Elemental Summer Festival!
On this summer day, Amakawa Haruto was going to the Tanabata festival with his friends. He set off for their meetup spot near the festival location when the sky started to dim.
“Amakawa-senpai,” a cute voice called out. Haruto turned in the direction of the voice.
“Rikka-chan.”
It was Minamoto Rikka, his junior from middle school. Her long hair she normally had down was tied up in a short style, and she was seated on a bench wearing a white, flower-patterned yukata. In her hand was an uchiwa fan that must have been handed out on the streets near the festival; she used it to fan a cool breeze.
“Good evening, Amakawa-senpai,” Rikka greeted Haruto in a bright voice.
“Good evening, Rikka-chan. You came in your yukata.”
“Yup. Does it look good?”
“Yes, very. You give off a different feeling with your hair tied up—I was captivated.”
“Thank you,” Rikka said with a bashful smile.
“Is anyone else here yet?” Haruto looked around.
“Nope. No one else is here yet, so I’m the first to arrive. That makes you the second, Amakawa-senpai. Here, have a seat.” Rikka gestured at the empty space on the bench beside her.
“If you don’t mind, then.” Haruto sat down right next to Rikka.
“I’m glad it was sunny today.”
“Yeah. It was kind of hot, though.” Haruto noted that he was sweating even though he had only walked a short distance.
“Then I’ll share the cool breeze with you.” Rikka fanned the uchiwa in her hand in Haruto’s direction.
“Thanks. It feels nice,” Haruto said with a smile. He casually looked around and noticed a stall selling drinks. “Say, Rikka-chan. Do you like ramune?” he asked.
“Huh? Yeah,” Rikka nodded.
“Wait here, then,” Haruto said, standing up and heading towards the stall. He handed the stall owner some change and received a ramune bottle and two paper cups before coming back.
“One bottle’s a little too much for one person, so will you drink it with me? It’s also my thank-you for fanning me,” he said, handing Rikka a paper cup.
“Thank you very much. I’d love to,” Rikka giggled, accepting the cup.
“Here you go.” Haruto first poured the ramune into Rikka’s cup.
“I’ll pour it for you as well, Amakawa-senpai.” Rikka put her cup and uchiwa down on the bench and took the bottle from Haruto, pouring the drink into his paper cup.
“Thanks.”
“Ramune’s nice, but I don’t really get a chance to drink it outside of festivals. When I was a child, I drank it every time I went to a festival.” Those words appeared to be the truth, as Rikka poured the drink smoothly while keeping the marble characteristic to ramune drinks held in the cavity of the bottle.
“I didn’t really play with them, but I remember taking the marble out of the drinks afterwards and saving them.”
“I can relate. I also have all the marbles from my childhood saved in a drawer at home.”
“I think mine are still at home too. All right, let’s have some.”
“Thanks for the drink. Mm, sure brings back memories.” Rikka peered inside her cup and smiled happily, then took a sip of the drink.
“Hah... I’ve been brought back to life.” Haruto gulped down his ramune and sighed.
“Yeah, it’s so good,” Rikka said, entranced. “I’ll keep fanning you as thanks for the ramune, senpai.” She resumed fanning a cool breeze towards Haruto with her uchiwa.
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