"S-Senpai, why are you suddenly asking this question?" Fumino panicked in response to the question.
Facing the question, Fumino panicked.
"Didn't you just ask me, Fumino?" Asumi had a wicked smile on her face.
"That's for sure."
After whispering in agreement, Fumino then said, "I had that idea, but I also know how low the chance of a chance meeting is, so I'm not too hopeful."
Because she admitted it, there was no need to hide anything.
Moreover, if she asked her that question, she must have already found something.
"Yes, the number of people attending the fireworks show this year was initially estimated to be tens of thousands. If you want to meet one person among so many people, the difficulty might be equivalent to finding a needle in a haystack."
Seeing the noisy crowd around and unfamiliar faces, Asumi said emotionally.
Fumino also regretted: "Tens of thousands of people, this number is really excessive."
"This is a fireworks show. It's not normal if there are only a few people participating." Asumi remembered something and continued, "By the way, this year's fireworks are supposed to be very beautiful and the biggest. At least it's bigger than the past few years."
"Senpai, how do you know news like this?" Fumino asked hesitantly.
"I also heard what other people said. Just consider it as a rumor and don't take it seriously. Allegedly, the initial promotional plan for this fireworks show was: the largest fireworks festival in the last ten years."
"But then, the public's expectations were too high because of concerns about publicity. If the actual effect doesn't meet public expectations, then negative reviews will be given. Therefore, the same strategy as in previous years was taken."
"That's why the time for this fireworks show was decided very late."
Asumi recounted all the additional information she knew in one breath.
"So that's it. No wonder so many people are participating this year." Fumino believed, "But Senpai is really amazing, she can know secret information like that."
"Actually, this isn't secret information. You can know it just by wondering."
Asumi heard this information from a customer while she was working.
Because it was related to the fireworks show and very normal, she wrote it down.
"In that case, the next waiting fireworks will be more worth looking forward to." Fumino said happily, "Even if I didn't meet Kamikawa, it's nice to watch the fireworks with everyone."
"Yes."
❀❀❀
"It's 7:40 now and I can't meet Ren."
Putting away her phone, Miku informed Yotsuba of this conclusion.
"When we get to the roof, we can see Ren-san."
Feeling that Miku was a little depressed, Yotsuba comforted her.
"I know. But I still want to stroll at the festival with Ren."
Even if Miku said she was mentally prepared for the unexpected meeting, when she was really convinced of this, it was wrong to say that she wasn't disappointed.
"There's nothing we can do. There are too many people and we can't even see him."
There was nothing Yotsuba could do about this.
While wandering around, she continued to look around, but she couldn't see anything.
"It's okay. Instead of strolling, watching the fireworks with everyone is the most important thing."
Miku expressed her understanding, and it wasn't Yotsuba's fault if she couldn't meet Ren.
Yotsuba said enthusiastically: "Yes, everyone should watch the fireworks together."
"It's very lively." Miku whispered.
She didn't like crowds, and she didn't like excitement either.
But she didn't hate watching fireworks with a lot of people, and she didn't hate having fun with everyone.
"Let's go there and look around. It's still 20 minutes until eight o'clock. It's okay if we wander around here longer." Yotsuba pointed not far away.
"Um."
❀❀❀
Shinomiya Residence, Kaguya's room.
"Am I being stood up? It's already 7:50!"
Kaguya was wearing a yukata, sitting on the bed, and said discontentedly.
More than an hour ago, Hayasaka said she would participate in the fireworks show, then she stayed in her room and waited.
As a result, there has been no news from Hayasaka until now.
That's too much!
If you can't do it, don't say those expected words!
Just wait, after today's fireworks show, she will definitely educate Hayasaka.
"Why isn't he replying?"
After sighing a little, Kaguya opened her phone, looked at the email she sent to Ren, and muttered in confusion.
Chika even called to check the situation, but Ren hasn't replied.
In general, if the person who agrees to meet is very late, shouldn't that person check the message to make sure if the other party can't meet for certain reasons?
Or did Ren see it but didn't want to answer?
Whether he didn't see it or didn't reply after seeing it, it was something Kaguya couldn't accept.
Clearly he invited herself to participate in the fireworks show...
Right now, rustling sounds came from the window.
Kaguya, who was already very anxious, of course noticed the movement on the other side of her room window.
(Is that what the head maid did?)
With this thought in mind, Kaguya stood up and walked towards the window.
But she had just taken two steps when a figure rose from below and entered her room through the window.
"A thief?"
Seeing the person who had just entered her room, Kaguya couldn't help but ask.
Wearing a smiling fox mask, dressed in black all over, and sneaking into her room through the window.
It's hard not to think of the identity of a thief.
However, the thief's eyes were very beautiful, especially in the dark room, illuminated only by the moonlight.
But for a thief who dared to come to the Shinomiya Residence to steal, it's hard not to doubt whether there was something wrong with his mind.
"I'm not a thief, this is Kamikawa Ren."
Gently removing the fox mask, Ren revealed his true face to Kaguya.
"Why are you here?"
Seeing him, Kaguya was stunned.
Shouldn't he wait for her to pass by at the fireworks show?
"Kaguya-sama, you're right to say that he's a thief. After all, he came to steal you, Kaguya-sama."
The bedroom door opened, and Hayasaka appeared in front of the door.