"Apples… they are indeed absolutely loud…"

"You tell me that people actually live their summer life hearing this noise…?"

"Thank goodness G doesn't have a problem with this sound…"

‹Rin›

This is our first time in Tokyo.

It felt like yesterday when we flew to Hitoretsu, I have now become a second year in CCI, the summer has just ended in Orio, and yet here we are being bathed on the summer heat once again in the middle of hustle and bustle of greater Tokyo.

Yes, the purpose of us coming here is because Potato and I are invited to Ryuuya-san and Ichika-san's wedding. Well, in a few, it would just sound like I mentioned the same person as she will soon be Ryuuya Ichika-san.

I don't know what it is with me, but I get all fluffy with the thought of someone changing their name after marriage.

But coming here wasn't really that easy, at least for me. No, I already have a Visa, and an electronic Visa at that as it is available in our country, and there are no problems on boarding a flight just like how it was for me three years ago.

Flying apples, has it really been three years since the last time I came here…? 2020 was so bad that it didn't even feel like a year!

Anyway, my biggest problem was that I had to excuse myself for three school days, which is basically a nightmare. It is absolutely fine to not be a very bright student in college, but it's basically screwing one's self if they don't attend classes. In the end, college will make you face the reality that the high grades you get in high school don't reflect on the next level. Well, I'm not very smart myself, but I suppose we can make an exception for Ms. Sora.

And that is why I begged, even prostrated, in front of Rena and Chiba-chan to help me with what I am going to miss or else I might as well tear up blood.

But with that out of the way… Japan.

It is currently the morning of Wednesday, but we flew to Japan last night and got a bit of napsies before arriving an hour before the last train. It was a hard night for us; Kyohei-san, who flew with her wife and her sister a few days ago, just only gave us the location of their current place and so we're pretty much on our own in unknown land where our only hope is the GPS. We went on a train for 30 minutes and had to walk at least two more kilometers until our pin is getting close to the supposed location.

Midway, it was quite an adventure. We saw three wobbly… probably salarymen walking to possibly their third or so bar as they obviously look plastered already. I was sure that we've seen things on Instanyan, but we didn't see a drunk person sleeping weirdly on the cart earlier.

Well, it is a weekday.

But finally, we reached the right place, in which Kyohei-san and Nanami-san where waiting for our arrival even though we were so knackered just for more or less three hours of travel. Of course, our inner clock tells us that it is 10pm when they are actually ahead by an hour.

Apparently, Kyohei-san as a businessman is quite loaded, frankly. It seems that the house we are staying at was his own property along with another one in their hometown in Kyoto. Unfortunately, Potato and I had to share rooms again (why does this always happen). But we were so dead from the traveling that our monkey brains really can't process that thought anymore. We didn't even get a chance to take turns on the bath and landed like a bomb to sleep.

…

Seriously, why does this always happen to us?!

The sun has risen and we didn't even realize that we just made a repeat of NoFutsuu's chapter 29. I didn't really want to, but Gin literally begged me to punch him on the face which I then graciously did nonetheless without any ill feelings.

It turns out that there was a futon in the cabinet, flying apples.

I didn't drool, though…!

…

And now we are here with breathable clothes as we walk on the streets of Tokyo, immediately grabbing ice cream.

Then we finally realized how different the environment here is compared to Orio. Not all of the streets are like Asakusa, obviously. But it is very easy to be lost. I don't know how to call it, but residences and buildings on the small streets have so many intersections left, right, and center. I guess one could call them blocks as they are literally partitioned like every one or two hundred meters.

Also, it seems that companies are even situated in these rather quiet streets on four-floor buildings and such. Heck, there is apparently a space engineering company here somewhere!

But you know… having too much exclamation point in this summer heat will just make it hotter.

Since it is a weekday, we found a park not so far from the house and decided to sit for a bit as there weren't many people there. No, there's like three people there excluding us. Thus, we leaned on one of the benches without waiting for our ice cream to melt.

But still… I've heard this sound effect on almost any anime, but I never thought that the cicadas could actually be this loud. I even tried to record the noisy bunch on my phone on a whim to see how it would sound like.

"…

So this is how easy it is to get this sound effect?!"

If you ever go to Japan in summer for any reason, you might want to record them yourself instead of trying to find them online, royalty-free or not.

"There's Mochi and Ane Mitsuka… then there's Sis and Hiro… and then… and then…"

"What are you mumbling about, Potato?"

"I just realized that this would be the third time that I'll be attending a wedding in my life."

"Heehh… This is probably my tenth or eleventh. I already lost count."

"I wonder if Kei is going to be next."

"Don't you think you'll have a lot of wedding to attend to after this?"

"What do you mean?"

"Most likely, Yuzuri-san will be next, then Itori-san, or Kei. And who knows, we can't forget about Sean."

"That totals up to seven… I'm surprised you were able to enumerate them all."

"E-Ehhh…"

"Does that mean that I'll fly back here again if I'm invited? Ah, I think Yuzuri-san said that they would settle down in Orio. Anyway, Kaizo and Mitsumi-san will be married here, but they're basically applying for permanent residency at home.

Hahh… I guess the only constant thing in this world is change, really."

"…

Looking at it though, it's kind of surprising that of all people, or among the Anew employees, it was Ryuuya-san and Ichika-san that will first tie the knot. Was that just two years?"

Somehow, my mind was telling me that it has gotten extremely silent, even though the cicadas did not stop at all. But instinctively, my eyes locked on Gin.

"Well, some people are similar in the ways they either didn't know or expect. In this case, I'm similar to Kaizo for our struggles. Even if we have given up or even distorted, there's always the thought that we both have a hollow, gaping hole in our chest and that we have always wished for it to be filled.

Pretty much, we both wished to be happy. That's probably the reason why it only took them two years to get to this point. That said, I wouldn't be settling for just three or four years. I can go on more than that before I get to that point."

"Three or four years really is still short, isn't it?"

"I'm surprised that she is agreeing on this one so easily…"

"Yeah.

Patiently; absolutely patiently. We never know what is next, so please remember that you will always have my back."

"I want to hug you but it's really hot today."

"I get you…"

"Ah. Aaaahhhhhhh…! I won!"

"Oh, I also got a free one."

"Thank you, Gari Gari-kun…!

Ah! Do we have to disinfect them?"

"Hahahaha. We're already through 2020, okay?"

I love how my mind automatically flicks a switch right after setting foot in this country? My brain immediately forgets about convenience stores and only registers konbini. But how uncanny is it for both of us to have a winner stick. Even the store clerk was surprised.

That's that, but we were also wearing a Surprised-face Pikachu.

Here in Japan, we saw Marcel with five wraps of onigiri on his hands.

"Thank you very much," and the automatic door opened with the sound.

Walking under the summer sun is for the strong, and sitting is for the weak. We are weak, and so we came back to the park with the breeze upon us.

"I guess you were also invited, huh. Did you come here alone?"

"Yeah, just yesterday. I tried to bring Marcus with me but he's busy with all sorts of stuff."

"Oh, how is he? He's now on his second year (high school), right?"

"I guess he won't be going to college after this and go straight to work. I'm doing fine in college though; well, 'fine' is too much of an overstatement…"

"I totally get you…!" I really had to interject.

And then on that note, he started chomping on the rice balls.

"Your lunch?" Potato asked.

"Nah, they're just really good, is all. I had to lie on the clerk that they are for multiple people with broken Japanese…"

"The engaged couple- Well, there are two pairs of engaged couples among the Anew employees that I know, but whatever. When I was done hitting the books, they helped me learn and got my speaking sorted out. I guess it's true that the best way to learn the language is to communicate with the natives."

"I heard you're very fluent now, right?"

"Well, it runs on my veins."

"Oh wow."

"Anyway… do you have your clothes ready for tomorrow?"

"They sure are. This is the first time I'm attending a friend's wedding after all. No words of gratitude can really amount to the help that he gave me when we were in high school.

Hahh… it just really felt weird hearing about marriage from people 'the same age as me.'"

«Gin was pierced by Marcel's words.»

"Ah, I guess I'll be on my way to my hotel, then. We'll see each other tomorrow anyway."

"Yup. Don't eat while walking."

I haven't really said our agenda, I suppose.

Today is Wednesday without much things happening at least on our side, while a whole load of preparations are being done somewhere. Needless to say, I can probably relate to the management and preparation happening on Ichika-san and Ryuuya-san's side of things, as I have already been hugely involved in the wedding of my sister. Regardless of the cultural differences, I'm sure that there will still be something in common.

Then tomorrow is the big day. Unfortunately, I will be going on a dress and a bit of a high heel. Tiny tangent, I have already seen Gin wear a pair of high heels while Sis was making fun of him, and his leg muscles were so angry it looked like they were glaring at us.

Anyway, along with the ever ongoing TAC commissions, I am very thankful to Yuuga for once again employing me to his work this past summer, while I am also surprised about G who actually moved in to the apartment midway the season. Because of that, Potato and I decided that we would combine what is apparently called shugi bukuro, or a cash gift on one. We do not particularly know if that is acceptable or not, but we'll have to keep it to ourselves this time.

The day after the wedding, we were invited to a gathering with just us, me and Potato, and the six people we met in Anew in an izakaya that they apparently booked in advance. That maybe the case, but I of course will not drink.

Thus in Saturday, we're basically on our own while waiting for our other night flight back to Orio. That day is basically going to be my defense mechanism; a prelude to the consequences of my absences because I already know that I am going to grit my teeth on Sunday. I can absolutely invite Chiba-chan to stay the night, but Rena of course has her reasons. Kids grow up fast, though.

But with all that being said, we have a wedding to attend.

▪ ▪ ▪

You heard us right on our conversation yesterday with Marcel. We are indeed attending a modern Japanese wedding instead of the traditional event, hence why are we are on… should I say universal type of outfit…?

But finally, Potato has graduated from his maroon guise that was from two years ago. He loves neckties just as much as he loves his kitchen tools, but I love him more.

…

Sorry.

Anyway, with that said I still give him a few ties as a present even though he doesn't really go out with such formal outfit especially on these days where things aren't very eventful apart from today. Just the same, his taste on what could look good on me was on point.

Still, Gin has always looked the best when he is wearing clothes that are neutral in color. I guess in this case, his name truly lives up to it. I say that, but the motif of the wedding goes somewhere from teal.

~ ~ ~

It is wedding day and all, but would it feel redundant? I have already attended my own sister's wedding, and so did all of you. Behind the scenes, I have already cried buckets in happiness and has given my applause to them who have been united in one flesh.

That is how I feel right now, just without the crying buckets. Of course, I am overjoyed for those two. Ichika-san and I may not go a long way, but we had a connection nonetheless; even she might not know of it herself. To give an example, she has always cheered me up even if indirectly. She had helped me so much in our fourth year—a very dark time not only for Gin, but for me, and for our entire class. She is naturally someone who is energetic and uplifting, so much that seeing her bright smile is enough for my lips to arch up even in my lows. She has always taught me not to dwell so much on things, especially those with the pain I have shared and received. All of them happened as I only look on her back with a content smile, never asking her to look at me.

Honestly, I look up to her a lot.

I would be insane not to be happy about her wearing a ring that will bind her to the only man of his life until they still breathe.

The same thing however goes for Ryuuya-san too. To this day I still can't imagine what sufferings he endured to the point that he had chosen to give up his life instead of being bound by the work that sucked away from his life. In solitude he lived, with fear of people to boot. I will never understand the things that I have never experienced, but it is as Gin said. Deep within, there is something in him that wished to be out of this solitude and fear of people; even if only one person reaches out their hand to him.

And now he grabs those hands in complete grasp, without ever letting go of it.

Four years ago, my life suddenly and drastically took a turn, and ultimately changed my perspective of the world.

From then on, every time I watched on these seats, gazing upon the aisle with the man and the woman walking towards the center, I always think how much I now value the significance of this event.

Someday…

▪ ▪ ▪

"**Congratulations on your wedding…!!"

The reality is that… in this world brimming with adverse, every second, every moment of happiness feels like a blink. But that being said, it is not always minuses after that.

I remember everything that has happened, but it hurts to feel like time just went by so fast.

However, I now find myself inside a private room inside an izakaya—a rather premium one at that—in our third night in Tokyo. Honestly, I was skeptical at first. I know that it is absolutely fine for a 19 year-old like me to step inside with just "nons" in my glass, and it somewhat felt off for me. But I take it weirdly that I am the only teenager among this bunch and I am not yet feeling out of place. I guess even I am underestimating my already poor social abilities.

If anything, this feels like a strike of deja vu. Granted, us women and the men celebrated separately with Sis and Hiro-nii got married, but the feel is so similar. It is definitely a celebration right now through and through. It even got livelier with the addition of Kyohei-san and his wife.

I however realized too late. Isn't our favorite udon shop in Ginga basically an izakaya at night?!

"Oh, wow. It sure gets warm when you down a pint in summer, huh."

"What, feeling it already, Sakato-san?"

"Absolutely not! Though I'll go switch the nons after two more."

Well, I guess we even have a merry potato here. Those aren't words that I hear everyday from him. A pint glass is already big, flying apples.

Please take care of your livers!

But on the other hand, it has been more than 24 hours since the ceremony, and it felt like nothing really has changed in our atmosphere. Just the addition of two people with rings now on their ring finger. I suppose you really can't expect a change to happen immediately aside from the obvious ones like names and homes.

Actually… we have the same night flight as all of them while Kaminari-san and Itori-san goes back to Kyoto shortly after. What in the world.

"**Puaahhhh…! That hits the spot…!" Kaizo exclaimed while Gin asked after that.

"**Do you often hear Kaizo's voice rise up from time to time, Mit- Uhh… umm… Oh no…"

"Stop this idiocy at once, Potato."

"**Just call me by my name, Sakato-kun. There's no harm to it.

**But to answer your question, I'm usually the one shouting at him."

"**You'll get used to it at some point, Gin. And yes, I am implying something."

"**Please don't get cocky when you literally just got married, Kaizo."

"Ahahahahaha. Ahahahaha. Ahahahahahaha," so suddenly, Kyohei-san started laughing monotone ones, yet his happy expression felt out of place.

"**Kyohei-san… are you drunk?" I had to ask, because his cheeks certainly look flushed, and he has started swaying his head as though following the rhythm of a song.

"**Ah, please don't mind Nii-san. He's always like this when he gets a sip and is just wholesomely happy right now. He's not drunk at all."

"**Yuzu-chan is right," Nanami-san, his wife, agreed.

"**I guess the next ones will be Ryou-kun and my sister, then~?"

"Okay, no way out for those two, I guess," thought Gin.

"**Aahhh… it will be soon this year… we'll release an invitation once we've gotten our things sorted out."

"**Ah, right, Sakato-san," Kaminari-san called out, "how exactly did Yugare-san propose to Kam- Yuzuri-san?"

"**That… it's quite a bizarre one! Funny how I actually I came back with her to the complex house from work since we were drinking and all. Right after she opened the door, there was Yugare-san already standing and reaching out a ring.

**He received a 'yes' even though he literally didn't say anything!"

"**So basically all of you watched him do that…?"

"**Oh, absolutely," chuckled Ichika-san.

"**Even my kouhai, Kogarashi, was there with us."

"**Oh, wow. Even though that's literally your home it still sounds like workplace romance."

"**How about Akanami-san~? Do you think Sakato-san here is already making moves?" perhaps tipsy, Itori-san asked me with a playful smile.

But then Kaminari-san immediately shoved a glass of water on her.

That said, I have graduated to that 15 year-old who always get flustered on the little things, and the same thing to when this topic has first been mentioned a few years back, especially when I have caught wind of Gin's plans. It is still a big deal for me, but like I have said, my perception has changed, and my views of marriage have matured.

I am however fully aware that such a thing is still quite a long way from this day, but the answer for that is simple, and I can assert them proudly and with respect.

"**I've hears that Jean have said some things or made them slip, so it will probably be no surprise if you all have heard of what Gin here has said.

**I'm obviously not up, or not yet thinking about those things for the time being, but I don't disagree to it, really."

Don't tell me that what I said sobered up Itori-san.

"**What a fantastic answer…!!" all of a sudden, Ichika-san embraced me with also a hug of the smell of alcohol coming from her.

I am utterly surprised that none of them has been utterly intoxicated at this point. But that's a good thing at the very least. I can still drink my nons at peace, and I keep stealing their edamame.

Being a rather premium izakaya lived up to its name with how good their food are.

"**Also, Sakato-san, Akanami-san," Kyohei-san called, "**Nanami and I have been meaning to give you a present, but we really haven't gotten the time to go down since it's busy on the mountain. Please look forward to it."

"…

**I'm amazed that you aren't really drunk, Kyohei-san…"

"Ahahahaha…!"

What in the world is this chapter, really? There's the talk of how uncomfortably loud cicadas are, then the ever so talked about topic of marriage, and then wondering if anyone here will actually get plastered…

What can actually go next?!

▪ ▪ ▪

Oh my word.

I didn't expect this at all, but I shouldn't really be surprised, yet I am still so overjoyed right now.

This may be our last day in this trip, but I am under the same feeling from when we were on the day of the wedding.

This is an absolute experience.

Is everything that I'm saying right now making any sense? No?

*inhales*

We are doing the complete fireworks festival experience right now.

A massive thank you for Kyohei-san, and especially her wife, for gifting us traditional clothes. Apparently it has been something that they were planning to give us for so long but didn't find the time. Each of us received a jinbei and a yukata, which was enough to get my blood pressure up from excitement, specifically because Nanami-san made them herself! I really have to thank her and her ancestors…!

And indeed, we are walking around a night festival before going to our flight, waiting for the main event.

With that, I am once again dawned with the thought of something that is really fine but my gut tells me that it is stupid. Like, almost every woman here is wearing a yukata or outdoor clothes, and I feel like I am in the minority here for wearing a jinbei.

I take that back, I have found ten women wearing them and they said it looks well on me. But flying apples, this type of clothes absolutely looks well on Potato for some reason. It makes me remind that he is truly a Japanese. He doesn't even look like he is a "hafu." This may sound really bad and rude, but his life has been so muted that on the contrary, it is what makes him look the best.

"**Here, ringo ame."

"Did you just call me sweet?"

"Stop feigning stupidity and I already know that you are. It's so sweet that just like you it makes my heart pound."

Ok, that's smooth.

"Let's just move along or else we will miss the show."

…

The high pitched, rising sound immediately became heavy and deep as it bursts. The once lacking night sky was immediately painted by different hues of life.

I suddenly remembered what Kaizaki Arata had said. The fireworks are indeed beautiful, but ephemeral. It only stays for a moment, and gives you a lonely feeling once it has disappeared. In this case, it pertains that this world has become one where minuses are more than pluses. But even so, the sun will shine tomorrow without knowing what the sky would look like. It is a vague hope, but there is still hope.

And that is why we continue to be hopeful for the present and the future. Even we humans are like fireworks. We are inevitably ephemeral. But fireworks give light, even if only for a short moment.

But to see what is beyond that hope is something that is worth struggling for.

"My answer is still a no."

"Umm, what?"