<b>Once we got outside the sky opened up. Now it was a little clearer.</b>
<b>It also made the beautiful icon of the town, Mt. Hyousei, visible. </b>
<b>It’s a familiar sight for us, but it’s rare for the tourists, so a lot of them were taking pictures with cameras or their smartphones.</b>
<b>It was also a dry day, there was only a little snow in the morning. So it’s not that cold. </b>
<b>I even had to take off my jacket because it was getting too hot.</b>
<b>“Ah! This Takoyaki doesn’t have octopus in it!.”</b>
<b>Okamoto-san made a ruckus. Immediately after chewing into the Takoyaki plate shared by us 4.</b>
<b>“Eh? It doesn’t.’</b>
<b>“Bo. . .Me too. . .”</b>
<b>Natsumi-chan then looked down at hers.</b>
<b>“Am I the only one? Hmm- – -Do you want to exchange?”</b>
<b>“Haha. Don’t worry about it.”</b>
<b>“But, my yakisoba is at least delicious.”</b>
<b>Fujisaki-san then offered some to Natsumi-chan.</b>
<b>In addition to that, the girls also shared the sauce for the takoyaki and Yakisoba.</b>
<b>It kind of feels like an indirect kiss. I don’t know if my heart is ready for it.</b>
<b>The exception to this rule was my shaved ice cone.</b>
<b>They were saying I was mad for getting it. Which makes sense for this weather.</b>
<b>“It was fun, wasn’t it?”</b>
<b>As the shops started to cool down, the end of the festival was closing in.</b>
<b>I certainly enjoyed our time here, so it is sad to see it end.</b>
<b>Everyone was about to return home, there was a wave of people going towards the exit.</b>
<b>We simply followed the crowd and left.</b>
<b>Leaving the festive center, staff members said “Goodbye, please come again.”</b>
<b>“Should we have an after party?”</b>
<b>Immediately Fujisaki-san interjected.</b>
<b>“Yeah! Is everybody else down?”</b>
<b>Okamoto-san then looked at Natsumi-chan and I.</b>
<b>“Yeah, that sounds good.”</b>
<b>Natsumi-chan then nodded.</b>
<b>“Yukiya-chan?”</b>
<b>I was about to go home. But then the peer pressure came.</b>
<b>Although I’m not forced, it’s hard to say no to those expecting eyes.</b>
<b>Whatever, It’s still bright outside, I have time.</b>
<b>We walked out of the venue, until we arrived at a snack bar run by Okamoto’s aunt.</b>
<b>“We can use it until the evening.”</b>
<b>Before we opened the iron door, there was a sign giving the name to the shop. “Okamoto’s Snacks.” </b>
<b>It’s a quiet clean shop, with a cozy vibe. A counter and sofa for adults to sit by, along with a bar.</b>
<b>There is a small disco ball on the ceiling, but it’s not on right now.</b>
<b>Sake bottles also coated the walls behind the bar.</b>
<b>Along with karaoke equipment and a big screen TV set up at a small stage.</b>
<b>“Wow, it’s beautiful.”</b>
<b>“It’s very fashionable- – -”</b>
<b>Certainly there is a commitment to decoration and cleanliness.</b>
<b>It is a shop run by a woman.</b>
<b>“Everybody, get comfy.”</b>
<b>We all sat on the fluffy sofa. . .</b>
<b>“We can use it until around 6 pm. Oh put your coats over there.”</b>
<b>She then pointed to a nearby coat rack.</b>
<b>And. . .When I took off my coat, it became apparent the difference in girlishness from our clothes. </b>
<b>All of their clothes were carefully picked, and fashionable.</b>
<b>My clothes were picked out by my father and mother, simply at the clothing section at the supermarket. And it is clearly inferior. . .</b>
<b>The design is kind of dry.</b>
<b>And it doesn’t match.</b>
<b>How do I. . .get like that?</b>
<b>Nowadays, fashion information can be gathered online, so even if you live in the countryside, it doesn’t mean you are ignorant.</b>
<b>And I’m supposed to be familiar, because I’m supposed to be from Tokyo.</b>
<b>Plus to what extent am I supposed to play the part?</b>
<b>Generally, you’d want to be cute, right? But it would be painful for me to hear that, because of who I once was.</b>
<b>They prepared the karaoke set, while also operating the remote control to set it up.</b>
<b>And then- – –</b>
<b>Opened juices and sweets brought in from the snack bar. Karaoke while drinking and eating.</b>
<b>“Next, I’m next!”</b>
<b>“What song?”</b>
<b>She then handed Natsumi the mic.</b>
<b>I wasn’t singing, simply listening to them.</b>
<b>“One to sing with Yukiya-chan too?”</b>
<b>“Aah, I know!”</b>
<b>I don’t know what is happening, but this my first time at karaoke.</b>
<b>My father was originally from the city, but we never went together to a place like this.</b>
<b>To be honest, I wasn’t interested either.</b>
<b>Excuse me. . . It’s an anime song.</b>
<b>“A,Ah- -”</b>
<b>I was dragged up and handed a mic as the music began to pom pom pom.</b>
<b>Everyone was looking at me, knowing I wasn’t used to this.</b>
<b>Well I might as well go with the flow. </b>
<b>”Fuu. . .”</b>
<b>I hit my peak. I’m tired.</b>
<b>I was then met with applause.</b>
<b>“That was amazing!”</b>
<b>“Yukiya-chan is really good at this.”</b>
<b>I guess it’s better than nothing.</b>
<b>In a sense, it’s nice to have something you’re good at. </b>
<b>So I guess that’s alright.</b>
<b>And then.- – –</b>
<b>Karaoke ended, and it was chatting time. </b>
<b>And I was completely alienated.</b>
<b>I wish I had a friend here to relate to.</b>
<b>It was about food topics, fashion, TV and internet drama.</b>
<b>But the conversation quickly changed.</b>
<b>And expected of our age. The primary conversation was love.</b>
<b>“There was an Onii-san at the credit union window, he is working part time there, and when I came to withdraw money, he was super charming. He has a very nice and tender atmosphere.”</b>
<b>“Well- -, Sometimes people at the counters purposely act like that.”</b>
<b>Do none of the boys their age catch their eyes? What are they doing. . ?</b>
<b>“What about you, Yukiya-chan?”</b>
<b>Then the arrow was shot at me.</b>
<b>“Eh?”</b>
<b>“Yukiya-chan has been transferred to the school for almost a month now, so did you find a boy you’re interested in?”</b>
<b>“Eh, haha. . .”</b>
<b>I wagered on playing it dumb, and hoping they will move on.</b>
<b>“I-I’m interested too!”</b>
<b>“I want to hear!”</b>
<b>Then all eyes were concentrated on me at once.</b>
<b>“Look, you know, I’m in love with the Takanashi-Senpai, the volleyball captain. So I want to know your answer~. And, I was constantly asked who is your type because I’m friends with you, and if you’re dating anybody~”</b>
<b>“Haha. . .”</b>
<b>What? Who is asking that?</b>
<b>I had no choice but to awkwardly smile. Also you like the notorious senpai that immediately puts his hands on any cute girl. . ?</b>
<b>“Third years are going to graduate, so this is our last chance to attack. In addition to that, there are other boys you could probe at. They are always interested.”</b>
<b>“You’d need to start the fight.” </b>
<b>“But that’s. . .”</b>
<b>I’m having a hard time coming up with answers from all the pressure.</b>
<b>“You aren’t interested in any senpai?”</b>
<b>How do I end this conversation?</b>
<b>“Ah, Yeah. . .That’s right.”</b>
<b>I then shook my head vigorously. </b>
<b>“A-Ah. My condolences to all the Senpai out there.”</b>
<b>“Then who?”</b>
<b>Ugh, it doesn’t end. . .Why do they care so much?</b>
<b>“You are always with Tomonori, aren’t you? He is quite popular.”</b>
<b>“I mean I don’t hate him. . .”</b>
<b>He is my childhood best friend. Of course I want to hang out with him.</b>
<b>It doesn’t mean I like him like that. . .</b>
<b>“Ohh~ I see. You didn’t deny it~”</b>
<b>“Is that so? Tomonori-kun and Yukiya-chan. . ?” I heard in a whisper.</b>
<b>“Yukiya-chan, is that true?”</b>
<b>Even Natsumi-chan is surprised.</b>
<b>“I-If so, then I’ll support you. . .”</b>
<b>No, I can’t have this be a misunderstanding.</b>
<b>“No it’s not true. It’s not like that- – -We are really just friends. . .”</b>
<b>“Is that so?”</b>
<b>The rumor could spread.</b>
<b>However the girls then nodded, arbitrarily believing what they wanted.</b>
<b>“But if you are aiming for Tomonori-kun. Your opponent will be tough.”</b>
<b>“Huh?”</b>
<b>That completely took me off guard.</b>
<b>“After all, your opponent would be Hikura Kouko.”</b>
<b>“Huhhhhh? What!?!”</b>
<b>“You two are both interested in Tomonori.”</b>
<b>“Yeah, it’s pretty obvious when they were together.”</b>
<b>It’s the first time I heard this. She is really aiming for that lewd man?- – –</b>
<b>If that bastard gets close to him, that would mean death for Tomonori- – –</b>
<b>“No good! I have to stop that!”</b>
<b>I stood up from the sofa.</b>
<b>“Oh, a fierce love rival.”</b>
<b>“It’s not like that.”</b>
<b>Despite that terrible news, and my new fighting spirit, the cheerful innocent laughter then came.</b>
<b>“Tomonori-kun needs to step up, especially with both of the schools heroines at his hands- -~”</b>
<b>“It’s not like that.”</b>
<b>And with that, the snow festival came to an end.</b>
<b>It was pretty safe this year, but some families that were supposed to go home were still looking around the town.</b>
<b>They were looking for souvenirs or dining at restaurants in the after show of the festival.</b>
<b>There were also some trucks there for demolition work.</b>
<b>“Welcome home, Yukiya.”</b>
<b>“Oh, Welcome home.”</b>
<b>When I returned home, my father and mother seemed busy making preparations.</b>
<b>Oh, there was a reservation made for a banquet.</b>
<b>And just like that, relax mode was canceled.</b>
<b>I have some late work tonight.</b>
<b>I’ll just have to make sure I remember to deal with Tomonori later.</b>
<b>Here is a quick release, don’t expect this pace. I don’t know if I can keep it up. </b>
<b>But I’m a big fan of this new dynamic. The fact that Yukiya actually just wants to save her best friend from the succubus of a Yuki Onna can lead to a lot of interesting interactions and misunderstandings. I’m looking forward to how this goes. And I wonder how Natsumi really feels about this?</b>