Kasumi, ever the optimist, changed the topic with a burst of excitement. "Everyone! Look!" She pointed at the stars, her childlike wonder shining through.
We all looked at the stars in the night sky.
"They're beautiful," Saaya murmured, her gaze fixed on the sparkling night sky.
Rimi, who had been quiet until now, softly spoke up, her voice carrying a sense of wonder, "It's like... a sea of stars."
Arisa, usually the most composed, couldn't help but smile as she stared at the celestial display. "I've always liked looking at the stars."
Tae, as mysterious as ever, simply nodded in agreement, her eyes still fixed on the vast expanse of the night sky.
It's as if seeing thousands of gems embedded in the sky. It is a spellbinding moment that can make you forget about the whole world while you stare at the tiny Diya twinkling ever so gently.
They whisper secrets to the world below, painting the darkness with their brilliance. In their infinite beauty, they remind us of the vastness of the universe and the magic that lies within.
With every twinkle and glimmer, they inspire us to reach for the stars and chase our own dreams.
I jolt back to consciousness before turning to face them and grinning at them. "Okay, everyone. Let's head home."
We gathered our things and headed towards the bus stop. Kasumi, ever the bundle of energy, was reluctant to leave the starry sky behind. "Ehh? Already? Can't we look at the stars first?" she pouted.
Arisa chimed in, "Come on now, we don't want our parents to be worried about us, right?"
"Right, I don't want my sister to be worried about me, hehe..." Rimi added with a shy smile.
We all nodded in agreement, understanding the need to return home, and headed to the bus stop. It didn't take long for the bus to arrive and we boarded, settling into our seats.
Again... The stars are right in our view.
An hour later, we arrived back in town and disembarked from the bus, watching it drive away into the distance. As we stood on the familiar streets, I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort returning to a place I now considered home.
"Oh, Yamabuki Bakery," I remarked, my eyes drawn to the sign and the delectable display of bread in the window.
Tae, ever the enthusiast, suggested, "While we're at it, let's buy some."
"Agree!~" Rimi chimed in.
With unanimous approval, we walked inside the bakery.
It was my first time seeing the interior, and I was pleasantly surprised. The air was filled with a clean, slightly sweet, yeasty aroma, like inhaling a warm blanket on a cold winter day.
"Oh? Saaya, welcome back~" a woman behind the counter greeted with a warm smile.
"I'm home, Mother," Saaya replied with a grin.
"Good evening!~" the rest of us chimed in.
The woman noticed my presence and turned her attention to me. "Oh? Are you new here?"
I replied respectfully, "Y-Yes, ma'am."
Uwah... I'm slightly embarrassed for some reason.
"Hehe, so polite. Feel free to look around."
Just then, two children emerged from a nearby door.
"Junjun~ Sanan~" Kasumi greeted them, her face lighting up as she hugged both of them. "Hehehe~"
They must be Yamabuki-san's younger siblings. They were undeniably adorable.
Meanwhile...
I turned to Tae, Rimi, and Arisa concentrated on the selection of bread, a man entered through the front door.
"Oh? You guys are back. How was the trip?" he inquired, a warm smile on his face as he turned to me. "A new face, hello there."
"G-Good evening," I greeted him with a respectful bow.
"Yeah, good evening," he responded, gesturing for me to be less formal. "Feel free to look around."
I nodded, "Yeah, Thank you."
Saaya excused herself, leaving to get changed upstairs, while the rest of us remained in the bakery, contemplating our choices among the delicious-looking bread.
"What do you guys recommend?" I inquired, my gaze fixed on the enticing baked goods.
"Choco-cornet!" Rimi and Tae chorused in unison.
"I recommend Melon Bread," Arisa stated.
Kasumi joined in with enthusiasm, "Choco-cornet!"
I turned to Kasumi and greeted her two younger siblings, who had appeared by her side. The little girl introduced herself with a bright smile, "My name is Yamabuki Sana!" Her younger brother followed, "J-Jun..."
"I'm Nakasone Kyo. Nice to meet you two," I replied, flashing them a gentle smile.
Sana beamed brightly in response.
Ah... I wish I had younger siblings too and not a sister who uses her day off to laze around.
Tae interrupted our little introduction, saying, "Sorry, guys, I've got to go back home now," as she held her phone.
"Take care on your way home."
"It seems she was in a hurry. She didn't even get a chance to buy bread," Arisa sighed.
"Well, she probably had things to do."
"Nakasone-san, Let's buy all of it!" Rimi said with her eyes sparkling.
"Yeah, sure."
We decided on choco-cornets and melon bread. Surprisingly, Ushigome bought a whole bag of choco-cornets
I didn't expect it.
And so we bid farewell to Saaya's parents and Saaya herself, as we headed toward Ushigome's house.
Well, It's rather a hassle to tell everything plus it's almost 9 PM.
After successfully escorting Ichigaya and Ushigome to their house, I was about to continue walking when Toyama suddenly stopped me. She tugged at my arm, and I turned to her. "Toyama-san?"
She hesitated for a moment, looking down, and then back up at me with determination in her eyes. "Nakasone-kun... Wait, no... Kyo!"
I was taken aback as she used my first name. "Toyama-san...? What's wrong?"
"Kyo... from now on! Call me Kasumi!"
I blinked in surprise, not quite sure what was happening, but seeing her earnest expression made me want to comply. "K-Kasu...mi."
"Kyo."
"Kasumi."
She beamed at me, her face lighting up with a smile. "Anyway! Let's go!" And with that, she took off running at full speed, leaving me to follow in her wake.
Eh? What's that all about!?