Episode 31: Summer Festival with Takizawa by My Side ⑴

Is my yukata a bit too much?

It’s fine.

I wore a yukata last year too, so it’s not like I’m trying too hard. The difference this year is that I’m going to the festival with Takizawa.

　Last year, I went with Akari, Nao, and their boyfriends. I don’t mind going along with others, but before the fireworks started, they all said they were going round with their partners and split off. I ended up alone, so I came home without seeing the fireworks.

The next day, they apologised profusely, but I didn’t really mind.

It just made my usual house feel a bit more empty.

　This year, I’m going with Takizawa.

I asked several times beforehand, but Mai isn’t coming, nor are any other friends. Her sister said she has plans with her friends and won’t be coming either.

Around this time last year, I thought how nice it would be to have someone to watch the fireworks with until the end next year.

“Hmph…”

Taking a deep breath, I decided to put on my yukata.

　It was the one Grandma gave me when I started high school. Apparently, Mum used to wear it.

The pale pink base with peony patterns was a yukata that suited Mum perfectly. I could easily picture Dad, all smitten, when he saw her wearing it.

I wasn’t really expecting anything, but I hoped Takizawa might notice me just a little.

　As I undressed, my eyes fell on the red mark near my collarbone.
Yesterday, for some reason, Takizawa suddenly put it there.

It’s not like I’m going to school or seeing anyone, but if I happened to bump into a friend and they saw it, it could lead to some awkward misunderstanding.

What troubles me most is that I have absolutely no idea what Takizawa is thinking.

　Why did she do this?

Normally, this sort of thing is done to a lover. Even someone like me, who’s never had a crush, knows it’s used to claim someone as your own.

I had a bad feeling the moment she started undressing me, but I should have stopped her sooner.

The moment Takizawa’s lips touched my collarbone, it stung and bruised. Because of this mark, my mind is completely occupied with Takizawa.

“Haa… I really ought to get ready.”

It wasn’t that I was pressed for time, but dwelling on it threatened to turn my thoughts into a muddle, so I resolved to focus on getting ready instead.

I’ve been to countless fireworks displays since childhood, yet this year I feel so nervous it’s as if it’s my very first time attending one.

Though it was still half an hour before the meeting time, I decided to apply a light layer of make-up and head to the park where I first met Takizawa.

　I intended to wait on a park bench, but there she was, sitting on a swing, swaying gently. She was dressed casually in jeans with a white shirt tucked in.

I hurried over and called out.

“Takizawa, you’re already here? It’s twenty minutes early…”
“Nothing else to do, so I came to the park.”

Saying that, Takizawa lifted her face and looked at me.

　My heart pounded, beating out what I hoped she might say.

“You’re wearing a yukata.”

“Yeah…“…

“It’s a bit early, but shall we go?”

With those words from Takizawa, we left the park.

She didn’t comment on the yukata, but I was relieved she hadn’t said she didn’t want to go with me after all.

　We’d planned to take the train to the summer festival in the next town. The reason, apparently, was that she wanted to avoid school people as much as possible.

Takizawa deeply dislikes being seen with me by anyone from school.

I, on the other hand, wish someone would find out.
Then, at school, people could talk to me normally, and I could interact more naturally than I do now.

It might be too late now to be friends with Takizawa, but I want a relationship where I can talk to her anytime, without worrying about others.

Carrying those thoughts aboard the train, we arrived at the fireworks venue after the journey.

We barely spoke during the trip, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.
In fact, that’s how comfortable I am with Takizawa. We don’t force ourselves to fit in, just chat when we feel like it.

“It’s crowded, isn’t it?”

　Takizawa muttered under her breath, her expression thoroughly displeased. I’d suspected she disliked crowded places, but her face looked far more annoyed than I’d imagined.

“It’s a festival, after all. Is there anything you fancy eating, Takizawa?” “No.”

My nerves had prevented me from eating lunch properly, but meeting Takizawa had eased my tension, and now I was hungry.

“I’m starving. Mind if I go and get something to eat?” “Yeah.”

　Not knowing what Takizawa liked, I chose the classic yakisoba and takoyaki, grabbed two sets of chopsticks, and headed towards Takizawa sitting on a bench. It was crowded, and even walking a short distance was difficult, but I hurried over to Takizawa.

“Shall we eat this together?” “Yeah.”

We both picked at the yakisoba and takoyaki.

Takizawa was eating mostly takoyaki.

　She must like takoyaki; she was already on her fifth out of eight.

“Takizawa, you’re not planning to leave me any takoyaki, are you…” “You were the one who suggested we eat together, Endo-san. You didn’t specify whose they were, so it’s first come, first served.”

While she was saying that, the sixth takoyaki disappeared into Takizawa’s mouth. Determined to defend the last two, I stuffed one into my mouth. 　The takoyaki was still piping hot, nearly burning my mouth.

Then, Takizawa gave me an exasperated look, but I ignored it and kept chewing away.

Once my stomach was full, we resumed our festival tour. It was now 7 PM, with fireworks scheduled to start at 8. We had about an hour left to enjoy the food stalls.

　Glancing at Takizawa beside me, she didn’t look particularly amused. Perhaps it was only natural, since I’d practically dragged her along. Still, I wanted her to enjoy herself even a little, and I pondered if there was any way to make it better.

I asked if she fancied anything from the stalls – candy floss, toffee apples, the various treats on offer – but she showed little interest. It hit me hard that I knew absolutely nothing about what Takizawa actually liked.

　Yet, amidst her apparent lack of enjoyment, there was something that made Takizawa stop and stare.

The shooting gallery.

Amidst the array of sweets and toys, Takizawa’s gaze was fixed on a stuffed toy – a Labrador Retriever, larger than the palm of your hand but too small to be a proper cuddly toy.

“Do you want that?”

Takizawa looked startled and tried to walk away, so I grabbed her arm to keep her put.

“Takizawa, you were looking at that dog plushie, weren’t you? Do you want it?”

“I don’t need stuffed animals at my age. I just thought its silly face looked like Endo-san.”

Somehow, it felt like she was really putting it down, but I shrugged it off and decided to pay for the shooting gallery.

Takizawa stood silently beside me, so it seemed she wasn’t telling me not to do it.

　I missed one of my three shots.

The second one hit, but it only shifted slightly – it was tricky.

“You won’t get it, you should pick something else.”
“I need to concentrate, so could you be quiet for a moment?”

I could just keep paying until I got it, but I had this sneaky desire to get it on the first try and show Takizawa how cool I was.

Its head looked heavy, so if I knocked it over, it would surely fall.

　Holding my breath, I aimed for the third shot.

Bang!

The pellet hit the stuffed animal’s head squarely, and I successfully retrieved the dog plushie. I have to admit, I can do anything.

“Here, I’ll give you this.”
“I don’t want it.”
“If you don’t want it, you can just chuck it somewhere.”

I forced the Labrador plushie into Takizawa’s hand.

“It’d be a shame to throw it away.”
“Then why don’t you keep it, Takizawa?”

Takizawa looked at the stuffed toy for a while before tucking it into her bag. I felt relieved it hadn’t been discarded.

It wasn’t like we were having some particularly fun conversation or doing anything special, but moments like this were incredibly enjoyable for me.

　Until now, I’d been so busy trying to fit in with friends that I never really enjoyed myself. But being able to act as I please – I realised anew just how enjoyable that can be.

“Endo-san, you seem to be having fun today.”

Apparently, I was enjoying myself enough for even Takizawa to notice. And Takizawa observes people surprisingly well. I’d thought I was keeping it from showing on my face, but Takizawa noticed straight away.

“Yeah. Thanks to you, Takizawa. I’m having a great time. Thanks for coming with me today.”

There was no reply to that remark, which felt very Takizawa-like.

Twenty minutes until the fireworks go up.

The best part is yet to come.

But I was being overwhelmed by a pain I didn’t want to acknowledge, yet couldn’t ignore.

Even though we’d taken the train, we’d walked all over the festival stalls in the neighbouring town. The unfamiliar geta sandals had given me blisters.

I’d been enduring it, but the pain had become unbearable, and my walking pace had clearly slowed.

I forced a smile, trying not to let Takizawa notice.

But Takizawa, who’d kept a straight face the whole time, now had her brow furrowed so deeply it was almost comical.

Takizawa pulled my arm, leading me to a bench in a corner of the park.

“Sit here.”
“Eh…?”
“Just do it.”

With only those words, Takizawa walked away.

The fireworks would start soon.

Where had Takizawa gone?

Perhaps she thought it more efficient to go around alone since my pace had slowed. Knowing Takizawa, she might have just gone home, finding it too much trouble.

　The fireworks couldn’t be seen from here.

I had to go to a venue closer by where the fireworks were visible. Everyone was heading to the venues with a view, so this area was becoming less crowded.

Alone again this year…

The sound of people walking, voices chatting, trees rustling in the wind, insects chirping.

The sounds gradually faded into the distance, and I felt my consciousness drifting away from reality.