Chapter 46: The Memory Adjustment is Powerful

Translator: Soafp

TL: We caught up, so no more daily updates. I will post a new chapter whenever one is available.

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“Hey, Renya. Long time no see.”

“Yeah, long time no see, Aikawa.”

　On the day of the summer festival, I went to the meeting place and found Aikawa already there. It seems that the ladies are still waiting.

　Aikawa asked me to go to the festival, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to, but I thought that if I was going to move, I wouldn’t have the chance to go to the summer festival with my childhood friends anymore, so I decided to go for the last time to make memories. After watching the news, I decided not to get involved with people too much.

When I was disgusted with myself for straying from the path of trustworthiness, Fujibayashi and Miyamoto arrived a little late for the meeting.

“Sorry we’re late! It was harder to move than I thought…”

“Sorry, both of you. We’re late.”

“Should I say we just got here?”

“That’s correct, Aikawa, unless you added something.”

　Fujibayashi and Miyamoto were wearing pink and light blue yukata respectively. It’s not easy to move in a crowded place in a yukata. I don’t mind if they’re a little late.

“I’m really sorry. I’ll buy you something.”

“Don’t worry about it. I didn’t wait very long.”

“But I made you wait…”

“Like Renya said, don’t worry about it! Come on, let’s go! I’m starving.”

　After saying that, Aikawa starts walking as if he is leading the way. I smiled at his back and followed him.

“Come on, let’s go. I want something to eat, too.”

“Yeah, I get it.”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

　As I was about to follow Aikawa, urging the still apologetic pair, I suddenly thought of them and turned back to them.

“I forgot to mention that both of you look great in yukata.”

“T-thanks…”

“Thank you, Renya-kun.”

　I forgot that we were supposed to meet up. It’s a promise to say that they just arrived and to compliment their clothes. Fujibayashi was embarrassed and Miyamoto was happy, even though it was just a random thought.

　I’m sorry, but it’s kind of the opposite.

“Renya, let’s do target shooting!”

“What happened to the food?”

“We can’t do that with food in our hands, right? Let’s play first so we don’t have to eat in the middle of a crowd!”

　I followed Aikawa to the target shooting stall.

“For two, old man!”

“Yes. Five bullets per person.”

　I loaded the gun he handed me and took a quick look at the prizes, but there was nothing I wanted.

“Which ones do you two want?”

　I called out to them, who were looking at me from behind as if they were not planning to play target shooting.

“Eeh?”

“I don’t want anything in particular, so just pick one. I don’t know if I can get it.”

“Uhm, then I’ll take the stuffed cat. What about you, Ruri?”

I’ll …. take the stuffed rabbit.””

“Ayo.”

　I listened to their request and fired one shot at the stuffed cat in front of me. It took a hit, shook a little, and fell back, but it didn’t drop the cat. But it was surprisingly powerful, so if I used all five shots, I might be able to drop it.

　After that, I missed one shot, but I managed to get the stuffed cat.

“You’re good, Renya. I could only drop sweets.”

“Somehow. If you’re done shooting, let’s change spots. One more time, old man.

　I paid for another round and switched places with Aikawa. The stuffed rabbit is hard to aim from the same position as before.

　After that, I used all five shots and dropped the stuffed rabbit. The old man who owned the store laughed and handed me two stuffed animals.

“Way to go, brother! You got to show the girls how cool you are! Which one is it?”

“Neither one.”

　I turn my back on the old man and hand the stuffed animals to Fujibayashi and Miyamoto.

“Here.”

“Thank you, Renya-kun.”

“Thank you, Renya. You took the trouble to get one for me too.”

“No, I just thought it would be a problem if only one of you gets one.”

　If I hadn’t gotten one in the first five shots, that would have been the end of it, but I did get one. It would be awkward to give it to just one person after asking two people.

“Oi, let’s get something to eat this time! I want beef skewers, yakisoba and okonomiyaki!”

As if he was satisfied with just playing target practice, Aikawa headed toward the food stalls.

He’s as restless as ever.”

“You haven’t changed a bit. You’re still a kid?”

“Haha. I think he’s excited to see everyone for the first time in a while. You know, only one of us goes to a different school.”

　Is it lonely to be the only one among the four childhood friends who goes to a different school? Is that why he invited me today?

“Ooi”

　Aikawa was rushing me, so I stopped thinking and went after him. Now, what shall I eat?

“We can eat in peace around here, right?”

“Yeah.”

　After that, we each bought what we wanted to eat and went through the crowds to find a place to eat. It was a little dimly lit, but there were fewer people near the shrine on the hill, so we settled down there.

“What do you want to eat first, Renya?”

“Takoyaki.”

“Hooi.”

“Thanks.”

　I put one of the takoyaki that Aikawa gave me into my mouth. It’s been a while since I’ve eaten takoyaki.

“It has been a while since I’ve been to a summer festival, but there are so many people here.”

“Yes, it is. I’m a little tired.”

　The women seemed to be a little tired after visiting so many stalls in their unfamiliar yukata. Should I have been more considerate?

“We bought so much stuff, let’s just relax here until the fireworks go off! If you want anything else, I’ll get it for you.”

“By yourself?”

“We can’t just leave the two girls here, can we?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

　It would be a hassle if someone started to pick up girls. Both Fujibayashi and Miyamoto have the appearance to be picked up.

　With that in mind, I took another bite of takoyaki.

“It’s about time for the fireworks to go off.”

“Right.”

　As soon as I said that, the fireworks went off. While we were eating what we had bought and chatting, it seemed that it was time for the fireworks to go off.

　I stopped eating and looked up at the sky to see another firework going off. The people around us were all looking up at the sky.

　The fireworks I hadn’t seen in a long time were beautiful, but not as impressive as the ones I had seen when I was a kid. Should I think that I’ve grown up, or am I just tired of watching them? Or is it memory correction?

　I still remember the fireworks that the four of us watched together when we were kids, just like today. We went around the stalls with our pocket money in hand, and while we were resting in a less crowded place after getting tired of having fun, the fireworks went off. I still have the memory of watching the fireworks with my pocket money in hand.

“………”

　Will today’s event remain in my memory? If I move out, this will be the last time I’ll be able to watch the fireworks with my three childhood friends.

　Will we see them again next year, or will they only be in my memory, or will my memory disappear like the fireworks that disappeared into the sky?

　I don’t know yet.

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