After their first meeting, Takuya Nakayama and Eri Nakagawa naturally exchanged contact information.
Takuya thought the blind date had gone well enough to satisfy his mother and that he could now return to work and let things progress at their own pace.
However, he had clearly underestimated his mother, Miyuki Nakayama's, determination to have grandchildren.
No sooner had he returned to his apartment than his phone rang—it was her.
"Eri-chan, how was she?"
Her tone was neutral, but Takuya knew that one wrong word could mean trouble.
"She's... a very nice girl," he said cautiously. "Polite, well-educated, and she has her own opinions."
It was the truth, and honestly, the highest praise he could offer.
There was a pause on the other end.
"Is that all?"
"We had a good time talking," he added.
"Good time?" Miyuki's voice rose in pitch. "And what about a second date? Did you get her contact info? Don't tell me you just ate dinner and left her hanging! Listen, you're on vacation now—your mission is to date! I've already talked to your father. If you so much as step foot in the office this week, he'll drag you home himself!"
Her barrage of questions left Takuya half-laughing, half-defeated.
"I got her number, and we've made plans, okay? Mom, can you not sound like a foreman overseeing a project?"
"I'm not a foreman—I'm your mother!" Miyuki snapped. "And I expect a clear answer by the end of this month!"
Click. The call ended.
Takuya sighed and rubbed his temples. A royal decree for a blind date… and now even a progress report.
So, under his mother's "mandatory directive"—and because he honestly didn't mind—Takuya and Eri began to meet regularly.
By late July, the Sumida River Fireworks Festival had arrived.
As night fell, Takuya walked through the crowd in a navy jinbei, beside Eri, who wore a lavender yukata adorned with hydrangea patterns.
Their wooden sandals clicked softly against the stone pavement, mixing with the hum of voices and vendors' shouts—a symphony of a summer night.
"Never thought you'd last that long at a classical concert, Nakayama-san," Eri teased, her updo adorned with a jeweled hairpin. Under the warm lantern light, a few strands framed her face, and her eyes sparkled playfully.
She was referring to their previous date—a long, serious orchestral concert.
Takuya chuckled, handing her a tray of steaming takoyaki from a nearby stall.
"You think a guy who spends his days surrounded by circuit boards and code would find classical music boring?"
"Pretty much," she replied without hesitation, picking up a round piece and blowing on it.
"Then you're wrong," he said, his gaze drifting toward the glowing riverbank, his tone turning thoughtful.
"The soul of a game isn't just visuals or mechanics—it's sound too. A great soundtrack can pull a player straight into the world. You've no idea how many nights I practically lived in Joe Hisaishi's studio while working on Harvest Story just to get that soothing vibe right."
He paused, then smirked. "Besides, don't forget—the hottest project right now between Sony Music and Sega, DanceDanceRevolution? That dancing machine? My design. You can't make that kind of game without some musical taste."
Eri laughed softly. This man could boast about his achievements so casually that it was impossible to hate him for it.
How many more surprises was he hiding? she wondered, curiosity stirring again.
They chatted about their day at Disneyland, and Eri still remembered how Takuya had stood in front of the castle during the parade and said, half-joking, half-serious, "Someday, Sega's gonna build its own theme park."
"I'll bring in Phantasy Star, Golden Sun, even Pokémon—all of them. I want players to not just play on screens, but step into the worlds they love."
Eri slowed her steps, glancing at him.
Under the glow of festival lights, his side profile was sharp, his eyes bright with conviction.
She suddenly realized—he wasn't just a talented game developer. He was a dreamer.
And that was what made him truly captivating—not just his success, but his courage to turn imagination into reality.
Then—BOOM!
A thunderous crack echoed across the night sky.
The first firework blossomed like a golden chrysanthemum against the deep blue, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Then came the second, the third—bursts of red, blue, and violet painting the Sumida River in shimmering light.
The two stopped walking, gazing up at the breathtaking spectacle.
The flickering fireworks outlined Eri's profile in a soft, ethereal glow. Her eyes reflected the radiance above—more dazzling than the fireworks themselves.
Takuya's heartbeat skipped.
From polite beginnings to easy companionship, and now to this quiet, electric moment—it had all unfolded so naturally.
His mother's orders, the family's matchmaking—none of that mattered anymore.
He just knew he liked being around this woman.
He liked her thoughtful words, her gentle understanding, her moments of girlish playfulness—and the way she looked at him with curiosity and admiration.
The noise of the crowd faded away, leaving only the two of them and the rain of colors above.
He felt a sudden, irresistible urge to act—because if he didn't do something now, he'd regret it when the festival ended.
Taking a deep breath, Takuya turned to her, his eyes earnest.
"Eri."
It was the first time he said her name without honorifics.
Her heart fluttered as she met his gaze.
"My mother's order was for me to spend this entire vacation with you," he said with a rueful but tender smile.
"Now, I'm actually grateful I listened—because otherwise, I might never have met you."
No fancy words, no rehearsed lines.
He simply reached out and gently took her hand.
Her hand was cool and soft. It trembled slightly but didn't pull away.
BOOM!
A massive firework exploded above, showering silver light across the sky like a glowing waterfall.
In that dazzling moment, Eri tightened her grip around his hand.
She didn't say a word—just smiled, a smile brighter than the fireworks themselves.
All the answers were there, in that gentle smile and their intertwined fingers.
They stood side by side, gazing up at the night sky lit ablaze with color.
The warmth of their joined hands rose, in rhythm with the fireworks blooming above.
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