(100 Power Stone Bonus)
Chapter 161: A Lifetime (Long Chapter)
On the other side of the open field, Yuigahama Yui and Hachiman walked side by side, enthusiastically inspecting the enticing stalls surrounding them.
The pale yellow yukata Yui wore was adorned with small flowers scattered everywhere, tied together by a bright red obi that stood out prominently.
Her pink hair was decorated with matching ornaments; today, she hadn't tied it into her signature odango bun, opting instead to sweep it upward.
She didn't seem quite used to wearing geta yet, her gait a bit wobbly, which forced Hachiman to stay close by her side to catch her if she stumbled.
Yui suddenly tugged at Hachiman's sleeve, her voice bubbling with excitement. "Hey, hey! What should we eat first? Apple candy? It has to be apple candy, right?"
"You really do have a thing for those, don't you?"
Hachiman let out a helpless, gentle smile. Honestly, if it weren't for Komachi's meddling, he wouldn't have come out at all, let alone with a girl, but...
Since he was already here, regardless of how things turned out, he might as well enjoy himself with his companion.
—He wasn't going to shut himself away anymore, nor would he look down on himself!
Still, he teased her with a smirk. "That wasn't exactly on the list, was it?"
For some reason, he just felt like messing with her a little.
"Then you say it! what do you want to eat first?"
"Let's look for something that doesn't taste bad once it gets cold. In that case, we should go for Takoyaki first..."
"Whoa! What's that?"
Before Hachiman could even finish his sentence, Yui was already dragging him toward a different stall with newfound energy.
Shelves packed with prizes—various models, action figures, large plushies, and even the Sabure-style Pan-san beloved by Chiba residents—were lined up neatly. On the front counter sat plastic rifles; a couple was currently busy trying to shoot down some dolls.
A sign on the side of the table read: 300 Yen per play.
The rules were simple enough: take a rifle and shoot the prizes. If it falls, it's yours. Naturally, the bigger and higher the prize, the harder it was to knock down.
Yui stared at the rewards inside with sparkling eyes. "Amazing! Look at that! The prize lineup is so fancy."
In the end, the couple ahead of them spent over a thousand Yen only to walk away with two cheap little trinkets meant for school bags—hardly worth the price.
"Do you want to try?"
Hachiman pulled out his wallet and handed a five-hundred-yen coin to the stall owner, who gave back two hundred yen with a wide, business-like grin.
Hachiman picked up the plastic rifle from the table and offered it to Yui, smiling. "Go ahead. See which one you like."
"F-for me?"
Yui's face flushed slightly as she accepted the rifle, feeling a bit overwhelmed. She hadn't expected Hachiman to pay for her. In Japan, where the culture of splitting the bill—AA style—was the norm, a gesture like this could carry a lot of weight.
Unfortunately...
Today, Hachiman just wanted to see her happy.
Yui gripped the plastic rifle, aimed at a small doll, and pulled the trigger. Thump. The plastic pellet flew out, but it didn't hit a thing.
The owner reminded her with a grin, "Four shots left."
Yui let out a sigh, looking a bit dejected. "I'm really no good at this."
Hachiman encouraged her. "Try a few more times. We came here to play, after all. Having fun is the most important part."
"How about... Hachiman, you shoot for me instead?"
Yui hit upon a brilliant idea and thrust the plastic rifle back into Hachiman's hands.
"Alright, I'll take a crack at it." Hachiman figured it was fine; either way, the result would be the same.
"Don't blame me if I miss, okay? Which one do you want?"
"That one! The Pan-san doll!"
Yui pointed to a palm-sized Pan-san plushie sitting near the front.
Hachiman gripped the rifle to get a feel for it. His first thought was: It's way too light. The bamboo swords he used for practice were made of heavy, solid wood, so holding this plastic toy felt like holding nothing at all.
He took aim, his expression unconsciously turning serious. Thump. The pellet shot out.
A hit!
However, the doll didn't fall. It merely shifted backward and wobbled slightly.
Hachiman immediately fired another shot, and the little doll finally tumbled over.
"Here's your prize, help yourselves."
The owner picked up the doll and handed it to Yui, his smile having vanished.
Yui was overjoyed as she took the small plushie.
"Thank you, Hachiman!"
"Isn't it a bit too small, though?"
Hachiman wasn't quite satisfied with the tiny prize. He turned to the owner and asked, "Boss, can I pay another three hundred yen for five more shots?"
"Well..."
The owner hesitated, having seen Hachiman's accuracy. Hachiman added with a smile, "I want to try for the big one at the top."
The owner's mood flipped instantly. "Fine by me!" He quickly grabbed the rifle and reloaded five pellets.
Those big prizes at the top were mostly just bait to attract customers. With the weak power of a plastic rifle, they were practically impossible to knock down. He remained calm, even mocking Hachiman's arrogance in his head.
Hachiman handed over the money.
Yui tried to stop him. "Hachiman, you won't hit that. Don't waste your money for nothing." Even she knew that the prizes at the top were a lost cause.
Hachiman gave her a light smile. "Yuigahama, trust me. Besides, it's all in good fun."
He looked incredibly confident. He felt like he had figured out the trick to this game, applying the precision he had honed through Kendo to this simple carnival attraction.
The owner made sure to emphasize that he had to hit the one at the very top.
Hachiman raised the rifle. His target this time was the massive Pan-san at the highest point, standing nearly half a meter tall.
Thump!
The first shot hit. The doll wobbled. Then the second, third, fourth...
Every single one of Hachiman's shots hit the exact same spot. The previously immovable doll began to sway, the momentum building with each hit.
Finally, on the sixth shot, the giant plushie toppled over. With one pellet left, Hachiman fired a parting shot, knocking down a small ornamental keychain for good measure.
The owner's face turned pale. He gritted his teeth as he handed the massive doll to Hachiman, forced a wry smile, and said, "This young man is quite something, isn't he?"
"Thanks for the compliment."
Hachiman took the doll with a wide grin. Six hundred yen didn't even cover a fraction of what this thing was worth. He immediately held it out to Yui. "Here. This one is a bit better."
"F-f-for me?!"
"Yeah!"
Yui immediately shook her head. "T-t-this is way too valuable! You should give it to Komachi! Yeah, give it to Komachi instead!"
She was almost afraid to take it; the surprise was just too much. She had never received a gift this big before.
Hachiman said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "Wasn't the whole point of shooting it to give it to you? Just take it. I already know what to buy for Komachi."
Yui was still hesitating, but Hachiman had already swapped the small doll from her hand and tucked the massive plushie into her arms.
Yui's entire face was practically buried in the doll; it felt incredibly soft.
"I'll keep this one," Hachiman said, lifting the small doll with a cheerful smile.
"Th-thank you."
Yui stood dazed for a moment, then, with a deep blush, she hugged the large doll tight. Her face disappeared into the soft fur, a look of pure happiness written all over her. She suggested, "How about... we shoot for one more? My treat this time!"
Hearing that, the owner behind the counter piped up instantly. "Young man, this is just a small business. If you really want to play more, there's another shop on the next street over. They have way more prizes than I do!"
Hachiman understood the principle of not overstaying one's welcome. If he kept going, the owner might actually challenge him to a duel.
"Oh! That's Yui, right?"
Just as they were about to leave, someone called out to Yui from behind. Turning around, they saw three familiar figures—the class "normies," Sagami Minami's trio.
"Minami!" Yuigahama ran over cheerfully. "You guys are here too!"
"Yui, so it is you..."
The three of them stared at Yui, their eyes lingering on the giant Pan-san doll, before shifting to Hachiman walking behind her. They asked with a confused look, "Are you... on a date with Hikigaya-kun?"
"Ah! Y-yeah, something like that, haha~" Yui nodded, her face turning crimson.
In an instant, the trio's gaze toward Yui became a complicated mix of envy and shock.
Hachiman walked up and gave a simple nod. "Hey." It took him a few seconds to even remember who these three were in his class.
"H-hello, Hikigaya-kun."
Sagami and her friends suddenly straightened their posture, looking a mix of excited and intimidated.
Hachiman was currently a celebrity at school, not to mention having a famous Kendo master as his teacher.
They had all watched the Gyokuryu-ku match—the school had sent out a message asking everyone to watch. Even those who didn't see it live had rushed to watch the replays after hearing about the victory, witnessing the high praise Hachiman received from various famous figures...
Hachiman's final match against Kitahara Shuji had left them completely awestruck.
They were actually more starstruck by him now than they were by Hayama Hayato. It was hard to imagine just how popular Hachiman would be once school started again.
"Minami, are you all here for the fireworks display too?" Yui asked softly.
"Ah! Y-yeah! Yui, you actually bought a Pan-san that big? It's so cute! I want one too... how much did it cost?"
"N-no, it wasn't like that. Hachiman shot it for me over there."
Yui pointed toward the small stall behind them.
Sagami Minami looked at the distant shop, then back at the doll that was almost as big as Yui herself. She asked in disbelief, "Hikigaya-kun... shot that for you?"
The jealousy in their eyes reached a boiling point. They kept stealing glances at Hachiman.
—They were drowning in regret. Why hadn't they tried to get on Hachiman's good side sooner? If they had only...
Hachiman waited off to the side while they finished their chat. In his memory, these three were always noisy, prone to judging others and using people's flaws as punchlines.
After a moment, Hachiman felt Yui had talked enough. He spoke up. "Yuigahama, let's find a place to drop that doll off first. You must be getting tired of carrying it like that."
"Ah! Right, coming!"
Yui agreed immediately. She was about to say goodbye when Sagami Minami beat her to it. "Wait, Hikigaya-kun! Since you guys are watching the fireworks too, why don't we all go together?"
She looked at Hachiman expectantly, though she kept glancing at Yui out of the corner of her eye...
Hachiman frowned slightly, shook his head, and said, "About that... Sagami-san, I'm sorry, but we still have to buy some things for my sister. We wouldn't want to get in the way of your plans."
As he spoke, he pulled out Komachi's wish list and gave it a little wave.
"O-oh, I see. W-well then."
The expressions on the trio's faces turned awkward.
Hachiman and Yui made their exit. Sagami Minami and her friends looked at the shooting stall nearby and walked over, a sense of spite fueling them. If Hachiman could do it, surely they could too. And then...
They spent all their pocket money and walked away with only a few tiny trinkets.
The stall owner laughed all the way to the bank.
...
"Let me carry that."
Hachiman took the doll from Yui. Even if it was just cotton, lugging something that size around for long was a chore.
"Th-thank you." Yui's face was bright red as she blinked her large eyes. She had clearly seen what Sagami and the others were thinking earlier.
"Hachiman, do you... not like them?"
"...I'm not a fan, and I'd rather not interact with them. So, Yuigahama... maybe you should try to keep your distance from them too." He felt a bit awkward saying it.
Yui clutched her small cloth bag and smiled. "It's not really like that. I don't actually hang out with them; it's just a classmate greeting thing. So, you don't have to worry, Hachiman."
Yui was incredibly sensitive to the atmosphere. She knew who was genuinely good to her and who viewed her as a joke; she just chose not to show it.
Hachiman glanced at her once, then continued walking ahead, soon finding a place to store the doll.
"Hey, hey! Hachiman! There's apple candy over there! Look, apple candy!"
Yui tugged at Hachiman and off they went.
...
"Boss, two apple candies, please." (Spoken simultaneously by two parties)
"?"
Akishin and Shizuka turned their heads. Across from them, Hachiman and Yui did the same. The four of them stared at each other.
"Sensei / Chishima-sensei! You guys are here too!"
"Didn't I send a message saying we'd be at the fireworks? I was just about to text and ask where you two were."
Akishin accepted four apple candies from the vendor, gave one to Shizuka, took one for himself, and handed the remaining two to Hachiman and Yui.
Shizuka walked up to her two students, looking them over with a wide, satisfied grin. "Hikigaya, Yuigahama! Hello there!"
"Hello, Hiratsuka-sensei. What a coincidence, you two being out for a stroll..."
While Shizuka and Yui were chatting, Akishin paid for the candies, left a tip, and asked, "Boss, is there a place to watch the fireworks around here that's a bit more... secluded?"
After a moment, Akishin walked back over and gave Hachiman a knowing look.
Hachiman caught the signal instantly. He immediately turned to Yui, who was still talking to Shizuka. "Yuigahama, I still have stuff to buy for Komachi! Let's go get that done first!"
"Eh? But Chishima-sensei is right here—"
Before Yui could finish, Hachiman had already grabbed her wrist and started dragging her away.
From a distance, his voice drifted back: "Hiratsuka-sensei, you two have fun!"
"???"
Shizuka was utterly confused. "But I wanted to invite them to join us..."
"We can find them later. Alright, Shizuka-chan, the display is about to start. Let's go. I know a really great spot to watch."
Akishin took Shizuka's hand and led her toward the display area, buying plenty of snacks and fruit along the way.
Ten minutes later, after following Akishin through a small wooded area, a stretch of grass opened up before them. Across the water, the Chiba Port Tower stood tall and imposing.
Under the light of the moon and stars, streaks of fire shot into the sky.
Boom... boom... boom...
Massive flowers of fire bloomed in the heavens. Golden, red, and orange lights overlapped, relentlessly illuminating the night sky.
There were still eight thousand fireworks scheduled as the theme for tonight.
"It's beautiful. Chishima-kun, how did you find this place? Have you been here before...?"
"Shizuka!"
Akishin suddenly let go of Shizuka's hand. He took a step forward, turned around, and looked up at the fireworks. The shifting lights reflected off his unusually serious face.
"I told you before... I wanted to confess to you on your birthday. Tomorrow is your birthday, but I can't wait until then. I think right now is the perfect time, so..."
Akishin turned his head, locking eyes with Shizuka, who stood there frozen. He reached out his hand, a smile touching his lips, and said loudly: "Shizuka, please entrust your life to me. Give it to Chishima Akishin. I will love you and protect you forever, for as long as I live."
Shizuka was stunned. Then, the tears came. She covered her mouth as tears began to fall, reflecting the fireworks above. These were tears of pure, unadulterated happiness.
—She had thought she was prepared for this. She had thought she was mature enough that, even upon hearing the confession she had been waiting for, she wouldn't get too worked up. But she was wrong. Dead wrong.
Logic is powerless against the heart.
A few seconds later, Shizuka lifted her hand and placed it gently in Akishin's. She spoke in a soft, trembling voice, "Chishima-kun... you promised, okay? Love me forever, for a lifetime. And protect me always."
"I promise. I will love you for the rest of my life, and I will protect you forever."
Akishin took a step forward, closing the final distance between their two souls.
Shizuka's lips moved slightly, soundlessly whispering Akishin's name. Her face was flushed, more beautiful than any rose blooming under the moon. With a sweet sense of surrender, she tilted her head back slightly, giving her silent permission, and slowly closed her eyes, letting the beautiful darkness take over her senses.
Akishin paused for a moment. He had been ready to pull her into a tight embrace, to hold that small frame close to his chest. But seeing Shizuka close her eyes with such sincerity, he understood that a more sacred invitation had been extended.
Accompanied by thousands of fireworks exploding grandly in the sky—as if the universe itself were applauding the union of two hearts—Akishin leaned down slowly. Beneath the rain of gold and silver light, his lips met Shizuka's.
It was a kiss that served as a seal on an eternal promise—a meeting that began a new chapter in their lives, which were now, finally, one.
...
ps: If a world with Akishin and Shizuka as inhabitants truly exists in the multiverse, I offer them my most sincere blessings!
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