Night. The pedestrian street outside the fireworks grounds was bustling. The fireworks would begin at eight, so there was still plenty of time—people were everywhere.
Among them, now and then, you could spot a purple-haired girl jogging in small steps, with a boy behind her—wearing a mature kimono that didn't match his appearance at all.
"Ah! Brother, I want to look over here."
…
"Brother, look—so pretty…"
…
"Brother, this way!"
…
Had the atmosphere swept her up? Or had she made friends at school?
Rarely seen like this, Fujino kept tugging Yuuki through the crowd, weaving between stalls one after another.
She seemed interested in everything, but never lingered too long. Yuuki tried several times to buy her the things she liked—each time, she refused.
"If I try to hold everything I want in my hands… it feels like something's wrong. Brother, I only need one."
She said it like she was showing off, lifting the small glass jar of konpeitō Yuuki had bought her at the very first stall. After that, just as promised, she kept browsing but took nothing else.
As for Miss Tama…
"Hahaha… you two go on, don't mind me. Ha! I refuse to believe it! Come on!"
She waved at them casually from the next stall, arms full—half-eaten takoyaki, a candied apple with bites missing, and a chaotic assortment of snacks. A fox mask hung around her neck. She looked like she'd had an excellent harvest.
Right now she was fiercely attacking a goldfish-scooping game with a fragile paper net.
Given how fired-up she looked, she was probably losing.
Watching Miss Tama, feeling Fujino's slender hand holding his, Yuuki smiled without thinking.
"What is it, brother?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking… Miss Tama and you, Fujino—you're both very important to me."
What he'd lost could never come back.
But these twelve years hadn't been empty, either.
At the very least, seeing them happy like this made Yuuki genuinely glad.
At the same time, he couldn't help feeling regret.
If Shiki were here too…
Shiki didn't like crowded places. She'd probably sulk if someone dragged her here. But she was also easily carried by the mood. Even if she frowned, hearing someone hum pleasantly nearby would gradually soften her expression.
Well… she was a girl, after all.
If he bought her a vanilla ice cream, she'd probably forgive him. If he then shoved a crepe at her too, she'd get annoyed and say, "How am I supposed to eat all that?"—and then smile helplessly…
They didn't need to be "essential" to each other. As friends—childhood friends—they had still shared something.
Yuuki and Shiki had once been like that.
"Ahh! Failed again!"
Miss Tama's voice snapped Yuuki out of his thoughts. While he'd been spacing out, Fujino had quietly let go of his hand and was watching him.
When Yuuki noticed her, Fujino averted her gaze slightly, then—like she suddenly remembered something—looked back at him.
"Sorry… we came all this way, and I've been dragging you around for my own sake…"
"No, no, it's fine. As long as you don't end up like Miss Tama, we're good."
Yuuki shot a look at the next stall over, where Miss Tama was wailing, "Nooo! So close! Damn it—just a little more!" with absolutely zero adult dignity. Fujino laughed too.
"Then… is there something brother wants?"
Yuuki wanted to shake his head, but worried it might make Fujino uneasy. So he looked around for a moment, then paused at a stall not far away.
Because of the fireworks festival, many children had come too, so some vendors sold things kids liked—small toys, or cute animals.
Following his gaze, Fujino leaned closer. There was a litter of snow-white rabbits huddled together, with one black rabbit alone in the corner, curled up and isolated.
"Does brother like rabbits?"
"Not really… I wouldn't say I like them…"
Yuuki had never had a habit of keeping pets. With that thought, he reflexively reached out to touch the lonely black rabbit—only to feel a sharp, stabbing pain. He yanked his hand back.
Even a rabbit that wasn't fully grown still had sharp teeth. The wound wasn't big, but it was deep enough to draw a bit of blood.
"Brother!"
"Oh dear! Did it bite you? You're bleeding—I'm so sorry…"
Fujino's worried voice and the old stall owner's apologetic voice blurred together. Yuuki barely heard either. He stared at the bleeding finger, lost in thought.
Then, with his uninjured hand, he gently stroked the black rabbit as if to calm it. The rabbit shrank back, still trembling, but it didn't bite again.
Fujino watched him without speaking.
Afterward, the old woman tried to give Yuuki the rabbit for free out of guilt, insisting she couldn't take money. Yuuki persuaded her anyway.
In return, she gave him a delicate little cage. The black rabbit sat inside, nervous, shrinking its neck as Yuuki carried it.
So he bought it.
Even though he had no experience raising pets—and no spare time.
"You two, what are you doing over there?! The fireworks are about to start!"
Miss Tama shouted from afar. Fujino nodded and tugged Yuuki to go meet her—unaware of the small figure running ahead in her path…
"Ah…"
A mischievous child, having slipped free of his mother's control, ran forward while turning back to talk—never noticing Fujino. He crashed straight into her outstretched arm.
The little jar of konpeitō flew out of Fujino's hand. She instinctively reached for it, stumbled, and nearly fell.
Yuuki caught her before she hit the ground.
But the konpeitō shattered across the pavement.
…
"I'm so sorry… I'll make it up to you. Come on—apologize to the big sister."
"Sorry…"
"No, it's okay. Really. As long as you're not hurt…"
Fujino gently patted the child's head—so gentle that Yuuki momentarily forgot she was only in middle school herself.
"Sorry, brother… let's go."
After they parted with the mother and child, Fujino tried to take Yuuki's hand again and head for the fireworks grounds—only to stumble once more.
Yuuki supported her and guided her to sit on nearby steps.
Because of her analgesia, Fujino hadn't noticed anything. She only felt slightly unsteady.
Yuuki, however, saw it clearly.
Fujino's ankle was already swelling red.
....
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