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The Summer Festival was in full bloom. The streets were lined with food vendors and booths selling toys and trinkets. The normally spacious road was blocked off from traffic and instead filled with people: families and couples who chattered happily as they made their way amongst the flow of bodies. Honami stood near the entrance to the festival. Her hair was tied up into a bun and pinned with a yellow flower and she wore a yukata that matched the color of her blue eyes. The sun was in the middle of setting, which meant that more people would start arriving at the festival. She carried a drawstring purse on her wrist with her and took her phone out to text in the group chat that she shared with Ichika and the others in the band. She giggled as she read how Shiho was spending her time with her family at home and quickly typed a reply.
“HO-NA-MI!”
The girl looked up to see Emu bounding towards her, sprinting effortlessly despite wearing a yukata. Well, almost effortlessly. The pink-haired girl ended up tripping on her geta sandals and nearly fell face-first before Honami swooped in to catch her. “Are you alright?” She asked while tucking some hair behind Emu’s ear that come loose from her beautiful space buns. Emu perked right back up and nodded quickly, “Yup! Sorry for making you wait, let’s go!” She grabbed Honami’s hand and tugged her along into the festival.
It was easy to get swept up in all the lights and excitement, which was what happened the moment they both stepped foot on the lit up path. Emu was determined to try out every food vendor there was, and Honami couldn’t resist buying a couple gifts from the trinket shops to bring back to her friends. Emu had insisted that they try and eat the kakigori as fast as possible, since it would beat the heat. Honami complied and they both spend several minutes whining and groaning from the brain freeze. The moon was well up in the sky but neither of them felt fatigued in the slightest. It was their first time going to a festival together, and they were both determined to make this a memory to cherish forever.
However, Honami never anticipated for the festival to become memorable in the way that it did.
Her feet came to a halt when she noticed a familiar pair of faces in front of a taiyaki booth nearby. They were the same girls from her middle school. The same ones…
“I can’t believe you would do that to me,”
Honami’s expression was pale as she looked up at her classmate who loomed next to her desk, glaring at her with an expression of betrayal, “even after I trusted you. They were right about you being a fake.”
“No-“ Honami tried to clear up the misunderstanding but was interrupted as the classmate’s friend appeared beside her with an equally displeased look on her face.
“A friend to everyone is a friend to no one.”
“Honami?”
Emu’s voice brought the brown haired girl out of her flashback. It was when she came out of it that she realized how hard her breathing became. “I-I need to-I can’t-“ her words came out rushed as she immediately turned to try and find an escape route, only to see the sea of people blocking their way. It would be impossible to go against this large flow of people. Honami didn’t realize she had let go of Emu’s hand until the girl grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her to the side of the street where there were less people.
“What’s wrong?” Emu asked, eyes wide with concern. Honami shook her head and tried to explain but every time it would force the horrible memories back into her head. She could only clutch Emu’s hand tightly to try and stop from shaking so hard. Emu’s shoulders relaxed and she stepped forward while bringing their interlaced hands and pressing it against Honami’s chest where she could feel the other’s rapid heartbeat.
“Let’s take some deep breaths together, okay?” Emu said with a soft smile and breathed in deep and slow. Honami followed suit, breathing shakily as she closed her eyes and tried to focus on nothing else but Emu’s soft breaths.
“In…And Out…In…”
The shaking gradually came to a stop and Honami only opened her eyes once she felt her heartbeat return to normal. Thankfully, they had managed to stop it just when Honami had been on the cusp of breaking, but the girl was just as grateful. “Thank you, Emu,” she said in a tired voice. It was a shame that they were so full of energy just earlier, but Honami had brought the mood down. Emu shook her head and glanced back towards the festival, “Did you still want to continue?”
Honami nodded, “I do but…” What if she saw them again? Or worse, what if they saw her this time? Honami quelled the thought before her mind could entertain it. Emu pondered for a moment and then seemed to see something in the booths nearby, “Wait here!” She smiled and then rushed off. Honami tried not to beat herself up while she waited. She had to think of some way to lighten up the mood again, maybe they could try out one of the shooting galleries? Or draw prizes-never mind, scratch that, Honami’s luck wasn’t the best.
“I’m back!”
Honami only caught a glimpse of Emu’s excited face before a mask was placed on her. “What’s this?” She took it off to look at the front and saw a kitsune design on the mask. “Our disguises!” Emu said while pulling her own mask-a Hello Kitty, over her face. Honami paused and then realized what Emu was trying to do. She let out a soft laugh as the last of her nerves left her body and she pulled the mask over her face to follow Emu back into the festival.
When they got to the fireworks at the end of the night, they were able to safely remove their masks. Honami gazed at Emu who was looking up at the colorful fireworks with a happy expression. “Emu,” her voice could barely be heard over the explosions overhead, but Emu always heard her. Just like how Honami was able to pick out her girlfriend amidst a crowd of thousands.
Honami caressed Emu’s flushed cheek and kissed her. “What if someone sees?” Emu asked when they pulled back. Honami was tired of fearing eyes and the stare of others. “Everyone’s busy looking at the fireworks,” she replied. And the crowd cheered and clapped at the next flurry of fireworks as the two girls embraced each other.