On the open ground within the school campus, a massive bonfire blazed.
The roaring flames shot skyward, as if intent on illuminating the entire night.
Not far away, several school teachers and support staff stood by with fire extinguishers, ready to douse the blaze should it spiral out of control.
However, as students, Shion and her classmates naturally had no need to worry about such matters.
Their main concern was the upcoming bonfire dance!
Several members of Class C’s band were already eagerly waiting backstage on the platform beside the bonfire.
The open ground was now teeming with people; Shion had only let go of Ayane’s hand for a moment and already couldn’t find her.
‘She’s probably gone to buy takoyaki,’ Shion mused.
This was prime time for the elderly vendors from outside the school to set up their stalls.
Since Shion and the others hadn’t returned to the shrine for dinner tonight, Ayane was likely ravenous.
As Shion ambled across the open ground, searching for any sign of Ayane, a meticulously dressed boy blocked her path.
“Hoshimori-san, hello!” he greeted, presenting a paper-folded red rose to her.
“Would you do me the honor of a dance?”
Shion gasped.
‘Isn’t this a galgame?’ she thought.
‘Shouldn’t I be the one pursuing others? Why is someone trying to pursue me?’
‘Though, I haven’t been very proactive myself lately…’
“Thank you for the invitation, but… but I already have a dance partner,” Shion lied.
She was not particularly skilled at lying, her gaze constantly flickering elsewhere.
Whether the boy discerned her lie or not, the refusal was clearly conveyed.
Still, the boy, ever the gentleman, wished her, “Have a wonderful evening,” before turning and walking away, somewhat dejected.
“Phew, that was close,” Shion murmured, patting her chest, relieved to have sent him on his way.
Suddenly, a hand settled on Shion’s shoulder, making her jump, and a soft voice emanated from behind her.
“Which fortunate young man has managed to secure a date with our Head Maid?
I’m quite eager to meet him.”
Shion, of course, recognized that voice.
The girl turned, her gaze meeting Rie’s ruby-like eyes.
“Igarashi-senpai! Please don’t scare me like that!” Shion exclaimed, stamping her foot.
“It’s terrifying!”
“What, just an afternoon apart and you find me scary?” Rie asked, pulling out the morning’s nomination slips from her bag and shaking them.
“I brought you several nominations this morning, didn’t I?”
“Because you’re actively trying to scare me, Senpai,” Shion replied, a helpless tone in her voice.
“Besides, you know I don’t have a dance partner, right?”
“It was just an excuse to get rid of him.”
Rie regarded Shion with an amused gaze.
“Given Hoshimori-san’s popularity today, I have good reason to suspect that all those younger boys eyeing you like hawks are here to ask you to dance.”
Shion glanced around.
Though the crowd surged, she could vaguely make out several boys whose gazes remained fixed on her, seemingly waiting for Rie to depart.
And it seemed there were girls doing the same.
‘A little scary!’
Shion quickly moved closer to Rie.
“I’ve thought of a solution for you,” Rie said, a smile gracing her lips.
“If you truly had a dance partner—say, me—wouldn’t that give you a perfectly valid reason to turn them all down?”
Rie then continued, “It’s become clear to me today that Hoshimori-san’s popularity is exceptionally high.”
“So, to become the most unique among them, I’ll really have to strategize.”
Shion, somewhat puzzled, asked, “Then… why are you so eager to be the ‘most unique’ one, Igarashi-senpai?”
“You’re already very well-liked at school, and you have many friends.”
“Because you’re the only one who promised to come with me to Tokyo,” Rie replied, her gaze drifting past Shion towards the bonfire, or perhaps somewhere even further.
“Some people, you see, you might think their world is vast, large enough to encompass an entire town, an entire Tokyo, but in truth, their world is quite small—small enough to hold only a single journey, and perhaps, a single travel companion.”
Rie’s tone was remarkably calm, as if she weren’t speaking of herself at all.
However, Shion couldn’t discern the emotions behind Rie’s words.
“Ah, I’ve strayed off topic,” she said.
“So, what do you say? Shall we dance?”
The glow of the bonfire beneath the night sky illuminated Rie’s face, along with the hand she extended to Shion.
Shion took a deep breath, then placed her hand in Rie’s.
“If I am fortunate enough to be that travel companion, then I would be honored,” Shion responded.
Rie smiled, saying, “As of now, there is only one candidate.”
On the nearby stage, sound checks began.
Then, the lead singer, a girl who appeared somewhat shy, raised her microphone and announced, “Tonight’s bonfire dance will be accompanied by our Class 1-C band, ‘Under the Starlit Sky’.
We’re so grateful that so many of you came to see our performance tonight—thank you, everyone!”
A burst of applause erupted from the crowd below the stage, and Shion and Rie joined in.
It seemed their band’s performance was also highly popular.
“For the first song of tonight’s dance, we’ll be playing ‘回る空うさぎ’ (TL Note: Japanese for ‘Circling Sky Rabbit’). We hope you enjoy it!”
The mellow, soothing melody, accompanied by the lead singer’s gentle voice, echoed throughout the venue.
Shion gazed into Rie’s red eyes, and the red-haired girl before her simply whispered, “Try not to step on my feet.”
The song itself was somewhat melancholic, its gentle tempo not entirely suited for the lively, joyous atmosphere of a bonfire dance.
However, it was rumored that after performing numerous rock songs that morning, Class C’s ‘Under the Starlit Sky’ band wished to try a different style for the evening.
Yet, for some unknown reason, this particular song resonated deeply with the girl’s current mood.
Though it was clearly a joyous occasion, a faint sadness lingered in her heart.
Still, even if she couldn’t feel entirely happy, she would try her best to smile.
Rie’s dancing was flawless; she led Shion through a classic ballroom dance.
Although Shion had never formally ballroom danced, her solid foundation in Kagura dance (TL Note: A ritual dance in Shinto performed by miko or Shinto priests) allowed her to move smoothly and gracefully in sync with Rie across the open ground, illuminated by the blazing bonfire.
The pair of girls quickly became the focus of attention, their elegant movements providing a striking contrast to the somewhat clumsy steps of those around them.
“Shion-san,” Rie suddenly murmured.
“Igarashi-senpai? Why the sudden… change in address?”
“I simply wanted to call you that. Is that not allowed, my companion?”
The firelight illuminated the red-haired girl’s smile before her.