Epilogue
The last day of summer vacation. As the sun sets, the lingering heat begins to soften.
Stepping into the garden, I feel the cool breeze drying my sweat while preparing for fireworks. Ideally, we’d have gone to a festival, but with scheduling conflicts and the need to avoid public attention, we settled for doing fireworks in the garden, surrounded by block walls as tall as me.
While setting up a bucket of water and trash bags, I hear cheerful voices from my right and look up.
“…Onii, thanks for all the effort for us.”
“Kazuto-oniichan! Look, look!”
Sliding open the glass door, Risuzu and Nonoa-chan appear. Both have changed into yukata.
Risuzu wears a black yukata with a red obi. White patterns are drawn on it—jagged curves and distorted ovals with two round holes… wait, those are skulls. A skull yukata.
The spine and skeleton are designed in a stylish way. She’s wearing something incredible.
It’s beyond chuunibyou at this point. I question her sense of taste in a different way from Nana.
Nonoa-chan wears a white yukata with a black obi. Red goldfish swim freely among water plants drawn in pale blue. It’s cute.
Both hold traditional sandals, sitting on the engawa to put them on.
(TL note: An engawa is an edging strip of non-tatami-matted flooring in Japanese architecture)
“…We can only play inside the house. If Onii weren’t here, we could play outside too.”
“—Ugh. That’s… sorry.”
“…If Onii became a girl, there’d be no problem.”
“That’s not happening.”
“Kazuto-oniichan’s wearing normal clothes, huh!”
At Nonoa-chan’s comment, I glance down at my outfit. A shirt and shorts. Total loungewear.
“This is fine for guys.”
“…Isn’t it just because you’re too lazy to change?”
Risuzu shoots me a half-lidded, lukewarm stare. …She’s spot-on, and I can’t argue back.
“…You’re lucky, Onii. Not many regular people get to enjoy fireworks with two popular idols and an angel.”
Not just rare—I’m probably the only one.
I mutter to myself while watching the two excitedly open the fireworks set.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Ah—”
Emerging from the house onto the engawa is Rinka, dressed in a yukata. The moment I see her, I’m speechless.
A navy-blue yukata with a white obi. White and purple morning glories bloom vibrantly. Her hair, tied at the back, is secured with a hairpiece, styled in a refined updo.
A pure, cool-type idol. As Rinka’s fan, I’m utterly at a loss for words.
“Kazuto?”
“…He’s mesmerized by Rinka-san’s yukata. Run now. This guy’s about to pounce on her.”
“If my beloved husband pounces on me, I’d be happy.”
“…Do you even understand what ‘pounce’ means…?”
Rinka presses her lips tightly, her face resolute, and spreads both arms toward me.
Risuzu, watching this, looks blatantly exasperated and says,
“…Morning glory vines wrap tightly around poles and never let go, right…”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Stop it.”
That’s kinda scary…
“How’s my yukata?”
“Cute. So cute it’s making my head spin. I want to keep looking at you forever.”
“Tch, to that extent…! Honestly, my husband is hopeless.”
“…It’s not your head spinning—it’s your rationality, isn’t it? You can’t push down Rinka-san while she’s recovering.”
“Stop teasing. I’m gonna get mad.”
“…Angel, help!”
“Nnh?”
Nonoa-chan, hugged by Risuzu, looks confused and tilts her head. What are they doing…
☆
The fireworks set I bought has a lot of handheld ones. They’re colorful and varied, but honestly, I can’t tell the difference. Labels like “Spark” or “Color-Changing Fireworks!” are written, but…
“…Nonoa-chan, I’ll light them. Be careful of your sleeves.”
“Okay!”
Holding a lit candle and a few fireworks, Risuzu takes Nonoa-chan to a corner of the garden near Choki-Choki III’s grave. Left behind, Rinka sits on the engawa, her lips softly curved as she watches them, exuding a guardian-like aura.
I crouch down, rummaging through the fireworks set on the ground.
“There’s so many types of fireworks. This is my first time looking at them like this.”
I’ve never watched fireworks with family, let alone done them.
I pick up each one, checking them out with a fresh sense of curiosity.
“Last year, we watched fireworks together on that black plain.”
“Not just last year. Every year since we met.”
“That’s right. This year… we’re together in real life.”
I never dreamed a day like this would come. No way I could’ve.
I take a handheld firework (labeled “Spark”), bring it to the candle’s flame, and light it.
It hisses and starts shooting out colorful sparks.
This is my first real-life firework. I was actually nervous until the moment it lit.
“Whoa, cool! Look, Rinka, fireworks are so pretty.”
“…”
“Rinka?”
“Which is prettier, the fireworks or your wife?”
“You’re jealous of fireworks!?”
While saying that, the fire goes out. Is that it?
I crouch to pick another from the set on the ground.
“Rinka, let’s do it together.”
“Sure.”
Rinka stands from the engawa and walks over, crouching right beside me. She’s close. Our shoulders brush, and I can hear her breathing.
“Just for a moment, don’t move.”
“Huh—”
I freeze on instinct.
The next moment—something soft touches my left cheek.
That softness is something my lips have felt before—
“Uh, Rinka-san?”
“Oh, what’s that?”
“Just now—”
“Let’s do the next firework.”
She pretends nothing happened, staring at the fireworks set.
But her cheeks are bright red. She’s keeping her cool face, but that was way too sudden.
We grab the next firework, but I’m still reeling from the kiss on my cheek.
Our eyes meet briefly, and flustered by how close our faces are, we look away at the same time.
Our gazes land on Risuzu and the others, having fun.
They’re actually enjoying the fireworks, unlike us.
Feeling the stark difference in vibe, Rinka speaks quietly.
“As long as you’re here, Kazuto… I can keep going.”
“You’re not pushing yourself too hard?”
“I’m not. I’m not, but when I’m exhausted… I sometimes forget why I’m trying so hard. But having you by my side calms my heart, and I can find myself again. I return to my roots. The people cheering for me, the ones who gain energy from watching me—knowing they’re out there is reason enough for me to keep going.”
As if her worries have lifted, Rinka’s face is clear and radiant.
“I’ll always be by your side. Even if we can’t meet in real life… I’ll be there in the game.”
“Thank you. That’s the bond of husband and wife.”
“…”
“Why the silence?”
Rinka’s sharp gaze pierces my cheek. Husband and wife is a bit much, isn’t it?
I’m not denying it.
I just want to take it slow, step by step, as lovers.
To build peaceful days like today, little by little. That’s all.
“I hope we can keep having times like this.”
“We will. Always.”
As a gaming addict, there’s not much I can do.
But there are things only I can do.
Through this experience, I’ve realized what my role is.
And what I want to do—
“…Onii, be grateful. I’m appointing you fire-lighter. Oh, and trash cleaner.”
“Kazuto-oniichan, light the fire!”
Risuzu and Nonoa-chan approach, shamelessly tossing their requests at me.
“Then I’ll ask you to light mine too. And not just the fireworks—my heart as well…”
“Sorry, I don’t get it.”
I sigh but reply with a reluctant “Fine, fine” as I give in.
Looks like all I’m good for right now… is being the errand boy (sobs).
