kscans

Chapter 533 - Night Breeze, Sparks, and the Sound of Waves

"—Alright, pop quiz. After 'Ta-ma-yaaa,' what comes next?"

"…'Kagi-ya,' right?"

"Exactly, the familiar shouts for fireworks. But what's the origin of those calls?"

"I don't know."

"Correct answer is, they were apparently the house names of two fireworks masters from the Edo period, Tamaya and Kagiya."

"House names."

"Basically, it's like a store name."

"…If they were fireworks makers, why was one named Kagiya (Key Shop)?"

"Beats me. I'd like to know that myself."

"Don't go showing off your shallow knowledge with a smug look."

Night, during the post-dinner recreation time as had become the custom.

I wasn't just throwing shallow trivia at the handsome blond next to me for no reason; it was a topic appropriate for the occasion.

Our current location was the sandy beach outside, the wind calm, the weather perfect. To the BGM of the waves, we were adding the modest sound of crackling sparks for an event that was—

The personification of youth itself: a fireworks festival.

Hence, Irori and I weren't just standing around empty-handed. We were each equipped with a sparkler, spewing out colorful sparks.

Well, I guess you could say it's kind of surreal, and maybe the image of us just standing around idly would be less ridiculous. But I'm not accepting any comments on that.

It's not like we're forming a two-shot of two guys by choice…

"—If you do this, and this, and this… see? You can draw pictures and letters with the afterimage of the fire."

"…!"

"Wow…!"

One smug-faced, expressionless princess (an experienced veteran) was currently giving a lecture on writing with sparklers to two other young ladies (novices)—we were doing this so as not to disturb the three girls, who had been getting along famously since the start of the trip.

"Shouldn't you go join them? Right in the middle of it, literally."

"If I did that right now, wouldn't I get burned at the stake?"

Watching them having fun a short distance away, I casually batted away the gibe that flew from Irori's mouth.

I swear, I'm not chickening out. It's just that, setting aside our delicate relationships, seeing the three of them getting along so well is gratifying, heartwarming, and precious… even though I know they wouldn't consider me a nuisance, I just don't want to get in between them right now.

It's like I want to watch over them forever; for this moment, I'm fine with being part of the background.

"By the way, what are we going to do about that?"

"…Well, Goldow will probably take care of whatever's left over."

While my eyes feasted on a scene that was surely recording some of the highest eye-candy values in the world right now, I glanced over at the mountain of fireworks sitting beside us.

Every imaginable type of personal firework was piled up in a chaotic heap, but there was easily enough for a hundred people.

The instigator was Goldow, who had been out.

As soon as he returned, he boisterously dumped that mountain on us, shouting, "Souvenirs!!!" which was the reason for this impromptu fireworks festival… but there was no doubt we couldn't possibly use it all. Even if we played with them every day from now on, it would be impossible.

"It's not even the season yet, where did all this come from…?"

"Who knows. Maybe someone pawned off some dead stock on him."

Well, I'll gratefully enjoy what I can.

"Isn't this kind of scene usually the last event in both real life and fiction?"

"I don't know what you're basing that on… but well, we can just do it again on the last night. Every day, if you want."

"The charm, the emotion, the sentimentality would probably fade at an incredible rate with each time…"

Would someone like Sora-san, who's having so much fun over there in an age-appropriate way, want to do this over and over? If the main event was watching such a heartwarming scene, then perhaps a nightly fireworks festival wouldn't be so bad.

For the record, Goldow, the man who summoned the massive pile of fireworks, had once again departed, saying, "Gonna go for a drink at an acquaintance's place," as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Helena-san, who probably went along as his chaperone this time as well, was also absent.

As for Uni, he was sunk into a massage chair in the relaxation room, mumbling something like, "Maybe I'll go do some sparklers later." The chances of him escaping the clutches of that human-corrupting machine and appearing on the beach were probably around forty percent. I should probably check on him later to make sure he hasn't fallen asleep.

…Man, modern sparklers are amazing. The last time I remember touching these was in elementary school, but the ones these days last for a surprisingly long time—and just as I was marveling at that, mine died.

You fought well. Your brave figure has been seared into my memory.

"Whoops."

Suddenly, a vibration from my pocket. As I mourned the short life of my burnt-out comrade and laid him to rest in a bucket of water, I pulled out my phone and opened the message….

"………………???"

The nonsensical text displayed on the screen made me immediately tilt my head.

What is… what is this?

"Hey, Irori."

"What is it now? Just go play with whatever you want, dual-wielding or not. There are plenty of small aerial fireworks too. Should we just set them all up and fire them in sequence?"

"You're surprisingly into this, for someone with such an indifferent face, aren't you? —No, that's not it. I got a weird message from Goldow…"

To be precise, it wasn't from Goldow, but via the General Commander—the one who delivered the words, or rather, the complaints, to my phone was a certain person from our Eastern Faction.

Let's see… for now, I'll just quote a passage.

"—'You lolicon samurai, you've got some nerve ignoring me, huh!!!'"

"You're the one with some nerve. Stay right there, I'm going to melt you down slowly."

Suddenly so violent. I don't think the heat from a firework will be enough, you know…?

"It's not me! I just got this super long message with some mysterious complaint, or maybe a curse, from the Red—from the [Left Wing]."

"…,…"

Well, it was probably, or rather clearly, a message meant to be delivered to this guy through me, via Goldow. The moment he understood the situation, he made a face like he'd just bitten into a bitter bug, a textbook example. It seems he gets the picture, even if I, the middleman, am left in the dark.

What is this, what's going on?

Huh?

Huh, what's going on…?

"…Given that I've been mysteriously and suddenly dragged into this, and as payback for all the relentless teasing I usually get, should I press the issue, or should I be considerate, read the room, and swallow my questions… I'm actually seriously debating this right now."

"…Swallow them. There's nothing to press—because there's really nothing to it."

"Hah… well… if you say so, then I guess that's that."

What the, I don't get it, but it seems like a delicate situation. As the number one guy who's also in an unprecedentedly delicate situation himself, I don't feel like poking fun at it….

Yeah, alright. I don't know what kind of relationship they have, and it's best not to pry carelessly—that being said.

"You owe me one."

"…Honestly, that girl. Is she a coward or just fearless…"

There's no need for saintly behavior between us, right? You're muttering something profound, but as a favor, I'll pretend I didn't hear that either.

…Well, with that out of the way,

"Alright, pretty boy, come with me. The ladies are starting to stare at us as if to say, 'How long are you guys going to watch from a distance?'—in other words, it's time to pay the piper."

"That death sentence applies only to you. Don't drag me into it—"

"Guess I'll cash in that favor right now. You're the type who doesn't like to let things drag on, right? One favor. I'll really, truly forget all about it right now, leaving no trace behind. One favor."

"You [Acrobat]…"

"Seriously, stop using that as a simple insult that makes no sense anymore."

I grabbed the arm of my friend, who let out a theatrically loud sigh, and dragged him across the sand. As I did, the girls, led by Nia, gave us somewhat fond looks… but well, I can live with that.

Let's be good old frenemies, helping each other out as we please.

After that, with Irori in the mix, the three girls didn't create any strange atmosphere.

Forgetting that we were only halfway through our trip, we each got lost in the moment, and the modest fireworks festival continued boisterously until late into the night—and the next day.

We all overslept through breakfast and were jokingly scolded by the half-laughing chef.