Fallen from the Top Group Due to Cheating and False Accusations. The Only One Who Stood by Me Was My Little Sister’s Best Friend, Who Had Always Adored Me. - Chapter 13.2: Extra SS The Fireworks Festival That Day.

Extra SS: The Fireworks Festival That Day.

This is a short story set outside the main storyline

(Yuuka’s POV)

It happened the day before the fireworks festival—the first one Sayu and I would attend as middle schoolers.

“Does it look good on me…?”

I twirled in front of the mirror in my yukata. Sayu gave a deep, satisfied nod.

“Yeah… It’s perfect! It looks really good on you, Yuuka! The hydrangea pattern matches the colors so well! Onii is definitely going to fall for you at first sight!”

Sayu made it sound so easy. I let out a weary sigh.

“Come on, Sayu… How many times this month have you said that? I’ve heard it so often it doesn’t even feel like a compliment anymore. You’re always so dramatic.”

Sayu constantly called me cute or pretty like it was a habit. At this point, her praise barely registered. Lately I’d even started wondering if she was just teasing me, which only made my old lack of confidence come rushing back.

“No, no! The surface-level words might sound similar every time, but my actual feelings are different each time! I mean every word. Blue and purple really do suit you best, Yuuka!”

“Haa…”

Of course I felt a little excited wearing the brand-new yukata my father had just bought me. But it was only natural that blue and purple looked good on me—my hair was a deep violet, after all.

Lately, though, I’d started wanting to try something flashier and more girly.

“Speaking of which, pink looks amazing on you too, Sayu. It’s unfair, but you really pull off anything bold. I’m jealous…”

“Really?” Sayu replied casually. She might not have realized it herself, but wrapped in that cherry-blossom yukata, she radiated a completed beauty and dazzling aura. She possessed a brilliance that could capture anyone’s eyes in a single glance—something I didn’t have.

And sometimes… that made me incredibly envious.

“But this is still Mom’s old hand-me-down, even if it was stored nicely. Compared to your brand-new one, it’s nothing special.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Sayu tilted her head with wide eyes, not quite catching my meaning. She was confident, but occasionally a bit dense. I wasn’t talking about the quality of the clothing. I was praising how perfectly her flashy yukata matched her own style and presence.

Of course, I didn’t say that out loud. She’d just get full of herself.

The world really is unfair. When it comes to fashion, some people can only pull off certain vibes, while others look cute no matter what they wear. Even though we were the same gender, the gap between Sayu and me in that regard felt overwhelming.

“Well, I don’t really get it, but anyway—we’re going to have fun tomorrow, Yuuka! This isn’t just any old outing for you, after all.”

Sayu grinned mischievously as she looked me up and down from toes to head, nodding to herself with little “hmm, hmm” sounds.

“W-What…?”

“Nope, nothing~ Nishishi~”

Being stared at so intently made me uncomfortable. I quickly looked away.

I knew this was bad…

If just having a girl like Sayu stare at me made me blush this much, how was I ever going to face Senpai?

My face would turn bright red and my crush would be completely exposed.

Thanks to Sayu’s thoughtfulness, the three of us—me, her, and Arata-senpai—were supposed to go to the fireworks festival together. Yet my mental fortitude was fatally weak.

“Hey, Sayu… Do you think I’ll be able to act normal with Senpai tomorrow?”

“You’ll be fine. I’ll make sure to create just the right distance between you two. Leave it to me!”

She had said that so enthusiastically.

The next evening, when I arrived at their house for the festival, I gasped.

Sayu came to the door not in her yukata, but with a cooling sheet stuck to her forehead.

“Sorry… Looks like I’ve got a 39-degree fever…”

“No way… Sayu, are you okay!?”

When I rushed over, she laughed weakly. The usual energy was gone from her face, and her legs wobbled even while standing.

“I’m okay, it’s just a little summer cold. One day in bed and I’ll be fine… but I probably can’t go today. Sorry…”

“Don’t worry about it. Just focus on getting better and we can go again sometime. Come on, let’s get you back to bed.”

I supported her body and was about to help her upstairs when a man with an exasperated expression came down the stairs. It was Arata-senpai.

Wearing a purple jinbei, he looked fresher and more mature than usual. I couldn’t help but stare.

So cool…

“Geez. You always sleep with your stomach out when it’s hot. You brought this on yourself.”

“Fufufu, so that’s how this girl sleeps, acting all boyish~”

“Yeah. Yuuka-chan came all excited, so at least manage your health properly…”

He lowered his head to apologize, but I frantically shook mine.

“No! We can just go to the fireworks festival next year. I really don’t mind at all! Come on, Yuuka, let’s get you back to your room—”

“Mm… I’m really sorry… but…”

When I tried to put my hand on her back, Sayu gently pushed me forward instead.

“Since you’re already dressed up… don’t worry about me… Just go enjoy it together, the two of you.”

““Eh…?””

Senpai and I looked at each other at the same time. I immediately turned my face away.

“You both went through the trouble of changing, and yukata opportunities only come once or twice a year. Onii, you don’t think it’d be a waste?”

“Well… you’ve got a point, but won’t Yuuka-chan be bored without you? Going with just me would probably be—”

“It won’t be boring at all!”

“Eh?”

“Ah…”

I had answered instantly without thinking.

“I mean… of course it’s really disappointing that Sayu-chan can’t come, but I’d still have lots of fun even if it’s just Senpai and me!”

“Yuuka says that, but… what about you, Onii? Are you going? Or not?”

“Well, since Yuuka-chan already came dressed up and all… if she’s okay with just the two of us, I don’t mind either. Seriously… why am I being pressured by the one who bailed?”

Senpai stared at Sayu with eyes that had gone beyond exasperation.

Sayu, on the other hand, wore a face that practically said “Any complaints?” and muttered, “Alright, it’s decided!”

…Come to think of it, Sayu seemed a little more energetic than she had a moment ago.

“Well then, I can get back to my room by myself. You two have fun, okay~?”

“Ehh!? Sayu!? Wait a second…”

The development was so sudden I panicked and tried to call her back, but Sayu just waved and headed up the stairs. In the blink of an eye, she was gone.

“That girl… she’s serious…”

“She really left…”

Left standing awkwardly in the entrance, Senpai and I stared at each other in stunned silence for several long seconds.

Unable to speak from the sheer discomfort, Senpai was the one who finally broke the silence.

“Well, standing around here isn’t going to help. Shall we head out? To the fireworks festival.”

“Y-Yes… Please take care of me.”

Carrying an overwhelming amount of awkwardness between us, we started walking toward the night festival.

I had never imagined going to the festival alone with Senpai. My mind had already shrunk into itself, and I had no idea what to talk about in a situation like this.

Normally I spent most of the day daydreaming about all the different topics I could chat with Senpai about, yet right now my throat felt like it was in spasms and refused to cooperate.

While I fidgeted with my hands, Senpai suddenly spoke as if remembering something.

“By the way, that yukata of yours is brand new, right? I thought so when you arrived earlier—it really suits you.”

My heart skipped a beat. I felt my cheeks grow hot.

“R-Really…?”

“Yeah. I think it’s cute.”

Hearing Senpai say “cute” so directly was a compliment I had only dreamed of. I looked down, overcome with joy.

No good… I couldn’t let him see my face right now.

I was probably bright red.

“Yuuka-chan…? You okay?”

“Yes! Um, thank you… I’m really happy you said that.”

“I-I see… That’s good then.”

“Yes…”

Senpai seemed to sense something too. An awkward silence suddenly fell between us.

With almost no conversation, we eventually reached the fireworks venue. Senpai suddenly stopped.

He sniffed the air a few times.

“Hey Yuuka-chan, want to start with some ningyo-yaki?”

“Eh, sure.”

“Great! It’s decided. Festivals aren’t just about the fireworks—the real fun is going around the food stalls. Let’s conquer every stall before the fireworks start!”

Senpai grinned at me with a playful expression. That mischievous face looked so much like Sayu’s—it was adorable. He usually gave off the impression of a reliable older brother, so I hadn’t expected this childish side of him to still remain.

As Senpai walked ahead with sparkling eyes, I naturally reached out and grabbed the edge of his sleeve.

“…Yuuka-chan?”

“Um, Senpai… I’m fine with visiting lots of stalls, but it looks really crowded up ahead. Is it okay if I hold onto this…?”

“Eh, ah… Of course. Hold on tight so we don’t get separated.”

“Thank you!”

I gripped his sleeve firmly.

With Sayu—my emotional support—absent, I felt relieved that my small act of courage had worked.

Of course, I secretly wished I could hold his hand, cling to his arm, or press my body closer to his… but I told myself that taking things slowly was my pace. This was enough for now.

As we approached the crowded stalls, the lively noise of the festival grew louder.

“What do you want after the ningyo-yaki, Yuuka-chan?”

When he asked with an upbeat voice, I thought for a moment before answering with the brightest smile I could show him right now.

“I want cotton candy—!”