103 - Unlike Back Then

RAW

After looking around at the lively stalls on either side, Haruto lowered his gaze to his left arm.

Since meeting up with Ayaka, his arm had been tightly embraced by her the entire time.

"Ayaka? How about walking a little farther apart?"

"No way, it's so crowded. We'll get separated!"

Ayaka immediately rejected Haruto's suggestion, tightening her grip on his arm as she murmured.

"Besides... other girls might start talking to you like earlier..."

"That was only because Tomoya was with me."

She pouted slightly, and Haruto smiled gently, replying to her.

As Ayaka stared at him, she intertwined her right hand with his left, forming a lover's hold and quietly said,

"...I don’t want to let go."

She said it in a way that felt a little childish.

Haruto found her actions endearing, but he also thought that if anyone from school saw them now, it wouldn’t matter even if Tomoya and Saki were there. He smiled wryly.

"We went through all this trouble to have Aizawa-san and Tomoya come with us as camouflage, and if they saw this situation, it would be over, right? Hey, Tomoya... huh?"

Haruto turned around, expecting to seek his best friend's agreement.

However, neither Tomoya nor Saki were in sight.

He guessed that they had probably left them alone to give them some space, and silently thanked his friends for their consideration.

"Huh? Where's Saki?"

Ayaka, following Haruto’s gaze, tilted her head and looked around.

"They must have left us alone, considering how crowded it is."

"I see. I should thank Saki later. And also Akagi-kun."

"Right. There’s still time before the fireworks start, but should we move to a better spot?"

"Yeah, we should. Otherwise, we’ll lose our spot."

The fireworks festival was crowded, and if they waited too long, they might end up standing.

Hand in hand, Haruto and Ayaka began moving to secure a good location.

The fireworks were set to be launched in a large riverside area. Therefore, the best spots to view the fireworks were along the riverbank near the venue.

"Even though the fireworks don’t start for another hour, there are already so many people here."

Having finished her cotton candy, Ayaka now held a cup of shaved ice and exclaimed at how many people were staking out spots.

"Everyone has the same idea. Oh, there's a spot over there. Let’s go there."

Haruto scanned the area from the top of the embankment and pointed to a free patch of grass.

He took Ayaka’s hand and slowly descended the stairs to the riverbank, laying down a smaller picnic sheet he had taken from his shinobi bag.

"I'm glad I borrowed this from Shuichi-san."

Looking at the shinobi bag, Haruto said, and Ayaka nodded in agreement.

"Yeah. Yukata and jinbei are really cute and set the mood, but they're hard to carry things in. There aren't even any pockets."

She shook the cute fish-patterned pouch hanging from her elbow and smiled wryly. "This only fits my phone and a few small items."

"And if you wear a backpack or purse, it ruins the whole vibe."

"Exactly."

Ayaka chuckled softly and nodded at Haruto’s words.

"We should thank Shuichi-san for letting us borrow the shinobi bag."

"Thanks, Dad."

The two continued their conversation while sitting down on the picnic sheet. Since it was a rather small sheet, they ended up sitting close together, shoulder to shoulder.

"It seems like we still have quite a bit of time before it starts."

"How much longer?"

"About 30 minutes or so."

Haruto checked his phone for the time and replied, to which Ayaka leaned slightly toward him, softly resting her weight on him.

Feeling her warmth, Haruto smiled gently.

"Is that shaved ice good, Ayaka?"

"Yeah, it’s really good. Hey, want to play a guessing game?"

Ayaka looked at her shaved ice before glancing at Haruto as if she had just thought of it.

"No way, we can already see the syrup color. It’s strawberry, right?"

Seeing the pink-colored ice, Haruto chuckled.

Ayaka, pouting slightly, retorted, "You don’t know, it could be melon flavored with strawberry coloring!"

"Ha ha, no need for that kind of feint."

Haruto laughed at her forced counter, and then leaned in lightly, whispering in her ear.

"Or, do you want to play that guessing game here?"

"Ugh... not here..."

Ayaka blushed and looked down, embarrassed by the whisper, before scooping up a bite of shaved ice with her spoon and bringing it to Haruto’s mouth.

He ate it and then stated confidently.

"Yep, it's strawberry."

"Correct. As a reward, have another bite."

"Mm."

They continued to share the shaved ice, eating together as they exchanged little words.

After a while, they finished the shaved ice and silently gazed up at the night sky, looking around.

At that moment, Haruto remembered the time he went to the movies with Ayaka during summer break.

They had arrived much earlier than the scheduled time, entering the theater far ahead of the movie start, waiting for it to begin.

He remembered how awkward the conversation was at the time, and the silence that felt uncomfortable.

Haruto lowered his gaze from the night sky and looked at Ayaka’s profile beside him.

Even now, as the fireworks were about to begin, they had nothing to do and no topic to talk about. But unlike during the movie date, there was no awkwardness between them.

Even without speaking, just being next to her, he felt his heart filled. That alone was enough for him.

There was a sense of security in not having to force a conversation or search for a topic.

"Hm? What’s wrong, Haruto-kun?"

Noticing his gaze, Ayaka tilted her head and asked.

"Nothing, I was just thinking how wonderful you look in your yukata. The one you wore last time was great too, but you look especially cute in this one."

"Fufu, thank you. You look really handsome in your jinbei too. I’ve fallen for you all over again."

Ayaka smiled brightly at his words, in high spirits as she complimented his outfit as well.

They quietly sat together, enveloped in happiness, waiting for the fireworks to start.

"I’m so excited for the fireworks."

"Me too. I’m sure they’ll be beautiful."

"Yeah."

Ayaka nodded happily, then gently tilted her head and rested it on Haruto’s shoulder, affectionately.

"Watching the fireworks with you will definitely be beautiful."

She said this in such a sweet way.

Haruto gently wrapped his left arm around her back and pulled her closer, embracing her softly.