Volume 1 - CH 32

After that, they enjoyed the festival by playing games such as ring toss, target shooting, and yo-yo scooping.

When they finished playing, they started to get a little hungry.

“The yakisoba and takoyaki at these places look delicious, don’t they?”

“Yes, they do ……. It smells good.”

Driven by the atmosphere, the smell, and the sound, they bought one yakisoba and one takoyaki.

Then they sat down on the stairs near a nearby shrine.

They shared half of it with each other.　

Though Yuzuru’s portion was a bit larger than Arisa’s since Arisa was a small eater.

The yakisoba looked very unhealthy, covered in artificial flavorings.

It was a little too salty, and some parts were slightly burnt and crispy, but that was also a good thing.

Of course, it’s only delicious when you eat them in a festival-like setting while enjoying the atmosphere.

The takoyaki had a squishy dough and was covered in sauce.

It’s also a little too salty.

The octopus parts were not as much as they were expecting, but the available ones were bigger than they thought. So this takoyaki was a “hit” rather than “miss”.

Of course, it was at a festival.

“It’s delicious when you eat it at a festival, isn’t it? Well, I think 90% of it is the atmosphere.”

“Yes, it is…….  But the firepower of a teppan is hard to produce at home, and I’m sure it’s a taste you don’t get to have very often.” (TN: Teppan – takoyaki pan)

It was tasty, but it was still salty.

Yuzuru took a sip of the lemonade he had bought at the stall.

Incidentally, it was made by mixing lemon juice and syrup, adding ice, and pouring Mitsuya Cider into it.

When he thought about it calmly, he felt that 300 yen for this was expensive.  But he bought it because of the atmosphere.

The taste was not bad, but whether it was worth 300 yen is another story.

–On the other hand, Arisa, who doesn’t like carbonated drinks, sipped on orange juice.

It was in a container, not a PET bottle or Can, so it looked tasty.

But it’s probably just the way it looks.

“Takasegawa-san, that ……”

“Do you want to try soda?”

When Yuzuru asked her, Arisa gave a small nod.

“Yes, but you know, but it’s my first time trying it, so hurting too much is…”

“It’s already pretty well gone. It’s not that much.” (TN: they are talking about the carbonated content.)

Yuzuru said and handed a plastic cup to Arisa.

She put her glossy lips on the cup and took a sip.

“How is it?”

“It hurts a little, but it tastes good.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Then Yuzuru checked his watch.

It was only thirty minutes before the fireworks started.

He gathered up the trash from the yakisoba and takoyaki he had finished and stood up.

“We can see the fireworks from my house, and I think it will be more relaxing to watch them that way. So we should go home before then, what do you think?”

“I guess so……  I think it would be more beautiful to watch the fireworks from Takasegawa-san’s house, in terms of atmosphere.”

Arisa nodded her head in agreement.

The place where you can see the fireworks beautifully is crowded with people, so there is no sense of elegance.

However, it is a different story if you are two lovers who can create a world of their own.

“I think we can stop by at least one other place. …… What do you want to eat?”

“I think I saw a crepe shop on the way back to Takasegawa-san’s house. I’d like to try it.?

“That’s fine. Then let’s buy some crepes and go home.”

They went to the crepe shop on the way back to his house.

Yuzuru bought a blueberry crepe and Arisa a strawberry crepe.

As a matter of course, they shared a bite with each other.

Holding hands, they walked down the street eating their crepes.

It’s not a very refined thing to do, but it’s allowed only on festival days.

When they finished eating their crepes, they arrived home just in time.

It was getting quite dark.

When they went through the outer gate, ……

Woof, woof, woof, the sound of dogs once again could be heard.

It was a little scary to see their eyes glowing in the dark.

However, dogs can see well at night. So they immediately understood that it was Yuzuru and Arisa who had come.

Their tails were wagging wildly, and they approached with a vigor that made it seem as if they hadn’t seen each other in ten years.

They lightly stroked the four dogs, and then entered the house.

There were less than ten minutes left before the fireworks started.

Therefore, Yuzuru and Arisa sat down on the edge of the porch facing the fireworks.

By the way, Ayumi, who judged on her own not to disturb them, was sitting about ten meters away from them.

Although Yuzuru and Arisa are not lovers,……, but if they were real lovers, Yuzuru would have thanked Ayumi.

This is a girl who can take care of things when they need to be taken care of.

And it’s not like she was all alone and lonely.

“Kya…Don’t lick me! You’re such a helpless child.”

She was playing with two dogs, a Spanish Mastiff and an English Mastiff.

They had recently graduated from puppyhood and were still in the prime of their lives.

“That’s amazing.”

“For all intents and purposes, it’s a child being attacked by a predator.”

Both of them are mastiffs, with a body that is more than half the height of Ayumi’s, more than her height when standing up, and almost twice her weight.

It must be hard just to keep up with them.

In the meantime, Ayumi’s body was turned over.

Her shorts were peeking out from between her long white legs.

It’s no fun to look at your sister’s underpants, so Yuzuru shifted his gaze to Arisa.

“Is it okay if you don’t help her?”

“They’ve been trained to wait when you tell them to wait, so don’t worry. I’m sure Ayumi likes to do it.”

But it’s only a matter of time before she told them to wait.

As Yuzuru was thinking this, he heard his mother’s voice calling him from the kitchen.

“I’ll be back in a minute.”

“Have a safe trip”

As he walked to the kitchen, he smelled something sweet.

“Watermelon?”

Yuzuru muttered, and Sayori, holding a plate in her hand, nodded.

She handed the large plate to Yuzuru.　

It was cut into small dice, probably to avoid staining their yukata.

“Yes, this is for Yuzuru and Arisa-chan. Tell Ayumi to come, too. And if she is touching the dog, make sure she washes her hands first.”

“Okay.”

He carried two plates to the porch.

When he arrived, the two dogs were already away from Ayumi.

They looked absent-minded and dreary.

They must have been told off by Ayumi.

“Hey, Ayumi.”

“Ah, Niisan? What’s up? …… oh, that’s a watermelon.”

“This is for us. Wash your hands first. Then go get your own from mother.”

“Yes, ~”

Ayumi ran along the edge, flapping her arms.

Even though it is a pet dog, a dirty thing is a dirty thing.

After seeing Ayumi off, Yuzuru went over to Arisa.

“Thanks for waiting, Yukishiro.”

“Yes. Thank you for the watermelon.”

They put the watermelon on the edge and picked it together using toothpicks.

“This watermelon is very sweet and delicious.”

“Yes, it is.”

Perhaps attracted by the smell of the watermelon, two dogs, a Spanish Mastiff and an English Mastiff, came to their feet.

Two more dogs, an Akita and a German Shepherd, approached them, wagging their tails.

“Do you think we’re being targeted?”

Arisa hurriedly grabbed a plate and raised it to her chest level.

If four of them attacked, they would take the watermelon in a flash.

Yuzuru, on the other hand, remained calm.

“We keep separate plates for people’s food and dog’s food, and I’m sure they know what they’re doing. Besides, I’m sure Ayumi or my mother will bring the dog food soon.”

Just as Yuzuru had said, Ayumi and Sayori appeared with the plates.

What Ayumi is holding is probably a watermelon for herself.

Sayori placed her plate a little farther away from the edge, put her fingers in her mouth, and whistled.

Then the four dogs that had gathered around Yuzuru and Arisa quickly ran to Sayori.

“Yes, wait!　Good boys. I’ll give it to you now.”

Ayumi and Sayori placed a large cut watermelon in front of the dogs.

Then they made him wait for about five seconds.

“Okay.”

When Sayori gave her permission, the four dogs all started eating the watermelon at once.

Ayumi sat directly on the edge and started eating her watermelon.

–Sayori, on the other hand, winked at Yuzuru for some reason and then left for the kitchen.

“They are well-disciplined, aren’t they?”

“RIght?　I’m sure the dog is the best.”

“No, I think cats are the best.”

“…… Is that non-negotiable?”

“Non-negotiable.”

Cats are cute, sure.

But they can’t be ordered to wait or sit.

He thought the best partner for humans is a dog.

Just as Yuzuru was about to expand on his theory.

There was a loud noise from the sky.

When he looked up, he saw beautiful fireworks lighting up the night sky.