The ceiling fan spun slowly above them.
July's heat had already completely taken over Class 3-A.
Even with a few windows open, the wind seemed to die before reaching the other side of the classroom.
The sound of cicadas echoed from outside.
Constant.
Sleepy.
Aoi was slumped over her desk, staring at the blackboard while fighting to keep her eyes open.
— Just one more week...
Her voice dragged lazily through the room.
Hina slowly lifted her eyes from her notebook.
The late afternoon sunlight reflected faintly on her glasses.
— Until summer vacation.
Misaki answered immediately without even lifting her head:
— Until freedom.
Mio burst out laughing.
— You say that like you're getting released from prison.
— Aren't we?
Hanae let out a small sigh while organizing papers on the teacher's desk.
— You still have exams tomorrow.
Misaki dramatically dropped her forehead onto the desk.
— I completely forgot.
From the back of the room, a voice replied:
— That explains a lot.
Matsuda was leaning back in his chair, lazily spinning a pen between his fingers with a crooked grin.
Misaki immediately pointed at him.
— Shut up.
Souma glanced toward Aoi.
— Did you finish studying?
She slowly lifted her notebook.
— More or less...
Riku commented while absentmindedly doodling in the corner of his paper:
— That's exactly what people say before they panic during the test.
Aoi laughed quietly.
— Very encouraging.
The heat made everyone slower.
More relaxed.
More honest, too.
Their final summer before graduation was getting closer.
And everyone could feel it...
Even without saying it out loud.
The next day, after exams ended, the entire class was scattered around cleaning the room.
Desks scraping across the floor.
Wet towels wiping down the windows.
The faint scent of cleaning products mixing with the summer heat.
Mio held a bucket while staring at the chaos around her.
— Who invented this?
Hanae answered without even looking up:
— Students.
— Then students are cruel.
Misaki was aggressively scrubbing the floor.
Like she was taking out all the stress from exams.
— I swear if Matsuda steps in here—
The door slid open.
Matsuda entered holding an ice-cold soda.
He looked at the wet floor.
Then at Misaki.
— Ah.
Silence.
Misaki slowly pointed at him.
— DON'T.
He slowly raised one foot.
— I was just gonna pass through—
— DON'T.
Mio laughed so hard she almost dropped the bucket.
Riku lowered his head trying to hide his smile.
Even Souma ended up laughing quietly.
The whole classroom felt lighter now that exams were over.
Like everyone could finally breathe again.
On the last day before summer vacation, the class returned to the room after the small ceremony in the gym.
Their teacher stood in front of the board with his arms crossed.
— Enjoy your vacation.
Some students answered half-heartedly:
— Yesss...
Then he continued:
— But don't forget... this is your last summer before graduation.
And for a few seconds...
the classroom became quiet.
Not completely.
But quiet enough.
Aoi looked at her friends.
Hina quietly adjusted her glasses.
Mio rested her chin on her hand.
Misaki slowly spun a pen between her fingers.
Hanae wrote something in her notebook.
Souma stared out the window.
The sky was completely blue.
Clear.
Endless.
Like summer itself was waiting right outside.
SUMMER VACATION
Red lanterns illuminated the festival streets.
Food stalls lined both sides of the road.
The smell of grilled food.
Laughter.
Distant music.
The sky was already dark, but everyone knew the fireworks would begin soon.
Amid the crowd, Aoi walked slowly.
Her light-blue yukata swayed softly as she looked around.
The festival lights reflected beautifully in her eyes.
— It's crowded...
Souma walked beside her with his hands in his pockets.
— Festivals are always like this.
She smiled softly.
— I'm glad you came.
He answered without looking directly at her:
— Of course I came.
Aoi looked away, trying to hide the small smile that naturally appeared on her face.
A little farther behind them, Hina walked while holding a small fan.
— It's still hot even at night...
Riku was eating shaved ice.
— Want some?
She blinked a few times.
— Hm?
He held the cup toward her.
— You can have some.
She accepted it.
— Thanks.
The two walked quietly for a few moments.
Then Hina asked:
— Have you been to this festival before?
— A few times.
Riku pointed toward the dark sky.
— But the fireworks here are good.
Hina smiled.
Small.
Gentle.
— Then let's wait for them.
Near a yakisoba stall, Hanae crossed her arms while staring at Takumi.
— You took forever.
Takumi held two plates.
— The line was huge.
She took one of the plates.
— Even class representatives should know how to pick better food stalls.
Takumi calmly replied:
— Then you can choose next time.
Hanae let out a quiet laugh.
— Fair enough.
Mio was completely focused on her skewer.
— This is so good.
Beside her, Misaki clearly wasn't paying attention to the food.
She kept glancing ahead.
— Hm.
Mio noticed immediately.
— Who are you staring at?
Misaki discreetly pointed forward.
— That idiot keeps looking over here.
Matsuda stood a few meters ahead talking with Souma and Riku.
Completely relaxed.
As usual.
Mio sighed dramatically.
— Is he looking at us... or at you, Misaki? Hehe~
Misaki answered way too quickly:
— M-me?! Why?!
Mio glanced at the necklace around her neck.
— Because you're still wearing the necklace he gave you.
Misaki instinctively grabbed the necklace.
— It'd be a waste to leave it at home.
Mio took another bite from her skewer.
— Do you... like him?
Misaki instantly turned toward her.
Bright red.
— S-shut u-up, Mio!
Mio smiled proudly.
— You can't say "no," huh?
— MIO.
After a while, the entire group eventually stopped near the riverbank.
The crowd slowly began looking up at the sky.
Aoi noticed first.
— It's starting.
Souma stood beside her.
Hina and Riku just behind them.
Hanae and Takumi quietly talking nearby.
Mio holding another sweet.
Misaki crossing her arms.
Matsuda standing slightly apart, looking up at the sky.
Then—
BOOM.
The first firework exploded.
Red light illuminated the entire night sky.
People around them began applauding.
The colorful reflections danced across the river.
Aoi slowly lifted her eyes.
The colors reflected beautifully in them.
— It's beautiful...
Souma answered quietly:
— Yeah.
But he wasn't looking at the fireworks.
He was looking at her.
Aoi noticed.
— What?
Without realizing it, the rest of the group slowly moved a little farther ahead.
Leaving the two slightly behind.
Souma took a breath.
Then quietly said:
— I said beautiful...
He looked away for a second.
— ...but you are too. More than the fireworks.
Aoi instantly turned bright red.
Her heart started beating so fast it felt impossible to hide.
She lowered her eyes.
Then smiled nervously.
— Souma... I thought this would be a good opportunity...
He blinked.
— Opportunity for what?
Aoi slowly stepped closer.
Then another step.
She gently closed her eyes.
Tilting her face upward slightly.
Making a small pout.
Souma stayed silent for a moment.
Fireworks continued exploding above them.
Coloring the entire sky.
Then he closed his eyes too.
And finally kissed her.
Soft.
Shy.
But filled with feelings that had been waiting far too long.
The fireworks kept exploding overhead while the river reflected every color around them.
And in that moment...
it felt like summer itself had stopped just for them.
Farther behind them, Hina quietly watched the fireworks.
Riku commented:
— Coming here was worth it.
She nodded softly.
— Very much.
Hanae stared at the colors bursting in the sky.
Takumi calmly said:
— This is our last summer before graduation.
She stayed quiet for a few seconds.
Then slowly held his hand.
And rested her head on his shoulder.
Takumi froze.
— H-Hanae...
She answered without moving away:
— What?
Takumi adjusted his glasses with his free hand.
Trying to stay rational.
Failing completely.
— I like you.
Hanae froze.
Smiling like an idiot.
Trying to process what she just heard.
Then suddenly jumped backward, completely red.
— W-WHAT?! W-where did that come from?!
Takumi immediately answered:
— I'm just being honest.
Hanae stared at him for a few seconds.
Then smiled again.
Softer.
Happier.
— Okay... hehe.
Mio watched everything while finishing another sweet.
— I like moments like this.
Misaki replied:
— Really?
— Yeah.
Misaki glanced toward Matsuda.
He was smiling while watching the fireworks.
Relaxed.
Happy.
She quickly looked away.
— Idiot...
Mio quietly laughed.
Another firework exploded overhead.
The river reflected every color.
And for several minutes...
nobody said anything.
Just the sound of fireworks.
People.
Summer.
And in that moment, without needing to say it aloud...
everyone was thinking the same thing:
This summer...
might become one of those memories we never forget.
The night was already getting late in Hoshimi.
The lanterns still lit the main street, though some stalls were beginning to close.
The smell of food still lingered in the air.
The group slowly walked near the riverbank.
Aoi held the sash of her yukata so she wouldn't trip.
— I ate too much...
Souma laughed.
— You only ate two things.
— It was four.
— Ah.
She looked offended.
— Traitor.
A little farther behind them, Misaki crossed her arms.
— This festival is way too crowded.
Mio was still holding shaved ice.
— You're only irritated because Matsuda disappeared.
Misaki instantly replied:
— I don't care.
Mio pointed ahead.
— He's right there.
Matsuda was standing beside a closing stall while talking to Riku.
Misaki quickly looked away.
— Idiot...
Hanae walked beside Takumi.
— It's already ending...
Takumi looked at the lanterns.
— Festivals always end too fast.
Hina silently agreed.
The fireworks had already ended.
But people still wandered through the streets.
The atmosphere now felt calm.
Almost melancholic.
Like the festival itself was saying goodbye.
Then a voice suddenly came from the main street.
— Hey... isn't that Aoi?
Aoi stopped.
Turned around.
And widened her eyes.
— Takeo?
He walked toward them smiling.
Behind him were Shinohara, Kaito... and Mya.
Aoi blinked several times.
— What are you guys doing here?!
Kaito raised a hand.
— University break.
Shinohara calmly answered:
— We came back to visit the city.
Takeo laughed.
— We messaged the Eternal Aegis Online group, but none of you checked it.
Hina widened her eyes.
— Wow... we seriously need to change that name. Nobody's played that game in ages.
Shinohara sighed.
— There are like three games we could play... but someone's always busy.
Kaito pointed at them dramatically.
— My university schedule is different from yours!
Takeo laughed.
— Yeah, Toho is way more intense, hehe.
Mya looked toward Aoi.
— Taking care of the club?
Aoi smiled warmly.
— Senpais... yeah. And now we've got amazing kouhais too.
Everyone smiled.
Then suddenly three voices came running toward them.
— AAH, SENPAIS?!
Minase Rina, Tachibana Yui, and Kujo Haruto ran toward the group.
Haruto bowed quickly.
— Good evening!
Yui widened her eyes the moment she saw Mya.
— That woman... is Mya-senpai?!
Minase and Haruto stared in shock.
— The theater monster?!
Minase leaned closer.
— She really looks exactly like the photo... wow.
Mya stayed silent for a second.
Then slowly smiled.
— "Theater monster"...?
The three froze instantly.
Aoi burst out laughing.
— You guys are dead.
Everyone greeted each other.
The street suddenly felt lively again.
Takeo opened his arms dramatically.
— Let's take a picture!
And so everyone gathered together.
Seniors.
Kouhais.
Old friends.
New friends.
The camera clicked.
Freezing that moment forever.
Smiles.
Lights.
Summer.
After the photo, Matsuda dropped his pose.
— I told you guys you still remembered Hoshimi.
Mio tilted her head.
— So you came back just for the festival?
Takeo answered:
— Of course.
He looked around.
The lanterns.
The streets.
The river.
— This place hasn't changed at all.
Aoi smiled.
— You're the one who changed.
Mya quietly observed the whole group.
With a small smile.
Misaki looked toward her.
— Wait... you're their senpai?
Mya nodded.
— Second-year university student now.
Matsuda casually added:
— She bosses them around at university too.
Kaito immediately pointed at Takeo.
— That's a lie, right?!
Mya slowly turned toward him.
— Want to repeat that?
Silence.
Misaki started laughing.
— I like her.
The entire group stood there talking for several more minutes.
About university.
About school.
About the club.
About the festival.
One by one, the lanterns slowly began going dark.
The street became quieter.
Takeo looked up at the sky.
— It's been a while since I watched fireworks here.
Aoi replied:
— You missed the best ones.
He sighed dramatically.
— I'm always late.
Souma slipped his hands into his pockets.
— At least you made it.
Shinohara quietly looked around at everyone gathered together.
— Hoshimi always brings everyone back together in the end.
Mio nodded.
— Always.
Misaki glanced toward Matsuda.
He was laughing loudly at something Kaito had said.
She crossed her arms.
— Idiot...
Mio smiled knowingly.
— But you're happy he came.
Misaki didn't answer.
But she didn't deny it either.
The night breeze passed softly through the street.
The remaining lanterns swayed gently.
And for a moment...
everyone simply stayed there.
As if that reunion had been pure coincidence.
But also...
exactly what was supposed to happen.
Aoi looked at everyone.
Old friends.
New friends.
And quietly thought:
Even when we all follow different paths...
some nights still manage to bring everyone back to the same place.
Library.
Weak air conditioning.
Books scattered across the table.
Hanae studied seriously.
Takumi explained something in a notebook.
Mio stared absentmindedly out the window.
Misaki secretly used her phone under the table.
Souma whispered to Aoi:
— Did you understand this part?
Aoi tilted her head.
— More or less.
Matsuda looked at both of them.
— You two are terrible students.
Misaki immediately replied:
— You're worse.
Final week of summer vacation.
The group walked near the school.
The gate was closed.
The building felt silent.
Different.
Aoi stopped and looked at it quietly.
— It feels weird seeing the school empty.
Souma replied:
— Not for long.
Mio looked toward the building.
— Once classes start again...
Hina quietly finished the sentence:
— We'll already be halfway through our final year.
Misaki crossed her arms.
— Don't say that.
Hanae smiled softly.
— But it's true.
The warm August wind passed through the courtyard.
The cicadas kept singing endlessly.
Aoi looked at her friends.
Everyone was there.
Laughing.
Talking.
Living through that summer together.
And for a moment, she thought:
Maybe this is it...
the kind of day we'll remember years from now.
The sun slowly began setting behind the school.
And their final summer...
still wasn't over.