Chapter 14:

My Crazy Fireworks Festival Confession

My Crazy American Father


Sora 1812 August 4, 2046

“So your name’s Genjo-Senpai, right?” Tobias asked the upperclassmen between us. The three of us had arrived early to the festival. Sara had said her club was going, but we were invited because Sara, Tobias, and I have gone to every festival together without fail, and she didn’t want to break that tradition.

“Yes. But once Alice-chan and the rest of the girls arrive, you may call me Murakami-senpai. She’s never been one for using last names, and she wanted to make sure you two don’t feel out of place.” he says in his trademark straight and serious voice.

“Oh, ok, senpai,” I say.

“You seem awfully close to Paul-senpai,” Tobias says. “Are you just club mates, or is there something more?” he asks. What, you can’t just ask this guy we barely know something like that! I swear, sometimes you can’t read the atmosphere. I think as I look at Senpi’s reaction.

“Oh, Sara-san hasn’t told you yet? With how close you two are to her, I would’ve guessed she’s saying something,” he says, still calm as can be

“Tell us what?” Tobias asks

“Alice-chan and I are dating. Have been for close to two weeks now.”

“What? Really? That’s a surprise. I wouldn’t have thought Paul-san was your type.”

“I know I put on quite an effective front but let’s just say my interests are… unique,” he says as he adjusts his glasses. “Alice-chan’s sweet innocent personality wins most people over, but they often think her a bit of an airhead. That’s true for the most part, but her intuition is unparalleled. I’ve seen her dance circles around others without them even knowing it.” he says.

“Oh, that must’ve been what made you look at her,” Tobias says.

“No, I only noticed that because I was already looking at her.” senpai says

“Then what made you notice her?” I ask. He again adjusts his glasses and smirks.

“I’ll have to tell you that when and if the three of us get closer. In the meantime, do you two have anything specific for the plan?” he says, looking at me.

“Plan?.. Hehe, what plan? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I stammer

“There’s no need to play dumb with me. Sara-san’s already told me the real reason you two came with us tonight,” he says calmly.

“She did!?” I ask intently

“Yes. Don’t worry; I’m the only other one that knows. She told me because she knew I’d be willing to help.”

“Oh, that’s nice of you, senpai. I thought you might be trying to get in our way.” Tobias says a bit too excitedly.

“No, that’d be rude. I must say it’s a rather simple but effective plan. Using that scene in her favorite manga as inspiration was a good idea. All we have to do is keep you and Iori-san together throughout the night and then get you alone for the fireworks show. It should be simple for me to get Alice-chan away, and then Tobias-kun and Sara-san can lure Kano-san away. Once we do that, all that’s left is for Sora-kun to confess during the fireworks show. Do I have that all right?” he asks. I can’t respond. He has the plan perfectly. I know it was my idea, and it all depends on me. But I’m petrified. What if she says no? What if this ruins her friendship with Sara? What if she does say yes, and it ends up not working out? What if the festival is a disaster? What if something happens to the fireworks? What if- and on and on my mind keep going. I go through 20 more what-ifs in my head until senpai taps me on the shoulder. I snap out of it and look towards him.

“I know you’re probably freaking out right about now. Completely natural. I did the same thing once I decided to confess to Alice-chan. I was so nervous that Kano-san said my eyes looked scary. It’s alright to be nervous, but don’t let that fear consume you. You love this girl, right?” he asks.

“Yes,” I say

“No hesitation. You’re ready for this, and better yet, you have me, your sister, and your best friend here to support you. You can do this.” Him saying that gives me a boost of confidence. And not a moment too soon.

“MIRAKUN!!” we hear Alice-senpai call. We all look, and she’s running ahead of the rest of the girls. “Ahh,” she cries as she stumbles in front of Murakami-senpai. He reaches out and quickly catches her as she falls into his arms.

“Are you ok, Alice-chan?” Sara asks

“Mirakun caught me, so I’m fine.”

“Always here to catch you when you try to go too fast,” he says as he helps her find her balance.

“Well, I’m still not used to these sandals, so you may have to do it again,” Alice-senpai says with a grin. “Oh, Mirakun, look, look. The girls helped me pick out my yukata. What do you think?” she says as she spins around. Murakami-senpai watches and examines her yukata. I would later notice that it was red with a white petal design. Still, at that moment, I was too busy taking in every detail of Suki-san’s yukata, examining every pink flower laid upon the pineapple yellow backdrop as the red waistband hugged around her. Her hair, usually combed straight and left to hang around her shoulders, was tied by a sky blue ribbon to her left side. I stood there motionless, staring at her for a moment before Sara came up and poked both Tobias and me.

“Hey boys, stop gawking, this is their first time wearing yukatas, and you’re embarrassing them,” she says.

“I wasn’t gawking; I was admiring.” I quickly say. I had gotten used to seeing Suki-san in her school uniform, but this was my first time seeing her in anything else. It took everything I had to keep from staring at her. I felt terrible for Tobias. He had spent the whole week eyeing Niǎo-san, and he could still barely focus in class. Luckily Murakami-senpai noticed our struggles and covered for us.

“You three all look very nice. Not as cute as my Alice-chan, but it’s hardly worth it to compare yourself to perfection,” he says smoothly. Alice-senpai elbows him as she blushes.

“Don’t think you can say that stuff in front of them just because they know,” she says, trying in vain to hide her embarrassment. Murakami-senpai leans over and whispers something in her ear that makes her cheeks go from a light pink to full-on crimson. “Pervert,” she says as she pushes him away and runs behind Sara. “Like I’d let you waste syrup like that,” she says, peeking out behind her. We all stare blankly at him, but he just adjusts his glasses and says, “We should head into the festival. There’s a lot for first-timers to see and so little time to see it,” and struts off into the festival.

We follow and begin to enjoy ourselves. As planned at every given opportunity Murakami-senpai, Sara, and Tobias keep Suki-san next to me. We shared takoyaki, and I bought her a candy apple. At one shooting game, she saw a bear that she wanted. I tried twice but missed it both times. I was on my third attempt when Sara distracted her, and Tobias snatched the cork gun from me and managed to knock it down and shove the gun back in my hands just in time for Iori to see. “Thank you, Tetsu-kun,” she said as she snuggled the bear. “You managed to shoot it down even though the vendor probably rigged it to be almost impossible.”

“Nah, I just got lucky,” I say, trying to appear modest. We move from one stall to the next enjoying food and games as we go along. The group keeps us together, and I feel like the night is going really well. As we head to the open area where people are dancing, the rest again split off to different snack vendors. As they’re away, I hear a familiar voice call me. “Sora oni-chan, Sora oni-chan!” I turn and see Yukki running up from behind us, tears in her eyes. She closes the distance and grabs my legs in a big hug. “Yukki, what are you doing here alone?” I ask.

“I’m not; I was here with mommy, but now I can’t find her,” she says as she begins to cry.

“Aww, hey, don’t do that,” I say, picking her up. “Look, I’m here now, okay. Sara and Tobias are with me too, so we can find your mommy.”

“You know this girl?” Suki-san asks

“Yeah, this is Yukki. Tobias’ little sister. I call her my little sister too because Tobias’ basically my and Sara’s third triplet.” I explain. As I finish my explanation Tobias, Sara, and Niǎo-san come back. I explain what’s happening, and Tobias texts his mom to meet us at the dancing circle. Yukki keeps clinging to me as we make our way there. I tempt her with a piggyback ride instead of a frontal carry, and she accepts. and eventually, she notices Suki-san. “Sora oni-chan, who is she? Is she your girlfriend?” AAAAHHHHHHH.Why’d you have to ask that, Yukki? Of all the things you could’ve asked. I can’t say “yes” because she isn’t, but I can’t just say “no” because that might make her think I’m completely disinterested. My brain short circuits trying to think of a response. “Haha, you’re so cute, Yukki-chan. No, I’m Iori Suki, and unfortunately, I’m not his girlfriend.” Suki-san says. “Unfortunately”? What does she mean by that?. I wonder before Yukki speaks again.

“Good,” Yukki says. “Because I’m going to marry Sora oni-chan. You can’t have him.” she proudly declares, rubbing her head against my back. “Only way I’d let you have him is if you gave me that bear.”

“Yukki, that’s rude,” I scold.

“No deal,” Suki-san says. “Tetsu-kun tried really hard at the game to win it for me, so it wouldn’t be fair if I just gave it away so easily.”

We eventually reach the dancing area and find aunt Serena. She thanks us for finding Yukki and apologizes for the trouble. “No, it was nothing,” I say. “I’m glad we found her before someone else did.” The announcer comes up and says to pair up for the next dance. The group conspires, and I end up with Suki-san. We start dancing, and I’m really nervous. Am I doing the steps properly? Are my hands too sweaty? Am I making too much eye contact or not enough? My mind is a mess until Suki-san speaks.

“You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say the group was trying to keep us paired together,” she says.

“Yeah? Why would they try to do that, I wonder?” I say as confidently as I can.

“I wouldn’t know, but I don’t mind. This is the first festival I’ve been able to go to with people my age, and you’ve made it really special. Thank you for that.” she says.

“Yeah? I’m glad you’re having a good time. I’ve been having fun too.” I say. Come on, I think. Now’s your chance. Tell her how you feel. I try to say it, but the words keep getting caught in my throat, my stomach is doing somersaults, and my ears are burning so much I swear they’re steaming. I see Tobias waving for my attention, and I see him signaling. “Senpais gone. Sara and I luring away Niǎo-san. On your own. Good luck.” With that, he dashes away out of sight. Leaving just me and Suki-san alone. We dance for a while longer, and I keep trying to say how I feel but just can’t get the words out. Come on, Sora, just say it. “I like you, please go out with me” that’s all you have to say, I think, but I can’t do it. Eventually, the music fades, and the loudspeakers say the fireworks will begin soon. “Ohh, the fireworks,” Suki-san says. “Come on, we have to find the others so we can all watch them together,” she says, looking around. We look, but of course, we can’t find them as they’re long gone by now. “I don’t see them,” she says, concerned. I’m about to speak when my phone rings. It’s Tobias.

“Hello?” I answer

Did you say it yet?”

“No, I couldn’t do it.”

I thought you might be too chicken. That’s why I enlisted a little extra help. Enjoy the fireworks.” he says.

“Wait, what does that mean?” I ask, but he’s already hung up.

“Was that them?” Suki-san asks

“Yeah. Yukki got lost again, so they went to take her back to aunt Serena.” I lie. “They said we should just watch the fireworks together.” Suki-san laughs at this.

“Well, we’ve done everything else together. I guess we might as well watch the fireworks too,” she says.

“Attention. Attention.” The loudspeakers blare, “The fireworks show is about to begin. Please be courteous of fellow viewers. Tonight’s show is extra special. We hope everyone enjoys the show.” We stand and watch as the first streaks of light fly across the sky and explode into bright flashes of color. The yellow, red, and blues create a dazzling display. I don’t pay it any attention, though. I’m too busy looking at Suki-san’s face. She looks on in wonder at the colors as they explode and fall. Do it, I think. Now is your last chance. Just do it. Say it. SAY IT! I think. I muster up all my courage and speak. “Hey Suki-san,” I say

“Hmm, Yes, what is it, Tetsu-kun.”

“I… I was wondering if... If…” I’m on the edge. All I need is a final push. I look deep inside myself and don’t find it.

“Ahh, it’s nothing,” I say and turn back to the fireworks. I think I see a look of disappointment cross her face out of the corner of my eyes, but she also turns back to the fireworks. The awe on her face is gone, and she looks from the sky to the ground. Great, now I’ve ruined it for her. I think, feeling embarrassed and ashamed. Her head hangs down, and I begin to follow suit when I hear members of the crowd speak out in amazement. “Ohh, look, they’re spelling out a message!” They cry. Message? I think as I look up into the sky. They’re clear as day the fireworks are spelling out a message. “Hey...Iori...Suki... “ What is this? Is this what Tobias meant when he said he enlisted some extra help?”I… Like….You...Please...Go...Out...With...Me.” I can’t believe my eyes. I turn to Suki-san, and she’s looking at me with tears in her eyes. “Did...Did you do that? Was that for me?” she asks. My heart is pumping so loud I can’t even hear the sounds of the fireworks as they explode. All I can manage is a nod. “Yes,” she yells as she jumps into my arms. I don’t know what to do, so I just hug her back. A few people around us clap, and others boo, but I pay them no mind. We stay embraced like that until the fireworks end. “Do you think we should find the other?” She asks me once they’ve ended.

“I have a feeling they’ll find us,” I say. She giggles, and we begin to walk hand in hand together away from the festival. As we’re about to leave, we see the rest of our group line up.

“Well, how’d it go?” Alice-senpai asks excitedly.

“I thought you guys were setting something up,” Suki-san says. “But I’d never have guessed you’d go that far.”

“IT’S A YES!” Alice-senpai says as she jumps in the air. The other pop champagne poppers and congratulate us both. As Tobias pulls me on for a hug, I whisper. “How in the hell did you do that?”

“You know my father works with the fireworks. And I figured you’d be too chicken anyways, so I asked if he’d help us out,” he says with a smirk on his face.

“Ahh, you damn Americans and your explosives,” I say. As we head to the station, the group again keeps Suki-san and me next together. Only this time, we held hands as we walked.