T/N: This chapter is kinda lengthy and I used to be having some troubles irl, so I may solely TL one chap. I’ll launch an additional one later to make it up. Anyway, get pleasure from! Additionally, thanks Thiranoyama for the espresso!n-/o–V)-e/)l.-b..I(.n

As we continued on our method whereas chatting, we quickly got here to an open space. It appeared like this was the precise high of the hill. A fence had been arrange right here to stop folks from falling down.

There have been no benches or something of the type right here. Umi stated that the folks of the shrine didn’t prohibit entry to this space. They wouldn’t do something until we precipitated them troubles like littering all over the place or being too loud.

“Over there, Maki. It’s a bit of darkish proper now, however you’ll be able to see the sky from right here.”

“You’re proper… We will see the riverbed from right here too… Huh, may it’s? The explanation we got here right here actually is for tomorrow?”

“I instructed you~ After I instructed my mother that we’re going to see the Fireworks Pageant, she instructed me about this place. She stated that that is the place she went to wish for my protected beginning a bit of earlier than I used to be born.”

I regarded towards the path Umi pointed at. There was a big river which mirrored the lights coming from the varied buildings on its floor. It was the identical river the place the Fireworks Pageant could be held.

The pageant was the one large-scale occasion this city had, so I had been bracing myself for the inevitability that was being crushed by the crowds of individuals. Nonetheless, if we had been to observe the pageant from right here… It was a distance away from the riverbank, so it wouldn’t be superb to come back right here for individuals who needed to see the fireworks up shut, however we must always have the ability to watch all the factor from right here. Since there wouldn’t be anybody else who’d come right here, the 5 of us would have the ability to watch the fireworks in peace.

Additionally, when Umi and I had been strolling by way of the shrine, I managed to search out out that apart from promoting charms for childbirth, they had been additionally promoting charms for a profitable examination. It wouldn’t be a nasty thought for us to go to the shrine whereas we had been at it.

“It’s getting a bit of chilly… Maki, can I snuggle nearer to you?”

“Mhm. Additionally, you’ll be able to put on my shirt. It’s a 3⁄4 sleeve shirt nevertheless it’s higher than nothing.”

“Thanks… Hehe… I by no means anticipated I’d get to put on your shirt in a spot like this~ It seems to be a bit of lame although~”

“Effectively, I didn’t anticipate that we’d come right here within the first place. Additionally, for those who don’t prefer it, give it again to me.”

“I by no means stated I don’t prefer it~”

Due to the darkness, I could not inform what sort of expression she had. However, it was apparent from her tone that she was pleased.

…I simply hope that she may cease sniffing on that shirt’s collar… I truly received goosebumps from seeing that…

“, Umi? It is a good place.”

“Proper? That is my first time coming right here so it stunned me too. The air is clear and the place is quiet~ Effectively, we wouldn’t be the one ones right here tomorrow, so it won’t be as quiet.”

Watching the fireworks whereas being surrounded by a crowd of individuals didn’t sound too dangerous, however actually, watching it from a quiet place like this suited me higher.

Tomorrow, our normal group of 5 would come right here with us, so who is aware of how rowdy it might get in comparison with this second.

I attempted to think about Umi and I right here by ourselves, watching the fireworks… Wait, no, if I had been to proceed it, I’d begin considering in that path once more.

“Ah, you might be about to suppose one thing perverted once more.”

“How did you—? Are you certain that you simply’re the one one who’d discover me doing one thing like this? Are you certain that no different individuals are conscious of my behavior or whatnot?”

“Don’t fear about it, until they’re watching your face carefully frequently, they received’t know. If you happen to nonetheless doubt me, why don’t you ask your mom? She may have the ability to inform that you simply’re fascinated with one thing bizarre, however she received’t know the main points.”

“…The small print…?”

It appeared like this matter went deeper than I believed.

…I’m wondering how far Umi may learn my ideas?

Actually, I didn’t plan on conserving any secrets and techniques from her, nevertheless it appeared like if I had been to really do it sooner or later, she’d have the ability to inform anyway.

As anticipated, I used to be no match for her.

After spending extra time collectively, cuddling whereas admiring the starry sky, we headed again to the way in which we got here, the shrine’s grounds.

Half an hour had handed whereas we had been flirting in that place. The flame had decreased by half of its authentic dimension and the ambiance of the place had calmed down a bit of.

“Maki, whereas we’re right here, why don’t we make a prayer? We didn’t get to have a correct hatsumode this 12 months since you had been sick, proper?” (T/N: Hatsumode is the primary shrine go to on the brand new 12 months. It’s a practice for the Japanese that they make a go to to a shrine on the primary few days of the 12 months to wish.)

“Good thought. Let’s purchase some charms too. I nonetheless have leftover cash, we will get one for my mother and one to your mother too.”

“…By the way in which, what sort of allure ought to we get? Educational success? Love? Well being? Or possibly, a protected childbirth?”

“It’s actually laborious to select from these three choices… It isn’t like we may simply get all three both…”

“Hey, don’t ignore the apparent one! Don’t belittle the price of that allure for the brand new mothers!”

“No matter you say.”

…Ultimately, I’d be prepared for that…

Each financially and mentally…

“…Anyway, we must always purchase three charms for good well being. Well being is crucial one out of the opposite two choices anyway.”

“Okay. We’ll purchase them after we’re carried out with our prayers, then we’ll go house.”

With that, we went to the road for the prayer and ended our very, very late hatsumode.

As we gave our providing and joined our arms collectively, I took a look at Umi’s aspect profile. Because of the pageant as a background, she regarded even prettier than normal.

As soon as once more, I received reminded of how cute my girlfriend was.

“Hm? What’s improper, Maki? Have you ever completed your prayer but?”

“Ah, yeah, I’ve. It’s been some time since I’ve carried out this so I didn’t know what I ought to do whereas ready for you.”

“…You’ll be able to simply be trustworthy and inform me that you simply had been admiring my face.”

“…You aren’t improper.”

“Hehe, you’re as cute as all the time, Maki~ Right here, right here~”

“Cease poking my cheeks!”

Although we had been going out for some time, there have been issues that stayed the identical. After that, we proceeded to purchase the charms as deliberate and left the shrine.

Though we solely stayed for an hour, it was the primary time in a protracted whereas that we had been capable of have a date outdoors of our properties.

Whereas spending our time enjoyable at house collectively with out worrying about something could be one of the best factor to do, it nonetheless felt good to benefit from the cool night time breeze, leisurely watching the surroundings outdoors whereas holding one another’s arms.

There was nonetheless time earlier than our curfew, but when we had been to return to my place and proceed our date, we’d find yourself lacking it, so we determined to go to Umi’s place as a substitute.

On our method house, we rode the final bus for the night time. There have been extra folks in comparison with the earlier time. A number of seats had been out there, however there weren’t any methods for us to sit down aspect by aspect, so we ended up standing up, with me holding the bus strap and Umi leaning on me.

“How was it, Maki? I do know I dragged you outdoors on quick discover, however did you have got enjoyable?”

“Yeah. It’s my first time going to a pageant with another person, it was enjoyable…”

Due to my dad’s work, we needed to transfer from metropolis to metropolis. My mother and I didn’t exit collectively that always once I was a baby, so it felt refreshing to be among the many crowds in that pageant.

The foul scent and the shaking of the bus that I hadn’t felt for some time. The nice and cozy mild that lit up the pageant floor. The style of the thick yakisoba and takoyaki sauce…

And extra importantly, the heat of the woman subsequent to me. This might be a reminiscence that I’d all the time cherish even sooner or later.

…However, there was one factor that stored persisting in my thoughts. A egocentric thought that I couldn’t do away with.

“…Umi. Concerning the pageant tomorrow…”

“Hm?”

“…What about we watch it from the pageant venue as a substitute?”

“Huh?”

At that second, a touch of unease appeared on Umi’s smiling face.

It was comprehensible that she’d react like that. The explanation why she introduced me right here was to test this place out for tomorrow. I had been giving her a constructive response but I abruptly stated these phrases to her.

“Ah, sorry, I wasn’t saying the place was dangerous or something, moderately, it feels too good to be true. The factor is… I don’t actually fancy the concept of everybody coming to that place…”

“…Are you saying that you really want us two to monopolize that place?”

“One thing like that.”

There was little question that it’d be nice if we had been to go watch the fireworks with everybody in that place. We may keep away from the crowds, which meant we wouldn’t get into bother. Objectively talking, watching from that place was higher than going to the venue itself.

However, when Umi and I had been stargazing only a whereas in the past, one thing got here to my thoughts…

A want to maintain that place a secret only for the 2 of us.

“Since we’ve already deliberate issues out with everybody, we couldn’t do it tomorrow, however there must be one other alternative subsequent 12 months, or the 12 months after that…”

“If you happen to say so, I’m superb with that, Maki, however, which means now we have to organize ourselves for some troubles tomorrow. The practice is unquestionably going to be packed. Within the venue itself, if we aren’t cautious, we will get separated from everybody. We’d even be unable to observe the fireworks due to the crowds.”

“…I assume you’re proper…”

Even when the 5 of us had been cautious sufficient, there was no assure that we wouldn’t get into bother. Because it was an enormous occasion, they’d undoubtedly put up a safety measure for it, however there have been just a few issues that the safety could not deal with.

For the three ladies particularly, they’d undoubtedly get referred to as out by somebody like again after we had been going to the pool.

Whereas that wouldn’t occur if Nozomu had been there, if certainly one of them received separated from the remainder, it might be a unique story.

“…Sorry, neglect about what I simply stated.”

“Don’t be. I used to be exaggerating issues a bit of. So long as we’re cautious, we must be superb.”

“I do know, however I kinda realized that I used to be a bit of too egocentric.”

Although my time with Umi was extra necessary to me than the rest, that didn’t imply I needed to ignore everybody’s emotions for my selfishness.

“I see. Then, I’ll inform everybody to come back right here tomorrow. Is that okay with you?”

“Yeah. Sorry for saying one thing bizarre.”

“Don’t fear about it. I do know greater than anybody else that you simply’re a egocentric child, Maki-chan~”

“…Now we’re again to treating me like a baby once more.”

“Am I improper although? Like, the opposite day you had been holding on my chest—”

“Let’s proceed this dialog after we get off the bus, okay?”

Our first outing in a protracted whereas ended with a observe of embarrassment for me. With that, the primary night time of the weekend was coming to an finish.

I’m wondering what is going to occur through the pageant tomorrow?

Hopefully, all the things will finish with none accident.