The girl of my first love, whom I met again after seven years. I'm falling in love with you for the second time. - Chapter 47: The School Festival of Saijo High (4)

Chapter 47: The School Festival of Saijo High (4)

Finding a bench near the fairgrounds, Aizawa and I sat down.

“I guess we can relax a bit here,” (Hiroto)

“Everyone was staring at us, weren’t they? Were we being… weird?” (Haruka)

“I think it’s just unusual to see a guy in a school uniform with a girl from another school together at a school festival. Besides, Aizawa-san, you stand out.” (Hiroto)

“Huh… really? Do I look strange?” (Haruka)

Aizawa-san glanced down at her outfit, checking for anything odd. She also peeked behind her, using careful movements. 

“Aizawa-san, there’s nothing wrong with your clothes.” (Hiroto)

“Mmmn? I thought I was wearing something dirty or torn…” (Haruka)

Her expression eased with relief.

“Cute… no, anyway, it’s not weird, so don’t worry,” (Hiroto)

I reassured her.

“Yoshizumi-kun, please don’t keep things from me. If there’s something odd, just say it, okay?” (Haruka)

“I didn’t mean it like that—it just stands out because… because it’s cute! Don’t make me say it—it’s embarrassing…” (Hiroto)

Aizawa-san blushed deeply and looked away, clearly flustered.

What am I even saying? I need to change the subject quickly. 

This feels way too familiar, like déjà vu.

“Anyways! Where do you want to go next?” (Hiroto)

“Oh… um, yeah!” (Haruka)

She turned her attention to the pamphlet I’d opened.

Why do I always blurt out what I’m thinking around Aizawa-san?

It’s been a while since I genuinely thought someone was this cute.

“Ah… there’s a brass band concert,” she said, pointing to the music section.

The timing didn’t match. Sho and Tsubasa’s class comedy skit—something to do with twins—was scheduled at the same time.

“The band’s been practicing hard for the concert, do you want to go? I don’t think I can make it… I have a meeting with the festival organizers.” (Hiroto)

“I’d love to hear them, but it’s okay. I was just thinking it was similar to our school festival. We had a performance, too!” (Haruka)

“Come to think of it, we met in your orchestra club’s room, didn’t we? When did you perform?” (Hiroto)

I don’t recall hearing about her performance when I went to her school… she only mentioned working at the café and being free on Sunday.

“It was on the last day of the festival—Sunday.” (Haruka)

“I see… I came on Saturday. I would’ve loved to hear it. Why didn’t you tell me about it?”

“It’s… embarrassing,” she murmured, lowering her head.

“Sorry, what did you say?” (Hiroto)

“I said it would’ve been embarrassing if you saw me!” 

“Oh… I see. Got it. You don’t have to be mad at me…”

“I’m not mad! You said you had a baseball tournament on Sunday, so…” 

I remembered mentioning I could only go on Saturday because of the game on Sunday. 

Still… she should’ve told me…

“I had a game on Sunday, but I would’ve loved to hear the orchestra.”

“Did you know about the classical pieces that we played?”

“Of course! I used to listen to it a lot. I haven’t heard them in years, so I would’ve really wanted to come.”

“Yoshizumi-kun… I wish you could’ve heard it.”

Aizawa-san looked genuinely disappointed.

“Next year, you’ll play again, right? I promise I’ll go and listen to your performance.” (Hiroto)

“Yeah! It’s a promise!” 

Her sad expression quickly shifted to a bright smile.

“Yes, I promise.”

Classical music felt nostalgic, maybe because it reminded me of my parents. Or maybe, it was because I played the piano the other day… I feel like listening to the pieces again after so long.

“So, what should we do next? Have you heard from Nishikawa-san and the others? Yoichiro hasn’t messaged me yet.”

“Um… no, I haven’t heard from them. But Yui-chan’s with them, so it should be fine. Yoshizumi-kun, can we go back to the fair from earlier? Just once more?”

We’d gotten a lot of attention earlier, but it was past peak hours, so it should be fine now.

“The fair? Sure. But you know I’m banned from target shooting, right?”

“Hey! I just wanted some cotton candy…”

“Cotton candy? That was near the target shooting booth, wasn’t it? Alright, let’s go.”

Aizawa-san and I walked back to the courtyard. Near the target booth was a sign that read: ‘No Yoshizumi Allowed.’

“Fufufu, it says ‘No Yoshizumi!’”

Aizawa-san was laughing more than I’d ever seen her laugh before. 

“Aizawa-san, you’re laughing a little too much… but honestly, that’s a little rude….”

Just then, my former baseball captain ran up to us.

“Yoshizumi! You’re banned from target practice!”

“Senpai, don’t worry. I’m just here for cotton candy.”

“Alright, but don’t cause trouble. Hmm… I’ll add a note for clarification.”

He scribbled ‘of the baseball team’ above ‘No Yoshizumi.’ 

Aizawa-san still couldn’t stop laughing, so I quickly bought her cotton candy and led her away from the scene.

“Yoshizumi-kun, you’re not getting any?”

“No, I’m fine. I’ll grab something else. Wanna get tea?”

“Yes, tea sounds good. Thank you.”

I headed to the tea stand while Aizawa-san returned to the bench. When I came back, she was happily eating her cotton candy, a beautiful smile on her face.