Book Publication Commemoration: Shuna Nanjo
“It’s hot, and he’s late…”
Beyond the embankment, the Summer Festival was in full swing with stalls and all sorts of attractions. The meeting time had passed, but Shuna hadn’t arrived.
Today, I was invited to Shuna’s family home, so I had returned with Shuna to her hometown. If they say it’s thanks to me that the company’s performance made a V-shaped recovery, I can’t refuse.
While we were at it, we talked about going to the Summer Festival together, but we decided to meet there. Just as I was about to contact her,
“Ooh-oi! Sorry I’m late~”
Shuna’s drawn-out voice reached me. Good. I thought something might have happened, but I’m glad it was just a needless worry. When I looked up towards Shuna’s voice, I froze.
“How is it~?”
Shuna spun around, showing herself to me.
“It looks amazing on you…”
The entire yukata was adorned with floral patterns in summery colors like orange, yellow, and brown, creating a mature atmosphere. Her brown hair was styled in a half-updo, lightly gathered at the crown of her head. So that’s what she meant when she said it would take time to get ready.
“Ehehe~, I’m glad~”
Cute. I fell in love with her all over again.
“Still, you’re awfully late. Did something happen?”
Shuna seems laid-back, but she’s usually punctual, so it’s even more concerning.
“Hmm? I was going to get some money back for the Summer Festival, but it seems today wasn’t a day for cashing in~”
“What does that even mean…”
“Come on, let’s go~”
Shuna turned her back to me and started down the embankment.
However, I didn’t miss Shuna’s subtle action.
Shuna’s right hand was gripping an air handle, and she was twisting it back and forth.
She lost, didn’t she?
For now, I decided to take charge of the wallet.
◇
The lights of the stalls shone brightly, and a sweet scent wafted through the air. Everyone seemed to be enjoying this moment.
“Candy apples~!”
“Ah, oi.”
I bought two candy apples, entrusted them to the stall owner, and we started eating them together. The crisp texture of the candy coating and the refreshing sweetness of the apple filled our mouths.
“I want to buy a mask too~, and the goldfish scooping and the shooting game are so tempting~”
“Calm down.”
“Mfuah?”
I fed Shuna cotton candy as she looked around with sparkling eyes. And as she stuffed it into her cheeks, she smiled happily.
“Sorry~, it’s just that this is the first festival I’ve been to with Satoshi-kun, so I’m really excited~”
Seeing Shuna smile sheepishly, I felt an urge to pat her head.
“H-hey! W-what are you doing~?”
“Ah, sorry.”
“Moo~”
Shuna puffed out her cheeks and protested to me, but it wasn’t scary at all. In fact, I wanted to poke her puffed-up cheeks.
Then, Shuna seemed to notice something and gasped.
“Hmm? Satoshi-kun, that child.”
“What’s wrong?”
When I looked in the direction Shuna was pointing, there was a girl wandering around, looking like she was about to cry. Judging from her demeanor, she must have gotten separated from her parents. Then, Shuna looked at me apologetically.
“…Sorry~”
“It’s fine. I’ll come with you, so do what you want.”
“Okay!”
I returned her smile and patted Shuna’s head. Shuna looked dazed for a moment, seeming to enjoy it, but then quickly turned around and walked briskly towards the lost-looking girl.
“Hey, are you okay~?”
I fell in love with her because of her attitude of trying to help someone, no matter how poor she might become.
◇
Places like this have makeshift lost child centers. When we took her there with Shuna, her parents were waiting with worried expressions. They were about to start broadcasting an announcement.
“Thank you very much! How can we repay you…!”
“No… I didn’t do anything.”
That was really the truth, not just modesty. I’m not used to dealing with children, so I just followed along from behind. During that time, Shuna held the girl’s hand and kept her company. I was constantly impressed by how used to it she was, even though she doesn’t have any siblings.
Glancing sideways at Shuna, I saw her crouching down to meet the girl’s gaze as she talked to her.
“Thank you, big sister!”
“You’re welcome~, it’s good that you said thank you~”
She stroked the girl’s head, and she seemed ticklish. Then, the girl took something out of her pocket and handed it to Shuna.
“I’ll give you this!”
“Eh~, are you sure~? I’m so happy~”
Shuna accepted the ring from the child. It was a plastic ring that could be found anywhere. She slipped it onto her ring finger and stroked the girl’s head again.
The girl’s parents bowed deeply, expressing their gratitude until the very end.
We watched the family walk away. The child was holding hands tightly between her parents. After seeing that heartwarming scene, we quietly turned in the opposite direction and quietly held hands.
“Sorry again~, during our date…”
Shuna looked apologetic once more, but I squeezed Shuna’s hand tighter.
“Don’t make me say it again. There aren’t many people who would go to help in that situation. I’m even more in love with you! That’s how I feel.”
“Only Satoshi-kun praises me that much~, I’m so happy~”
Shuna gently intertwined her arm with mine. The warmth of her closeness was comforting, and I didn’t mind the slight difficulty in walking.
“…I’m looking forward to the fireworks~”
“Yeah…”
Even if there are few words, there are things that are conveyed. We walked slowly, searching for the place where the fireworks would be seen most beautifully, slowly walking through the middle of the lively street lined with stalls.
“Ah, before the fireworks, can we do that~?”
“Hmm?”
When I looked in the direction Shuna was pointing, there was a Garapon lottery machine. It was the type with a handle that you turn around and around, and the first prize was a trip to Hawaii. It seemed quite luxurious for a Summer Festival prize.
But,
“No way…”
“Why not~!”
I’m afraid that if I let Shuna do those kinds of things, she’ll say, “I’ll keep going until I win~.” In the first place, Shuna is terribly weak when it comes to things that test her luck.
“Satoshi-kun. You don’t understand at all~. Do you think I would propose something like this without thinking~?”
“I’ll listen to what you have to say.”
“I guess I have no choice~”
It’s probably a terrible story anyway, but I let her talk as she pleased because I thought her smug expression was cute.
“It’s rare for the grand prize to still be available at this time~? In other words, it’s proof that so many Comrades have died trying~. I can’t let their deaths be in vain~”
“Isn’t it fine since they’re just strangers?”
“Eh~, no way~! Thanks to those idiots, the losing tickets have been greatly reduced~? We have no choice but to do it, right?”
“Hey, you!”
The true feelings I didn’t want to hear leaked out from the 【Saint】.
“Besides, I have a Good Deed Buff right now, so I think I’ll win~, just once is fine~”
“Don’t call it a Good Deed Buff…”
I felt complicated thinking that helping the lost child was for this moment. However, it’s also true that Shuna did a good thing. It felt wrong to strongly refuse here, so I decided to let her do it with conditions.
“Only once…”
“Yay~, I love you, Satoshi-kun~”
That’s the most complicated “I love you” in the world…
“Well, can you watch from a little further away? My hands get shaky when someone’s next to me~”
“As you wish. Do as you please.”
Shuna received 500 yen from me and cheerfully handed the money to the stall owner. Then, with sparkling eyes, she firmly gripped the handle of the Garapon.
“Here I go~”
The colorful spheres, spinning vigorously, bounced around inside as if bursting. Shuna leaned forward, watching with bated breath.
“Come on, come on, come on!”
The flame dwelling in her eyes burned like a gambler, and I could tell that Shuna’s concentration was sharpening.
Finally, one sphere rolled out. The stall owner picked it up and slowly checked the number.
“Too bad, Eighth Prize!”
Well… I thought so.
I knew Shuna’s lack of luck with money, so I wasn’t surprised at all. Even if it was a 50/50 chance, I didn’t think she would win. I approached Shuna as she received something for the Eighth Prize from the stall owner.
“Too bad.”
“Hmm?”
Huh? She lost, right?
She always has a “the world is ending” expression when she loses, but Shuna was smiling more than anyone else right now.
“Tada! Now we can have matching ones~!”
Then, Shuna showed me the same ring that she had received from the lost child earlier.
“Could it be that the reason you drew this lottery was…”
“Yep! I was aiming for the ring~”
“I thought you were aiming for the grand prize.”
She clicked her tongue.
“That’s the biggest loss~. If I ask Shino-chan, I can go to Hawaii right away, so what’s the point of getting a travel voucher~?”
Now that she mentions it, that’s true…
Besides, Shuna never said that the grand prize was the goal. She must have been aiming for the Eighth Prize from the beginning. I can’t believe it, but it seems Shuna has won at gambling.
Then, Akina lifted my left arm and carefully placed a fake ring on the ring finger of my left hand.
“Isn’t this something a guy like me should be doing?”
“Don’t worry about the details~. Ehehe~.”
Akina was as happy as a young girl with the matching rings we had.
Just then, a streak of light shot up, slicing through the night sky. The moment we both looked up at the sky, a huge impact resounded through my entire body with a thud!
It seemed that while I was dawdling, it was time for the fireworks.
“Shall we hurry?”
“Let’s go~.”
I firmly grasped Akina’s hand and walked a little faster towards a place where we could see the fireworks well.
“Hey, Satoshi-kun.”
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
Akina suddenly stopped.
“This time it was from me, but~”
Before the lingering echo of her words could fade, Akina gently stretched up and stole a kiss from my lips.
“…Someday, please give me a real ring, okay~?”
Akina’s smiling face, blushing as she did, was much more dazzling than the fireworks blooming in the night sky.
“…Of course.”
Above us, fireworks colored the night sky as if to bless us.