Chapter 53: Blooming under fireworks

Boom—!

Another burst of fireworks lit up the night sky, a shower of colorful sparks raining down, illuminating Aya’s face once more.

My breath caught in my throat.

‘So, Rina… will you go out with me?’ Her words echoed in my mind.

Tsuki au (付き合う). To go out with, to date. In Japanese, it could also be used in a more casual sense, like “hanging out with friends.” But Aya wasn’t asking me to be her friend.

And as I realized that, time, which had seemed to stop, resumed its flow.

My heart pounded in my chest. Aya’s blue eyes, unwavering, held my gaze, a silent intensity that made my breath catch in my throat.

“Rina,” she said softly, yet firmly, extending her hand towards me.

‘…Ah…’

I… I… liked Aya…

“Will you give me your answer?”

—Boom! Another firework exploded, the sound momentarily drowning out the frantic beating of my heart. Aya’s voice was the warmest, gentlest sound in the world. I tried to speak, but my voice caught in my throat.

Aya’s eyes, usually so calm, were filled with a nervous anticipation, her fingers trembling slightly.

‘…I’ve never seen Aya this nervous before…’

My decision had been made the moment I’d agreed to meet her here. There was nothing left to consider.

“Aya,” I said softly, reaching out and taking her hand. Her eyes widened slightly, and I nodded, finally finding my voice. “Yes. I… like you too, Aya.”

And in that moment… BOOM—!

The largest firework yet exploded, painting the night sky in a brilliant flash of light, enveloping us in its warm glow. I expected Aya to smile, her face radiant in the light.

But… she just stared at me, her eyes wide with surprise, then slowly, hesitantly, reached into her pocket and pulled something out, her hand trembling slightly as she offered it to me.

“This…”

I gasped, my breath catching in my throat, as I recognized the object in her hand.

A ring.

The ring she was supposed to give to the protagonist in the novel. The same ring she wore on her own ring finger.

A promise ring.

“I… I was hoping you’d accept it,” she murmured, her face flushed in the light of the fireworks. “It’s a promise ring.”

I slowly extended my hand, and she slipped the ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly, as if… it had been made for me. I looked at Aya, surprised.

She smiled shyly, her face even redder than mine.

“Rina.”

“Yes…?”

She gently took my hand in hers, her gaze fixed on the night sky, and whispered, “Please… stay by my side.”

And… I didn’t need any more words. I just squeezed her hand tightly and smiled.

“Yes.”

Another firework exploded, and in its light… Aya and I… took a step closer, and then… we hugged.

****

Back at home, I collapsed onto my bed, burying my face in the soft pillows, my body too overwhelmed to move.

‘……’
‘……’
‘…Aya… asked me to go out with her…’

BOOM—! Fireworks exploded in my mind, the memory of her voice, her touch, the ring… it was all too much, my heart pounding in my chest.

‘W-What…?! Is this… real… are we… really dating…?’

I looked at the ring on my finger. It fit perfectly, as if it had always belonged there.

‘This is… real… I’m not dreaming…’

Normally, I would have been jumping up and down, kicking my feet in excitement, but… I was too overwhelmed, my mind a blissful blank.

‘I’m… dating Aya…’

Aya was my girlfriend. The realization made me bury my face deeper into the pillow.

‘Aaaaaaaaaah!!!’I was a mess. After a few minutes of writhing in bed, I heard a knock on the door. “Rina~ may I come in?”

My mother entered, her usual warm smile on her face.

‘……’

Aya.
Aya.
Aya. My mind was filled with her.

Wait… was I okay…?

I tried to respond to my mother, but my voice wouldn’t come out. I just stared at her blankly, my mouth open. Mom… I’m sorry. I’m a terrible daughter…

“…Rina?” My mother tilted her head, a puzzled expression on her face. “What’s wrong? Are you tired?”

“…” I tried to nod, but instead, I just flopped face-down onto the bed.

‘Mom, I’m not in a state to have a conversation right now…’

My brain had shut down. My heart was racing, my mind a blank, unable to process anything.

Just…
Only…
Aya.

My mother, sensing my strange behavior, approached me, her expression filled with concern. “Rina, are you feeling sick?”

“…” I finally managed to speak, my voice barely a whisper.

“Mom… I…”

“Yes?”

“…I think I’m going to die.”

“…?!” My mother’s eyes widened in alarm. “What?! Are you sick? Do you have a fever? Food poisoning? Did you eat something bad at the festival?!”

“N-No, it’s not like that…!” I waved my hands weakly. I couldn’t tell her, “Mom, I have a girlfriend…” My heart would explode!

“Then what’s wrong?!” she asked, her voice filled with worry.

I burrowed deeper under the covers, unable to answer. “I don’t know… I just… what do I do…”

“What do you mean, ‘what do I do’? Rina, did a boy confess to you?”

“Yeah…” I lied, just to survive. If I told her a girl had confessed, I’d probably get a lecture about “getting my priorities straight.” And… Aya was reliable…

My mother grinned. “Ah, young love… well, go wash up and get some sleep!” She left the room.

…This was the beginning of my love life?

I continued to writhe in bed. Was love… supposed to be this mind-numbingly overwhelming?

****

It was the last day of the festival, a day for the community, not the students, so we were technically off duty. But… I, a lovesick fool, just stared at my LINE app.

“Ahhh…” My brain felt fried from a sleepless night.

“Uwaaaaaah! What do I do?!” I rolled around in bed, then checked my phone again. The message window was filled with half-written, deleted messages.

[Aya, what are you doing today?] Too casual…

[Aya, do you want to meet up today?] Too forward…?

[Aya, I’m freaking out. What do I do?] Too honest…

I kept typing and deleting, typing and deleting. This was the reality of being in a relationship. Why didn’t the protagonists in novels agonize over sending a single text message?!

I flopped back onto the bed, defeated. I’d planned to study during Golden Week, but the words in my textbooks wouldn’t register.

‘Is this… the life of a romantic comedy protagonist…?’

What if I didn’t speak to Aya for days? Was she waiting for my message? Or was she thinking, ‘Why isn’t Rina contacting me?’

…No! I had to be natural, like in a real relationship!

‘Okay, I’ll send it!’

I took a deep breath and typed, my heart pounding. I couldn’t procrastinate any longer.

Rina: Aya, what are you doing today?

…Sent. My hand trembled as I waited. And then…

—Ding! An instant reply.

Aya: Rina? Nothing special planned today.

Huh? Why? Ah… right!

I stared at the message, then clutched my head. Aya… wasn’t that a bit too fast? She’d been waiting, hadn’t she?! I took another deep breath and replied, trying to sound casual.

Rina: Then… want to hang out?

My hand trembled as I pressed send. That sounded like a date invitation! No, wait, we were dating, so it was a date! And then, her reply.

Aya: Yes. Sounds good. When should we meet?

I rolled around in bed, squealing. A first date… my brain, already fried, felt like it was about to explode, but I forced myself to sit up.

Rina: A little later? Should we wear the matching outfits from last time?
Aya: We can wear something else. It’s a bit warm today.

Ah, the outfit. This was crucial. The outfit I’d worn on our last outing with Aya… the one that had been my “full power” mode. I opened my closet, the one filled with frilly clothes.

“…” Was this… appropriate for a date? It was cute, so it should be fine, right? What should I wear for summer?

I tried to think like Kurosawa Rina, to pick something practical, but my mind was racing, filled with too many thoughts.

This? Too flashy.

This? Too plain.

This? Too formal.

This? Aaaaaah… what was I supposed to do?!

I’d pulled out almost every item from my closet, scattering them around the room, but… choosing a date outfit was… surprisingly difficult.