of my underwear? Besides, weren't you the one who told me not to be prejudiced..."
"It's-it's not prejudice, it's a stereotype... Anyway, I'm sorry. I was wrong..."
"Hmm... I wonder if you really were wrong?"
When I asked her with a smug look, Miyuki was once again dumbfounded.
"What...?"
"Just kidding. Why are you so naive?"
"...Matsuda-kun. That's not funny at all."
Miyuki said, sounding sulky.
I chuckled. The yakitori was ready by the time we finished talking, so I took it and handed two skewers to Miyuki.
Afterward, we walked deeper into the shrine grounds together.
Just as I was about to properly start enjoying the festival with Miyuki, we ran into an unexpected, unwelcome guest.
Tetsuya, who had been watching a simple parade organized by the shrine with his family, had spotted Miyuki.
"Miyuki!"
He called her name, walking quickly toward us.
A bright smile spread across Miyuki's face as she greeted him.
"Tetsuya-kun! Are you having fun?"
"Yeah. But where were you? I went to Wataru-ojisan's stall, but the curtain was down. I was worried something had happened. And why didn't you answer my calls?"
"Ah... I was so busy I didn't have a chance to check my phone. I'm sorry, Tetsuya-kun."
"It's fine. But what were you busy with?"
"I'll tell you later. It's a long story."
Miyuki glanced at me, and Tetsuya's gaze followed hers.
The surprise on his face was obvious.
Don't tell me he's only just noticed me now. If so, he's a real son of a bitch.
Tetsuya was speechless for a moment before he asked.
"Matsuda, you were here too? When did you get here?"
"A while ago."
"Really? Did you just meet up with Miyuki?"
He's so conscious of it.
He's trying to act casual, but it's completely transparent.
"Hanazawa will tell you later."
"Oh... right...? Are you enjoying the festival?"
"It's not bad."
"Right...?"
What do you mean, 'right,' you damn leech?
I had to get rid of him, and fast.
I tapped Miyuki on the shoulder and pointed to the sign of a crowded stall.
"Hey, Hanazawa. Do you know how to play goldfish scooping?"
"I know how."
"I've never done it in my life. Can we go try it now? You can teach me."
"Really? Then let's go! You should experience it. Well, Tetsuya-kun, have a great time with your family. I'll call you later when I go to say hi to your parents."
At her words, a look of bewilderment washed over Tetsuya's face.
I, on the other hand, was inwardly shouting for joy.
I was thrilled that Miyuki was sending Tetsuya away first to spend time with just me.
In a way, this was a natural outcome.
Tetsuya hadn't participated in the orphanage event that happened at the start of the festival; he had been spending quality time with his family.
Knowing Miyuki's personality, she wouldn't have wanted to interrupt that.
And the affection level I'd built up until now must have played a part in her decision.
"Ah... yeah... okay."
Tetsuya, who had been hesitating as if he wanted to say something, finally relented.
Timid bastard... This is why you'll never win.
If it were me, I would've just jumped right in, even if only to get in their way.
"You spent a thousand yen and didn't even catch a single goldfish?"
Miyuki said as we waited for the fireworks in the middle of the shrine grounds.
I scratched my head and grumbled.
"How was I supposed to know the net would tear so easily?"
"I wonder who it was that wouldn't listen when I told them to go slow because it's made of thin paper?"
"Ah, shut up. I'm getting annoyed just thinking about it..."
I took a bite of the apple candy skewer I was holding and crunched down on it.
Miyuki covered her mouth and laughed.
The way her eyes curved into crescents was strangely sexy.
She looked up at me with a grin for a while before asking.
"Enjoying the festival in a wholesome way is fun too, right?"
"It's so-so."
"You had fun, but your review is so harsh. Is it because the geta are hard to walk in?"
"Maybe. I'm never wearing these again."
"It's always like that the first time. Once you get used to them, you'll like how cool they feel. Anyway, I was really surprised today."
"Why? Because I was so bad at catching goldfish?"
"No... not that. I just never imagined you'd be so considerate of the kids at the nursery. It was unexpected, and it made me see you in a new light."
Miyuki suddenly praised me in a serious tone.
Feeling a bit awkward, I rubbed my nose and said.
"I just felt sorry for them, so I gave them some charity, that's all."
"You said earlier it was because you felt a sense of kinship. Don't you remember?"
"Nope."
"Doesn't your conscience bother you?"
She threw the words I'd said when we bought yakitori right back at me. She was getting good at this.
"Not at all. What can I do?"
"Liar."
"How would you know if I'm lying or not?"
"I just know."
"Enough nonsense. Just watch the fireworks."
"The fireworks haven't even start—"
Fweeeee—!
Just as Miyuki was about to make a playful retort, a single firework shot high into the sky.
Then, with a massive BANG!, a white firework burst, spreading in every direction.
At the same time, the crowd gathered at the shrine shouted "Tamaya!" in unison.
It was an old, traditional Japanese exclamation.
Startled by the unexpected firework, Miyuki missed her chance to say it. The sight of her pouting in disappointment was quite something.
Starting with the first, fireworks were launched in quick succession.
The sight of the colorful explosions lighting up the sky wasn't bad at all.
"Woah...!"
Miyuki, her pout completely forgotten, let out a gasp of awe, her eyes glued to the sky.
Her profile, illuminated by the intermittent flashes of light, was gorgeous.
I want to brand that slender jawline and the nape of her neck with hickeys.
"It's so beautiful... Don't you think so, Matsuda-kun?"
Miyuki's question pulled me from my fantasy.
Instead of answering, I just kept my eyes fixed on her.
The moment her gaze started to shift toward me, I timed it perfectly, turning my head very slowly toward the sky as I spoke.
"Yeah. It's beautiful."
I said it to make her wonder whether I was talking about her or the fireworks.