Chapter 57 - Summer Festival 2 (1/2)
Summer Festival 2
After having a flirting break in the dark, I walked around with Hiiragi-chan, aka Red, to look for a quiet place where the fireworks could be seen easily.
“Hmmm, there are couples everywhere.”
“It’s to be expected, everyone’s probably thinking the same thing.”
Yeah, Red chuckled to herself. She was holding a cup of lemon-flavored shaved ice as she brought a spoonful of it to the mask’s mouth, only to have it spill all over it.
“Aauu. I messed up again.”
It seems Red has gotten completely used to the mask and sometimes forgets that it’s there.
As it got closer to the start time for the fireworks, the number of people around rapidly increased. If we were to lose each other, it would probably be a pain to find each other.
“Ah. Nii-san!”
Ugeh, Sana!? Wearing yukatas, Sana and Kanata appeared directly in front of us.
Looking at Hiiragi-chan, she once again had the spoon crash into the mask. She once again failed to eat. A-alright… if she stays as Red, then it probably won’t be found out. Panicking, I covered my face with the clown mask that was on top of my head.
“Nii-san still came in the end.”
“No. I’m just a clown.”
“… Nii-san, it’s kind of late for that, you know? ”
“… Seiji-kun, you can’t escape Saa-chan with that level of a disguise.”
I accepted that and returned the mask to the top of my head.
“Rather, Sana, you still ended up coming. Even though you said you weren’t going to come.”
“K-Kana-chan said she wanted to go, so Sana is just accompanying her…”
That’s what she said, but it’s probably the opposite in reality…
“Who’s the woman next to you?”
“Eh? Aaah, this person is… just a lost Red.”
Hiiragi-chan nodded along.
“Lost despite being the leader!?”
“… That’s so sad.”
“A-and so, we were just about to look for the other members. I wonder where they got separated…”
Like a cat that was fully on guard, Kanata continued to stare at Red.
“… I feel like I’ve seen someone with that body before…”
As Kanata tried to come around the side to get a closer look, Hiiragi-chan prevented her by holding her arms up in a guard.
“… As expected of Red… really capable…!”
What are they doing?
“W-we were going to go look for a good place to watch the fireworks right now … Nii-san is probably just going to watch alone, right? I’ll let you join us, though?”
“I’ll have to pass. I more or less have a previous engagement.”
“Eh… W-with who…? It can’t be—with Red!?”
Red fidgeted around with embarrassment.
“Y-you can’t, Nii-san! Red has to w-watch with the other members!”
That was just me trying to find an excuse though, there really aren’t any other members.
“Isn’t it fine? Stop being such a busybody.”
“… Nii-san, stupid!”
“… Saa-chan, it’s okay, it’s okay.”
Kanata patted Sana-chan, who was frowning.
They really are on such good terms with each other.
“As such, I’ll be taking the lost Red to the festival’s office—”
When I turned around, Red wasn’t there anymore.
“H-hmmm? Where’s Red?”
“Ah. You’re right… did she get pulled away by the waves of people…”
“… Red… became lost again…”
“S-see you—!”
I waved my hand at the two of them, and pushed myself into the crowd.
Where did she go? She was probably just dazed off eating shaved ice, and then got lost in the crowd. Even when I tried to call her, she didn’t answer the phone. Since her phone was in her bag, it can’t be helped if she didn’t notice.
Pushing my way through the crowd to search for Red, I arrived at a clearing by the stalls.
That’s a relief, I found her. However, she was involved with 3 men. C-could this be that, the—Onee-chan why don’t you come hang out with us—kind of situation!? I-I have to pull myself together. I’m still an adult. I have to protect Hiiragi-chan.
“Ummm… this is a little troubling…”
“It’s fine, right? It’s just for a little bit!”
This is bad, it’s just like the usual template!
“But, I’m with someone right now…”
Red looked very unhappy. I have to do something…!
“Then, how about until that person comes?”
“That’s right. We have a lot of time right now.”
“Just for a little. Really, just for a little bit.”
In that moment, the three men put on three different kinds of masks.
“““—Please become our Red!!”””
What type of pickup line is that!!