Chapter 5 - That one irreplaceable moment, for a future that will be okay.
Pale orange lights were layered on top of each other, illuminating the roadside.
Using this light as a guide, we walked side by side. Next to me, Yukinoshita is waving a long and thin plastic bag that she had bought.
There is still some time until the night parade. Now, thinking about what to do, I looked to the side and met Yukinoshita's eyes.
Then, Yukinoshita's steps accelerated, she took a half step ahead of me, and looked into my face slightly.
“What did you just say now?”
When she smiled and looked at me with a teasing look, I shrugged.
“Did I say something? You misheard the sound of the wind, right?"
In that way, Yukinoshita was a little angry after me playing stupid. As if I was trying to fool her, I continued with the next sentence.
“How about the parade? Although I think it's easy to catch up.”
“Are you all right? You said it wasn’t interesting?”
Yukinoshita said as if paying attention. She seems to have remembered what I said in the club room.
Actually, I'm not really interested in parades, and it's not that I'm not particularly interested in seeing them. I don't know anything about the characters, but it's pretty fun to watch the dazzling lights and flashy stage cars pass by.
More than anything else, when I came here before, I really wanted to see this guy... Thinking about that, there is no option not to go. The problem is the degree of sincerity.
“It's okay to just look at it. I'd like you to take a look at it, no matter how hard it is to find a place...”
“My father said he would get used to it quickly.”
“What you get used to doesn't mean it stays in place...”
Aren't you used to Hahanong's tack? No, I don't know much about Papanon. Perhaps never, perhaps, certainly (certainly).
“It's been a long time, so let's see it in a good place.”
Having said that, Yukinoshita gently stretched out her hand. She seemed to guide me to the recommended viewing point.
In order to hold that outstretched hand, neither excuses nor reasons are needed anymore. I still cared about the sweat on my hands by wiping on the blazer casually before I took her hand.
Without saying anything, she placed her palms on top of each other, interlacing her fingers. The night breeze on the beach was cool, and the body heat transmitted to the skin felt hot enough to melt even the bones.
We walked slowly to keep pace with each other's footsteps, sticking together so as not to fall.
When her shoulders suddenly met, Yukinoshita looked up at her with a smile as if she was in a good mood.
“Hey, what did you just say?
“Eh... What is this deja vu? Didn't you just ask that?”
As I said, pulling back a little, Yukinoshita put a finger on her lower chin, tilted her head slightly, and opened her eyes and made a curious face.
“Did I say something? You misheard the sound of the wind, right?”
What? I thought it was somewhere, I heard the same way of acting stupid. She grabbed my hand and wrapped her arms around her. As I was shaken by the warmth coming through the uniform, Yukinoshita tapped my shoulder and brought her face to me and whispered softly.
“So? What did you say?”
“Infinite loop….. will I be asked this for the rest of your life if I don't answer?”
“It's a question that will be asked for the rest of my life.”
Yukinoshita nodded affirmatively, happy about something, she said in a very childish voice that was more obvious and understandable than usual. Then, grunting proudly, she smiled....
As I stopped walking involuntarily in a sense of weakness, a deep sigh flowed out. Even a pathetic smile came out.
“...Then, ask me for the rest of my life. I'll probably answer it for the rest of my life.”
If I spend a lifetime, I will be able to say it without hesitation.
If I spend a lifetime, I will be able to say all the thoughts that cannot be conveyed in a single word.
I don't think anything like that will be conveyed.
It is a very vague promise that nothing is certain.
Nevertheless.
“Yeah. I'll do it for the rest of my life.”
She smiled as if it was natural, and held my arms tightly. Then, as if urging me, she started walking slowly.
We walked shoulder-to-shoulder along the long road.
The parade hasn't started yet, and it's still too early for the fireworks to be launched.
I didn't feel like waking up from my dream, and it's still too early for the magic to break.
Maybe it will go on like this forever.
That's it, for a lifetime.
As I was thinking like that, someone tugged my sleeve.
I looked up and saw that Yukinoshita had a smile that seemed to mean something.
“So? What did you say?”
“Nothing...”
I guess it's impossible to say it directly. As I said weak voice, Yukinoshita covered her mouth wwith her hand and smiled happily.
I'll probably be asked for the rest of my life.
So, no matter what time it is, my curtain call with her will never end.
(Note: Curtain call- an appearance by a performer (as after the final curtain of a play) in response to the applause of the audience.)
End
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