Episode 365: More Than Fireworks, More Than Anything

「Hehe… Kazunari-san♪」

「S-Sara-san…」

Sara-san linked her arm with mine and pressed her body close, acting spoiled in a rare, direct way. Usually, if I let my guard down, she might walk a short distance behind me… so it was unusual for her to be this clingy.

Well, it wasn’t a bad thing considering how good her mood was, but with her being this extreme, it was a little embarrassing.

「My apologies. But when I think about how we are walking through the festival night like this, just the two of us, well…」

「…You’re right. When I think about us walking together through a festival night again, Sara-san… it feels deeply moving, and I’m honestly happy.」

「Yes. Even though our hearts were already decided at that point, we hadn’t truly been joined together yet…」

「Right. In that sense, today is our first festival as a couple… though if I think about it, we’ve already jumped past being just lovers.」

「Hehe… it’s true that we passed right by participating in a festival as a couple without ever experiencing it.」

We became a couple, I overcame my past, I finally got over the lingering feelings in my heart, and just when I thought our life as lovers was finally beginning… the marriage meeting uproar sent us straight to an engagement. Our romance really is like a rollercoaster.

To begin with, our number of actual dates is probably overwhelmingly fewer than most average couples…

「But I don’t mind at all. It’s true that in terms of our position, we are already fiancés rather than lovers… but for me, as someone who falls in love with Kazunari-san every single day, I have a firm sense of having both sides of being a lover and a fiancée.」

「Haha, I feel the same way. Actually, in terms of my feelings, the side of us being lovers is still stronger than being fiancés. But I’m also fully aware that we’re engaged.」

Thinking about Sara-san, my career path, our future…

Becoming able to think vaguely about the far future and taking actions toward it was definitely because the awareness of being「Sara-san’s fiancé」was born within me. But while we’re just getting along normally like this, the feeling of us dating as lovers might still be stronger.

After all, if a high school freshman like me could suddenly become clearly conscious of things like engagement and marriage with a sense of reality, that would be the real surprise…

「Even so… hehe.」

「What is it all of a sudden?」

「No, you looked truly gallant and wonderful earlier, Kazunari-san… I just thought to myself that I’ve fallen in love all over again.」

「Ah, no, well.」

Sara-san clung tightly to my arm and said those happy words while looking up at me.

Honestly, I think Sara-san is the only one who truly thinks I’m cool or gallant… well, maybe Hanako-san does too… but for me, as long as Sara-san thinks so, it was worth all the effort.

「Ah, but please don’t misunderstand? I can’t express it well, but it’s not that I don’t like the usual Kazunari-san…」

「It’s okay. I understand.」

「Hehe… I’m glad then. Every single day, I reaffirm that Kazunari-san is the world’s most wonderful, reliable, and gallant gentleman.」

「Haha, if you’re going to say that, I also seriously think every day that Sara-san is the world’s most wonderful, beautiful, and amazing wom… mmph!?」

「Mnh…」

Chu…

Just as I thought her beautiful face was suddenly rushing toward me, my lips were stolen in an instant before I could do anything.

Though the surprise made it hard to grasp the situation for a second, by the time I realized I was being kissed, Sara-san was already slowly pulling her lips away…

「Geez… it’s your fault, Kazunari-san, okay? Saying things like that just to make me happy…」

「Ah… uuh…」

「Hehe… your face is bright red, Kazunari-san♪」

「Th-That’s because of you, Sara-san…」

「Ah… for a naughty mouth that says such things, I’ll have to punish you again…」

「I-I get it!! I was the one in the wrong!!」

「Yes. You’re a good boy♪」

I have no idea what I did wrong or if I even did anything wrong at all… but if I can see Sara-san’s smile like this, I’m willing to be the bad guy, no matter how unreasonable it is.

So well… I don’t really mind.

「Sara-san, what should we do now?」

「Let’s see… since we’re finally alone together like this, Kazunari-san…」

「Though it’s not like we have that much time.」

This separate group activity was a free period that Nishikawa-san had suddenly planned for the three couples: Sara-san and me, Yuji and Natsumi-senpai, and Hayato and Todo-san.

It was only a short time until the festival finale, the fireworks display, but we took her up on her kindness… though Nishikawa-san kept emphasizing that the reason wasn’t because she「couldn’t stand watching us flirt in front of her anymore,」so I’m making sure to recognize this as pure kindness. Yes.

「For now, since we’re here, shall we go offer a prayer?」

「Hehe… that sounds good. It’s not exactly a location for enjoying the scenery, after all.」

「Haha, it’s definitely not that kind of atmospheric place.」

Being at a festival somehow reminded me of the moving night view I saw that day, but today’s venue was just in the middle of town, a residential area. Moreover, being near the school, the atmosphere wasn’t exactly what you’d call romantic.

If we could at least get into the school, it might have a different feel… ah, but that seems scary, so never mind.

「What kind of blessing does this shrine give again?」

「I believe I remember it being related to academic success…」

「Ah, is that so? Then I guess we’ll pray for academic success, to be safe.」

「Yes. And even if it’s for academic success, for us, it circles back to success in love… no, marital harmony… though that might be slightly different.」

「Ah, you’re right. Academic success for the sake of a future marriage… in that sense, it might not be wrong for us.」

If academic achievement is a necessary element for everything to end happily, including my future with Sara-san… then Sara-san’s idea that academic success eventually leads to romance(?) might have a point or two… maybe?

「Yes. That’s why…」

「Since that’s the case, let’s pray… though when it comes to my relationship with you, Sara-san, I want to overcome things with my own strength rather than relying on a god.」

「Kazunari-san… honestly, why do you always say things that make me so happy?」

「No, it’s just my determination… no matter how much I pray to a god, it feels like leaving it to someone else in the end…」

This is just a feeling, but if my grades get better in the future, I don’t want to leave any room for thinking「I prayed to a god」for it…

It might seem like a weird obsession, but when it comes to things concerning Sara-san and our future together, I feel like I want to grasp them with my own strength as much as I possibly can.

「I know it’s a weird obsession even as I say it.」

「No. I can’t explain it well either, but I understand that feeling. I don’t want to leave any room for other powers or elements, even conceptual ones, to interfere with my own resolve to make Kazunari-san the happiest in the world…」

「Ah, exactly, I feel the same way. Even if it’s praying to a god, I know it’s my own power that increases my academic ability… but that’s exactly why I don’t want to leave any extra elements… especially when it comes to you, Sara-san, it absolutely has to be my own strength.」

If this were an irregular event beyond my control, I wouldn’t need to be so obsessed with doing it myself… but if it’s something we can handle with our own power, I want to overcome it 100% with our own ability. Especially when it involves our future… or things related to Sara-san, even more so!!

「I really am a lucky woman. To be thought of this much by you, Kazunari-san…」

「No, if you’re going to say that, I’m the one who…」

「Hehe… please take responsibility for making me feel this happy, okay?」

「Eh?」

「Tonight, until my feelings calm down… I’m going to dote on you with everything I have, Kazunari-san♪」

「…Huh?」

W-What was that…

Seeing Sara-san’s incredibly happy smile, I felt a mix of anxiety, danger, happiness, and various other things all at once…

What’s going to happen to me today!?

What is she going to do to me under the covers!?

「I love you so much, Kazunari-san… mnh.」

Chu…

The soft and warm sensation of her lips on my cheek, for the several-th time today.

Looking happy, having fun, looking blissful…

Seeing Sara-san gazing at me with a supreme smile, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of heartfelt happiness and a premonition of yet another lonely battle… no, a fierce fight about to begin.

But even if it’s in exchange for a man’s hardship… or suffering, for the sake of this smile, I will!!

「Hehe… let’s get into the futon early today, shall we?♪」

That said, my anxiety as a man is never-ending… so please go easy on me!!

「Is it about time?」

「Yes, I’d say there are about five minutes left.」

The free time ended, and having met up again as planned, we moved to a nearby park to watch the fireworks… the main event that would decorate the end of the festival.

The fireworks themselves are launched from a mountain a bit further away, but in the middle of town, there are many places where utility poles, wires, and tall buildings get in the way, so people naturally gather in open spaces like this.

Of course, that meant things like securing a spot would be a major ordeal… but what was waiting for us at the site were some people with familiar faces who had secured a prime position with plenty of room and no obstacles at all.

Thank you for your hard work… I have nothing but gratitude, yes.

「I couldn’t go to any fireworks displays at all this year, so this is actually my first time seeing them.」

「You’re right. I haven’t been either, so this will be the first for me this year.」

「Oh, really? Da… I mean, with your school friends or people from the company, I had an image of you having many such opportunities, Nishikawa-san.」

「It’s true that I have those chances, but for this year at least, it’s the first.」

Da… ahem… I mean, while it wouldn’t be strange for someone with a strong social standing like Nishikawa-san to have many such engagements or opportunities… well, since it’s the first for us too this year, I really can’t talk.

「You guys seem like you’d be diligent about that kind of thing, Takanashi-kun.」

「No, this is only our second time, you know?」

「Eh, really!? Since you’re always going on dates every week, I totally thought you’d already conquered every fireworks display in the area…」

「Listen… well, I feel truly sorry to Sara-san about it, but our actual number of dates is pretty low.」

「Eeeeek!?」

「Wait, really!? You two are walking diabetes factories, and yet you don’t go on many dates…」

「Natsumi, what is that supposed to mean? How rude.」

A walking diabetes factory… well, setting that aside, I guess people are surprised.

But it’s a fact that for us up until now, too much has been happening in our daily lives, and we really haven’t had time to just settle down and go on a date.

「Th-Then what do you two usually do on the weekends?」

「Let’s see… we do the housework we can’t do on weekdays, or enjoy window shopping while buying groceries and daily necessities…」

「And then we get called to the Satsukawa house to relax, help out around the house, and eat together… that’s about it?」

There were other things like focused study sessions (review) or me helping Masaomi-san as a part-time job, but I didn’t need to mention all that.

「Um…」

「How do I put it…」

「Ah…」

What’s with that look everyone is giving us? It’s strangely lukewarm… in fact, I’d expected them to say I had no backbone for a guy or something.

This reaction is honestly way beyond my expectations.

「Well, it can’t be helped. It’s too late to point out that these two are a married couple and not lovers.」

「True. It’s not exactly the pattern for a normal high school couple’s weekend.」

「But since they’re living together, maybe they don’t need that kind of special time?」

「That’s right… for me, it’s not a problem even if we don’t have a specific time like that… of course, I’m happy if I can go on a date with Kazunari-san.」

「Sara-san…」

「Hehe… just being able to live with Kazunari-san and take care of him is more than enough happiness for me.」

I knew that Sara-san’s words weren’t just a tough front but her genuine feelings. But regardless, it was also true that she found a date especially joyful…

I felt truly sorry that I hadn’t been able to take enough time for that until now…

「Kazunari-san… that’s a no-no, okay?」

「Ah…」

Sara-san placed her index finger on my forehead as I had started brooding, wearing a soft smile full of affection and healing.

Even though I was technically being scolded, she was overflowing with a kindness that made me forget even that…

「I fully understand that we have been in situations where it was difficult to take that kind of time. This is by no means Kazunari-san’s fault, and I haven’t felt a single shred of dissatisfaction or negativity because of it. So…」

「…You’re right. I know you truly feel that way, Sara-san.」

「Yes. So please stop blaming yourself for this. As for dates, we can just go to various places together from now on, can’t we?」

「Roger that. I’ll make up for it from now on with lots of…」

「Hehe… I’m looking forward to it. But if you’re talking about making up for it, that could be something else too…」

「Eh?」

「If you would just let me pamper you to your heart’s content… for example, in the fu…」

「Wait!?」

BOOM!! KA-BOOM!!

Just as Sara-san was about to say something extremely dangerous and I instinctively tried to stop her…

Colored in the autumn night sky, this time they weren’t dark but real, brilliant fireworks. Several of them went off simultaneously, drawing large circles with a thunderous sound before slowly falling like shooting stars.

Everyone around us, my friends, and both of us were captivated by the spectacular sight, and as if to blow away Sara-san’s comment, fireworks began to go off one after another.

「Tamayaaaa!!!!」

「Natsumi-san!! At least lower your volume a bit…」

「Hey, hey, Hayato-kun!! Did you see what shape that firework was?」

「Yeah. That was…」

「Hehe… it’s truly beautiful.」

「It really is… if only we both had someone special by our side…」

「Wait!? Why are you suddenly talking about that!?」

「Kazunari, what was your wife talking about earlier…」

「Wha!? Hanako-san, right now we should be looking at the fireworks…」

「Staaaaare…」

Looking at my face with a mysterious, suspicious gaze… Hanako-san nonetheless grabbed my sleeve once more and looked up at the sky with a satisfied smile.

And to my right, Sara-san was also looking up at the sky, seemingly completely moved… she suddenly turned to the side, and when our eyes met…

「…They’re beautiful, aren’t they. Really.」

「Yeah… but…」

「But?」

「N-No, never mind…」

Looking at the current Sara-san, the cheesy and embarrassing line「Sara-san, you’re more beautiful」almost slipped out… but I thought that would be too cringey even for me, and above all, saying something that compared her to fireworks felt a bit off…

「Kazunari-san, please say it.」

「Eh, no, well…」

「He was probably just about to say some cheesy line like his wife is more beautiful than the fireworks.」

「H-How did you know!? Ah…」

Oh… crap.

To think I’d show off such a classic manga-style punchline… and Hanako-san didn’t even seem to have read my expression yet, so how…

「I don’t need to read your expression to know Kazunari’s psychological patterns that well.」

「Wait!?」

Hanako-san wore a smirk and puffed out her chest a little for some reason. Her insight is as terrifying as ever, but you didn’t have to put that much effort into reading my thoughts… wait, that’s not it!!

「S-Sara-san, that was just, well…」

「Kazunari-san, no secrets from me… okay?」

「N-No, it wasn’t exactly a secret, it was just…」

「Kazunari-san?」

「Y-Yes… I’m sorry…」

The picture of me bowing my head in a deep apology with the night view of grand fireworks in the background.

If I really think about it, what is this?

「Hmm… I can see the future where he’s forever unable to stand up to his sister and wife, and spends the rest of his life under his wife’s thumb.」

「That’s a bit late. And since they look happy, it doesn’t really matter, does it? In fact, Takanashi-kun seems to even want it that way.」

「True… in other words, even though we’re still in high school, we’re already being shown the post-marriage life of people our age…?」

「Listen…」

While I was listening quietly, what have those two been blathering on about for a while now!?

And Yuji, don’t just stand there with a wry smile, control your partner’s free-spiritedness a little… please.

「Hehe… now then, let’s try that again.」

「Eh?」

「Go ahead, Kazunari-san. Without reservation?」

「No… you already know without me saying it, don’t you?」

「No, no, that’s a different story♪ I want to hear it directly from your cute mouth, Kazunari-san.」

「Ugh…」

Faced with Sara-san’s goddess-like smile filled with motherly love and affection(?), I had no way to resist…

Is there really no other path left for me but to prepare for the cold stares of everyone around us and say that cheesy line… in that case, I’ll just steel my resolve.

「…are.」

「Kazunari-san?」

「Sara-san, you are… more than the fireworks… more than anything in the world, much, much more beautiful.」

「…Yes. Thank you very much. Hearing you say that makes me truly…」

「Sara-san…」

But even at my cheap, stereotypical manga line… Sara-san wore a smile that was truly, deeply happy, and clung tightly to my right arm…

「Please, let me stay like this just a little longer… at least until the fireworks are over…」

「Please don’t say that. I’m always…」

「Kazunari-san, I love you… with all my heart.」

「I love you too, Sara-san.」

Pressing herself right against my right arm, Sara-san smiled happily… while looking up at the fireworks in the sky, staring at them intently.

Those sparkling, beautiful eyes and that dazzling smile… they were definitely the most beautiful things in the world, more than the fireworks, more than any gemstone. I truly think so. No mistake.

「Kazunari… next year too.」

「Yeah, you’re right.」

「Yeah… it’s a promise.」

And here, Hanako-san’s gentle smile was… also truly wonderful and dazzling, beyond anything like fireworks…

Suddenly, Hanako-san’s hand that had been grabbing my sleeve vanished, and this time a cute, small hand overlapped firmly with my left hand.

「For next summer vacation, it might be nice to go to a big fireworks display and stay overnight somewhere?」

「I agree!! If it’s just one night or so, adjusting the schedule shouldn’t be a big deal!!」

「You’re right. I’m all for it.」

「Wow, now that it’s decided, I have to save up my allowance early!!」

「Yeah! I have to work hard starting now too…」

「It would be nice if we could do part-time jobs at times like this…」

「Hehe… if you use a Nishikawa Group hotel or inn, you’ll be treated as special guests, so you don’t need to worry about that.」

「Eh!? Really!?」

「As expected of Eri-rin!! So reliable!!」

「Honestly… Natsumi, you’re so opportunistic when it comes to these things.」

「Ehehe…」

At the sudden talk of next year, I couldn’t hide my excitement along with everyone else.

Above all, being able to enjoy something with everyone like this felt like something very precious and happy.

「Hehe… now we have another fun plan to look forward to, don’t we?」

「Yeah. We have the winter vacation trip too…」

「The money situation will be a bit tough, but it’s a happy scream.」

Apparently Sara-san and the others were also looking forward to it just like everyone else… Hanako-san especially was clearly oozing excitement, which was a bit charming.

「Now then, let’s leave the talk of next year at that…」

「Right! For now…」

「Let’s ignore the stupid couple who flirt every chance they get and enjoy the fireworks in front of us!」

「Natsumi, what on earth does that…」

BOOM!!

…And just like that, the roar of an especially large firework drowned out Sara-san’s dissatisfied voice. Looking up at my face, Sara-san, who had unintentionally let out a wry smile along with me, looked up softly…

「Hehe… let’s watch the fireworks together again like this, okay?」

「Yeah. Watching them with everyone is one thing, but of course, just the two of us too…」

「Yes… it’s a promise, Dear?」

「It’s a promise, Sara…」

BOOM!! BOOM!!

Looking up at the grand, brilliant fireworks rising in the cloudless autumn moonlight…

Even so, Sara-san’s smile really is the best in the world…

Staring secretly at her profile, I was thinking only of that…

「Kazunari-san, that’s a no-no, okay?」

「Eh!?」

「I’m happy that you’re staring at me, but for now, let’s watch the fireworks together, okay? In exchange, once we get home, I’ll let you be as spoiled as you want.」

「N-No, I didn’t really…」

「Do you not want to?」

「…I’ll be in your care.」

「Hehe… you’re a good boy♪」

「You guys!!! Stop flirting already!!!!」

「「W-We’re sorry…」」

And then being scolded by Natsumi-senpai, it was the usual ending for the first time in a while… or so the story goes.