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V5 Chapter 20: Taking a Step Forward
🕑 Added 2025-06-17 10:28:14 +0000 UTC"Mm…"
Holding her phone and standing still, Takamatsu Tomori looked like a lost little animal, unsure of where to go.
She had separated from Taki, who was worried about her, to try and meet Kessoku Band. But by the time she reached the backstage area, the performance had already ended, and the band had left.
With that, she was left without a goal, without a direction.
Now what?
She'd come all this way to the festival, yet she hadn't achieved anything. She had spoken so boldly about wanting to keep everyone together forever, but here she was… unchanged.
Feeling lost and helpless, Tomori could only stare blankly near the entrance of the festival.
"Mn!"
Suddenly, a cool sensation touched her neck.
Startled, she let out a cute little yelp and turned around, only to meet a pair of kind, squinting black eyes. Kazami Haru smiled at her, holding up a popsicle he'd quietly snuck up with.
Meeting the same person twice at the same festival, Haru didn't call that a coincidence. It felt more like fate.
If I start counting prime numbers now, will I actually go to heaven?
"Want a taste?"
He smiled brightly, and Tomori blinked in surprise.
He'd been about to message Soyo and Anon, but when he spotted this lost little penguin of a girl looking so unsure, he couldn't bring himself to leave her alone.
"H-Haru… why are you suddenly here…?"
"I was heading up toward the temple to get a better view of the fireworks. Then I just so happened to spot this sad-looking Tomori, so I came over. Hope you don't mind the interruption?"
He casually tore open the wrapper, inside were two pale blue popsicles stuck together.
"N-not at all! I don't feel interrupted…"
Tomori shook her head hard, worried she'd be misunderstood. Before she could say more, one of the popsicles was gently handed to her.
Haru didn't know why she looked so down, but in moments like this, just being a quiet listener was enough.
"…Thank you."
She licked the popsicle gently. The chill and soft mint flavor refreshed her, though her gaze stayed somewhat downcast.
Because there was one thing she couldn't tell Haru…
Her dream of forming a band that would last forever.
It felt selfish, but she couldn't bear the thought of losing people again.
Haru, of course, noticed the shift in her mood. After biting off a chunk of his own popsicle, he spoke up out of nowhere.
"Tomori, do you have time later?"
"…I don't really have any other plans."
"Then come watch the fireworks with me."
He said it with a tone that left no room for doubt.
The word fireworks made her blink in surprise. But because it was Haru asking, she nodded almost instinctively. Something about him just made her never want to say no.
Fireworks… huh?
…
Even though all the band performances were over, the festival grounds were still buzzing with visitors.
It wasn't nearly as packed as before, but to avoid getting separated again, Haru firmly held Tomori's hand this time.
As long as you keep walking, the road will always keep going.
As long as they never let go, they wouldn't lose each other.
So warm…
Tomori stared at her hand being held.
Warmth and a rhythmic heartbeat flowed gently from Haru's palm. It was such a simple, pure feeling that time and her surroundings seemed to fade away.
It felt like the world was just the two of them.
I wish we could stay like this forever.
"Tomori? Tomori?"
Haru's voice brought her back to reality.
She looked around. Somehow, they'd already climbed to the temple near the mountain. The long staircase she'd just climbed was behind her, and nearby tourists were chatting excitedly.
Seeing her dazed look, Haru couldn't help but smile.
"I messaged Anon and Soyo already. They should be heading up here soon."
"Soyo-chan… and Anon-chan? Together?"
Tomori blinked, stunned. That felt surreal.
Ever since their last live, Soyo had changed. She stopped pretending to be the gentle "mom" figure. She wasn't always smiling anymore, especially not around Anon.
But to Tomori, this real version of Soyo seemed more… human.
Soyo had many versions of herself inside, blending and clashing together. That mixture of colors felt like what it meant to be human.
"…Haru, what do you think of everyone now?"
"That's a sudden question."
Leaning on the railing, Haru looked up at the sky. A warm summer breeze ruffled his black hair.
He seemed to understand what Tomori was thinking.
"We're all hurt, confused kids. Trying to stop hiding how we feel. Because we've stopped avoiding each other, we've become the kind of friends who can share pain and keep walking."
"Confused kids…"
Tomori seemed to understand. She raised her head gently.
She tightened her grip on Haru's hand. Her amber eyes gleamed like she was confirming something, and with a serious little pout, she spoke:
"MyGO."
"Huh?"
"The band name…"
Seeing her so serious and adorably blank, Haru froze, then took a sharp breath.
Wait… it's been two months—
Two whole months! That's enough time to fight five or six Holy Grail Wars! And they still hadn't named the band?!
BOOM!!!
A firework burst suddenly overhead.
Brilliant lights painted the sky, crisscrossing like glowing threads. Orange-red sparks shimmered across the lake like molten stars.
Tomori's wide, clear eyes glistened as her breath caught. Everything around her blurred.
"Fireworks are like flowers… warm and beautiful, but like shooting stars, they bloom for just a moment and disappear. Life is like that… short and fragile. If you don't seize the moment with the people you treasure… they'll vanish."
The silver-haired girl stared blankly at the sky, her voice calm but quietly mournful. It was as if she were whispering to herself or speaking of something deeply personal.
Her delicate heart was clouded, quietly wrapped in sadness.
Standing beside her, Kazami Haru's lips twitched slightly as he watched the fireworks light up the night sky with a knowing look.
Uh-oh...
Maybe it was just from spending too much time with her, but he suddenly felt like he could understand Tomori's unique, "wavelength-like" way of thinking.
But being able to tune into her wavelength also meant Haru could sense the feelings she was hiding. So in that moment, he took a deep breath and said quietly, "Then hold on to it tight in your hands. Don't let any moment slip away."
"Mm?"
Tomori blinked up at him. The fireworks reflected softly in her eyes like golden light.
Hold on to it…?
"Geez! This is all Soyorin's fault! We kept stopping and starting, and now we're late!"
"If—if you hadn't insisted on stopping at all those booths, we'd have been here way earlier!"
"Says the one who secretly bought stuff herself!"
Just as Tomori was about to say something, a sudden rush of panting voices reached her ears.
She and Haru turned their heads in unison to see Chihaya Anon, her long pink hair glistening with sweat, breathing lightly as she complained to Nagasaki Soyo.
Compared to Anon's light panting, Soyo dressed in a mature, elegant dress was really out of breath.
Good thing she didn't wear a yukata today. If she'd had to climb in wooden sandals, it'd have been a disaster. As a young lady from the Tsukinomori family, Soyo wasn't exactly built for endurance.
The sudden exertion left her lovely face flushed and glowing, sweat beading on her brow, her chest heaving slightly with every breath, visibly more seductive in contrast to the carefree Anon.
Dangerous. Haru silently braced himself. Good thing he'd trained his mind to withstand beautiful girl attacks.
"Soyo-chan, Anon-chan?" Tomori spoke gently, drawing the attention of both girls.
"Eh?! Tomori, you're here too? Wait…"
Anon's eyes locked onto Haru and Tomori's joined hands and her face froze for a second before she forced herself to play it cool.
It's probably just to keep from getting lost, right?
She had just barely survived the critical damage from Mutsumi's surprise hug earlier, so compared to that, a little hand-holding felt relatively minor.
Still, she couldn't help the flare of jealousy rising in her chest, especially knowing how Haru doted on Tomori. She was about to run over and take his other side—
But Soyo beat her to it.
"Sorry, we got a little delayed… but it looks like we still made it."
"I ran into Tomori along the way, so we came together. Looks like the fireworks are just starting."
As Haru explained, Soyo's eyes flickered subtly.
She walked up to the railing as if she hadn't seen them holding hands, wearing her usual soft smile. Even seeing Tomori's close proximity didn't make her react. Her jealousy and lingering feelings were buried deep within.
But the truth was, she already knew.
Everyone in MyGO liked Haru. Seeing Tomori like this came as no surprise.
Her husband was just that charming.
Being adored by girls was inevitable. Soyo, who had long considered herself "the wife," had worked through her jealousy many times—in her dreams, and even in real life.
And because of that, she'd become… more tolerant.
If her husband got a little close to other girls, she could let it go. Hugs, head pats—fine, as long as they were girls she approved of.
"Fireworks are so pretty~" Soyo murmured softly, twirling her fingers through her silky hair.
But jealousy was still jealousy. She would get it all back from her flirt of a husband later. No way would she let him off the hook so easily.
With a soft smile hiding her evil thoughts, she suddenly pulled something from her bag. "By the way~ Haru, as thanks for all your help lately… this is for you."
"I won't say no… Huh?"
Haru blinked at the small gift bag Soyo handed him. One glance inside, and he saw a brand-new leather wallet.
He looked up in shock, locking eyes with her.
Wait a sec… is she trying to… sponsor me?!
Sure, he'd been overspending lately and had to work two jobs to survive but if this rich heiress was trying to win him over with "spoiling" tactics, Haru would firmly, righteously refuse.
He had his pride!
"I just thought something practical would be nice. I noticed your wallet was getting old, and I spotted this one at a festival booth."
"In that case, thank you. I really like it, Soyo."
Unlike Haru's calm acceptance, Anon stood nearby, eyes wide in disbelief.
Of all things, she gave him a personal item he'll carry every day?!
You really think you're a devoted wife now?! You fake-smiling brown-haired fox!
"Mm…"
Tomori stood beside them, silently watching Anon and Soyo. She glanced up at the disappearing fireworks above.
Letting out a long breath, she turned to the black-haired boy beside her.
Soyo and Anon could joke and banter like this now because Haru had worked so hard to bring them back together but they both liked him, just like she did.
And because of that… someone would inevitably get hurt.
Maybe the group would split up again and Tomori feared that more than anything.
Fireworks vanish at the speed of light, 300 million meters per second. In less than fifteen minutes, all their dazzling beauty disappeared.
As the lake returned to calm and the sky darkened, Haru's phone buzzed in his pocket.
He didn't need to look to know it was Nijika.
Kessoku Band's afterparty was about to begin.
"We're having a celebration for tonight's live. Tomori, Soyo—do you want to come too?"
"Afterparty?"
Soyo blinked, momentarily surprised.
She glanced at Anon, who was smugly raising her chin like she'd just scored a victory. Soyo squinted coldly, quickly reading the situation.
"…Sorry, Haru."
"I'd love to come, but it's getting pretty late."
Haru nodded understandingly.
Anon, as the "fashion director," and Tomori, already friendly with the Kessoku Band girls, naturally fit in at a party like this.
But for Soyo, who didn't know the others as well, it was a different story.
Reluctantly, she declined.
She didn't love the idea of Anon going alone, but with smart and calm Kita Ikuyo there, she figured the pink menace couldn't cause too much chaos.
"Aww, Soyorin, that's too bad~ fufufu…"
Anon tilted her head, all smug smiles.
Soyo forced a serene, wifely smile… which immediately turned into something much darker.
Anon flinched.
Terrifying. Soyorin's smile is terrifying!
Did I just get too full of myself? Am I going to end up chopped up like Itou Makoto?!
"Anyway, Tomori, do you want to come?"
Haru turned to her. She slowly came back to her senses.
If you don't seize the moment… it'll be gone in a flash.
No matter what, she had to try.
She had to move forward.
"...Yes."
