After the twenty minute break, they finally started to shoot the second batch of fireworks. As planned, the remaining three thousand fireworks would be set off simultaneously.
Compared to the first batch, they'd be adding more variations to the fireworks. There'd be ones that would resemble particular well-known characters and various other shapes that'd keep the audience entertained.
During the thing, somehow, Umi found me with my mouth half-opened again. It felt embarrassing. I thought I was a changed man after the first time, but it seemed like I was still the same old me.
"…Everything will be over soon, huh?"
"Mhm. Time went by quickly."
Currently, there were only around a hundred fireworks left, waiting to be shot. Those were a special arrangement of fireworks (they were called star mine) that would serve as a signal of the festival's end.
It made me wonder what would happen next year. If they were to hold another festival, I guess they'd be holding it here again, but by that time, maybe not all of us would be able to come to see it again.
After a brief pause, the remaining hundred or so fireworks finally hit the night sky, lighting it up with colorful lights, followed by the loud sound of explosions.
"Let's come back here again next year, Umi."
"…Of course. We'll come back with everyone here."
"Yeah."
While it would be nice if we were to go here only with the two of us, we couldn't really do just that. There wouldn't be many times for our group to hang out together like this.
All five of us were connected by my friendship with Umi.
There was only a year and a half left before our high school life ended. I wanted to make good memories with Umi, that was a given, but I also wanted to make good memories with the rest of them.
At that moment, the last shot came, it was bigger and prettier than anything that had come out so far. It flashed brilliantly before disappearing, prompting a huge applause from the crowds.
'That was amazing! See you again next year!' It felt like they hid that message inside their applause.
"Ah~ It was fun! My neck hurts though…"
"I feel you. My shoulders are all stiff. Seki, I'll give you special permission to give them a good massage."
"And why should I do that? Both your hands are intact, you can do it yourself, Nitta!"
"So cold! I can't help it then! Rep, will you do the honor?"
"…Obviously, I'll refuse…"
"Me too. Yuu, I'll leave her to you."
"Oh jeez! Fine, come here Ninacchi!"
"Woah, thank you, Yuuchin~ You really are the only one on my side here~"
"No, I don't think that's the case…"
After the fireworks display was over, we naturally started talking to each other. We talked about what happened in the morning, our change of plans at lunch time, me getting lost, our impression of the fireworks and many more. Various topics came unprompted and the atmosphere around us was rowdy to say the least.
A lot of things happened recently, from Nitta-san asking me out so suddenly to the relationship between Amami-san and Nozomu. Since the sports festival, there were a lot of things going on, but at this moment, we forgot about those things and enjoyed ourselves together.
'I wish this kind of atmosphere could last forever…' As I was thinking about that while walking, I noticed the crowds had dispersed.
"Alright, now that we've arrived at the station, we can go on our ways. Reiji-kun has already fallen asleep, so I'll go back home with Shizuku. What are you going to do, Maki?"
"I know I brought it to myself, but I'm tired after getting lost, so I guess I'll head home too… Uh, Umi-san, can you not pull on my yukata?"
"Your clothes are still in my place, so if you want them back, you have to come with me."
"Are you really trying to keep them hostage now? Nah, I'll get them tomorrow. I'll also wash the yukata and return it tomorrow…"
Of course, if possible, I wanted to spend more time with Umi, but it wasn't like I could just indulge myself this time. I knew that Sora-san would let me stay overnight if I were to ask her, but with Shizuku-san and Reiji-kun around… Yeah, there was no way that I'd be that thoughtless…
"…Oi, Umi."
"W-What? No matter what you'll say, I'll go with him to his house!"
"…Seriously, you… Whatever, just go home after you get him to his house. Don't even think about troubling Mom tonight. And, Maki, whatever it is that she asks you later, refuse it."
"O-Okay…"
And with that, Riku-san's group of three went back to Umi's house. Nothing really happened tonight, other than me getting lost, but thanks to Riku-san and Shizuku-san acting as our guardians, we were able to enjoy the festival without worry. I really should say my thanks to them when I meet them again.
"…Alright, we should head home soon too. Personally, I want us to hang out a little longer, but looking at the time, it isn't like there's a place we could just hang out at…"
"Okay, I'll be going with you, Ninacchi, since we're going in the same direction and all! I feel like talking more since I joined later than everyone else… Oh, right, do you want to come with us, Nozomu-kun? You know, since you're also going in the same direction and all…"
"…Sorry, I gotta pass. I came by bike today, you see… Also, I have to go home early since I have morning practice tomorrow…"
"Ah, sorry, I didn't know… I thought you'd be lonely by yourself, Nozomu-kun, but I guess I was getting ahead of myself, huh?"
"No, no, it's fine! Don't worry about it!"
Thanks to my conversation with Nozomu prior to this, I managed to notice the air of awkwardness between the two.
It made me wonder what was in Umi and Nitta-san's mind after seeing those two.
In any case, the five of us went our separate ways. I went home with Umi, Amami-san with Nitta-san and Nozomu went home by himself.
"Hm? What's wrong, Maki? I know I'm pretty in this yukata and you're smitten by it, but aren't you used to it by now?"
"No, it isn't like that— Well, it's true that you look pretty in whatever you wear…"
"Hehe, so do you want me to wear this yukata again next year?"
"…Yeah."
"Pervert~"
"Wait, what do you mean pervert? I haven't done anything?"
"What, you expect me to forget the words you told me earlier today? Also, do you think I didn't notice that you were staring at the back of my neck? C'mon~"
"B-Both is something that you should do, don't you think?"
"Nah, I don't think so~"
Perhaps she expected I'd react like this as she seemed to be in a really good mood.
No matter how she was dressed, I'd always find her pretty and my love toward her wouldn't change. But, in cases like this, when she had put in more effort to dress up, I had to give her a proper compliment even though it was embarrassing.
Anyway, I've said it multiple times already, but I felt the need to emphasize a fact. My girlfriend was the prettiest girl in the world. She was prettier than Amami-san, Nitta-san or any other girls out there.
"That idiotic couple over there! It's fine if you want to flirt, but can't you do it after the rest of us are out of here?!"
"Seriously, you two! I'm burning with jealousy over here~"
"Well, gotta agree with Amami-san here. Get a room, you two."
""…""
Their voices pulled us back to reality. We ended up bowing our heads to three, who were still yelling at us, before quickly leaving the station.
After walking for a while and making sure that those three were out of our sights, we let out a sigh of relief.
"…We got carried away like usual."
"We've always been like this ever since we started going out, huh?"
"Yeah… Hopefully we'll stay like this forever."
"Of course. We'll stay like this forever and ever…"
As if confirming our feelings to each other again, we walked side by side, intertwining our hands.
Yeah. Even if something were to happen between our group of five, there was one thing that would never change.
No matter what happened, I'd be staying by Umi's side. I felt sorry for Amami-san and the rest of our group, but this was the only thing I could do.
"Umi."
"What is it?"
"…Never mind."
"Huh? What? What are you trying to say? Is it something that will make me mad again~? C'mon, I won't be mad, so tell me~"
"…Let's talk about it after we're home, okay?"
I actually wanted to tell her that I love her again, but I had a feeling that we'd get carried away again if I did.
And so, the night went on as we spent the rest of it, acting like the lovers that we were.