As the two of them chatted from time to time, time continued slipping away. They had only been talking for what felt like a short while, yet by the time they came back to themselves, they found that dusk was already drawing near.
"Oh dear... It's getting late. I need to go make my deliveries."
Yoimiya put all the fireworks she had just finished into a bag, stood up from the stool, and brushed the bits and pieces off her clothes. She looked a little anxious.
Inside were not only other people's fireworks, but also the fireworks for those three children from earlier... She had to deliver them all one by one before the fireworks show began.
"Wouldn't it be fine to have them come pick them up themselves?"
Lying on her side on the bed, the Shogun asked in puzzlement.
"Well... it's part of the service. I have to do it properly."
Yoimiya smiled.
"...Haa, you really do worry over everything."
She let out a sigh.
Rather than calling it worrying, it would be more accurate to say she was simply too good-natured.
"Hehe... Actually, that's not the only reason. If everyone came to pick up their orders themselves, things would inevitably get chaotic out front. It's better to deliver the finished fireworks in order. That way, there won't be any mix-ups in the quantities either."
As Yoimiya packed the fireworks into her bag, she smiled and explained.
"Provided they pay extra..."
Who's going to run deliveries for free?
She complained inwardly.
"Pfft, of course they do. If they don't, then they have to come pick them up themselves. Don't worry, Shogun-sama, I know how to do business~"
Yoimiya looked like she was saying, You really don't need to worry about me... It almost felt as though the Shogun had suddenly turned into her mother.
"That's good... In your daily life, don't neglect yourself."
"Got it~ Got it~ Then I'll head out first, okay~?"
"Mm... go on."
Once she finished speaking, she slowly propped herself up. Raising a hand, she gently rubbed her white-stockinged feet as they lay slack against the bedding, then tugged lightly at the tips of the stockings wrapped around her toes to loosen them a little. Afterward, she let her hands fall and lowered her legs from the bed, sliding them back into her high-heeled sandals.
Tap, tap...
Yoimiya was just about to pull open the door when her movement paused. Thinking of something, she turned back to look at her again.
"Shogun-sama, the fireworks show will be starting soon. You should go wait for me on the cliff at Amakane Island first. Once I've finished the deliveries, I'll come straight to find you."
"Understood."
She nodded after understanding.
"Mm~ See you in a bit~!"
Swish!
The girl gave her a wink, then disappeared through the doorway.
"Haa... this child..."
Looking at the closed door and listening to the footsteps growing ever more distant, she could not help sighing softly in a manner almost like an elder indulging a junior. Her gaze wandered around the girl's bedroom. It was an ordinary bedroom in an ordinary household, bathed in golden light, and the layout carried an immediate sense of warmth, mixed with the scent of sunlight.
She slowly rose from the edge of the bed and smoothed the hair draped over her shoulders. Afterward, she casually walked around the room once, touched a few of the oddly shaped fireworks, then picked up her oil-paper umbrella from beside the wall and left the Naganohara residence.
During this process, Yoimiya's father, Ryuunosuke, saw her coming out and still greeted her with a cheerful smile. She nodded to him in return and, using the same method as before, wrote words on her palm for him to read, telling him that she was leaving.
"Oh—! You're heading off already, miss. Come by and visit whenever you've got time~ I think this girl really likes you. She knows a lot of people usually, but there aren't many she actually brings home."
"Mm... I will."
She understood what the old man meant.
"Ah... then be careful on the road, miss."
Ryuunosuke waved to her. She raised a hand in response, then left the fireworks shop and headed in the direction of Amakane Island.
It was getting late, and the sky had already dimmed. Lights were lit all around Hanamizaka. Unlike usual, the festive atmosphere today was especially strong. Everyone knew about the Naganohara Fireworks Festival, and people had come out early to secure their spots. The fireworks would be launched into the sky near Inazuma City, so Amakane Island offered the best view. That included most places such as Tenshukaku, Konda Village, the Kamisato Estate, and Mt. Yougou as well.
Besides, everyone was already eager for the twenty-plus-minute fireworks show to begin.
She found a spot fairly close by, namely the jutting cliff on Amakane Island that Yoimiya had mentioned earlier. The staff nearby had also decorated the area with banners for the fireworks festival, and the warm lights illuminated the night, making the place feel very lively.
Smoothing her skirt, she slowly knelt down on the ground, where a blanket had already been spread out. Then she angled her legs slightly to make herself more comfortable. The furisode hanging from her forearms naturally fell to the ground and concealed her legs as she waited for the agreed time.
Rustle...
She had no idea how much time had passed when she vaguely heard footsteps behind her. Without thinking much of it, she turned to look, only to see Yoimiya standing there awkwardly frozen with both hands slightly spread, clearly having intended to "ambush" her.
"...What are you doing?"
Seeing the girl in such an amusing pose, she smiled inwardly and asked in confusion.
"Ah, n-nothing at all. Uh, hehe..."
Yoimiya hurriedly lowered her hands and laughed awkwardly.
"...Finished with your work?"
She asked.
"Mm... more or less. Now all that's left is to wait for the fireworks festival to begin."
Throwing the awkwardness from moments ago behind her, Yoimiya returned to normal. She walked over and sat down cross-legged right beside her, propping her chin in one hand as she looked out at the sea ahead.
"..."
She said nothing. Looking at the girl's profile for a moment, she silently turned her gaze back as well and watched the horizon together with her.
"How long have you been waiting?"
"...I only just got here."
She lied. In truth, she had arrived long ago and had no idea how long she had already been waiting, but after a brief thought, that was still how she answered.
"...! Oh, right~! Are you still carrying that little firework I gave you earlier?"
Remembering it, Yoimiya asked her.
"A firework? This one?"
She took a single sparkler out from her pocket.
"Yes, now's the time."
Yoimiya took out hers as well and looked up at the night sky. It felt about right now... In lighting like this, the sparkler's flame would already be bright enough.
"Watch closely~"
Yoimiya held her sparkler in one hand, then placed her other hand over its tip and activated her elemental power.
Fwoosh...
At that instant, a tiny spark sprang from her fingertips and ignited the sparkler in her hand. Once lit, the sparkler released beautiful showers of sparks, blooming in her hand like a rose made of golden light while making a sizzle, sizzle sound as it burned.
"—!"
The Shogun's eyes widened slightly, a trace of curiosity appearing within them. She knew of fireworks, but she had never played with something like this before, so she curiously reached out to touch it, almost like a child.
"Ah—Shogun-sama, that's not how you use it... bring yours over here."
Yoimiya instinctively dodged a little and shielded the woman's fingers, which had nearly been burned by the flame. Though, truth be told, she had no idea whether the other woman could actually be burned at all.
"Mine?"
The Shogun slowly brought the tip of her own unlit sparkler close to Yoimiya's. The two ends touched, and hers was ignited by the flame!
Sizzle!
It, too, burst into an identical "golden flower."
"...How marvelous."
Looking at the "golden flower" in her hand, she could not help softly marveling.
"Hehe~ Do you like it?"
Yoimiya leaned closer and asked.
"...I do."
The Shogun answered frankly, her gaze fixed all the while on the golden blossom spraying from the sparkler. Beneath that golden glow, her beauty that could topple nations seemed almost unreal. Her fair, smooth skin, those enticing lips, and those violet eyes watching the sparks with complete focus reflected at every moment the tender, feminine charm that belonged to her as a woman.
"...///"
Yoimiya was utterly entranced by the sight, so much so that she forgot even her own sparkler was still burning.
"...? What's wrong? Am I holding it the wrong way?"
Still watching the enchanting firelight in her hand, the Shogun sensed the gaze of the person beside her. She tilted her head slightly toward Yoimiya and asked softly.
"Ah? N-No, that's not it///... um... I..."
Yoimiya snapped back to herself, and once she realized what she must have looked like just then, she immediately became flustered. Normally, she would have had no trouble finding some excuse, but at this moment her mind had gone completely blank, and she could not come up with a single explanation. She could only sit there guiltily at a loss.