The summer rain has finally come to an end, and slowly, history is changing. Summer break is approaching with different circumstances occurring, only in my personal life because the disasters happening around the world still occurred the same as before.
Yoshito, Eri, and I decided to visit the café, which seemed to have been a lot more empty than usual. Maybe the students are going to various places with breaks coming up.
"I have a good idea, we should go see the fireworks!" Miyuki excitedly made a proposal.
"That does sound nice actually! Let's do it!" Yoshito shared the same excitement.
When this happens, Eri and I would often complain about it, but end up giving in to their ideas in the end.
"I think I'll pass, I'm not a big fan of fireworks."
"I'll pass as well, I don't like big crowds." Eri and I shared the same thought.
"Hey! Don't be lame, we earned our chance to enjoy summer vacation and enjoying it is what we should do!" Miyuki pouted.
All of the time, Miyuki would always come up with a point to enjoy every season, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. I've always been convinced too easily, but I can't let it happen this time. Now I won't deny it, I also don't like big crowds, but I just want Miyuki and Yoshito to go with each other on their own. If we were to keep doing things together as a group then Miyuki would feel guilty about having romantic feelings towards someone within the group.
"I think you and Yoshito should go, you guys will still have a great time." I suggested it casually.
"Really? What do you think, Yoshito?" Miyuki turned to him.
"The both of you are lame." Yoshito sighed as he shook his head.
"Going out somewhere with a big crowd of people in the summer heat seems exhausting." Eri said in a monotone voice.
"That is a fair point, but if you keep thinking like that, then you'll never do anything fun, you have to at least allow yourselves to have some fun!" Yoshito gave us puppy eyes.
"He's right, guys! We've all mentioned never going to one before, this is our chance." Miyuki slammed her hands on the table.
"…"
"…"
"Do you wanna go… Yoshito?" Eri slowly turned to me as she asked.
Everyone is now looking at me.
Shit, guess I have no choice now.
"Yeah… sure."
"Yayyy! Looks like I'll be wearing my Yukata."
"Wow, looks like you'll be going all out for this, not bad." Yoshito praised Miyuki.
"Of course! You're going to wear one as well right, Eri?" Miyuki asked as if there was an obvious answer.
Eri was never the type to wear a yukata, I've never seen her wear a dress, prior to Miyuki and I's wedding.
"Why not? I'll be sure to go all out for this as well."
"Whaaat?!" Yoshito and I exclaimed at the same time.
"What was that reaction for?" Eri angrily looked at me and Yoshito.
"It's nothing… guess it just surprised us."
To my surprise, she ended up blushing as I said that, and seemed a bit embarrassed as well.
"You know, I could wear a yukata as well." Eri frowned.
"You have one?" Yoshito asked.
"Am I not allowed to have one?"
"N-nah.. I didn't mean it like that.." Yoshito looked around to avoid her glare.
Back then, the four of us went to the fireworks display as well, but Eri didn't want to wear a yukata, Miyuki suggested it but Eri was not convinced.
Do these changes mean something?
We all discuss our plans, and ultimately decide to meet up at a station.
"Oh hey! You're already here? Didn't expect that." Yoshito said, jogging towards me from a distance.
"Me neither actually, guess I must be excited about this."
"Of course you are! We get to see the girls in a yukata, now that's exciting." He nudged me with a cheeky smile.
"I expected Miyuki to wear one, but Eri… she caught me off guard."
"It caught me off guard as well, anyways the sun is pretty close to setting, are you sure we all decided on the right time to meet up?" I curiously asked as I heard shouting from a distance.
"Yoshito! Yasuhito! You're here already?!" Miyuki called out from afar, waving at us.
"How long have you guys been here?"
"We actually got here not too long ago." Yoshito pushed me aside to speak to Miyuki.
"Sooo, do you guys have anything to say?" Miyuki spun around and smiled at us.
Her yukata was bright yellow and had little red flowers in different parts of it, looking very pretty. Her hair, which is normally worn straight down, was put into a bun with a rose placed on it, matching with her yukata. The word lovely suits her best.
"It looks gr-"
"You look very mature today, Miyuki!" Yoshit cut me off.
"Wow, really?" Miyuki's cheeks reddened.
"Normally you're cute, but you're more of a lovely lady today."
"Hey! I'm always a lady ya know." Miyuki placed her hands on her hips.
"Anyways, that's enough about me." Miyuki clapped her hands together.
"Yasuhito, aren't you forgetting something?" Miyuki stared at me, frowning.
"…"
"You really don't know?" She sighed in exasperation.
"Fineee, I'll help you out here, what I'm talking about is….Eri right behind me!" She then moves to the side and reveals Eri.
"Woahhhh!" Yoshito and I exclaim, looking very impressed.
"They were going to see you either way, Eri, so there was no point in hiding behind me." Miyuki pat Eri on the back.
Eri's wearing a light orange yukata with white flowers decorated all over, modest, but also quite striking. The colors and design really do match her very well.
"It's not polite to stare like that, you know." Eri glared at us, appearing shy as she's blushing.
"I'm sorry, Eri, you just look very pretty. I rub the back of my neck.
"Definitely! I think you look great!" Yoshito gave a thumbs up.
"We're just used to seeing your tomboy-ish look, so this surprises us, in a good way of course." I return.
"Well…thank you." She shyly played with her shoulder length hair.
"Now, let's head over to the spot, the sun is setting." Miyuki began to walk ahead of us.
The place closest to the launch point was already filled up, so we had to look for another spot near there, luckily we ended up finding a grassy area that gave us a better angle to view the fireworks with a few people around.
I spread a blanket I bought from a nearby store so we could all sit.
"Wow, thank you! You sure did think ahead, Yasuhito." Miyuki immediately sat down.
"Woah, the ground is pretty warm."
Eri, Yoshito, and I took our turn to sit down.
"You're right, and it feels pretty nice." Eri began to pat the ground.
It's not surprising, especially with the summer heat, but it's like a soft warmth that puts anyone at ease.
There are quite a few people around. Next to us there was a person loudly rambling about something that I shouldn't be worried about, maybe he wants to receive attention from someone within his group, others were laughing along with each other, enjoying their young days. It makes me a bit emotional, considering how things were left off before appearing here again.
"You guys want something to drink? I made snacks as well." I took off the backpack I had.
"You're just like a mom." Yoshito randomly said.
"…"
"Alright, anyways, it's really not that big of a deal." I placed the snacks on the blanket.
"Amazing, they look simple but are actually pretty unique looking at the same time." Eri began with her praise.
Miyuki stayed silent throughout this.
"It's not fair." Miyuki murmured to herself.
"Huh? Did you say something, Miyuki?" I turned to her.
"I said it's not fair!" She yelled out.
"…" I stared at her, confused.
Both Eri and Yoshito looked confused as well.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"Secretly knowing how to cook… you got a head start, not fair!" She aggressively pointed at the snacks.
"When we first met, you said you only knew how to make fried rice!"
"Oh! So that's what you meant." I sighed in relief.
After that, she kept on asking plenty of questions, like when and how I learned to cook, but I just kept going on with the lies.
"Cheers!" We all raised a toast before the fireworks show started as we were a bit thirsty.
And now the fireworks show begins.
"Woahhh!" Plenty of impressive expressions can be heard around us.
Many beautiful lights are spread throughout the night sky, with the sounds of explosions everywhere.
"They're so beautiful.." Miyuki's profile glowed with the lights of the fireworks.
She's even more beautiful, there's no doubt that the reason is she's in love.
Yoshito leaned over close to her and told her something, with their hands almost touching. I can't hear any words that they're saying, but it's possible to hear how lively their voices are.
An enormous red firework shunned the night sky, making the people around applaud.
"I guess I do like fireworks a lot more than I expected." Eri whispered into my right ear, giving me a shy smile, one that I've rarely seen from her.
"Yeah, I guess I do as well." I whispered back, giving her a smile as well, as we stared at each other for a while.
Yeah, her smile is definitely welcoming.