[Warning 15+]
Part Five
―Even If, I Can't Treat You with That Same Energy Anymore
Chapter 199
Since We're at the Festival and All, Right?
―Even If, I Can't Treat You with That Same Energy Anymore
Chapter 199
Since We're at the Festival and All, Right?
"Yo, Hayato."
"Hello, Kirishima-kun."
"Iori, and Isami-san too."
Iori raised a hand in a casual wave and walked over with Ema. Their expressions were still a bit stiff, but their hands were held firmly together. Seeing their relationship definitely makin' progress, Hayato couldn't help but give them a warm, knowin' look, which made both Iori and Ema turn red and look away from each other. Hayato's expression softened into an even warmer smile.
Iori, dressed in a dark navy yukata with a flashy pattern, and Ema, in an indigo yukata with subtle floral designs, looked like a perfect match side-by-side, radiatin' a cozy vibe like a mischievous little bro and a big sis who keeps him in check.
Right then, Saki's eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands together.
"Ema-san, so you ended up pickin' that one after all!"
"Yeah, pretty much. That other one was, well, a bit... ...y'know?"
"It really did feel like a cosplay outfit. More like an oiran vibe."
"Going outside in that would be a bit too much... ...so, um, I'll secretly save that one for inside the room next time... ...Oh!"
"So you bought that one too!"
"Ema!?"
"~~~~~!?"
Iori was caught completely off guard by Ema's unexpected confession.
When Ema bashfully murmured, "Since Ii-chan likes stuff like that," Iori's face turned even redder as he squeezed out, "Thanks, I'm lookin' forward to it."
An atmosphere so sweet it could give you a cavity filled the air, and Hayato watched over them with narrowed eyes.
Findin' the mood unbearable, Iori finally opened his mouth to speak.
"Btw Hayato, where's everyone else? Just you and Miko-chan?"
"Both Himeko and Haruki are with us, but, well..."
Hayato hesitated to answer Iori's question. Well, what was Hayato supposed to say?
As Hayato furrowed his brows, a voice called out "Oh!" from behind them.
Turnin' around, there were both Haruki and Himeko.
Their hands were packed with takoyaki, grilled squid, yakisoba, fried chicken skewers, and okonomiyaki—lookin' 💯% ready to go all out and chow down.
"Whoa, Ema-san, your yukata is so pretty! Standin' next to your boyfriend, you two look so great together... ...right, Haru-chan?"
"Yup yup, total worth all that super careful pickin' and choosin'!"
"O-Oh, thanks Nikaidō-san, Himeko-chan. You two, um, look really great in yours as well."
"I-Is that so, ehehe."
"I went all out on my hairstyle today too!"
Both Haruki and Himeko twirled on the spot, showin' off their yukata look.
Haruki, rockin' a retro-modern patterned yukata with braided hair pinned into a bun, stood out with the neat and lovely vibe she usually had when dressed up for goin' out.
Himeko, in a white yukata with red and black stripes and a teased high ponytail, exuded a somewhat mature aura while still keepin' her innocent charm.
Just like Saki, both Haruki and Himeko were head-turnin' beauties.
However, both of them had their hands stuffed with a mountain of food stall treats. Starin' at his childhood buddy and little sis who clearly prioritized food over romance, Hayato gently pressed a hand to his throbbin' temple.
Before long, Saki joined in, and the girls got all caught up in a lively chat about their yukata.
Watchin' them from the side, Iori muttered.
"Now it's just Kazuki left..."
"Yeah, true..."
Their voices sounded stiff as they talked about Kazuki.
What was on their minds was, of course, the secret (Big Sis) revealed to them yesterday.
After that whole thing ended up left in limbo and they parted ways, what kind of face were they supposed to make when seein' Kazuki today?
"Hey, looks like I kept you guys waitin'!"
Kazuki jogged over, slightly out of breath.
Lookin' past Kazuki, Hayato saw a pair of girls with disappointed looks on their faces.
Kazuki was rockin' a sleek, low-key look that might seem plain at a glance, but he pulled it off with a cool, mature vibe—totally makin' sense why those girls had tried hitting on him.
Both Hayato and Iori exchanged looks and let out a dry laugh.
"Oh, well, man... ...looks like you've got your hands full as usual."
"Honestly, it could've been worse. They backed off right away once they saw I was with a big group."
"I see."
"Yeah."
"..."
"..."
And just like that, the convo hit a dead end.
Both of them flashed awkward smiles. Neither could find the words.
Iori furrowed his brows with a troubled look too.
An uncomfortable silence hung in the air for a second, but it was shattered instantly by Himeko shoutin', "Oh!"
"I saw that, Kazuki-san! Were you gettin' hit on again? Man, you're as popular with the ladies as ever~!"
"Himeko-chan!" "Himeko!"
Himeko spoke to Kazuki in her usual cheerful tone, actin' as if nothin' had happened yesterday at all.
"I mean, yesterday I was super shocked hearin' about your Big Sis! But seein' how popular you are, it kinda makes sense now."
"Eh, oh, yeah..."
And just like that, Himeko casually waltzed right into the topic Hayato and the others were treadin' lightly around.
Even the group couldn't help but sweat nervously at Himeko's apparent cluelessness.
Kazuki himself couldn't hide how bewildered he was either.
Then, Himeko suddenly let out a gentle smile.
That day.
The night they returned to Tsukinose.
Himeko's face overlapped with the deeply affectionate, mature look she had shown Hayato back then, makin' him gasp and open his eyes wide.
Himeko spoke to Kazuki, who was starin' wide-eyed just like Hayato, in a soft, sing-song voice tinged with playful teasin'.
"What's with that gloomy look? Or are you secretly regretful about lettin' those girls go earlier?"
"N-No way, it's not like that...!"
"Y'know, I did a little thinkin' last night. Sure, I was surprised yesterday, but your Big Sis is your Big Sis, and Kazuki-san is Kazuki-san. You're Big Bro's buddy, and nothin' about that changes now."
Sayin' that, Himeko glanced over at Haruki for just a split second.
Then, Himeko shoved the fried chicken skewer in her hand—which she'd only taken one bite of—straight into Kazuki's mouth.
"Mmph!?"
"C'mon, eat up and smile like you usually do to get your vibe back! Since we're at the Festival and all, right?"
Himeko bounced back to her usual self, beamin' with a smile.
Unable to keep up with the sudden move, Kazuki blinked cluelessly as he chewed on the fried chicken.
While everyone was completely stunned by the sudden turn of events, Saki unexpectedly blurted out in total shock.
"Hime-chan is actually sharin' her food with someone else~~!?"
"Ghk!? No way, you're right... ...Himeko... ...is...!?"
At Saki pointin' that out, Hayato couldn't help but gasp in utter disbelief.
Both Hayato and Saki went into a complete frenzy. Haruki was so stunned she just blinked her eyes in shock.
Then Kazuki, swallowin' down all his pent-up emotions along with the fried chicken, burst into unstoppable laughter.
"...Pfft. Ahahahaha!"
"K-Kazuki-san!? Geez, Big Bro, Saki-chan, what's that supposed to mean!?"
"I-I mean... ...it's Himeko we're talkin' about, right?"
"Yeah, Hime-chan actually sharin' her own food..."
"Mu~~"
Himeko pouted, stickin' her lips out in a huff.
As both Hayato and Saki piled on with more witty banter, laughter spread through the group. The atmosphere naturally shifted back to normal.
But to Himeko, who was the only one still in a mood, Kazuki—havin' regained his usual smile—addressed her.
"Thanks, Himeko-chan. The fried chicken was delicious and really cheered me up. To make it up to you, I'll buy you whatever food you want."
"Gasp! You're gonna treat me!?"
"Go easy on me, okay?"
Instantly cheered up by those words, Himeko did a total 180 and began badgerin' Kazuki to hurry up while pullin' him by the arm.
Caught completely off guard, Kazuki let himself be dragged along, just like Haruki earlier.
"...Should we get goin' too?"
"Yeah, let's go."
"Yep!"
And so, Hayato and the rest followed right behind them.
A big city Festival, totally different from Tsukinose, was officially underway.
Author's Notes:
Volume 1 of the Tenbin manga adaptation drops today!
Meow~