Once the gang reached back at the hotel and allowed for a few hours of sleep, the sun had started to set.
The beach town transford into a completely different place at night.
The roads were lit by colourful lanterns.
Festival banners hung above the street.
The sound of music floated throughout the evening.
The town square was filled with food vendors.
Everyone was walking around in their casual sumr clothes and festival garb.
There was a vibrant feel to the atmosphere.
As soon as Akari saw it, her eyes lit up.
"AMAZING!"
Minami quickly pulled her shoulder to stop her before she could run away from the group.
"You’re with the group."
"You’re no fun at all."
"Because I’m your supervisor."
"Sa thing!"
Kuro turned away after laughing quietly.
Minami took note of him.
"You’re having fun."
"I have no idea what you’re implying."
"Liar."
The gang walked together into the festival street.
Imdiately, Akari saw sothing that distracted her.
A vendor with grilled squid.
A vendor with shaved ice.
A vendor with a goldfish scooping ga.
A vendor to shoot at sothing.
Every single attraction was now the most important thing in the world.
While Akari was excited over everything, Mina was already admiring the many decorative lanterns.
Rika, anwhile, was hard at work taking ntal notes for her next manga.
It was as though Aoi was watching a natural disaster unfold from a safe distance. All around her was chaos, pandemonium, noise.
When the group arrived at the festival, it only took ten minutes before they all found themselves at different ends of the festival.
They did not plan on being separated.
It just happened.
Because, of course, they were going to end up separated.
Akari disappeared when she found a shooting gallery.
Mina helped a child who had gotten separated from their parent.
Rika wandered off when she saw a couple arguing.
To study social interactions.
Apparently.
Only Aoi remained behind.
But, of course, she left too.
"Where’s Aoi?" Minami asked.
"Good question," Kuro responded.
"I have lost everyone," Minami said as she closed her eyes.
"Well, you found ," Kuro said.
"Not helping," Minami said.
"I agree," Kuro said.
So, both Minami and Kuro began walking through the crowded streets of the festival.
At first, Minami and Kuro hardly exchanged any words.
The only sounds were the sounds of the festival.
Laughter.
Music.
People conversing.
Occasional announcents over loudspeakers.
Then Minami looked at Kuro.
"You seem more calm than you normally are."
"I don’t have to solve any disasters today," Kuro shrugged.
"You solved a lot yesterday," Minami replied.
"I know," Kuro said.
Minami laughed lightly.
The longer she was around Kuro, the more bizarre he beca.
Not because he acted irrationally.
Only because he did not.
The rumors and thoughts she had about him six months earlier felt absurd.
A student she thought was going to cause problems was by far the most responsible person of the entire group.
Life was bizarre.
A stand nearby caught Minami’s eye.
"Would you like sothing to eat?", she said.
Kuro was taken aback.
"You are asking ?", he responded.
"I can tell you are hungry".
"How can you tell?"
"You forgot your lunch when at the fair."
Minami found it slightly embarrassing that Kuro rembered such small details.
The next few monts were spent eating skewers that ca fresh off the grill while continuing their search.
They soon located Mina.
The child, whom she had originally helped find, was now no longer lost.
Mina’s parents were extrely grateful.
The child was crying because Mina had to go ho.
There is no one in this world that can explain how Mina does the things she accomplishes.
Not even Mina herself.
Following their escape from that scene, Kuro and Minami continued their search.
Kuro & Minami found Rika next.
Rika was sitting at the fountain drawing.
"What are you doing?", asked Kuro.
"Research".
Her response arrived without pause.
Of course.
"What are you doing research on?", Kuro further pressed.
"Chapbook for sumr festival".
Minami took a glance at Rika’s sketchbook.
Then imdiately shut it.
"So mysteries should just stay that way."
Rika seed unamused.
Eventually, Kuro & Minami left Rika there.
To be blunt:
Rika was not lost at all.
Rika basically made a conscious decision to be different than most human beings.
Their search towards the end continued.
The crowd grew heavier as nightti approached.
The lanterns began to shine brightly.
The music of the festival echoed throughout the streets.
The aroma from all food being sold filled the air.
In a mont of bliss, Minami slowed down as she wanted to soak it up.
She wasn’t exhausted, but she had the thought of enjoying sothing.
Minami was shocked by how long it has been since she was at the festival without the need to be at the festival due to work, her responsibilities, and having to rush to sowhere else.
This is a night that is different than most.
The feeling of this night was a pleasant one.
A surprise, but a good surprise.
After a while, she spoke.
"Kuro."
Kuro responded, "Huh?"
"I haven’t had this much fun in years," said Minami, surprising herself.
Kuro turned her head and was smiling.
Kuro was smiling as herself and not as the strict teacher she always is when at school or the tired teacher she was when at the festival.
This was her real smile.
This felt refreshing.
"Really?"
"Really," said Minami as she thought about the lanterns hanging over her head.
"I forgot what it feels like to do sothing for the sake of doing it and not for the outco of doing it," said Minami.
There was silence between the two for a short ti.
Kuro answered, "I’m glad you ca."
Minami blinked and said, "What?"
Kuro looked away from Minami and said, "If you didn’t co, then Akari would have not stopped complaining the whole ti you were all gone."
"Is that the only reason why you’re glad I ca?" asked Minami.
"Part of it," answered Kuro.
"Part of it?" asked Minami.
Kuro again looked away.
"If you would have not co with us, then the trip would have been less fun," said Kuro.
Silence fell between them again.
Then they were silent again for a short ti.
Finally, Minami smiled a little brighter than before.
At tis people can be shocked by how truthful they can be.
"You shouldn’t get too used to it." He said.
"Too late." She said.
But sohow they felt no embarrassnt at that ti.
They simply continued talking as if this was completely normal.
Comfortable.
Natural.
As though there were two people enjoying one another’s presence without any pretenses.
Then Akari ca along.
Of course.
"KUUURO!" She shouted, which carried throughout half the fair.
They both looked in her direction.
She was running toward them with three different festival foods in her hands.
She called out, "I found you!"
"We were looking for you." Minami answered.
"I had won." Akari said.
"Won what?" They asked.
"In the shooting gallery." She smiled as she held up a stuffed penguin about her size as an example.
No one had any more questions to ask of her.
It felt safer that way.
Shortly after all were back together again.
Aoi ca back with drinks, Mina brought food and Rika ca back with even more drawings than originally given to her.
All of the group were together at the riverbank.
At this point, many of the people in attendance had chosen the best view spots for the upcoming fireworks display.
The evening’s atmosphere was starting to settle down as the chatter from the fair attendee’s was becoming less and less.
Children were sitting down quietly.
Families were getting close together.
Then.
Boom.
The first firework went off as it flew into the sky.
The night sky lit up with colors.
Gold, Red, Blue, Silver.
The crowd of people all cheered for each of the firework displays fired off one after another.
Everyone present were looking up at the sky as there was no arguing, no complaints, no trouble.
Akari chose to hold her tongue too.
A miracle of epic proportions.
Fireworks reflected on the surface of the water.
The lanterns cast a soft glow.
The sumr night seed without bounds.
Kuro looked around the area.
Aoi was grinning quietly.
Akari seed entranced.
Mina watched with innocent awe.
Rika had an odd look of serenity about her.
Minami was nearby.
Gazing at the stars overhead.
And smiling.
For the first ti in this entire trip.
There were no catastrophes.
No ergencies.
No confusion.
No one was missing.
Only this instant.
A fantastic sumr mory.
The final firework popping in the air exploded.
A giant golden flower lit up the night sky.
The audience erupted with applause.
The enthusiastic crowd yelled.
And slowly.
Gradually.
The celebration began to wind down.
People were leaving for ho.
The streets grew quiet.
The lanterns danced in the breeze.
The group began the walk back to their lodging.
And very few words were shared.
Not out of fatigue.
Because sotis, there aren’t any words.
For just this mont.
Beneath the rapidly fading sparks from the fireworks.
With friends.
And with laughter still in his ears.
All was calm.
Never had Kuro previously experienced a similar level of calm.
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