"By the way, what are you guys doing for the fireworks festival next week?"
Hashimoto asked the question while sipping his post-meal tea, immediately drawing the attention of everyone gathered around the two tables.
"Where did that come from all of a sudden?" Hamasaki asked.
"It’s not sudden. If we’re going to coordinate our schedules, we should probably hash out the details sooner rather than later."
"Is it a given that we’re all going together?" Moriyama asked, sounding slightly hesitant.
Hashimoto pouted in mock annoyance. "What? Don't tell me you’re planning to leave me out. That’s cold, man!"
"No, no, that’s not it. I just figured you and Yanagida-kun would be heading out for private festival dates with your girlfriends."
"Ah... we’re locals, so we’ve gone together almost every year since before we even started dating. It feels a bit late to start calling it a 'date' now, doesn't it?"
I had heard that Hashimoto and Shinohara-san were childhood friends who had been interested in each other since middle school. They had likely already checked off every bittersweet romantic event on the list.
As Hashimoto spoke with a nonchalant expression, Shinohara-san gave a small nod of agreement.
"I agree. If anything, I wasn't even planning on going this year. But it seems you've managed to make quite a few more friends recently..."
"What, are you jealo—ow, ow! I’m joking! Shio, you should just come along too. Takamiya-san and the rest of you, why don't you join us?"
"Us too? Well..." Takamiya-san trailed off.
"Wait, I haven't even said I'm going yet—" Mukai-san started.
"Now, now, it’ll be fun! It’ll be great!"
Hashimoto flashed a forced smile, his gaze flicking toward a visibly tense Hamasaki for a split second.
I had thought he was being unusually pushy, but then it clicked—he was providing cover fire for Hamasaki. Using the group to create a perfect situation like a fireworks festival was a classic wingman move.
Takamiya-san looked thoughtful at Hashimoto's invitation, shooting a quick, subtle glance toward Moriyama.
Whether he noticed it or not, Moriyama turned the focus toward us.
"Setting Hashimoto aside, I wonder what Yanagida-kun and Akase-san think. Didn't you two have plans for a private festival date?"
"Well..."
It clearly looked like he was trying to dodge the subject, but it wasn't my place to call him out.
I exchanged a look with Haruka. When I nodded, she turned toward Moriyama and the others with a bright, cheerful smile.
"Since it’s the first time for both of us to attend the festival here, we’d be really happy if you could show us the ropes—you know, the stalls and everything."
"I'm going too! I'll teach Haruka everything she needs to know!" Mukai-san chirped.
"...If Haruka is going, I suppose I'll go too," Takamiya-san said. "But are you really okay with it? Not being alone with Yanagida-kun?"
Mukai-san energetically raised her hand—I saw Hashimoto smirk out of the corner of my eye—while Takamiya-san asked her question with genuine concern. Haruka simply shook her head with a smile.
"Please don't worry about it. Spending time with friends is important, too. Besides, I’ve already been given plenty of time with Tatsumi-kun!"
The smile on Haruka's face was entirely natural; she wasn't forcing herself at all.
She was the type who never tried to hide her affection or possessiveness toward me, even in public. If she had any reservations, she would have spoken up honestly. We had built that much trust, at least.
"Well, if you've been living together for nearly a month, I suppose that makes sense..." Moriyama murmured.
"It’s just an extended stayover," I corrected.
"Yeah, yeah."
He brushed me off easily. I wanted to snap back, but honestly, I didn't have much of an argument.
I cleared my throat and chimed in. "It’s not like this is our only chance. we can enjoy a private date another time."
"Exactly," Hashimoto added. "It's not like we have to be glued to each other the whole time. We can make a ruckus at the stalls with the group, and then once the fireworks start, the couples can slip away to enjoy them quietly. As a veteran local, I’ll tell you guys the best secret spots for couples."
"I’d appreciate that," I said.
I offered my thanks to Hashimoto, who was being surprisingly considerate despite the teasing. Local knowledge was a godsend for events like this.
Hearing our exchange, Shinohara-san sighed and nodded.
"...If Akase-san and the others are going, I'll go too. I'm worried Hiro will cause trouble if I'm not there to watch him."
"Shio, what do you think I am, a toddler?"
"The comparison is fitting."
I turned my gaze away from the bickering childhood friends and toward Hamasaki, who had been silent for some time.
He was frozen with a look of intense nervousness. Even when Moriyama nudged him with an elbow, he remained motionless. Was he even breathing?
"That leaves Moriyama as a definite," Hashimoto continued. "We should probably reach out to Akasaka and the others, too."
"...I don't have any other plans, so sure," Moriyama said. "But I don't think Akasaka-kun will come. He said the Soccer Club guys were planning to go together."
"What!? I didn't hear anything about that! I really am being left out!"
"According to the organizer, Senior Yamanaka, anyone with a girlfriend is banned from participating."
"Oh my god!" Hashimoto cried, clutching his head dramatically. Apparently, even the popular Soccer Club had its own internal struggles.
As I watched the drama unfold—safely detached from it—Moriyama looked at me with an amused smile.
"By the way, Yanagida-kun has met Senior Yamanaka before."
"I have?"
"Remember when you came to cheer for our match? He was the senior who approached you to ask about Akase-san."
"Ah..."
The memory came flooding back. A large, imposing guy had come over with a group of juniors to ask if I was Haruka Akase’s boyfriend.
I’d been a little worried he might hold a grudge, but Moriyama had assured me he was just a bit intense and not the type to fixate on things, so I hadn't given it much thought since.
As I ruminated on the memory, Haruka peered at me with a worried expression.
"Tatsumi-kun, did a senior corner you? Were you okay?"
"Hmm? Oh, no, it wasn't a big deal. He didn't actually do anything. We were in public, and Hashimoto and Moriyama were right there."
"It’s fine, Akase-san," Moriyama added. "He can be blunt and overbearing, but he’s essentially a chivalrous guy. He probably actually respects Yanagida-kun for boldly declaring he was your boyfriend right to his face."
"Though he’ll still be petty and jealous of anyone with a girlfriend!" Hashimoto shouted.
I wasn't sure how "petty jealousy" fit with "chivalry," but looking at Haruka, I saw her cheeks flush with a happy glow.
"You boldly declared it? To a senior?"
"Well, it was the truth. Did that bother you?"
"No! Actually, it makes me really happy. If anyone asks me, I’ll boldly declare it too!"
"...Thanks?"
I doubted the roles would ever be reversed, but she looked so delighted that I decided to just roll with it.
Having witnessed our public display of affection from point-blank range, Hashimoto let out a heavy, exaggerated sigh.
"They're in their own world again... Hey, Hamasaki! How long are you going to stay frozen? You're coming too, obviously! To the festival!"
"Hwah!? A-ah, wha—!? Whoa, whoa...!"
Hamasaki jerked back as if he'd been electrocuted, his flailing arm slamming into a paper cup.
Fortunately, it was empty. He scrambled to catch it, but it slipped through his fingers. He lunged for it again, clutching at thin air as it bounced across the table.
After a few seconds of pathetic juggling, he finally managed to pin the cup down and let out a long, ragged breath.
While we watched his clumsy display with exasperation, a light, melodic laugh rang out from the girl sitting across from him.
"Ahaha! You were so surprised! Were you daydreaming or something?"
"O-wha!? ...A-ah—that... um... age."
"'Age'?" Mukai-san repeated, confused.
"K-karaage... The, the karaage in the bento was so good... I was... just savoring the memory... yes."
Even for someone panicking in front of his crush, that was a terrible excuse.
I felt like burying my face in my hands, but Mukai-san actually burst out laughing.
"Ahahaha! Was it really that good? That’s hilarious!"
"I-if you like, I can tell you which convenience store I bought it from! And the price...! I think the receipt is still in the bag... wait, where is it!?"
"I-it’s okay... pffft, ahahaha!"
She was completely losing it.
Looking at Mukai-san doubled over and Hamasaki frantically searching for a receipt, I exchanged a look with Haruka and Hashimoto.
Mukai-san’s low threshold for humor and Hamasaki’s natural awkwardness had somehow created a perfect, albeit weird, harmony. Hamasaki himself seemed too bewildered to realize it, but it looked like a great icebreaker.
Once Hamasaki calmed down, we confirmed his participation, and the whole group was officially set for the fireworks festival.
With the small talk over, everyone returned to their studies.
About an hour passed as we worked, with only the occasional whisper of a question or the rustle of paper. Sensing my focus starting to slip, I sat back and stretched.
As I popped a piece of chocolate to recharge, I heard Mukai-san’s voice from the living room.
"...Mmm, I don't get it! Karin, Moriyama-kun! Help me!"
"Sure thing. Let's see, this is—"
"Wait, Takamiya-san," Moriyama interrupted smoothly. "Hamasaki-kun, why don't you explain it to her? It’s the same section I taught you this morning. It’ll be a good way to check if you’ve mastered it."
"Hwah!?"
Nice assist. It was a perfectly natural way to get the two of them talking.
I wondered if Hamasaki could handle the pressure. He blinked in shock for a few seconds, then his expression hardened into one of grim determination. He gave a sharp nod.
"—I-if you’re okay with me...! I’ll give it my absolute best!"
"Pfft, ahaha! You’re taking this so seriously! But yeah, I’m counting on you!"
"Y-yessir...! Um, f-first, look at this page—"
It was actually going surprisingly well. Maybe having his earlier blunder laughed off had lowered the stakes for him.
I noticed Haruka and the others had also stopped working to sneak a peek at the pair.
When we all collectively gave Moriyama a silent thumbs-up, he just responded with a tired, wry smile.
The rest of the afternoon passed in a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere.
We took occasional breaks—during which we’d toss out topics for Hamasaki and Mukai-san to talk about—and by the time we finished, the sky outside had ripened to a deep orange.
"It’s getting late," Takamiya-san noted. "I think it’s time we headed out."
"Aw, you could stay a bit longer..." Haruka said.
"If we stay any longer, I’m going to start feeling like an intruder in your home," Takamiya-san teased.
"It’s technically my home," I reminded her.
"Practically the same thing."
She brushed me off with a grin. I knew she was just teasing, so I let it slide.
With that, the group began packing up their things.
As I tidied my desk, Shinohara-san gave me and Haruka a polite bow.
"Yanagida-kun, Akase-san. Thank you so much for today. At this rate, Hiro might actually finish his homework on time. Hiro, say thank you."
"I know, I know! Seriously, thanks guys! You saved my life!"
"We just provided the space," I said. "Hashimoto was the one who actually organized the whole thing."
"Thank you! I really had a lot of fun!" Haruka added.
Shinohara-san gave a relieved smile at our casual responses. Then she turned to Haruka and lowered her voice slightly.
"...And, um. About that other thing, I’m looking forward to it, Akase-san."
"Of course! Leave it to me! When should we have the first session—"
They were likely discussing the cooking lessons Haruka had promised her. Since it was between them, I finished clearing the table and stood up.
Hashimoto hurried over to me as I was gathering the used paper cups.
"Yanagida... man, seriously, thank you...!"
"I already got your thanks."
"Not for the studying. For the thing with Shio’s cooking."
"Thank Haruka for that, not me."
"I will! I’ll send some kind of reward your way soon, so keep an eye out!"
"Sure thing."
By then, everyone else was ready to go. We all walked toward the entrance together.
"Thanks for today, Yanagida-kun, Akase-san."
"Thank you so much...! This was a huge help...!"
"Thanks again, you two! I think I’m actually going to pass my classes now!"
"Thanks, see you guys soon."
I waved as they all called out their goodbyes.
"You're welcome! I had a blast! See you all at the festival!" Haruka called out.
"It was a good change of pace for me, too," I added. "See ya."
"Later!"
"Bye-bye!"
"Goodbye."
After the door closed and the voices faded, we walked back into the living room. Immediately, a strange sense of quiet settled over me.
I looked around the room, trying to pin down the source of the feeling.
"...Was this place always this big?"
"Fufu, eight of us were in here until just a second ago. It was so noisy and lively. It feels a little lonely now, doesn't it?"
She was right. The sudden drop in energy from the boisterous study session to the silence of the apartment was making me feel unexpectedly sentimental.
I’d never imagined I’d have eight friends over at my place. I think I might have been more excited about it than I’d realized.
"Maybe we should do this again sometime. Before exams, or maybe just to hang out."
"I’d love that! Can I come too?"
"I’d prefer you stay away from the boys-only hangouts, but otherwise, yeah, of course."
"Yay!"
Her innocent joy brought a smile to my face.
If it happened again, it wouldn't be until after the new semester started—a thought that felt strangely distant.
Then, the reality I had managed to push to the back of my mind resurfaced. Once summer vacation ended, Haruka’s "stayover" would end, too.
If I was feeling this lonely after just a few hours of friends leaving, what was it going to be like when Haruka—who had shared my life for over a month—was no longer here every day?
"It’s getting late, so I’ll start on dinner. Why don't you rest for a bit, Tatsumi-kun?"
I watched her walk toward the kitchen with a light step and gave a small shrug.
It wasn't like we’d never see each other again. Even during the second semester, we’d still spend our weekends together in this room. There was no point in getting worked up about it.
For now, I just needed to treasure the time we had left.
"You’re just as tired as I am, Haruka. I’ll help."
"Fufu, thank you. Let's make it together, then. Tonight, we’re having—"
And so, we settled into a quiet, gentle evening—a peaceful conclusion to a long, busy day.