With the [Japanese Dirt Derby] over with, there was little else that would disrupt our time during the summer camp. And so the weeks flew by without us knowing it, filled with both training and resting.
Whether it be on the fairly empty roads, or the sandy shores, or the sloping forested mountain trail—during the summer camp, there was no single place that we hadn't explored during our training. We even swam in the ocean a few times, though Oguri would always exclude herself from those occasions, having never been fond of swimming in the first place.
Training aside, we also enjoyed the summer camp to its fullest. This was the height of summer, after all; there was no better time to cut loose than now.
So we explored. Walked down the beach enough times that our footsteps would be carved into the ephemeral sand. Toured the nearby town and ate through the menu of every restaurant we came across. Explored the distant forests and mountains just beyond the town, though making sure not to stray too far away.
And of course, no summer in Japan was complete without the titular Summer Festival!
"Ooh!" Oguri's eyes were wide with awe as she saw all the lanterns being hung around the town. "Star, look, look!" She smiled with child-like glee. "So many lanterns!"
I chuckled as I patted her head. "Well, it's a summer festival, after all." I smiled as I basked in the warm orange light that illuminated the entire town. "No summer festival's complete without the lantern lights."
Right now, we were at the town's edge, having just recently arrived. Normally we'd be wearing a kimono or something similar, but Oguri didn't wear one since it restricted her movements too much, instead deciding to wear her casual clothes. And since she wasn't wearing a kimono, I decided not to either.
It was only the two of us here. Musaka had dragged Kitahara off to enjoy some uncle-niece bonding time. Belno had gone off with Dicta Striker and Mejiro Ardan, apologizing profusely that she couldn't join us. Of course, I didn't mind too much, though I was curious when they'd become such close friends without me noticing.
Whatever the case, that left only two of us.
I glanced at Oguri. She still stared at the decorated town in awe, and for a moment, I felt a surge of panic when I realized that there was a genuine possibility that Oguri might become too captivated by the lights and get lost. So, before that possibility could become true, I immediately held her hand.
Oguri blinked when our fingers interlinked, but I just smiled. Oguri soon smiled back, her grip on my hand growing.
"So, what do you want to do first?" I asked.
"Food." Oguri answered without hesitation, her tail wagging slightly in growing excitement.
I grinned. Her answer was just as I expected. "Then let's go find some."
"Nn!"
And so we did. We went around town and tasted every food stall we'd happen to come across. Of course, since we'd been here for a couple months now, most of the locals were familiar with Oguri and her unending appetite, so most of them had already come extra prepared.
As we went on our food tour, we'd occasionally come across a few umamusume who'd come here for the summer festival. They easily recognized us, and many had come up and talked with us for a little while. Though many of them would blush when they noticed how I kept holding onto Oguri's hand before they would excuse themselves, much to my amusement.
Overall, we spent nearly two whole hours just going around and eating. And sure, the whole thing burnt a pretty big hole in my personal wallet, but it wasn't as if I was a big spender in the first place.
And once we'd gone through pretty much every food stall that'd been set up for this summer festival, we found a bench by the town's edge and sat down for the rest of the festival. Sure, we could've gone around and explored more, or joined in with the folk dancers, but I wasn't really feeling like it, and Oguri seemed to sense that too.
So we sat there, with only the two of us in the immediate vicinity, the surroundings tinged a warm orange by the lantern lights. Our hands remained intertwined, sharing our warmth.
There was little that was said between us as we sat there. There was little that needed to be said. We'd been together for a year by this point—we knew each other like the back of our hand. I knew that Oguri liked being held, and Oguri knew that despite my playful attitude, I found serene tranquility equally enjoyable.
And then, something whistled through the air, and a colorful firework exploded across the skies.
Then came another, and then another. And soon an entire barrage of fireworks exploded across the sky like blooming flowers, coloring the starry sky with streaks of bright sparkling pastels. Falling sparks mingled with trails of smoke, before they were overwhelmed as more fireworks exploded across the night.
Oguri watched the scene with bright eyes, entranced by all the pretty colors. But her awe quickly faded when she felt how hard my grip on her hand had gotten.
"Star?" She asked, turning to me in worry.
…
"It's nothing." I said, forcing a small smile onto my lips. "Just…remembering, that's all."
"Remembering?" Oguri whispered, inching a little closer. "Good memories?"
My lips twitched. "Yeah." I said, my tone belied an emotion akin to sorrow. "Really good memories."
Good memories; memories so incredibly good that it still hurts a little even now. In that previous life I had, there was only one person I'd ever shared anything remotely similar to this. This close familiarity—a bond forged beneath the glimmering lights of soaring fireworks.
And yet, of all things I couldn't remember,
Why did I have to lose you?
I only closed my eyes as I felt Oguri pull me into a hug. "Getting cold?" I asked, breathing slowly to pull my thoughts away.
Oguri didn't say anything. She simply hugged me close, her ears resting on my shoulder. All while the fireworks continued to bloom across the skies. And basking in her warmth, that stabbing pain lessened to a dull, ringing ache.
Because, for all intents and purposes, that world was dead. The 'me' of the past was long gone, replaced by this amalgamation named Blossom Star. The playful mask I'd crafted for myself had become so ingrained that it altered me fundamentally.
And it all began because a certain gray-haired umamusume saw my onigiri and wanted to eat it.
I chuckled softly as I gently leaned towards her, letting her head rest on my shoulder. "Thank you, Oguri."
"Mm? With what?"
For befriending me wholeheartedly by that river where we first met. For asking me to join you with such confidence, as if I could hold up the sky if it ever fell. For wanting to run against me, truly believing that I had what it took to be your rival.
For saving me, whether in this life or the one before.
"With everything." I said instead, not quite able to distill all my feelings. "I don't know how things would've been if you didn't ask me to join you, but whatever it is, I don't ever want to know." I smiled warmly as I leaned my head onto hers. "Right now, being with you and everyone else—I'm the happiest I've ever been."
Oguri was silent for a moment, before she gently nodded. "I'm happy too." She said softly. "Thank you, Star."
There were a thousands words that went unsaid between us, and there was no need for them to be. The fact that we were here, sitting together as we enjoyed this summer festival together—that was enough. That was all we needed to know that we'd remain together, whether hell or high seas would come against us.
It was a promise; a vow.
…
We spent the rest of the summer festival alone, our hands intertwined as the night was colored by fireworks.
We'd return hours later as if nothing had happened. And the days would go on.