Chapter 48: Spring Festival-eve(2)

The Spring Festival. This was my first time experiencing it as Kurosawa Rina.

Of course, I’d been here many times as the original Rina, especially to Takamari Academy’s festival, the largest and most famous in the area. It was here, years ago, that she’d seen Reina-senpai and decided she wanted to attend Takamari.

And now… I was here, a Takamari Academy student, walking through the festival grounds, a dream come true.

But the atmosphere was different. Perhaps global warming was affecting this world too? It was surprisingly warm for early May.

‘It’s almost summer, I guess.’

Perhaps that was why I saw a few people in yukata, mostly local residents. Most of the students were in their uniforms, the Takamari uniform a symbol of status.

‘Everyone wears yukata to the Summer Festival,’ I recalled. In the novel, the protagonist had gone on a date with Aya to the Summer Festival. After midterms, I’d get to see Aya in a yukata. The thought made my face flush.

‘Aya in a yukata…’ I coughed awkwardly, looking away, trying to focus on the festival atmosphere.

The three of us were strolling through the night market stalls, enjoying the lively atmosphere, the laughter, the familiar scent of festival food.

Aya, who’d been wearing a dress earlier, had changed back into her uniform. Even without the makeup and the elegant dress, she still drew attention.

‘She looked stunning in the dress, but the uniform suits her too.’ Aya always looked like the “perfect Takamari student.” Ah… I liked Aya…

‘No! Kurosawa Rina, focus! It’s the festival!’

“It’s Golden Week after the festival, right~?” Mizuki said excitedly.

Golden Week, a series of national holidays. School would be closed, and people would be traveling or spending time with their families. Since the festival overlapped with Golden Week, our school would be closed until the following Wednesday. Of course, as a Takamari student, even Golden Week meant studying for midterms.

“What are you all doing for Golden Week?” Aya asked quietly.

“Hmm… what should I do…?” Mizuki rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought. We were supposed to have had yesterday off, but it had been rescheduled.

‘How did I spend Golden Week in this life…?’ I tried to remember, but nothing came to mind. It seemed Rina had just studied diligently throughout middle school.

‘What should I do?’ The question, so foreign to my past self, surfaced for the first time. But there was no point in worrying about it now. I wanted to focus on the festival.

“Let’s enjoy the festival first,” I said with a smile, and Aya, who’d been pondering Golden Week plans, took my hand.

“…!” I looked at her, surprised, but not as flustered as before. Had holding hands become… normal already?

It was strange how quickly I’d gotten used to it. And Mizuki had been holding my other hand all along.

Was it because of this? Mizuki, seemingly unfazed, grinned.

“Okay! Shooting game first?”

“Shooting?”

“It wouldn’t be a festival without a shooting game! I’ll win you a plushie, Rina~” she said, pointing towards the shooting gallery, one of the most popular booths, run by the Shooting Club.

“Why me?”

“Because you’re cute~”

“Huh…?” What kind of logic was that?! Was she trying to… provoke Aya? I glanced at Aya, who was… smiling faintly.

‘…Wait a minute…’ Mizuki, you said you’d support me. Was this some kind of strategy to make Aya jealous?

****

[- Shooting Challenge! Authentic Shooting Game from the Takamari Academy Shooting Club! -]
[- 300 yen per game! Win a plushie or a prize! -]

It was a typical shooting game booth. Mizuki whistled, looking at the sign. “Ooh~ this is giving me major festival vibes!”

Shooting… I probably would have done a lot of that in the military in my past life. Thankfully, or perhaps tragically, I’d died as a pathetic cram school student before I could experience that.

But while shooting games were popular at festivals, this one, run by the actual Shooting Club, seemed… intimidatingly professional.

“Mizuki, want to compete?”

“Against Aya-ring~?”

“Yeah, let’s see who can get the highest score.”

“Hee… I’m not confident against Aya-ring, but let’s do it!”

We waited in line, and soon, it was our turn. The senpai running the booth smiled at us. “Oh, Yukikawa-san! Ah, the Trinity has arrived!”

“Senpai~! Long time no see!”

“Indeed. It’s an honor to have the Trinity visit our booth. Show us your skills!”

“Huh? Skills…?” I tilted my head, confused by the sudden request.

Mizuki grinned. “Of course! We came here to compete.”

“…W-What?” I stared at her, surprised. The competition wasn’t just between Aya and Mizuki?

“Excellent! We’ll be using real bullets. Everyone, grab some earplugs. Anyone who hasn’t shot before?”

I hesitantly raised my hand.

“Ahaha, well, it’s understandable for a pretty girl! It’s stranger that the other two are so skilled. Okada-san, could you assist Kurosawa-san?”

“Yes, senpai! I’m in the same class as Kurosawa-san, after all.”

Okada-san? The name sounded familiar. Ah, she’d been on our team during the volleyball practical exam. I awkwardly stepped up to the shooting range with Okada-san.

‘…Wait, I was just going to watch…’ I’d been swept along by Mizuki and Aya’s enthusiasm. Okada-san approached me. “Kurosawa-san, don’t worry if it’s your first time! I’ll teach you the basics.”

She handed me a chained rifle, and I cautiously lifted it. “This is… surprisingly heavy.”

“It is, isn’t it? But it’s been adjusted for smaller people!”

“Oh, I see…” I carefully aimed the rifle, but the target, even with one eye closed, seemed impossibly small. And then… I noticed the two beside me, their movements fluid and practiced.

“…” I glanced to my right.

Aya held the rifle with perfect posture, her aim steady, her gaze focused, her movements calm and precise, like a professional marksman.

‘Wow… is it even okay for me to be watching this?’

And Mizuki, on the other lane, despite her usual playful expression, held the rifle with a practiced ease, her finger lightly resting on the trigger, spinning and aiming the rifle with a casual confidence.

‘…Wait, is Mizuki also… really good at this?!’

The senpai running the booth announced into the microphone, “And now, the ‘Trinity Shooting Showdown’ will begin! Participants are Yukikawa Aya, Asakura Mizuki, and Kurosawa Rina!”

“W-Wait, I’m included?!” I exclaimed, but the “three-way showdown” was already set.

“The rules are simple! Hit the targets to earn points! The person with the highest score wins! There are five 10-point targets! The more accurate your shots, the higher your score!”

As the senpai explained the rules, Mizuki grinned at Aya. “Aya-ring, let’s have a real showdown! I’m aiming for a perfect score, so I can give Rina a present!”

“…” Aya didn’t respond, quietly raising her rifle, but her eyes narrowed slightly.

‘She’s definitely competitive!’

I also raised my rifle, with Okada-san’s guidance, but I knew I couldn’t compete with them.

“First round! Ready…”

‘Well, I might as well try my best.’

“Begin!”

Bang!
Bang!
Bang! Three shots rang out almost simultaneously.

The results—

Aya: 10 points.
Mizuki: 10 points.
Rina: …2 points.

“Huh…?” I stared at my score, dumbfounded. ‘That’s… a huge difference!’

The senpai chuckled. “Kurosawa-san, don’t be nervous! If you control your hand tremors, you can aim more accurately!”

“O-Okay… I’ll try.” I took a deep breath and raised the rifle again, but Aya and Mizuki were already engaged in a silent battle of wills.

“Hmm~ Aya-ring, you’re a tough opponent~”

“You’re not so bad yourself, Mizuki.”

“Then I have to make my next shot count!” Mizuki grinned, the competitive spirit burning in her eyes.

‘This has become a showdown between those two!’

In the second, third, and fourth rounds, they both scored perfect 10s. I was speechless, but I was trying my best! It was time for the final shot.

“Final round! Focus, everyone!”

‘Okay, last chance! I have to do this!’

I took aim, and then…

Bang!
Bang!

“…Bang!”

The final shots echoed through the air.

The results—

Aya: 10 points (Total: 50 points).
Mizuki: 9 points (Total: 49 points).
Rina: 10 points (Total: 33 points).

Huh? I’d gotten a 10? While I was staring at my score in surprise, Mizuki conceded defeat gracefully. “Wow~ Aya-ring, you’re too good!” She was smiling. Had she missed on purpose?

The senpai running the booth grinned. “Wow, as expected of the Trinity. Perfect scores! Even for a first-timer, Kurosawa-san, that’s an impressive score. Alright, Yukikawa-san, here’s your prize!” He handed Aya a large teddy bear. And then…

“Rina, here.” Aya handed me the teddy bear.

“Huh…?”

And the crowd erupted in applause.