Chapter 58: Glowing Liuli

Part One

Winding through narrow alleys, passing by quirky single-story houses, the eclectic architecture is a sight Cola never tires of.

“Cough…” Cola glances at the girl in a black floral yukata beside her. “Hey, is it really necessary to hold my hand the whole time?”

“I-If I don’t hold Miss Cola’s hand… I-I’d be too scared to go to the festival…”

“Come on, it’s not that bad. Is this your first time wearing a yukata?”

“Last time was in kindergarten…”

“That’s ages ago… But is it really that embarrassing?”

“B-Because the style’s so unique… Most people wear lighter colors, s-so I’m a bit shy…”

“A bit? You’re way past that.”

“Holding your hand… makes me feel safer…”

“Then hold mine, Little Liuli!” Byakuya chimes in. “My hand’s nice and warm—you can grab it anytime!”

“No,” Liuli replies flatly.

Her bluntness makes even the ever-enthusiastic Byakuya freeze for a second.

“Childhood friends, huh…” Byakuya recovers. “Fine—I’ll hold Cola’s hand!”

Before Cola can react, Byakuya snatches her left hand. As promised, it’s warm—like being pressed against a freshly steamed mochi.

“Ehh—” Liuli’s voice drags, her displeasure plain on her face.

“Cough, why’re you copying Liuli? You shy too, Byakuya? No way, right?”

“It shows we’re all super close, doesn’t it?”

“…” Liuli bites her lip, wanting to say something but holding back.

“What about when Class Rep—Yuki—shows up? I don’t have a third hand,” Cola says.

“She can hold mine!” Byakuya beams. “It’ll boost our band’s teamwork! Maybe we should form a circle…”

“How do we walk in a circle?”

“No good?”

“Even if it was, it’d look like some cult ritual!”

“…Cola,” Liuli tightens her grip slightly, tugging her closer. “We’re crossing the street. Be careful.”

“Oh, we’re out of the alleys? Just main roads now?”

“Yeah… lots of people are already out,” Liuli says.

“I thought we’d be the earliest!” Byakuya exclaims. “Didn’t expect so many people to be this eager—”

“Early birds get the best spots,” Cola says, unfazed. She remembers going to watch fireworks by the Qiantang River as a kid, leaving at one or two in the afternoon, spreading a mat like a picnic, and waiting for the show.
It wasn’t just about the fireworks—it was the anticipation that made it fun.

“Fireworks festival… Been a while since I’ve gone to one.”

“Cola, does your stomach still hurt?” Liuli asks.

“Much better. Just a normal kind of discomfort now.”

“Good… My first time was a mess—I even cried a few times. You’re already way tougher than me.”

“Most people don’t cry, do they…?”

“Eh? I heard lots of girls cry their first time,” Liuli says.

“For real?”

“Yup. Not crying means you’re either super strong or it came really late.”

“I guess I’m… the latter,” Cola says.

“Even if it came late, I think you’re the strong type,” Liuli insists.

“Cough, am I?”

“Yeah… you’ve got this ‘toughness’ most girls don’t have.”

“R-Really?” Cola’s a bit embarrassed now.

“Not sure how to explain it, but it’s there.”

“I see…”

“There’s gonna be tons of good food at the festival, right?” Byakuya, done snapping photos, asks excitedly as they cross the street. “I haven’t had festival snacks in forever—I wanna try them all!”

“Hey, even a little of each will stuff you silly. You digested lunch already?”

“I worked out for an hour just to make room!”

“That’s some dedication…”

“Yakisoba’s a must!”

“Your yakisoba obsession is next-level…”

“Pfft…” Liuli covers her mouth, giggling. “I remember my parents got me yakisoba at my last festival. It’s been years, but it was so good.”

“Really? Now I’m curious. You guys are hyping it up,” Cola says.

“How far’s the fireworks spot?” Byakuya asks, hopping while tugging Cola’s left hand—her energy clashing with Liuli’s calm, making Cola feel like she’s being split in two.

“Not far, about a 20-minute walk,” Liuli replies.

“So close! Why haven’t you gone in years? I’d go every year, snapping pics and videos for memories!” Byakuya says.

“Maybe… it feels too familiar?” Liuli tilts her head, her pearl hair accessory swaying. “I can see the fireworks from my rooftop, so I didn’t bother going to the crowded site…”

“And you’re too shy to go alone?”

“T-That’s part of it… But mainly, festivals mean wearing a yukata, and I-I was too nervous to go out in one…”

“So this yukata’s not new? You bought it years ago and never wore it?”

“Two years ago…”

“I’ll wear a yukata next year!” Byakuya declares.

“Wear what you like. Your dress suits you too,” Cola says.

“Y-Yeah…” Liuli looks away, a bit guilty.

“The closer we get, the more people! Look at all the families in yukatas!” Byakuya exclaims.

“There’s even cosplayers? First time seeing that in Maebashi,” Cola notes.

“You’re the most obvious cosplayer, Cola!” Byakuya laughs. “Yuki said your hair’s white from albinism, but it totally looks like a cosplay—probably the eyes? Don’t colored contacts bother you?”

“Uh, cough…” Cola lies quickly. “My eyes look bad without contacts. Albinism makes them… not great-looking.”

“Mhm… Even with albinism, you’re not gloomy at all, and you live alone? That’s amazing.”

“It’s… not a big deal…”

Now it’s Cola’s turn to feel guilty.

Part Two

Near the festival, roads are closed off, and pedestrians spill onto the streets.
Mostly young people, brimming with youthful energy.
Middle-aged folks are there too, but always with families—almost no one’s alone.
Elders are even rarer.

The festival feels like it belongs to the young. Just walking through the crowd lifts your spirits, carried by their vibrancy.
The frustration Cola bottled up all afternoon slips away.

The fireworks are set to go off by the river, but compared to the Qiantang River, this one’s meager, almost dried up, a bit underwhelming.

“Not like in anime…” Cola mutters.

“Totally different!” Byakuya agrees.

“I-It has its charm…” Liuli defends softly. “Maebashi’s festival is a bit small, though…”

“Where’s Yuki? She said she’d meet us at the entrance!” Byakuya hops onto a flowerbed, tiptoeing to scan the crowd.

“Don’t see her either,” Cola says, nodding.

“I-Is that her over there…?” Liuli points.

“Yeah, looks like it. Hey—Yuki—Matsuhisa!” Cola calls.

“Little Yuki! Over here!” Byakuya waves her glowing phone like a glow stick from atop the flowerbed.

Yuki Matsuhisa turns, spotting them, and hurries over.
“It’s closer from my place,” she explains her solo arrival.

“No biggie, we’re together now!” Byakuya says. “No yukata, Yuki?”

“Your dress… doesn’t quite fit,” Yuki remarks to Byakuya.

“I’ll wear a yukata next time!”

“Matsuhisa…” Liuli starts.

“Your yukata’s lovely, Yuezuki-san… Quantum-san, what’s that?”

“Casual clothes,” Cola says deadpan.

“…Your otaku side’s showing.”

“It’s Japan. Being an otaku’s no big deal, right?”

“It suits you. Silver hair on silver hair,” Byakuya says.

“Y-Yeah…” Liuli agrees.

“You sound kinda guilty, Liuli,” Cola teases.

“I-I just wish you’d worn a yukata with me…”

“What? No way…” Cola rolls her eyes.

“B-But it’d make me happy…”

“Cause someone else would share the attention?” Cola jokes.

“I’ll share it next time!” Byakuya offers.

“I don’t have a yukata,” Yuki says, shaking her head.

“N-No… I just wanted to see Cola in one… It’d be… fun…”

“Fun how?”

“Like… seeing how shy you’d get…”

“Hey, didn’t know you had such a mean streak!”

“P-Pretend I didn’t say that!!”

“Let’s go, let’s go! The stalls are set up. Should we grab food first?” Byakuya asks.

“Food first. There’ll be spots since we’re early,” Cola says, rubbing her stomach. “Festivals aren’t the same without eating. Fireworks won’t even look good otherwise.”

“Totally agree!!”

“No objections,” Yuki says.

“Yakisoba?” Liuli blinks eagerly, making Cola stare a moment too long. “C-Cola… what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Just… you’re really pretty today, Liuli. Like you’re glowing.”

“Let me take a pic!” Byakuya begs.

“Absolutely—not!” Liuli snaps.

“It’s a precious memory!”

“Uh… I kinda want a pic too…” Cola admits.

“T-Then… okay…”

“Why can’t I take one?! I protest!” Byakuya whines.

“Hmph!” Liuli huffs.