Chapter 346: The Yearning for the Fireworks Festival
"Utsunomiya brand helicopter..."
In Sakurakawa Rikka's mind, an image appeared of Asagiri turning into a helicopter with propellers growing out of his back.
She could not help but laugh out loud.
"Hahaha... helicopter..."
"This boss doesn't think that is funny."
Looking at Sakurakawa Rikka, who was blooming with a bright smile, even her gloomy eyes tearing up from laughing too hard, Asagiri smiled and said that before whispering softly,
"You should smile more often in the future. Joy is a human right."
"Joy is a human right..."
Sakurakawa Rikka repeated the sentence softly, then raised her head to look at Asagiri. A smile appeared in her eyes.
"You say some very profound things sometimes."
"What's profound about that?"
Asagiri waved his hand and stood up, speaking casually.
"Even I don't know what that sentence means. I just wanted to sound cool. It's like those lines, 'Absolute strength, the loneliness born from it, what teaches you love is...' Same idea. Purely for showing off, no practical meaning at all."
"It might not have any meaning for you, but it does for me."
"Ew... you talk like a clingy girl."
Asagiri shook his head with a look of disgust, then turned and walked toward Yuuki Asuna and the others.
"Alright, go play by yourself. Just don't create any gravity fields. After all, we are a Player guild, not some band."
Watching Asagiri's back, a feeling Sakurakawa Rikka had never experienced before welled up in her heart.
No wonder they all feel that way about you... Perhaps I also...
...
Later that day, outside the clothing store.
"Um, I won't be going with everyone."
Hearing Yamauchi Sakura speak with a smile, Kato Megumi asked softly,
"What's wrong? Aren't we scheduled to have dinner together?"
"Sorry, sorry~"
Yamauchi Sakura put her hands together and smiled apologetically.
"I forgot I have something to do today, so you guys go eat. Don't worry about me. Let's do it again when we have the chance~"
A trace of strangeness flashed through Kato Megumi's eyes, but on the surface, she remained calm. She merely urged softly,
"Hmm. Then be safe on the way."
Yamauchi Sakura nodded, then waved her hand in a somewhat exaggerated manner, saying casually,
"Okay~ Then everyone, Yamauchi Sakura is withdrawing~"
After Yamauchi Sakura left, Kato Megumi and Yuuki Asuna exchanged glances.
Without needing any verbal communication, the two had already reached a consensus through their eyes.
"Asagiri."
Kato Megumi walked to Asagiri's side and spoke softly.
"Go keep her company."
Asagiri did not agree immediately. Instead, he looked toward Yuuki Asuna and Iwanaga Kotoko.
"This is a hard earned holiday where everyone finally gathered. If I go keep her company, do you three have any objections?"
"What are you saying?"
Yuuki Asuna glared at Asagiri and huffed lightly.
"Are we such petty girls? We can go on a date anytime, but right now, compared to us, Sakura Yamauchi needs you more. Such a heavy situation... Although we all want to help, we can't. Only you can."
"Is that so?"
Seeing Asagiri turn his gaze toward her, Iwanaga Kotoko pouted and complained with a dissatisfied expression.
"What does staring at me mean? Do you think I'm the kind of petty girl who loves being jealous?"
Asagiri did not hesitate for even half a second and nodded directly.
"Yes."
Iwanaga Kotoko deflated like a punctured ball. Her shoulders slumped, and she said powerlessly,
"That's right. I am indeed very jealous, but I am also someone who can tell priorities apart and won't mess things up at a critical moment..."
Asagiri, Yuuki Asuna, and Kato Megumi spoke in unison.
"No, you are not."
Iwanaga Kotoko showed a frustrated expression and admitted unwillingly,
"Fine, I'm not... but that doesn't stop me from trying my best, so I won't be jealous!"
Asagiri saw through Iwanaga Kotoko's true thoughts at a glance and smiled.
"Isn't it just because Megumi and Asuna expressed their stance too quickly, and with Shinomiya and the others watching, you're pretending to be generous for the sake of face?"
"Tch... I was seen through..."
Iwanaga Kotoko muttered that first, then gave up and said,
"Whatever, whatever. I'm just jealous! As compensation, you have to accompany us to the Fireworks Festival when you're free!"
Before Asagiri could respond, Kaguya Shinomiya instinctively spoke up.
"Fireworks!? You mean the kind at a Fireworks Festival!?"
"Huh?"
Seeing the anticipation shimmering in Kaguya Shinomiya's eyes, Iwanaga Kotoko's lips curled into a meaningful arc.
"What's this? Does the proud Lady Kaguya also want to go to a Fireworks Festival? Yes, yes, when you mention summer vacation, of course you have to watch fireworks together. And all the various games at the Fireworks Festival too, tsk, tsk, tsk. Just thinking about it makes me look forward to it~"
Kaguya Shinomiya was not a fool. Naturally, she could tell that Iwanaga Kotoko was deliberately baiting her.
However, to Kaguya, a Fireworks Festival was the most beautiful and desirable thing in the world.
Even though she knew the other party was fishing, she still found it hard to suppress the urge to take the bait.
"I..."
"You make it sound so real."
Just before Kaguya Shinomiya could take the bait, Asagiri, whether intentionally or unintentionally, directly exposed Iwanaga Kotoko's lie.
"You've never actually been to a Fireworks Festival before, have you?"
Iwanaga Kotoko's posturing was exposed by Asagiri's words, and her face flushed red.
"So... so what if I haven't!? Isn't it perfectly normal not to have been to a Fireworks Festival!?"
Kaguya Shinomiya's expression turned hesitant after hearing this.
Iwanaga Kotoko had not been to a Fireworks Festival either?
But in Sakura Province, reaching high school without ever attending one was indeed rather unusual. Even if she had never dated before, she should have gone with family or friends at some point...
"It's actually quite normal. I haven't been either."
After Yuuki Asuna finished speaking, Kato Megumi also nodded.
"Yeah, I haven't been either."
Sakurakawa Rikka chimed in.
"Same here."
"Huh?"
This time, Kaguya Shinomiya was truly shocked.
She could understand why Hayasaka Ai and Fujiwara Chika had never been to a Fireworks Festival.
The former had always been busy as her personal maid, and besides, Hayasaka Ai only had Kaguya as a friend. Since Kaguya herself could not attend a Fireworks Festival, Hayasaka Ai naturally would not go either.
As for Fujiwara Chika...
She had opportunities to go, but she had not. The reason was simple.
"The first time you go to a Fireworks Festival, you definitely have to go with the person you like. Attending a Fireworks Festival for the first time with your lover standing beside you, what a wonderful memory that would be."
And then...
"Why are you all looking at me?"
Seeing all the girls present turn their gazes toward him, Asagiri immediately replied,
"I haven't been either, ha. During middle school, I was too busy with sports competitions and beating up delinquents outside of school. Who was I supposed to go to a Fireworks Festival with? Those delinquents from outside school?"
"So everyone hasn't been..."
Fujiwara Chika stole a glance at Asagiri, then pretended to be casual and suggested with a smile,
"Since that's the case, why don't we all go to the Fireworks Festival together? How about it?"
"I have no objections."
Without waiting for Yuuki Asuna and the others to speak, Asagiri expressed his opinion first. Then he glanced at his phone.
"Oh shoot, I'm running out of time. I need to hurry and catch up with Yamauchi. I'm off. Bye."
Seeing Asagiri quickly turn and leave, Yuuki Asuna and Kato Megumi exchanged glances.
The latter spoke in a soft tone.
"The strongest Shadow... has run away..."
Yuuki Asuna sighed while holding her forehead and said helplessly,
"He's afraid of a romantic battlefield, isn't he? Honestly, we aren't ordinary high school students. How could we possibly create some jealous romantic battlefield..."
Before Yuuki Asuna could finish, she saw Iwanaga Kotoko and Kaguya Shinomiya glaring at each other.
"You are not allowed to attend the Fireworks Festival!"
"It's not like I want to go with you. Why are you acting crazy?"
"I won't allow you to go to the Fireworks Festival with Asagiri!"
"Heh, that's something for Utsunomiya-san to decide himself, right? Besides, this is a summer team building activity for the Student Council."
"What team building activity!? How come I don't know about it?"
"Heh, it's something I just decided."
"You... how can you decide something like that by yourself?"
"This is my authority as Student Council President. If you, Accountant Iwanaga, don't want to participate, that's fine too."
"You... you're going to the Fireworks Festival with my boyfriend, and you want to exclude me? You're not even human!!!"
Watching Iwanaga Kotoko and Kaguya Shinomiya mock each other, neither willing to back down, Yuuki Asuna sighed softly and smiled helplessly at Fujiwara Chika, Hayasaka Ai, Kato Megumi, and Sakurakawa Rikka.
"Let's just sit and wait. We'll wait until they're done arguing and have had their fill. With Asagiri gone, no one can break up their fight."
...
Meanwhile, inside a certain train.
Yamauchi Sakura sat in her seat, looking down at her phone.
Even though the screen was not unlocked, she was subconsciously swiping across it. Her face was reflected on the dark phone screen. The carefree, lively smile she usually wore was gone. She looked extremely lonely, and a faint sorrow even showed in her eyes.
Just then, she suddenly felt someone sit down in the seat beside her.
Yamauchi Sakura frowned slightly.
The carriage was so empty, so why did this person have to sit right next to her?
Could it be... a train pervert?
Just as she raised her head, intending to glare at the person and then change seats, Asagiri's smiling face entered her sight.
"Yo."
"Hello~"
Facing Asagiri's greeting, Yamauchi Sakura instinctively put on a smile and returned his greeting energetically.
But when Asagiri saw her reaction, the smile on his face gradually faded.
He spoke softly.
"You're forcing yourself again."
.....
[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]