82 - The Home Festival

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"Say, Ayaka. Why don't we visit some food stalls together and watch the fireworks?"

Ayaka looked puzzled, unable to grasp Haruto's cheerful suggestion.

"Huh? But... the fireworks festival was postponed, wasn't it?"

Her voice carried a note of confusion, prompting Haruto to respond with a radiant smile.

"Have you ever heard of a 'home festival,' Ayaka?"

"A home festival? No, I haven't."

Ayaka shook her head slightly, curious. Haruto took out his phone, did a quick search, and showed her the screen.

"See? Like in these pictures. You decorate the house to look like festival stalls, prepare typical stall foods, and enjoy the festival vibe right at home."

"Wow! This looks amazing! It seems so fun!"

Ayaka's face lit up as she admired the images on Haruto's phone. The photos showed a living room adorned with lanterns, fans, and masks, with dishes like yakisoba and cotton candy laid out.

"Right? I bought all kinds of stuff to set it up."

Haruto moved away briefly, grabbing an eco-bag he had left in the kitchen. Unzipping it, he began pulling items out.

"Lanterns and bamboo blinds for the stall vibe," he said, showing her the decorations. "And the ingredients for the festival foods."

He placed cabbage, pork, and yakisoba noodles on the counter. Ayaka's eyes widened in amazement.

"You went out in this rain to buy all this?"

"Yeah, though I couldn't get anything too fancy on short notice... Most of these decorations are from the 100-yen shop," he admitted with a sheepish laugh.

But Ayaka gazed at him with shining eyes, overwhelmed with gratitude.

"I'm so happy... Thank you. I can't even begin to tell you how much this means to me."

She repeated her thanks, over and over. Haruto smiled softly as he approached her.

"It's a shame the fireworks festival was postponed, but I thought we could still enjoy a bit of the festival spirit. Besides, you're already wearing a yukata."

"Oh, this? I was going to change, but, um..."

"Your yukata looks great on you. You look really cute."

"Wh-what? T-thank you..."

Haruto's straightforward compliment turned Ayaka's cheeks bright red. She lowered her gaze shyly, mumbling her thanks.

Her yukata was indigo with light blue morning glories, giving it a calming, refreshing appearance. It perfectly matched Haruto's taste.

"I remembered you once said you liked things with a cool, serene vibe..."

"You remembered?"

"Yeah."

Blushing but smiling shyly, Ayaka looked up at him.

"Haruto... Um, I haven't styled my hair yet. Can I go fix it quickly?"

"Of course. In the meantime, I'll start cooking the festival food."

"I’ll hurry so I can help out!"

"Take your time. Honestly, I’m looking forward to seeing you all dressed up and even cuter."

"Haruto! Stop catching me off guard like that!"

Ayaka pouted playfully, lightly smacking Haruto's arm. Her "attack" lacked any force, making him chuckle as he apologized lightly, his expression full of warmth.

Afterward, Ayaka went to her room to fix her hair, leaving Haruto in the kitchen. He got to work.

First, he poured oil into a pan and heated it, preparing to fry. While waiting for the oil to heat, he grabbed another pot, filled it with sugar and water, and set it over low heat to make a syrup.

He took out cucumbers, sliced off the ends, peeled them in stripes, and sprinkled salt over them, rubbing it in. Then, he wiped off the excess moisture and placed them in a zip-lock bag with pickling liquid, kombucha powder, and chili pepper slices. After sealing the bag, he put it in the freezer to chill.

"Almost ready," he murmured, checking the oil temperature.

He then sliced onions, cabbage, and pork, placing them on a tray. When the oil was ready, he started frying frozen karaage, apologizing silently for not making it from scratch.

As the karaage fried, he sautéed the onions and pork with oil, preheated the yakisoba noodles in the microwave, and combined everything in a pan with yakisoba sauce, creating a fragrant, sizzling dish. Alongside, he fried some frozen French fries.

Finally, he cracked an egg into a pan, let it cook partially, and wrapped it around the yakisoba to make omu-yakisoba.

Satisfied, Haruto turned to the sugar syrup. It had thickened nicely, so he dipped apples, oranges, and strawberries into it, creating glossy candied fruits.

Just as he finished, Ayaka returned, her hair styled in a loose bun that revealed her elegant nape.

"Wow! It smells like a festival in here!" she exclaimed.

"Maybe too much," Haruto joked. "What if Ikue-san gets mad?"

"Don’t worry. She’ll probably say, ‘I’ve always wanted to try a home festival!’" Ayaka laughed.

"I hope so. But just in case, I’ll ventilate later."

He glanced at her again and smiled. "You look beautiful and adorable."

"Thank you," she replied, beaming like the sun.

Haruto couldn’t help but grin back. "Honestly, I’m glad it rained a little."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because I don’t want anyone else seeing how cute you are today."

"Haruto, you’re way too dangerous today!"

"What does that even mean?"

"It means... just, you're dangerous!"

Laughing at her flustered response, Haruto helped her decorate the living room with lanterns, streamers, and fans. Together, they created a festive atmosphere.

Once everything was ready, Haruto turned on the large TV, pulled up a video of fireworks, and played it.

"There we go. Now we can enjoy the festival and watch fireworks even in the rain."

Ayaka’s eyes sparkled with joy. Overwhelmed, she hugged him tightly.

"This is amazing! Thank you, Haruto! Thank you so much!"

Haruto chuckled, stroking her hair gently. "As long as you’re happy, it was worth it."

The moment those words reached Ayaka,

It was as if she was under a spell and she couldn't take her eyes off Haruto.

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Haruto's attack

was extremely effective!