The Summer Festival Part 1

The 1st mistake I made that day was asking my sister if she wanted to go see the fireworks with me... like back in the day. The 2nd mistake was assuming she’d answer like a normal human being.

“Fireworks?” she repeated, chopsticks in the air while inhaling instant ramen infront of the TV. “Like… the summer festival? Just the two of us? Onii-chan and imouto on the optional sibling route?”

“...No. Just like back then. Please don’t narrate it like that.”

She slurped loudly. “Hm… sorry. I’m busy.”

“Busy doing what? You’re literally in pajamas at 15:00.”

She clapped her hands together. “Some of us…” she glanced meaningfully at me, “have important plans.”

“Which are?”

She pointed at the TV with her chopsticks.

“The summer festival special stream. Exclusive summer outfits for some of my favorite VTubers… only for today. Do you want me to MISS that?”

I stared at her.

“You’re ditching the real festival… for a virtual festival?”

“Wow, look at Mr. ‘I play video games for a living’ judging me.”

…Fair.

I sighed.

“Fine. I’ll just go alone then.”

She blinked. “Or…” she said slowly, “you could just… not go alone?”

“Who else would go with me? Mom and Dad are busy. And you’re ditching me for a VTuber stream.”

She tilted her head. “What about Yuna?”

“That’s… no. No way. Noise, tons of people? She hides behind a mask just to go grocery shopping. She’d never agree.”

“You won’t know unless you ask.” she grinned. “Also: THINK! You have to wear a mask outside anyway, Mister Famous. She won’t feel weird if you’re both equally suspicious looking.”

“That doesn’t mean forcing her into a festival is a good ide–”

“Fox masks.” she interrupted.

“...What?”

“Those cool white fox masks with the red markings. We have multiple of those. Full face cover, eye holes, looks stylish. You wear one so nobody recognizes you, she wears one so she feels less exposed. Problem solved.”

I opened my mouth to say this was stupid.

Then I realized… it wasn’t.

“...You thought about this way too much.”

She shrugged.

“Someone has to take care of the romance department in this house.”

“There is no romance department.”

“Exactly. That’s why I had to build it from scratch.”

I rubbed my temples.

“Even if I ask, she’ll say no.”

“Then you can tell me ‘I told you’ and be smug for the rest of the year. Come on, try. Worst case, she says no. Best case… you don’t regret this 10 years from now.”

Unfortunately, my little gremlin sister was very good at emotional critical hits.

… So I tried.

—----------------------------------

I stood infront of Yuna’s door later that afternoon, heart beating faster than it had any right to.

Why am I nervous? It’s just an invitation. I’m not proposing marriage.

I rang the bell.

A moment of silence. Then the door opened a crack, chain still on.

“Ren?” she removed the chain and opened the door all the way.

Her hair was a little messy, oversized t-shirt. Standard Yuna Home Edition.

“Hey, sorry to bother you.”

“No, it’s okay. Did… something happen? It’s not your food delivery time.”

“Not… really. I just…” I cleared my throat. “There’s the summer festival tonight. Fireworks, food stalls… you know.”

“I know of it.” she said cautiously.

“Right, well. I usually go with my family, but my parents have plans and my sister… uh… sold her soul to an online event. So I was wondering if… maybe…” My tongue suddenly felt like sandpaper. “If you’d like to go. With me.”

Her eyes went wide.

“F– Festival? With… you?”

“If you don’t want to, that’s totally fine.” I added quickly. “Crowds, noise, being around all those strangers… I know it’s a lot. I just thought… maybe you might want a change of scenery. But really. no pressure. You can say no and I’ll just drown myself in yakisoba, it’s totally fine, really.”

That probably came across more self-pitying than I wanted.

“I…” she lowered her gaze. Her fingers played nervously with the edge of the door. “I’ve never really… been to one before.”

I blinked.

“Never?”

She shook her head. “My father said it’s a waste of time, and that I should study instead. And after I started living on my own… I didn’t… have anyone to go with.”

“...Well. You do now.” I said softly.

She flinched slightly, then looked back up.

“But…”

“Don’t worry. We own fox masks. Full face. I’m going to wear one anyway because, you know…” I gestured toward my face, indicating I’m ugly, even though I meant it because of the paparazzi.

“If you wear one too, nobody will see you. It’ll just be us 2 weirdos in masks.”

“I… I might be slow.”

“That’s fine. We go at your pace.”

Her shoulders relaxed a little.

“Okay. I… I’d like to go.” she finally whispered.

Something warm expanded in my chest.

“Alright then. I’ll pick you up in… 2 hours?” I said, trying not to sound too happy.

She nodded.

“Yes. In 2 hours.” she smiled.

—---------------------------

In the evening, I stood in the hallway, wearing a simple dark yukata my mom had dug out of the closet. The fox mask hung at the side of my head.

I raised my hand to knock. But the door opened before I could.

“Ah, sorry, I was just about to…”

The words died in my throat.

Yuna stood infront of me. In a yukata.

A soft pastel purple, decorated with tiny white flowers. Her hair gently tied up with a ribbon, with a few loose strands softly framing her face. Her eyes laughed nervously, shining in the hallway light. Her baby bump traced a soft, round line beneath the fabric. The obi was tied higher than usual, above her belly, instead of being wrapped tightly around it.

Beautiful.

I froze.

“What?” she asked nervously, adjusting the sleeves of her yukata. “I– Is it weird?

“No!” I said quickly. Maybe too quickly. “You look… really good. I mean… it suits you. A lot.”

Her ears turned red.

“O– Oh. You’re just saying that.”

“If I wanted to lie, I would’ve said ‘you look average’.”

That got a tiny laugh out of her, one that should be illegal.

Why am I suddenly the type to show up right on time and awkwardly try to compliment someone?

Before I could find an answer, she glanced at my yukata, then quickly looked away and spoke again:

“You look good too. I didn’t know you owned one.” she whispered.

“Mom’s old stuff. She threatened to disown me if I went in a hoodie.”

That made her chuckle again, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little.

Between us, the air suddenly felt… different. We’d seen each other tired, unguarded, and wrapped in everyday comfort… but this felt like seeing a completely new side of her.

I cleared my throat and held out a small paper bag.

“Here. For you.”

She blinked.

“Hm?”

“The fox mask.”

She took it carefully, as if it were fragile.

“...It’s pretty... Thank you.”

“Let’s go?” I asked.

“Yes, let’s go.” she smiled.