Chapter 64 Summer Festival Everyone, your movements were absolutely terrible…

The hotel has a dedicated changing area on the second floor, with hundreds of yukatas of various styles neatly displayed, and professional makeup artists and stylists to design makeup and hairstyles for guests.

At 5 p.m., the members of the tennis club and the doujinshi club finished their day of volunteering and came to the second floor to change clothes before attending the summer festival that evening.

Risa chose a light blue yukata. On the elegant background, gold threads outlined delicate wavy patterns, resembling ginkgo leaves gradually turning yellow in early autumn, both fresh and gorgeous.

While the makeup artist was finishing her makeup, the other three girls were almost dressed as well.

Chinatsu chose a light blue yukata with plum blossom and auspicious cloud patterns that made her look energetic; Asuka chose a playful black yukata with watermelon and candy patterns that gave it a unique flavor; Yuzuki wore a yukata with Edo purple as the main color, which was elegant and mysterious.

It was hot in the summer, and Risa wanted to tie her hair up. Among the accessories the stylist handed her, she chose a white jade hairpin.

"Risa-nee, what do you think of my outfit?"

Kirihara Akaya ran over excitedly and spun around in front of Risa, like a child waiting for praise.

He was wearing a well-tailored white kimono with a beige haori and exquisite cherry blossom embroidery on the shoulders, which certainly gave him a more mature air than usual.

Risa put down the hairpin, rested her chin on her hands, and exclaimed with overwhelming emotion, "Wow~ Whose stunningly handsome young man is this? If he were walking through a festival, he would probably charm a whole bunch of girls."

"Hehe!" Xiao Hai scratched the back of his head smugly. "Of course, I specially chose the coolest outfit!"

“However… I feel like something’s missing.” Risa stood up and looked around Kirihara.

“I know.” She rested her chin on her hand. “It’s the hairstyle. The current hairstyle is too demure and doesn’t suit the aura of this outfit.”

Before Kirihara could react, Risa pushed his shoulder to the dressing table and made him sit down.

“Close your eyes,” she said, picking up the spray bottle.

Kirihara didn't understand, but he obediently closed his eyes.

The hissing sound of the spray reached my ears, the gentle touch of the comb teeth brushing through my hair was followed by the soft whirring of the hairspray.

"Okay, you can open your eyes now."

Kirihara opened his eyes, and his reflection in the mirror made his eyes widen instantly. His previously frizzy curly hair had been combed into a slightly messy slicked-back style, with only a few unruly strands of hair left on his forehead.

"Wow, he's like the boy next door turned into a tycoon's son!" Asuka whistled and took out her phone to snap several pictures.

Risa looked at her "work" with satisfaction, picked out a folding fan from the props and handed it to him: "Remember, you must stay with your seniors at the festival tonight. Don't get lost, or you'll be surrounded by people trying to chat you up."

Yuzuki and Chika, resting their chins on their hands, exclaimed in unison, "Not bad, not bad! He's got that noble young master vibe. So commanding!"

Xiao Haidai was a little embarrassed by the compliment. Looking at the girl in front of him in a pale yellow yukata, he felt that his Risa-nee was more gentle and beautiful than ever before.

"Risa-nee, shall we go to the festival together tonight?" he blurted out.

Risa was putting on her hairpin in front of the mirror when she heard this and turned around. Looking into those bright, sparkling emerald eyes, she smiled and agreed, "Okay. Then Akane has to buy me candied apples, play the claw machine, and catch goldfish. I want the biggest koi."

"No problem!" The boy clenched his fist, looking full of fighting spirit.

"Aka, what are you doing here?" Yanagi Renji's voice suddenly came from the doorway.

When he saw Kirihara's new look, he surprisingly opened his eyes.

"Senior Liu! How is it?"

Kirihara ran triumphantly to Renji Yanagi. His overly childish expression contrasted sharply with his mature hairstyle.

"..." Liu Lian'er pursed her lips, "I suggest you don't speak tonight."

"Eh—"

Kirihara puffed out his cheeks in dissatisfaction, a gesture that instantly shattered his aloof image.

Risa was covering her mouth and chuckling when she was suddenly dazzled by a splash of color.

Looking up, I unconsciously held my breath.

The boy stood quietly in the warm light of the corridor, his black yukata accentuating his slender figure. His haori draped over his shoulders resembled a ginkgo leaf in late autumn, exuding composure and naturalness, giving people a warm and gentle feeling.

He seemed to sense something, raised his eyes to look in her direction, and their gazes met in the air.

Time seemed to stretch out by a second.

In that moment of silence, Risa heard her own heart pounding.

“It suits Akaya very well.” Yukimura walked over, a slight smile in his eyes. “Matsuno-kun has excellent taste.”

"......Thank you for the compliment."

Risa forced a smile, her hands clenching and relaxing at her sides.

He always seemed so at ease, as if nothing had happened in the kitchen that afternoon.

The ancients were right.

The one who falls in love first is destined to lose.

She was the only one amidst the chaos of war; his world remained serene and peaceful.

"Niou, what tricks are you up to now?"

A helpless sigh came from the other end of the corridor, followed by Niou's nonchalant catchphrase: "Puri~"

Risa peeked out from the side, curious about what tricks the two were up to this time, but as soon as she looked over, a glimpse of ginkgo light subtly blocked her view.

“The lights in the festival street are all on,” he said in a soft, natural tone. “Want to go see them together?”

Risa looked up in surprise. The position he was standing in was blocking the direction from which Yagyu and the others were coming.

Those violet-blue eyes, like amethyst, were clear and smiling, making her momentarily forget what she originally wanted to say.

“That’s a good suggestion.” Yuzuki’s voice came in at the right time, and she smiled as she took Risa’s arm. “We were just about to head out.”

Asuka, holding her camera, enthusiastically suggested, "Why don't we go to the embankment first to watch the fireworks, take a group photo, and then go our separate ways to the festival street?"

Liu Lian held a notebook in her hand: "According to the data, 7:42 is the best time to shoot."

The commotion at the other end of the corridor didn't stop; it seemed to be Niou playing a prank, prompting Yagyu to chase after him.

Sanada's angry roar could be faintly heard: "Too lax!"

"Senior Jackal, do I look good with my new hairstyle?"

"Beautiful!" Jackal Kuwabara replied, then turned and knocked on the dressing room door: "Bunta, it's time to go."

"Just a little while longer~ It'll be ready soon~" Marui Bunta's cheerful voice came from inside.

Kuwabara sighed helplessly: "...You don't need to bring so many sweets, they sell them all in the festival town."

"That's different!" Marui suddenly opened the door, holding a colorful bag of candy in his arms. "These are my special festival-limited flavors!"

"Niou-kun, please give me back my glasses..."

"Plop~"

-

As dusk settled, the festival lights began to illuminate the distance.

Niou silently peeked out from behind Risa, his silver hair gleaming like moonlight under the lamplight.

"Oh my, Risa-chan looks so good in that yukata~ Puri~"

"Thank you, Niou-kun looks very handsome tonight too," Risa replied politely.

"After the fireworks, how about we go explore the festival together on our own?" He whispered seductively in Risa's ear, "I know a hidden stall where you can actually get a whole octopus in their takoyaki!"

"Speak if you want to, don't get so close." Risa raised her hand and pushed his forehead away.

"Hey, Niou-senpai!"

The crisp clatter of wooden clogs grew louder as the boy with dark green curly hair rushed over like a gust of wind.

"Risa-nee has agreed to go to the festival with me tonight!"

Sanada followed behind with a dark expression: "Akaya! Running is prohibited during the festival!"

"Also, I want to stand in the center with Risa-nee when we take photos!"

"Puli~ If Little Seaweed wants to be in the center position, then I'll reluctantly take that position too~"

Yukimura smiled, his voice as gentle as a spring: "Niou, don't you want your partner anymore?"

Niou raised an eyebrow, tactfully took a half step back, and gestured for him to proceed: "Oh dear, Minister, please go first~"

When Niou left, he casually grabbed the small seaweed.

Risa: "...?"

I feel like something's not right, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

"Matsuno-kun, can I come with you when we go to the festival?"

"But I already..."

"Is it not allowed?" He smiled, his eyes slightly raised, exuding an unfathomable aura.

A sixth sense made Risa take a small step back.

“If we’re going by order, I should go first.” He stepped forward, closing the distance between them. “After all… I invited you last night.”

He was so close that Risa's heart skipped a beat, and her ears began to burn.

"That's what they say..." She looked away guiltily.

"I know which family's candied apples are the sweetest, and which family's goldfish are the easiest to catch," Yukimura said, tapping his chin with his long, slender fingers as he listed them off unhurriedly, "and I'm a crack shot in shooting games. Most importantly..."

His voice was low, gentle and seductive: "My claw machine skills... are exceptionally good."

Risa was somewhat stunned, and in a daze, she saw a proud peacock slowly spreading its tail feathers, elegantly displaying its most charming plumage.

If she refused, this proud peacock might even give her a pitiful puppy-like look. Although she really wanted to see that scene, she couldn't bear to ruin his noble and handsome image tonight.

(Sorry, little seaweed, but your sister Risa is just a vulgar person X﹏X)

Not far away—

Niou put his arm around Yagyu's shoulder: "Puri, the captain's expression... it's like a big bad wolf that has caught its prey."

Yagyu pushed up his glasses: "I suggest you stay away from them tonight."

Meanwhile, Kirihara was completely bewildered by Yanagi Renji's candied hawthorns, unaware that his sister Risa had been kidnapped.

-

The lake embankment was packed with tourists who came to watch the fireworks; the place was bustling with noise and excitement.

According to Liu Lian'er's big data calculations, everyone found an excellent shooting location—at 7:42, the first wave of fireworks bloomed in the night sky, and the brilliant light and shadow reflected on everyone's faces.

"Three, two, one, cheese!"

Asuka raised her camera, and with everyone facing away from the lake and the fireworks as a backdrop, they took a group photo.

"Perfect!" Asuka checked the photo with satisfaction. "This one is definitely good enough for the cover of the school magazine!"

After the group photo was taken, Kirihara Akaya suddenly grabbed Risa's arm, looked at Asuka with bright eyes, and said, "Asuka-senpai! Could you please take a photo of me and Risa-nee separately?"

"Pfft~" Niou leaned over, "Little seaweed is so cunning, trying to monopolize the group photo? Well, I want to join in too~"

"Hey, don't push!" Risa, wearing wooden clogs, was sandwiched between Kirihara and Niou, and almost lost her balance.

However, the matter was not over yet—

“In that case, I’m going to film it too.” Liu Sheng pushed up his glasses, eager to see more excitement.

"Count me in." Jackal Kuwabara smiled憨厚ly.

"Wait, me too!" Marui Bunta flashed a peace sign and blew a big bubble. "I can't miss this chance to take a photo with a future superstar!"

Sanada, though with a stern face, silently moved over: "...Don't disrupt the order."

Kirihara Akaya: "Hey, what's going on with all you seniors? I was here first."

Liu Lian'er opened his notebook: "According to the data, this photo has a 99% overlap with the group photo."

Yukimura stood to the side, his eyes filled with a smile: "It seems Matsuno-kun is quite popular."

Risa was surrounded and jostled in the middle, rolling her eyes in exasperation.

"...Am I a monkey from Mount Emei?"

She took a deep breath, pushed through the crowd, and roared, "You all want to take photos, right? Come on, a group photo is 500, and an autographed photo is 1000. Pay first, then we'll do our service. No bargaining!"

"Really?!" Kirihara's eyes widened.

Niou whistled: "Puri~ The price is fair, how about I subscribe for a month?"

Liu Sheng calmly pulled out a ten-thousand-yuan bill from his wallet: "Give me twenty bills first."

"Hey! Yagyu, you're cheating!" Marui jumped up and down. "Who starts by spending money right from the beginning!"

Asuka laughed so hard she could barely stand up straight, and she could barely hold her camera steady: "Hahaha, you guys are so funny! I'm definitely going to turn this photo of 'Rikkai University Tennis Club bidding for a group photo' into a meme!"

Just as everyone was in a chaotic frenzy, an elegant figure quietly intervened in the battle.

Yukimura walked to Risa's side, his gaze sweeping over everyone with a kind look: "Everyone, your movements are all terrible."

"Wow~" The members burst into a cheer.

"No, Yukimura, you..."

Risa sighed, speechless.

Is this the kind of occasion... where this line should be spoken?