104 - Ayaka Tojo’s Struggles③

RAW

My mom and dad get along really well.

Probably better than most couples out there.

Having parents who are on good terms is amazing from a child’s perspective, but sometimes their lovey-dovey moments make me want to ask for a little restraint.

Still, watching the two of them ever since I was little made me dream of finding someone special to fall in love with someday.

Then we’d date, fall deeper in love, get married, and become a couple as close as my parents. Our family would grow, our home would be lively, and even as we got old and wrinkly, we’d walk hand in hand, still enjoying each other’s company.

That was the kind of life I envisioned.

But reality didn’t make it so easy to meet that special someone.

I came to understand just how much courage it takes to confess your feelings when I fell in love myself. That’s why I genuinely respect the people who’ve confessed to me before.

Yet, none of them ever felt like someone I could build a relationship like my parents’ with.

Until that summer break, when we hired a home-helper service.

Haruto Otsuki.

A boy who’s amazing at household chores, always cooking delicious meals, gentle, composed, and mature beyond his years.

The one I met that summer.

My first love.

And now, my boyfriend.

“It’s starting soon,” I said, resting my head against Haruto’s shoulder.

“Apparently, tonight’s fireworks show is split into two parts,” he replied.

“Really?”

“Yeah, look.”

Haruto held up his phone, showing me the fireworks festival website.

“The first part features traditional fireworks, with a highlight on the spectacular ‘shaku-dama.’”

“Shaku-dama?”

“It’s the size of the firework shells. They range from 2.5 to 40 inches, and the 10-inch ones are called ‘shaku-dama’ because they’re about one shaku, or 30 centimeters, in diameter.”

Haruto explained while researching on his phone.

“Wow.”

“Thirty centimeters is about this much, I think,” he said, holding up his index fingers to estimate.

Watching his side profile as he spoke, I couldn’t help but smile.

Haruto isn’t just great at chores—he excels academically too, ranking at the top of our grade. But he never brags about it.

I feel so lucky to have someone as amazing as him as my boyfriend.

As I gazed at him, lost in thought, Haruto noticed my stare and turned to me.

“Hmm?”

Just making eye contact with him fills my chest with happiness.

“What’s the second part like?” I asked.

“Oh, the second part combines fireworks with music. It says the fireworks and laser lights will illuminate the night sky to match the music.”

“That sounds beautiful! I can’t wait!”

“Me too,” he said with a gentle smile.

I’m so glad I met him.

Snuggling against his shoulder, I reflected on how far we’d come.

I want to praise the version of myself who mustered the courage to ask Haruto to the movies during the first half of summer break. The one who boldly pursued him during our “practice dating.”

Thanks to that, I’m now here, sitting beside the person I love, watching fireworks together.

As we looked up at the night sky, an announcement echoed across the riverside.

A sharp whistle pierced the air, followed by a deep boom that reverberated in my chest. A vibrant firework burst across the night sky.

“Wow! It’s so beautiful, Haruto!”

“Yeah, it’s amazing.”

The vivid colors filled the entire sky, leaving us both in awe.

This moment feels like pure bliss.

I’ve read countless romance manga and novels in my life, dreaming of one day experiencing the kind of love they portrayed.

Summer fireworks always seemed like the pinnacle of romantic events. Watching them with the boy you love—it’s a heart-throbbing dream come true.

And now, here I am, living that dream.

“Look, Haruto! That one’s shaped like a heart! And over there, is that a butterfly? Amazing!”

Various shapes danced in the sky. Haruto admired the intricacy of character-shaped fireworks, saying, “It’s incredible how they create such complex designs. I wonder if they use software to calculate it or if it’s just master craftsmanship?”

I laughed at his curiosity.

“Thinking of becoming a fireworks craftsman, Haruto?”

“Nah, I think I’d rather enjoy watching them than making them.”

His sheepish smile made me giggle.

A sudden, massive boom filled the air, followed by a giant flower of light spreading across the sky.

“Wow! So pretty!”

“That might be the shaku-dama.”

Fireworks burst relentlessly, their momentum building toward a grand finale. The sky was filled with explosions of light, leaving no gaps.

Starmine.  

The dazzling cascade of lights brightened the entire riverside, accompanied by the sound of continuous bursts.

Overwhelmed by the breathtaking display, I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

As the finale ended, cheers and applause erupted around us.

“That was amazing!” I turned to Haruto, still exhilarated.

“Yeah, it was breathtaking.”

“I’m so moved!”

I could hear others around us expressing their awe as well.

Still captivated by the lingering smoke in the sky, I shifted my gaze to Haruto.

He was still staring at the sky, a dazed look on his face.

“Haruto, were you moved too?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. It’s been so long since I watched fireworks like that.”

“Really?”

“When I was little, I was mesmerized by them, but as I grew up, I started enjoying the food stalls more.”

“Sounds like ‘dango over flowers,’” I teased.

“Yeah, exactly,” he laughed.

Just then, music began to play.

“Oh, the second part is starting!”

“Looks like it.”

The fireworks now danced in sync with popular songs, accompanied by laser lights painting patterns in the night sky.

“This song is great, isn’t it?” I asked, recognizing a favorite tune of mine.

“It’s a recent one, right? I think I’ve heard it at convenience stores,” he admitted, a bit out of touch with trends.

Haruto’s preferences remain a mystery to me.

His favorite food, his dislikes, his hobbies, his go-to TV shows—I don’t know much yet.

But that just means there’s so much more to learn about him.

I recalled what my friend Saki once told me:

“You fall in love because of what you don’t know about someone. The more you discover, the deeper you fall.”

I smiled, realizing how much more there is to love about Haruto.

As I leaned into him, he gently wrapped an arm around my shoulders.

“Haruto,” I called softly.

“Hmm?”

“When we went on our first movie date, I thought it was the happiest day of my life,” I confessed.

“Really?”

“Yeah. Holding your hand for the first time made me so happy, I even held my left hand like a charm while I slept that night.”

“Adorable,” he chuckled.

“And I thought if we ever started dating, that happiness would be nothing compared to what we’d experience.”

“And now that we’re together?”

“Every day with you feels like the best day of my life,” I said, beaming.

He smiled back warmly.

“I feel the same, Ayaka.”

Looking back up at the sky, he added, “I know life won’t always be perfect, but with you, I feel like we can cherish every small and big happiness together.”

Then he turned to me, his eyes sincere.

“I love you, Ayaka. Let’s keep building those moments together.”

My heart felt like it was going to explode.

That was so unfair! Whispering something so sweet with fireworks in the background? Is he trying to make my heart stop?

But maybe...

Was that... a proposal?

“H-Haruto?! What did you mean by that?!”

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Ayaka's worries: Haruto's surprise attacks are too dangerous...