“I’m home—”
I finally made it back. In the sense of what President Ichikawa said—‘The training camp isn’t over until you get home!’—the long, long camp had finally reached its end. (It really was long, wasn’t it?)
“Ah, Tak-kun, welcome back. Where’s my souvenir?”
In the living room, Yuzu greeted me while munching on a Calpis ice bar.
“I’m back. Don’t eat ice cream before dinner. I forgot the souvenir. Or rather, I didn’t intend to buy one in the first place.”
“Why?! Is it even possible for a brother not to bring a souvenir for his sister who was faithfully waiting for his return?!”
“No, you weren’t really waiting for me, were you…?”
“I was waiting! I thought about what you might buy for me so many times!”
She puffed out her cheeks.
No, what you were waiting for wasn’t me, it was the souvenir.
But I see, she was really looking forward to it that much. I feel a bit bad about that… I should make it up to her somehow…
“Um, well, I’ll buy you something tomorrow at the fireworks festival stalls. What do you want?”
“Eh, Tak-kun, you’re going to the fireworks festival? With who…?”
Yuzu’s eyes widened.
The frozen treat in her right hand was melting, looking like it was about to drip onto the table. Are you really that curious?
“Uh, it’s with Sako, but…”
“With Sako-chan?!”
She suddenly leaned forward. Ah, hey, don’t wave the ice cream stick around like that…!
“Yuzu, the ice cream is going to fall, so eat it first.”
“Ah, yeah, okay.”
Yuzu nodded and stuffed the nearly-dripping ice cream into her mouth.
For dozens of seconds, a mysterious silence passed as I just watched my sister crunching and chewing the ice cream. She’s surprisingly obedient about things like this…
“Finished!”
Saying that, she showed me the bare stick before turning back to me.
“So, you’re going to the fireworks festival with Sako-chan?!”
She resumed the conversation with the same high tension as if the time spent eating the ice cream hadn’t existed. Incredible.
“Yeah, that’s right…”
“Eh, who invited who? Was it Tak-kun? Or Sako-chan?”
“It was Sako…”
It was a total interrogation.
“Gah! I knew it! And Tak-kun, you probably don’t understand the meaning behind that at all, do you?! Ah, you foolish brother!”
“Foolish brother…?”
You don’t have to say it like that… wait, was she referencing something…?
“Well, we used to go together in the past… since we made up, it’s just like, ‘Let’s go together again.’ Besides, Sako likes fireworks.”
Using the word ‘made up’ feels a bit childish and embarrassing…
“Hmm… Sako-chan really does love fireworks. She only smiles during the fireworks. I wonder why she likes them so much?”
Yuzu asked with a meaningful expression.
“Eh? Well, probably because they’re pretty…?”
When I answered, she let out a deep sigh.
“Fine, whatever, you foolish brother.”
Somehow, she seemed exasperated with me.
And so, the next day at 5:00 PM arrived.
Since I didn’t want to face the death penalty, I arrived at the meeting spot in front of the station several minutes early. Impressive, I know.
Wait? What about Erina-san? For all of you wondering that…
The cowardly Konuma-kun was so terrified of being late that he asked Erina-san to push her appointment to the day after the fireworks festival. (Very playboy-esque of me.)
Here is the record of that phone call.
* * *
『I need advice! Can we meet tomorrow?!』
“To-tomorrow…? …Um, what kind of advice?”
『Well, you see, you see.』
When I asked her back, Erina-san was flustered in a way that didn't suit her. I could imagine her flapping the collar of her T-shirt to fan herself. Even in my imagination, it was a devilish sight…
『It’s a big deal! Kenji might have found out, or maybe he hasn’t… what do you think?』
“…Huh?”
What is she talking about?
『Eeeh, Takuto-kun, you’re being so cold…』
“No, even if you suddenly ask me ‘what do you think?’, I don’t know anything…”
When I replied in an exasperated voice,
『I know that! Tha-at’s why I’m saying I want to meet in person and talk tomorrow!』
She sounded like a classic ‘burikko’ talent who would say ‘Pun-pun!’ (I’m pouting!). No doubt about it!
“Sorry, Erina-san, I have plans tomorrow…”
『Eh, you have plans? Even though you’re Takuto-kun?』
Wow, how rude!
“Well, it’s only for tomorrow…”
Yeah, I guess it wasn’t that rude after all…
『Hmm? What kind of plans?』
“Um, there’s a fireworks festival in my hometown…”
『Hometown?!』
A loud voice echoed from the speaker. My ears hurt, Erina-san…
『Could it be, you’re going alone with Sakoshu?!』
“Ah, yeah, well, yes, that’s how it turned out…”
Though I only just found out about it from this poster…
『Ah, I see! Uh, hmm, well, er… Good luck?』
“Why is that a question…? I’m not particularly trying to achieve anything…”
『Well, you know, for Erina, I feel like this is a happy development, but at the same time, it’s not like ‘love’ has completely vanished yet… And while I’m at it, this isn’t just a problem for the four of us anymore; there’s definitely one more person, and based on the developments during the camp, there might even be a possibility of another person being involved… what should I do?』
“…Huh?”
I really don’t understand what she’s saying, so please stop with the long sentences…
『Geez, Takuto-kun, you shouldn’t be cold about this! Pun-pun!』
Whoa, she actually said ‘Pun-pun’! Watch out!
I heard a sigh through the phone. It tickled my ear a bit…
『Well, whatever, including all that, the day after tomorrow is fine. Let’s go to Mac!』
“O-oh…”
Everyone sure loves Mac…
“B-by the way.”
『Nmm?』
I should double-check just to make sure I wasn’t lying to Ichikawa.
“Our trips to Mac aren’t… dates, are they…?”
『…Huh?』
Whoa, Erina-san turned cold…
『Sigh… Takuto-kun really is Takuto-kun through and through… See ya the day after tomorrow, bye-bye, farewell.』
Suddenly becoming moody, Erina-san spoke in a monotone and abruptly hung up.
* * *
Ah, Erina-san seemed quite weirded out by that…
As I looked down, tormented by the memory and a sense of shame (Don’t mind, don’t mind, don’t mind, don’t cry).
“Takuto, sorry to keep you waiting.”
A familiar voice spoke to me.
“Oh, good jo—”
I looked up and lost my words.
Standing there was my blonde childhood friend, dressed in a yukata.
“Takuto, how… is it?”
“It’s…”
“It’s…?”