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Tables are laid out while lanterns get strung up. People scurry around preparing for the festival. Trinkets are arranged neatly, prettiest up front to entice more to survey their wares. Ingredients are prepared or organized efficiently. Further down, fireworks are being set up for later tonight.
Akina slowly sets up her stall. She has already skewered and marinated the chicken beforehand. She only has to heat the grill and line up the seasonings. As she bends over to light the grill, her body groans, protesting. Her old bones weigh heavier on her each year that passes. It was a lighter burden with her husband, who unfortunately passed away during the war. She rubs her ring as melancholy and longing overwhelms her even after all this time. She sucks in a deep breath and continues. Customers will arrive soon.
Within the hour, people trickle then pour in as the festivities begin. Crowds form and stream along as potential customers examine stalls and buy from them. Excited chatter, music, and the sound of sizzling food fill the air. Akina plasters on a smile for everyone passing by, luring in quite a few, who keep her busy. Eventually, Akina hears a familiar voice.
“Two yakitori, please!”
She turns around to see Kirishima’s excited face beaming at her as he pays. Her smile becomes a little less forced. Right beside him stands Bakugou like always. Akina doesn’t think that will ever change.
As she places down two skewers with the biggest chunks of chicken onto the grill, she fondly recalls the many times they’ve graced her stall. The first time Kirishima came by he dragged his angry, scowling friend along to their stall and placed the same order. She didn’t know what to think at first. Akina recognized them both from that year’s Sports Festival. Kirishima did well, making a valiant effort, but Bakugou is the one that stuck out to everyone. She was hesitant at the sight of the boy the heroes had to chain up and muzzle, but Kirishima’s kind expression and polite manner and her husband’s quiet reassurance made her refrain from saying anything.
The next time they met was months later as they sold at another festival. Kirishima ordered for them again while Bakugou stood behind him. He wasn’t scowling that time, instead staring at Kirishima as if examining some strange specimen under a microscope. His intense look hidden away as Kirishima turned around to hand him a yakitori covered in spices. Still, there lingered some emotion in his eyes, something soft almost.
Akina talked about it with Kouji afterwards. He laughed at her description and fondly claimed, “That’s the look you used to give to me when you thought I wasn’t looking.”
He laughed harder at her protest. Her smile wanes as she flips the chicken over. She can barely remember his laugh anymore. If not for pictures at home, his face would be a foggy memory, too.
Akina glances up at the pair. Kirishima grins brightly at Bakugou as he talks about getting some mochi before they leave. Bakugou responds sparingly but his eyes stay fixed onto that sunshine face. She chuckles lowly to herself. Kouji said there was something more there. He never got to find out if he was right.
Still, Akina got to watch as they continued to come over the years, only missing a few festivals from missions or hospital visits. Kirishima always gravitates towards Bakugou, and Bakugou always focuses on Kirishima as if he’s the center of his universe.
The chicken is finally cooked with a nice char. She shakes a bit of togarashi on one and dumps plenty out onto the other, thoroughly coating it before handing them over. Kirishima smiles and thanks her while Bakugou gives a brief nod.
Suddenly a whistling sound pierces the air and booms erupt overhead. Everyone faces upward to observe the show. As the fireworks burst and scatter through the air, a glint below catches her eye. Akina looks down and spots a ring strung on a chain around Kirishima’s chest. She glances over and spots a matching one, partially hidden, on Bakugou, who is gazing at Kirishima’s lit up face with an expression she finally identifies as besotted.
Akina laughs softly and rubs her ring. She guesses Kouji was right all along.