There was only a thin wisp of white some in the night sky. I hear an announcement announcing the end of the fireworks display and the extraordinary returns to normal life.
Looking down a bit, I can see that a wave of people has already formed in the free area.
「I don’t think we can leave yet.」
「I guess so.」
Mei’s right hand is entangled with my left hand. The magic of fireworks has ended but the important things remain. That’s what I thought while I glanced at Mei. I glanced at her as she was glancing at me, we smiled at each other.
「In the end, it’s exactly as Mei said.」
「Hey, don’t say that! It’s embarrassing!」
It must have been almost 20minuts later. Finally, I could see the end of the wave of people so I left the paid area while holding Mei’s hand and walked to the end of the wave.
The stalls on the main street we had passed on our way here were just starting to clear out and we could see a completely different scene than before. The smell of burnt butter and sauces and the sweet smell of cotton candy are still there though.
「The festival is over but the stalls are still fresh.」
「This is something I don’t usually see. It’s going to be hard to clean them up, isn’t it?」
「That’s true. And it will be very late when they’re done.」
「It’s probably already half past nine so they might take until the sun rises. I can’t say for sure though.」
Further on, we came to the street leading to the station. There was still a lot of traffic here but not as much as on the way here.
「It was so crowded on the way to the station that you would thought it’s far but it’s really close.」
「Well, normally, it would take less than five minutes.」
「Right」
However, only if you’re using comfortable footwear. I’m using sandals and even if I want to go faster, Mei is using clogs so I can’t.
I slowed down a bit so that Mei wouldn’t have to worry about me.
The stalls of the convenience store that had been selling yakitori, cotton candy, and drinks on the sidewalk had been cleared and the restaurant clerk had been talking while putting the closed sign on their door.
I was chatting with Mei as I looked along the street and before I knew it, we’re already at the station.
After the peak of the crowd, we boarded the train, which was as empty as a Sunday night, and sat down.
「Come to think of it, there’s something I wanted to ask you.」
「What?」
「What’s with your punishment game confession?」
I’ve been wondering about this for a while and now that I’ve asked it, Mei’s face turns redder than before.
「Ah, is it hard to say? You don’t have to force yourself to…」
「The punishment game was to confess to the person you like!」
Before I could finish talking, Mei replied. I felt my face become hot.
What? So, you already liked me back then? That means I was unnecessarily cautious?
Remembering Mei’s words and actions from early spring, it certainly makes sense. Ah, what a detour. If I had just accepted her honestly, it wouldn’t have had to go this far.
「Can I ask you a question too?」
「What is it?」
As I said that, the train arrived at the station we have to go down to. The doors opened and the summer air flowed into the air-conditioned train. We had to get off so I took Mei’s hand and walked down to the platform.
「The timing sucks.」
「Yeah. So, are you going to go straight home?」
「At this time, there’s no longer bus so I have to walk. It’s not that far.」
「Okay, I’ll walk you home.」
I placed the IC card on the automatic ticket gate and exited the gate. We walk to the bus stop though there’s no bus.
「School will start tomorrow. You don’t have to walk me home.」
「No, it’s already late at night and I’m the one who invited you. It would be strange if I don’t walk home.」
When I said so, Mei began to walk without saying anything.
「So, what do you want to ask?」
「Ah, yeah.」
When we were a little further away from the station, I asked her what she wanted to know.
「Let’s talk about what happened on the roof. How did Souta come up with the idea of a punishment game? It’s not something you would normally think of.」
「Yeah, that’s because when I was in junior high school, something similar happened.」
「Eh?」
「That’s what they did to me in junior high school. Punishment game confession or calling the other party that never came at all.」
The face I had encountered before the fireworks show flickered in my mind but when I saw my left hand holding Mei’s I pushed it out of my mind.
「Sorry」
「No, you don’t have to apologize.」
Then, we turned to a corner and saw Mei’s house.
「We’re here.」
「Yeah, thank you for sending me home.」
「Yeah, good night.」
「Wait a minute.」
I let her hand go but Mei suddenly grabbed the sleeve of my newly freed hand.
「What’s up」
「I had a good time today」
Mei suddenly moved close to me, I could smell her sweet scent. The next moment, I felt something light and soft on my cheek.
「Se-see you tomorrow」
After saying that, Mei ran into her house.
I was stunned with what she did and I could only touch my cheeks while feeling like I’m floating.
AN: Thank you very much for your continued support. It’s thanks to you that I managed to make it this far.
The story of Souta and Mei, who started going out, is depicted in the new series, “That Time I Started Going Out with the Beautiful Gyaru Who Confessed to Me because of a Punishment Game”.
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7517gc/ If you’re interested in reading more about the two of them, please visit!
There was also the option of just continuing this story and I was torn between the two but I decided to end it here for now since their relationship has progressed.
Lastly, I have an announcement.
A doujinshi with significant additions and corrections to this work will be released at the end of this month. Details will be posted on my twitter, https://twitter.com/yoi_syousetu, so if you’re interested, please check it out! You can see the cover page now.
TN: I’ll translate two more extra chapters. It’s about how Souta and Mei met and how she fell in love with him.