Early evening, the couple emerged from the black Torii gate behind the temple. They casually joined the crowded commercial areas. 'Festive and enthusiastic' would be an understatement to describe the vibe in the air. People were joyfully noisy and their chatter echoed all over the place.
The hanging, handcrafted lanterns were lit with an amber glow, illuminating the shrines and buildings and transforming them into a mesmerising display of light.
In the empty left corner of the shrine office, a group of townspeople began releasing paper lanterns into the air. The wind carried their amber glow skyward, forming a breathtaking trail of light that illuminated the darkness of the evening's canvas.
"Shouichi-kun… The star is beautiful, isn't it?" Ayane suddenly said, her dazzling purple eyes fixed on him. They shimmered with admiration — and something more.
"Hmm? You mean the lanterns?" Shouichi asked puzzledly and pointed at the light trail.
In Kurohashi, where light pollution was minimal, Shouichi was usually greeted by a clear night sky filled with glittering stars. Tonight, however, was different — the glowing lanterns had become the main attraction.
"Eh? Yeah… Whatever." Ayane said, looking away and flustered slightly.
Shortly after, they return returned to Yoko Sweet Stall. A large group of energetic crowds swarmed the store, their voice babbling loudly and inaudibly, there was no doubt that Yoko's store became quite popular and thriving.
"Oh! Yoko-san needs my help. I gotta go now, See you!" Ayane quickly told her friend, waving and then dashed behind the counter without wasting another second.
Ayane bowed slightly to Yoko, both in respect and as an apology for her tardiness, before promptly beginning to take orders from customers. Her gestures were professional and polite. Yoko, in return, smiled warmly and giggled lovingly at her. Working side by side in an organised rhythm, the two moved seamlessly as a team. Shouichi watched them with quiet admiration, noting how well they complemented each other.
"Ding! Ding! Ding!" His phone rang, and when he peeked on the screen, it was his girlfriend calling.
"Hello! Misa-chan!" He greeted her cheerfully.
"Shou-senpai! Hi~ya! Where're you at?" Misaki greeted him, reciprocating with an even more positive vibe. Without a doubt, Misaki was a cheerful, sweet girl. It was unfathomable to imagine her in the past, in her depression era, Shouichi pondered.
"It's hard to hear you! But I was in the main aisle, in front of Yoko's sweet shop!" Shouichi raised his voice to counteract the loud noises of the crowd.
"Don't go anywhere, senpai! I'm going to you right now!" Misaki instructed.
"Okay!" He replied obediently.
After a while, a group of familiar faces emerged from the mass. There were Ito Emi, Aoyama Shinji, Hinoda, Naggi, Ito Toru, and an unknown gyaru lady. "Is she Toru's girlfriend? The tanned lady is overly clingy to Cap' Toru." He noticed.
They were all dressed in various colours of yukatas and outfits. Emi wore a light blue yukata, while Shinji's was black with an exaggerated flower pattern. Hinoda and Naggi wore matching dark blue yukatas. In contrast, Toru and the unfamiliar woman were dressed in regular clothes rather than traditional attire.
"Hey! Guys!" Shouichi shouted, waving his hand energetically.
It was Aoyama Shinji, his good-looking best friend who heard him, his lips cracked a smile almost immediately, "Shouichi!" He called out.
"...Hmm, he's walking awfully close to Ito Emi. Suspicious." Shouichi remarked inwardly as he watched a titan couple approaching him.
"Shouichi! How are you doing?" The fluffy silver-haired boy ran out to him, barely hiding his thrill.
"Hey! Shinji!" Shouichi spoke up, smiling at him.
"Yo! Shouichi!" The hoarse, masculine voice came from the side. It was the voice of Ito Toru with his assumed girlfriend.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Himemiya Kazumi!" The gyaru lady casually introduced herself.
Kazumi's outfit was undeniably bold — a camisole paired with short denim jeans, leaving her toned curves and tanned skin prominently on display. Her faint abdominal muscles hinted at a disciplined routine of regular exercise and a balanced diet. Her long, straight hair transitioned from black roots to blonde tips in an unintentional ombre, adding to her rebellious aura. In every sense, Himemiya Kazumi embodied the quintessential image of a beautiful and dazzling gyaru.
"My pleasure to meet you, Himemiya-san," Shouichi replied politely, bowing in return.
"My! Please speak with me casually, I'm not ready to be treated like an old lady yet." Kazumi said playfully. Her fierce, sharp eyes were captivating and extremely charming.
"Hahaha, don't mind him, he's always a polite guy. Shouichi is one of my favourite kickers in the club." Toru chimed in and let out a roaring laugh, he appeared a bit slightly outgoing than usual.
"Toru! Have you started letting only handsome guys into your club now?" The gyaru girlfriend teased playfully, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Shouichi couldn't help but notice her toned biceps — she must work out regularly. The two of them were undeniably a matching couple. Still, it was surprising, considering Toru rarely spoke about his personal life, let alone something as private as his girlfriend, at the club.
"Hahaha, I'm not that handsome, Himemiya-san." Shouichi humbly disagreed.
"Shouichi-kun, when are you guys gonna start weight training?" Kazumi voiced her thoughts confidently in her tone. And then she leaned in, whispering to Shouichi's ear, "I'm happy to teach y'all!"
"Hahaha, that's not entirely up to me," Shouichi replied, his face tinged with a slight blush.
"It's all part of the regime; we're on a break for mid-term at the moment," Toru added matter-of-factly.
"Seito-senpai! You haven't met with Misaki-chan? Where is she?" Emi asked, sweeping her concerned eyes, seeking her best friend.
"Emi-chan! Well, I just talked to her on the phone, she should arrive any minute now." Shouichi reassured her firmly.
"Thank goodness!... I'm glad, Misaki always makes me worry for no reason," Emi whined, averting her eyes away and cupping a hand on her huge chest.
"Naggi, Hinoda! Good evening!" Shouichi called out, turning to fist-bump both of the approaching guys.
"Hey! Shouichi-kun!" Naggi greeted him, flashing a wide, friendly smile.
"Bro! Nice Yukata." Hinoda complimented him, tapping on his shoulder firmly.
"Thanks!" Shouichi replied modestly.
"Shou-senpai!" The designated girlfriend finally arrived, her blissful energy instantly filling the atmosphere. Shouichi had seen her earlier during their video call in the afternoon, but Misaki was a hundred times more stunning and gorgeous in person.
As she elegantly approached him, the people around her were captivated by her overwhelming beauty, as if she were the Oiran of the night.
"Misa-chan!" Shouichi called out, extending both arms. Misaki quickly embraced him, and they hugged warmly for several minutes. She felt as delicate as a flower, her skin soft like plush, and her fragrance sweet — candid, playful, yet innocent, just like he remembered from their first encounter. She couldn't have been more perfect, as if she were the goddess's favoured creation, crafted with the utmost care and affection.
Ishikawa Misaki was the only one whose mere presence could make his heart flutter.
"I wish I could have been here sooner, Shou-senpai. I miss you so dearly!" Misaki whispered softly in his ear, her big doe eyes looking up at him with an innocent and sincere gaze.