Haruka’s P.O.V.

  Looking back at today, it was clear to me that spending this year’s Culture Festival with Yuuki-kun is definitely one of the most fun I’ve had in a while. I recall it has been quite a bit since the two of us had the chance to properly hang out alone together, I think the last time we did was when we met Hikari-chan.

  He treats others so well… and every time the two of us spent time together… I often find myself enjoying every bit of it. It’ almost enough to make your heart skip a bit!

  “Ah, Haruka-chan, how have you been?” spoke a familiar voice.

  Upon turning around it was a close friend of mine, Akari-chan.

  “Akari-chan! I’ve been doing splendidly actually, how about you?”

  “Eh, it’s the usual troubles hahaha!”

  Akari-chan is a close friend of mine since childhood, she’s the closest person I have to being a sister that wasn’t my cousin Michi-chan.

  “So~~~ I heard that the latest gossip is that a boy had asked you out to the festival, is that right?” Akari-chan was a tease similar to Michi-chan.

  “Well you see, those rumors… are quite correct, You see my friend Yuuki-kun had asked me to accompany him today… we had a lot of fun to tell you the truth.” I could feel that I was smiling, to be honey… Telling your best friend about a boy you spent a lot of time with is quite embarrassing.

  “Eh? So where’s my best friend’s knight in shining armor right now?”

  “Please don’t make fun of me like that, Yuuki-kun is just a childhood friend of mine ever since I was little. And he just had to answer a phone call…”

  “Ooo~ I see that Haruka-chan has finally moved on from “that guy” so when are you gonna ask your friend, “Yuuki-kun“ out on a date eh?” Akari-chan smirked teasingly.

  “E-eh!? Ask him out…? You shouldn’t treat others like objects you known.” I scolded Akari-chan.

  “Aww~ alright I’m sorry, but hey can you blame me? I kept hearing gossip that my best friend had a “new” special someone for weeks only for her to confirm it to my face!”

  “Yuuki-kun, is indeed special to me but he isn’t a replacement for…”

  “Akright, alright, I won’t push the topic any further, come on let’s go get some Crepes and Takoyaki!” Akari-chan proclaimed before grabbing my hand and dragging me away!

  “H-hold on, Yuuki-kun could go back at any moment!”

  “I promise it won’t take long so come on!!”

  This is bad, if Yuuki-kun returns without me there, we wouldn’t be able to see the fireworks together!

  Yuuki’s P.O.V.

  Running through the festival I kept consciously looking at the many stalls around me looking for Haruka-senpai

  Darn it! Was I gone for too long? Surely she hasn’t moved that fast? I was only gone for less than ten minutes, fifteen at most if I’m being generous!

  “Where could she have gone? Did someone come by and get her? Or… no don’t go in that direction, just ask your friends if they seen her nearby!”

  Opening my phone I started looking for everyone I knew who came to the festival, I already knew Kana, Hikari and Senko were here, as well as Diego-san and Michi-san, but as I was about to send the message, I noticed that there wasn’t any cell service around making phone calls completely moot!

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  Putting my phone back in my pocket, I continued walking and brainstorming how do I find her in the sea of people!

  “Stay calm, You’ll find her eventually- ouch!” I’ve accidentally bumped into someone. Looking down, I seem to have bumped into a girl… a familiar one at that.

  “That hurt~!” The girl had short blue hair, blunt bangs and yellow eyes, and her height was similar to Kana and Hikari-san’s.

  “I’m sorry for bumping into you… you’re Nozomi Kishimoto-san right?” The girl had a rather innocent look, and her yellow yukata was in the shade of golden honey.

  “Mhm… It’s alright, don’t worry I should’ve been looking in the right direction- ouchies~!” as she explained her situation she suddenly lowered herself on the ground clutching her foot, I guess I accidentally stepped on her foot. “You’re Rin-kun from the club right?”

  “Yes, and… let me help you up.” I offered her my hand.

  “Thanks but you shouldn’t have to- woah” as she tried to protest I helped carry her on my back.

  “It’s my fault you got hurt, so let me at least loosen the burden okay?”

  “R-right… thank you.”

  As I carried her on my back I started looking for a bench I could place her on in order for her foot to recover.

  “If you don’t mind me asking…” Kishimoto-san asked softly.

  “What is it?”

  “Were you perhaps looking for someone?”

  “I was… and in my panic… I accidentally hurt you… I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be, I wasn't paying attention either…”

  “Kishimoto-san, were you also lost? You seem to have been separated just before I bumped into you.”

  “Yuuki-san is perceptive… you see I got separated from my friends, I was trying to win a rabbit plushie… but I think they didn’t hear me when I asked if I could play for a moment.”

  “So did you win?”

  “Hahaha… I sadly lost all three attempts, it's alright though, I had fun trying.” Kishimoto-san had a half light hearted and sad tone to her voice.

  I continued walking with Kishimoto-san on my back looking for a place to let her rest, looking for Haruka-senpai should wait for now.

  “Did you and your friends have a meet-up point?”

  “We do, it's the top of the shrine over there.”

  “I see… How long is it before you guys meet up?”

  “In around fifteen minutes.”

  “Well then, let’s head up there and treat your foot.”

  “W-wait you’re gonna do it!?” Kishimoto-san panicked a bit.

  “I’am, I did hurt you by accident, it’s… only fair that I help you recover and keep you company before your friends arrive.”

  “Rin-kun is quite kind…” Kishimoto-san’s tone softened.

  Arriving at the shrine, I helped her sit down at the nearby bench and properly cleaned her foot before wrapping bondage around it, just before I sat next to her when the fireworks show started suddenly.

  Sigh… all that effort just to fail at my chance to fully ask her out.

  “Rin-kun was looking for a girl right?” Kishimoto-san asked softly, she seem to have noticed my shrunken mood.

  “I was… you see I asked Haruka-senpai to join me today at the festival but… we got separated.”

  “You see, I was actually asked out by a boy here today but he ditched me just when his friends shown up, a few of my friends spotted me alone earlier so I just continued the festival with them, but that’s when I got separated because I wanted that rabbit plushie and I didn’t think they would end up leaving me behind by accident… don’t get me wrong they should be on their way here now but… it’s no less sad…”

  I understood what she meant, she was probably looking forward to that date but getting ditched in such a festive location would take it’s toll on someone.

  “Well we can just wait this out right?” I asked as more fireworks shot up to the sky in a display of color.

  “Rin-kun isn’t gonna leave?”

  “I’ll help you get back home, I don’t want you getting hurt to just stay in my subconscious… it just doesn’t sit right with me leaving a girl alone…”

  The two of us continued watching the fireworks together when… I felt her head resting on my shoulder.

  “Umm…”

  “Just for a bit okay?”

  As the fireworks show ended, we suddenly heard a few voices calling out to Kishimoto-san. Her friends finally arrived and apologized profusely for leaving her behind before she left and waved goodbye.

  “Jeez, what a way to ruin your plans… but at least one of us was happy right?”

  I suddenly received a phone call from Hikari-san, upon opening the video call she was with Senko and Kana at the nearby park about to try out sparklers.

  “So were you and Haruka-san able to see the fireworks together?”

  “We got separated.”

  “You what!?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Well… do you want to go join us at the park then?”

  “Sure…”

  As I was about to walk down the shrine Fumiko suddenly texted me saying that the girl who rejected him dragged him away from Johnny and Toda and kept demanding he buy her food and snacks… and he actually went and did it!

  Michi-san’s definitely happy right now.

  Finally at the bottom of the stairs I accidentally felt someone tapped me on my back and upon turning around it was Haruka-senpai.

  She quickly bowed her head and kept apologizing, “Yuuki-kun, I’m sorry for leaving you behind, you see… My friend suddenly showed up and dragged me away! I told her I couldn’t but…”

  “I understand.”

  “Hmm? You’re not angry?”

  “Well with how you’re at the brink of tears… It’s kinda hard to be angry, come on, let’s head to the park, Kana, Hikari-san and Senko are waiting for us.”

  “I”m not gonna cry… meanie.”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  Tonight really made me question when should I be prioritizing my own happiness, but I just learned helping bring smiles to others was more satisfying. Maybe next time I can finally tell her the truth.

  The two of us arrived at the park as Kana and Hikari-san waved happily inviting us to come quickly so everyone could start playing with the sparklers!