Chapter 13 Under the Fireworks

Under the Fireworks

“Hey …!”

“…”

“Hey! Stop!”

Mia yanks my hand away.

I stop and turn around. There was an angry Mia.

“What are you doing? Did you forget we broke up?”

I take off my mask.

“I haven’t forgotten. But I want you to come with me for now.”

I bow my head slightly to Mia.

“I don’t want to. I’m with Kaito, remember?”

“He can’t make you happy! He can’t!”

Mia’s expression when she was with Kaito says it all.

He only saw himself. He doesn’t see Mia.

“He’s better than … you. Kaito smiles at me. He holds my hand. He hugs me. But you didn’t do anything for me.”

“… that’s because. …”

“I don’t know! You don’t want me to get dirty? What’s that? I didn’t ask for that!”

Mia screams hysterically.

I am sorry.

“You’re not in me anymore.”

“…!?

My heart tightens at the cold words that come out of Mia’s mouth.

Mia slowly went back to Kaito.

I never thought it would hurt so much to be rejected by the person I love.

It hurts.

It hurt so much. …Huh!

Well, it’s true. I guess I deserve it.

“I want to try again.” “I shouldn’t have run away.” “I just wanted to tell you that I love you.”

I want to cry.

Let’s go home now.

I look up.

“Huh! … How, what?”

My vision is shaking.

“… you know it doesn’t feel good when you look at me like that.”

Away from the hustle and bustle of the festival, the temple grounds are quiet and dark.

The trees around us made it difficult to see. However, countless stars and the full moon peered out at us unobstructed. …

“I’m afraid. I was afraid that one day you would be stolen from me. So I stayed away from you.”

Mia and I sat on the ground, leaning against a tree, looking up at the night sky.

“And the day I was dumped. I was so happy. I was so happy to be free.”

Mia listens to my monologue without interrupting.

“One day she told me. She said it was an excuse. She laughed at me. She was right. In fact, I was using the environment of … as an excuse. I thought it was inevitable that Mia would be taken away from me, so I didn’t try.”

I hope the fireworks will start soon.

I wonder if the hero will come?

“I woke up. I woke up and realized that I had been in love with Mia for a long time. I’ve always loved Mia.”

I stop talking.

A silence fell over us.

The wind blew and the leaves rushed.

“So what? I didn’t understand what you meant. Why did you think I’d be taken away from you? But you probably have your own reasons, don’t you?”

I looked at Mia’s profile.

Mia looked up and spoke with a calm expression on her face.

“… but still. I’m dating Kaito.”

That was Mia’s answer.

My heart races again.

But I’m okay.

I’m okay now.

I remained steadfast.

“I don’t want to be written over. This is a place of memories for me and Mia.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

Hyuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…----Don!

“…Ah, so beautiful.”

Mia looked at me eagerly. Mia’s clear black eyes were bright red.