Chapter 165: Daily Life: Fireworks Festival in Progress
The dusk shrouded the sky, and the street lights in the city were lit early. Various neon lights illuminated the people walking on the streets in warm tones.
Kirataka stood outside the store, waiting for the girls to choose and change into yukatas while looking at the sea of people in front of him.
——Girls always spend more time choosing clothes. Although Kirataka doesn't quite understand why they always get hung up on the smallest details…
Maybe this is what girls are like.
"It's really lively..."
Looking at the crowd in front of him, he couldn't help but sigh.
——Before coming to this world, he probably couldn't understand the extent to which Otto and Cocolia's actions of completely disregarding the lives of ordinary people were inhumane.
After all, the perspective at that time was not on these ordinary people, but on the protagonists. The so-called sacrifices of millions and tens of millions of ordinary people were just numbers in the game.
The so-called great eruption happening all over the world is nothing more than a backdrop, and it is difficult for people to really feel anything.
But now, after experiencing the life-and-death escape in Nagazora City, he is looking at these ordinary people in front of him...
These are real people.
He couldn't let Otto's wish come true and cause a global catastrophe.
Just as Kirataka was sighing inwardly, the sound of girls' footsteps was heard behind him.
"Kirataka, we are all changed."
Mei's voice came from behind, and Kirataka looked back.
What catches the eye are the girls' new clothes, each with its own unique style.
As expected, Rin and Sakura changed into cherry-colored yukatas, the kind of matching outfits that outsiders could tell were sisters.
Higokumaru wore a simpler white yukata with a fox mask on one side of her forehead.
Because she was going out, she had her fox ears and tail folded up.
Sirin was wearing a purple yukata with various star elements on it, and she also had a star hairpin on one side of her hair.
Mei wore a white yukata with lavender patterns on it, and a wide sea-blue belt around her waist. Her waist-length hair was tied up, and she had a wisteria flower on her head, with the petals hanging down to her ears.
As for Kirataka himself, he was wearing a rather simple men's yukata with a black background and red maple leaves printed on it, and a wide fiery red belt around his waist.
Because of his good figure due to regular exercise, this yukata made him look steady and handsome.
"If you're ready, let's go."
Kirataka led the five girls and followed the crowd forward, gradually entering the festival site.
…
"The fried tofu is so delicious!~"
Before the festival officially started, Higokumaru already had a bowl of fragrant fried tofu in her hand.
Sirin on the side stared at Higokumaru for a long time before saying suspiciously:
"…Herrscher?"
As a fellow Herrscher, she could sense the difference in Higokumaru, and could feel that this energetic girl in front of her was one hundred percent her "kind."
Of course, it wasn't just the Higokumaru in front of her, but also the girl named "Raiden Mei" was the same.
She didn't expect that guy to have so many Herrschers around him.
The relationship between this world and the Herrscher... wasn't it a little different from her own?
Sirin's head was full of question marks.
"Hmm? Xiaoxi, do you want to eat too?"
Higokumaru noticed Sirin's gaze, turned around and handed the fried tofu in her hand to the girl next to her.
——Because of the camouflage mask, Mei and Higokumaru were unable to see Sirin's true face. When Kirataka introduced Sirin to them, he simply called her "Xiaoxi."
"…No need."
The purple-haired girl habitually rejected this kindness.
'Ha, as a Herrscher, you are actually addicted to a mere fried tofu...'
"It's delicious, huh?"
Higokumaru was not defeated by the rejection. Instead, she came over and enthusiastically recommended it again.
"…"
Sirin's eyes flickered.
Is it really that delicious?
"…Then I'll try one, just one."
…
The interior of the festival is first of all a long street, with a variety of snacks and entertainment activities on both sides.
The place is brightly lit, and the Japanese-style decorations on each stall are matched with colorful neon lights, which has a unique flavor.
The faint aroma of snacks wafts through the laughter of the crowd.
Kirataka and his group also began to walk slowly forward along the crowd.
If you pass this street, you will reach the beach, where there is an observation deck built specifically for watching fireworks shows, which is also their final destination for the night.
The six of them were divided into three groups, with Higokumaru and Sirin at the end, and Mei and Yae Sakura walking a little ahead.
——After all, Yae Sakura hasn't seen Mei, her benefactor who also helped her in the Stigmata incident, for a long time. It's normal for the two girls to reminisce about the past together.
Kirataka found the "Lucky God Group" who were walking in the front very pleasing to the eye. They were of similar height and build.
Rin obediently pulled on the corner of his clothes and followed him.
As the Will of the Stigmata, she possesses a knowledge base that is basically equivalent to that of Yae Sakura, so everything in this era is quite new to her.
Whether it's this or that, she had never seen it before.
Rin stopped unconsciously in front of a cotton candy stall.
"Little Shiro, what is this?"
Rin pointed at the soft and fluffy cotton candy in the boss's hand that was spinning and growing bigger, tugged at Kirataka's clothes, and asked curiously.
"Here, little sister, this is cotton candy," the boss answered first.
cotton candy... something she'd never eaten before.
"Little Shiro, I think..." Rin said hesitantly.
Seeing the girl's appearance, Kirataka said directly to the boss:
"Boss, six servings of cotton candy, please."
"Okay!"
Six servings is not a small number. Business was coming, and the boss replied happily.
The owner of the cotton candy stand was a middle-aged man with a kind face. He looked at Kirataka and the girls around him, handed out enough cotton candy and took the initiative to say:
"Today is a good day, I'll give you a 20% discount. Have fun!"
"Really? Thank you, uncle~"
Rin took the cotton candy and thanked him obediently.
The other girls also got their own cotton candies and walked forward. After that, it was Kirataka's turn to pay.
Kirataka took out his wallet and was about to pay when the boss came over:
"Hey, young man."
"Um?"
"I'm a little curious, which of those two girls is your girlfriend?"
He was referring to Mei and Yae Sakura, two girls with mature appearances.
The boss automatically ignored the smaller-looking Rin, Higokumaru, and Sirin. After all, if the latter three were the girlfriends of the young man in front of him... he would probably call the police on the spot.
Kirataka answered truthfully:
"The one with purple hair."
The boss gave a thumbs up:
"Brother, you have good taste. Although the other pink-haired girl is also good, from my personal point of view, I prefer the purple-haired beauty."
Then he pointed to the stall opposite, which was selling apple candies. The stall owner was a middle-aged woman with purple hair.
"…Who is that?"
Kirataka was a little confused.
"That's my wife."
The boss uncle said with some pride:
"Purple hair is a treasure."
It turns out that this is the reason…
"By the way, if you want to watch the fireworks show later, I suggest you go to the beach."
The boss uncle said enthusiastically:
"Although the booth is the best spot, there are so many people lining up that it doesn't feel that good. The beach is more spacious, and although the sea breeze is a bit cold, there aren't so many people there."
As he spoke, he pointed in the direction of the sea.
'No, no, no, judging by the population density of the festival we see now, there are definitely crowds of people no matter where you go.'
Kirataka thought about it and looked in the direction where his finger was pointing.
The beach is indeed spacious, but most importantly, it lacks the bright lights of a trade fair, so it is not easy to attract attention.
"…Thanks."
He probably meant that it was easier to do things at the beach, like kissing or something like that…
What a kind-hearted uncle.
Kirataka's mouth twitched slightly.
Faced with such an enthusiastic uncle, Kirataka thought for a moment before leaving, went to the apple candy shop opposite him to find the boss his wife, bought five more apple candies, and then quickly caught up with the girls who had already walked some distance.