Fireworks Display

"I've never been to a fireworks show before, is there anything I need to bring?"

"Not particularly, but I'd advise against a large bag. It's too crowded and inconvenient to carry around."

"I understand."

Right after the summer vacation began, they decided to go to a fireworks display with Kazuma and Momose.

The fireworks display in this area was held quite early, so Kazuma and the Momose had invited them a few days before.

At first Minato was going to refuse, but then Airi insisted, so he joined in.

Airi didn't seem to like crowded places so he thought that she wouldn't be interested, but when Kazuma and Momose invited them, he asked Airi if it was really okay, but all she said was, "It's fine, thank you for worrying about me."

"Are you sure you're okay? There's going to be a lot of people there. You don't have to push yourself, okay?"

"No, I'm not pushing myself, I'm quite interested. It's not like I'm going with some strangers."

He asked Airi again, but she must have meant it because she didn't look uncomfortable when he looked at her face.

If so, there was no need for Minato to say anything more.

"All right, you're sure you didn't forget anything?"

"Yes."

"All right, let's go."

When they left the house, Airi was in a good mood and her body was fidgeting. She must be really looking forward to it.

She said it was her first time to go to a fireworks display, so he hoped she would enjoy it as much as she could.

"Good evening, you two!"

"Yo, you two."

"Good evening."

"Yo."

He met up with Kazuma and the others at a convenience store a short distance from the riverbed where the event would be held.

The closer they got to the venue, the more people they would gather, so here was a good place to meet.

"We really wanted everyone to wear yukata together, though."

"Sorry, but Ninomiya and I don't have anything like that."

He apologized as Momose muttered in disappointment.

Minato used to have one, but threw it away when he sorted things out when he moved out on his own.

In the first place, it had been quite a while since he had gone to a fireworks display with Kazuma and Momose. Every year he was invited to go, but he always refused, wondering why he should go along with a couple by himself.

Perhaps in order to match Minato and Airi, Kazuma and Momose, who were supposed to have yukatas, were wearing normal clothes this time.

"I know, that's why we put on normal clothes too."

"…Sorry, Shiori-san."

"No, you don't have to apologize, Airi! But why don't you just buy it?"

Momose stared at Minato, saying something like, "Anyway, why don't you buy two?"

The option of buying a yukata had never crossed his mind because he thought it would cost a certain amount of money.

His father had bought him a yukata in the past and that was it. He didn't know the current market price.

However, he still wanted to see Airi in a yukata, so depending on the price, he might be willing to buy one.

"Yeah, well, maybe we can buy some next time."

"Eh, no, I don't mind it."

"Eh, what a waste. Let's buy some!"

"Ye-Yeah, I got it, I said I got it."

Momose hugged Airi and forcefully convinced her.

Airi smiled slightly, as if she was happy to be able to wear something different from what she would normally wear for some reason.

"Shiori, stop messing around. Also, if any of you get separated, call on the phone. There's a chance there'll be too many people to connect, so we'll meet here whether it reaches or not, alright?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

"All right, let's go."

"Yes!"

Kazuma corrected the course of the conversation and shared with everyone what to do in case they got separated. Minato found it impressive that he was able to notice these things.

Kazuma held Momose's hand and walked away as if it was obvious. It was a surprisingly smooth process, as the two lovers had done it many times before and were used to it.

Airi next to Minato blinked her eyes at how natural it was.

It must have seemed unexpected, since Momose had been all over Airi when the four of them had gone shopping together and during the study session.

"It's amazing. It seems so natural."

"They've been together a long time as a couple, so it's natural. I guess it also means that if we get separated, we won't be able to meet up."

"It's certainly a problem if we get separated. That's right."

Airi was nodding in agreement. Minato wondered if it was something she should be so impressed with.

As Minato was wondering about her reaction, a small, pure white hand was held out to him.

"So, Minato-san, shall we do the same?"

"What? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Eh? I said let's hold hands in case we get separated."

She tilted his head as if to say, "I didn't say anything strange," but he couldn't have known any better.

This was something that couples would do, and if someone from the same high school saw him holding hands with Airi, it would become a topic of conversation.

It wasn't common for people to have silver hair, so there was no way to disguise the fact that there was someone else who looked like her.

"No. If we did that and some guy from our high school found out, that would make a story."

"Well, I guess that's true."

"So no, okay?"

"…Yes."

She stared at him slightly as if to say she didn't agree, but since it was Airi who had said she didn't want to be talked about, she didn't argue.

As they started to make their way to catch up with Kazuma and Momose, Minato felt a tug on the hem of his clothes.

He looked next to him to see what was going on and saw Airi grabbing his shirt.

"I know we're not supposed to hold hands, but it's less likely that people will notice this way. Is this okay?"

"…Alright."

He couldn't say no to that when she said it so thinly and sadly.

It was already dimly lit around them, and he allowed himself to think that it would be no problem.

"Thank you very much."

Airi laughed softly, but happily.

He convinced himself that the itchy feeling in his chest was due to the fact that he was being pulled by the hem, something that normally would not be possible.

"Airi, aren't you going to eat something?"

"I'm going to make dinner at home, and besides, looking at the prices at the food stalls, they're pretty high, so I think I'll pass."

"…I feel like I just had an awesome housewife conversation with you. I don't think you have to worry about the price or anything."

With the location taken care of, all they had to do was wait for the event to start.

Momose invited Airi to browse the stalls, but Airi seemed reluctant to do so, concerned about the high prices, and did not seem to respond well.

Since it was a good opportunity, he decided to ask Momose to take Airi with her. Buying something from a food stall was one of the best things to do at a time like this.

"That's right, why don't you go get something since you're here? Don't worry about the price."

"Now that Minato-kun's given us permission, let's go, Airi!"

"Eh, is it okay?"

"Of course it's fine, don't be shy and go. Kazuma, I'm sorry, but can you go with them?"

"All right, I'm sorry, but I'll leave this spot to you."

"Yeah."

Airi looked at Minato anxiously, but he smiled back at her as if to say don't worry about it, so she smiled back apologetically.

He asked Kazuma to chaperone them, so they wouldn't have to worry about being picked up. This kind of thing would be more effective with someone with a good face.

When the three of them left Minato's side, the eyes around him suddenly disappeared.

I know how you people feel, but it's too obvious.

Minato knew he didn't need to compare the ordinary looking him with two beautiful girls and one handsome guy, but he was taken aback by how obvious it was.

Minato let out a sigh as he looked at her beautiful silvery-white hair, which could be seen from a short distance away and even stood out in the dim light.

"So since I didn't know what the options were, I bought cotton candy."

"It's so cute!"

"…Don't say that so much."

What Airi bought was cotton candy.

Among the other things she could choose, she chose a particularly cute one. Minato laughed and Airi turned her head to the side.

"Why did you choose that?"

"I can't make cotton candy at home, and I've never had it before."

"That makes sense, but that's quite the criteria to choose… Well, that's fine, since you bought that, enjoy it."

"Yes."

Airi put some cotton candy in her mouth. She seemed to like it as her eyes narrowed and her cheeks relaxed.

While he was smiling at her cute little animal-like reaction, the cotton candy was thrust in front of Minato.

"…What?"

"I can't eat it all by myself, so please eat it together with me."

"Is that okay?"

"I'm the one who offered it, so please eat it."

"No, not that. If I'm not careful, it'll be an indirect kiss, is that okay?"

Of course, he wasn't going to eat it at the same place as Airi.

At home, he was careful not to let this happen, but if Minato ate the cotton candy too, she would inevitably end up kissing him indirectly.

When Minato pointed this out, Airi's face turned red.

"Th-That's right, but it's okay."

"No, you're not convincing me with your red face."

"It's okay! If I say it's okay, it's okay!"

As Minato and Airi were arguing, Kazuma looked at them with fascinated eyes.

"Wouldn't it be better if you just shredded it?"

""Ah.""

"Hah… I feel like I'm going to get heartburn. I wonder if we usually give off this kind of vibe."

"No, I don't think we can create this kind of atmosphere."

As Kazuma and Momose looked at Minato and Airi with warm eyes, he became embarrassed and stopped talking.

Airi next to him was also squirming with dyed cheeks.

"Th-Then, I'll take some."

"Ye-Yes, here you go."

They finished eating the cotton candy and all that was left was to wait for the fireworks.

The four of them sat and waited for the time to pass, and finally, a flower of light bloomed in the dark night.

"Aah!"

Apparently, Airi was startled by the sound of fireworks up close.

While looking at the fireworks, Minato asked her in a small voice.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, it's amazing when you see it up close. The sound and the vibrations are amazing."

"Yeah, it's a bit of a surprise if you're not used to it."

"But it's beautiful. It's very, very beautiful…"

Airi looked up at the fireworks as if she was in a daze. Minato was used to it since he had been here several times, but it must have been very new for Airi.

Minato was watching the fireworks, happy that she seemed to be enjoying them, when he felt something cold touch his hand.

When he looked at his hand in surprise, he saw Airi's hand on top of his. He then looked at her face and figured she must have done it unconsciously because her gaze was glued to the fireworks.

He thought about stopping her, but her sapphire blue eyes staring at the flowers in the night sky were so beautiful that he couldn't help but admire them.

Oh, well.

Minato also looked up at the beautiful sparks, wishing that time like this could go on forever.