— — — — — —
Oikawa sat up groggily in bed.
"Sablé!"
He called out instinctively. Usually at this hour, the dog would come sprinting in on its short little legs and leap straight at him.
But today…
There was no pattering of tiny paws. The room stayed completely quiet.
Oikawa didn't call again. Because he suddenly remembered. Yui Yuigahama had taken Sablé home yesterday.
"…Feels a bit lonely."
He sat there blankly for a moment, then got out of bed and pulled open the curtains.
A faint lavender scent drifted from the fabric. Oikawa inhaled deeply, looking almost intoxicated by it.
After washing up, he grabbed a piece of bread, stuffed it into his mouth, and mumbled, "I'm heading out."
He slammed the door behind him and dashed into the street.
The moment he stepped outside, the blazing summer heat hit him, along with the lively noise of the city.
Somewhere in the distance came the crisp thump of drums. The whole city felt alive, pulsing with its own kind of energy.
Oikawa headed in the same direction as many others.... The station.
Along the way, he spotted plenty of girls in yukata, all looking bright and full of life.
Yukata were simplified kimono. Just one robe, a sash, and a pair of wooden sandals, and you were ready to head to a summer festival, watch fireworks, scoop goldfish with friends.
And from what Oikawa understood… You didn't need to wear an under-robe underneath a yukata. Some people didn't even wear underwear…
Of course, he only understood this in theory. He'd never personally confirmed it.
The only way to test truth was through practice. Oikawa felt he should uphold that spirit of exploration. Sadly, he doesn't have a girlfriend.
...
After boarding the train, he found himself surrounded by couples.
Just when he felt like he was about to drown in the sea of romance, the announcement came: "Ōtani Station."
Saved.
He hurried off the train.
"Right on time."
He checked his phone and waited quietly.
Before long, the clack-clack of wooden sandals reached his ears.
A girl in a pale yellow yukata was running toward him. The vermilion sash around her waist stood out brightly.
Her usual side bun was gone. Instead, her hair was tied up neatly.
"Sorry, sorry."
"I shouldn't be late. My makeup… I mean, getting ready took longer than I thought."
Yui smiled at him, her eyes clear and bright, like a pool of water. Just looking at her made him feel lighter.
"It's fine. I just got here too."
Why did that line sound so familiar?
For some reason, the two of them looked at each other and fell into an awkward silence.
"What's Sablé doing at home?" Oikawa asked first. He really did miss the dog, even though they'd only been apart for less than a day.
"It's sleeping in."
"Oikawa-kun, Sablé really seems to like you. After we got back yesterday, it looked pretty down."
Once she started talking about Sablé, Yui couldn't stop. She shared one little story after another.
Oikawa chimed in occasionally, smiling along.
They passed through the ticket gates and prepared to board the train to Chiba.
"Oikawa-kun, have you ever gone to a fireworks festival?" Yui suddenly asked.
"This is my first time. You know… I was always alone before."
His answer made her lips curve slightly. She leaned a little closer to him.
"Oikawa-kun, you have me now. I'm really happy to be friends with you."
After saying that, her cheeks warmed, and she lowered her head.
"Thanks. I'm happy to be friends with Yui too."
Oikawa smiled at her, then his gaze drifted down and lingered on her neck.
'Does she wear a bra under a yukata?'
He wasn't convinced. He tried to find an angle to peek, but her yukata fit too well. There wasn't the slightest opening to confirm anything...
Disappointing.
...
After getting off at Chiba Station, Oikawa felt like he'd entered a zombie apocalypse.
People packed shoulder to shoulder. The noise was overwhelming, a chaotic mix of voices and footsteps.
Even that elementary school camping trip hadn't been this crowded.
"Stay close…"
Oikawa grabbed Yui's hand. Then, he carved a path through the "zombie" horde.
"Stop pushing!"
"Hey, don't shove! Miss, I swear I'm not trying to take advantage, someone's pushing me!"
"Quit squeezing, there's no way through!"
"…!"
Yui looked at him, surprised.
She hadn't expected the usually composed Oikawa to act like this.
Soon, the crowd thinned, and the view opened up. Fresh air at last.
The scene before them looked almost unreal.
Chiba Port Tower rose high into the sky, almost brushing the clouds. The setting sun painted everything in warm tones, stirring anticipation for the upcoming fireworks.
"Oikawa-kun, we still have time. Let's grab something to eat!"
"To thank you for taking care of Sablé, you can eat whatever you want today. My treat!!!"
Yui puffed out her chest as she made her bold declaration.
Oikawa laughed. "Yui, I'm not going easy on you today."
"Bring it on!"
She lifted her chin, her whole expression practically saying 'I'm rich, eat whatever you want.'
"Let's go."
The two of them strolled side by side.
The lively festival atmosphere seemed to stir Oikawa's mood as well. Yui's wooden sandals clicked lightly with each step, and he suddenly regretted wearing sneakers. He should've worn geta too.
That sound had a nice rhythm to it.
Yui seemed to genuinely love singing. She hummed softly even while walking.
Japanese festivals were kind of like night markets.
Actually, not quite. Structurally, they were closer to food festivals or beer festivals. But in terms of flavor and vibe, they felt more like a proper night market.
Countless stalls lined the streets.
Oikawa's eyes spun from all the choices, and the continuous wave of aromas made his appetite surge.
Takoyaki was a must-have festival food.
"I want that."
He pointed at the takoyaki without hesitation. While waiting, he also bought a tray of yakisoba.
Takoyaki was made pretty much the same everywhere.
But yakisoba was unfamiliar to him. From the ingredients, he could only tell there were vegetables and pork.
The noodles were ready faster than the takoyaki.
Oikawa took a bite and nodded in approval. It tasted even better than he expected.
Holding the noodles, he continued waiting for his takoyaki.
A moment later, Yui came jogging back, smiling brightly, holding two candy apples.
"Oikawa-kun. This… this one's really good. You should try it."
She handed one to him without hesitation.
Oikawa tasted it carefully.
"Nice. Really good."
After a bite, he gave her a thumbs-up.
Sweet and tart.
Soon, the takoyaki were ready too.
Six pieces for 380 yen.
---
"Let's get shaved ice. Umm... Where was it again…? I think I saw it earlier…" Yui said.
Her slightly absent-minded look made Oikawa smile.
Being around someone simple like her felt incredibly comfortable.
"I remember now, it's this way! Oikawa-kun, let's go. Mission: shaved ice!"
She charged ahead enthusiastically.
Just then, a voice called out. "...Yui?!"
Yui looked over and waved happily. "Oh, Sagami!"
Oikawa looked at the group of three girls nearby.
They seemed familiar, but he couldn't remember where he'd seen them.
The three walked over.
The girl in the middle seemed to recognize him and greeted him cheerfully. "Oikawa-kun, hi!"
Oikawa ignored her completely.
Some people politely respond when strangers greet them.
Oikawa was not one of those people.
"Oikawa-kun, she's Sagami Minami from our class. The other two are Yukko and Haruka," Yui whispered in explanation.
Oikawa nodded at the three of them and said flatly, "Hello."
Sagami's expression stiffened. Strangely, she didn't seem hostile toward Oikawa. Instead, she shot Yui a displeased look.
Then a teasing smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"Yui, I didn't expect you to be this close with Oikawa-kun. No wonder your grades improved so quickly lately. He must've been secretly tutoring you, right?"
"But that's not very nice. Oikawa-kun and Kawasaki-san are the class's official couple. If you're trying to steal him, be careful Kawasaki-san doesn't come after you. I heard her family has ties to the yakuza."
Yui's smile froze. She looked flustered and could only reply awkwardly, "It's not like that at all. Oikawa helped me take care of Sablé, so I invited him to the fireworks festival."
Oikawa frowned as he stared at Sagami.
He couldn't figure out her logic. He was the one who hadn't greeted her. Why was she venting her frustration at Yui?
"True enough," Sagami continued, exaggerating her tone. "Oikawa-kun's the top student in class. Of course he wouldn't be interested in someone like you, Yui, sitting at the bottom. Even the big chest you're so proud of doesn't seem like much compared to Kawasaki-san, right?"
The two girls beside her, Yukko and Haruka, immediately snickered along.
"Yui, she's not wrong. Compared to Kawasaki-san, you really don't have much going for you."
"If it were me, I'd pick Kawasaki-san too. She's pretty, she cooks well, and I heard she can sew. Isn't that exactly the kind of girlfriend every guy wants?"
"Oikawa-kun, you probably prefer Kawasaki-san too, right?"
Hearing that, Oikawa's eyes turned cold.
Yui, on the other hand, didn't look angry at all. Instead, she tried to smooth things over. "Sagami, stop joking. Kawasaki is my good friend too. It's not like what you're imagining."
Oikawa suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for Yui. She hadn't done anything wrong.
Jealousy?
That was his guess. Maybe Sagami saw how close he and Yui were, while he didn't even recognize her, so she lashed out.
When had he become the center of attention in class?
Then he remembered Sagami's earlier words: Oikawa-kun is the top student in class.
So it was about grades.
In a school like Sobu High, filled with elites, most students cared deeply about academic ranking.
That was why Yukino Yukinoshita received so much admiration. Her looks were part of it, but the bigger reason was her constant first-place standing.
For many students, grades were the most important measure of someone's status.
"I'm just kidding," Sagami said lightly. "You're not mad, are you, Yui? If you are, that'd be kind of petty."
Yui waved her hands hurriedly. "No, no!"
"Yui, did you put on makeup? The powder on your face looks really uneven."
"Hold on, I'll fix it for you. If you're going to watch fireworks with Oikawa-kun, you should look your best."
Sagami pulled out her makeup kit without waiting for permission and reached toward Yui's face.
"I've got to ask. You've been yapping this whole time like a half-grown monkey. Don't you realize how annoying you are?"
Oikawa stepped beside Yui and naturally took her hand, pulling her behind him.
Then he continued, his voice calm but sharp.
"What makes you so sure I don't like Yui?"
"I'll be honest. I like Yui. I like her gentleness. I like her kindness. I like the smile she always wears. I like her, just as she is."
He shifted his gaze to the other two girls.
"And you two. What, are you Sagami's lapdogs? She moves, you follow?"
"If I told Kawasaki what you've been saying behind her back, you know what would happen. I don't need to spell it out. So do everyone a favor. Stop showing up in front of me. Not everyone's as kind as Yui. Not everyone will ignore the things you say."
"And if I hear you spreading rumors about her at school, don't blame me for what happens. I've got nothing to lose. I can do anything. Don't test my limits."
After saying that, Oikawa pulled Yui away.
In that moment, Yui felt like the entire world had disappeared. The only person left in her vision was Oikawa.
Sagami and the other two stood frozen, stunned.
Oikawa hadn't given them a chance to respond. Their anger had nowhere to go.
As for revenge?
They didn't dare.
.
.
.