Novel | "Serenity Pattern" Episode 32

The Japanese-style room adjacent to the Buddhist altar room. Kaori goes to the end of it, to the sliding glass door, and sits on the veranda. Then, she just stares blankly outside.

Mountains and a blue sky spread out before her, and in front of them, an open space consisting only of rice fields. It is a picturesque, tranquil rural landscape. It is comforting that there is a decent distance from the neighboring house, so she does not have to worry about being seen.

"Meen, min-min-min-min-min-min." She can hear the earnest chirping of cicadas.

Cicadas are living their limited time to the fullest. "I'm sorry to the cicadas, but I don't feel like I have a limited time right now," Kaori says in a low voice. She feels at a loss, wondering how long this middle school life will continue like this. She even feels like she wants to end everything. A life where just going to school is all she can manage. Long vacations are her emotional support. But that, too, will end next week. Kaori is terrified of summer vacation ending.

"Kaori~" She hears Yu's voice from behind and turns around.

"Today, we're doing the welcoming fire, so why don't we do some fireworks?" Grandma Yoshi came to the veranda with a variety pack of fireworks.

"Look at this, it's a special occasion, so why not? I'm going to do it," Yu says with a smile.

"Fireworks, huh. That sounds nice." The negative emotions that had been going in circles. Talking to Grandma Yoshi and Yu allows her to step away from them, even if only for a moment. Besides, she is happy that Grandma Yoshi prepared fireworks for her grandchildren, and she feels the kindness deeply. Kaori holds back the tears that are about to spill over. When you live a daily life where you are constantly treated coldly, your tear ducts tend to become fragile.

*
"Crackle, crackle, crackle, crackle." The sound of wood burning. The flames flicker quietly in the summer night.

"Well then, shall we try the fireworks?" After confirming that the flames are burning sufficiently, Grandma Yoshi stands up to get the fireworks.

"Yeah," Yu and Kaori reply at the same time. Yaeko is the fire warden and does not take her eyes off the flames.

The fireworks Grandma Yoshi prepared. Each of them picks up their favorite fireworks.

And they take fire from the welcoming fire. The white, green, orange, and red colors of the fireworks color the night.

Time spent with just the four of them, undisturbed by anyone. The happiness of being able to frolic without worrying about being seen. The fun time passed in the blink of an eye.

Finally, the last one. Sparklers. The four of them light them all at once.

A sphere like when glass is blown. A color mixed with orange and red.

It sways even with a breeze so light you wouldn't normally feel it on your body.

Kaori concentrates on not moving her hand. Even so, it becomes precarious with the slightest vibration or wind.

"Plop."

"Oh. It fell."

"Kaori, you were the fastest," Yu says, looking at Kaori.

"Yu. Don't look away. Focus on your own. Haha."

"Plop."

"Oh. It fell."

"Hahahahahaha." Kaori and Yu burst into laughter together.

Yoshi-baa and Yaeko's sparklers are both still lit. It is a night with no lights around. The firewood crackles, and beside it, the sparklers glow modestly. A quiet, calm night.

"Ah." Yu notices something.

"Yoshi-baa and Mom have their backs to the wind, don't they?"

"Huh? Oh! Is it because they are on the opposite side from us?"

"We were taking the wind head-on, weren't we?"

"I see. They are protecting their sparklers from the wind."

"It feels like... Grandma and Mom's love. I wonder if we are being protected just as subtly in ways we don't even notice. Hehe." Yu narrows his eyes.

Yoshi-baa and Yaeko's sparklers gradually grew smaller, emitted tiny sparks, and then faded away fleetingly.

I wish today could last forever, Kaori thinks.

I wish we could live here forever, Yu thinks.