As extra time handed, extra individuals acquired into the prepare. I had anticipated this to some extent, however the quantity of individuals nonetheless exceeded my expectations. When the prepare arrived at our drop-off station, each the platform and the doorway had been crammed to the brim with individuals.

Usually, there could be approach fewer individuals than this, however then once more, this was my first time going to a firework competition. I suppose this many individuals had been regular?noVe-1B-In

“Alright, let’s get off first. Seki and I’ll exit first and the remainder of you’ll comply with behind us. Don’t get separated from us, okay?”

“Reiji, you’ll keep within the center, okay? Maki-kun, I’m sorry, however please watch our backs.”

“Okay. I’ll do my finest so I received’t get separated from everybody.”

The second the prepare’s door opened, the wave of individuals pushed us from behind. Riku-san and Nozomu, who had been a head taller than everybody, led our group on the forefront, adopted by Reiji-kun, Shizuku-san, Umi and Nitta-san. In the meantime, I used to be on the very again.

We adopted the attendance’s directions to stroll slowly to the ticket gate.

“Whoops!”

As we had been strolling collectively like that, somebody immediately shoved me from behind and I virtually fell on everybody’s again. Whereas ‘strolling slowly’ was a simple instruction to comply with, when there have been this many individuals, it grew to become fairly a problem to not have accidents like this.

In any case, I put extra power into my legs to stop my physique from falling on Umi’s again.

“Are you okay, Maki? You’ll be able to lean on me if you want.”

“I’m high quality. Simply keep watch over Reiji-kun, okay?”

“Okay, however you must maintain my hand, simply in case.”

“Positive… Additionally, sorry, my hand is slightly sweaty.”

“Hehe, it’s high quality. I’m used to it.”

We clasped our palms in a lover’s maintain so we wouldn’t get separated.

The sheer quantity of individuals round me made me really feel nauseous, however I managed to distract myself by focusing my gaze on Umi’s nape. I knew she’d scold me for this later, however contemplating the circumstances, I hope that she might let it slide.

All of us walked collectively intently by way of the wave of individuals towards the ticket gate. After a couple of minutes, we managed to flee from that sea of individuals and exited the station.

From there, we walked for one more couple of minutes earlier than lastly arriving at our vacation spot.

“We went out of our approach to depart an hour earlier than the push hour and we nonetheless needed to take care of that form of crowd…”

“Final 12 months’s competition was held up because of the climate, so there are extra individuals than regular this 12 months. I’ve already anticipated this to occur. By the best way, you got here right here final 12 months, proper, Nina?”

“Yeah, with my ex. It looks like the variety of firms who sponsored the occasion had elevated in comparison with final 12 months, so the occasion shall be significantly larger.”

Alongside the best way to the venue, there was a long-line of stalls filling all sides of the highway. On the opposite facet of the river, there was a stage arrange, in all probability they invited some bands to carry out there whereas the competition was ongoing.

In comparison with the competition Umi and I went to yesterday, this one was approach larger in scale, in all probability as a result of virtually the entire city organized it.

Personally although, I most well-liked the smaller competition.

“Mother, I’m hungry!”

“Ah, now that I give it some thought, it’s virtually supper time, isn’t it? Since we’re all right here and there’s nonetheless a while earlier than the competition begins, why don’t everybody seize a chew first? I’ll pay in your meals, so don’t maintain again!”

“You’re so beneficiant, Shimizu-san, however are you certain? Like my physique suggests, I eat lots, you already know? Except for me, the others additionally are likely to eat lots.”

Nozomu was proper. We normally had been fairly reserved when there have been different individuals round, however right here we wouldn’t want to fret about different individuals’s gazes. We might empty all of the stalls right here if we acquired the prospect to.

Listening to his phrases, Riku-san and Shizuku-san pulled out a number of ten thousand yen payments from their wallets.

“You guys don’t want to carry again, I’ve ready sufficient cash for everybody, proper, Rikkun?”

“Yeah. I imply, there’s no approach we’ll let excessive schoolers such as you all spend your cash right here. I used to be there, I do know your small allowances and funds out of your part-time jobs wouldn’t be sufficient. I’ve labored fairly exhausting currently, so I’ve saved sufficient cash to get by even when I spend most of it right here for you guys.”

“…Why out of a sudden? You’ve by no means handled me to something earlier than this.”

“Since you by no means requested. Additionally, good riddance that I don’t have to take care of you each day anymore.”

“What’s your downside?!”

“C-C’mon, Umi, Riku-san, we’re nonetheless in a public place, you already know?”

As normal, I grew to become a mediator between these two. After that little occasion was achieved, everybody break up as much as get their meals and drinks earlier than going to the consuming area they supplied close to the venue.

Riku-san, Shizuku-san and Reiji-kun had been assigned to get everybody’s drink. As for the meals, we break up into two teams; Umi and I, Nozomu and Nitta-san. Each teams would go and get meals from completely different areas.

“Let’s go, Maki.”

“Mm.”

After promising one another to regroup in entrance of the consuming area’s signboard, everybody break up up. Umi and I headed to the meals stalls.

There have been numerous stalls right here, various from the staple competition meals like yakisoba, takoyaki and ikayaki to karaage, beef skewers, kebabs and sweets. Truthfully, every thing smelled so good, I used to be having hassle selecting which one I should purchase.

Additionally, there was an extended line in entrance of each one of many stalls.

“Which one do you wish to eat, Maki? Since my brother’s the one paying, why don’t we get that A5 wagyu kalbi over there?”

“Have mercy, he’s your personal brother. Why don’t we get that marbled meat as an alternative? They solely promote it for 2 thousand yen a bit.”

“You’re much more cruel than me.”

“I used to be kidding. Reiji-kun is with us, so we must always get one thing that’s simpler to eat.”

“Okay.”

After a quick dialogue, the 2 of us determined to hitch the road in entrance of the kebab stall. They provided an affordable worth for a competition meals, it appeared prefer it had loads of meat and greens in it and the dimensions was additionally significantly large. With this type of crowd, if we had been to attempt to get a couple of form of meals, we wouldn’t get it achieved till they began doing fireworks, so it’d be higher if we acquired one large meals that lined all of the bases like this.

“Nonetheless, the crowds are one thing else right here, and the ambiance is much more so. Yesterday’s competition was already fairly one thing however this one’s on a complete nother stage.”

“It’s as a result of there’s so many individuals right here, I suppose.”

I regarded round whereas ready within the line. Most people round us gave the impression to be having a very good time, laughing and chatting. A few of them had been speaking concerning the competition and a few of them had been like us, having enjoyable whereas joking round with their associates.

Whereas I nonetheless had hassle getting used to a crowd this dimension, the brilliant ambiance made me really feel higher about the entire thing. Fact to be advised, after we had been on the prepare, the crowds made me remorse all my life selections, however after seeing all this, I suppose it made that horrible expertise worthwhile…

Guess I might sit up for having enjoyable on this competition, contemplating that this is able to be my first expertise and all.

“Thanks for listening to my selfishness, Umi. I can already inform that I’ll be having enjoyable in the present day.”

“Actually? Hehe, you’re welcome.”

“Why are you imitating the best way I converse?”

“It’s since you contaminated me~ Who advised you to stay with me always~?”

“So, are you saying that it’s my fault?”

We waited for our flip to return whereas laughing and joking to one another.

When it lastly got here, we ordered sufficient kebab for all of us and a few facet dishes that regarded tasty sufficient just like the bite-sized rooster they had been promoting. After we had been achieved, we moved away to a ready line close by.

It took them twenty minutes to make our order and one other ten minutes for us to obtain it.

I knew that ready in line for this lengthy was regular because of the dimension of the crowds, however that didn’t imply it wasn’t tiring. I heard that in among the giant theme parks, it was a typical factor to attend for hours in line, a revelation that made me each scared and repulsed.

“Right here, watch out, okay? Don’t let it spill.”

“Okay. Let’s return.”

We instantly took an image of the meals we purchased and despatched it to the group chat to inform the remainder of our group. Then, with all this meals in hand, we made our approach by way of the crowds to the signboard the place we promised to collect.

In fact, we needed to bow our heads to make the individuals in entrance of us give approach to us. We additionally needed to endure their occasional aggravated gazes.

Whereas this wasn’t a nasty factor as a result of we each had been doing this in order that we might have a pleasant dinner with everybody, these gazes made me really feel slightly acutely aware. I knew I shouldn’t thoughts them an excessive amount of although.

There was solely half an hour left earlier than the fireworks went off, however truthfully, I already felt drained.

“…By the best way, Umi, how’s everybody doing? Are they achieved shopping for every thing? Additionally, what about Amami—”

“…”

“Umi? What’s mistaken?”

I circled to have a look at Umi, who was strolling beside me.

Since I didn’t hear her response, I assumed she was in all probability getting drained or one thing.

“H-Huh?”

That was after I seen that she wasn’t there.

…Not solely that, I gave the impression to be in an unfamiliar place. I used to be nonetheless contained in the venue, however I couldn’t even see the association of stalls the place I purchased all this meals in my palms. All of the landmarks and signposts had been fully completely different from what I’ve seen earlier than.

“A-Am I misplaced…?”

Since each of Umi and mine palms had been full, we couldn’t maintain one another’s palms. Guess that was the explanation why I in some way misplaced my approach…