Kazunari-san has been acting a little strange for some time now.
He seems to be off in his own world; although he replies when I speak to him, he is clearly distracted.
Then, he looks straight at me as if there is something he wants to say, his face flushing slightly... Does he have something to tell me?
Judging by his demeanor, could it be that he has something important to say?
Something so important that it makes his face turn red...
Ah...
Perhaps... this is just wishful thinking on my part, but could it be?
I still regret my own denseness back then.
The more I think about it, the more I wonder why I could not understand my own feelings.
No, all of that is in the past.
I cherish Kazunari-san deeply.
To think a day would come when I would feel that simply being together makes me happy...
I know that Kazunari-san treasures me and puts me first.
I cannot help but feel jealous when other women approach him, but Kazunari-san accepts even that part of me.
Kazunari-san's smile, his kindness, his slightly mischievous side, his clingy side... I love everything about him.
Now, I can say with pride that I have fallen in love with Kazunari-san.
So... hee hee... Do your best, Kazunari-san!
The moment I decided to confess if I found a chance, I started obsessing over when that moment would be and what I should say. I knew I was acting suspiciously.
Sara-senpai seemed concerned as well; she had been glancing at me, her face turning a bit red while she fidgeted restlessly. I felt a little guilty.
"S-Should we get some shaved ice?"
"!? Y-Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Let's do that."
Perhaps because I had suddenly spoken up, Sara-senpai gave a startled reaction.
As the meeting time drew near, my impatience only grew.
My head was so full of the resolve to confess that I did not even taste the shaved ice, nor did I notice that it was time to meet the others...
"Takanashi-kun, what’s wrong?"
Natsumi-senpai noticed something was off and spoke up.
In the end, I reached the meeting without ever finding the right moment. From here on, we would all watch the fireworks together, help clean up, and then head home.
In other words...
...The chance was gone.
Since the schedule was tight today, I had told myself that if it didn't work out, I should just wait for a better opportunity without rushing.
But honestly, I felt completely dejected.
To make matters worse, that son from earlier showed up near the meeting place with his friends. They lingered around, striking up conversations as if we were all old friends.
It was incredibly irritating to hear them looking at Sara-senpai and demanding that we introduce them.
Frustration with myself, annoyance at my surroundings, the terrible timing... it was irrational anger, and even though I knew it was wrong, I couldn't snap out of my bad mood.
"...No, I'm fine."
"Kazunari..."
Hayato seemed to have some inkling of what was happening, so he didn't pry further.
"Kazunari-san... It's okay. It’s okay."
"Sara-senpai..."
For whatever reason, Sara-senpai leaned in close and reached out to slowly pat my head.
"Please, calm down..."
Sensing my moodiness, Sara-senpai patted me more gently and slowly than usual. I was grateful for her kindness, but it also made me feel pathetic.
Get a grip, me! How long do I plan on showing this pathetic side to Sara-senpai?
I hadn't originally planned to confess today, so even if I had made up my mind, there was no need to be this desperate!
If today was no good, I just had to prepare a more suitable setting later.
"Sorry, Sara-senpai. I was being pathetic."
"Oh, a sudden recovery."
I didn't quite have the energy to fire back at Natsumi-senpai's quip, but...
"...Natsumi."
For some reason, Sara-senpai glared at Natsumi-senpai.
"Eh? Eh? Did I do something to get scolded for?"
Natsumi-senpai looked genuinely confused.
Just then...
Boom!!
Boom!!
The fireworks began to go off.
Fireworks, huh... I wondered when I had last seen them.
Right. I should be satisfied today just being able to watch the fireworks with Sara-senpai.
Everyone was watching the display, and Sara-senpai was too.
Glancing sideways, I saw Sara-senpai's beautiful side profile illuminated by the bursts of light.
"They're beautiful, aren't they, Kazunari-san?"
Watching the fireworks, Sara-senpai murmured her thoughts.
They were beautiful... truly beautiful.
"Yes, truly beautiful... I..."
Without thinking, I forgot about the fireworks and just gazed at Sara-senpai's side profile.
...Suddenly, she turned toward me.
"Kazunari-san...?"
When our eyes met, she seemed to realize that I wasn't talking about the fireworks when I said they were beautiful. Her face turned a soft shade of red.
Then, looking a bit shy, she closed the distance and clung tightly to my arm, pressing herself against my side.
Wait, what...?
"Kazunari-san, I don't think you're pathetic at all. Rather, you're so cute... that it's hard for me to restrain myself, you know?"
It seemed she had been holding something back earlier.
I wondered exactly what that was...
"Please do not rush. I am already... ready anytime."
Ready anytime?
That meant...
"I will leave the place, the timing, and everything else to you, Kazunari-san... So, do your best."
This was embarrassing!
This was beyond pathetic!
In other words... she had seen right through me. She knew exactly what I had been so frantic to do today.
If that was the case, she must have also understood why I was so moody... My sense of shame came overflowing all at once.
Sara-senpai had understood my declaration that I would confess again, and she was patiently waiting for it.
"Sara-senpai..."
My pathetic side came fully to the surface.
"Goodness... Kazunari-san, if you make a face like that, I won't be able to hold back anymore..."
Her face turning even redder, Sara-senpai wrapped both hands around the back of my head, pulling me toward her as if to embrace me right there...
"...Hey, could you save the rest for when you're alone? I've reached my limit here..."
!?
I had completely forgotten where we were.
Looking up, I saw Natsumi-senpai's intensely exasperated expression and Hayato's extremely awkward face.
Crap... I had done it again.
Sara-senpai let go with a look of regret.
"I'll be waiting..." she whispered.
...As an aside, it seems we succeeded in silencing those annoying guys nearby.