CH 126

I think that the expression “summer” is relatively personal.

In Japan, the four seasons are separated by numbers, but in reality, it is more of a feeling.

Some people call it summer when July arrives, while others call it summer when they see the temperature rise.

For some people, the opening of the swimming pool is summer.

In fact, from the outside of the school building, I could hear the students shouting happily from the outdoor pool that we, the student council and a few others, had cleaned.

…Because it is a pool that we sweated to clean, and FOCUS ON THE LECTURE.

If anything, I’m one of those people who thinks summer is on its way when I feel the temperature rising, but there’s one particular occasion that makes me realize summer season even more.

It’s the fireworks festival.

This town is in the countryside and does not have any youth-oriented establishments, but I have to say that the fireworks here are magnificent.

Last year, I heard that there were a lot of spectators and the place was jam-packed with people.

Well, I was watching the fireworks from my yard, so I didn’t care about the crowds.

And this weekend.

This weekend, just as start their summer vacation starts, the fireworks show will be held.

It’s a big, once a year event, and since it’s the first day of summer vacation, not only high school students but also elementary and junior high school students come to see it.

To be honest, I don’t think I would want to step into a place that is so full with people that the word “crowd” seems to be the right word.

I shook my head, feeling a bit apologetic as Shizuku leaned forward to talk to me, with her eyes shining.

“No, …I don’t think I’ll be coming, because honestly, the crowd’s tough for me.”

Not car sickness or sea sickness, I think I’ll be getting crowd sickness.

I’m sure I’ll get some mental damage seeing people enjoying their youth.

Perhaps it’s the name of the fireworks display, or the atmosphere, but I feel that there are many people who get unnecessarily excited at this kind of event.

They’re more rowdy than usual and don’t seem to care about the others around them.

However, because it is held only once a year, it is rare, and many people want to go even though the contents are the same every year.

“O-oh, I see…”

“…”

Shizuku was clearly depressed, and Kirasaka seemed to be slightly depressed as well, although she didn’t say so.

I can’t help but feel it because the gaze from next to me has turned cold.

The atmosphere was awkward, so I tried to change the topic which I shouldn’t have.

“Well, I’ll go shopping with Kaede after school and watch it from our garden.”

I was thinking of Kaede at home, but when I told the two girls, their expressions changed drastically

Shizuku brightens her expression and smiled, and Kirasaka’s mouth distorted slightly.

That’s the way she smiles when she’s planning to do something.

As I was becoming more alert and paid attention to their movements, Shizuku brought up a suggestion.

“So why don’t we each bring our own and rent Minato-kun’s garden to watch the fireworks?”

“At my house…?”

“Yes! Then there won’t be many people and we can enjoy it without worrying about our surroundings!”

It’s true that if it’s just a small group of people gathering at my house to watch fireworks, It wouldn’t be that bad.

In other words, I wouldn’t have to leave the house, and I could avoid the hassle of going out in the crowd.

To tell you the truth, I was planning to stay at home, watch the fireworks, and then go back inside to relax.

At least, it was much doable than being dragged outside.

“…I’ll have to go home and talk to Kaede first.”

However, I can’t answer this without the permission of Kaede, who is in charge of all the household matters in the Shinra household.

Let’s talk to her at dinner tonight.

I have a rough idea of how it’ll go, but I still need to confirm it.

Having a stranger come to your house unannounced can be stressful for the people who live there.

It would be a negative point from the big brother’s point of view, such as giving stress to his sister.

Shizuku nodded her head and walked away from our table, satisfied with my words.　

I guess she was going to decline the invitation to the fireworks party.

Shizuku has been receiving invitations to fireworks shows everywhere she goes lately.

That’s probably why she wants to tell the other students that she has plans early and make them give up on her.

This is a problem that comes with overly popular students.

The same can be said for Yuuto and, essentially, Kirasaka.

Yuuto is currently in an ongoing invitation rush, and Kirasaka firmly refuses all the invitations due to her personality. Even if she is spoken to in the first place, the boys give up early after they are refused.

I wonder if it’s Shizuku’s kindness at fault that people refuse to leave her until the reason is confirmed.

If it were me, I would have turned them down immediately.

If I can imagine myself doing the same as that of Shizuku, I’m seriously ill.

As I watched Shizuku bowing to everyone with a relieved expression on her face, Kirasaka next to me asked me a question.

“If I’m going to visit Shinra’s house, should I prepare something?”

“You should at least check in advance …I was sure you are going to announce just when you arrive.”

I’m sure she’s already decided what she’s going to do.

She’ll call a weird chef, arrange high-quality meat, etcetera etcetera.

Kirasaka smiled and answered the question without me even having to ask.

“This time, I want to experience a normal festival …we can buy food from a normal stall and eat together.”

“It’s not a bad idea to …buy food from stalls.”

“Ara, I’m looking forward to it.”

It may be an unknown taste to her.

I’m sure she doesn’t know about the fireworks displays that ordinary high school students like us put on every year.

This may be due to her personality, which is why she has never participated in this kind of event, or it may be due to family issues.

For example …for example…

…I cannot think of much of a reason.

Anyway, she wanted to enjoy a normal festival this year.

I’m not sure if she’ll be able to, but she’s the one who would, so I guess there isn’t a problem.

However, after listening to Kirasaka’s words, I had a thought.

“Do you like festivals…”

When was the last time she would’ve thought the festivals to be fun?

Maybe it was years ago, so long ago that it’s even hard to remember, or maybe she has never found a festival fun at all.

I wondered if this year’s festival would be fun for her.

These thoughts kept repeating themselves in my head.