Chapter 59: Summer Festival

Part One

The fireworks are the heart of the festival, but their bloom signals the end. Before that, it’s the myriad stalls that truly bring the event to life.
Unlike anime festivals, Maebashi’s lacks goldfish scooping or airgun shooting booths. A quick glance reveals it’s all food—Japanese specialties alongside some international flavors.

Just earlier, they passed a Mongolian BBQ stall, and further along, a Sichuan spicy noodle stand.
Surprisingly, the spicy noodle stall was crowded, defying the stereotype that Japanese people shy away from spice.

Mahong Byakuya bounces ahead, curious about everything, darting to every stall to check it out.
In contrast, Yuki Matsuhisa is all action. In just a short walk, she’s already holding a cotton candy and a candied apple.

“You can’t have a festival without takoyaki, right? Want some, Cola?” Liuli asks.

“Hm? Oh?” Cola looks up from her phone. “Taiyaki?”

“Takoyaki! How do you even mishear that?”

“Cough, I’m setting that photo we took as my wallpaper.”

“Eh!?”

“It’s really nice, so I wanna see it every time I open my phone. Feels like it’ll lift my mood.”

“R-Really?”

“Of course. It’s different from using some random online pic. This is someone close to me.”

“H-How’s it different?”

“Like, if I see your pic and wanna chat, I can just message you on LINE or even visit your place.”

Liuli’s face flushes visibly, and she turns away, gripping Cola’s hand tighter.

“So, wanna get some takoyaki? Wonder how festival ones taste,” Cola says.

“They might be kinda plain. The octopus pieces are tiny—sometimes just tentacles,” Liuli warns.

“Haha, back in %% the takoyaki I ate had no octopus at all. Honestly, I was shocked the first time I had real takoyaki in Tokyo.”

“Eh? No octopus in %%’s takoyaki? First I’ve heard of it… Can you even call it takoyaki without octopus?”

“That’s just what they call it back home. Not bad, though,” Cola says, glancing at Byakuya, distracted by a ramen stall, then at Yuki, licking her candied apple. “Class Rep, tell Byakuya we’re getting takoyaki. We’ll meet them over there.”

“Got it,” Yuki nods.

“She’s really into everything, huh…”

“Mm. Cotton candy’s over there,” Yuki says.

“That’s not what I meant…”

“I always buy it when I come.”

“I figured, seeing how you zoomed right for it…”

“It’s pretty, but… not that tasty,” Yuki admits.

“Pfft, then why buy it?”

“Memories.” Yuki’s eyes shine brightly.

Cola nods, about to say more, when Liuli gently grabs her wrist, pulling her toward the takoyaki stall.

Part Two

The crowd buzzes around them, the takoyaki stall enveloped in a rich, savory aroma.
Each batch is snatched up the moment it’s ready, yet the line remains long. In the sweaty evening heat, time crawls, making it feel like their turn will never come.

If it were just Cola, she’d have bailed by now.
But Liuli’s eyes are glued to the takoyaki, brimming with anticipation.
So Cola waits patiently— soaking in the lively atmosphere is its own kind of fun.

She’s only ever seen Japanese summer festivals in anime. Being here in person is a first.
There are tons of girls in yukatas, and plenty of young guys in male yukatas, clopping along in geta sandals with bold strides.
People say Japanese folks are reserved, but at the festival, you see plenty of outgoing types.

Speaking of geta… Cola glances down, noticing Liuli’s wearing them too.
They really do pair perfectly with yukatas.
Liuli’s feet are delicate and pale, almost translucent, and Cola can’t help but steal a few extra glances.

“Cola…”

“Huh? What?” She snaps her head up, feeling guilty, just as a kid barrels into her.

The kid’s young mom hurries over, bowing apologetically before chasing after him.

“Why’re you so quiet?” Liuli asks.

“Am I? Just… enjoying the festival vibe. Being in a lively crowd makes you feel alive.”

“Mm… a bit of excitement now and then is nice,” Liuli agrees.

“Feels like Japan’s got a ton of people all of a sudden.”

“Pfft… It’s just the small land making it seem crowded, right?”

“Not really. Maebashi usually feels so empty.”

“Lots of people come from other places for the festival. Maebashi’s is pretty big for Gunma.”

“There are a lot of stalls…”

As they talk, it’s their turn. Liuli stammers nervously, “U-Um, one portion…”

“Large or small?”

“Small,” Cola cuts in. “We’re eating other stuff later.”

“Y-Yeah! Small’s fine…”

The small portion is four takoyaki—decently sized, golden and crispy, sprinkled with dancing bonito flakes that unfurl in the steam like blooming flowers.

“Smells amazing…” Cola swallows hard. “My stomach’s growling.”

“Let’s eat outside?”

“Yeah, can’t hog the spot here,” Cola nods, taking Liuli’s wrist this time, leading her through the crowd to a less packed area near a flowerbed.

Yuki and Byakuya are waiting there.

“Whoa! You’re here!” Byakuya exclaims.

“Who eats a whole bowl of ramen at a festival?” Cola sighs, palming her forehead.

“It smelled too good to resist!”

“Didn’t you say you wanted yakisoba?”

“That’s why I got a small portion—to save room! Want a bite?”

“I’m good…”

“I-I got takoyaki…” Liuli says.

“Don’t be shy! Open up—ahh!”

“Ugh—” With noodles already at her mouth, Cola reluctantly takes a bite.

Byakuya feeds Liuli and Cola, and judging by Yuki’s expression, she’s already tried some too.

“U-Um… I got a box of takoyaki. One for each of us,” Liuli says, opening the box, steam wafting out.

“I’m not holding back!” Byakuya grabs one.

“Thanks,” Yuki says, spearing one with a bamboo skewer. She hesitates, then offers her cotton candy to Liuli. “Want some?”

“No thanks, Matsuhisa.”

Cola leans in curiously. “Uh, let me try?”

“Sure.”

“…So sweet it’s killing me.”

“Mm, not tasty,” Yuki agrees.

“But it’s pretty. Pink, like bubblegum…”

“Looks nice.”

“Nice to look at, not to eat…”

“Once I finish this ramen, let’s get yakisoba! It’s getting dark—time to find a good spot!” Byakuya says.

“You sure you can eat more?”

“We can eat while watching the fireworks!”

“Cola… this one’s yours,” Liuli says, holding out a takoyaki.

“Oh, you feeding me?”

“E-Eh?”

“Haha, kidding,” Cola coughs, quickly grabbing the last takoyaki and popping it in her mouth, cheeks puffed as she gives a thumbs-up. “Mmm! Delicious!”

“I-I’ll get another box…!”

“No need, we’re eating other stuff, right?”

“B-But… I didn’t feed you…”

“Huh? What?”

“N-Nothing…”

“Done eating! Let’s find yakisoba! Uh… trash can, trash can… No trash cans!” Byakuya groans.

“Gotta carry it home in a bag,” Cola says.

“I-I didn’t bring one…”

“I did,” Yuki pulls a plastic bag from her tote and hands it to Byakuya.

“Lifesaver!”

“Japan’s got no trash cans anywhere. Took me forever to get used to that,” Cola says.

“It’s lazy governance! Super lazy!” Byakuya declares.

“Double hands up for that!”

“I’m used to taking trash home now…” Liuli says.

“You can toss it in a convenience store’s bin on the sly,” Yuki suggests.

“Hey, didn’t expect that from you, Class Rep…”

“I’d buy something first, as a courtesy.”

“…Smart. I’m doing that next time.”

“C-Cola, you switched sides so fast!”

“Convenience comes first, haha…”

Part Three

The festival grounds are sprawling, stalls lining the riverbank.
After a while, you notice many snacks repeat—the most popular festival foods are just a handful.
Yakitori skewers for 200 yen, okonomiyaki for 400 yen, chocolate bananas for 300 yen, shaved ice for 500 yen, grilled corn for 600 yen…

They buy a bunch along the way, mostly Byakuya sharing with everyone, with Liuli and Yuki occasionally grabbing their own.
Most are fine, but the overpriced corn makes Cola rant.
Six hundred yen—thirty bucks for a cob! That’s outrageous.
Even growing up in a big city, she’s never seen corn this pricey. Fifteen bucks at a tourist spot, max!
Veggies in Japan are just stupidly expensive…

“U-Um… I want a grilled corn…” Liuli says, heading to the stall despite Cola’s complaints.

“What? Why buy that overpriced stuff?”

“B-Because the pricier it sounds, the more you might want it… So I thought I’d get one for you…”

“That’s not it at all! It’s just way too expensive for corn!”

“E-Eh? B-But I already ordered…”

“…Fine, I’ll pay for it.”

“No way!” Liuli’s firm. “I’m treating you!”

“Why’re you so stubborn about this…?”

“If I treat you, can I… feed you?”

“Huh? Sure… Wait, why—”

“Yay, then it’s worth it!”

“What kind of money logic is that?!”