In the end, Lucoa properly fixed her yukata.

The two of them took the elevator downstairs. Not long after, Jashin-chan and the others came down one by one.

When Ryohei Tanaka saw Minos wearing a black-and-white cow-print yukata, he couldn't help but stare. "I'm amazed you found a yukata like that!"

"Hmph~, is it pretty?" Minos asked, holding a small yukata bag in one hand and flashing a peace sign with the other.

"It's pretty," Ryohei Tanaka admitted generously.

"So, did your heart race?" Minos asked with a grin, leaning forward slightly with her hands behind her back.

"..." Medusa shot her a strange look. Ryohei, after a moment's pause, smiled and said, "No, but it's definitely eye-catching... By the way, where's your tail?"

Ryohei curiously stepped to the side to look behind Minos. He couldn't see a bulge anywhere.

"I wrapped it around my waist," Minos replied, pointing to her still-slender waist.

"Oh, you can do that!" Ryohei's curiosity was satisfied.

"..."

Once everyone was ready, the group put on their geta at the entrance and went out. Lucoa opened a space portal for them.

The Sumida River Fireworks Festival is Tokyo's most famous, oldest, and largest fireworks display. It's held on the last Saturday of July every year, featuring a total of 20,000 fireworks. The scene is incredibly grand, and the crowds are enormous. According to estimates, over a million people attend every year.

For an event of this scale, driving and parking would be impossible. A portal was much more convenient.

When Ryohei's group arrived, it was 6:50 PM, just ten minutes before the festival began. Lucoa's portal opened near Asakusa Station, right in front of a special food street set up for the event.

The air was filled with the aromas of various foods—the savory scent of takoyaki, the sweetness of candy apples, the fragrance of roasted corn, the soy-sauce umami of yakisoba, and the charcoal-grilled scent of kabayaki eel... all drifting from afar.

The street was packed with a surging crowd. Most people were wearing yukatas, but there were, of course, many tourists from various countries in casual clothes. Together, they wove the unique, lively atmosphere of a summer festival.

"There are so many people! It's so lively!" Minos exclaimed happily.

Ryohei looked around and smiled. "Alright, everyone, free time. Let's meet back here after the fireworks are over."

There were seven of them, so there was no need to stick together. Everyone would probably have more fun doing their own thing.

"Oooh—!" Minos cheered, pumping a fist. She then took off into the food street, her geta clattering clack-clack-clack on the pavement, as happy as a child of several thousand years.

Jashin-chan followed close behind, with Medusa and Jiru after her. It was probably the first time they had participated in a human event like this, and all of them seemed incredibly excited, looking left and right and occasionally stopping in front of a stall.

Ryohei Tanaka took Yurine's hand and walked into the crowd. Lucoa, following beside them, held up her own hand. "Hold my hand too. I'm afraid I'll get lost."

"Are you a child?" Ryohei was speechless, swatting her hand down with a laugh. He felt that he would get lost long before Lucoa ever could.

"With this many people, even adults can get lost!" Lucoa argued, hands on her hips.

"It'd be great if you got lost. Then we could finally have some time alone," Yurine said, leaning forward to look past Ryohei at Lucoa.

Tonight, Yurine was wearing a blue-and-white gradient yukata with a vibrant flower pattern. She had an orange obi tied around her waist, her hair was up in a bun, and a blue-and-white silk flower was pinned by her left ear, making her look exceptionally pretty.

"Eh? Yurine, you're so heartless!" Lucoa feigned shock, putting on an expression of someone deeply wounded by her coldness.

"If I were really heartless, I'd have kicked you out long ago!" Yurine retorted, rolling her eyes.

"...That's true," Lucoa paused, then tilted her head with a faint smile.

Ryohei, seeing an ice cream stall nearby, changed the subject. "Do you two want some ice cream?"

"Yes!"

"I want some!"

The two women answered one after the other.

So, Ryohei led them to line up for ice cream. When it was finally their turn, Ryohei realized it was a "dark cuisine" stall. The specialty ice cream was natto flavor. He immediately sucked in a sharp breath.

'Damn! No wonder I smelled something faintly stinky while waiting in line!'

"Natto ice cream... what an interesting flavor. Want to try it?" Yurine joked, glancing at the sign.

"I don't think I'm cut out for it..." Ryohei shook his head. He held up one finger to the stall owner. "I'll have a double scoop of original and matcha."

"I'll have vanilla and taro," Lucoa added.

"Got it." The stall owner, a man in his forties, nodded. As he scooped the ice cream into a cone, he enthusiastically pitched to Yurine, "Young lady, want to try the natto flavor? It's absolutely amazing! I guarantee you'll be back for more!"

He spoke with such confidence, as if it were truly delicious.

"No, thank you." Yurine had no desire to try such a bizarre flavor. She quickly waved her hand in refusal. "Please give me an original, two scoops, thanks."

"Alright, then." The owner looked a little disappointed he couldn't make the sale.

"..."

After buying their ice cream, the three continued walking. Ryohei finished one scoop and sighed. "On a hot summer day, nothing beats ice cream!"

Eating the ice cream, he couldn't help but think of Yusa and Kōji. The two sisters were back from the Demon Realm. They had said in the LINE group chat earlier that they were coming to see the fireworks tonight. He wondered if they'd run into them.

Just as he was thinking, the sound of swoosh-swoosh-swoosh filled the air. He looked up. Dozens of silver-white lights, like reverse meteors, streaked toward the sky, trailing long tails of light.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Amidst the deafening explosions, thousands of fireworks burst open. They were red as cinnabar, gold as glaze, purple as wisteria, and green as jade. The brilliant light splashed across the night curtain, illuminating the entire sky as bright as day. Countless specks of light scattered like shattered jade, then fell like the Milky Way pouring down, showering sparks.

The sight was absolutely spectacular.

Ryohei's eyes widened. Yurine, beside him, said happily, "It's starting!"

You never get tired of watching beautiful fireworks.

"I have to say, that's really impressive..." Ryohei looked away for a moment, then smiled at Yurine and Lucoa. "Let's find a spot to watch."

"Mmm... follow me." Lucoa, still eating her ice cream, held up a finger with a grin. "I already saved a good spot with magic!"

Ryohei looked at her, surprised. You're that reliable? He praised her, "Nice job!"

"..." Yurine also looked at Lucoa in surprise, thinking how useful magic was. Just then, Lucoa puffed out her chest and said in a seductive tone, "Praise me more, Ryohei-kun, and you'll get a reward!"

"Is the reward... him getting to spend some alone time with me?" Yurine asked, her eyes narrowing.

Lucoa looked at her in disbelief. "I haven't even taken you to the spot, and you're already planning to ditch me? That's so mean!"

"You're the mean one, hitting on him right in front of my face!" Yurine retorted.

"..." Lucoa just smiled, looked away, and said nothing.

~~~

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