Chapter 5 | August 13^th

(In Akiko’s case)

 

Just like most local summer festivals, the summer festival at Otowa-yama Shrine, located in N City, S Prefecture, doesn’t have a clear-cut starting time.

There’s no set rule, but the clock strikes noon.

The number of people walking along the shrine’s approach visibly increases, and the surrounding air gradually starts buzzing with energy. Figures in yukata or happi coats begin popping into view here and there, and from somewhere, faint sounds resembling gagaku music—maybe a hichiriki or a shouko being played? I’m not sure—start drifting in.

“It’s finally starting to feel like it, huh.”

Standing tall like a guardian in front of the fully set-up stall, President-san muttered to herself in high spirits.

With her eyes closed, chin slightly raised, and hands on her hips, she looked almost like a prophet listening to a divine voice from above—or maybe a sommelier savoring a glass of wine with her whole being.

“Man, this vibe’s somethin’ else. It’s like somethin’s gotta kick off—energy that’s been pent up for ages, ready to burst, like a fire that’s just been snuffed out—”

I totally get it.

I don’t usually nod along to President-san’s antics, but this time, I’d even shake her hand in agreement.

Man.

It’s a festival, huh.

It’s summer, huh.

Everyone in sight’s practically bouncing with excitement, restless with that vibe—like the day before a field trip.

Nice. So nice.

There’s probably nothing else out there that tickles your inner child quite like this—and I’m just a sixteen-year-old high schooler, mind you.

“Getting lost in the festival mood’s great and all, but hey, you.”

Just as I was thinking that, President-san teased,

“You’re not forgetting to savor the best part, are ya? Ignoring all these prettied-up girls in their fancy getups—you’d be askin’ for divine punishment.”

“No way I’d forget.”

I nodded enthusiastically,

“Everyone’s dressed up a little different today, after all. With all these beauties going all out, it’s impossible not to get hyped up.”

Yep.

As planned, everyone’s in yukata today.

Akiko, Nasuhara-san, Ginbei, President-san, and Arisa too.

Each of them picked out colorful yukata, paying attention to every detail—hair arrangements, obi sashes—pulling off stunning coordination that lights up the whole scene.

“Man, this is really somethin’ else.”

I nodded again, practically headbanging at this point,

“Everyone’s seriously cute, and their yukata choices are spot-on. It’s like, how do I put it—there’s this allure to it. Something already amazing got a mature upgrade, seasoned to perfection. Man, it’s incredible. This is what they mean by eye candy.”

“Kakaka! Your tongue’s slippin’ smooth today, huh.”

President-san was in top spirits now.

“For a textbook blockhead like you to dish out flattery like this—it’s a rare sight. That’s the magic of a summer festival for ya. Might even turn a harmless, grass-munching sheep like you into a ravenous, lusty wolf.”

“Nah, that’s not happening. No way I’m turning into some lusty wolf. And it’s not flattery—100% honest opinion.”

“Kakkakka! Splendid, splendid!”

President-san slapped my shoulder hard,

“Even Himenokouji Akito’s got a different flavor today—looks like this’ll be a fun one. Alright, let’s get this stall open! Startin’ strong’s the key here—while the other stalls are still scopin’ things out, we’ll swoop in and snag all the customers!”

 

◆◆◆

 

Now then.

Let’s introduce the situation around our stall.

Otowa-yama Shrine might just be a local guardian deity, but its history’s pretty legit, and its grounds are spacious enough to take up a whole mountain. Like your typical festival setup, stalls line both sides of the approach, packed tight, while a flood of visitors pours in, adding to the lively chaos.

We set up shop at the southern end of the approach—the spot furthest from the shrine’s main hall.

Bluntly put, it’s a lousy location. For stalls like these, the closer you are to the main hall, the more foot traffic you get—it’s common sense. Being stuck far out is a handicap right off the bat. Plus, our area’s sparsely dotted with stalls, basically a ghost town, and to top it off, we got shoved into a corner near the parking lot, away from the main path—what a rotten deal.

Well, can’t be helped. Opening a branch stall for “Shirahama” was a last-minute call anyway, so snagging any spot at all was a stroke of luck. Honestly, breaking even would be a win.

But that’s where our merry band of weirdos comes in.

With their far-from-ordinary skills, getting a stall up and running at a backwater summer festival might’ve been a cakewalk—or so I’d think later, looking back.

In short, the stall’s opening dash was a huge success.

Within thirty minutes of starting, we had a crowd rivaling “Shirahama” main store’s peak summer rush—so packed we had to rope Nasuhara-san into customer service and hyping up the vibe.

Reason one: top-tier, colorful beauties serving customers in yukata.

Reason two: narrowing the main menu to yakitori, boosting turnover rate.

Reason three: grilling juicy chicken to churn out fragrant smoke, stoking everyone’s appetites.

Reason four: using rare charcoal grilling—uncommon among other stalls—to nail a flavor that could rival specialty shops.

Sure, yakitori isn’t exactly a unique festival dish, and I worried it might lack punch. But looks like the positives outweighed that.

So, by 2 p.m., after working so hard I forgot to breathe,

President-san, flipping some wing skewers during a brief lull in the crowd, turned to me,

“Oi, Himenokouji Akito!”

“Yes! What’s up!?”

“Go take your first break! Leave the rest to us!”

“Got it!”

“I’ve been waiting for this!”

Right as I replied, a gleeful shout rang out.

Flipping her yukata sleeves, my little sister Akiko dashed over—she’d been mid-chat with a customer.

“Hey, Akiko. Weren’t you in the middle of serving someone?”

“It’s fine! I handed it off to Arisa-chan with perfect teamwork!”

Sure enough, Arisa—forced to take the baton—was floundering, half in tears, somehow managing to deal with the customer. …Seriously, how’s that “perfect teamwork”?

“No, no, it’s all good.”

Akiko flashed a beaming smile, sidling up to me casually,

“Arisa-chan might look like that, but she’s surprisingly solid. She panics, sure, but she always pulls through in the end.”

“Well, true. She’s got that side to her.”

And yeah, Arisa—who’d been bowing nonstop during whatever talk she was having—wrapped it up cleanly. The customer left looking pleased.

Like a boxer getting pummeled into a groggy mess but wearing out the opponent for a decision win. Arisa’s got this bamboo-or-willow vibe—probably without even realizing it herself.

“So, let’s head out already! Normally, us loving siblings should get as much time together as we want, but circumstances have cut it down to a measly drop! We’ve gotta make every second count!”

“Hey, hey. Don’t tug my sleeve.”

I gave a wry smile, chasing after my sister as she sped up.

Yep.

The reason I’m stepping away from work? Simple.

Summer festival date, round one—sister edition, doubling as a break.

“Woohoo! Yahoo!”

Akiko weaved through the crowd, darted between stalls, slipped under the torii gate, and bolted down the approach.

That girl’s got some serious agility… She’s not letting the yukata-and-geta combo slow her down one bit. Keeping up with her’s gonna be a workout.

“You’re in high spirits, huh, Akiko.”

“Of course I am! I’m beyond happy!”

“I see. You’re having fun, huh.”

“No kidding! I’m having a blast!”

“Glad to hear it. …By the way,”

“What’s up!?”

“Where exactly are we headed? I keep seeing the same scenery loop by.”

“Oh, nowhere in particular! I’m just running around on pure joy for now!”

“…What are you, a dog in the snow?”

I threw in a jab, trying to calm her down a bit.

Felt like I got a taste of how a pet owner feels, dragged around by a big dog on a leash. Cute and heartwarming, sure, but I can’t keep up forever…

“Ehehe, sorry. Let’s take a breather then.”

Akiko stuck out her tongue playfully and finally slowed down.

It’s just past 2:30 p.m. The crowd on the approach is picking up, and I can already spot a tipsy uncle in a happi coat stumbling from right to left.

From the east, the sweet scent of melting sugar.

From the west, the cool sound of ice being shaved.

Man, I’ll say it again—

Nice, huh. So nice. This is what a festival’s all about—my excitement’s climbing like crazy.

“Alright then.”

Akiko stopped, scanning the surroundings.

“Here’s our first challenge, Onii-chan.”

“Challenge? What’s that?”

“Isn’t it obvious? We’ve gotta figure out where and how to take our break!”

“Break?”

“Yep! In times like this, securing a spot’s the key! Where we plant ourselves pretty much decides half the fun of the festival—no exaggeration!”

“Oh? Huh?”

I mulled it over—does that even make sense?—and yeah, she’s got a point.

“Got it. I see what you’re aiming for, Akiko.”

“Hehe. Noticed, huh, Onii-chan?”

“True, summer festivals are all about stuff like checking out stalls, snacking on random goodies, watching the bon odori, or cheering when the fireworks go off. Those are the main dishes of a festival—gotta savor ’em to the bone, right?”

“Yes, yes! Exactly!”

“But think about it. To enjoy those to the max, positioning’s crucial. Take fireworks—classic example. Where you set up changes everything, satisfaction included. Even snacking’s the same deal, right? Eating yakisoba off a flimsy Styrofoam tray while getting jostled in a crowd versus chilling on the breezy shrine steps, watching the bustle—that’s a way richer experience.”

“As expected of Onii-chan! You totally get it!”

“And at this hour, we can still snag a good spot.”

“Exactly right!”

So, scoping around, I spotted a decent place.

A little off the main approach but close enough to the main hall, there’s a small Inari shrine—probably split off from somewhere else—sitting quietly. The stone pillars around it look just right.

“Alright, excuse me for a sec…”

I tossed a coin into the offering box, prayed, then leaned against a pillar.

“Yep. Jackpot.”

“Yes! Total jackpot!”

First off, it’s got a wide view of the stall-lined approach.

Plus, it’s positioned to peek at the stalls’ backsides, adding some extra charm.

On top of that, it’s shaded by ginkgo leaves, blocking the summer sun. The breeze flows perfectly, and the coolness from the damp soil feels great on my skin.

“Man, this is awesome.”

“Totally! We can really kick back here~”

Me and my sister, just chilling for a bit. There’s a luxury in doing nothing during moments like this—maybe it’s more like doing the act of doing nothing.

“Fwaah~… What a wonderful time…”

Akiko narrowed her eyes like a cat sunbathing,

“It finally feels like we’re doing something summer-vacation-y here. Don’t you think so, Onii-chan?”

“Hm. Yeah, I guess.”

“This summer break, we’ve been working nonstop from the get-go.”

“That’s its own kind of pure, righteous sixteen-year-old summer, though.”

“Right? Working at a beachside café, staying over and all.”

“Peak real-life fulfillment, huh.”

“Bullseye on that one.”

“We’d get chewed out if we complained, huh.”

“Totally chewed out.”

“Probably by someone with horns sprouting, snapping at us.”

“Oh? Chased down too?”

“Chased to the ends of the earth, probably.”

…And so went our pointless back-and-forth.

This totally relaxed vibe’s almost like an old married couple—or maybe a comedy duo in a different way from Nasuhara-san.

But that’s what makes it good.

Lately, things have been so hectic I haven’t had much time to hang with my sister. We need moments like this every now and then.

“Exactly, Onii-chan!”

“Huh? What’s that?”

“Me and you—we don’t get enough time together! It’s a serious issue!”

“…You’ve got this habit of saying stuff like you’re reading my mind from my face, huh.”

“We’re in a love-filled Sengoku era right now! Fall behind even a little, hesitate for a second, and it’s all over! Survival of the fittest!”

Ignoring my comment, Akiko went off passionately.

Wait, what? Love-filled Sengoku era?

“I mean, isn’t it obvious?”

Akiko stared at me, dead serious,

“There’s always been that vibe, but lately, it’s really heating up. President-san’s been after you sexually from the start. Arisa-chan’s got that innocent face but never shuts up about being your fiancée. Even Ginbei-san, who used to play it vague, is now openly throwing her hat in the ring as your lover candidate—what else do you call this if not a Sengoku era?”

“Uh, yeah. Thanks?”

“But! I’m not worried at all!”

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“Because it’s an unshakable fact that I’m your main wife, Onii-chan! Right!? It’s true, right!?”

“No comment.”

“Plus… hehe. You and I have a secret only the two of us in this big wide world know about.”

Undeterred by my side-eye, Akiko smirked slyly,

“A secret just for us—ahh, what a beautiful ring to it. I don’t know any other phrase that captures the bond of love between a man and woman so perfectly.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.”

She’s obviously talking about that thing from the other day.

The night I revealed I’m the author of Forbidden Love Story—no way I’d forget that, and Akiko, overjoyed, sure as hell wouldn’t either. Since then, her clinginess toward me’s gone up another notch…

Of course, I appreciate it and feel relieved. Whether in front of the gang or right now, just the two of us on this date, she’s holding back from bringing it up.

Why I wrote that novel, and what feelings drove me to do it.

Akiko’s gotta be dying to know, and it’d be a killer trump card to pull ahead of her so-called rivals. But she never pries into it.

She gets that it’s a sore spot for me, something I’d rather not have touched with full force.

She’s sensed it and keeps her distance respectfully.

In that sense, she’s a damn good sister, and I genuinely wanna lean on that thoughtfulness. …Sure, she sometimes flaunts a childish sense of superiority over Ginbei or someone, but if it’s just that much, it’s pretty cute, right?

“So, Onii-chan!”

“Hm? What?”

“Let’s shout it out together!”

“…Shout what?”

“What else? The joy of us having a secret just for the two of us!”

“Sorry, I don’t get what you mean.”

“No, I don’t get what you mean, Onii-chan! When something makes you happy, you wanna yell it out—that’s universal! So come on, together now! ‘We have a secret just for us!’ Repeat after me!”

“Nah, sorry. Still don’t get it.”

“Why not!?”

Akiko clutched her head in shock, but honestly, that’s my reaction right now.

Gotta retract my earlier statement… This “extent” is starting to tick me off a bit. I get that she’s that happy about it, though.

I mean, tons of people—like Jinno-san and others—know what novel I’m writing, so it’s not exactly a “secret just for us,” right?

“Anyway,”

I shifted the topic.

“Good, good. I’m relieved.”

“? Relieved about what?”

“That you’ve been in such high spirits this whole time. ’Cause your smile, Akiko, always cheers me up.”

Akiko’s face lit up,

“Yes, that’s great! I’m happy to know I’m cheering you up, Onii-chan!”

“Good. Hearing that makes me happy too.”

“Rest assured, Akiko’s always full of energy and cheer! Ever since we started living together again—no, way before that—my dere-meter’s been maxed out!”

“Yep, yep. Good, good.”

I nodded with a smile,

“Seriously, I’m glad. Looks like there’s nothing to worry about, huh.”

“Yep, nothing to worry about! …Wait, what are we even talking about?”

“Actually, I’ve been kinda concerned.”

Lowering my eyes slightly,

“It’s been six years, and we finally get to live together again. But with everything going on, it’s not just the two of us anymore. You’ve gotta have some complaints about that, right?”

“Well, yeah, sure, but—”

“I convinced you it’d still be a fun life anyway, and it really has turned out that way. But since we’re always with everyone else now, the time we get to spend just the two of us has shrunk a ton—sorry, Akiko, I’ve gotta be making things tough for you.”

“N-No, not at all! Don’t be ridiculous!”

“I see. You’re so kind, Akiko.”

“What’s with you? Bringing this up out of nowhere—”

“You’ve really grown up.”

I put on a bright expression and said,

“I kept thinking of you as a kid, but before I knew it, you’ve become so mature… Honestly, there’s nothing to worry about anymore. Even if I don’t dote on you, you can handle yourself just fine. I’ll vouch for it.”

“Huh? Huh? Huh?”

Akiko blinked, dumbfounded.

Then, frowning in thought, groaning a bit,

“Onii-chan!”

“What’s up?”

“I’ve been thinking—I might actually still be a kid, you know!?”

“Nah, no way. Like I said, you’re plenty mature now. No doubt about it, I guarantee it.”

“No, no, let’s think this through!”

She clenched her fists, leaning toward me,

“I mean, I’m only sixteen! A fresh, lively high school girl!”

“Fresh, huh.”

Using that word kinda proves you’re not that fresh, though.

“I can’t vote yet, can’t go to pachinko, can’t even drink! How can you call me an adult!?”

“Being an adult isn’t about age, right? Even if Japan treats you as a kid, plenty of places would see you as a full-grown adult.”

“That’s awful! Total tyranny!”

“No, no. I’m giving you a positive rating here—how’s that tyranny?”

“No, it’s tyranny, and I firmly protest! No matter what anyone says, even if it’s you, Onii-chan, I’m a kid! I’m not budging on this!”

“Come on, that’s not true. You’re the second most mature after Arisa.”

“Second to Arisa-chan!? That’s a super low ranking!”

“No, it’s more like Arisa’s bar is crazy high. She’s seriously mature despite how she seems… Being compared to her is a huge honor, you know?”

“I’m not falling for that! I’m gonna make sure you admit I’m a kid, no matter what!”

“Even if you say that… I can’t call a diamond glass just ’cause you want me to. You trying to make me a liar, Akiko?”

“No way I’m being tricked! You’re smooth-talking, Onii-chan, and normally I’d be rolling in your palm, but not this time! My entire existence is riding on this!”

“You’re exaggerating.”

“Not at all—I’m understating it! Listen, I’ll say it as many times as it takes: I’m not an adult! I’m absolutely a kid!”

“Just accept reality already.”

“I refuse! I’m 100% pure kid! So I’m never graduating from you, Onii-chan! I’ll stay enrolled in Onii-chan University forever!”

“By the way, universities cap out at eight years, I hear. By your logic, you’ve overstayed by sixteen years already.”

“Mukii! You always have a comeback! You’re such a meanie, Onii-chan!”

Akiko stomped her feet in frustration.

I watched her antics, chuckling to myself,

“Man, this is nice, huh.”

“What’s nice!? I’m not happy at all!”

“Now, now.”

I calmed the bristling Akiko,

“Lately, we haven’t had exchanges like this, right—like we were just saying.”

“Mnuu? Meaning what?”

“Forgot already? You were lamenting how little time we get together. Think about it—this kinda pointless banter with you hasn’t happened in a while, has it?”

“Well… true. We haven’t had much time alone.”

“Exactly. It’s because we’ve got this time together that we can mess around like this. Can’t do it when everyone else is around.”

“To me, this isn’t pointless banter—it’s a life-or-death matter if you don’t dote on me!”

“Listen, Akiko.”

Ignoring her, I grinned.

The biggest, brightest grin I could muster.

“I absolutely wanted to spend this time with you at this festival—just you and me, something special only we could have. Or maybe it’s more like ‘time that ended up special’? Normally, this kinda casual hangout would’ve been endless without even trying, right?”

“Onii-chan…”

“So today’s been perfect. Exactly what I wanted—spending time with you, Akiko. Thank you. I mean it from the bottom of my heart.”

“Hawawawaaa…!”

My sister let out a weird squeak, flailing.

Face red, lips trembling, blinking furiously, eyes spinning every which way—yep, looks like a critical hit. Worth going all-out for that reaction.

“Onii-chan! Onii-chan!”

“What?”

“Me too! I think today’s been amazing too!”

“Yeah? Good, good.”

“I’m so grateful we got to spend time like this! It’s just wonderful, so lucky! Compared to those dark days when we were apart, this is heaven, paradise, a peach-blossom utopia, even Eden!”

“Yep, yep. Glad to hear it.”

“Yes, exactly!”

“Though heaven, paradise, and peach-blossom utopia aside—Eden’s kinda its own thing, right? Different genre?”

“No way! In popular terms, Eden’s all about ‘forbidden love’! Perfect for you and me, Onii-chan!”

“Nah, not perfect. Our relationship’s wholesome to the core.”

“Mufu! That level of coldness doesn’t faze me now! After all, it’s proven our bond’s all lovey-dovey, with an engagement just around the corner!”

“Hm, is it though? Feels like a pretty big stretch.”

All I could do was give a wry smile.

Still,

It’s healing, huh.

Watching my sister, unwavering as ever, feels like a cool highland breeze blowing through my heart.

How do I put it—back to basics, a return to the starting point, maybe?

It’s been a few months since transferring to St. Liliana Academy. Feels like a blink, yet so much has happened. But Akiko’s unchanging nature—it’s an oasis for me, life-giving water, irreplaceable, something I can’t live without. I’ve always known it, but now, more than ever, I feel it deep in my bones.

Especially when we’re alone like this, just the two of us.

Even more so since it’s been a while since our last one-on-one.

“Hey, Akiko.”

“Yes? What’s up?”

“Thanks.”

“Huh?”

“Thank you, Akiko. Because you’re here, I can be the me I am right now. I’m truly grateful, from the bottom of my heart.”

“W-What’s this all of a sudden? Getting all meek—”

“Is it? I don’t think so.”

“No, it is! It’s not like you, Onii-chan! You’re usually all soft-looking at first glance but secretly bold and arrogant, like if someone mishandles you, they’d get a crazy backlash—get back to that usual Onii-chan already!”

“…That’s how you see me? Kinda quietly shocked here.”

“But I love that Onii-chan so much! Totally lovey-dovey!”

“Well, putting that aside.”

Not fully convinced, but I’ll let it slide for now.

It’s about time to bring up something crucial—something really, really important.

“By the way, Akiko.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve got something big to tell you.”

“Eh? W-What? Is it a love confession!?”

“I respect your relentless positivity and carefree attitude to the max, but sadly, it’s not that.”

“Then… what? Only other thing I can think of is you finally sneaking into my room tonight—”

“You’re really optimistic, huh. No, what I wanna say is—”

With a wry smile, I pointed to my phone’s screen,

“Time. It’s almost up.”

“Huh?”

Akiko blinked, peering at the phone.

Yep. This festival date’s on a rotation system, doubling as a break. That means there’s a time limit—squeezed between busy stall shifts, so it’s not exactly a leisurely schedule.

“Aaaahhh!? Whaaat!?”

She slapped her cheeks, shrieking.

“What’s this!? How’s it already this late!?”

“Well, how? We’ve been chilling here, chatting away, enjoying ourselves—that’s why.”

“No wayyy! I haven’t done anything yet!”

“Not true. You got to spend quality time with me, right? And it was fun, wasn’t it?”

“Sure, it was fun! But that’s not it! I haven’t eaten anything from the stalls yet! My takoyaki, my yakisoba, my okonomiyaki!”

“Oh, don’t you like sweets? Kakigori, crepes, candied apples?”

“Of course I love ’em! But there’s an order to things—first, you fill up on rich, greasy stuff, then move on to the enchanting sweets—argh, that’s not the point, don’t sidetrack me! What about my starving stomach!?”

“Well, what can I do about it?”

“Aaaah, and my plan to use the festival vibe to steal a kiss from you, Onii-chan—it’s ruined!”

“Oh, really? Good thing that didn’t happen—I’d probably have cut sibling ties by now.”

“No time to waste!”

Ignoring my glare, she leapt up,

“Come on! Let’s go snag some food quick!”

“Huh? Now? No way, there’s no time for that.”

“If we don’t dawdle, there’s time! Come on, Onii-chan, stand up! Run!”

“Wah!? Wait, hold on!”

Dragged by both hands, I stumbled up, and we charged into the now-packed approach together.

And so, in the end,

Despite saying there’s no time, I got roped into food hunting.

Of course, there’s no chance to sit and eat slowly. Heck, not even time to stand and eat. It turned into “running eating”—probably the ultimate meal hack for time-crunched folks.

Absolute worst.

Bad manners, barely chewing, and zero atmosphere. All that effort to nab a cool spot away from the festival bustle, talking up classy enjoyment—it’s all gone down the drain.

But still,

Watching my sister flip her yukata hem, darting around while munching on squid skewers and karaage, her face radiating pure joy—for a smile like that, I’d toss manners to the far side of the galaxy without a second thought.

Here’s hoping next year, I can spend another carefree moment like this with Akiko again.