CH 44
Wakaba was looking forward to this day.
She had even bought a new adult-style yukata to get into the spirit of the day.
“I can’t wait to see what Daiki will say.”
She waited excitedly for Daiki to come and pick her up.
Ren offered to pick her up, but she declined, saying it was a bad idea for him to go in the opposite direction.
She wanted Daiki to pick her up by all means.
She wanted Daiki to be the first to see her.
Daiki came to pick her up.
Wakaba slowly walked out the front door.
“Does it look good on me?”
A little embarrassed, but she asked Daiki.
But he didn’t say anything.
“Hey? Are you listening?”
She said.
Then Daiki said
” It looks really good on you.”
He said.
She was so happy.
“Thank you”
She thanked him and was in a good mood at once.
Daiki had indeed become cooler.
He was no longer cute like he used to be, and he had become a handsome man who would be popular with the ladies.
While thinking this, with a good mood, they walked to the meeting place.
Daiki walked on the side of the road.
She had wanted to talk to Daiki for a long time, so she talked to him a lot.
Daiki listened to what Wakaba had to say.
It was fun and she was happy.
Daiki also told her about his home.
Daiki was going to be a big brother.
She was surprised, but happy to think that things were going well.
“I am the eldest daughter!”
She said jokingly.
For a moment, Daiki looked sad.
It made her heart skip a beat.
The sound of my heart beat faster.
Soon it became the gentle, usual Daiki’s face.
Wondering what she was feeling right now, she felt embarrassed and spoke too quickly.
After that, they arrived at the meeting place in no time at all.
As soon as they arrived at the meeting place, Ren spoke to her.
“Wakaba, you look great.”
He said.
Her other friends came close by and everyone started talking.
When she turned around, she saw Daiki walking toward another friend.
Seeing his back, she thought to myself.
“Daiki is leaving me again..”
She felt sad.
After that, as usual, she was made to stay next to Ren.
Whenever she walked around the festival site or lined up at the stalls, he was always next to her.
As the time for the fireworks approached, everyone began to move together.
As they walked through the crowds, they realized that everyone was gone except for Ren.
Beaten again.
Even if she went back now, she wouldn’t make it in time for the fireworks.
“Let’s go watch the fireworks.”
Ren said.
It was too dangerous to go back through the crowd, so she had no choice but to go with him.
Ren tried to take her hand again, saying it was too dangerous, but she refused this time.
She wasn’t in the mood and she couldn’t hide her irritation.
It’s not that she doesn’t like Ren, but today, she wanted to be with Daiki.
Today, she wanted to enjoy the festival with Daiki.
Want to watch the fireworks with Daiki.
Passing through the crowd, they came to the place where they could see the fireworks.
The fireworks had just started.
Wakaba was watching the fireworks.
“Why..why is it always like this..”
She felt indescribable.
After the fireworks were over, Ren said something about meeting up with everyone first and called his friends.
She immediately went over to everyone and complained to her friends.
Wakaba was really angry, but her friends laughed and said they were sorry.
She was supposed to go home with Daiki, so she gave up and decided to switch.
They walked to the outside of the festival site and disbanded with the others.
Daiki and Ren were talking about something.
She hurried over to Daiki and said
“Daiki, let’s go home!”
She said to him.
“Wakaba, I’m sorry.
I have something I want to borrow from a friend, so I’m going to drop by for a while.
So..
Will you go home with Shiraishi?”
He looked sad again.
Immediately she knew it was a lie.
But there was nothing she could say.
Daiki’s sad face was burned into her eyes and she couldn’t get rid of it.
On the way there, he had been thrilled, but now, he was sad.
Tears almost came to his eyes.
“Got it..”
She responded in a hushed voice.
After leaving Daiki and the others, Ren and Wakaba walked back to her house.
Ren was telling her a lot of things, but Wakaba could only give him a few words of praise.
Before they knew it, they were in front of her house.
“Thank you for walking me home. See you at school.”
She told him and tried to go inside the house.
“Wait.”
Ren stopped her.
“What’s wrong?”
She asked.
“After all, it’s nothing.
See you at school!”
and he left.