When I brought my childhood friend back home after a long time, she suddenly started undressing and said, "I want you to hold me..." - Chapter 22

There were many people all around me.

And, in front of us, was a pitch-black lake illuminating the clear night sky.

The lake was gently rippling, and the trees rustled in the wind.

In the back, children are running around and the sound of a mother scolding them can be heard, making me involuntarily chuckle.

“–Is something the matter?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

“?”

“Really, it’s nothing…”

Although she didn’t really believe my words, Aoi reluctantly turned her gaze back to the lake.

As the lights from the stalls reflected one by one on the lake, creating a fantastical, swaying scene, the announcement played again.

“Thank you for coming today. The fireworks festival, held once every four years, will begin shortly, so please look up at the starry night sky!”

As the announcement ended and the microphone made a loud popping sound, the people around us began to stir and looked up at the sky. The families were excited, couples held hands and looked up together.

Not wanting to be left behind, the two of us also looked up at the sky.

After a few seconds, I also glanced at her face out of the corner of my eye. She had opened her mouth slightly open and her eyes were fluttering as she looked up.

For a moment, I thought that she looked really pure and innocent.

–At that moment.

**Hyuuuu…… Pan! Pan! Pan!**

The characteristic explosion sound of the fireworks resounded in the beautiful, starry night sky.

Because of the sudden I jumped slightly as it was really unexpected, while Aoi who was next to me patted my shoulder and whispered,

“…It’s beautiful.”

She pointed her index finger to the night sky and her voice, which seemed to be drowned out by the fireworks being released one after the other as they pointed at the sky, echoed in my ear.

Startled by her words, I immediately looked up at the sky…

There, spreading out before me, were countless fireworks in the starry sky.

Even though I knew they were just fireworks, the colorful, mesmerizing grains of light were released into the open sky above the lake, made it impossible for me to look away from them.

The stars that had been shining beautifully in the mountains had somehow diminished their light, and the night sky was filled with colorful sparks, as if even the stars were watching.

The dry sound rang out, and then fell like a shooting star.

For a few minutes, Aoi and I watched the whole scene with our mouths opened in awe.

The awkward atmosphere from earlier seemed to have disappeared, and we felt a deep sense of peace.

A rainbow-colored flower field burst out all at once.

“…”

A soundless, wordless sound drifted between the two of us.

Wrapped in a world where they couldn’t hear anything, we emptied their heads and could only see the world illuminated by the fireworks.

From one end to the other, we could see variously colored flowery patterns appearing, bursting, and then disappearing.

“…..”

Again, a soft sound escaped.

Drawing a straight tail and disappearing, we couldn’t help but gawk at the sky while being enchanted by it.

Around us, there were various people around. Some had become accustomed to the sound of the fireworks and were chatting with friends, while the voices of children happily playing with cotton candy could be heard in the background. Families were looking up at the sky and pointing, chatting happily.

The glowing red and brown sparks were reflected in the smoke, making a thunderous sound like lightning.

Watching the seemingly never-ending fireworks, we had lost track of how many minutes it had been since the show started. We were in danger of even forgetting where we were. We felt like we were being drawn in, disappearing like mist.

I felt an indescribable feeling as I watched the noisy fireworks, like I was looking at myself.

‘…What am I doing?’

Suddenly, I started having some doubts.

Before I knew it, I had come all the way here without properly accepting my childhood friend’s confession, running away. I remembered that on that day, both of us had made some mistakes. But unlike me, Aoi didn’t run away.

Aoi was acting as usual, and sometimes she was a little odd, but she still faced me resolutely.

Trying hard all the time…

That’s probably why she invited me on today’s trip. She thought about it and dressed up carefully, and when we were going to go together, the atmosphere felt a little awkward. I should have felt the usual warmth of her hand when they touched.

But still…..

I just kept running away.

Intuition? Denial? Did I really not know if I liked her?

Wait, what am I even thinking? 

Was I denying it all along because of a mere gut feeling?

How could I even possibly think of something so rubbish.

I was just pretending to think about it, without really paying much attention to it. And now when I was going to accept her confession, I was afraid that my feelings for her were made up and not true?

Just what the hell is wrong with me?

I even promised her to give a proper answer by tonight.

My thoughts were rummaging all over the place.

I could clearly feel the blood rushing through my veins.

If that’s the case, then the thing I should say is– I tried standing up after making up my mind..

It was just after I made up my mind.

Three large sparks with long, extended tails shot up in the sky with a strange sound.

The fragments of the sparkling fireworks exchanged pops and crackles, and just when a large, black mass seemed to stop at the top of the night sky –

—It drew a huge arc and bursted.

“What the—!”

At that moment, Aoi leaned her shoulder towards me in surprise at the unusually large fireworks and sound. She tightly grasped my hand, which was resting on the bench.

“Ugh…”

“—Ah, sorry…”

For some reason, we could both hear a voice being drowned out, and both of us made expressions that we couldn’t put into words.

However, such an expression brought back memories that were buried deep within me.

‘…I’ve seen this before.’

It was the story of the night when I, a sixth-grade elementary school student, saw Aoi in a yukata for the first time. That day wasn’t just about feeling curious after seeing the yukata and thinking it was pretty.

There was a continuation to that.

Maybe it was because it had been a long time since we went to see fireworks, or maybe it was because the vividness of the yukata had drowned it out, but I had even forgotten about it.

However, as soon as I saw Aoi’s embarrassed and yet sad expression, I immediately remembered the events.

“It’s okay to go, right?” His parents gave him a push from behind, and I casually took Aoi’s hand in her yukata and led her to a spot where they could see the fireworks that he had found the day before.

“This spot is better for seeing the fireworks, Aoi.”

“There aren’t many people… is it okay to go in here?”

“Hmm, maybe? Well, it’s probably okay… Yeah, it’ll be fine here!”

“U-um… sure…”

“Are you that anxious?”

“No, it’s not that…I just…”

“Ah! You’re worried about getting scolded by your mom, right!”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Hahaha!”

I laughed for a bit before pulling Aoi’s hand again.

Without looking at her, who nodded awkwardly, I took her out to a bench and made her sit on it. We had a meaningless conversation for a while, talking about school and memories of the school trip, until after a few tens of minutes passed.

The announcement played and the fireworks all went off at once.

The fireworks festival was held at a large river in the city, and a considerable number of people lined the riverbank on the opposite side. Of course, there were also food stalls, and it was famous enough that people who lived close to the river in the city could see it from their roofs or balconies, and the next day at school would be filled with talk of the fireworks.

That’s why everyone was normally smiling and enjoying the view.

But even then, Aoi was different. She never even wore a yukata, let alone go somewhere with just her parents. But I didn’t think anything of it.

Looking back now, I’m sure that at that time, the decision to transfer had already been made. I transferred halfway through my first year of junior high for various reasons, but maybe there was a possibility that I would transfer immediately from that day. No, that must be it, because it doesn’t add up otherwise.

“It’s beautiful,” I said, looking up at the night sky.

“Yeah…”

We watched the fireworks disappearing into the sky in silence.

“I wonder if we’ll be able to see it again next year.”

I responded to Aoi’s murmured words with a murmur of my own.

“We’ll definitely be able to see it.”

I had no certainty. If Aoi was always by my side. So I thought we’d be able to see it.

“Yeah…”

Saying it in a sad tone, she squeezed my hand.

“…Hmm?”

“We’ll definitely see it, okay?”

With tears in her eyes and a painful-looking smile that seemed about to cry, she squeezed my hand even tighter.

Surprised by her indescribable expression, I reassured her with my words that we’d be able to see it.

She’s probably anxious that she might be rejected if she lets go of the hand she’s been squeezing tightly because of the unpleasant thoughts going through her head and her dislike of her own insignificance.

Before the unpleasant thoughts passed and she couldn’t stand the feeling of her own worthlessness any longer, I found myself hugging Aoi.

“…I’m sorry!”

“Huh…?!”

“Aoi, I really like you…I really, really like you!! I wouldn’t have come to a place like this with you otherwise!”

“…..!?”

“I’m sorry for dragging you along…I’m really sorry…”

“…Uh…um…”

“I accept your confession…I love you too!”

I hugged Aoi tightly, as if wrapping her in my arms. I could feel her large breasts pressing against my chest, but I still hugged her tightly, without any intention to let her go.

The fireworks going off around us made a loud noise and spread flashes of light, drowning out our words.

“Is this okay…?”

And then, Aoi, who had been maintaining her composure until now, let out a sob on my shoulder.

“It’s okay…”

“I’m…um…I’m weak…”

“I’m the one who’s been running away, so I’m the weak one…”

“…Waah!!…”

Tears overflowed from her eyes and streamed down her face.

The light from the fireworks was reflected in the tears, shining brightly. I tightly hugged Aoi as she cried on my chest, and closed my eyes in the world where only the sound of the fireworks echoed.

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TL : Zenon#4120