74-Episode 69 After the Festival

'...... It's quiet.'

My own words leaked out involuntarily, and I felt it again.

'......It's over.

The festival is over, and the forty-two wards are as quiet as if they had fallen asleep.

There are no more people on the street in front of the sunlit pavilion, and not a single sound can be heard. The only thing you can feel is the faintest hint of a breeze passing through.

On the road leading to the church, glowing bricks have been placed to brighten the dark night.

The evenly spaced lights transformed a nighttime street that had previously been nothing but an object of fear and darkness into a fantastic path.

It is hard to believe that this is the same road.

'Yashiro-san'.

Midnight.

Even though it was already very late, Ginette was awake.

She comes out of the dining room and walks next to me in the garden, looking at the road.

'Can't you sleep?

Normally, I would have been asleep by now. Especially Jeannette, like Magda, is fast asleep.

The others are probably already asleep.

After the festival, everyone had gone home without cleaning up. They must have been tired.

Estella and Loretta both said they would go home early and rest today.

Magda, too, seemed to have jumped into bed and gone to sleep as soon as she got back to her room.

All the stores had sold out faster than they had expected, and they had sold out faster than they had planned.

All the stores were out of stock, and the festival was brought to an end earlier than planned.

Even after the stores were closed, some customers seemed to be walking along the brightly lit, fantastic street, but these customers had already disappeared.

I thought that the city had fallen asleep in the silence. ......

My heart jumped a little at such a gesture.

'No, well, ......, I just thought it was over.'

'Yashiro-san, you've been working hard for a long time.'

'You're the one who was working hard.

'I've been working as usual.

That's not true.

Recently, you've been following up on the holes left by me and Loretta. He moved more than others, worked more than others, and smiled more than others.

Today, he must have been running around all the time, dealing with a never-ending stream of customers, and didn't even have time to take a break.

Even though there was a lively festival going on right in front of him, he couldn't even look around to see it.

...... On the other hand, he might have done something wrong.

I was hoping to give Jeannette, who can't go out, something unusual, but ...... it's right next to her but she can't go see it, and because of that unusualness, I've tied Jeannette to the store.

Ginette has always been on the side of entertaining, not enjoying.

'It was fun, wasn't it, the festival?

I'm sure I didn't say it out loud, but Ginette said it firmly, as if to deny my thoughts.

'Did you have fun?

'Yes. Very much.'

'No, but ...... you were in the store the whole time, weren't you?You didn't get to go around the festival.'

'That's true, but ......'

He lifted the corners of his mouth and smiled as if he couldn't contain his overflowing emotions.

'It was so lively, everyone was smiling so much and it was ...... so much fun!

When he sees people enjoying themselves, he calls it fun.

Isn't this guy really some kind of fairy or angel?

'Didn't you want to look around too?Especially if you heard the customers talking about it.'

'Mm-hmm ......'

I didn't understand why he was smiling here.

And when I asked him what he meant, he still didn't understand.

'That's because of you, Yashiro-san.

What did I do to deserve this?

Jeannette smiled happily and told me with a twinkle in her eye, as if she were a naughty child revealing her best kept secret.

She told me the true nature of the enjoyment she had been feeling all day.

'A customer was talking to me while taking a break. 'The baby sponge cake was delicious,' 'I want to eat another frankfurter,' 'The grilled squid is addictive,' and 'I'm addicted to potato butter.

After saying all that, the eyes that seemed to ask, 'Don't you understand yet? He turned to me with a questioning look in his eyes.

When I was puzzled, Ginette smiled even more happily and said the rest as if to say, 'It's special.

'I know all about it,' she said.

He opens his hands and turns his gaze to the sunlit pavilion.

'Because all of them were made by Yashiro-san here.

It's true that most of the food that I've just named ......, or more specifically, most of the food that I've exhibited at this festival, have been things that I've mentioned or taught to someone else.

I went around giving advice to all the restaurants because they were all struggling with the "eat around" requirement. Then, I decided that words alone were not enough, so I made a prototype at the Sunlit Pavilion.

Of course, Jeannette was there, and she had tasted every dish at least once.

'Just thinking in my mind, "Oh, I've eaten that before," or "That's delicious, isn't it?" made me feel as if I had been around the festival with her.

'It's not just a feeling.

I think there's a difference between knowing something as knowledge and actually seeing it.

'And besides...'

In the event that you're not sure what to do, you can always ask for help.

It's a rare look for Jeannette, a patronizing look, like 'I can't help it, I'll teach you'. This guy makes this kind of face, too. It's refreshing.

'I walked down that road. In the middle of the road.'

'Ah, ......'.

Indeed, Ginette is walking through the festival grounds.

In the middle of the street, unobstructed, slow, slow, slow.

'The procession of lights, it was beautiful.

'Huh!...... Oh, thank you so much.

I praised the march of the lights as beautiful, but somehow Ginette's face turned bright red.

...... Well, Jeannette was also ............ beautiful, but...

A strange atmosphere is flowing.

We looked away from each other and fell into silence for a while.

It was not a reassuring silence,......, but something that tickled me strangely.

'Oh, um. I'm looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Ginette, as if she couldn't take it anymore, brought up the subject.

'Oh, the launch, huh?

Tomorrow, we're going to take a day off from the Sunlit Pavilion and have a launch party with all the people involved in this festival.

You're not invited, so you'll have to pay the full price.

Furthermore, since the scope of "those who were involved in this festival" extends to "those who participated as guests", the launch is basically open to everyone.

...... In other words, it was not a vacation at all.

A lot of acquaintances get together and have dinner at the Sunlit Pavilion. It's a usual thing.

'You, too, should take a break once in a while and stretch your wings.

'You're off tomorrow, aren't you?

No, that's why ...... you're supposed to be moving around.

I'm going to have to force you to take a break somewhere.

You'll be able to find a lot of people who are interested in your company.

...... If you say something like that, there's nothing I can do.

I can't take away your fun. ...... Then there is another way: ............

'Are you sure you don't need to sleep?

'Actually, I fell asleep a little while ago. When I got back to my room, I was conscious. ......'

He scratches his head and smiles at me with an unclouded smile.

'So I'm feeling a little better now.

'I see.

Then a little more ...... is good for you, right?

'Would you like to walk around?'

'Huh?'

'Just a little ...... now, you've got the whole place to yourself.'

With that, he pointed with his chin to the light-filled path.

Ginette's face instantly lit up, and she smiled with such joy that I could almost see the happiness welling up and spewing out of her.

'Yes!I want to walk!

I don't think it's something to be so happy about, but ...... this road is going to be like this from now on.

'Then let's go.

'Yes.'

Ginette and I left the sunlit pavilion side by side.

Glowing bricks were placed at even intervals at both ends of the path, reducing the light that had accumulated during the day to the darkness of the night.

As expected, the amount of light is a little low. The light will weaken around dawn. It seems that Wendy and Theron have adjusted the light to last just one night.

I trudge along the path I take every morning to deliver the donations to the church.

There's nothing there. Just a lot of light.

I felt strangely uplifted, as if I were in a special place.

'It's beautiful.

Ginette muttered as we neared the church.

I thought about it for a while and ............ finally replied with a safe word.

'............ Oh, yeah.

I can't believe there are people in this world who can spout such a rude ...... line about you being better than me. ...... If you say something like that, my heart will shoot out of my nose with the destructive force of a wave motion cannon.

For the sake of world peace, I can't talk about such nonsense.

'It's a little ...... chilly.

I've already taken off my yukata and am wearing normal clothes, but it's still cold at night.

During the day, there was a lot of enthusiasm with the help of the crowd, but ...... the weather in this city is really hard to read.

I should have put on a jacket or something.

It's a good idea to keep your fingers warm by rubbing your hands together.

............ It's cold, isn't it?

I'm not sure what to make of it.

'Nah, man. ......'

'Yes?'

Yeah. I'm cold.

I'm cold too.

The fingertips in particular have small blood vessels, so it's easy for body heat to escape and hard to get warm.

However, if you cool your fingertips, the coldness of the outside air will penetrate into your body from there. ............ Well, in other words, it's kind of bad.

So it's better to have warm fingertips.

That's why. ......

'Would you like to hold my hand ............?'

'What ......?

'Oh, no!Look, ...... it's cold, so ......?'

'............ Yes.'

With a slightly embarrassed grin, Ginette quietly holds out her right hand.

'It's nice to meet you.

With such a word, my heart started to race as if it was going to sink into my diaphragm.

'It's nice to meet you too, ......!

I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm not going to ............ ......... take Jeannette's hand. I can't ......... take it off. ............ Why not, d*mn it!Folk dance!Folk dancing! Remember folk dancing!I'll hold your hand!Everybody hold hands!...... Oh, I got a little carried away with the folk dancing. ............ No, but!It's a ginette!Ginettes don't do that!I've never tried ......, so I don't know.

'Yashiro-san?'

'Oh, no. There's something about ............ this kind of thing that makes me ...... nervous.'

'What?

As soon as, Jeannette turned her face away and began to busily play with her bangs with her free left hand while keeping her right hand out.

'If you say so,......, it's even ............ more ...... embarrassing.

'Yeah, I see. ............ Sorry.'

That's right.

Ginette is also embarrassed.

In this kind of situation, the man should take the lead and make the connection smoothly, casually, and naturally.

............ Ahh!There is no such thing as a man in this world who can casually hold hands with a girl!

I'll hold your hand!

'What?'Oh, yes!Please go to .......'

I can't do it anymore, so I'll just let my momentum carry me.

This is no time to worry about your health.

You're in mortal danger due to hypothermia. This is a lifesaving measure. Just as artificial respiration is not erotic, there should be no ill feelings in holding hands here and now.

It would not be a crime to stick your tongue in artificial respiration. Then why don't we just hold hands!

Yeah!Let's hold hands!

It's not a good look to close your eyelids, so I bit my teeth and took Jeannette's hand.

............ soft.

'............ Oh, ............ it's warm... ...'

'Yeah, is it?If it's ......, well, that's good. ......'

He covered Jeannette's fingers with his hand as if to envelop them, and they started walking side by side again.

That's strange. I can't recognize the light path that was so visible just now,......, where am I walking now?I'm feeling strangely light-headed. ......

Then we walked in silence for a while, and before we knew it, we had reached the end of the road.

The west end. This is where the Lumberjacks' Guild branch and the city gates will be.

Then this road will become a road where more and more people come and go.

'So this is where the city gate will be.

'Yes. Magda's work will become easier and there will be more people. The Sunken Pavilion will get busier and busier.''

'What?'

Ginette raised her voice in surprise.

Oh, I see. Didn't I tell you?

'This road that connects the city gate and the main street will become an important street. People will come and go many times ...... or even dozens of times more than now. Then, many customers will come to the sunny pavilion facing the street.

'Yashiro-san. Don't tell me ......, that's why you're trying to attract the city gate and the woodcutter guild?

'Yeah,......, well,............, it's better to have a prosperous business. Even for me.

'............'

I was too embarrassed to turn to Ginette. So I didn't know what Ginette was thinking or how she looked at that moment.

The only thing I know for sure is that Ginette's hand was squeezed tightly as she held my hand.

'Thank you for .......'

It might be a miracle that I didn't miss the small murmur that was almost lost in the wind.

I'm glad. I'm glad you're happy.

Then the two of us start walking again, side by side, in silence, through the lighted streets of the night.

This time, I can see more than before.

You can hear the crunching of feet on the ground.

'There are still some stalls left, aren't there?

'Hmm?Oh, yeah. That's right. We'll clean up tomorrow. The brighter the better. It's not safe in the dark.

But maybe he's still a little nervous, or maybe he's talking too much, which is not like me.

Is it his hands?

I wonder if it's my hands.

d*mn, why are they so puffy? I work in the water every day.

...... I want to get all puffy like this.

I'm not sure what to do.

...... But of course I can't.

It's a bit frustrating that you can't plump even though you're touching it.

It's easier to touch than Magda's ears in the public eye,......, but why?

'It's almost over, isn't it?

That's what Ginette said as the church came into view.

......The end, huh.

It's weird to go back and forth one more time, isn't it? There's always tomorrow, and I need to get some sleep. ......

It's very regrettable.

'I was happy to be able to walk with Yashiro, but ...... I still feel a little regretful because of this.'

He raises his eyebrows and makes a troubled expression.

'I really wanted to do a little bit of eating and walking around.

It's not a mockery, it's not a resignation, it's a little bit of an indulgent smile that almost gets you.

You ...... can't be fair with that face. ...... Now I'm thinking about making something for you. ......... ...Oh, yeah.

I've got something for you then.

I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

...... I've made you sad before, you know.

'It's getting cold, but ............ here you go.

I handed him some food wrapped in paper from my bag.

Ginette lets go of the hand that was holding it and takes it with both hands.

...... Ah, my hands have fallen apart. ............

'Can I open it, please?

I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.

Is he more interested in the food than the hand, this guy. He's a real foodie.

'Here you go.

'Yes, sir.

With my permission, Jeannette opens the paper package.

'Ah!............ This is...'

It's Ginette's favorite food.

'It's Imagawa-yaki, isn't it?

Yes.

That's the Imagawa-yaki from the store Estella bought it from before.

Estella lured her to join the festival this time.

Last time, I ate more than half of it as a test. ...... Or maybe I ate more than 80% of it. ......

So I bought some to pay for it as well.

'Actually, I love ...... this Imagawa-yaki.'

'I know. It's your favorite, isn't it?We've talked about this before.

'......, you remembered me?

Well, it's an essential technique for a con man to remember the perfect taste of his opponent.

Therefore, I understand almost everything about Jeannette.

'I'll treat you to a proper hot meal next time, so please bear with me this time.

'Patience? ......'

Perhaps impressed, Jeannette stared at the Imagawa-yaki and refused to eat it.

I wonder if she likes it that much.

'............I'm glad.

It's a great way to make sure you're getting the most out of your money.

You like it so much ......?

If you are that happy with just one piece of Imagawa-yaki, you should probably take them on a trip.

This is a great way to make sure that you get the most out of your time with them.

...... And I'd like to see him do that, too.

I don't know. Why don't we take a break from the store and go on a trip sometime?

'A trip to ......?

'Yeah. I think you'll broaden your horizons and make new discoveries by experiencing a different land.

Japan's food culture has developed more than any other country by actively introducing new things to the world.

While cherishing tradition, we should also make the most of new perspectives.

'Yes,......, with Magda, Loretta, and your sisters around, you can open a store,......'.

............Hmm?

'If you guys say it's okay, I'd like to go. With Yashiro-san.'

............ When did you guys decide to go on a trip together?

I meant to say 'together'. ............

'But if that happens, please ...... that ............ again, hold my hand .......'

'--!

'Well, ...... I have a bit of a stinky streak, so ............ if I get lost in a strange town... ...I'm in trouble. ............'

'Ah ...... ah, yes ....... Lost is, yes, troubling. ......'

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............ A trip for the two of us. ............... ...I don't think I'll get permission. ......

I'm not sure what to say.

Ginette, too, is under some mysterious strain, and makes a strange noise. She seemed to be trying to change the subject.

I'm more than willing to go along with it.

...... Tension can kill you sometimes.

'May I have some of your Imagawa-yaki?

'Oh, oh, oh, oh!Eat, eat, eat!It's festival etiquette to eat as you go.

'Yes. Then ............ that?

I try to bite into an Imagawa-yaki, but stop halfway.

Jeannette is looking at me and tilting her head.

'Don't you have one for Yashiro-san?

'Yeah, mine is at .......'

I was so full when I bought this.

So I had no intention of buying one for myself.

'Eating alone is ......'.

'No, just eat it. I bought it for you.'

'But .................. Oh, yes!

'I've got a very good idea,' said Jeannette, turning to me with a smile that said, 'I've got a very good idea.

Then she lifted the Imagawa-yaki to her eye level and said something like this.

'Here is the Imagawa-yaki. Now, let's share this with me.

Oh come on, this is ......

While I was puzzled, Jeannette continued with a smile.

'However, Yashiro-san, please eat more than me.

This is the test I gave Jeannette before.

I showed her firsthand how gullible she was.

Now you want to give it back to me?

'I'll split it in half and hand you the one you choose, Yashiro. Is that okay?'

Perhaps you've been thinking about doing this to someone else since you were tricked into it.

But ............, what's the point of doing it to me?To the person who set it up.

But I guess it's fun to play along with Jeannette's antics.

'Yeah, that's fine.

'Hmm. Then we'll split it in half.

With that, Ginette split the Imagawa-yaki in half. The size of the halves became uneven, with the right side becoming larger.

'Yes, sir. Which one is it?

She holds out her two hands with the Imagawa-yaki.

After I choose the larger one, I take a bite of that one and give it to him, and I will not be able to fulfill the condition of 'eating more than Jeannette'.

...... I miss this.

I'll take the big one then.

Thinking in my mind that this is a great service, I point to the larger one on the right.

Then Jeannette smiled happily and said, 'Snap! and took a bite of the larger piece of Imagawa-yaki.

As she chewed, Jeannette made an expression of satisfaction on her face.

And so, the Imagawa-yaki that was presented to me was clearly marked with ............ Ginette's teeth marks.

.................. Is that okay? ......

'I'm sorry, Yashiro. I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results.

'Prank was a success! ...... but ............

'...... are you sure?

'Yes?'

'If I eat this, ............ that ...... you put your mouth on this part, right...? ...?In other words, if I eat it, it will be ...... what you call it. ......'

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea. ......

'............ Huh!I'm sure you'll agree.I'm not sure what to do.

This is a great way to make sure that you are getting the most out of your investment.

'No, but before, I didn't care ............ about it.I'm not sure what to say.If I were to do a surprise ...... in front of you ............?

If I were a reporter on a surprise show, I would have said it without hesitation. That's the standard for such shows.

Yes, his name was Indirect Kissing.

'Aaah!I'm drooling!I got a little drool on me. ............ I can't let Yashiro eat this!

I'm not sure if it's because I'm a little nervous, but I'm pretty sure it's because I'm a little nervous.

'Mogumogu............ now, strange things will be erased from the world and ............ ............ ah'

You seem to have noticed, but I think you should be reminded of this.

'Failure to meet specified conditions: ...... I guess I'm unopposed.'

'Huh. .................. I'm in.'

So you've won again, after all.

Well, most ............

I'm already down to zero life.

Ginette......

That's not fair, that's a foul ............

Of course she's cute. ...... d*mn.

I couldn't sleep that day, even though my life was zero and I was exhausted from the festival,.......