Chapter 1325 - Founding Festival - Night ⑤
The time spent chatting with Illness-san and tending to the store pa.s.sed pleasantly. Since it was the middle of the fireworks, there were really few customers, and most of them seemed to be chatting with each other.
And when the sound of fireworks faded away, Tre-san and the others came back.
[We’re back~~ Kaito…… I see Kaito replaced us with another woman already.]
[I could sense malice in the way you say that. She’s helping me in the stall.]
Looking at Illness-san, who was tending the stall with me, I astoundedly responded to Tre-san telling me that with a teasing smile.
Thereupon, after nodding a few times, Tre-san smiled and spoke.
[Well, that aside, thanks for looking after the stall!]
[Did you enjoy the fireworks?]
[Unnn. It was awesome…… Ahh, but the fireworks aren’t over yet.]
[Unnn?]
[It seems like the fireworks are a two-part event. I mean, I heard that there’s going to be another one in 10 minutes. And so, we went back to take care of the stall this time and let Kaito watch them this time.]
Two-part…… It has that kind of format huh. I thought they had been setting off fireworks for quite a while, but it seems like it was a fireworks performance with a considerable scale.
I’m not sure if they put a lot of effort into it because all of the Six Kings are partic.i.p.ating…… but in any case, I’m inclined to want to see the fireworks too.
[However, unnn. I guess this was just perfect then!]
[Perfect, for what?]
[We’ll take care of the stall and Kaito will go on a fireworks date with her!]
[……Huh?]
I looked at Tre-san, who was giving me a thumbs-up, and an idiotic response leaked out of my mouth. A date? Me and Illness-san are going on a…… No, no, it would be rude to say stuff like that to Illness-san, wouldn’t it?
Well, as for me, I would be happy to go on a date with Illness-san…… but it’s just, how should I say this…… Wouldn’t Illness-san not like being seen that way?
She’s a calm and mature woman, and from her point of view, I’m no different from a child…… I feel like she only thinks of me as a little brother.
[Kuhihi, well theeeen~~ since you’ve suggested iiiiiiit, if Kaito-sama is alright with iiiiiiit, would you go on a date with meeeee?]
[Hoehh? Y- Yeah, yes…… I would be happy to.]
Arehh? The conversation is proceeding more smoothly than I thought it would? Rather, it seemed like she was somewhat happy…… U- Unnn? I can’t understand Illness-san’s thoughts. Was it that she was simply playing along with Tre-san’s jokes, or that she’s more or less aware of me as a member of the opposite gender…… I- I don’t know.
[……Errr, please take care of the stall.]
[Unnn, unnn. Don’t mind the matters here and enjoy yourselves.]
[Thank you very much.]
I- I feel like I’m being swept away but…… oh well. I’m also looking forward to seeing the fireworks with Illness-san, and considering its merits, being swept away a bit isn’t really something I should be concerned about.
Just when I was thinking of enjoying that opportunity, Tre-san spoke again.
[……Ah, wait!]
[Unnn?]
[The main street is quite crowded, you know? Just walking through that path would be dangerous. You might lose each other…… so “I think it’s better if you hold hands with each other”.]
[……Huh?]
Oi, Tre-san!? What kind of pa.s.sing remarks are you throwing out now!? ……Also, why are you glancing at me and giving me a little thumbs-up? There’s also that smug look on her face, as if to say “Nice a.s.sist, isn’t it?”……
No, no, as expected, that just goes beyond being a joke. No matter how kind Illness-san is, that’s just rude……
[I seeeeee, indeed, I certainly have a small buiiiiiild. I worry that we might get separateeeeed. Kaito-samaaaa, would you kindly escort meeeee?]
Saying this, she held out her hand with a gentle smile. Eh? Seriously? Was Illness-san the type that’s up for anything?
W- What should I do……. No, but since she was already holding out her hand to me like this, it would be rude to refuse.
[……Y- Yes. Well then, ummm…… If you’ll excuse me.]
Realizing that I was feeling quite nervous, I held Illness-san’s hand. Her hand is small and soft, and her skin is smooth…… S- Somehow, even though I’m just holding her hand, I’m feeling quite conscious.
Feeling my face heating up from the blush rising up my cheeks and the apprehension as to whether we would be able to enjoy the fireworks without any problems, I walked out with Illness-san.
Serious-senpai : [TREEEEEEEEEEEEE! Why do you go a.s.sisting people again!? If you had just left things as it is, Illness would have just gone home…… but you just had to turn it into a date!? D*mn it, y- you’ve gotta be kidding me……]