The festival had ended, and the streets of Tokyo were packed with people heading home.
Rinji and Hayasaka walked with the crowd, anonymous in the sea of bodies.
"I thought you'd be watching the fireworks too."
"I could see them from the window, so I kind of did."
Hayasaka brushed her hair back behind her ear, paper bag in hand, walking slightly ahead.
"So how did you know I'd come out of this station?"
At Rinji's question, Hayasaka lowered her head slightly.
"You… came from the Shinomiya main estate, didn't you?"
"..."
Rinji was momentarily surprised by the question.
"Yeah. I just came from there."
"From Kyoto to Tokyo Port, this was the only station you could've used. So I waited here for you," Hayasaka smiled. "Once I saw that Kaguya-sama was allowed to go out, I knew it had to be you who convinced them. The people at the main house wouldn't have agreed otherwise."
"..."
Rinji stopped walking.
He looked at Hayasaka and asked, "When you say 'Kaguya-sama,' you're referring to Shinomiya Kaguya. The way you call her… your relationship isn't just friends, right?"
"That's right."
"...Got it."
Rinji gave her a gentle smile and walked up to her side again.
"Aren't you curious about what my relationship is with Kaguya-sama?"
"There's nothing to be curious about. If you ever want to tell me one day, I'll be here to listen."
"Actually, I'm her personal attendant," Hayasaka said plainly. "Basically, her live-in maid."
"You're just telling me that outright?"
"It's fine."
Her voice was low.
"I don't want to lie to you anymore."
"It's fine if you do. Because…"
"Because even if I lied to you, you'd still trust me. That's exactly why I can't keep lying."
She looked nostalgic as she spoke.
"You haven't changed at all since four years ago. Back then, no matter what I said, you'd always believe me without question... I wore a fake mask from a young age to protect myself. Lies became my best weapon—but also the thing that hurt me the most."
She suddenly walked faster and stopped in front of Rinji, blocking his way.
"The Hayasaka family has sworn loyalty to the Shinomiya family for generations. I was assigned to be Miss Kaguya's attendant at the age of seven and have cared for her ever since. But over the years, I've come to see her as my little sister. So please… don't hate her for any of this."
"I don't hate her."
Rinji smiled.
"Everyone in the student council is my comrade. Even if I argue with Shinomiya a lot, I don't see her as an enemy. Of course… don't tell her that. If she finds out, she'll get even more smug in the council. Better to keep her a little wary of me."
"I understand. I won't tell her," Hayasaka smiled too.
---
They walked for a long time. The crowd thinned, until only the two of them remained in the quiet streets.
Hayasaka led Rinji to an open space by the sea and set the paper bag on the ground.
The view was beautiful. Above them, the night sky was full of stars and a bright moon. Before them stretched the vast, dark ocean.
"Let's light the fireworks here."
From the bag, Hayasaka took out a bunch of small stick-like objects—senko hanabi, delicate handheld sparklers wound around thin bamboo sticks.
"So that's what you brought."
Rinji took one and unwrapped the package, pulling out all the sparklers.
"Brings back memories. I used to play with these as a kid."
It was late, and no one else was around the beach—just the two of them.
Hayasaka lit one, and it flared gently at the tip. She waved it slowly, the sparks forming graceful trails in the dark.
Rinji lit one too, squatting down and watching as the sparks danced from the tip.
The small flickers weren't blinding, but they lit up both their faces.
"Do you think these little fireworks are lame?"
"Not at all."
Rinji stared at the sparkler in his hand, the sparks reflected in his eyes.
"To have someone by my side watching fireworks—even if they're just palm-sized sparklers—when I return alone in midsummer… it's a rare happiness for me."
Though he missed watching the festival fireworks with the student council, being found by Hayasaka afterward and lighting sparklers together—he genuinely felt joy.
Hearing that, Hayasaka smiled and sat beside him, lighting another sparkler.
"Rinji... do you hate me for what happened four years ago?"
"No," Rinji smiled. "And Hayasaka, do you fear me because of what I did back then?"
"No," she smiled back. "Because I know you'd never hurt me, no matter what happens."
"You've always understood me well."
"Yeah."
As time passed, the small packet of sparklers was eventually used up.
Hayasaka stood and asked, "Rinji, I know it might not be the right time to ask, but… can I? Are we still... friends?"
"Of course. We've always been friends." Rinji turned and smiled at her.
"Good."
A tiny smile flickered at the corner of her lips as she turned and walked ahead.
"It's getting late. Let's go home."
"Yeah."
Rinji tidied up the used wrappers and stood up to follow.
Though Hayasaka kept her back to him as they walked, the bounce in her step made it clear—she was in a very good mood.
Today's winner… was Ai Hayasaka.
Her relationship with Takamine Rinji had finally shifted from ambiguous to clear.
She could finally face him as an ordinary person—no longer with lies, no longer with masks.