Weekend Festival [2]

The stalls lined up on the left and right of the shrine area. It was as if they had left the space in the middle for a royal family to pass, or something like that.

Just then, the smells of food wafted through the air as the sound of kids laughing in joyous tones came together, forming what most would consider nostalgia. Without wasting any time, Miyu dragged me to the stalls while Chiyoko-san followed closely behind, admiring the sight of the festival unfolding before her very eyes.

Miyu and I played games and competed against each other while Chiyoko-san cheered for both of us. Then we bought snacks and made a bet on who would finish first.

The undisputed winner of the games was none other than me. But the winner of chowing down snacks was Miyu. She would probably say Naturally if she heard me.

Time passed like a dream as the main event of the festival drew closer. The name of the event is the Star Viewing, or Star Gazing, event. But before that, I wanted to do something—something special that would commemorate this joyous day.

While we were chowing down on food earlier, I saw Chiyoko looking at a peach-colored ribbon that was listed as one of the prizes for winning the Mato-ate game.

It is also known as the “hit a target” game. It's pretty simple: you are given three balls, and you have to knock down six bottles that are placed like a pyramid.

Sounds simple enough, right? Well, that's what I was thinking before I started playing the game. Until I actually played it. I missed three times, meaning my turn was over, but my determination wouldn't let me give up. I was getting that ribbon even if it killed me.

“Better luck next time, buddy,” the vendor said while smiling smugly. His toothpick danced on his teeth like a ballerina.

We'll see about that.

Thud! I slammed four hundred and fifty yen (¥) on the stall, my eyes blazing, my expression serious. I exuded a pitch-black aura that almost made me look like a villain. The vendor chuckled as his own purple aura matched my own in terms of intensity.

“You've got guts, kid. Now show me what you've got.”

“Oh, don't worry, I'm locked in now,” I muttered as he gave me three balls.

I threw the first one: it hit the top bottle.

I threw the second one: it hit the two bottles under the one I hit before.

I threw the third one: it flew through the air as it went straight for the bottom three. Time slowed down as the vendor's eyes widened while I remained locked in, my teeth gritted intently, my expression still serious and focused. The ball knocked all three bottles without any difficulty.

I won.

The vendor asked me which prize I wanted, and I picked the ribbon. He took it and gave it to me as he said, “That was impressive, kid. What's your name?”

“I'm Hiroshi. Sato Hiroshi.”

“Good to meet ya, Hiroshi. I'm Benny.” He waggled his eyebrows. “So, who's the lucky lady?”

“What? It's nobody. I won this for myself.”

“Uh-huh, it's okay. You don't have to tell me. Young love is such a beautiful thing.”

“Dude, you're literally around my age.”

“No, I'm not. I'm twenty years old.”

“Same difference.” I looked at my phone and saw the time. It was 19:56—almost time for the event. “Oh, shoot, I gotta go. See ya around, Benny!”

I ran off towards the stairs on the left side of the shrine while Benny yelled, “Hey, wait, how are you gonna—and he's gone. Oh, well. I'll probably see him again. Probably.”

Meanwhile, I went up the stairs while texting Miyu. I asked her where they were, and she replied:

『WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN, YOU JERK! (*｀Д´)ノ！！! 』 

As she texted, it felt like her anger was coming through the phone. 

『Ouch, thanks for the insult.』

『Yeah, yeah, whatever, we're at the far end of the summit. Near the ledge that oversees the whole town.』

『I had to do something. I'm sorry, alright? Jeez.』

『I'm giving you two minutes. If you get here after that, you're dead!』

“I swear, someday she might end up a murderer,” I said as I climbed the last step.

There were a lot of people standing in the middle of the paved summit. Above us were a bunch of stars and the luminous moon. I walked towards the ledge of the summit, where most people didn't go thanks to the fact that standing there gives one a deep-rooted fear of heights. Or at least, that's what I've heard from Miyu.

As I approached them, Miyu turned slowly, her neck snapping to the right. “So tell me Hiro-chan, where exactly have you been?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, calm down!”

I vanished and appeared next to her as I whispered about the prize into her ear. Then she calmed down and told me, “It's now or never, bro. Give it your best shot.”

“Yes, sir—I mean, yes ma'am.”

Miyu turned to Chiyoko-san and exclaimed, “Hey, Chiyoko-chan, I'm gonna go grab us some snacks real quick. I'll leave this ape here with you.”

Chiyoko-san nodded while I threw a tantrum. “Who are you calling an ape!”

She sprinted towards the stairs with incredible speed. That should be impossible while wearing a yukata. That does it—she's definitely not human.

I took a few steps towards Chiyoko-san as she turned to look at the beautiful sight of the town. Each house had its own color of lights. Together, they looked like the stars that shone above us. We stood next to each other as our silhouettes followed behind.

“Did you have fun?” I inquired politely.

She nodded once. “Yes, I had a lot of fun. Thank you for inviting me.”

“You're welcome. And I'm glad you had fun.” I pulled the ribbon from my pocket. “I guess it was all worth it.”

Is love really worth the trouble? I've always found myself wondering before.

I took her hand and placed the ribbon on her palm. Then I closed her hand and let it go carefully. She looked at the ribbon, and immediately, a light twirled in her eyes.

“Hiro-chan, how did you… how did you know?”

“I saw you looking at it before. I wanted to give it to you as a gift; that's why I separated from you guys. I had to win it. That doesn't sound normal, huh?”

“No, it's incredibly normal… and kind… and thoughtful. Thank you so much, Hiro-chan; I'll treasure this ribbon with all of my heart.”

“I'm glad...”

But now...

We looked at the stars as they effulged together like a million fireflies. They were a mesmerizing phantasmagoria of lights that held harmony and mystery. In fact, they looked more like fireworks that exploded for all of eternity. But the moon was the MVP for the night. All of the stars paled in comparison to its ethereal glory.

“Hey, Hiro-chan.”

“What's up?”

“Have you ever heard of a poetic phrase people say to each other when they are under the moonlit sky?”

“Yeah, I think I have. Why?”

“Do you know the meaning of that phrase?”

“Let me think... well, you mean the popular phrase that's basically a trope nowadays. I think it goes like—”

Chiyoko-san held my hand as she stared at the moon while I looked at her in confusion. Why was she holding my hand? Why was she asking me about this? These were the questions that played in my head on repeat like a broken record. 

Well, that's because:

“The moon is beautiful, is it not, Hiro-chan?” she breathed with a lyrical tone as her features softened.

What she said was a classic trope in anime these days. One would say it's even cliché, but the way she said it was loud and clear. Even a dense person like me would acknowledge it at that moment. Chiyoko-san was speaking from the heart. The moon is beautiful, is it not? means: I love you.

I think that...

My eyes widened as my mouth parted slightly. I tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come out. My heart throbbed as the memories of every moment we've shared came back like fireworks lighting up the sky.

“Chiyoko-san, are you... are you serious? Like, this is not a joke or a pun or anything like that, right?”

She turned around and faced me with her entire body. Then she conceded, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Yes, Hiro-chan, I am being serious. I, Watanabe Chiyoko, am in love with you, Sato Hiroshi.”

I couldn't hold back anymore. I had been trying, but it was high time — I finally let them roam free. A tear tracked a path down my cheeks as I smiled happily.

“I… can die… happy now,” I uttered.

We looked at each other with great joy. But it seemed as if I was the only emotional one—how lame of me. I bet she'd beg to differ, though.

Just then, Miyu came back with two chocolate bananas in each hand, chewing a piece she had bitten off. Before she could get any closer, she saw us. She grinned as she thought:

Well, would you look at that? My big bro is spreading his wings. I'm so proud. I guess my job here is done. She went back down the stairs, eating away at her bananas while she left us in peace.

A lot happened today. And I mean a lot. But all of it was a wonderful experience I'll never forget.

Love might just be worth said trouble.

[To be continued…]