Chapter 160: Cotton Candy and Apple Candy (Long Chapter)
Night had fallen, and the entire city was bathed in the glow of artificial lights. High above, the twilight lingered in the sky, looking down upon the shimmering world of humans below...
Dinner consisted of noodles, handmade by Akishin. This time, Yuren didn't offer any resistance. With the assistance of two maids, twelve servings of vegetarian noodles were prepared and served.
Once the meal was finished, Sachiko took Shizuka upstairs to change into her Kimono. Akishin stayed downstairs, keeping the Uncle company over a few drinks. Tonight, the four of them were headed out to attend the ritual worship and watch the Fireworks Display.
This was a mandatory annual festival in Chiba, funded by the government. Hachiman had already sent a message saying he'd be heading out as well, accompanied by Yuigahama Yui.
After a short while, Shizuka descended from the upper floor. She held the hem of her Kimono, her face slightly flushed as she looked at Akishin. "What do you... think?"
Akishin was stunned for a moment before offering a smile and a compliment. "You look beautiful, of course."
The sight honestly caught him off guard.
This was the first time he had ever seen Shizuka in a Kimono, and she truly was stunning.
Shizuka wore a deep crimson Kimono adorned with a pattern of yellow maple leaves. The red was a sophisticated, dark shade, while the yellow was that natural, earthy tone of autumn leaves tinged with a hint of red.
Wrapped around her waist was an ivory-white obi, tied into an elegant bow at the back. Despite the red color, it didn't feel loud; instead, it accentuated Shizuka's gentle aura. She wore pristine white Tabi socks with Geta on her feet, and in her hands, she carried a round silk fan and a small drawstring bag in matching colors.
Her beautiful long hair was swept up in a sophisticated bun, leaving a single stray lock to dangle beside each ear. Her fair face was enhanced by a touch of light makeup, making her skin appear even paler and her cheeks more radiant.
Her long eyelashes fluttered softly as she tilted her head down, averting her eyes and looking at Akishin with a shy, bashful expression.
It was an impression of purity mingled with nobility, looking like a cherished treasure belonging to one person alone. It was the kind of sight that made anyone's eyes sparkle.
This was Shizuka, yet it wasn't the Shizuka he knew. The usual Shizuka would never look at Akishin like this. She was simply too beautiful.
Akishin felt his blood pressure rise slightly, and the gift tucked in his pocket suddenly felt very warm.
He had actually done some research on Kimonos before. It was the kind of clothing that was essentially reserved for the wealthy. The stuff you usually saw on the streets was actually Yukata—the simple, single-layered garments originally worn after bathing. A proper Kimono, however, involved an inner layer—a white undergarment—and was incredibly complex, made from high-quality materials.
The one Shizuka was wearing was even higher grade than that. Despite the multiple layers, it wouldn't feel stifling in this weather, and it would provide just enough warmth when the night air cooled down.
"Chishima-kun, I'll be leaving Shizuka in your hands for a while."
Sachiko had come downstairs as well. She had also applied light makeup, which softened the faint wrinkles on her face and made her look over a decade younger. Standing next to Shizuka, they hardly looked like mother and daughter.
However, their auras were worlds apart. Sachiko's presence was much calmer and more authoritative, while Shizuka, standing beside her, gave off the vibe of a companion.
Then again...
Shizuka would likely grow up to be exactly like that, Akishin thought with a sense of anticipation.
Yuren approached them and asked, "Is everyone ready? If so, let us depart."
"Ready."
Akishin nodded. Neither he nor Yuren had changed their clothes. Akishin had simply thrown on a light hoodie, while Yuren remained in the blue Gofuku he had been wearing since noon.
In the distance, the sound of music was already audible—the chants of people surrounding the bonfires as they carried the portable shrines...
Following Yuren out of the Hiratsuka residence, they found two black sedans waiting outside. The four of them climbed into the lead car, while the second car was reserved for the staff.
Yuren was actually quite strict when it came to managing his subordinates. Even though there were only eight servants at the house, none dared to cross any lines, yet he was always very generous with salaries and holidays.
Tonight, while the family went out to enjoy themselves, the staff were naturally allowed to go play as well. Most of them had families nearby anyway, as long as they returned in time for the trip home.
The car pulled out of the villa district, merged onto the main road, and joined the dense flow of traffic. Every vehicle seemed to be heading in the same direction.
Twenty minutes later, the car pulled into a lot outside the commercial district. A massive crowd had already gathered.
The roar of the festivities hit their ears.
The towering Chiba Port Tower utilized its mirror-like exterior walls to reflect the glow of the lights from the ground. The tower itself was lit up brilliantly, causing the excitement of the crowd waiting for the opening ceremony to overflow.
Everyone was talking and laughing loudly, trading cheerful, glowing glances.
The streets were lined with all sorts of stalls. The stalls selling Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki were, of course, present. Nearby convenience stores and bars had moved their merchandise outside to sell. Restaurants were even using the firework views as a promotional strategy to lure in customers.
This was a Japanese summer.
Perhaps because Japanese blood flowed through her veins, Shizuka became quite excited the moment she stepped out of the car. Even before they had a chance to part ways, she already looked like she wanted to drag Akishin off.
Yuren stood with Sachiko. Watching his daughter grab Akishin's hand with such an excited face, his expression turned complicated, as if something in his heart was slipping away—the daughter who used to watch the fireworks with him now belonged to someone else.
With a sigh, and under the wide, smiling gaze of his wife, Yuren spoke. "Chishima-kun, we'll split up here. You young people go off and play on your own. Your Aunt and I want to walk around and meet some old friends, so we won't be joining you. Have a good time..."
That last sentence was the key. Today's Fireworks Display was being attended by many important figures—the three members of the Yukinoshita family, for instance. They had to go meet them. The necessary social interactions had to happen, and they certainly couldn't bring two juniors along, as it would only spoil their fun.
"I understand. Uncle, Aunt, please enjoy yourselves as well."
Akishin understood their thinking. He noticed that the way Yuren looked at him had become a bit unusual since they arrived, to the point where he couldn't help but stare at the hand Shizuka was using to lead him...
Sachiko said gently, "Don't worry, we've attended parties like this many times."
Her gaze toward Akishin was always one of total satisfaction. She was completely at peace seeing her daughter with Akishin; in fact, she was the one working the hardest to play matchmaker.
The Hiratsuka couple supported Shizuka's freedom in love, hoping she could find someone she truly cared for.
If not for that, Shizuka probably would have been married off a long time ago!
Soon, the four of them went their separate ways, and the eight servants also headed off to enjoy the night.
However...
Akishin still detected a few hidden gazes. There was no malice; their targets were the Hiratsuka couple. They were likely their bodyguards or something similar.
The distance between the commercial square and the firework site wasn't far; the entire festival and the commercial area practically bordered each other.
But with the sheer number of visitors flooding the location, moving forward was no easy task.
This square was usually very empty, leaving only an impression of a vast area, but now, even looking from a distance, all that could be seen was a sea of people.
In the midst of the stuffiness typical of a crowded place, a comfortable sea breeze occasionally blew through.
Akishin pulled out his phone to check the time. It had just passed seven in the evening, while the Fireworks Display wouldn't start until nine.
Therefore, he pulled Shizuka toward a bonfire in the distance. In the front square, a group of people was dancing gently around a loudspeaker.
It was a very simple type of dance involving many hand movements, expressing the joy of people in hell who had been saved. Basically, anyone could learn it just by watching once or twice. Nowadays, it had evolved into a traditional dance where every region might have slight variations, but the meaning remained the same.
In the old days, this dance went on all night, but now that the rhythm of life in the big city had sped up, it usually stopped after midnight, serving as a mere formality.
There was a parade of portable shrines in the streets, the atmosphere thick with laughter and cheers. Akishin held Shizuka's hand as they navigated the streets until they reached a small clearing. Two giant bonfires were burning there—in the big city, residents generally weren't allowed to burn spirit-welcoming fires at their own homes, so it had been turned into a collective event.
The purpose was to provide light for the spirits so they wouldn't get lost—of course, the Hiratsuka residence, being a detached building with a private yard, wasn't really subject to such bans; a spirit-welcoming fire was currently burning in the Hiratsuka family's Buddhist altar as well.
The bonfires were surrounded in the center, and on the other side stood a high stage. On top of it, several women in Yukatas were singing together, accompanied by people playing the Taiko drums and plucking the Shamisen. Many people in Yukatas circled the stage and the bonfires, dancing to the rhythm.
It was incredibly lively; the full atmosphere of the festival hit them square in the face. In his memory, it felt like this kind of scene had only existed during his childhood.
Akishin said to Shizuka, "Do you want to go dance too?"
He was referring, of course, to that traditional dance.
Shizuka looked at the crowd over there, then back at Akishin. "Chishima-kun, dressed like that, you'd look a bit out of place."
Those who were dancing were all wearing Yukata, Gofuku, or Jinbei. Akishin, in his casual clothes, would look like a sore thumb if he joined in.
"Never mind then. Let's go get some snacks; honestly, I didn't get quite full earlier."
Akishin saw that Shizuka wasn't interested in the dance, and as it happened, neither was he. However, he was very interested in the open-air stalls not far away.
That place was usually a vacant lot, but during festival holidays, all sorts of stalls would gather there, forming a massive Night Market filled with various snacks and small games. The prices were cheap, and it was a lot of fun.
Shizuka turned toward them and nodded happily. "Okay, let's go!"
Her main goal in coming here was to watch the fireworks with Chishima-kun; the second was these open stalls. In previous years, she had always been alone, so she basically never bothered coming here...
She immediately pulled Akishin along.
Shizuka's hand felt soft and smooth. It was a bit cold at first, but after being held for a while, it grew warm...
All sorts of aromas mixed in the air: the scent of Takoyaki, the sweetness of Apple Candy, the smell of cumin from the grills, the savory seafood flavor of Oden... The vendors at these stalls didn't care about the 'three-day vegetarian' rule; they sold whatever made money, and the people who came here tended to selectively forget about it as well.
"Shizuka, want some Cotton Candy?"
Akishin looked toward the Cotton Candy stall ahead.
The Cotton Candy machine hummed, releasing the sweet scent of sugar. The vendor gathered the fine white sugar fibers inside the machine using a bamboo stick, then placed them into a bag and hung them from the stall's roof. The bags were printed with anime characters or heroes.
It looked exactly the same as when Akishin was a kid; it hadn't changed with the passage of time. Shizuka, whose hand was still being held, also got swept up in the nostalgia, looking at the Cotton Candy with a fond expression.
"How nostalgic. Let's buy one too?"
"Sure." Akishin pulled Shizuka to the front of the Cotton Candy stall and said to the owner, "Boss, give us two Cotton Candies."
"You got it, young man. You look a bit familiar, though. Do you visit the Night Market often?"
"Haha, I've never been to this area before!"
Akishin replied with a polite laugh. Soon, two beautiful portions of Cotton Candy were handed over. "Here you go. I hope you two have a wonderful time tonight."
"Thank you."
After paying, Akishin and Shizuka each held a large Cotton Candy and continued walking forward. Shizuka used a bamboo stick to pinch off a tuft of sugar fiber, popped it into her mouth, and her large, lively eyes squinted happily into crescents.
"So sweet~. Come on, Chishima-kun, you try some too. I haven't eaten this in years."
Shizuka pinched off another small tuft and held it out in front of Akishin.
Akishin was stunned for a moment. Shizuka also suddenly realized—wasn't this a bit too intimate?! Before she could pull her hand back, Akishin had already bitten the Cotton Candy in front of him and flashed a smile at her.
"It really is very sweet."
As he spoke, Akishin also pinched a small tuft from his own Cotton Candy and held it out to Shizuka with a grin.
Shizuka's face turned bright red, and she gave him a playful, coy look, but she still ate the Cotton Candy in front of her in one bite. Not to be outdone, she again pinched some sugar and held it out to Akishin. Akishin ate it in one bite, then took another tuft of Cotton Candy and retaliated in kind...
They took turns feeding each other Cotton Candy as if they were in a competition. You take a bite, I take a bite; I feed you, you feed me. Gradually, they melted into the crowd...
The Cotton Candy vendor watched the scene from behind, took a puff of his cigarette, and murmured with a sentimental smile, "It really is great to be young! That kid definitely looks familiar. Now where have I seen him..."
Before he could think any deeper, another customer arrived. "Boss, one Cotton Candy."
"Right, just a moment..."
...
Looking at the empty bamboo stick in her hand, Shizuka's face turned even redder. They... they actually fed each other until the Cotton Candy was all gone!!! This... this was something she wouldn't have dared to imagine before!
But...
She glanced at Akishin beside her, who was laughing heartily. If he wasn't embarrassed, why should I be?! She looked left and right, then proactively linked her arm with Akishin's.
Akishin had just finished throwing away the bamboo stick when he felt a tug on his arm. He turned and asked with a smile, "What is it?" Why the sudden hold?
It wasn't surprising that Akishin was confused. Shizuka was really just too shy. If you weren't a little proactive, you'd have no idea how many years it would take for her to approach you on her own initiative.
Shizuka's face was flushed, making her look incredibly cute. She didn't dare make eye contact and said, "Don't get the wrong idea. It's just because there are so many people; I'm just afraid you'll get lost. Right, that's it, that's why..."
Akishin was taken aback for a second, then smiled. "In that case, thank you very much."
"Hmph! Glad you know." Shizuka gave a soft huff, tilting her nose up slightly.
So cute! She was seriously just too cute! How could anyone be this cute? In short, absolutely adorable!
Akishin's eyes also crinkled into happy crescents.
They continued walking forward, buying Takoyaki and playing a game of "treasure hooking"—where many strings were tied together, with prizes at the bottom. Players pulled a string, and if there was a prize on the other end, it was yours, though most were usually empty.
But perhaps because Shizuka's luck was peaking today, she actually managed to pull a prize—a Pan-san (Panda) plushie about twenty centimeters tall, which counted as a major prize. Shizuka hugged the doll happily.
Akishin spotted the translucent Apple Candy at a stall ahead and asked Shizuka gently, "Want some Apple Candy?"
It was a regular apple coated in a layer of clear sugar syrup, very similar to Chinese Tanghulu, only with the hawthorn replaced by an apple.
However, in Japan, Apple Candy like this was incredibly popular among schoolgirls and women.
Shizuka clung to Akishin's arm and turned toward it, her eyes lighting up. "I want some, ugh~, Chishima-kun, buy it for me~ ehe~"
Shizuka winked flirtatiously, her face slightly red as she bit her lip slightly and leaned in closer to him. Akishin felt an indescribable softness against his arm...
It was both cute and enchanting.
"!!!"
Akishin felt his blood pressure spike once again.
...
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