109 Summer Break Plans
Summer break, the long-awaited holiday for all students.
Every student looks forward to this extended break; no one dreads it.
For me, it’s usually just a nice break from the mental anguish of being alone at school.
But this summer break is special for me because—
“Hey, Mashiro, this kind of summer break is unacceptable.”
“…”
Apparently, summer break isn’t so special for the girl who made it special for me.
That’s disappointing.
“Hey, I’m talking to you, don’t ignore me.”
“…Well, I don’t really understand what you’re saying.”
Riri says this summer break, which I find special, is unacceptable.
I can’t immediately understand such a contrasting viewpoint.
“You understand, don’t you? Staying at home every single day is a bit much.”
“…It’s only been a week.”
“A whole week! A whole week of just going back and forth between our houses! What kind of summer break is that?!”
Riri started complaining loudly.
I could only sigh at her outburst.
“Even so, Riri, you’re going to summer cram school, so you’re mostly at the tutoring center.”
She, seriously considering university entrance exams, finally started going to cram school, realizing she was falling behind.
Because of that, she’s only free in the mornings or evenings, so we haven’t been able to spend much time together.
We might have actually spent more time together at school.
“That’s why I invited you to come with me! But you refused!”
“…Well, I don’t need it.”
My grades are currently better than Riri’s.
Since I’m planning to apply to the same university as her, I don’t need to make any extra effort if I can maintain my current level.
So I’m spending my days waiting for her to come home.
“And even though you’re not coming with me, you order me to send you a picture every day before I leave!”
“Well, that’s only natural.”
“Why is it natural?!”
Even though I’ve matured a bit, Riri is still an attractive girl.
I don’t know when or who might try to hit on her.
So I asked her to refrain from wearing revealing clothes and to send me a picture before leaving the house, just to confirm. It’s become a rule for our summer break.
The obedient Riri has been diligently following it.
“I’m worried about you, Riri.”
“W-Well, that’s hard to argue with… but wearing denim pants in this heat is torture!”
Riri’s casual clothes are incredibly glamorous, unlike her school uniform.
If she wears revealing clothes on top of that, everyone will be staring at her instead of paying attention in class.
I can’t allow that.
“It’s fine, it suits you, you have a nice figure.”
“D-Don’t try to trick me with that…”
She’s acting flustered, even as she says that.
“Come on, you’ve been working so hard. You should rest after studying.”
Today, we were at my house, and it was evening.
I was lying on the bed, and Riri was reviewing her studies at the low table.
I don’t think it’s good to burden her any further.
“I have free time in the afternoon too! But you don’t want to go anywhere, Mashiro!”
“…It’s hot outside.”
It’s crazy to go outside in this scorching heat.
“And tomorrow is a holiday, so we can go anywhere.”
“…Mountains and beaches are out of the question.”
“So we’re not going anywhere!”
“I told you before, I can’t handle those cheerful places.”
Nature is too overwhelming for a gloomy person like me.
“Then at least let me sleep over! I don’t want to go home every night!”
“Eh… because…”
It’s true that we could spend a lot of time together if we slept over.
But that would naturally lead to… that…
I hugged the penguins, creating a barrier between Riri and me.
“Hey, don’t try to act cute.”
“That’s not what I’m doing, I’m protecting myself.”
“That’s what I mean.”
“…?”
Anyway, I don’t think it’s time yet.
I think there should be a more… definite time and place.
I don’t think it’s good to do it casually.
“Okay, then how about a festival?”
“…Ugh.”
She hit the nail on the head again.
It’s not mountains or the beach, it’s a local event with a low barrier to entry.
“Okay, it’s settled.”
“…Fine.”
“Don’t complain anymore. I’m holding back too, you know.”
That’s true.
I know this is a good compromise.
The festival is apparently being held on the main street in the downtown area.
“Then let’s meet at my place in an hour.”
“Eh, today?!”
“The festival started yesterday.”
That’s not what I meant…
Her energy, deciding and acting instantly, is amazing…
“…You’re so decisive.”
“Of course! Tomorrow is a holiday, so we have to enjoy today!”
Riri-chan beamed and then packed up her study materials to go home and get ready.
◇◇◇
“…Oh.”
I let out a gasp when I arrived at Riri-chan’s house.
“So? How do I look?”
Riri was wearing a yukata.
Her loosely curled hair was tied up, and her yukata was a deep indigo with a white floral pattern.
I was captivated by her appearance.
“…Beautiful.”
“Ah, wait, that serious tone is making me blush.”
“I’m serious.”
“Ah… thank you.”
Riri-chan’s eyes darted around, but her lips curved into a smile.
She seemed happy.
“Okay, then let’s go.”
Just as she was about to head for the entrance, she took my hand.
I understood her silent message: “Wait.”
“…Hmm?”
“I have… another yukata.”
Now that she mentioned it, I saw a reddish-purple yukata with a white floral pattern in the corner of my eye.
“…You like yukatas, Riri-chan?”
“It’s a festival date, so the outfit is important. Don’t you understand?”
“Ah, okay…”
I was wearing a simple outfit: a khaki linen long skirt and a white T-shirt.
“You should wear a yukata too, Mashiro.”
“…Um, I don’t know how to put one on.”
“It’s fine, I’ll help you. Okay?”
Riri-chan’s gaze was serious, and she wasn’t giving me a chance to refuse.
“…Please.”
110 Two at the Summer Festival
“Oh…”
Riri helped me put on the yukata and then urged me to look in the full-length mirror.
There stood a black-haired girl in a yukata.
“So? How is it? Isn’t it great?”
Riri puffed out her chest, seemingly proud of herself.
Apparently, she wants to hear my opinion on how I look in a yukata.
“…It feels… strange.”
“Why? It’s cute.”
…Well, the yukata is cute, but…
I’m not sure if I’m cute.
“Clothes make the man… or something like that?”
“Ugh, that’s your usual cynical remark, isn’t it?”
“Yep, you got it.”
Riri’s understanding of me is improving.
“You should deny it.”
“It’s true.”
“Seriously…”
Riri cupped my cheeks in her hands.
My face was sandwiched between her palms, and my lips felt like they were sticking out.
“…Mmph.”
I couldn’t speak properly.
“I keep telling you you’re cute, Mashiro, so be more confident.”
“Mmph… mph…”
“Eh? What?”
“…”
It’s not fair; she’s the one who’s making it difficult for me to speak.
I brushed her hands away.
“…You’re talking about Amatsuki Suzuna.”
So it’s not about me after all.
“Seriously, you don’t understand, Mashiro.”
“Understand what?”
Riri sighed like an old man.
“You were already Mashiro when we met, right?”
“That’s… true, but…”
“Then it doesn’t matter! You’ve become cuter and cuter since we met. That means you are cute, Mashiro.”
“…I see.”
I was at a loss for words after her passionate speech.
At least, if that’s the truth for Riri, there’s no need for me to deny it.
No matter what other people think, if Riri thinks I’m cute, then maybe that’s enough.
“Riri, you’re overwhelmingly cuter. You’ve raised the bar for ‘cute’ too high.”
So I told her my truth.
I’m not confident in my own appearance, but I think the word “cute” applies to Riri.
I can’t use a word that suits her so well to describe myself.
“D-Don’t suddenly compliment me…”
“I wasn’t complimenting you.”
“Eh?”
“I was just saying what I think.”
“Ah… seriously…”
Riri took my hand.
Her hand was warmer than usual.
“Come on, let’s go. It’s a waste to wear a yukata inside.”
“…You’re right.”
◇◇◇
The summer festival.
The night was illuminated by the lights of the stalls and street lamps.
Riri and I walked through the crowds.
“…This is hard to walk in.”
I couldn’t get used to the clatter of the geta.
“Hmm? Is this your first time wearing geta?”
These traditional Japanese footwear Riri lent me seem to be difficult for me.
“It is. And I’ve never worn a yukata before either.”
Compared to my clumsy gait, Riri walked gracefully and smoothly ahead of me.
I thought she looked beautiful, turning around against the backdrop of the brightly lit stalls.
“Ehehe, I’m taking all of Mashiro’s firsts.”
Riri smiled happily, saying something trivial.
“You seem used to this, Riri.”
She can even dress someone in a yukata, so she must have been to festivals many times before.
“But this is also my first time.”
“…No way.”
That’s a bit of a stretch.
“It’s my first time at a festival with my girlfriend.”
“…”
That caught me off guard.
I didn’t expect her to say that.
“Ehehe, hey, hey, what do you want to do, Mashiro?”
Riri put her arm around me and looked at the stalls.
She was smiling more than usual, I don’t know what she finds so amusing.
“Anything is fine.”
“Ah, then how about target practice?”
Riri pointed at a nearby stall.
There were prizes lined up on shelves and toy guns on the counter.
“Have you done this before?”
“No.”
“Then try it.”
Riri excitedly led me to the target practice stall.
She didn’t wait for my reply, just pulled me along.
I reluctantly picked up a gun.
The shelves were filled with various prizes, from game consoles and toys to snacks.
There were prizes of all sizes, but I knew I wouldn’t be able to knock down the big ones.
I decided to aim for a small box of candy.
—Bang
The cork hit the candy box, but it didn’t budge.
“…What is this?”
“Too bad, Mashiro.”
Riri, who had been excited until now, was laughing behind me.
Annoyed, I hit the target a few more times.
But the candy box remained standing.
“Mashiro, you’re terrible at this.”
“…Shut up.”
This might be a simple game for Riri, who’s used to festivals.
But it’s my first time, and I think I’m doing pretty well just hitting the target a few times.
“If you’re that good, then you try, Riri.”
“Eh? Really? Can I?”
Saying that, Riri rolled up her sleeves and took aim.
—Bang
“…Huh?”
“Oh dear.”
The cork missed all the targets and landed on the ground.
—Bang, bang, bang
Same thing.
In the end, we both got nothing.
“Ahahaha, I can’t hit it!”
Riri laughed at her own failure, clutching her stomach.
“You were making fun of me just now?”
I was doing much better than her.
I couldn’t believe her attitude.
“I never said I was good at it.”
“Even so, I was better than you.”
“It’s the same if we didn’t knock anything down.”
“…That’s not a fair conclusion.”
“We’re both bad at this, so we’re a good match.”
Riri cheerfully took my hand and pulled me along.
It’s so unreasonable and forceful, but…
Well, it’s a festival, so it’s fine.
“What do you want to do next?”
“Anything you want.”
Nothing particularly unusual happened after that.
We drew lots, winning nothing of value.
We bought and wore masks that we’d only use today.
We ate candied apples that were too sweet and cotton candy that made our mouths sticky.
A series of trivial events, nothing special.
And yet, it felt so… magical, because Riri was by my side.
“Mashiro, are you having fun?”
Such a simple question.
“Yeah, I’m having fun.”
I’m enjoying these days with Riri so much that I can answer without hesitation.
◇◇◇
“Ah, I’m tired.”
Our legs weary from walking, we sat down next to each other on a bench in a quiet park away from the crowds.
We relaxed, enjoying the peace and quiet.
“It’s hot even at night, it’s crowded, and I’m not used to walking so much.”
“That’s what makes it fun.”
A few hours ago, I would have disagreed completely.
But now, I’m feeling a little more agreeable.
“Maybe.”
“Oh, you finally admit it?”
“Only when I’m with you, Riri.”
“…Fufu.”
Riri’s eyes crinkled at my reply.
“I want to… do this…”
Her previously cheerful voice now had a hint of seriousness.
“Hmm?”
“I want to keep doing this, next year, the year after that, always.”
Riri often emphasizes being together forever.
I understand why she felt that way before we started dating, but is there a reason to be insecure even now that we are?
“Are you thinking that I might disappear someday because I’m not from this world?”
“…No, it’s just… my family is all… scattered, so I sometimes wonder if you’ll also disappear someday, Mashiro.”
Riri’s profile, her gaze fixed on the empty space before her, her eyes looked emptier than ever.
I don’t want her to have such a sad expression when I’m here with her.
I put my hand on top of hers.
“Riri, I’ll always be with you.”
“…Really?”
Riri’s eyes lit up with emotion.
“Yeah, forever.”
And I kissed her.
I wanted to convey my feelings, even a little, to make her feel that I’m here with her.
Light flickered in the dimly lit park.
Colorful fireworks bloomed in the night sky.
“…I want… more concrete proof.”
Riri’s eyes wavered.
I’m probably the only one in this world who can quell that uncertainty.
“Sleep over at my place tonight.”
The sound of fireworks continued to echo through the night.
A brief silence made me wonder if my voice had been drowned out by the noise.
“Okay.”
But Riri’s reply reassured me.
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