Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Wow! That man is so good!"
"Yes! He skillfully hit all the targets! His movement is smooth, I wonder if his hobby is shooting?"
"Aw~ He gets the cutest plush toy! It is for his girlfriend?"
"What girlfriend? Don't you see their matching rings? They are a married couple!"
"I want a handsome man to shoot the targets for me too!"
Even though the chatters were nonstop around him, Ren didn't pay them any attention. He handed the toy gun back to the confused stall owner.
"Excuse me?" Ren knocked on the counter when he saw there was no movement coming from the elder man. "My wife's gift, please."
"Oh! I'm sorry!" The owner quickly went to retrieve the cat plush toy, with a heavy heart he handed the big and soft toy to the tall man in front of him. "Con... congratulations!"
Ren nodded once. He immediately went back to Tsubaki's side. His wife's facial expression wasn't good.
What happened?
While Ren was thinking of her complex expression on her face, Tsubaki was thinking of something else as her eyes fixated on the shooting stall. There was a hint of disbelief in her eyes.
Wait a minute...
That was it?
Tsubaki was in a daze when Ren took the croquettes cup from her hand and placed a big cat plush toy in her arms. She was still couldn't comprehend what had happened even after he lead her away from the shooting stall. There were faint remarks of awe coming from the festival-goers coming from behind.
That... was it?
Tsubaki snapped from her trance. She sharply turned her head, looking at her husband with narrow eyes. Her brows knitted together into a straight line.
"What it is?" Ren asked while munching on her croquettes, it didn't escape his notice how she had been in a daze since the time he finished shooting and gave her the plush toy.
She should be happy, right?
"You're done? Just like that?" Tsubaki asked in confusion, she stared at her husband with doubt and wonder clearly written on her face.
"What?" Ren was caught off guard with her questions. It take him a moment before he could finally register what she was talking about. "Do you mean... about the shooting game?"
"Yes!" Tsubaki quickly nodded. "I didn't even get a proper look of you holding the toy gun and now I already got this toy?"
Tsubaki raised the plush toy for him to see, her eyes were narrowed as she felt dissatisfaction in her heart. Ren laughed out loud, he didn't expect for her to be pressed on such a matter.
"How about this? We'll go back to the stall and I'll let you see how handsome and skillful I am while shooting the targets. Sounds good?" He lifted one eyebrow in amusement, trying to appease his wife. "What do you say?"
Tsubaki pursed her lips. She glanced at the shooting stall behind. By seeing how dejected the owner looked once he caught her gaze, she knew it was a no. The poor old man hadn't expected to meet a customer who could finish all the targets in one go.
Feeling sorry for the owner, Tsubaki shook her head.
"Never mind, I'd have plenty of time to see you shooting targets. We still have lots of summer festivals this year and the upcoming years," Tsubaki answered casually. "I could wait for another time."
Ren was baffled. She had obviously thinking ahead of time. He smiled happily as he brought her into his arms.
"Darling? Why?" Tsubaki asked in confusion. This man sure loved to hug her without any warning.
"It's nothing, sweetheart," Ren said softly as he let her go. "I just want to hug you. Come, let's go to another stall."
"Okay..."
The husband and wife walked to the next lane. Once again Ren bought Tsubaki food once he saw how sparkling her eyes were when she saw a stall selling yakitori. He could only smile helplessly as he handed the food to his wife.
"You've eaten so much, are you still hungry?" Ren opened a bottled water and gave it to her.
They were sitting at one of the benches provided by the festival organizer. The benches were facing the beach crowded by people. The fireworks display would begin in a minute.
Tsubaki accepted the drink gratefully. She smiled coyly as she answered, "I'm eating for two now. Could you just let me eat in harmony, hubby?"
Ren stifled a laugh once he heard her cheeky reply. His eyes went to her flat tummy. A smile bloomed on his handsome face when he thought of the little bean growing in her womb.
"Alright, you could eat anything you want but remember to put some restraint, okay?" He finally went along with her. It was okay, this was their first summer festival this year. He shouldn't be too overbearing with her. Ren added, "I don't want you to have stomach ache later, sweetheart."
"Yay~ Thank you, darling!" Tsubaki lifted up her chin, she pressed her lips on a corner of his.
Ren smiled, he returned the kiss on her forehead.
"Ah! The show is about to start!" Tsubaki gasped once she heard the signal coming from the organizers. Her eyes quickly went to the sky.
Ren glanced at her face full of anticipation. He smiled fondly as he recalled the surprise he had for her. She would definitely love it.
In a minute, the fireworks display began.
"Wow!" Tsubaki gasped in awe, she was totally enjoying the show.
One by one, the fireworks exploded beautifully on the sky. The loud sounds coming from the explosions and the cheering from the festival-goers spread in the entire area. The team handling the fireworks was a professional, they created many amazing displays for the festival.
"Darling! Look! It's a heart-shaped fireworks!" Tsubaki was obviously pumped up everytime she saw the colorful explosion on the sky. She tugged at his sleeve, urging him to see it.
"Yes, sweetheart," Ren smiled. He threw his gaze to the night sky. "There's more to come. You'd love it."
"I love it!" Tsubaki laughed in glee.
The sky was dark as soon as the last firework exploded. The crowd cheered and clapped for the amazing display. A few of them walked back to leave the beach area. Tsubaki was actively looking at the fireworks team when she saw they were preparing for another display.
"Eh? I thought they have already finished," said Tsubaki absentmindedly.
Ren just smiled at her mutterings.
Soon, the display began again, attracting the crowd.
"We have additional display this year?" One of the locals spoke with his friends not far from the couple.
"I heard there's some changes. It'd be a good one. Don't leave yet!"
Tsubaki was eyeing the sky, eagerly anticipating the next show.
Then, the fireworks once again being launched to the sky.
"Darling! The fireworks begins again!" The excited Tsubaki looked at her husband who was smiling mysteriously at her. "Eh? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Ren laughed softly. "Look at the display first and then you'd know."
Tsubaki nodded obediently before she once again looked at the sky. When she saw it, her eyes widened as the fireworks exploded one by one.
They were letters in English alphabets.
I.
Love.
You.
"Wow! The fireworks spelled I Love You!" A girl exclaimed in a loud voice. "This is the first time for me to see this!"
"Is this a confession?" A man asked. "This costs lots of money, you know?"
Tsubaki felt the corners of her eyes hot with tears as she suddenly got a hunch. She wanted to look at him but her gaze was still fixed to the sky. The coming letters formed on the dark summer sky.
Tsubaki.
I Love You, Tsubaki.
Another heart-shaped fireworks followed the short sentence, ending the display.
"Wow! Who's this Tsubaki? Her boyfriend sure loves her a lot!"
"Sigh... It's such a grand confession. I wonder when could I get mine?"
"Do you know who are they? I'd love to see them!"
In the midst of the awe coming from the crowd, Tsubaki could only see him. He was smiling so softly at her, as if he was looking at his priceless treasure. Her tears finally trickled down her cheeks.
"Ren... Darling..." Tsubaki choked back a sob. She was truly touched by the surprise tonight. She had never thought for him to make such a confession to her in this way. "Darling..."
"My pregnant wife is so easy to feel touched now," Ren said teasingly. He rubbed her head softly as he smiled, his hands fell to the sides of her face, "I love you, Tsubaki, my wife, my sweetheart."
Tsubaki couldn't contain her emotions any longer. She quickly pounced on him, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly. Ren smiled as he encircled her waist, one of his hands gently ran down her back.
"I love you too, Ren," Tsubaki whispered in between her sobs. "My husband, my darling."
"En."
Seeing the couple embraced each other tearfully, the nearby onlookers had quickly grasped for whom the confession for.
It was for the young lady in light blue yukata, coming from the young man beside her. A few people took their photos as they smiled happily, getting infected with the couple's happiness.
It didn't escaped their notice how the two wedding rings sparkled under the moon.