I Reincarnated as the Counselor NPC in a Dating Sim, and Now Every Heroine I Treat Becomes Obsessed with Me - Chapter 28: “Fireworks and Distance—The Night the Five of Them Gather in the Same Place for the First Time”

Chapter 28: “Fireworks and Distance—The Night the Five of Them Gather in the Same Place for the First Time”

The last day of August.

At Hanazono-gaoka Academy, a small summer festival was held every year on the final day of vacation.

It was a modest event for the students staying in the dorms and the staff. A few food stalls lined the schoolyard, and at night, fireworks would go up.

It wasn’t a big festival, but for the students, it was their last memory of summer.

I was there as a supervisor—well, more like staff on duty.

My job was to walk around and keep an eye on things. 

With a pack of yakisoba in one hand, I made my rounds through the schoolyard, weaving between students in yukata.

Evening.

That moment when the sky shifted from orange to purple.

At a bench in the corner of the schoolyard, Akane was sitting there.

Not in a yukata—just her usual T-shirt and jeans.

She kept a little distance from the noise of the festival, sipping on a canned drink.

“Akane. Enjoying the festival?”

“…Not really. Just came because I was bored.”

“Want some yakisoba?”

“…Yeah. I’ll take it.”

I handed half of mine to Akane.

She ate quietly.

“You didn’t wear a yukata?”

“I don’t have one. —And festivals aren’t really my thing anyway.”

“I think it’d look good on you.”

“Shut up.”

Her ears were red.

Probably not just from the sunset.

We ate in silence for a while, when a voice called out from across the schoolyard.

“Sensei!”

It was Rin.

She wore a navy yukata with white flowers. 

She looked bright—completely different from her usual soccer captain self.

“Rin-san, that yukata looks great on you.”

“Hehe, thanks! —Oh, Hinomiya-san’s here too. Hey!”

“…Yo.”

Akane replied shortly.

But unlike before, there was no hostility—just her usual blunt tone.

Rin sat down next to Akane.

“That yakisoba looks amazing! I’m gonna go get some too—oh, Sensei, wanna try the shooting game? I’m really good at it!”

“I’m on patrol right now, so maybe later.”

“Ehh. Then we’re definitely going later, okay!”

Rin swung her legs back and forth on the bench.

Akane quietly sipped her drink.

There was no conversation between them, but it didn’t feel tense either.

They were just… sitting side by side.

And then—

A calm presence approached.

It was Shizuku.

She wore a light purple yukata with a white obi.

Her hair was styled differently than usual. 

Her bangs were still long, but—in that yukata, Shizuku looked breathtaking.

When she spotted me, she hurried over and held out her notebook.

『Ren-sensei. I thought you’d be here』

“I’m on duty, after all. —Shizuku-chan, that yukata suits you.”

Shizuku’s cheeks turned slightly red.

She wrote again.

『Thank you. A senior from the dorm helped me put it on』

Shizuku sat down at the edge of the bench—right next to me.

Now it was Rin, Akane, me, and Shizuku, all lined up.

“…Feels like more people keep showing up.”

Akane muttered quietly.

Not annoyed—just stating a fact.

“Sensei, you’re pretty popular.”

Rin laughed.

And then, the fourth arrived.

“Oh my. Looks like everyone’s gathered here.”

It was Midori.

She wore a light blue yukata.

Her obi was tied perfectly, and her hair was neatly arranged as always, with a single hairpin in place. 

She had just returned from visiting home, but there wasn’t a hint of fatigue on her face.

“Hojouin-san. Back from your trip?”

“Yes. I returned yesterday. —Asagiri-sensei, thank you for your reply to my letter.”

Midori smiled.

A calm, natural smile.

“…I liked the postscript. Seventy-two points.”

When I said that quietly, Midori’s smile—flickered for just a moment. 

Something in it shifted, just slightly.

“…Thank you.”

Midori stood near the bench.

She didn’t sit down. Instead, she remained standing, looking over the four of us. 

Maybe it was a habit from being student council president—wanting to take in everything at once.

And then—the fifth.

“…Finally found you.”

A low voice.

Androgynous.

It was Mio.

She wore a black yukata with silver patterns.

While the others wore soft, light colors, Mio alone stood out in something darker. 

Somehow, that made her even more eye-catching. 

Almost like she belonged on a stage.

“Kujou-san. Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“…I don’t hate festivals. Just crowds.”

Mio sat down on the opposite side of the bench—next to Rin.

Akane glanced at Mio for a second, then quickly looked away.

The five of them—were all here.

Mio. Rin. Akane. Me.

Shizuku beside me.

And Midori, standing slightly apart.

Outside the counseling room—this was the first time all five of them had been in the same place.

—

As night deepened, the glow from the stalls lit up the schoolyard.

The five of them weren’t exactly together.

Each kept their distance, spending time in their own way.

Rin went to the shooting game and came back with a giant stuffed toy.

“Sensei, this is for you!”

“…Why are you giving me something this big?”

“Let’s put it in the counseling room!”

Shizuku bought cotton candy and held it out to me with her notebook.

『I got one for you too』

Midori stood at a yakitori stall, frowning slightly.

“This doesn’t seem very hygienic…”

But in the end, she took a bite anyway.

“…It’s not bad.”

Akane didn’t leave the bench, but when I brought her a candied apple—

“…I’ll take it.”

She accepted it without hesitation.

Mio was eating shaved ice by herself, but when I sat next to her—

“…I don’t trust people who pick lemon flavor.”

She said it out of nowhere.

Each of them, in their own way—was there, sharing the same space.

—

Just then, Haruto showed up.

“Oh—everyone’s here!”

He was wearing a jinbei, walking over with a few of his male classmates.

“Asagiri-sensei’s here too! Hey!”

“Hanasaki-kun. Enjoying the festival?”

“Yeah! I’ve already had three plates of yakisoba! —Oh, hey, let’s all watch the fireworks together! I think they’re about to start!”

Haruto called out to the girls.

Rin laughed.

“Whoa, Hanasaki-kun! Three plates? That’s crazy!”

Midori smiled politely.

“Good evening, Hanasaki-san. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”

Mio simply said, “…Yeah.”

Akane replied shortly, “…Yo.”

No hostility—just her usual tone.

Shizuku gave a small bow toward Haruto.

She didn’t speak, but this wasn’t a moment that needed her notebook. Being able to respond with just a bow—that alone showed how much she had grown.

“Since we’re all here, I heard it’s easier to see the fireworks from over there! Wanna move?”

“Ooh, sounds good!” Rin started to stand.

Midori nodded as well.

“Yes, that might be a better—”

But then—

Both of them glanced toward me.

I was still sitting on the bench.

I was on duty, so I couldn’t just leave.

“I’ll watch from here. I’m on duty. —You guys can move if you want.”

Rin hesitated for a moment—then sat back down.

“I’m good here. You can still see them just fine anyway.”

Midori followed.

“I’ll remain here as well. As part of the organizing committee, I should keep an eye on this area.”

It sounded like an excuse—but not an unnatural one.

Akane hadn’t planned to move from the start.

Mio didn’t get up either.

Shizuku stayed right next to me, not moving at all.

“I see, then let’s all watch from here!”

Haruto took it in stride and sat down near the bench.

His classmates joined in, and before long, the area around the bench turned into a small viewing spot.

With Haruto there, the atmosphere softened.

Rin and Haruto got into a lively debate about which stall had the best yakisoba.

Midori let out a small sigh.

“Don’t you ever think about calories?”

Rin laughed.

“Calories don’t count at festivals!”

Akane quietly bit into her candied apple as she listened.

She didn’t join in—but she was listening.

This kind of atmosphere—only Haruto could create. 

It wasn’t something I could do.

I could create a “safe place.”

But creating a “fun atmosphere” wasn’t my strength.

Haruto was the opposite.

He could brighten a place, connect people, and keep things flowing naturally.

—

The fireworks started.

Beyond the schoolyard, above the school building, the fireworks rose into the sky.

They were small in scale—but beautiful. 

Red, blue, gold, silver. 

Colors spread across the night sky, then faded away.

The five of them watched from where they were.

Rin reacted openly.

“Whoa! That’s amazing!”

Midori silently looked up at the sky.

Her hairpin caught the light of the fireworks, flickering softly.

Mio stood with her arms crossed, watching.

Her expression didn’t change.

Akane bit into her candied apple, glancing up at the sky from the side.

Maybe looking straight at it felt a little embarrassing.

Shizuku—wasn’t watching the fireworks.

She was looking at me.

Each time the fireworks lit up my face, Shizuku’s eyes—shone. 

Not from reflection, but from something within.

When I noticed her gaze and looked back,

Shizuku quickly turned her eyes toward the fireworks.

She took out her notebook, about to write something—then stopped.

It seemed she chose not to put it into words tonight.

—

The fireworks ended.

In the fading glow, the five of them slowly began to leave.

“Well then, Sensei, good night! See you next term!”

Rin waved and headed off.

“Good night, Asagiri-sensei. —I look forward to next semester as well.”

Midori gave a polite bow before leaving.

“…See you.”

Mio left, just as casually as ever.

Shizuku held out one last note.

『The fireworks were beautiful. I’m glad I got to watch them next to you, Sensei』

Shizuku gave a small bow, then left.

The last one remaining—was Akane.

“…You’re not heading back?”

“You aren’t either.”

“…………”

Akane tossed the stick from her candied apple into the trash.

“…Sensei.”

“Yeah.”

“…Out of the five of us, I was the only one not wearing a yukata.”

“Yeah.”

“…………Maybe next year… I’ll wear one.”

“So you’re planning to come again next year?”

“…If you’re still here next year, Sensei.”

She stood up.

“Good night.”

“Good night, Akane.”

Akane walked away.

Left alone in the schoolyard, I stayed seated on the bench and looked up at the sky.

The smoke from the fireworks still lingered in the night air.

A few stars were barely visible.

Tonight, all five of them had gathered in the same place.

For the first time.

Outside the counseling room.

In the middle of the festival noise.

Under the light of the fireworks.

Each of them, at their own distance, in their own way—had been by my side.

Haruto had been there too.

With him around, the atmosphere softened. 

He and Rin got excited talking about yakisoba, Midori looked a little exasperated, and Akane listened quietly beside them.

That kind of atmosphere—wasn’t something I could create on my own.

But—

When the fireworks went up, for just a moment—

It felt like all five of them were looking, not at the sky, but at me.

Maybe I imagined it.

Maybe the bright lights just played tricks on my eyes.

Still—

A faint chill ran down my spine.

Was that “trust”?

Or something else entirely—

I still couldn’t tell.

Summer was ending.

The second term was about to begin.

Something—

Something was starting to move.