Chapter 32

After that, they played games like ring toss, shooting gallery, and yo-yo fishing, and the two of them enjoyed the festival.

When they finished playing, they started to feel a bit hungry.

"Food like yakisoba and takoyaki at places like this looks delicious, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it does. ...It smells good too."

Influenced by the atmosphere, the smell, and the sounds, the two of them each bought a serving of yakisoba and takoyaki.

Then they sat down on the steps near a nearby shrine.

They shared the food, each taking half.

However, since Airei was a light eater, Yugen ended up with a bit more.

The yakisoba was drenched in chemical seasonings, making it look very unhealthy, but it was still delicious.

It was a bit too salty and had some crispy, slightly burnt parts, but that was part of its charm.

Of course, it tasted good because they were eating it at a festival, where the atmosphere made it special.

The takoyaki was soft and covered in sauce.

It was also a bit too salty.

The octopus part wasn't something they were expecting to be good, but it was larger than they thought, so this takoyaki was a "hit."

Of course, it tasted good because they were eating it at a festival (the rest is omitted).

"Eating this at a festival is delicious. Well, I think 90% of it is the atmosphere."

"Yes, but... the heat from the grills is hard to replicate at home, so it's a taste we can't get often."

It was delicious, but it was indeed salty.

Yugen took a sip of the lemonade he bought from a stall.

Incidentally, this was made by mixing lemon juice and syrup, adding ice, and pouring in a three-liter bottle of Sanyo Soda.

Thinking about it calmly, 300 yen might be a bit expensive, but he bought it influenced by the atmosphere.

The taste wasn't bad, but whether it was worth 300 yen was another story.

On the other hand, Airei, who didn't like carbonated drinks, was sipping orange juice.

It was in a bottle, not a PET bottle or can, which made it look more delicious.

Of course, it probably just looked that way.

"Kasegawa, um..."

"Want to try the carbonated drink?"

When Yugen asked, Airei nodded slightly.

"Yes, but since it's my first time, I don't want it to be too fizzy..."

"It's already mostly gone. It won't be that fizzy."

Yugen said this and handed the plastic cup to Airei.

She pressed her lustrous lips to the cup and took a sip.

"How is it?"

"It's a bit fizzy, but it tastes good."

"I'm glad you like it."

Then Yugen checked his watch.

There was about thirty minutes left until the fireworks started.

They gathered the trash from the yakisoba and takoyaki they had finished eating and stood up.

"The fireworks can be seen from home, and it's probably more relaxing there. So, I think we should go back before then. What do you think?"

"Yes, I think it would be prettier to see them from your home."

Airei nodded in agreement.

In fact, the places where the fireworks were visible were crowded with people, so there was no atmosphere at all.

Of course, if they were a couple who could create their own private world, it would be different.

"Is there one more place we can stop? ...What do you want to eat?"

"I think I saw a crepe stand on the way back to your house. I want to eat that."

"Sure. Let's buy crepes on the way back."

They went to a crepe stand on the way back to their house.

Yugen bought a blueberry crepe, and Airei bought a strawberry crepe.

Naturally, they shared, each taking a bite.

They walked down the street, holding hands and eating crepes.

It wasn't very polite behavior, but on a festival day, such things were allowed.

By the time they finished their crepes, they had just arrived home.

The surroundings had become quite dark.

As they passed through the outer gate...

The barking of dogs echoed again.

The glowing eyes in the darkness were a bit scary.

However, since dogs have good night vision, they quickly recognized that Yugen and Airei had arrived.

They wagged their tails vigorously, as if it had been ten years since they last saw them.

After petting the four dogs lightly, they went inside the house.

There were about ten minutes left until the fireworks started.

So, Yugen and Airei sat on the veranda, facing the spot where they could see the fireworks.

Incidentally, Ayumi, who had decided on her own that she shouldn't interfere, was sitting about ten meters away.

Yugen and Airei weren't a couple, but if they were, Yugen would have been grateful to Ayumi.

She was considerate when she needed to be.

Incidentally, Ayumi didn't look lonely at all.

"Hey, stop it! You're such a handful!"

She was playing with two dogs, a Spanish Mastiff and an English Mastiff.

Both had just graduated from being puppies and were still very affectionate.

"That's amazing."

"They look like children being attacked by carnivores."

Both Mastiffs were tall, standing over half Ayumi's height, and when they stood up, they were taller than her, and their weight was nearly twice hers.

It must have been quite a challenge to be tackled by them.

As they were playing, Ayumi's body was flipped over.

Through the gap between her long, white legs, her panties were visible.

Seeing a sister's underwear wasn't interesting, so Yugen shifted his gaze to Airei.

"Shouldn't we help her... Is it okay?"

"Don't worry. They're trained to obey the command 'stay.' Ayumi is doing this on purpose."

Of course, it was only a matter of time before she would be told to "stay."

Just as he thought this, he heard his mother's voice from the kitchen.

"I'll be right back."

"Okay."

When he went to the kitchen, he smelled a slightly sweet scent.

"Watermelon."

When Yugen said this, Ayumi nodded and handed him a large plate.

The watermelon was cut into small cubes, probably to avoid staining their yukatas.

"Here, this is for Yugen and Airei. Tell Ayumi to come and wash her hands if she's touching the dogs."

"Got it."

He carried two plates to the veranda.

When he arrived, the two dogs had already left Ayumi and looked a bit dejected.

They must have been scolded by Ayumi.

"Hey, Ayumi."

"Oh, big brother. What's up... Oh, it's watermelon."

"This is ours. Wash your hands first, then get your share from Mom."

"Okay."

Ayumi ran off the veranda.

Even if they were her beloved dogs, dirty things were still dirty.

After seeing Ayumi off, Yugen went back to Airei.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Yuki."

"Here you go. Thank you for the watermelon."

He placed the watermelon on the veranda and used toothpicks to pick up pieces for both of them.

"This watermelon is really sweet and delicious."

"Agreed."

The scent of the watermelon attracted the Spanish Mastiff and the English Mastiff to their feet.

Even the Akita and the German Shepherd came over, wagging their tails.

"Are we being targeted?"

Airei quickly picked up the plate and held it at chest height.

If the four dogs attacked, they would snatch the watermelon in no time.

On the other hand, Yugen remained calm.

"Don't worry. We have separate plates for human food and dog food, and they understand that. Besides, Ayumi or Mom will bring the dog food soon."

Sure enough, Ayumi and Ayumi's mother appeared with plates.

Ayumi was holding her own plate of watermelon, while Ayumi's mother had a large plate with four pieces of watermelon, each cut into quarters.

Ayumi placed her plate a bit away from the veranda and whistled.

The four dogs that had gathered around Yugen and Airei quickly ran to Ayumi.

"Here, stay! Good dogs. I'll give it to you now."

Ayumi and her mother placed the large pieces of watermelon in front of the dogs.

Then they waited for about five seconds.

"Okay."

When Ayumi gave the permission, the four dogs started eating the watermelon at once.

Ayumi sat back on the veranda and started eating her own watermelon.

On the other hand, Ayumi's mother winked at them and went back to the kitchen.

"They are really well-trained."

"Right? Dogs are the best."

"No, I think cats are the best."

"Really? You won't budge on that?"

"I won't."

Cats are indeed cute.

But they can't do "stay" or "sit."

I think a human partner should be a dog.

Just as Yugen was about to elaborate on this theory...

A loud noise came from the sky.

Looking up, they saw beautiful fireworks lighting up the night sky.

Natural indirect kiss

...despite not being a couple.

But engaged.

The next part is the climax.

If you found this interesting and are curious about the continuation,

I would greatly appreciate it if you could bookmark and rate (change the ☆☆☆☆☆ to ★★★★★) the story.

The Dere level will be updated tomorrow.

If you are interested in, looking forward to, or excited about the Dere level,

I would appreciate it if you could bookmark and rate (change the ☆☆☆☆☆ to ★★★★★) the story to encourage updates.