Chapter 230 – After All That, We Ended Up Back Here

The whole “holding hands” thing— Ryou decided to put that aside for now.

After wandering around for a while, the two of them grabbed lunch together and then returned to the orphanage.

The fireworks, they agreed, would be better saved for the evening.

So, they decided—tonight, they’d go to the beach, watch the ocean, and light them there.

That afternoon, they stayed at the orphanage for quite a while, helping Director Togou tutor the kids with their homework.

By the time evening rolled around about six o’clock Kei and Ryou finally headed out.

In Tokyo, New Year’s Eve meant grand firework festivals.

But this was Tottori Prefecture—a quiet little countryside town.

Two years ago, Kei had lived sixteen years in Japan without ever seeing one of those so-called “firework festivals.”

He even used to think maybe they were just something made up in anime.

Until that first summer in Tokyo— The first time he saw real fireworks for himself.

As they walked toward the beach, they passed a few locals, each carrying small packs of fireworks.

Probably heading the same way.

Further along, snowmen stood beside the road, wrapped in colorful LED lights that glowed softly in the dusk.

Snow piled thick on the roadside cedars, and before long, the snow and sand began to blur together where the beach started.

The sea breeze carried a sharp chill, biting at their cheeks.

Kei stood by the water, holding a paper bag full of fireworks, while the wind carried faint murmurs from nearby couples whispering to each other.

Even a quiet rural town like Tottori… wasn’t so bad.

Maybe it didn’t have the lights of Tokyo, but at times like this, that peaceful stillness felt almost perfect.

Yes— This was nice.

Ryou tugged her scarf up and buried her flushed cheeks into it, the winter wind brushing her hair.

Her mind drifted to what her mother had told her that morning.

She hesitated.

There were times before when she’d done far bolder things— She’d even hugged Suki-san once.

But this time… this moment felt different.

Back then, she’d said things she’d never dared to say twice, hidden behind the rush of emotion.

Now, though—

Now it was too quiet.

Only the wind and the soft murmur of other couples filled the air.

How could she possibly just… reach out, without a reason, and hold his hand?

Her heart wrestled with itself.

Then, as her boots sank into the snow with a soft crunch, she took a deep breath.

Her mother’s words echoed in her head:

“If you don’t make a move, someone else will.”

So, cheeks puffed in determination, Ryou clenched her fists— and suddenly grabbed Kei’s hand.

His hand was cold from holding the fireworks bag.

And in that instant of contact— Her heartbeat spiked.

A strange, quiet warmth spread through her chest.

For a moment, even time seemed to slow.

...

Kei noticed the sudden motion and paused briefly.

Barely perceptible, but still there.

Then he turned his head slightly toward her.

“What’s wrong?”

Ryou exhaled softly, then, just like her mother had told her, lifted her chin with forced confidence and stammered,

“N-nothing! Nothing’s wrong.”

Aoki looked at her.

She was obviously nervous.

Ryou turned her face away, staring stubbornly in the other direction to avoid meeting his gaze.

The scarf covered half her face, but the tips of her ears—peeking through her blue hair—were glowing red like tiny rubies.

Normally, she was the cool, sharp-tongued type who always had a snarky comment ready.

But now, just from holding hands—she looked like a completely different person.

Kei tightened his fingers slightly, returning her grip.

He could feel the tiny tremor that ran through her body, like she’d just been startled.

He didn’t say much.

He just stopped walking.

Standing on the snowy sand, he pulled a few fireworks from the bag.

He set up a long, tube-style launcher on the ground, then handed Ryou one of the handheld sparklers.

When the cold breeze swept by again, he spoke.

“Let’s start with this big one. Should look pretty good.”

“...Mm,” Ryou murmured softly in agreement.

The fuse caught, sizzling faintly.

Even over the wind, they could still hear nearby couples talking— “We’ll be together forever.”

“Next year, let’s go to Tokyo!”

“Let’s climb Mount Fuji!”

Then, with a sharp fwoosh, the fuse burned down—

And the firework shot up into the night sky.

The wind and voices faded under the burst of color overhead.

Kei watched the lights bloom, feeling the warmth in his palm.

His voice came calm as ever, unchanged in tone or rhythm.

“Ryou, your hand’s… actually pretty warm.”

The words were close enough that even the fireworks couldn’t drown them out.

Ryou’s heart jumped.

She could feel the warmth between their palms so vividly that it made her dizzy.

She thought back to what Aoki Kei had said that morning.

Then to the wish she’d written on her prayer plaque at the shrine.

She’d never really believed in that kind of thing before—

But when she was with Suki-san, she couldn’t help but want to write her feelings down.

“I hope… I can always be with Suki-san.”

Those words, once scribbled in ink, now felt carved into her heart.

A sudden impulse welled up inside her.

Not because she wanted to compete with anyone—

Not because she wanted to prove something.

But because, in that moment, it just felt right.

Like this was the kind of memory she wanted to keep forever.

Her lips parted, her voice calm as always, though her cheeks glowed pink.

“Suki-san… let’s take a picture together. Light the sparklers first—and let’s take a photo, just for memory.”

...

Maybe Tottori really wasn’t so bad after all.

Ryou could feel her heart racing as she stood on that snowy beach.

Maybe this was what it meant—to truly fall for someone.

She was sure of it now— she liked Aoki Kei.

But that certainty also tightened something deep inside her.

Because she didn’t want to lose her bandmates.

And she didn’t want to lose Kei.

What was she supposed to choose?

Her mind drifted back to that question Kita had once asked her.

‘Suki-san, Kei, Kei…’

If the day ever came when she had to choose between them—

Which would she choose?