I assembled the strongest swordsman group.

"Now, I no longer yearn for fireworks as much as I did when I was a child."

Qingdeng listened quietly, then burst into laughter:

"Does one's mindset gradually change as they get older... Haha, I understand that feeling very well. I loved cats when I was a child, but as I grew up, I found that dogs, which are very loyal to humans, are more adorable than cats that don't like to interact with people."

"Ah, when it comes to choosing between cats and dogs, my preference has never changed." Sanako held the lucky cat in her arms next to her pretty face and said slowly with a smile, "Whether it was when I was a child or now, I have always loved cats."

"Esteemed guests! Your tea is served!"

As the two were talking, the girl who had just left, carrying two cups of steaming green tea on a tea tray, quickly and steadily ran to Aoto and Sanako.

After successfully handing the tea ordered by Qing Deng and Sanako to them, she carried the empty tea tray in her small hands and ran back the way she came to serve another group of guests.

Sanako, who was feeling a bit thirsty, placed the lucky cat and the furoshiki containing her clothes in her left palm, and then carefully picked up the teacup with her right hand.

But, at this moment—

"Ouch, it's so hot!"

Because her fingers slipped, Sanako lost her grip on the teacup, and a small amount of tea splashed out of the cup, landing on her right thumb, index finger, and middle finger.

Her fair skin instantly turned bright red.

"Miss Sanako, are you alright?" Aoto asked anxiously.

"It's nothing..." Sanako put the teacup back in its place and blew gently on the burned area. "It's not serious."

Judging from the condition and color of her skin... Sanako's fingers were not seriously burned; only the surface of her skin was red.

However, it's best to find something cool to cool down as soon as possible.

“Miss Sanako, you can try touching your earlobe.” Aoto raised his hand and pointed to his earlobe.

"Ok?"

"My earlobes feel cool, and touching them makes me feel better."

"Eh...? No, but..." Sanako looked surprised. "Wouldn't this be a bit inappropriate...?"

"What's wrong with that?" Qing Deng asked, puzzled. "It's just touching an earlobe. Just touch it."

"Hmm..." Sanako's expression changed from confusion to awkwardness. Her eyes darted away.

Seeing that Sanako had not made a move, Qing Deng then said:

"Touching your earlobe really makes you feel a lot better."

"I...I know."

Sanako half-closed her eyes and let out a long breath with a "ha".

Then, she pursed her lips, her expression resolute as if she had made up her mind... and reached out her burned fingers to pinch Qingdeng's earlobe...

"It really feels...cool...hmm? Why does it seem a little hot...?"

“Miss Sanako…” Aoto involuntarily looked away, awkwardly stammering, “It wasn’t touching my earlobe… it was touching your own…”

"Huh?" Sanako was stunned.

Time seemed to stand still around them for a moment...

3 seconds? 5 seconds? 10 seconds? Qingdeng couldn't tell the time.

He only knew that after what seemed like a long time, yet also a short time, that gentle touch gradually faded from his ears.

"Um...that..."

Sanako placed her right hand, which she had withdrawn, back onto her fleshy thigh. Then she turned her body slightly to face the place where she could not see Aoto.

"Because you kept pointing to your earlobe... so I... I... I thought..."

At this point, Sanako seemed unable to continue speaking and shut her mouth, falling silent.

Sanako, turning her body to the side, only showed Aoto her cute back of the head, her beautiful back view, and... a pair of small ears.

Qing Deng clearly saw that at this very moment, a splash of bright red was spreading across Sanako's delicate ears at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"..." The unexpected little accident left Qing Deng speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.

—So, Sanako-san has a silly side too…

Aoto gained a new understanding of Sanako.

This talented, beautiful, and elegant Yamato Nadeshiko seems to have an interesting contrast between her inner soul and her outward appearance that Qing Deng has never noticed... no, it should be said that he has never had the opportunity to notice.

An indescribable, peculiar atmosphere rose between the two, enveloping them...

Fortunately, this eerie atmosphere did not last long.

Waaah—!

The first firework of the night has been launched.

The fireworks made a loud sound and bloomed into beautiful flowers above everyone's heads.

As soon as the flowers disappeared, the next firework once again brightly adorned the moonlight.

The fireworks that finally went off saved the shy young couple from their predicament.

Qing Deng and Sanako no longer cared about being shy, and both looked up to appreciate the night sky, which was illuminated by vibrant colors as if it were daytime.

Some fireworks drifted like willow catkins; some transformed into halos of light like ripples on water; some plummeted like shooting stars...

Although Qingdeng had already seen this grand fireworks display once last night, seeing it again was still very impressive and exhilarating.

The fireworks display lasted for nearly 20 minutes without showing any sign of stopping.

Fireworks rose one after another, continuously ascending into the sky, sending wave after wave of resounding booms through the air.

“...Tachibana-kun”.

Suddenly, Sanako's small voice blended in.

"Ok?"

Sanako had turned herself back to a normal position at some point.

“…Tonight…no, all day today I’ve been troubling you non-stop…I really don’t know how to thank you enough.” Sanako alternately fiddled with her hands resting on her lap.

Upon hearing this, Qing Deng couldn't help but chuckle.

He intended to use the excuse that "I didn't do anything particularly remarkable, so there's no need to be so polite" to shirk the question of "how to thank him".

However, he considered that Sanako was the kind of person with a strong sense of self-respect, and if he told her "you don't have to do anything," she would most likely refuse.

So, after a moment's thought, Qingdeng adopted a half-joking tone:

"Um... Miss Sanako, could you smile at me?"

Sanako: "Hmm?"

"You hardly smiled all night... no, I mean you've never smiled much on weekdays, you always have a long face."

Qingdeng smiled and pointed to his cheek.

"I'm not forcing you, Ms. Sanako, to change your personality. Whether you like to laugh or not is simply a matter of personal preference, and there's no right or wrong in it."

"But... let's make an exception tonight, let me see your smiling face a little longer."

"...Tachibana-kun, do you want to see me laugh?" Sanako murmured.

"Rather than wanting to see you laugh, I want to see you genuinely happy," Qing Deng blurted out. "For me, the best 'gift' is realizing that all my hard work has been worthwhile."

“…” Sanako fell silent.

She remained silent, motionless like a stone... even her fingers stopped fiddling with each other.

What happened next really happened in an instant.

Sanako raised her slender hand and ripped off the mask from her face.

In an instant, the surrounding light gathered on Sanako, whose face was as beautiful as a flower in bloom.

"Tachibana-kun..."

Under the dazzling glow of fireworks, the girl softly called her boyfriend's name.

She smiled softly as the young man turned around, drawn by her voice.

There was a hint of shyness and restraint in her demeanor.

But this was not an unnatural smile.

Sanako always has a serious expression, no matter who she is with. She rarely shows any frivolousness, rarely makes witty remarks, and rarely smiles.

However, he is now showing such a rare... girlish expression.

Qing Deng inexplicably felt a strange sense of tension.

"...Thank you for agreeing to my impulsive request this morning and for being willing to learn from me."

Sanako smiled and spoke slowly, her lips slightly parted.

"Thank you for protecting me without hesitation when I accidentally fell into the river."

"Thank you for your tireless efforts in searching for me after you discovered I was 'missing'."

"There's...there's more..."

As if she was trying to hold back something... Sanako bit her lower lip lightly.

She held the white,憨厚-looking lucky cat in her hands and slowly raised it in front of her, continuing to look at Qing Deng while hiding the area below her eyes behind the lucky cat.

"Thank you... for bringing me here tonight."

"I'm past the age where I particularly love fireworks displays... but I feel so happy right now..."

"I'm so happy..."

"Thank you so much... really..."

After saying that, Sanako's gaze darted to the side as if fleeing, staring intently at the ground at her feet, not daring to meet Qing Deng's eyes again.

The areas not covered by the lucky cat... the forehead and both ears were all covered with a rich, vibrant pink cherry blossom hue.

Her long hair, tied in a high ponytail, fluttered in the wind.

The pink face, repeatedly illuminated by the fireworks, was dazzling and eye-catching.