My Daily Life as the Reliable Best Friend of a Dense Rom-Com Protagonist Childhood Friend Is Way Too Much Like a Nukige - Chapter 37 & 38 & 39 & 40

Chapter 37: “Going to the Beach with the Gyaru Senior from Work” (Part 2) ♡

My first impression after getting in the ocean for the first time in a while was a very elementary-school-level thought: It’s summer but it’s cold!

“Whoa, the sand is pulling my feet. Weird feeling.”

“Ahaha! You sound like someone who’s never been in the ocean before.”

Runa-senpai laughed cheerfully and kicked water at me. I got a face full of seawater.

“Hey! It’s salty! What if I die from too much sodium?”

“Don’t drink it. Spit it out. Ptooey.”

Thanks to Senpai’s calm retort, I spat out the seawater in my mouth.

“Tomocchi, you look like the Merlion.”

“I wasn’t spitting that much!”

I scooped up water and splashed her back. Senpai twisted her body and let out cute, girly shrieks.

“Kyaa! Hey! You’re aiming for my boobs on purpose!”

“If you’re walking around with those huge things bouncing, they’re gonna get hit. Your hitbox is massive.”

“Ahh! Sexual harassment! I’m gonna sue!”

What started as a cute water fight quickly turned into us dropping all restraint. We splashed around wildly, then dove into the sea and started swimming. Runa-senpai was surprisingly good at swimming. This senpai really can do everything.

“Shall we get out soon? I’m getting cold.”

“Yeah.”

We waded out of the water and returned to our parasol. Since the temperature was high today, even the shade felt pleasantly warm, gently heating our chilled bodies.

Senpai, who sat down beside me, patted my shoulder.

“I’m getting hungry. How about you, Tomocchi?”

“I’m starving too. Want to go buy something from the beach shack?”

“Fufu. Just as I thought…!”

Senpai opened the cooler bag beside her and took out a basket. When she unwrapped it, there were neatly cut sandwiches inside.

“I made them this morning~. Want some?”

“For real? I’d love some.”

“Go ahead♪ I made plenty.”

I took a big bite. It had the classic flavor of ham and cheese. That sweet and sour taste—was it aurora sauce?

“Is it good?”

“It’s delicious. Senpai, you’re really good at cooking.”

“I’ve been trained by working part-time. And here’s—”

Senpai poured a black liquid from a cylindrical thermal jar into a paper cup. It was a familiar, fragrant smell.

“You even brought coffee? You’re so prepared. Coffee, get it?”

“A considerate woman is popular, you know.”

“Don’t say that about yourself. It ruins it.”

While holding back tears from having my joke smoothly ignored, I drank the coffee Senpai had brewed. Bitter and delicious! The hot coffee felt perfect for my chilled body. Senpai also drank hers with satisfaction.

“Mmm. It turned out good. I really am high-spec, aren’t I?”

“You’d have no flaws if you didn’t drink.”

“Wow, cheeky. You were enjoying it too, weren’t you?”

Senpai playfully reached out and started kneading my crotch. I panicked. I hadn’t done it in a while, so if she kept doing that—

Twitch twitch.

“Eh? It’s actually getting hard. Hey Tomocchi? We’re outside, you know??”

“I could say the exact same thing right back to you.”

I gave up trying to hide it and let my fully erect cock tent my swim trunks. Runa-senpai looked exasperated.

“Geez, if you walk around with it this big, you’ll get reported~. Can’t be helped, I guess.”

“Eh!?”

I froze. Senpai casually pulled down my swim trunks and took my cock out. Even if there weren’t many people around, we were still outside with my dick fully exposed!?

Senpai gripped my cock, put a finger to her lips, and went “Shhh.”

“I’ll jerk you off♡ Just keep it hidden, okay?”

“Are you serious?”

Even while nervous, the immoral situation made my cock rock hard. Runa-senpai brought it to her mouth and swallowed it.

“N…♡ Salty♡”

“Ooh…”

Senpai was sucking my cock. Out in the open! I hurriedly covered her body with a towel. But my lower half was completely exposed. My lower half was exposed!?

“Kupo kupo♡ Chuu♡ So big♡ My jaw’s gonna come off♡”

Senpai slowly bobbed her head, using her entire mouth to stroke my cock. Her slippery tongue wrapped around it, making my balls tighten.

“Jupu jupu♡ Jupo jupo♡♡ Npu♡ Kupu kupu♡♡”

“Kh! Kua… haa haa…”

While stroking the shaft, she fluttered her tongue inside her mouth, trying to drown my cock in saliva. My cock swelled painfully, preparing to cum.

Right then, a young couple walked nearby.

“So lately my boobs have been feeling tight—”

“You pregnant? Let’s try milking you later.”

“Idiot!”

The couple started bickering right next to us. My spine tingled. I might get seen at any moment, yet here I was outside getting my cock sucked by Senpai, about to cum. I had no right to talk about the class president after this.

“Nfu♡”

Senpai looked up at me with a grin and started moving her head vigorously.

“Jupo! Jupo!♡ Chuu♡ Gupo gupo♡♡ Jyuru jyuru!♡♡”

“Uwaaa…!”

With Senpai’s skilled blowjob, I reached my limit in no time. I grabbed her head, shuddered violently, and unloaded into her hot mouth.

—Byuku! Byuku! Byupu! Byu byu!!

“Npu♡ Nnn~~~♡♡ Nku♡♡ Goku goku♡♡”

Senpai kept my cock deep in her throat, swallowing my semen with audible gulps. Not only that, she sucked hard on my still-cumming cock, drawing out every last drop from my urethra.

“Juuuuuuu~~~♡♡ Nju♡♡ Jyuu jyuu♡♡”

“Aaaaaah…! Shit. That feels way too good…”

She sucked out so much cum. Was Senpai actually a succubus…!?

Still dazed from the afterglow, I quickly looked up. The couple had already walked away at some point. Thank god we weren’t seen. But this thrill… I could get addicted to it.

“Ke pu. That was thick~”

Senpai crawled out from under the towel, still gripping my rock-hard cock, and looked up at me.

“…Want to go somewhere with fewer people?”

“…Yes.”

With both my cock and the initiative taken from me, I could only nod obediently—.

Chapter 38: “Going to the Beach with the Gyaru Senior from Work” (Part 3) ♡

 Runa-senpai pulled me by the arm to a deserted rocky area. There were tide pools everywhere, so it might be popular with people studying marine life, but normal beachgoers didn’t even glance at it. In short, it was the perfect spot for doing things you wouldn’t want others to see.

“It’s nicely hidden by the rocks here. Should be fine.”

Senpai put one hand on a large rock and used the other to pull aside the crotch of her swimsuit. Of course, her delicious-looking pussy was there. Her light pink folds glistened obscenely. I was rock hard and desperate to get inside her.

“You gave me the condom earlier, right? Come on, let’s do it♡”

“You even brought a condom… You’re way too prepared.”

“Better to be overprepared. It might go to waste sometimes, but it can come in handy when you least expect it.”

Still, since condoms are only used for sex, it meant she was expecting this to happen. What a huge pervert.

I rolled the condom onto my cock. Then I lifted one of Senpai’s legs and thrust deep inside her in one go.

—Dochu!!

“Nn♡♡ Aha♡ You’re so hard even after cumming that much earlier♡”

Senpai placed both hands on my shoulders and twisted her hips, actively fucking herself on my cock. Her hip movements were insanely erotic. She was drunk the last time we did it, but she’s this lewd even when sober? So this is what university students—adults—do during sex. I thrust my hips mindlessly.

—Pachu pachu pachu! Buchyu buchyu buchyu!

“Hauun♡♡ Fuu—fuu♡♡ That’s good, it feels so good♡♡ Tomocchi, you’re really good at this♡♡”

“I’m glad you think so… but honestly, I don’t have much composure left.”

The situation was what it was. It didn’t seem like anyone would come here, but there was always a chance. Outdoor sex is such an abnormal situation that it’s hard to get used to.

While rhythmically pounding into her, I stole Senpai’s lips.

“Nchu♡ Rero rero♡ Chuu♡♡ Chupu chupu♡♡ Nchu nuchu♡♡”

Senpai wrapped her arms around my neck, kissed me deeply, and pushed her tongue inside. She licked all over my mouth, exchanging saliva as we moved our hips. A sweet numbness ran down my spine.

I groped her breasts and pulled her bikini top aside. I grabbed her full, soft breasts that were hidden under her tight work uniform and became lost in their plush, sucking sensation.

—Pan pan pan! Pan pan pan pan!!

Our movements became smoother, and both of us were drenched in sweat. We frantically rubbed our most intimate parts together, enjoying the wet contact of our mucous membranes. Sex really does feel amazing. The sense of liberation under the blue sky was addictive too.

“Fufu♡ Let me play with your balls too♡”

“Ugh!?”

Senpai gently massaged my balls. A strange, tickling pleasure surged through me, like something was welling up. My balls literally throbbed. I could almost feel them producing sperm.

“Senpai! Senpai!!”

I ground my hips hard, savoring her thoroughly loosened insides. Senpai twisted her hips like she was dancing, assisting my thrusts. Come to think of it, she did say she took dance lessons. That hip movement is seriously dangerous. I was getting milked dry in no time.

“Tomocchi♡ Your cock is so hard♡ You look like you’re dying to cum♡”

“Why are you still so composed, Senpai!?”

I could only thrust wildly. I’ve heard that a man’s IQ drops sharply right before ejaculation, and I think it’s true. I wonder how it is for women. Senpai still seemed to have enough wits left to toy with me. Damn. Women are so unfair. Especially when they have pussies that feel this good. This is basically her whole body being built for sex!

—Pachu pachu pachu! Zuchun zuchun zuchun!!

“Tomocchi♡ Are you about to cum?”

“Yes! I’m at my limit!”

“Good♡ …Let’s cum together♡”

Senpai squeezed her pussy tight. Her soft walls clamped down hard on my swollen cock. Shit. There’s no way I can hold back! My cock swelled beyond its limit, my balls pulsed, and hot magma surged up my urethra, finally bursting out through the tip!

“Ugh. Oh. Fuu. So good.”

I came pathetically fast inside Senpai. She trembled and breathed heavily, but her expression was mischievous as she savored my orgasm face.

“Fufu. That felt good, didn’t it♡”

“You still have so much energy, Senpai. I’m completely spent.”

“Well, I am your older sister, after all.”

Being an older woman is seriously impressive. My head was still spinning right after ejaculation. We quickly cleaned ourselves up.

Senpai took my arm and smiled playfully.

“How was it?”

“Hmm… Honestly… I still prefer doing it on a bed.”

“Ahaha. But this kind of thrill was nice once in a while, right?”

“Yeah. I wouldn’t mind doing it again sometime.”

Just as an occasional spice, though. If it became a regular thing, it would cause all sorts of problems.

Senpai tied off the used condom and tucked it into her swimsuit.

“We have to take the trash back with us, okay?”

“I really like that side of you, Senpai.”

“Thanks♡”

We returned to the beach. On the way, we had a peaceful conversation that didn’t feel like it came right after sex.

“I think you’re amazing, Runa-senpai. You’re good at cooking, working, studying… You can do everything. I get depressed every time I fail at something. Sometimes I even start hating myself.”

When I rarely showed weakness, Senpai chuckled.

“The first dish I made after I started living alone was peperoncino.”

“Huh?”

I tilted my head, wondering where this was going. Senpai continued calmly.

“I followed the recipe, but I made it without garlic.”

“Eh?”

Peperoncino is a classic pasta made with olive oil, garlic, and chili peppers. Without garlic…?

“Wouldn’t that be flavorless?”

“Yeah. It was just oily and a little spicy, but completely tasteless. I ate it feeling really weird.”

“I thought it’d be fine even without garlic since the recipe didn’t emphasize it,” Senpai said self-mockingly. Then she looked at me and grinned, showing her teeth.

“So yeah, I fail at normal things too. I’ve gotten this far by stacking up failures. So Tomocchi, you should fail a lot and become a proper adult.”

Was that her way of encouraging me? I shrugged.

“You really are cool, Senpai.”

“Eh? What part of that was cool?”

Senpai giggled and took a few dancing steps before turning around to face me.

“I think you’re cool too. For real.”

“I hope I can be.”

We exchanged smiles and walked along the beach for a while. After some time, I called out to Senpai’s back.

“Senpai, what was it like the first time you drank alcohol?”

She turned around with a full-faced smile.

“I thought, ‘Toilets are surprisingly warm!’”

“You puked…”

I shrugged.

Beautiful, kind, cool, smart, good at cooking, and can brew delicious coffee.

But the moment alcohol enters the picture, Runa-senpai becomes a total mess.

I genuinely respect her for that.

Chapter 39: “Childhood Friend ♀, the Blond Blue-Eyed Girl, and the Summer Festival” (Part 1)

During Obon break, I took the Shinkansen with my parents and went to my father’s family home. It was a tomb-visiting trip in name only — really just a big rowdy gathering of relatives. The adults were guzzling alcohol and laughing loudly. Even tolerant ancestors would probably be pissed off at them from the afterlife. Meanwhile, since I couldn’t drink, I stuffed myself with delivered sushi alongside my cousins who were around my age.

“Hey Tomohito, got a girlfriend yet~? You’re handsome like me, so you must be swapping girls left and right!” My drunk uncle kept pestering me, only to get smacked on the head by my dad who said, “He’s not your kid.” My mom chimed in with a tipsy, “I’d prefer it if the men didn’t swap girls around~.” Everyone was pretty wasted.

When I got back, I received a message from Ati: “When can I give you your souvenir?” Since Shiina was also coming over to my room, I invited Ati to join us.

And so, in my old, cramped apartment, two top-tier beautiful girls — Shiina and Ati — were now sitting together. The cheap apartment suddenly felt like a luxury condo.

Ati sat properly on a cushion in seiza, then took out a white package from behind her.

“Tomo. Here’s your souvenir. Please accept it!”

“Ooh! Butter sandwiches! The really good kind. You’re seriously talented.”

“I was torn between that and Jingisukan caramel, but I went with this.”

I patted Ati’s head.

“Look, souvenirs and presents don’t need a joke. They usually fall flat anyway. And if you get someone excited by saying ‘I have a souvenir’ and then give them something lame, it can seriously make them want to kill you.”

Ati tilted her head cutely.

“You sound… oddly experienced with this?”

“Kimio once went on a family trip to Kyoto and brought me back a long, heavy wooden sword as a souvenir. I almost snapped and asked if he wanted me to beat him to death with it.”

“I had a really hard time stopping Okayu back then.”

Shiina gave a bitter smile. Even though it was three years ago, just remembering it still makes my blood boil.

“For you, Shii-chan, I brought this. It’s soap with lots of moisturizing ingredients to make your skin smooth!”

“Waa, I’m so happy! I love you, Ati-chan♪”

“Kyaa♡ Shii-chan, I love you too♡”

The two of them shared a tight, warm hug.

Oh? Yuri? Throw me in there too lol…

…is what I’d like to say, but I’m the type who believes that any guy who gets sandwiched between two girls in a yuri scene deserves to be killed without consequence. Not wanting to interrupt them, I stood up and went to brew some coffee.

“Munch munch. These butter sandwiches are seriously good.”

“Nom nom. This is what Hokkaido is all about, right?”

“Munch munch. I’m gonna get fat eating this much… but I can’t stop!”

We happily enjoyed Ati’s souvenir butter sandwiches with coffee. The rich butter flavor was incredible.

Just then, the sound of taiko drums and flutes came from outside the window. Ati tilted her head curiously.

“Is there a festival? I thought the big one around here was a bit later.”

“That one’s near the sea. This is just a small local festival.”

“It’s a neighborhood association event. But they still have quite a few stalls.”

“Really…!”

Ati was fidgeting. The word “festival” seemed to strike a chord with her. I like festivals too, but I hate crowds, so I never go to the big ones. Still, a small local one might be okay.

“Want to go check it out?”

“Can we!?”

Ati’s face bloomed like a flower. It was so bright I had to squint.

Shiina folded her arms and hummed.

“It’d be nice to wear yukata since it’s a festival, but it’d be hard for Ati-chan to prepare one now. Too bad.”

“Well, some people wear yukata, but most are in regular clothes, right?”

“I have one?”

“Eh?”

Both Shiina and I looked at Ati. She took another bite of her butter sandwich and said it like it was nothing.

“Papa and Mama prepared yukata for me in case I ever go to a festival with friends. They have different sizes prepared for when I grow.”

“You’re seriously spoiled.”

I smiled wryly. Well, if I had a daughter this cute, I’d probably spoil her too.

“If you’d like, Shii-chan, why don’t you come to my house? Mama can help you put it on.”

“I’d love to… but, is that really okay?”

Shiina kept glancing at me. I grinned, showing my teeth.

“It’s fine. Go ahead and visit.”

“What about you, Tomo? Aren’t you wearing a yukata?”

“I’m good. T-shirt and shorts are easier to move in.”

Besides, girls in yukata are eye candy, but guys in yukata have zero demand. This conversation feels familiar somehow…

“Tomo. Thank you for the coffee.”

Ati stood up and took Shiina’s hand.

“Let’s go, Shii-chan! This is my first time inviting a friend over since elementary school.”

“Yeah… Okayu, we’ll meet up at the station later.”

“Got it. Dress up as much as you want.”

After seeing the two off, I brewed myself another cup of coffee. Standing by the window with the mug in hand, I let out a sigh.

“…Yukata, huh~”

I had acted calm in front of them, but I was actually really excited.

…………

……

In the evening, I headed to the station. Shiina had sent a LINE saying they’d arrive soon. Two beautiful girls emerged from the ticket gate. One with striking blonde hair. Both were wearing yukata.

“Okayu. Did you wait long?”

“Tomo! It’s been a while, hasn’t it!”

“Ooh.”

I let out a sound of admiration.

Ati was wearing a yukata decorated with colorful morning glories. It suited her neat and graceful personality perfectly.

Shiina, on the other hand, wore a simple white yukata with red goldfish patterns. It really highlighted how good her figure was.

“You both look amazing. Super cute.”

“Mou… Okayu…”

“Ehehe~♡ Thank you♪”

Shiina blushed shyly while Ati smiled brightly. Their reactions were very different, but both excellent. This really is having flowers in both hands. People passing by kept glancing at them. Understandable — both are eye-catching beauties.

“You two even did your hair nicely. I can’t even imagine how you set it.”

“Ehehe. Mama got really into it.”

“Okayu, Ati-chan’s house is a huge mansion! Her mom is super beautiful too.”

“I see.”

Somehow… well, I had guessed it for a while, but Ati really is a proper young lady. Her speech and mannerisms have that elegance. Of course, Shiina also has that well-bred aura, so she’s not losing either.

“Tomo. I can’t stay out too late, but I want to enjoy the festival to the fullest!”

“Alright. Let’s go, you two. First, we eat.”

“Wait, Okayu. It’s hard to walk in geta.”

“Can’t be helped.”

“Hyah!”

I took Shiina’s hand and interlocked our fingers in a lovers’ hold so we wouldn’t get separated. Shiina turned bright red and looked down.

“I told you… that kind of thing is for couples…”

“Wahaha.”

I started walking in a great mood. Yaaay! Kimio-kun, you watching~?

“I’ll take this hand then!”

Ati grabbed my other hand. Hey now, this is literally flowers in both hands. The guys we passed were shooting us looks of pure envy. This feels amazing!

“Alright, let’s head to the festival!”

“Ooh!”

“O- Ooh…”

The three of us raised our fists.

With different kinds of anticipation in our hearts, we joined the crowd and headed toward the festival grounds—.

Chapter 40: “Childhood Friend ♀, the Blond Blue-Eyed Girl, and the Summer Festival” (Part 2)

The festival venue was a park about a ten-minute walk from the station. It was fairly spacious and usually served as a relaxing spot for locals, but today it was bustling with activity. A yagura stage had been set up in the central square, and red lanterns brightly illuminated the area. Stalls lined the walking paths, and the appetizing smell of sizzling sauce drifted through the air on the breeze.

“Yakisoba! I want some!”

Ati shouted with childlike excitement. Her eyes were sparkling with overflowing appetite. She was already completely caught up in the festival mood.

“Well, it is a classic, but don’t you eat yakisoba all the time? Like cup yakisoba?”

“Cup yakisoba and stall yakisoba are completely different! First of all, cup yakisoba isn’t even grilled, and it’s not even soba. What is cup yakisoba anyway?”

“It’s food, right?”

I patted the head of the overly excited Ati to calm her down as she rambled on. I felt more like a babysitter than anything.

“I’ll go buy some. Okayu, take care of Ati-chan for me.”

The helpful Shiina went over to the stall. I could hear the conversation: “Three yakisoba, please!” “You’re such a cute young lady~! I’ll throw in an extra one!”

“She got an extra one. As expected of Shii-chan, you’re so cute!”

“If you went, you’d probably get another one too. Why don’t you go?”

“I-I’ll… pass.”

Ati fidgeted. As usual, she was in full social anxiety mode. I thought the festival mood might loosen her up, but it wasn’t that easy to overcome.

A short while later, Shiina returned after paying.

“I got an extra one. What should we do?”

“We can just split it three ways. It’s basically like ordering a large portion.”

“Hmm. It smells so good! You can’t get this fragrant aroma from cup yakisoba!”

Ati was acting like a food critic. Cup Yakisoba Critic probably doesn’t pay very well.

We sat down on a nearby bench together and slurped up the sauce-covered yakisoba.

“Slurp slurp. Hafu hafu. It’sh sho good♡ This junky flavor is exactly what festival food should be!”

“You’re eating with a lot of energy, but won’t you get full just from yakisoba?”

“I’ll be fine. Just the smell of this sauce is making me hungry again.”

“You’re a perpetual motion machine.”

She’s normally a cheerful girl, but today Ati was about 30% more energetic. Festival power is terrifying.

“Slurp slurp. Yeah, it’s good, but maybe a bit too strong.”

“Well, that’s part of the charm of festival food.”

“Yeah. It’s good in its own way. Slurp slurp.”

Shiina was clearly enjoying the festival too. She was eating carefully so the sauce wouldn’t splash onto her yukata. This is exactly why I said I’d rather wear a T-shirt. With regular clothes, I don’t have to worry about getting dirty.

“What should we get next? There were quite a few sweet things too.”

“I want something to drink. Maybe ramune.”

“Ramune! A festival classic!”

Ati agreed with Shiina’s suggestion. This time I got up and bought ramune for all three of us.

With a satisfying kashu sound, the marble dropped into the pocket. I put my lips to the opening, tilted it, and let the sweet, fizzy liquid flow in.

“Uun! So fizzy! It’s sweet♡”

Ati drank her ramune with a big smile. Shiina and I looked at each other and instinctively patted Ati’s head.

“Ati-chan is so cute♡”

“You big kid… Drink up.”

“Fueh. What’s going on? Why are you both looking at me with such gentle eyes?”

Ati looked puzzled. I decided not to mention that she was being fully treated like a child.

The steady don don of taiko drums echoed from the yagura, mixing with the sound of flutes and filling the park with that unmistakable festival atmosphere. Quite a few people had gathered around the stage.

“Looks like they’re doing some kind of show.”

“Seems like a comedian is performing.”

“What kind of comedian?”

“Some… guy I don’t know.”

No one famous would perform at a small local festival like this. The big festival near the sea next week apparently gets more well-known comedians and even singers.

“Since we’re here, let’s go watch.”

“A live comedian! I’d love to see that!”

“Sure, but don’t get your hopes up too high.”

I warned them as we headed to the front of the yagura. A comedian with white face paint and an overly ornate kimono was dancing while humming a strange melody.

“I thought it was a cute dandelion~ but it was a dickdandelion~ Damn it!!”

“That’s just a rip-off.”

And a cruder one at that. The original doesn’t even do dirty jokes. I secretly respect the original for not taking the easy route with lewd humor.

“Ahaha. That was a bit vulgar.”

“I don’t really understand what it meant.”

Both of them seemed unimpressed. Well, I’ll add my own critique that they should’ve gone with something safer for families.

We left the stage and went back to the stalls. Ati said she wanted something sweet, so we all bought cotton candy and munched on it.

“It’s delicious, but it makes the area around my mouth all sticky.”

“It’s literally melted sugar spun into threads. Of course it’s sticky.”

“I wonder how many calories we’ve eaten today. I’ll have to work it off with club practice.”

Right on cue, we spotted a shooting gallery stall. Sharp-eyed Ati wasn’t about to miss it.

“Shooting game! I want to try♪”

“Sure, let’s do it.”

“I’m in too.”

We were mostly doing whatever Ati wanted. Since she was the one who wanted to come to the festival, it made sense.

The prizes ranged from snacks to plushies. I warned Ati not to touch the rigged machines the stall keeper was promoting. Those are designed to be impossible to win.

Ati picked up the toy rifle and aimed at a teddy bear plushie.

“I’ll blow that pretty face away!”

—Pon. Roll.

The cork rolled mercilessly across the ground. The plushie didn’t budge.

Ati turned to me with a dissatisfied look.

“Tomo. Isn’t that one also rigged? Isn’t this fraud?”

“That’s just how festivals are. You’ve become a bit more of an adult.”

“Come on, Okayu. Don’t be mean — win it for her.”

“Can’t be helped.”

Shiina elbowed me in the side. I scratched my head and paid the stall keeper. Then I leaned forward, held the rifle with one hand, aimed at the bear’s arm, and fired.

—Pon! Thud… plop.

The cork hit the bear’s arm, knocking it off balance so it fell behind the shelf. The stall keeper smiled wryly, picked up the plushie, and handed it to me with a “Not bad, young man.”

Ati’s eyes sparkled beside me.

“Tomo! You’re amazing! You shifted its center of gravity, right?”

“If you shoot from the front, you don’t have enough power. You need to be clever.”

“Okayu’s always been good at this kind of thing.”

I’m pretty good at finding loopholes in the rules, if I do say so myself.

I handed the plushie to Ati.

“Here, it’s yours.”

“Tomo… Thank you so much♡”

Ati beamed with a radiant smile.

“You really are cool, Tomo♪”

Being praised so openly is embarrassing. To hide it, I roughly ruffled Ati’s hair. I thought she’d get mad because it would mess up her hairstyle, but she just laughed like it tickled.

Before we knew it, the sky had grown dark. The festival really comes alive after dark, but it seemed Ati had a curfew.

“I’m sad to leave, but my curfew is coming up… I must take my leave.”

“I’ll walk you to the station.”

“Yeah. Let’s go, Ati-chan.”

We walked Ati to the station. After watching her wave reluctantly from the other side of the ticket gate, Shiina and I naturally held hands.

“From here on, it’s adults-only time.”

“…You were planning this from the start, weren’t you?”

Shiina gave me a half-lidded stare. Her cheeks were faintly flushed.

I intertwined our fingers and squeezed her hand tightly.

“Let’s go to my place.”

“…Okay.”

The festival atmosphere had Shiina completely in the mood.

With my heart pounding in anticipation, I took Shiina’s hand and slowly walked with her down the path back to my apartment—.