Part 95: 8/16/09

8/16/09

The festival was today.



Junpei asked if I’d go with him. I kind of feel bad that I turned him down but there’s already people convinced we’re going out and I don’t want to fuel that particular fire.



There’s a summer festival at Naganaki Shrine today. If you’ve got nothin’ better to do, wanna go with me?
No thanks.
Aww, alright. Oh well… See ya.
> You declined Junpei’s invitation.

Also, I was kind of hoping someone else would ask me…



There’s a festival at the Naganaki Shrine today… Wanna come with?
Sure!
All right, then I’ll see you later.
> You decided to go to the Summer Festival with Akihiko.

He did, which makes me happy. Not just because it was him, but because I get to pretend for one day that we’re all normal people living normal lives.



> You decide to go wearing a yukata.

To pretend for a day my biggest problem was what I was going to wear to a festival.



> The shrine is filled with people eating food and playing games.
Wow, looks like business is booming.
There’s a lot of people too… Make sure you don’t get separated, okay?
Should we hold hands?
What’re you talking about? I don’t treat you that much like a kid, do I?
C’mon, let’s go pay a visit to the shrine first.
> Akihiko seems to be having a lot of fun…
…That looks hard to walk in.
You didn’t have to wear a yukata here, you know?
Oh, er…
I didn’t mean… well, um…
It… makes it hard to look directly at you.
……
Y-You look good in it! Don’t get mad…
> It seems Akihiko is very happy to see you wearing it…

I mean it’s not like we’re actually going out. Unless we are. I have no idea.



Takoyaki, huh… Wanna share one? It’s my treat.
Excuse me, one takoyaki please.
Takoyaki Cook: Ooh, you’re one fine lookin’ man. You get an extra one, hot stuff!
Say, is this your girlfriend? Ahh, the good ol’ days of youth.
Th-That’s not it!
Oh… Um…
……
> Akihiko quietly put a takoyaki in his mouth.
……!
> It seems to have been hot…
That was a dangerous bout…
But I came out victorious in the end.
Here, eat up.
> You shared the takoyaki with Akihiko as he egged you on to dig in…

I mean we could be. Unless we aren’t.



Masks… I remember those.
500 yen, huh…?
I can actually afford these now.
…They were too expensive for me to buy when I was a kid.
When I came to festivals, I’d just wander around and go home because I couldn’t buy anything.
Now I actually have the money…
Game Attendant: Hey! You two! Would you like to play Lucky Draw?
All you do is pick a ball! It’s easy! And, everyone’s a winner!
Lucky Draw, huh…?
I’ve always doubted whether it’s really possible to win the stuff on display.
Give it a try, Aelita. I’ll pay for it.
> You stuck your hand inside the big box that the game attendant held out to you…
> The box is filled with individually numbered balls…

It’s always best to just go it in a situation like this.



> You quickly pulled out the first ball you grabbed.
Game Attendant: Whoa! Congratulations!
Man, you’ve got some luck to win something at our booth, miss!
Here’s your prize. It’s Kaleidoscope!
> Obtained Kaleidoscope.
It would’ve been amazing if you’d won first place…
Though I’d hate for you to use up all your luck here, of all places.
Oh, you’re the one who drew the win, so the prize is yours.
…I’m saying that you can have it.
> The sky is covered in darkness.
It’s completely dark out. Looks like we’ve been here for quite a while.
I had fun taking a breather today. …Thank you.
> You decided to go back to the dorm.

Though I wish I wasn’t the only person who felt that way sometimes…