The bustle at the Station Front today felt a bit different from the usual atmosphere.
Of course, there was the typical weekend rush—the number of cars entering the rotary and the groups of people loitering about—but perhaps because they shared our destination, there were many more people waiting for friends or picking others up. Naturally, mixed in were the usual idiots shouting at the top of their lungs without a care for the trouble they caused... but regardless, it was certainly livelier than usual.
"It seems they haven't arrived yet," Hanako-san remarked.
"Just as you said that, here they come."
The moment she spoke, a single car glided smoothly into the rotary. Its large frame was distinct from the average vehicle, and its gleaming black finish marked it as a "super" luxury car to anyone with eyes. Since there weren't many people who used such an incredible car on a daily basis, it had to be them.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Good evening."
"We’re here~"
Hayato, Todo-san, and Natsumi-senpai all arrived at the perfect time. With that, the whole group was finally gathered.
"Whoa... Sa-Satsukawa-senpai, you look so beautiful! And Hanako-san, you're way too cute..."
"Fufu... thank you. You look quite lovely yourself, Todo-san. It suits you well. Right, Kazunari-san?"
"Yeah. No flattery intended, I think you look incredibly cute."
"Ehehe, thank you! Takanashi-kun, you look cool too!"
Setting aside the evaluation of my own looks, Todo-san’s appearance in a yukata was indeed shockingly cute. She wore a modest, quiet design featuring small yellow plum blossoms on a cream-colored background. Her hair, tied to the side, was beautifully adorned today with pink ribbons and flower ornaments. While the overall impression was reserved, it was a look overflowing with Todo-san's signature cuteness.
And then I noticed it.
"Todo-san, that..."
"Y-Yeah. Um... Hayato-kun gave it to me."
Pinned to her obi was the handmade brooch Hayato had crafted with us that day. She looked down bashfully as she spoke.
"I see. So you finally gave it to her, Hayato?"
"Ahaha... I just couldn't find the right opening."
"He was just trying too hard to find a cool moment and ended up missing his chances instead," Hanako-san added.
"Guh... y-you're as harsh as ever, Hanako-san."
At Hanako-san's merciless remark, Hayato's smile twitched. As a fellow man, I felt like I understood his struggle all too well... so I found myself wishing she would cut him some slack.
"Stop trying to act suave and just be honest from the start..."
"Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone."
"Yahoo! It's been two weeks~"
Coming to Hayato's rescue in his moment of peril—or rather, just happening to arrive—were Nishikawa-san and Tachikawa-san, both dressed in glamorous yukata like the rest of us. I didn't know if there had been any specific coordination, but with this many people gathered in yukata, the attention from the crowd was becoming quite intense.
"Whoa! Sa-Satsukawa-senpai, no matter how you look at it, you're way too beautiful!"
"Fufu... thank you. You look lovely as well, Tachikawa-san."
"Really?! Ehehe, I actually put some effort into it for once... wait, no! That level of beauty is a foul! It’s a regulation violation! No doubt about it!"
"I-I'm not sure what to say to that..."
Faced with Tachikawa-san’s solo explosion of excitement, Sara-san appeared somewhat perplexed. However, the expression "foul" hit the mark; I also thought Sara-san's beauty was truly at a level that should be considered a violation.
"Good evening, Takanashi-san."
"Good evening, Nishikawa-san... wait, where's Yuji?"
"Fufu, it would be a shame to ruin the mood, so I decided to let them be alone together."
Nishikawa-san wore a mischievous expression as she glanced toward where Yuji and Natsumi-senpai were talking in what seemed like a very good atmosphere.
"She just fled because she didn't want to watch them flirt," Hanako-san muttered.
"Wait! I can hear you, Hanako-san!"
"Oops, my mistake."
Hanako-san, who had "accidentally" let the truth slip, quickly sought refuge behind me. Or so I thought, but she was casually clinging to my back, wasn't she?
"Ahem... u-um, Takanashi-san. I was being purely sincere..."
"I-I know. You're a kind person, Nishikawa-san."
"Fufu... thank you."
To be honest, I thought it was probably half-and-half, but there was no need to say that out loud. Also, Hanako-san, please don't write "GJ" on my back with your finger. It was extremely ticklish.
"...Phew, we're certainly standing out. I fully expected this once Sara decided to wear a yukata."
"Yeah. Ever since we got here, we've been the center of attention. There are plenty of guys hanging around who look like they're just waiting for a chance to hit on us."
"I'm sure. Well... even from my perspective as a woman, Sara today is so beautiful it's enchanting."
"Haha..."
Indeed, Sara-san today—though it was always the case—was so overwhelmingly beautiful that it was no wonder Nishikawa-san felt that way. The primary reason was that for a Yamato Nadeshiko like Sara-san, traditional Japanese clothing was the ultimate match.
But...
"Um... if we're talking about drawing attention, the same goes for you, Nishikawa-san."
"...Eh?"
"It's true that Sara-san today is so incredibly beautiful that I catch myself staring if I let my guard down... and Hanako-san is cute too... but the same can be said for you, Nishikawa-san."
"E-Err...?"
Sara-san wasn't the only reason the crowd was staring. Everyone here, starting with Hanako-san, was exceptionally cute, and the group effect only magnified it. But Nishikawa-san... because she naturally rivaled Sara-san in terms of raw beauty, her appearance in a yukata was also exceptionally eye-catching.
Her vivid yukata featured large blue roses on a white background, radiating purity. Her hairstyle was different from usual—a sophisticated ponytail with braids extending above her ears. It was adorned with a large ribbon, a sparkly kanzashi, and a three-row flower ornament that shimmered like jewels. Moreover, her dignified and elegant posture was similar yet distinct from Sara-san's, made even more striking by the glamour of the yukata.
"U-Um... Takanashi-san?"
"Er... I-I'll say this now, I'm not just saying this to flatter you. I truly think you're beautiful..."
"I-I-I know! I'm well aware that you're that kind of man, Takanashi-san... so, because of that, um, i-it makes me even happier..."
"Nishikawa-san?"
"I-I-It's nothing! Anyway, thank you!"
"Y-You're welcome?"
Nishikawa-san's face turned beet-red, and she looked down bashfully. I realized I had blurted out some rather embarrassing lines in the heat of the moment, and I was feeling quite shy myself.
"Kazunari... am I cute?"
In the middle of that awkwardness, Hanako-san, still stuck to my back, suddenly spoke up. Wait, didn't I already tell you that earlier? Did she want me to say it again?
"Ugh... well."
"Kazunari..."
Hanako-san's voice, which sounded like she was cutely pleading—something I rarely heard—made my heart skip a beat. Whether she knew how I was feeling or not, she started poking and fidgeting against my back with her fingers as if to hurry my answer. Stop that, it’s sending shivers down my spine!
"U-Um... Takanashi-san, I... a-a-am... also... beauti..."
Now even Nishikawa-san was trying to say something! If you're too embarrassed to say it properly, you don't have to force yourself!
"Kazunari-san, um, I..."
"Sara-san, you're so truly beautiful and radiant that I feel like I could stare at you forever... but that's not just true for today. I honestly feel that way every single day."
"...I'm happy. To hear you say that, I am truly fortunate..."
Sara-san leaned gently against my arm and looked straight at me with moist, shimmering eyes. I was drawn into those beautiful eyes, unable to look away for even a second... wait, huh? When did Sara-san get here?
"........."
"Pukuku... Eriri~n, that's too bad, wasn't it?"
"W-Why would it be too bad?!"
"Nothing in particular... honestly though, Takanashi-kun, you really can breathe out compliments for Sara without even thinking."
"Well, it can't be helped. That's just how Kazunari is."
"He is Takanashi-kun, after all."
I couldn't deny it; in fact, I had spoken surprisingly honestly, even for myself. But if Sara-san was that special to me, it didn't feel bad at all... wait? Wasn't Hanako-san just on my back a second ago?
"...In this regard, I'm completely outclassed," Yuji muttered.
"Me too. To be able to state your feelings so straight like that is truly incredible," Hayato added.
"No, well, about that..."
I couldn't tell if they were genuinely impressed or just teasing me. I couldn't even find a good comeback.
"Ah—um, for now, shouldn't we get going?"
"Y-Yes, you're right. Now that we've gathered, it would be a waste to stay here."
"No objections! Apple candy, buttered potatoes, grilled corn, and various other things are waiting for me!"
"It's nothing but food..."
"Shut up, you're coming with me too!"
"Ehhhhh..."
Yuji, who couldn't stand up to Natsumi-senpai, was already committed to the gourmand tour. We decided to pass on that. A wise man avoids danger.
"Kazunari-san... if it wouldn't be a bother, would you mind trying the shooting gallery?"
"Eh? I don't mind, but shooting galleries at festivals like this usually don't have any decent prizes..."
"Kazunari, stop right there."
"Oops, my mistake."
Not good... I almost blurted out a forbidden topic.
"Fufu... as for that, I understand perfectly well, so please rest assured."
"Er... I-I see."
Sara-san probably only understood the surface-level part, while the true darkness of festival games went much deeper... but I decided to stop there. Not all of them were rigged.
"It's not that I want a prize... I simply wish to see your heroic figure once more, Kazunari-san."
"Eh...?"
"That appearance... once more... for me..."
"I-I understand! If that's the case, I'd be glad to!"
Seeing Sara-san blushing bashfully and saying something so wonderful, there was no way I wouldn't get fired up. I was going to give it my all—
"Yuji! You enter too!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Kazunari, I'm participating too."
"Yuji..."
"Ah, of course I'll join in as well! I know I can't beat you two, but there's meaning in just participating!"
"Hayato... I see."
It seemed that, unexpectedly, the Rinka Festival rematch had been decided. Even though it was an unplanned development, I would absolutely not lose for Sara-san's sake, no matter who the opponent was!
"Whoa, this might be fun!"
"It's fine. The one who wins this time will also be Kazunari."
"I wonder? It was a close battle last time. This time, Yuji will win."
"You say some interesting things. For Kazunari-san to lose is something that could never happen, even if the heavens and earth were turned upside down."
"U-Um, I'm sure Hayato-kun will do his best too... so..."
An off-field battle had suddenly begun. The strongest tag team of Seiryu and Suzaku was being met head-on by Byakko, with sparks flying... and the Chihuahua was timidly joining in from a distance.
How did it turn into this? Well, the cause was undoubtedly Natsumi-senpai's love for festivals.
"Now then, let's actually go. If we stay here forever, eye-sore groups will start crowding around us!"
"Okaaay."
It looked like an older sister leading excited children... or rather, it was Nishikawa-san. She was right that the number of loiterers was increasing. If it was like this before we even reached the venue, I wondered what would happen later.
I might need to consult with Nishikawa-san and Yuji about this when the time was right.