8th August
This is the story that happened few days after Hinata, and I were official to be a couple.
"Come on, Hinata-senpai! There's no need to be shy. There isn't going to be any kind of grand unveiling…!"
"Y-You don't need to pull me, Suzune…!"
….
It was only a few days after Hinata, and I were going out as a couple. Today was the end of Summer Festival…
"Ta-da! What do you think, Senpai?! We're in our Yukatas! You can burn this sight of us into your memories!"
"Uh…"
I can see that Hinata was flustering right now.
"You look good, Hinata."
"…Thank you. You look good in a Yukata too. You look cool." Hinata praise me for my Yukata. She's making me blush.
"Uwah…. Yukito-paisen and Hinata-paisen are flirting in front of us now…"
"Not my fault that my girlfriend is beautiful, alright?"
…
Now that I think about it…
"The three of you looks good in those Yukatas too." I told Suzune and friends.
"Hehe, thank you senpai." Shinomiya said.
"That's bold coming from you, Yukito-senpai." Mimari said.
"…"
Shrugged
…
I look at my right and saw that Hinata is hugging them right now.
"Hinata…"
"POUT"
"Uwah, Hinata-senpai…"
"We won't take him from you, senpai hahah."
Suzune, and friends was taken surprise by Hinata's action.
…
Well, let's take a walk…first.
…
An half of hour passes since the festival began, we were walking inside the festival, we can saw that some of the stands were filled with people.
…
"Let's go get some candy apples."
"Ah, We can have a shaved ice too." Suzune said.
"And cotton candy…!" Mimori said.
"And we can also scoop some goldfish…!" Shinomiya said.
The three of them then began leaving us behind. I think this is their way to show us some privacy. Thank you, Suzune, Mimori, Shinomiya.
"So, um…" Hinata was tugging my Yukatas.
"…"
There are some delays in her sentence.
"Hahah, I get it. You don't need to push yourself. It's okay."
"Y-yeah…"
"Tonight, I'll stick next to you all night."
When I say that, she starts holding my hand.
I never knew she was a bold type.
Even though she's been acting like she doesn't care about me back then, and at times like these, she shows me unexpected side of hers.
I genuinely like that about her.
…
We start walking again.
She likes to keep me close to her, like if I was her properties.
Well, she is my girlfriend after all.
We walked to the Candy apple stand. We saw that, they're selling those kinda big candy apples.
"You want that?" I said to Hinata.
She looks at me and then nod her head in a very shy way.
Oh God, my girlfriend is so cute…!!
"We'd like two candy apples, please."
"All right, that'll be a thousand yen. Take your candy apples from there. Thanks." The shop clerk said.
"Yes, thank you."
We're already enjoying two cany apples. I walk with Hinata, eating them.
They're super delicious, and also very sweet.
…
"Huh? Isn't that Futaba-san…?"
…
This voice…
We look behind us and found that some of girl in our class was also wandering around the festival.
"Good evening you guys." Hinata said to them.
"Good evening too, Futaba-san" "Good evening." "Good Eviee."
"Hello." I said.
"…"
"Hm? What's wrong?"
"…The rumoured boyfriend is you, Aki-san?!!!"
Oh, they got surprised to saw me with Hinata now, huh.
GOOD JOB, SHUUTA!
"Hahah, please take care of me and Hinata from now on." I said to them.
"Yu-Yukito…!"
"Hahaha, what?"
"They're so in love…it's like…" "It's like they were one of the Bakacouple" (TS: Stupid couple)
…
"Well, we should get going now, Aki-san, Futaba-san." One of them said.
"Enjoy your date…!" Also, one of them said.
The group of girls in our class is also leaving us. So, this is how it feels like.
"…"
I turn my sight to Hinata. All I could find was that her face is all red, like tomato.
"Should we continue our date?" I said.
Hinata kept holding my hands, squeezing it so that I will never let go.
"Yukito…"
"What is it…?"
"Is this not a date…? I mean, we saw a familiar face a lot in here."
…
"Well, it's embarrassing to say this but, I'll say it…"
I take a deep breath and, "This is a date. Our first date as a couple."
…
Hinata then look down on the ground, I saw a smile coming from her lips.
"Yeah…"
"No matter how much people we're seeing tonight, I want you to be honest with your feelings and let me spoil you a lot, okay?"
"I'm… actually trying my best right now…"
"Y-yeah… I also need to be the one pulling myself together… But to be honest, I'm just happy that I was able to walk around holding your hands, Hinata. I'm grateful for our friends that let this opportunity walk into our life."
"W-what's that supposed to mean…?"
"…"
"…"
Hinata turns away at my words and blushes.
AHHH, ENOUGH ALREADY!
SHE'S MORE CUTER THAN USUAL TONIGHT!
"H-hey, if this is our first date… well… Is it okay to think we'll have another one…?"
"…"
"Un, you can think that."
"…" She then smiled at me and walk closer with me.
"But I still haven't thought about our next date. So, I'd appreciate it if you didn't delve in too much on it." I said.
"Yeah, got it." She said with a smile.
"I'm looking forward to it…"
…
I might be inexperienced with girls, but even I can tell. Even if I embraced Hinata here, she wouldn't push me away. That's simply how much relaxed she is right now.
Both of our heart is racing. We both look away, and our face got red.
Basically, my feelings are now directed at the girl walking beside me now.
…
"Welcome, welcome! We have hot dogs! And shaved ice!"
"Welcome! How about some cotton candy? Two for 600 yen!"
"…"
I look around the festival with Hinata.
(Wow… All the guys walking by are looking at Hinata…)
I'm quickly reminded of how beautiful she is. And right now, I'm on a festival date with her, holding her hand.
I'm surprised I'm even able to walk right now.
"Wanna buy some cotton candy?" She said.
"No, I'm good for now. Let's eat these candy apples first."
"Okay."
"…"
"…Um, I didn't give my full compliment to you earlier…"
"Your yukata really suits you, Hinata. It's cute."
"Haha, what's this all of sudden?" She said.
"I-I just wanted to let you know that. And also… thanks."
"Heheh, I guess I can say this now… so, wanna hear something funny?"
"Hm?"
"I was actually thinking of going with you alone to this festival…"
"Is-is that so…?"
"But I don't even have that much courage, that's why I asked Suzune, Momo-chan, and Ikumi-chan's help for this."
"You're kidding?"
"Nope, it's the truth heheh. That's why, I'm happy right now, Yukito-kun."
KGH!
Why is she suddenly going on the offense?!
"I'm also happy to be standing here with you, Hinata." I said.
"You know, you like to say cool things from time to time to shake people up. If you keep doing that, even Suzune and others might…"
"I won't, I only do this to you" I said while giving her a light smile to ensure her.
"Promise me?"
"Promise."
…
After a while, it seems like it's starting. The ceremonial dance thing.
Hinata and I make our way through the crowd and walk up to the stage set up before the shrine.
…
"Is that…"
I thought that my eyes were lying to me but it didn't.
"Asumi-san…?" Hinata was also surprised to saw Asumi on the stage, performing the dance.
…
Alongside with her is… Akari-san…?
The combination of Red and Green on their hair.
It felt like they are the combination of Japanese god, Amaterasu and Susanoo.
"Wow… it's beautiful…"
"…"
(It's an amazing sight…)
I never knew that Asumi-san and her sister the one who's doing the ceremonial dance this year.
The traditional music was being played. The music was supposed to attracts people but, it's clear why everyone's attention is drawn. It's because they all were drawn to Shin's siblings as they dance in front of everyone.
With the accompaniment of several drums and flutes, Asumi and Akari dances like a butterfly that are synchronized to one another.
I can feel the culture and beauty of ancient Japan from her. Even with my weak sense of national pride, the sight moves me.
I find myself at a loss for words.
"She really good at making people jealous…" Hinata said.
"Do you want to dance like that too?"
"No, it's not that… Asumi-san… um… seems strong under pressure. Like, she's always determined and bold when it's the most important. I think that's really mature of her. It's cool, I guess."
…
"Ever since We entered high school, I always admired her for being like that… She's completely different from me. I just show every thought on my face… so, I'm really jealous of her…"
"Hinata…"
I held her hand, and there was warmth in it.
"Every person has their own capabilities. Even Hinata has her own capabilities."
"Yukito..."
"Say, why don't we find a seat?"
Hinata nods at me, and while we are walking, she grips my sleeve.
"Thank you," she whispered softly. I smiled and let the moment pass without comment.
As we searched for seats, we came across a Takoyaki stand. Hinata and I bought some, then resumed our quest for a place to sit. Unfortunately, after some time, we still hadn't found any seats, so we headed to the shrine and settled on its side floor.
"Finally, we can rest after all that walking," I sighed.
"I never knew you disliked walking, especially since you're a basketball player," Hinata remarked.
"Well, it's different from training..." I began, but then I recalled Kurohime-senpai's stern face, which made me pause.
"..."
"Yukito?" Hinata's voice broke through my thoughts.
"Eh?!"
"Are you okay?"
"No, I mean yes, I'm fine... By the way, Hinata, your feet aren't hurt, are they?" I asked, changing the subject.
"What makes you think I'd hurt my feet?"
"You were holding onto me the whole time, so I thought you might have hurt your feet," I teased.
Hinata's face turned red, and she hugged my arm as if trying to hide her embarrassment. "Stupid Yukito..."
I couldn't help but think, 'AHHH, I have the cutest girlfriend…!'
"…I never thought that I'd be able to go out with you."
"Now what?"
"It's just… the most beautiful and cutest girl in my school is going out with me right now…"
"Stop it, you're embarrassing me!"
"I'm just speaking my mind. I need to know that it's Hinata who is going out with me, and not some other girl."
"Oh, hmm… is that so…?"
Whoa, there goes her pride…
"You see, for me, I was the luckiest girl in our school."
"And why is that?"
"I have my crush as my lover now, haha."
!!!
I don't know why, but I'm kind of embarrassed to hear this from her directly.
"Now you feel what I felt, haha."
"…Sorry, I'll make sure not to overdo it…"
We talked about things that felt like a dream of ours, and then,
BOOM
The firework was launched, and it was a beautiful view from the shrine. I looked at Hinata, and her face was illuminated by the fireworks.
At that moment, the thought that crossed my mind was, "She's beautiful." It was an accurate reflection of my feelings then, and it resonates with me even more now as I relive the experience.
I gently took her hand in mine and softly called her name, "Hinata..."
She turned to look at me, her face graced by a delicate blush, and responded, "Yukito..."
As we slowly leaned closer to each other, our faces inches apart, we shared a tender kiss. This was our second kiss, reminiscent of that special time before. I could distinctly feel the familiar, sweet taste of strawberries on her lips.
"…That was something else, wasn't it?"
"Y-yeah…"
After that sweet moment, we set off on our journey to the entrance of the festival, where we met Suzune and the others.
"How was your date?" Ikumi asked.
"It was fun. Thank you all for making this happen," I replied with a smile.
"Well then, take care of Hinata-senpai, Yukito-senpai. See you guys at school!" Suzune said as she and the others began to walk away.
"I'll take you home," I offered.
"Un…" Hinata nodded her head, and we set off towards her house.
On our way, we talked about many things, such as my time in the basketball club, Yumi, and my studies.
After some conversation, we arrived at her house.
"Well then, I should get going," I said, glancing at the time on my phone.
"Yukito-kun."
I looked at Hinata when she called my name.
"Chu"
She kissed me on the cheek and said, "Thank you, and good night."
She walked to the front door of her house and closed it, leaving me alone outside.
"That girl…uhh…..!!!" I could feel my face turning red with embarrassment. After that, I walked away from her house and headed home.
Ring-Ring
A notification from my phone, it was a text from Hinata.
[I got you, my Yukito]
Seriously…
She really got me huh…