Part-2 Ch-05 Ep-03

We had been playing at the amusement park for quite some time, and before we realized it, it was already rather late. The sky, which just a little while ago still retained traces of crimson along its edges, had now been dyed a deep shade of indigo. 

The reason it did not feel all that dark was probably the bright illumination throughout the park. I had heard that when it was time for the fireworks, the lights would be dimmed slightly.

I checked the clock on my phone and saw that the scheduled start time for the fireworks was drawing near.

“Where should we watch the fireworks from?”

In response to my question, Maki pointed and said, “Over there.”

“Sounds good.”

Smiling, I nodded and followed her gaze to the Ferris wheel she had indicated. There was a short line in front of it, but we somehow managed to get on without much trouble.

When I asked about it, Maki explained that there were several other spots in the park where the fireworks could be viewed clearly, and that the crowd was deliberately spread out among them.

“Hey, is it okay if I sit next to you?”

Maki, who had originally taken a seat across from me, asked this, and naturally I told her it was fine. As she stood up, the gondola swayed slightly. She stumbled just a bit, then sat down close beside me on my left, pressing near.

“That was fun, wasn’t it?”

Maki rested her head against my shoulder. At that moment, I stiffened my body, careful not to move.

The weight resting on my left shoulder felt so pleasant that I found myself thinking I wished it could stay like this forever.

I glanced at my phone. There were still five minutes until the fireworks began.

“Yeah, it was fun. Thanks for inviting me.”

—Thank you for choosing me today instead of Godaiin-kun.

That part, I whispered only in my heart. By now, the sun had completely set. Even the outline of the distant mountains, which should have been visible, had melted into the darkness of the sky.

The inside of the gondola was dim, but in contrast, the brightly lit amusement park spread out below us looked beautiful.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m glad I got to come with Mari.”

Three minutes until the fireworks. I wondered where they would be launched from. The gondola continued its slow ascent. At this pace, it seemed we would reach the very top just as the fireworks began.

“I want to hang out a lot more during the rest of summer vacation.”

“Let’s do that. We also have homework to finish,” I replied, and Maki nodded, saying, “We should review, too.”

“You’re so serious.”

“Of course. If there’s something I can do now, then I should do it.”

Hearing that reminded me of Maki’s dream for the future. This girl is always earnest and straightforward, no matter what the situation.

“I really like that part of you, Maki.”

I spoke honestly.

It was the same kind of “like” I sometimes expressed toward Kagami-kun or Todoroki-kun, a fondness as a friend. I was extremely careful not to let any other feelings slip through.

“…Mm. Is that so?”

Maki placed her right hand over my left. Then, gently, she enclosed my hand within hers. At last year’s summer festival, only our pinky fingers had been touching.

At the time, it had bothered me just a little. I did not know whether I should pull my finger away or move it closer, and I did not particularly feel compelled to do either.

That distance had simply felt comfortable. To begin with, we had never been the kind of friends who touched each other often. Compared to then, over the past year, the number of times I had touched Maki seemed to have increased dramatically.

It was thrilling, a sensation slightly different from simple comfort. I squeezed Maki’s hand in return.

Her hand was warm, almost hot.

One minute until the fireworks.

From the moment she took my hand, the sensations on the left side of my body felt strangely vivid. Maki had fallen silent. With her head still resting on my shoulder, I could not see her expression.

All I could hear was her breathing, while feeling the weight against my shoulder.

“Ah.”

From the right side of my vision came a sharp sound, as if something sliced through the air, followed by a soft pop. A moment later, a brilliant burst of light exploded before my eyes with a resounding bang.

After the first, another followed, and then another, until the entire view was filled with enormous blossoms of fireworks.

Maki, who had been leaning against my shoulder, straightened up and leaned forward. With that movement, the weight left my shoulder, and for some reason, I felt a faint sense of loneliness. Without thinking, I turned to look at her.

“Beautiful—”

“Yeah. Really—” I thought it was beautiful.

Both the massive fireworks blooming before us, and Maki’s figure illuminated by their light.

So beautiful.

Truly.

—Ah, I really like her, I thought.

I like Maki.

“…Mari, watch the fireworks. Not me.”

When Maki said that with a wry smile, I finally realized I had been staring at her. Flustered, I quickly turned my gaze back toward the fireworks.

The particles of light shimmered across the night sky, and for some reason, they looked blurred.

Maki is my precious, irreplaceable childhood friend. A girl. The heroine of this world, destined to end up with one of the capture targets on graduation day.

And the person I have fallen in love with. I was glad the inside of the gondola was dark. A single tear slid down my cheek.

Pretending to adjust my bangs, I wiped it away.

My feelings for Maki had overflowed, and I no longer knew what to do with them.