Chapter 60: Fireworks

Part One

The festival’s food stalls are plentiful, but despite their wandering, the four girls haven’t found a single yakisoba stand.

The sun has vanished beyond the horizon, and a misty nightfall slowly descends.

Cola and the others pick a spot near the riverbank—no trees blocking the view, wide open, with a railing to lean against.

“When do the fireworks start?” Cola asks, letting the river breeze ruffle her silver hair, twirling the empty corn cob in her hand.

“When it’s completely dark, they’ll start,” Liuli replies, her black yukata almost glowing in the dim light.

Yuki Matsuhisa, red-framed glasses glinting, licks her seemingly unchanged candied apple. “The summer festival is summer’s finale, and the fireworks are the festival’s finale.”

“Yeah… once the fireworks start, the festival’s almost over,” Liuli adds.

“Now I kinda hope they start late,” Cola jokes.

Suddenly, Byakuya’s voice cuts through the crowd behind them.
“Hey! Make way, make way—my friends are up front! Thanks, thank you! Arigatou!”

Soon, the curly blonde bursts through, waving a bag of sodas, hurrying to Cola’s side.
“I’m back!!”

“Find the yakisoba stall?” Cola asks, curious.

“Nope. They said it’s on the street we came from, but it was too crowded, so I gave up. Sodas—pick your poison!”

“Cola, obviously,” Cola says.

“Um… Sprite for me,” Liuli reaches out.

“Yuki?”

“Anything’s fine,” Yuki replies.

“Then I’ll take Fanta, and this oolong tea’s for you!” Byakuya hands it over.

“Are they starting soon?” Byakuya asks, clutching her Fanta and leaning on the railing, gazing excitedly at the sky above the river.

Cola’s almost used to it, but she still finds the river underwhelming—barely grander than a village stream, though her hometown’s river was pretty big…

“A little longer,” Liuli says, sipping her Sprite, her tongue tingling from the fizz.

“I’ll take some pics then… Oh, I haven’t posted the earlier ones yet. The network’s so slow,” Byakuya grumbles.

“With this many people, no wonder,” Cola says.

“They should’ve brought mobile base stations for a big event like this,” Cola adds, smacking her lips. “Japan’s stingy about that stuff.”

“There might be some… but probably not enough,” Liuli guesses.

“Slow internet’s a good thing,” Yuki says, expressionless. “Makes you fully enjoy the festival.”

“True… it makes the moment stick with you,” Cola agrees.

Liuli brushes her wide yukata sleeve, tilting her head with a smile. “Miss Cola?”

“Why ‘Miss Cola’ all of a sudden?”

“It feels more formal.”

“Got something formal to ask?”

“Are you feeling better?”

“Why do you ask?”

“When you came to my place, you seemed… kinda down.”

“Did I?” Cola and Byakuya say in unison.

“You did… just a vague feeling,” Liuli insists.

“Cough…”

“What got you down, Cola?” Byakuya asks, curiosity piqued.

“Nothing major… just got flamed online,” Cola says, scratching her head.

“That’s normal! The internet’s full of all kinds!” Byakuya shrugs.

“You could flame back. It feels good,” Yuki suggests.

“…Damn, Class Rep, you don’t do that often, do you?”

“Sometimes,” Yuki admits, looking away.

“No way you’re that type!”

“…Just sometimes.”

“So what’d they flame you for?” Byakuya presses.

“Nothing special… just got attacked, that’s all,” Cola dodges.

Liuli smiles softly. “So, are you feeling better now?”

“Totally. It’s hard to stay grumpy in this festival vibe,” Cola says. “Wait, is that a helicopter up there?”

“It’s a special viewing spot,” Liuli explains. “Costs hundreds of thousands of yen for a ticket to watch from the sky for a few minutes.”

“Talk about making bank…”

“The fireworks from up there must be amazing!” Byakuya’s eyes sparkle.

“Next time, we’ll watch from the sky,” Cola says, winking playfully.

Liuli pauses, then covers her mouth, giggling, nodding eagerly. “Yeah…! Somewhere private…”

“Haha—” Cola laughs, then leans in to whisper, “We could fly up just before it starts. It’s quick.”

“Sounds… romantic,” Liuli says. “Thinking you’ll still be around next year makes me… happy.”

“You’re really short on friends, huh?”

“With us here, how could you be?” Byakuya squeezes closer. “The band’s the best of friends!”

“Since we’re a band, we’re the closest,” Yuki nods in agreement.

“I-I’m just slow to warm up…” Liuli mumbles.

“No rush, you’ll get there,” Cola says. “Speaking of, any ideas for the lyrics’ vibe?”

“None at all…”

“Don’t stress her out at a festival, Cola!” Byakuya chides. “Talk about fun stuff, right, Liuli?”

“Mm…”

“Don’t push her, Little Cola. When inspiration hits, she’ll write it in no time!”

“Sometimes you trust me too much, Byakuya…”

“We’re a band! Trust is everything!”

“Mm,” Yuki agrees. “If there’s distance, the band falls apart fast.”

“Quantum Band… Can we pull off an original song before summer break?”

“I-I’ll try my best!!” Liuli vows.

“Go for it, Little Liuli!!”

“Keep it up.”

The lively crowd suddenly quiets.
Even Cola and the others instinctively hush.

After a brief silence, soft murmurs ripple through the crowd, everyone whispering to those nearby.

Liuli speaks softly, “It’s… almost time.”

“It’s starting?” Byakuya blinks excitedly.

“Think so… Oh, I just noticed all those paid seats by the river,” Cola says.

“Those cost money,” Liuli notes.

“Money’s nice…” Cola mutters, thinking of her dwindling savings.

As the fireworks’ time nears, the crowd grows quieter.
Even Cola, not super hyped for fireworks, holds her breath—counting down the final half-minute in her head.

But the fireworks don’t start on time, making her tilt her head. “Not yet?”

“A bit longer?”

“Should be now…”

Yuki glances at the three girls, opening her mouth to speak, when a whoosh sounds from across the river—

Half a minute late, the fireworks finally soar, piercing the dark sky, bursting into bloom.

Bang—!!

Crackle—!

The quiet crowd erupts, many shouting in excitement.
Countless cries of “Kirei da ne!” (So beautiful!) echo around.

But Cola feels a touch of disappointment.
The fireworks aren’t huge, blooming one by one, not even as dense as her village’s New Year display.
Compared to %%’s massive fireworks shows, this is nothing.

If %%’s shows light up the sky, Maebashi’s festival is like lighting a single candle in the dark.

Still, treating the black sky as a canvas and each firework as a painting brings out a certain beauty.
Japan has a knack for making modest things feel refined, masking their simplicity.

“Different culture’s beauty… not bad,” Cola chuckles softly.

“Huh? What’s that?” Byakuya asks loudly, filming with her phone.

“Nothing—keep recording!”

“Oh!”

The opening fireworks are a bit underwhelming, but as time passes, they grow denser, displaying varied patterns that dazzle the eyes.

Liuli leans closer to Cola, their breaths almost mingling.
“Miss Cola.”

“What?” Cola tilts her cheek to hear better over the noise.

“Can I really write good lyrics…? I’m nervous about the band…”

“You’ve already started it. Backing out now?”

“I-I’m just scared of messing it up… ruining things, hurting people, or messing up relationships…”

“Yeah, I get worrying about that stuff sometimes.”

“Eh? Y-You too, Miss Cola?”

“Sure, I stress about things. I just tell myself not to overthink.”

“That kind of advice doesn’t help me… I-I’m probably just too fragile…” Liuli lowers her head, embarrassed. “Do you find it annoying, always dealing with my emotions? Sorry…”

“I think it’s kinda cute,” Cola says. “No need to worry about ruining life. You’re the main character of your world—do what you want.”

“Even if I make a mess…?”

“Life’s tougher than that. It won’t break so easily.”

The vibrant fireworks light up Cola’s face.

“…Cola, I like you too.”

“Huh?! W-Why say that now…?”

“Right now… do you want to hug me?”

“Tch, n-no way…” Cola stammers, turning her face away from Liuli’s gaze.

“Liar… I can see it,” Liuli teases. “Your emotions…”

“H-Huh?”

“Since the fireworks started, I’ve seen you hugging me in your heart. What’s that about~?” She winks, a sly smile spreading.

“…Damn it! I shouldn’t have taught you that!”

“Stubborn Miss Cola.”

“It… messes up sometimes, okay!”

“…Eek?! W-What are you thinking now?!”

“Sorry!”