Tanabata Stride ①

The sky over the Tanabata festival was covered in rain clouds, just as Orie had decided this would be the end. "I'll walk you to the station," Hoshihiko said in his youthful voice. The number of steps they took was the time they had left together. Family, work, social standing, the age gap. Which one should she emphasize so that both she and he could accept the situation?
"Please, use this for your tuition and your mother's hospital bills," she said, offering a few banknotes. She wasn't even sure if he was truly a struggling student. A look of bewilderment appeared on his handsome face. It's not enough, is it? I'm sorry, this is all I can manage.
"Let's go through the arcade; it's a bit of a detour, but let's go." As they strolled through the shopping street decorated for Tanabata, a portable shrine approached from ahead. Tonight was the summer festival in this city of secret meetings. Even if they wanted to turn back, they couldn't move because of the crowd of onlookers. Even if they wanted to let it pass, the procession moved at a snail's pace. Children and women in happi coats and yukata skillfully twisted their tabi and zori, appearing to move forward while continuing to step in the same place.
"Go for it!" cheers flew from the children's families and friends. Hoshihiko pulled Orie firmly against him as she stumbled, pushed by the crowd. The lingering sensation from earlier returned through their intertwined fingers in the bustle. "I want to see you again. I've finished paying off my scholarship, so next, I want to pay you back." Behind them, the sounds of smartphones and cameras capturing the scenery echoed, along with the voices of children excitedly saying they would post it on Instagram.

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