The summer night air carried a scent that stirred nostalgia.
Yui walked along the festival street, trying not to trip over her yukata hem. Lanterns glowed, the smell of yakisoba wafted through the air, and the chatter of people mingled into a noise that did nothing to calm her pounding heart—if anything, it only made it beat faster.
It was their last high school summer festival. In her heart, she repeated the same words over and over: Today, for sure…
And there he was, standing in front of the goldfish scooping stall.
Wearing a black yukata, his hair slightly messy, Takato held a scoop in one hand, staring into the water. Yui’s chest tightened just from seeing his profile.
“Takato…”
He turned at her voice, looking a little surprised before flashing a smile.
“Yui, you came.”
“You too. Still doing goldfish scooping? You’re like a kid.”
“Says the one who used to do it with me all the time.”
They had been childhood friends. Back in elementary school, they used to compete at this very stall every year. Yui always lost. One summer, she even cried in frustration. But now, that memory was just sweet.
“Wanna try?”
Takato handed her another scoop.
Without a word, Yui took it and turned her eyes to the water.
Red, white, black—tails swaying gently beneath the surface.
“Hey, remember? Back in third grade, I couldn’t catch a single goldfish, and you secretly slipped one of yours into my bag?”
“Of course. You got super mad. Said, ‘I don’t need your pity!’”
Yui chuckled.
“Still… I was happy. I never forgot it.”
Her scoop glided across the water, and a tiny goldfish floated onto it.
“Nice one!”
“…Yeah. I feel like things might go well today.”
As she transferred the goldfish into the plastic bag, she looked up gently. The fireworks would begin soon. She could feel time scratching at her chest as it passed.
“Takato, your first-choice university’s in Tokyo, right?”
“Yeah. Yours too, right? Literature department?”
“…Yeah. But… I might not apply.”
“What? Why?”
She couldn’t answer. What she really wanted to say was stuck in her throat.
Just then, the sky lit up for a moment.
The first firework exploded. Boom—its sound rippled as people looked up to the sky.
Yui looked straight at Takato.
“I’ve liked you. All this time.”
Takato turned toward her, surprised. But just then, the second firework exploded, its sound swallowing everything.
Her heart pounded louder than the fireworks.
“Sorry, I didn’t catch that. What did you say?”
Yui smiled faintly.
“…It’s a secret.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“The hint’s in the number of goldfish and the timing of the fireworks.”
“That’s way too hard.”
“Then I’ll show you the answer. Next summer—come here again.”
Takato stared at her for a moment, then smiled, a little shyly.
“…Okay. Next summer, right here. I promise.”
That night, a silent promise swayed gently between them—inside the little bag of goldfish.
It might still be unrequited love.
But it was a feeling that had clearly begun to move.
