Chapter Text
After walking along the festival aisle, the kitsune masks they had bought earlier were hanging in their hands and Suo was still holding the small goldfish in plastic.
Not long after. Umemiya suddenly stopped.
“Eh. Isn’t that…”
From the left, a familiar voice was heard:
“SUO!!!”
Suo turned around and saw Nirei and Sakura running towards them with their faces filled with worry and relief.
"Where are you going?! We went around a festival looking for you, you know!" Nirei continued to pull Suo's arm, examining him like a mother.
Suo replied with a smiling face.
“Got lost earlier.”
Sakura wanted to kick Suo but luckily Anzai came from behind and held Sakura back.
Nirei, who was looking out of the corner of his eye, saw Umemiya.
"Eh eh… wait. You got lost… with Umemiya-san?"
Suo froze. “…It was a coincidence.”
Sakura glanced at both of them — spotting their matching masks.
Anzai’s expression turned suspicious.
“OH HO???” Anzai said while looking at Suo.
“They’re wearing… matching masks???” Sakura asked, confused
Umemiya smiled as he waved his hand. "Yo~ We met when we were both lost earlier."
Nirei: "Either lost... but managed to buy a matching mask and catch a goldfish?"
Suo quickly thought of a sentence. "It's not like that..."
Sakura: “Secret date, huh?”
Suo is getting redder. "NO!! Not date—!"
SUDDENLY—
“GUYSS!!! WE’VE FOUND THAT LOST PERSON!!”
A loud voice came from the right.
Tsubaki, Hiiragi, the upperclassmen gang and Kotoha were walking quickly towards them.
Mizuki: "Finally found you! Umemiya Hajime, where did you disappear to, huh?!"
Hiiragi (while taking gastric medicine): "You're not causing any illegal trouble, right ?"
Umemiya raised his hand. "Sorry, sorry~" while smiling.
Tsubaki looked at the situation in front of him… and shook his head.
"Okay. I don't know who's the biggest plot twist right now... but look at the two of them standing side by side, holding the same mask, one goldfish, and blushing faces — hmm."
“MINI DATE CONFIRMED.” Seiryu raised his hand like a judge.
Mizuki: "I can feel a strong bond here... but you two are still in the denial stage."
Kotoha, who was beside them, just laughed at the senpais behavior.
Momose (in the deadpannest tone): “Pray for them.”
Suo: "Please don't do this in front of people..." He was holding back his embarrassment in front of his friends and senpais.
Suddenly the shishitoren gang arrived.
Choji suddenly appeared from the side of the takoyaki stall. “Eh! Everyone is here? Why are so many people looking at Patchy and Ume-chan?”
Togame (from behind): “They said… dating in silence.”
Wanijima: “Romance plot reveal live” Jokingly.
Arima (taking a picture): "Good lighting. Save it for the wedding slideshow later." while joking.
Suo: “I want to go home…”
He smiled in defeat.
Umemiya chuckled as he said, "Relax.They're just joking.."
——-
After they found the two lost people, they finally started moving towards the festival exit.
The sky still had the remains of fireworks. The paper lanterns swayed slowly in the night wind.
The sounds of laughter, giggles, and teasing continued throughout the journey back.
Suo walked while bowing slightly, still keeping the goldfish in the plastic. The white mask hung on his wrist. And the red bracelet was still gripped tightly in his hand.
Umemiya walked next to him, occasionally glancing up and smiling to himself. Didn't say much... but the walk wasn't far from Suo either.
Sakura was making noise because Yuri keep replaying videos of him chasing people.
Tsugeura gets chased by a little boy for wearing an oni mask.
Kiryu & Sugishita shared cotton candy because "they don't have enough money anymore".
Kurita and Anzai were talking behind the scenes with Mizuki and Momose.
Tsubaki, Kotoha, Seiryu and Uryu exchanged the keychains they had won earlier at the game booth.
Nirei held the hand fan that he had bought before returning while smiling at everyone.
And all from Shishitoren too Return with a heart full…
Full of stories.