I sat on the grass beside Alice and started laying out the food we had bought. There weren't even any bugs in this pocket dimension, which made it the perfect place to relax.
It was a bit dimmer here than at the fairgrounds, clearly adjusted to provide the best possible view of the fireworks.
"Um, we still have a little time left, right?"
"If they start exactly one hour after the festival began, then we have about fifteen minutes."
"Then let's just take it easy until then..."
I wasn't particularly hungry, so the snacks were mostly for Alice. After wandering through the bright, noisy fairgrounds, it felt good to unwind in such a quiet spot.
The crowds hadn't been that bad compared to a real festival, so I wasn't too tired, but... As I was lost in thought, Alice suddenly tugged on the hem of my yukata.
"Yeah?"
"Um... well... there's something I want to try..."
"Something you want to try? You mean something couples do? Like... a kiss the moment the fireworks start?"
"Wouldn't that look pretty from a distance, but mean we wouldn't actually see anything?"
"I guess you're right."
Alice was slowly getting used to being pampered. Or rather, she seemed to have decided to be proactive today despite her embarrassment; she definitely felt bolder than when we’d started.
Of course, her face was as red as ever, so there was no doubt she was pushing herself to the limit...
"...So, what did you want to do?"
"It's about how we sit while we watch the fireworks. First, Kaito-san, I want you to sit cross-legged."
"That's a bit of a challenge in a yukata... Hm? What's this?"
As I started to reply to her request, a window resembling a game console appeared in mid-air.
Let's see... 'I've set this console to appear automatically whenever My Child thinks about wanting to change clothes. Just touch the outfit you want to switch!' ...She really is thorough.
"...Talk about well-prepared."
"I bet that klutz was using her omniscience to read ahead."
"Well, regardless, this helps. Oh, they have a samue. Let's go with that."
The console displayed a massive variety of clothes, even including some that looked like costumes, but I ignored those for now. I tapped the samue.
Before I knew it, my yukata had been replaced by the samue. It was a shock, but I decided to just accept it. If the one who prepared this was omniscient and omnipotent, this was probably child's play for her.
I tapped the 'X' to close the screen and sat down cross-legged, just as Alice had asked.
"...Like this?"
"Yes, like that... Now, just wait a moment. I need to prepare myself mentally... First, a deep breath—hyawah!?"
I had a vague idea of what she was planning, and I figured if I waited for her 'mental preparation' to finish, the fireworks would probably be over. I decided to take the lead.
I pulled Alice toward me, sat her in my lap, and gently hugged her small frame from behind.
"...This is what you wanted, right?"
"Y-Y-Yes, exactly, b-b-but I wasn't ready yet... auu auu..."
"You smell really nice, Alice."
"Why are you saying even more embarrassing things now?! Please, have some mercy! I'm already at my limit! Argh, my face is so hot... I think I'm actually steaming."
"Ahaha."
"What are you laughing at?!"
Watching her fuss with a face so red she really did look like she was about to emit steam was just too much; I couldn't help but laugh. Usually, she was so incredibly reliable, but seeing her flustered and unable to keep things under control made her feel irresistibly cute.
"No, sorry, sorry. Your reaction was just so cute, I couldn't help it..."
"Ugh, what is this sense of defeat? You're totally getting carried away just because you know I'm bottom-tier when it comes to romance..."
"I said I was sorry..."
"Muuuuu."
As if in protest, she rubbed the back of her head against my chest. I watched her with a smile and tightened my embrace slightly.
Feeling her warmth through the fabric of the samue made me feel even happier than before.
Despite her grumbling, she didn't seem actually angry. She held onto the arms I had wrapped around her as if they were precious.
"...Alice, are you mad?"
"Isn't it unfair to ask when you already know? I'm not mad."
"I see..."
"It's almost time for the fireworks."
"Yeah. I'm looking forward to it."
"...Me too."
Alice's voice was incredibly gentle. I could tell that she was genuinely enjoying this moment, and that made me feel even more glad to be here.
"...Kaito-san."
"Yeah?"
"I'm bottom-tier when it comes to romance, and I can't really put it into words well... but I love you, Kaito-san. More than anyone else in the world."
"Yeah. I love you too."
A deep sense of connection washed over us—a blissful, shared moment. As if to offer its blessing to our feelings, a magnificent flower of light blossomed in the night sky.
Serious-senpai: "Gah... stop... I literally can't. This is too much... I mean, seriously, they were flirting from beginning to end..."