The sun had dipped below the horizon, and the merchandise at my stall was mostly sold out. I had managed to sell a surprising number of weapons, and even though I had prepared an absurd amount of chuunibyou goods, several items had been cleared out entirely. All in all, for a single day's venture, it was a massive success.
Just as I was reflecting on the day, the sharp crack of fireworks echoed through the air.
"Oh, are those...?"
"They are the fireworks announcing the end of the festival," Amel explained. "The curtain finally falls on the founding celebration. That said, no strict decree has been levied upon the Coloring Stars. Those who wish to maintain their luster shall likely continue to shine for a while yet."
"I see."
Technically, the display marked the conclusion of the Founding Anniversary Festival, but since there were no rules about when the stalls had to pack up, many vendors seemed poised to continue business for a while longer.
We weren't in a particular hurry since I could just use teleportation magic to get us home, but there wasn't much point in staying late with so little stock left. I was just about to suggest we call it a night when Amel spoke up, a bashful look on her face.
"Um, well... Sworn Friend. Thank you for humoring my selfishness today. Thanks to you, I had a truly wonderful time."
"Not at all, I enjoyed myself too," I replied. "It was much more relaxed than when I ran a booth back in the Kingdom of Sinfonia. I should be the one thanking you for the invitation."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Amel smiled shyly, speaking in a natural tone that lacked her usual dramatic flair.
"I've always wanted to try running a stall once. But since I'm a member of the Winged Race, things are... complicated. Aside from the few assigned to specific roles, my people don't really do things like this. Most of them don't even bother attending the festival at all."
"I suppose there are a lot of restrictions when it comes to interacting with other races," I noted.
"Yes. And because I'm a Special Individual, I was treated as a Special Existence even among my own kind. I never really had the chance to just... hang out with friends."
I had heard enough to know how insular the Winged Race could be, but it seemed Amel had been isolated even within that closed society—treated as someone apart, for better or worse. I wondered if her eccentric way of speaking was actually a subconscious plea for attention.
"But I'm so glad I met you! Because you carry the Blessing of Shallow Vernal-sama, my tribe doesn't dare complain about us spending time together. In fact, they practically order me to stay on your good side! It’s such a relief to be able to see you without any hesitation."
"Then let's do it again sometime. Running a stall is fun, but we should go on a proper trip next, or just stay in and play games like we used to."
"I would love that!" she chirped, before catching herself, clearing her throat, and adopting a more regal posture. "Indeed... in a sense, we have forged a New Covenant."
"Ahaha, I suppose we have."
I couldn't help but laugh along as she pointedly reverted to her persona. When we first met, I thought she was just an "intense" person—and she certainly was—but beneath the act, she was surprisingly sincere and easy to talk to. In some ways, her lonely circumstances made her feel a bit like Isis-san. If my presence made her life a little brighter, then I was more than happy to stay friends.
The fireworks eventually faded, signaling the official end of the celebration. The atmosphere didn't change immediately, especially in this quiet corner of the capital, but I started gathering our things to head home.
"...It appears your establishment is still open."
"Welco—Huh?"
I froze mid-motion at the sound of the voice. Beside me, Amel looked absolutely staggered, her face a mask of pure shock. I knew exactly how she felt.
"...Wait, why? I thought you weren't coming, Shiro-san?"
"I stated that I would not attend the Founding Anniversary Festival," Shiro-san replied calmly. "However, as indicated by the fireworks, the festival has concluded. Therefore, as it is no longer the Founding Anniversary Festival, my presence here is not a violation. There is no problem."
"No... I'm pretty sure there's a huge problem..."
She was technically right. She hadn't attended the festival; she had simply waited for it to end before visiting the capital. She hadn't broken her word.
However, the major issue was that Shiro-san appearing in the Human Realm was a world-shaking event regardless of the timing. Back at the imperial castle, Chronoa-san and the others were likely having a collective heart attack.
Serious-senpai: "I thought she was being suspiciously quiet, but she was just weaponizing a logic loop the whole time?! You said the festival of stomach pains was over... but you never said the stomach pain was actually gone, did you?!"