Even Today, the Genius High School Programmer Cashes In on Day Trades, Completely Flustered by Beautiful Girls' Growing Affection. - Chapter 30: “We’ll just stay split up for the rest of today.”

“We’ll just stay split up for the rest of today.”

After a little while, Shingo and Ryuusenji, who had been walking ahead, came to a stop.

“We’re gonna go check out some food stalls for a bit, so let’s split up for just a little while. Meet back here in fifteen minutes, okay?”

“Got it.”

With that, Yukina and I ended up wandering the food stalls together.

She said she wanted to try balloon fishing, so we gave it a go.

Both of us failed spectacularly on the very first balloon—the paper string snapped almost instantly.

Those things are definitely made of toilet paper on purpose.

We each got a complimentary water balloon as a consolation prize and started walking again.

That was when my phone buzzed in my pocket.

Shingo: We’ll just stay split up for the rest of today. Have fun〜.

“…That bastard.”

He’d clearly planned this from the start.

Beside me, Yukina was staring at her own phone with a small groan of “Ehh, come onnn…”

Apparently Ryuusenji had sent her the exact same message at the same time.

“So that’s how it is. We got completely played.”

We exchanged glances.

“What now? Should we just walk around together?”

“Yeah… I’m okay with that.”

Seeing the gentle smile that spread across Yukina’s face, I felt a quiet wave of relief wash over me.

Next we turned our attention to the food stalls.

We bought one serving of yakisoba and one okonomiyaki to share.

When I asked if she wanted candied apple, she shook her head.

Apparently the obi of her yukata was cinched a little too tightly, and she didn’t have much appetite.

“Alright… finding a good spot’s gonna be tough. I’d really prefer to sit and watch if we can.”

“Yeah… Hey, Kousuke-kun, can you walk a little farther?”

“Hm? I’m fine.”

“It’s about ten minutes from here. There might be a hidden spot.”

“You sure you’re okay? Your feet won’t hurt from walking in geta?”

“No, I’m fine. I actually wore zori instead of geta today because I thought we might end up walking.”

Impressively prepared.

“This way,” Yukina said, taking the lead.

I followed her up a gentle slope toward higher ground.

After a short distance, a torii gate came into view ahead.

A shrine.

And beyond the torii, a long flight of stone steps stretched upward.

“The view from the top of these stairs is really nice.”

“How’d you even know about a spot like this?”

“When I was little, I came here once with my parents. Back then I was still so small that I couldn’t see the fireworks very well from the main area. So my dad brought me here instead—said even if it was a bit farther away, at least we’d have a clear view.”

Yukina smiled without a trace of melancholy.

“I’m glad it’s still here.”

“You really are… loved by your parents, huh.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Let’s just head up. These stairs look rough.”

I quickened my pace a little.

The stairs weren’t especially steep.

But there was no handrail.

For someone in a yukata, that made them surprisingly treacherous.

An elderly person would probably find them impossible.

“Want a hand?”

I extended my left hand toward her.

Yukina blinked in surprise for a split second, then—

“…Thank you.”

She took my hand.

Small. Soft.

And, somehow, faintly warm.

With her hand in mine, we climbed the stairs together.

When we finally reached the top, we both let out relieved exclamations.

“Made it—” “Yay!”

I turned around—and couldn’t help but gasp.

“Whoa… this is insane.”

“Right?! Isn’t it great?”

From up here the entire city spread out below us, complete with a modest nightscape.

Best of all, there wasn’t a single obstruction between us and the riverbed where the fireworks would launch.

It was the perfect vantage point.

“Good thing we came early. In a little while this place will probably fill up.”

“Yeah. Let’s claim our premium seats while we can.”

We decided to settle on the very top step.

I slipped the backpack off my shoulders and pulled out two foldable cushions and two plastic bottles of tea.

I’d grabbed them from the hundred-yen shop before getting on the train.

“Kousuke-kun, you’re so prepared〜,” Yukina said, clearly impressed.

I decided to keep quiet about the fact that Shingo had texted me earlier:

“I’m getting Aoi-chan’s share, so you go buy something for Sakuraba-san.”