NOVEL NEXT Amidst the hustle and bustle, as I experienced the spring of my youth, the summer festival, just like other events, came to pass in no time.
What should have been my plan to have a eating tour while walking turned into a triple date with the girls joining in. It's a pity I couldn't taste everything as I wanted, but the experience I had went through compensated more than enough for that, so I was in fact glad. It was fun.
After crepe, we went around looking for other sweets, and soon, it was time for me to head for the next appointment so I left the group, albeit That said, I was really stunned as to how the girls could actually stomach all those deserts with their slim bodies. It was quite a mystery for me, though I also felt it's better to let sleeping dogs lie than stir it.
Afterward, I went around and joined Lacritta, Sachi, Emi and Yuuka, looked around other shops and even watched Noel's performance, like those music concert. Everyone looked merry, and I also got to see them in their cute yukatas.
By evening, I was totally spent up and met with Hannah for another round of tour. I asked her how her day was, if she was busy, or...was the effort worth it while having dinner together. Our dinner ended with, as I had expected it to go on, with another huge serving of desert. I swear more desert had gone down my stomach than actual dinner for sure.
Quoting Hannah, "Deserts are the girl's driving force, Zephyr-kun!"
So she says.
Maybe? After all, I had first-hand witnessed it so many times today. Apparently. sweet things were essential and supreme supplements for them to live on. I guess this was also why there had been more shops selling sweets than others.
For me, though, I think I wouldn't be touching sweets for a while now after having them to brim.
But I couldn’t deny the fuzzy sensation I felt when I saw Hannah eating her parfait. So I guess, desserts were truly a non-missable item in life for them.
"Delish~ I can feel a new wave of energy over my tired body~. It's great~."
Indeed, girls are a puzzle. I'm sure that's my take, yet, why was I feeling warm and fuzzy more than exasperation? I guess that's something I might not know anytime soon.
Moving on, it was the turn for the night summer festival.
The summer festival at night was wonderful. I could understand why some claimed the night was when the summer festival reached its true peak.
As the night veil covered the venue, the huge yagura illuminated in white and red light, rhyming drums echoing from top of it.
The music band, in which Noel was, performed their piece, serving as the BGM, further uplifting the merry spirit of students present. Haa, that was truly the summer festive atmosphere, no doubt.
My schedule was mostly free at night, so I continued to watch the festival with Hannah. Though, as the clock ticks, Hannah left sometime afterward, saying she had to get things ready for tomorrow.
I bid her goodbye and moved in front of the venue entrance, much like morning, and waited for my last appointment.
"Hey, Zephyr-san."
"Sorry you had to wait, Aegis-senpai. I've not kept for too long, have I?"
"Of course not, I have just arrived myself. So I hadn't waited that long."
My last appointment for the night summer festival was Aegis-senpai.
Apparently, everyone decided there would be only one person for the night. Quite a lot happened...and I mean it when I say a lot, though I didn't know what actually transpired. Yeah, I felt it was like putting my hand on lava so I didn't bother asking.
"Phew, then I'm glad. Alright, let's proceed, shall we?"
"Yes, likewise. Let's enjoy ourselves." freewёbnoνel.com
"By the way, that yukata looks fabulous on you, Aegis-senpai."
"Huh, r-really? Thank you very much."
Aegis-senpai was wearing a red yukata, asserting its presence amidst the interwoven brightness of festival and darkness of night. Her hairstyle was beautiful, something I feel she has put great effort in making, held together by an ornate pin. A flower and classy headband on head further added to her charm.
Truly, seniors were not to be underestimated. I couldn't pinpoint why I felt that, except that her aura of older beauty was shining with more glamour than usual. But when she turned red from my praise, I felt like my heart was going to die from the overdose of moe, the feminine gap she showed amidst her mature vibe. Yup, there was no contest. Aegis-senpai was definitely the strongest!
"......Ahem, let's go. Do you have any place you want to visit, Aegis-senpai?"
"In that case, I would like to visit the training ground. I heard it"
"Oh, alright. Then that's it~."
Like this, I started my sightseeing at the night summer festival with Aegis-senpai.
"Nevertheless, I think this is the first time I am spending time alone with you, right?"
"True. There would always be someone beside you normally."
"I guess, yeah. Alright, let's make up for all that."
"Gladly!"
As if she was just waiting for me to say this, Aegis-senpai nodded strongly.
W-Woah. It surprised me. Did she want to talk with me that much? Alright, then I shall leave no stone upturned. Communication was the key for maximum coordination.
Aegis-senpai seemed reserved in the beginning, so I tried to bring up the topic of festival lighting etc, and gradually unravelled her tenseness.
We didn't spend much while going through the shops and reached the centre of the festival as we continued to chat, enjoying the festival our way.
I felt like my distance with Aegis-senpai had reduced quite a bit.
We continued like this for a while when Aegis-senpai suddenly spoke,
"E-Err, Zephyr-san. If--- if you don't mind, I would like you to call me just Aegis. O-Of course, you can keep the -senpai part if you don't like that. But we have already been friends, so I think any formality at this point is kind of needless."
Her tone was quite hasty for some reason, and her determined face, visible within the night of darkness, appeared slightly flushed.
"O-Of course. There's no reason for me to dislike it. I also think this way is better to deepen our friendship. ---Aegis. Is that alright?"
"Ah, y-yes! Thank you, Zephyr-san!"
"Pfft, why thank me? If anything, I should be saying that. Thank you for being my friend, Aegis-sen---I mean, Aegis."
"L-Likewise!"
Thus, our friendship reached a new height that day.
Compared to the daytime, my night tour proceeds with little to no hecticness, and I also find my time with Aegis comforting.
I looked around with Aegis till the closing time before we returned to the noble dormitory together.
The following day, I once again spend it with fellow guild members and soon, even the second day of summer festival came to pass. Why couldn't fun time be last more! It was a pity, but it was fun nevertheless.
And then comes September 1st, sunday. The last day of summer vacation. Academy will resume starting tomorrow. It was finally the closing of the summer vacation. I couldn't tell if it was long or short. But I wished it could have lasted longer, so that I could hang out with others more. Alas.
I bid summer vacation a goodbye, drowning in the typical lingering melancholy. And for my closing remark—The first summer vacation of <Dungeon Activity> was definitely one of the best part of my life.