65 – Barabara Matsuri – 2
Shiraishi, who was walking side by side, suddenly jumps out. Startled, I hurriedly followed him. Only in this way is he truly a butler who serves the young lady. Although she had no intention of chasing after her, she naturally ended up chasing after the red ponytail fluttering on both sides.
“Wow~! “What is this~!”
Shiraishi asked, pointing her finger.
“Round… Red… ! It’s like Akira Shiraishi’s passionate hair color… !”
Standing next to me, I let out a small breath.
“Apple candy. “Didn’t you say you wanted to try it before?”
“Wow… ! This is it… !”
She raises her head with startled eyes. Those big eyes were shining with anticipation.
“…… Give me one.”
Sighing, I calculated it instead.
“Now, try it.”
I picked up her candy and held it out to her.
“Yeah, but… “Isn’t now the time for this?”
“…… “What are you talking about when you already have a lot on your hands?”
“Oh my.”
At my point, she looked down at the food she was holding in both her hands.
Takoyaki in one hand. In the other hand, chocolate banana and squid skewers. Shiraishi, wearing a fox mask over his forehead, was enjoying the festival to the fullest.
“Ah… ! Sorry! Stop without even realizing it… !”
“That’s enough. “Because I already bought it.”
Shiraishi and I were looking for Haruna. As the time for her fireworks display was quickly approaching, we decided to split into two to look for her. I still couldn’t feel safe, so I stayed with Shiraishi and looked around the city.
“Oh, what is that!?”
“Wait a minute, Shiraishi…” !”
The search for her missing person made absolutely no progress as the new things she saw caught her attention and she ran after her.
It is a festival held every year in the neighborhood, and there is no need to call him a missing person because he was only briefly lost due to the crowds.
“Ah, look at my mind!”
Shiraishi stopped at my call.
“I’m sorry! I need to find Miss Haruna… !”
Should I call it naive? Like a child running after a butterfly that catches her eye. She was so excited and excited about this new experience that she was experiencing for the first time.
I also don’t feel like blaming her for that.
“Later. “Let’s all get together and watch the fireworks, then stop by here.”
“Ah…… Yes!”
In order to find Haruna, I was following the experiences of a commoner who grew up in a wealthy family.
“…… Oh, would you like to eat it?”
As her eyes met, Shiraishi took some takoyaki and presented it to me.
“Yes.”
She obediently opens her mouth and takes what is offered to her and eats it.
It wasn’t that special, it was sweet, salty and spicy takoyaki that you can taste anywhere, but Shiraishi said to me with a grin.
“This is really delicious!”
“Really?”
Even for a young lady from a noble family who would have enjoyed a banquet hosted by chefs in a palace-like mansion, the cheap food at such a festival seemed to suit her tastes.
“……… “Do you hate takoyaki?”
“No, the sauce taste is too strong.”
For your information, it didn’t suit my taste.
Regardless of the difference in environment or position, my tastes tended to be picky.
“Is that so… ? It’s just delicious….”
Shiraishi purred as he took a bite of the squid skewer.
“……… That’s right. Miss Haruna!”
In the midst of all this, he immediately came to his senses and guided me.
“Let’s go find it! “Now is not the time to have fun alone like this!”
“…… “There was awareness.”
I chase after Shiraishi, who runs out alone again. Although Haruna thinks she’s from this neighborhood so she won’t get lost and she’ll probably be okay.
“……… “Isn’t it time?”
When I looked up at the night sky, I muttered.
Remembering how excited Haruna was about going to the festival together, I followed after her.
In the meantime, a guidance sound began to sound from the outdoor speaker. People around them also began to murmur at the news that the fireworks display was about to start. One by one, we settle down or move to a good place to view the night sky.
“Miss Haruna….”
Shiraishi looked around her and muttered.
Meanwhile, I stood behind him, feeling relieved that nothing I had worried about had happened.
“They say it’s starting soon.”
“Yeah, but….”
There is nothing we can do.
It is quite common to lose one’s companion at such a crowded festival.
I felt disappointed that not only Haruna, but even Takase-senpai and Yuuki could not be seen, but I led Shiraishi out of the crowd.
“…… “It will be visible from here.”
Wearing a yukata and having both hands full of snacks. Shiraishi, with a mask on her head, opens her mouth slightly and looks at the sky.
“It would have been nice if we had all seen it together. “It’s a shame.”
“Yes… Actually, even when I was young, I couldn’t see this festival and moved away… “It was always on her mind.”
It was such an old event.
I muttered as I looked up at the sky following Shiraishi.
“…… “Is that why you were so happy?”
“I’m embarrassed… “I only showed her an immodest side that was unbecoming of a lady.”
I burst into laughter. Because the words Akira Shiraishi and chastity do not fit together very well. Nevertheless, the gap between her focus on being a well-groomed young lady was laughable.
“No. “I had fun too.”
“Is that so?”
Nod your head. There are many things to worry about. It bothered me that we couldn’t all see the sky together, but after this time, the festival would end. You don’t have to worry anymore today.
“…… However… “Is Shiraishi going to be okay?”
“What are you talking about?”
“……… “Because I am next to you.”
She blinked her eyes.
If the fact that I didn’t see this festival when I was young has always stayed in my mind. That means she had a desire to enjoy this time with her friends.
Even her crush, Yuuki, would have wanted to see the fireworks that would soon be embroidered in the night sky.
That’s what it meant.
Because I was constantly worried about not being able to be with Haruna.
I wonder if I’m alone somewhere on this street right now.
Or is Yuuki meeting and hanging out with her seniors?
Either way, I was feeling frustrated at being apart like this.
“…… Of course, I also want to make romantic memories with you, Yuuki.”
“hahahaha….”
Actually, I was the one next to him.
“But… “I really enjoyed the time I spent with Minsu.”
She smiled while looking at me.
At the same time, fireworks rose into the sky.
Colorful flowers decorate the sky and brighten up the night.
Shiraishi looked up at the sky and was amazed.
“Wow… !!”
As I stared blankly at that beautiful scene, I was thinking of someone else.
Where would Haruna be by now?
I hope I’m not alone.
The flowers embroidered in the sky flashed light for a moment and then dispersed, repeating this for several minutes.
She took out her cell phone when it vibrated in her pocket.
“…… Huh. “Yuuki.”
“Are you there for a day?”
“…… “Isn’t it over there?”
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“Okay. “I don’t even know where you are when you don’t answer the phone.”
Yuki clicked her tongue and said.
The fireworks are over. Shiraishi turned his head from the night sky and looked this way.
“…… “It was really beautiful!”
While her fireworks were exploding, I was lost in her thoughts and turned to her and said to her.
“……… “It’s me, Shiraishi.”
“Yes. “Why are you doing that?”
“……… ….”
It is a festival that returns every year, and the fact that it was scattered like this was just an accident. Still, I felt uncomfortable, as if there was a thorn stuck in my throat.
“…… “Isn’t there a curfew or something?”
“Yes?”
After the fireworks were over, of course the only thing left was to go back. For some reason, I felt like it couldn’t end like this. When I think of her insisting that she come with me.
Haru I never expected to see the fireworks like this, separated from her friends and alone.
I wouldn’t know if it were any other woman, but it’s Haruna. When you confront her, she may act like she’s okay, but she’s probably depressed on the inside.
When she thought of that, she thought that she shouldn’t go back like this.
***
Squat down in the middle of the road.
I picked up a pair of crabs with broken strings and held them in my hand. I walked slowly, feeling the coldness of the bare ground against the soles of my feet.
After missing Aki-chan, I couldn’t find the group even when I arrived at the place where I was supposed to wait. When I reached into my pocket and realized that my phone was not there, I was in a state of panic for a while.
As I was walking aimlessly, looking around, I bumped my shoulder and almost fell. I barely managed to keep my balance, but one of the straps was broken.
At this time last year, I thought of Yuu-kun, who had made fun of me for being stupid, but now there was no one, let alone Yuu-kun.
What should I do…. This way, I have no means of contacting my friends.
I didn’t even expect to be able to find someone just by looking at them.
“Hey!”
While I was standing still, I flinched back due to the pain I felt under my feet. Someone had stepped on my foot. At the same time, you bump into the person behind you.
“Ah, ah… sorry… !”
I apologized and tried my best to get away from the crowd.
Oh, really… It’s not like a child who lost his mother… There’s no need to rush around like this….
I limped on one ankle and moved under the streetlight to sit in the corner of the stone steps. There was a shrine above this, but I didn’t feel like going up there.
“…… Wow….”
When I lowered my head and looked down, I saw bare feet with torn flesh and bleeding.
It looked like a wound from when his foot was stepped on by a crowd of people just moments ago.
Even so, it wasn’t that big of a wound. I took a tissue out of her arms and rubbed it.
“Ahh….”
It wasn’t a major injury, but I felt a stinging pain when I rubbed it to wipe away the blood.
“…… It hurts….”
It must have been a time when everyone gathered together to have a good time.
This is what happens as soon as you are left alone.
At this point, the yukata I took out and wore was a waste.
She should just wear comfortable clothes like her older sister….
Once the fireworks are over, people will soon return. When the streets are quiet, let’s go back slowly.
Eri hasn’t met her older sister, Yuuki, or Shiraishi, but now she doesn’t even have her cell phone. Because she can’t help it….
As she did so, she sniffled and sniffed, even as she struggled to push herself.
“Ah… fool… You’re not even a child. Why are you crying? .”
Nothing happened.
Just being alone and whimpering about having had a few unfortunate accidents happen?
When she shows this side to Yuuki, she is teased again for being stupid.
I didn’t want to be seen like this, not even by Eri, who comforted me by telling me it was okay, and Aki-chan, who I had become close with.
And above all……
“Ah……….”
I raised my head at the sound of fireworks overhead.
The fireworks had begun.
Everyone is watching the scene with friends, lovers, and family.
“It’s pretty… ….”
I was squatting alone on the stone steps and quietly watching the scene from the corner.
I wanted to see this sky with someone.
I’m sure I’ve always wanted that in my heart.
At this moment, I am alone.
I am looking at this sky alone in a place where no one knows.
Even as I was thinking that, I kept looking at the beauty of the exploding fireworks.
The fireworks of the festival last for a long time.
But even after all the flowers had faded, I looked at the endlessly dark night sky.
After the festival ended, the noisy sounds of people scattering could be heard.
It was time to go back, but I sat there motionless.
“…………….”
For some reason, if I wait quietly like this.
I felt like he would appear in front of me just like that time.
Of course, the possibility of something like that happening is infinitely low.
Nevertheless, I sat there and spent time in a daze.
“……… “Should I go back soon?”
But as the night deepened, the day became colder and my body began to tremble.
The moment you try to get up and take a painful step,
“……… What are you doing? At there.”
Ah.
I raised my head when I heard a voice right in front of me.
“Minsu….”
The person I had been thinking about as I looked at the night sky was right in front of my eyes.
“……… Continue… “I was thinking about you.”
So, I said that without even realizing it.
I was aware that I had said something embarrassing.
“What?”
After hearing those words, Minsu was rather embarrassed and scratched his head.
“……… “Why didn’t you answer the phone?”
Minsu stood next to me, grumbling as if trying to hide his embarrassment. There was a white bag in his hand.
“What is that?”
“……… ….”
Without answering that question, Minsu stretched out his finger and pointed up the stairs.
“…… “Let’s go first.”
“Ah…… Huh.”
He walks away and then frowns slightly. Minsu bent down and looked at my feet as if he was surprised.