Summer Festival

***

"Were you waiting?"

"No, I-" Kazuki was stunned in his place by how beautiful Kayo was looking in her pink-white Yukata.

"What happened?" Kayo's words snapped him back to reality.

"O-oh, N-nothing. I just got here myself." He said as he averted his eyes with a slightly red face trying to hide his embarrassment.

"Good. Let's go then!"

"Y-yeah. By the way, it is looking good on you."

"Oh, Thanks!" Her smile in front of the festival lighting got Kazuki flustered again.

Kayo and Kazuki were visiting a nearby summer festival. It was Kayo's first time visiting a summer festival since her mom died. She visited sometimes before when she was little but the memory was not vivid enough to call it a visit now so she was fairly excited. She went to buy a Yukata with Fujimura because she wanted to try wearing one.

"It's a waste that Jiro and Yoko couldn't come with us."

"Well, they have their own plans nowadays so let them enjoy on their own too." Both of them had their own date.

"That's true. Hey, do you think this is a date too?"

"H-huhh! Where did this come from?"

"Nowhere." She said pouting.

"Why are you pouting now? What did I say wrong?"

"No reason."

"Ehhh..."

"Ahahaaha! I was just teasing you." Kayo let out a laugh.

"You... By the way, be careful. Don't do something as cliche as getting lost."

"Come on, I am not a kid."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Hey, I wanna try the shooting game."

"Alright, let's go then."

They both went to the stall and took the bullets.

"You wanna try first?"

"Yeah." Kayo had a sparkle in her eyes. She took the gun loaded with bullets and tried to fire it at the teddy bear sitting in the corner. However, the bullet instead of hitting the bear went flying into the corner of the shop.

"Where are you even aiming? That is not even close."

"What can I do? This is my first time after all. Help me."

"Alright, alright."

Kazuki went towards her and leaned forward grabbing the from above her and trying to stabilize the gun for her.

"Here, try shooting now."

Kayo fired and it hit the small white teddy bear.

"Yayy! We got it!" Just as Kayo with all excitement turned to look toward Kazuki, both of them realized how close their faces were and suddenly jumped aside totally embarrassed.

"The youthful days!" The remark from the old guy just made them more embarrassed.

"Good for you." Kazuki tried to make the embarrassment in the air vanish as they were walking.

"Y-yeah."

After that, they played some more games. Kazuki won all the games. They tried more food such as takoyaki and cotton candy.

"Ouch!"

"What happened."

"My foot-" It was her first time wearing these slippers and it hurt her more than expected.

"You should have told me earlier. You definitely cannot walk like this. Here, come on." Kazuki sat, offering her a piggyback ride.

"O-ok!" Kayo embarrassingly accepted. Kazuki started walking.

"Where are we going now."

"A place to see the fireworks from. Me and my sister used to come here. It was our secret spot."

"Are you sure? Isn't the place important to you then?"

"Yeah, it is. That is why I am taking you there." He said with a smile.

"I-I see." Kayo rested her red face on Kazuki's back.

"Here you go." Kazuki handed her a can of juice and they both sat on the grass looking toward the sky.

On the loudspeaker, the countdown started.
Fireworks in...
3...
2...
1...

And the fireworks exploded in the sky creating a beautiful scenery.

"So beautiful."

"Yeah, it is." Although Kazuki was staring at something or someone else instead of fireworks with a gentle smile.

"Thanks for coming with me. It was really fun."

"It was fun for me too," Kazuki replied back with a smile.

***

The summer break was over with all its fun ending but now the school cultural festival was almost upon them. Both Kazuki and Kayo were alone in the clubroom.

"The preparations are going well, huh?"

"So far, yeah."

"How did you come up with these weird ideas though?"

"They just suddenly appeared in my mind. It's not something I can explain."

"Still, it is a really uncommon thing to do in the school festival."

"You are going to be a maid in the cafe by the classroom right?

"Yeah."

"It's a pretty weird system though. Classes and clubs put on things separately and the competition is only for people from clubs. It's a pretty flawed system in my opinion."

"Well, this is the second time they are doing this so it kind of makes sense that it still has a lot of flaws."

"I see. Well as far as class goes, I can really only help with preparing the cafe. I can't cook and since it is a maid cafe, it wouldn't make sense if a guy is also serving. Anyways, I will come to visit the cafe when I get free from the club one."

"Do come. I will give you the best service ever." She said with a smile.

*That is some really weird wording, but I will not mention it*  Kazuki thought to himself silently.

"I guess we should go home now. I am tired from the work. Even though the club is all set the maid cafe is a real work to prepare for."

"That's true. Even I am feeling tired."

"You feel tired too?!"

"What do you mean by that? Just what do you think I am?"

"An energy reserve."

"That's rude. I hate you."

"Yeah, yeah. I am sorry. Now, let's go." Kazuki stood up packing his bag.

"I am not joking, you know!"

"Yeah, yeah. Come on."

"Hey, don't leave me behind. Seriously!" Kayo said as she also packed her bag and followed Kazuki out of the clubroom.

What followed was some sarcastic back and forth between both of them on their way back home.