Be careful with the laid-back beauty who took a liking to me. Otherwise, it will be too late! - Chapter 41: Summer Memories

Chapter 41: Summer Memories

I, Mai Oosakura, have known Hinata since kindergarten.

We went to the same kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school, and I thought we would be separated in high school. However, during our third year of middle school, when I asked Hinata which high school he was planning to attend, he mentioned the same school I was aiming for.

I was so happy to learn that we were both aiming for the same high school. I thought we could continue to go to school together.

We would occasionally have dinner together and chat a little when we met at school… I thought this routine would continue.

However, in our second year of high school, Hinata began to spend time with Koga.

She was popular with both boys and girls, and it was supposed to be their first meeting. Yet, it seemed like their closeness grew every time I saw them.

When I started to wonder if they were dating, I felt uneasy. I didn’t realize what these feelings meant.

I tried to tell myself that it didn’t matter to me, that it was fine for Hinata to like someone else, and I decided not to care about the source of my unease.

As days passed, the opportunities to have dinner with Hinata and talk to him diminished. He told me that he liked her and planned to confess.

(Oh, I knew it…)

He had found someone he liked. Upon hearing this, I suddenly felt the urge to tell him, “Don’t confess.”

It felt as though the person I had been closest to was drifting away from me. But I thought about how saying “Don’t confess” would change anything, so in the end, I said nothing and parted ways with Hinata that day.

(Maybe I really like Hinata…)

By the time I realized it, it was already too late. Should I give up…?

(Hinata, what are you talking about with Oosakura…?)

After finishing the snacks I bought, I noticed Hinata and Oosakura were nowhere to be seen. I turned around and saw the two of them talking.

“…Hinata.”

Even if Oosakura confessed to him, I wouldn’t worry. Hinata had told me he liked me. There was no way he could like someone else.

But I felt uneasy. No matter how many times I told myself I was fine, I couldn’t calm down.

I didn’t want to see the two of them together, so I turned to where everyone else was, and I made eye contact with Akari-chan.

“Sayaka-chan, I heard there are going to be fireworks. Why don’t you go watch them with Hinata?”

“Fireworks…”

I had often seen fireworks on TV broadcasts, but I had never seen them in person.

Just the thought of being able to see them made me excited, and I wanted to go call Hinata, but he was still talking to Oosakura.

(What should I do…? Maybe I should wait until he comes back.)

While waiting for him to return, I heard someone call my name from behind.

“Sayaka.”

“!”

When I turned around, I saw Hinata had come back. Oosakura had gone over to Yuna and Kubo-kun.

“I heard there are going to be fireworks. Do you want to go see them?”

Hearing his gentle words made me want to reach out and touch him. Not caring about anyone around us, I hugged Hinata tightly.

“Yeah, I want to watch them with you.”

Although we had enjoyed the summer festival together, we ended up with just the two of us watching the fireworks.

It was crowded, so to avoid getting separated, I held Hinata’s hand tightly.

“Is there a good spot…? Sayaka, are your feet okay?”

“I’m fine, thanks for worrying about me.”

There were already many people claiming spots, and he was concerned that I might hurt my feet as we walked around looking for a good place.

I loved this side of Hinata. Fireworks didn’t matter. I wanted to move to a quieter place and get closer to him.

“Hinata, will you come to my house after the fireworks?”

“My house?”

“Yeah, I want you to stay over. I don’t want to be apart from you tonight.”

I worried that saying something like this might make him dislike me. But when the person I liked was right in front of me, I couldn’t stop myself.

“Okay. I’ll tell my mom. I wanted to stay with you tonight too.”

“Yay! Thanks, Hinata!”

As we were talking, a sudden loud boom made me jump, and I clung to Hinata’s arm tightly.

“It’s the fireworks…”

Hinata whispered that, and when I turned to face him, I saw beautiful fireworks lighting up the sky.

“They’re beautiful…”

It seemed that the time for the fireworks had arrived while we were wandering around, so we stopped searching and decided to watch them from where we stood.

The first fireworks I saw were different from those I had seen on TV.

Even though so much had happened this summer, seeing something so beautiful made me forget everything.

“Hinata, I didn’t know fireworks were this beautiful.”

“! Sayaka…”

Hinata seemed to notice something and leaned closer, gently touching my cheek with his hand.

“You’re crying, are you okay?”

“Eh? Am I… crying?”

I hadn’t realized it. I hurriedly wiped my tears with a handkerchief and smiled at him to reassure him that I was okay.

“I’m sorry, I just got emotional…”

“No, it’s okay. I feel the same way when I see something so beautiful.”

Hinata said that and gently patted my head. Feeling the urge to be spoiled, I cuddled closer to him, and he hugged me back.

Last year, I made memories during summer vacation that were more fun than this year. I believed it was because Hinata was there with me. I hoped we could create many more memories together in the future.

Though I ended up staying over at his place, right after getting out of the bath and lying down, I found myself hugged tightly by Sayaka, unable to move.

Her soft, short-sleeved T-shirt pressed against my arm, and I was already reaching my limit.

(Should I tell her to let go…?)

“Hinata, mm.”

“!”

When she called my name and tapped my shoulder, I turned to her side, only to find Sayaka had her eyes closed.

“Sayaka.”

I called her name, leaned in, and kissed her. At first, it was short, but as we continued, the kisses grew longer.

When I slowly pulled away from her lips, Sayaka was breathing heavily, and seeing that made me feel like I was about to lose control.

(But, I must hold back. Stay calm…)

After taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth.

“Sayaka… how about we go to the place Chisato-san told us about tomorrow?”

“! Yes, I want to go!”