Earthside: Summer Sparks

Kael - Entry 8

Finally, exams are over. I passed barely. Never thought school could be so mentally exhausting. Hana helped me a lot.

After the sports festival, I've been going to her house pretty often. She's been tutoring me in all the subjects, even at the convenience store she introduced me to. Funny thing is, working there reminds me of the guild receptionists back in my world—always smiling and patient with adventurers. Now it's us doing the same for customers.

Speaking of tutoring, I've also been helping Hana with her kendo practice. She's a fast learner.

I don't exactly know where things stand between us. The first few times I visited her house, she wore modest, reserved clothes. But later on, she started wearing what she called her "comfys"—a lot more revealing. I don't know what that means. Or how she truly feels about me.

For now, I'm using summer break to rest from school and read some of the books in your room, Kazuki.

Oh, and Mom left a couple of days ago. She said Grandpa had an accident and she's helping Grandma take care of him. So… she's gone for now.

After finishing the diary entry, Kael's phone buzzed with a new message from Kyotaro:

Do you remember the girl from the sports festival? I want to invite her to tomorrow's summer fireworks festival, but I don't want to go alone. Would you come with me? I already asked Hana and she said yes.

Kael thought for a moment, then typed back: Okay.

A reply came almost instantly: Great. Let's meet at the station, 5:30.

Kael set his phone aside with a small sigh.

Next day, he arrived at the station right on time. The moment he saw Hana, his breath caught. She wore a green yukata that perfectly complemented her hazel eyes, her hair tied up neatly in a style he hadn't seen before.

He let out a low whistle. "Wow… you look beautiful."

Hana's cheeks flushed pink. "T-thanks…" she murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"What is that you're wearing?" Kael asked, still staring.

"It's a yukata," she explained with a soft smile. "Women wear it during summer festivals. It's lighter than a kimono, more comfortable for the heat."

Before Kael could reply, Kyotaro arrived. He was dressed in a simple gray jinbei, and at his side was the girl he had spoken about. She wore a blue yukata patterned with pale flowers, her hair styled into two braids that fell neatly over her shoulders.

Kyotaro gestured between them. "This is the girl I told you about. Aoi, these are my friends. Kazuki Hasunuma, and Hana Shimizu."

She bowed politely. "Hello, I'm Aoi Kurogane. Nice to meet you."

Kael and Hana exchanged surprised looks. "Kurogane? As in… our school gym teacher?"

Aoi gave a small laugh. "Yes, he is my father. But please, just call me Aoi."

"Alright then, Aoi. Nice to meet you," they replied with a smile.

Sensing the awkwardness about her father, Kael quickly added with a grin, "But hey, everyone's in yukata except me. Why didn't anyone tell me?"

Kyotaro chuckled. "I thought you already knew but don't worry—it's fine."

With that, the four of them set off toward the festival grounds. The girls walked ahead, chatting softly and laughing between themselves, while the boys trailed a few steps behind.

Kael leaned closer to Kyotaro and whispered, "You'd better start working out if you want her dad to approve of you."

Kyotaro groaned. "I know. I'm planning to. You're looking pretty muscular yourself in that black T-shirt, by the way."

Kael smirked. "I've been training for a while now. Maybe I can give you some tips and tricks."

The summer festival was alive with colors and scents, lanterns strung high above and the calls of stall vendors echoing through the warm night air.

They stopped first at a takoyaki stall, the sizzling aroma filling the air. Hana blew carefully on the piping-hot ball, then yelped when it burned her tongue, making Kael chuckle. Kyotaro bought cotton candy for Aoi.

At the goldfish scooping stall, Aoi leaned over eagerly, her paper scoop breaking almost instantly. "Ah—!" she gasped, cheeks puffing in frustration. Hana handed her another scoop with a grin. "Here, like this. Be gentle." She managed to catch one after a few tries, her delight drawing a round of applause from Kael and Kyotaro.

The shooting gallery came next. Kyotaro tried and missed every shot, earning playful teasing from Aoi, but Kael steadied the toy rifle and with a single pop knocked down a stuffed fox. He handed it to Hana, who blinked, surprised, before smiling softly as she hugged it to her chest.

As the evening deepened, lanterns burned brighter against the darkening sky. Kyotaro glanced around and said, "The fireworks will start soon. Let's find a spot to watch."

The four tried to move together through the crowd, but the surge of people pushed them apart. Kyotaro and Aoi were carried off in one direction, while Kael instinctively caught Hana's hand to steady her. They broke free of the press of bodies, breathless.

Hana looked around, then tugged gently at his hand. "I know a place," she said with a small smile. Leading him down a quieter path, away from the festival's noise, she stopped at a little clearing where a single bench was placed beneath a tree.

They sat on the bench, the distant hum of the festival fading behind them, the soft glow of lanterns flickering through the leaves. From the branches above came the steady sounds of cicadas, their song filling the silence between them.

Kael stretched his arms with a satisfied sigh.

"Today was fun."

"Yeah," Hana said softly, clutching the stuffed fox to her chest. "I enjoyed it too."

Kael hesitated, then reached out as if to take her hand. She pulled back. The silence that followed weighed heavy between them.

"I'm sor—" he began, but Hana cut him off, her voice trembling.

"I'm starting to have feelings for you." She hugged the fox tighter. "But I don't know if it's right."

Kael blinked, startled. "How so?"

She looked down, twisting at her sleeve. "Let's say I accepted you as more than a friend. What happens when you leave… when Kazuki comes back? Am I supposed to pretend nothing happened? That I never felt anything toward you? I just… I don't know what to do."

Her words hung in the air. And then, with perfect timing, the fireworks began—bright blooms of color lighting the sky.

Kael watched them with a calm, almost distant expression. "Beautiful," he murmured. "When I volunteered for the ritual, all I ever wanted was a peaceful life. Basically… everything I have now. But if I'm honest, I got greedy. I wanted more. I wanted to have you, on top of all this."

He turned to her, guilt flickering in his eyes. "Sorry, Hana… for putting you in a place that makes you uncomfortable."

Hana didn't answer. She only twisted the hem of her yukata tighter in her fingers, gaze fixed on the ground as the fireworks thundered above.

Later, they reunited with Kyotaro and Aoi, walking together back to the station before parting ways. Kael offered to walk Hana home. The streets were quieter now, the night air cool against their skin.

Halfway down the road, Kael froze. Ahead, a figure stood—masked, draped in black.

He raised a hand, stopping Hana. "Wait."

"What is it?" she asked, following his gaze.

The figure turned. A knife glinted in his hand, catching the lamplight as he stepped toward them.