The street filled with people, despite how early the time was. Some of them could be seen in working uniforms, but most of them were having fun for the weekend. Plus, the summer festival was coming. Everyone was so excited. Of course, Hamuko too.

Looking to the crowd, she would find most of them were around the same age as her, but in pair with boy and girl. She wondered if they're couple. Couple…was she and Minato looked the same to the others? Her face went hot at the thought.

Her wound was hot, but not because of the stingy or pain or what, but simply because of the kiss a while ago. Minato suddenly kissed her wound, although it was so light, but she's kind of sure he did.

She told him he was her half. Yes, indeed she felt that way, as if he knew everything about her. He would understand what she had been through, how she felt, and how she would act. That's why she considered Minato as her other half. She bet no one else would understand her more like Minato did. But the kiss…she felt something strange with it. And how close they were a moment ago…

"…Hey, is that some kind of…confession?"

Her face burned up. At that moment, they were so close, almost touched each other. She could feel his breathe and the grass-like fragrance, like the peppermint. This was the first time she's so closed to a boy. Not even Junpei, or Akihiko, or her other friends have been so closed to her before. Minato was the first.

"Hamuko?"

"…"

"Hey Hamuko, you hear me?" Minato tapped her shoulder from the back.

"W-Whoaaaaaa!" She jerked up with heart almost jumped out of her throat. "W-What!?"

"…That's my question." Minato sighed. "So, we're here. Anything you want?"

"Huh?" Looks like she completely lost in her deep thought, not knowing where she's heading all the times. She looked around the shop, finally recognized after few minutes passed. "W-Wild Duck, right?"

"Yeah, it's you who said today is all mine." Minato raised his brows, wondering what she's been doing since they left the dorm. "Are you alright? Anyway, I'm going for Set A."

Hamuko dumbly nodded, and then placed the order for two Set A as their breakfasts. As they're waiting for the food at the counter, a boy in Wild Duck uniform approached them and leaned forward with wide eyes and smile.

"Hey, it's you!"

Hamuko leaned back in surprised. But the boy wasn't talking to her, but to the cool boy beside her.

"I remember you! You're the one came with Kirijo-senpai few days ago!" The boy's smile went wilder.

"…Oh yeah, I did come with Mitsuru-senpai. What is it?" Minato tilted his head. He barely remembered him, but simply answered.

"I see you come with another cute girl today. Man…you're lucky!"

"…We live in the same dorm, that's all."

"What!? T-That…don't tell me…the Iwatodai Dorm?" The boy's eyes almost fell out. "How the hell you would live with all those beautiful girls!? I'm envy!"

"…Is my food ready?" Minato replied coldly, completely ignored his high emotion. He didn't feel shame at all?

"Oh yes, here your Set A, two! By the way, would you please tell me if those girls available?" He served tray to Minato and asked in timid voice. It seemed his voice caught his superior's attention.

"…You could ask them yourself." Ignored him, Minato took the tray and walked away. If the boy didn't feel anything wrong with it, he did.

Hamuko quickly caught up with him. "Hey Minato-kun, do you know him?"

"…As you heard, Mitsuru-senpai and I had our lunch here. He's the one who served us." He took the corner table as their seat and put down the tray. "He's fan of Mitsuru-senpai, one of the students of Gekkoukan."

"I-I see…" She opened the wrapper and bit the hamburger, surprisingly found anger started to build inside. What's wrong with her? "B-But how you and Mitsuru-senpai ended up eating lunch together?"

"I caught up with her in faculty office. It's she who asked this." His voice turned weird with mouthful of food. He gulped down, and then spoke again. "She never been here before, talked about how her life blocked these from her."

"I-I see…she's pretty tough, too." It's quite surprised her; the fact Mitsuru never tasted this. She bet Mitsuru had lots she never had chance to taste, like the ramen and donburi.

"It's difficult as the daughter of Kirijo." Minato raised a bitter smile, letting out a sigh. Soon, he finished the hamburger on hand, and sipping the drink.

Hamuko understood the reason behind, but still the fact displeased her. The burger suddenly tasted sour, like expired. Immediately she put it down, losing appetite.

The next they went to Bookworm, where the old couple ran. Her mood went well as they chatted, while she took a look around. As she wiped off the sour feeling and returned to her usualness, she found Minato standing near one of the shelves, and was reading something on his hand.

She walked near to him. "What are you doing here?"

"Reading, obviously." He answered with his eyes still glued on the book.

She bent down and took a closer look, only found the book he had on hand was shoujou manga she had read before. She recognized it, as the manga was too good to be one of her favorites.

"Whoa…I never know you're into this thing, huh?"

"It's Chihiro."

"Chihiro?" Not expected this name would show up all of the sudden, Hamuko completely blinked.

"She's so excited when she found this, and decided to save money for this."

"B-But…I heard that she's having trouble, right?" Hamuko remembered they blamed Chihiro for stealing the money, just because she's treasurer, so she had to bear all the responsibility before they actually figured out where the money had gone. "That's ridiculous. We all know Chihiro, and she's never that type."

"Yeah, I think the same. So before the money was found, I'll have to make sure the manga is still under reserved." He put the manga back to the shelf. At the same time, Bunkichi came near.

"Hoho…Minato-chan is such a royal boyfriend. He comes every week just to check it out."

"You did?" Raising her brows, she shot him an irritating glare. Now it's coming back to her, again.

"Because I promised her, that's all." Minato bid the old couple goodbye, dragging the auburn haired girl out of the shop. He didn't want to hear whatever would come from Bunkichi, as he would keep teasing Minato until no end of tomorrow.

On the other side, Hamuko, feeling the sour swelled stronger than previous. She tried to press it down, because she knew him. He was offered his help. Despite the Social Links, he did because he truly wanted to do something for them, just as her.

She wanted to help Babe, Hidetoshi, Rio, Saori, Maiko, and the others because she wanted to. It had nothing to do with Social Links. She would do the same even without the development of Social Links. Minato must be the same.

So…how the hell she felt this way?

Inhaling deeply, she asked. "So, what's the next stop?"

"…Paulownia Mall."

As expected, Minato went straight to the Power Record as he usually did. They spent the happiest time here, as Hamuko had plenty of time to discover her favorite songs. They went separately; both had their own time in the shop. Hamuko went round and round from shelves to shelves, taking to test it out once she found one. She'd never feel boring here.

"Oh this one…" On one of the shelves, she found something, something she would never expect to find it here. It was "Burn My Dread" with "Kimi no Kioku" in the same album. She knew they did out in special version, but was sold out in few hours. "This would definitely be mine!"

She stretched out a hand to grab it, however, someone seemed shared the same thought as her, grabbing it faster than she did.

"Sorry, didn't see you though." He raised his trademark smirk – a mischief smile – whenever he's acting playful.

"H-Hey, I saw it first…!"

"But I take it first."

"I said I saw it first, and I was supposed to grab it!"

"If only you're a step earlier than me."

"Now you talk about it…so it should be mine!"

"…I thought today is all mine, correct?" He saw her face burned in anger and embarrassed, without she could protest. "I don't mind to share with you, Hamuko."

"I don't want your pity, the worst Minato!" Hamuko retorted. She quickly left the shop, before she would wipe that smile off his face.

Taking a deep breathe, she felt calmer. Yeah, she couldn't let Minato lead her mood up and down. She had to control her feeling and emotion.

Since the morning her heart was like riding the roller coaster, going up and down. It was his fault. It should be his fault. But how did he do that in her? She pouted; knowing he would affect her in mental status made her heart raced. She thought he always was, but it was different. She wasn't used to it.

Minato walked out from the shop, with the CD on his hand, he smirked.

"Are you sure you don't want to share?"

She pursed her lips, biting her bottom lips, hesitated.

"I-I…"

"I can't hear you."

"Yeah I-I want! Please lend me the CD!" Oh my god, her face turned hot again.

He burst out a small laughter, covered his mouth before it would caused trouble to the others.

"W-What are you laughing at!?"

"…No…I mean, you're cute, Hamuko." He handed the CD to her hand and petted her head. "You can have it first."

"Eh? H-Hey!" What's wrong with him today, unlike the cool Minato she always knew? Was this…his true nature? "If so…he's the worst one…"

Still, she smiled sweetly playing with the CD on hand. The fact that she would share something with Minato delighted her more, though she's yet realized it.

For a second, she only concentrated on the CD, not really paying attention to her surrounding. As she paced up to catch up with Minato, her face happened bumped on his back, right on her nose.

"Aww…why stop suddenly?" She rubbed her poor nose.

"Hey Minato!"

"Minato-san!"

"Nice to see you guys here, Akira and Miyu, where are Yuri and Nao?" Minato petted the kids' head as they ran playfully around him.

It wasn't surprised to see Minato played with kids, as they always played with Maiko at the shrine.

"Yuri and Nao are having family day, so just me and Akira today."

"We're just coming back from training!" The boy Akira shouted with high spirit.

"It's good to see you guys keep on training everyday, but don't push yourself too much." Minato saw Miyu stared at Hamuko. He rubbed her head and introduced Hamuko to her. "Miyu, this is Hamuko."

"Whoa Minato, is she your girlfriend? She's beautiful!"

"She's not! Minato-san's girlfriend is coach!"

Hamuko raised a brow. The coach…it was supposed to be a girl, right? It hit her nerve, tasted bitterness in her mouth.

She kneeled down, lightly leaning forward to the girl Miyu.

"Hey, who is this coach you're talking about?"

"It's Ms. Nishiwaki, of course! She's coaching us with Minato!" The one answered her was Akira. His teeth were surprisingly pure white.

"Yuko? Couching you guys?"

Miyu told her the story how Yuko and Minato ended up being their coaches, and how they're going to challenge the 6th grades on a race. As Hamuko listened, she gave Minato a glance, not really understood why she would do that, but she just wanted to see how he's acting. He's normal. He didn't show anything wrong. But it irritated her more. The sour feeling started to ferment into something else she didn't recognize.

Why she's so distracted by the girls around him?

"I see…you guys are amazing!" She petted Miyu's head gently, earning a shy smile from the little girl. "Wish you guys good luck on the race!"

"Yes, thank you nee-chan!"

"Yeah, you can do it."

"We're going home, Minato! See you later!" Akira dragged Miyu along and waved at them. "Come on Miyu, we don't want to get into their date!"

"That's…I told you his girlfriend is couch…!" While protesting, Miyu was dragged further. She managed to give them a wave before they went deep into the crowd.

"…Kids these days are mature, huh?" Hamuko sweat dropped, oddly feeling her heart was mixed with a hint of happy with the fact she and Minato did look like having a date.

"Are you feeling alright? You don't seem too well since morning." It seemed he noticed her strangeness.

Immediately her smile dropped, replaced by anger.

"You should know why!" With that, she walked past him and went straightly.

Minato shrugged, following behind her, wordless.

For now, she completely lost the mood of having a date with him. It's so irritating to hear things between him and other girls. The most irritating was, she was so distracted by the fact.

Water started to gather in her eyes. She took a deep breath to hold them back. Her heart was sour, like soaking inside the lemon juice.

As she's about to step into the train, thinking she would have a rest in her room, suddenly Minato grabbed her and pulled her in. Then the crowd pushed them further into the car, filling the train until it's full. Hamuko and Minato trapped inside the crowd, breathless. By the time Hamuko realized, she was in his embrace, with his arm shielded her from the crowd. She blushed, but stayed still was the best option in current situation. Plus this wasn't that bad at all.

"So, mind to tell me what happened?" His deep voice sounded on top of her head. His breathes brushed her temple. Again she smelled the peppermint. She never know her heart could race this fast. "It was you insisted this date."

Her throat was dried. Her voice was husky, but she managed to force her voice out.

"It…i-it s-seems you get pretty well with other girls, huh?"

Minato raised a brow, looking down to her reddened face, simply letting out a small burst. He leaned down, lips touching her bandages.

"I think I know what's got into you."

"Y-You do?" It reminded the kiss in the morning. It got her tongue-tied and flustered.

"Weren't you told me I am your half?" Though it's pretty uncomfortable with the crowd, but he could tell it wasn't that bad at all. Once the train got into Iwatodai Station, the crowd started to clear. He dragged the auburn haired girl out of the train as well. "Come on. Let's go to a comfortable place."

"Comfortable place?" For now in Hamuko's mind, there's no else place was as comfortable as her room. But after they went straight passed their dorm, she knew where he's referred to.

"Isn't this a nice place?"

The shrine, was sure one of the most comfortable and nice place without crowd gathered around. This place was always filled with silence, and this was just how it should be.

"…Are you paying Akinari a visit?" Akinari Kamiki, a genetic disease patient that once Minato told her about, and she knew him through a meeting.

"No, he's having check up today."

The shrine was the place they usually played with Maiko and Koromaru. But today the two weren't here, so it was simply the two of them. They sat down on the bench, and Minato immediately laid his head on Hamuko's laps.

"H-Hey, what are yo -"

"Today is mine, right?" Chuckling, as if he enjoyed looking her blushing face, but yeah, he was enjoying the moment.

"…Baka." Sighing, she just let it go. She carefully observed his face – this was the first time she really looked at him. He's charming, different than Akihiko's. He's playful, but different than Junpei's. His eyes were beautiful, different than any other eyes she had seen.

"What is it you keep staring?"

"…Your eyes…are beautiful."

Minato stared at her, and then shifted to the sky on top of him, as if covering the embarrassed.

"Hmm…someone did say the same thing before." He scratched his cheek, sheepishly.

She chuckled. That's her, in the dream, on that snowy unknown place.

"What are you laughing at?" His face was soured, making her laughed louder.

Minato sighed, although he had no idea what she's laughing at, but she smiled, at last. He was glad. Wind brushed their faces, but even the breeze was hot in the summer. He let out another sigh, but the annoying one.

Hamuko softly stroke his bang to the back.

"Hey Minato-kun, since you're my half, what am I to you?"

Unknowingly, she anxiously wanted to know. It really pierced her curiosity, pressing for answer. He did tell she's important to him. But she wanted to hear the answer straight from him.

He stared at her for a while, raising a smile.

"Are you jealous?"

"W-What!?" Her face burned up in second. "J-Jealous!? Me!?"

"Yeah, judging from the look you gave me the whole day."

No way! She did feel sour hearing the things between him and his 'girlfriends', but it wasn't jealous or anything! It was…it was because of…what?

What she's so irritating at? She knew Minato wasn't in that kind of relationship with other girls, just like how she and other boys. They weren't in that particular thing at all. Then…why she's so distracted?

He was her half on the journey. But she wanted more. She wanted something more than just the partner on the journey on searching for the memories.

So…was she really falling for him?

She stared at him, heart almost pounded out of her throat. To be his half…it was more than what she intended to mean. Perhaps she hadn't realized, or so she thought, she just tried not to touch it.

"Remember what I told you this morning?" He asked, and she nodded. "If I am your half, and so are you. Hamuko, you know I need you just as how much you need me."

He sat up from her laps moving to her side and grabbed her hand into his palm.

"Minato-kun…" She smiled, finally admitted her feeling. She had completely melted to him. He's right. They needed each other, not only on the journey, but more than that.

They exchanged a smile, and slowly leaned forward. She smelled the peppermint - such fresh and relaxing - and then...

Dog barked beside their legs, as if complaining being ignored. But in truth, the two hadn't realized until the white dog voiced.

"Hey Koromaru!" The two blushed hardly.

"How long you're listening?"

The dog barked again, waving his tail in mischief manner. Minato and Hamuko exchanged a glance; both ran up to him and, the chasing game started.

In the silence shrine, this was first time it filled with cheerful laughing and chasing sounds.

"Is this done yet?"

"Give me a moment Haruka…okay! It's done!"

Dragging the poker faced girl to the front of the mirror, Hamuko smiled in satisfactory. The one inside the mirror dressed in violet yukata and tied her hair up to left side into a ball with ribbon decorated. The yukata was so light and Haruka could feel the conformability of the materials.

"Ta-da! Whoa Haruka…I can't believe you're so adorable in yukata!"

"…Is it?" This was the first time she wore yukata as well. She had yet taking part in any festival before this, since she thought it wasn't necessary at all. But Hamuko insisted she had to go with them, so to shut her up, she could only oblige.

In Haruka's opinion, Hamuko was so different than usual. She dressed in orange yukata, which always her favorite color. The color just fit her so perfectly, like the color of twilight. Short after this, they're going to the shrine to celebrate the summer festival. This was also the first year Haruka took part in the festival. Hamuko insisted she had to go once, said to feel the crowd and hilarious.

Yukari, Fuuka, Mitsuru, Aigis and Metis all changed into different colored yukata as they went down to lounge.

"Hey Haruka, you look so different today!" Junpei almost dropped his eyes at Haruka's yukata look. "Man…I'm so lucky living in this dorm!"

"Drop it Junpei! You're sounding like a pervert!" Yukari clapped his head and pushed him away from her way. "By the way, I'm so excited. Shall we get going?"

"Yes, Akihiko and Amada are waiting for us." Mitsuru smiled. Today she seemed relaxed.

"Sister, do you know what is this called summer festival?" Metis asked Aigis.

"No. This is my first time taking part, too."

"Look sister, the fabric…is so light!"

"Yes, it's suitable to wear during summer. I am kind of surprised by its softness."

"Aigis and Metis look much like children." Fuuka giggled.

"Hey Minato-kun…am I looking good?" Hamuko asked timidly. Her cheeks were pink.

Minato smiled, shoving his hands into pocket. "What do you expect me to tell you?"

"Tell me already!"

"Everyone looks good." He smirked, looking to her pouted face. She could be so cute making that face. He chuckled.

The shrine filled with people. There were so many yatai, or which they called stalls, selling different kind of foods. Some of them were games station, providing prizes and sort after winning the game. Some sold the traditional masks, campanula and folding fan.

People started to fill the shrine. It turned out crowded short after they arrived. They met Akihiko and Ken a while later they're there.

"Wow…the festival sure is fun!" Ken said, couldn't hide his from excitement. He's been long taking part in any festival since two years ago.

"Yeah, we should relax once in a while."

They walked down the path, visiting different yatai. When Hamuko found the Takoyaki stall, immediately she went and bought some.

"Hey Haruka, want some?"

"I want one, Hamuko."

"I'm not asking you, Minato-kun!"

"I want one too! Oh buy some for Mitsuru, Fuuka, Aigis and Metis, please!" Yukari added behind.

"Hey, don't forget me!" Junpei quickly responded.

"Hey wait…I'm not asking all of you!" Feeling defeated, Hamuko, having no choice, bought all of them a Tokoyaki. "Here, Akihiko-senpai…senpai?" Akihiko wasn't listening.

"Oh sorry…thanks, Tsukikage."

"What's wrong, senpai?"

"No…it's just that…this reminds me of Miki." Akihiko sighed, taking the Tokoyaki from her. "There's once during the summer festival, me, Shinji and Miki were allowed to play at the shrine. Miki wore the same colored yukata as yours…that's her first time visited the festival, but also the last time." His voice trailed off at the end.

"Akihiko…"

Swallowing the Takoyaki, Hamuko raised a smile.

"I think Miki-san is pretty lucky."

"…Lucky?"

She nodded. "It's saddened us for her lost, but from the moment she's died, she would always live as part of you, and Akihiko-senpai would remember her for the rest of your life. I thought this is wonderful, to have someone to remember. I'm sure Miki-san feels the same too!"

"Hamuko…" Yukari lowered her head at that. To think that she and Minato suffered the lost of memories upset her.

"Thanks Tsukikage." Akihiko smiled, rubbing her head as if Hamuko was Miki.

"I wonder this Takoyaki is the same as the Iwatodai Strip Mall."

"This taste…is amazing, sister!" Metis dropped one on the ground and she screamed. "Oh no!"

"Don't pick it up Metis. You'll suffer from diarrhea."

"I…don't think that would happen to the both of you…" Yukari and Junpei sweat dropped.

"This is tasty. Can I make it too?" Fuuka stared at the Takoyaki, muttered, eyes shining with high spirit.

While the others gulped, worrying about their poor stomach. Especially Minato and Hamuko.

"…Don't you dare to try, Fuuka." Minato's face turned green. Thinking the terrible foods he had tasted, his stomach started to stir.

Hamuko chuckled dryly. "F-Fuuka…you can focus on your talent…"

"But I want to do something for everyone. Don't worry, I'll try harder!" Fuuka's smiled widely. At this rate, they wouldn't dare to say anything.

"O-Oh yeah, Minato-kun, I want cotton candy! And don't forget Haruka's!"

Minato shot her a glare. "Why should I buy for you?" But was glad this saved their butts.

"Shut up and buy it!"

Minato rolled his eyes, sighing but obliged at last. As long as it would save him from those terrible foods, he would do anything.

"Cotton candy? Is that food?" Haruka tilted her head, watching the colorful candy presented in the yatai.

"…Don't tell me you never tried before, Haruka."

"No. I'm not really interested." This was her first time heard of this type of candy, and also the first time she'd try later. Hmm…now she eagerly wanted to try it out.

Hamuko face palmed. Just what kind of life she's been through in the years? Although she had no memories about her past, at least she knew what was it and, she knew she had tried it before.

Minato shoved the cotton candy to their hands, and then handed each to others.

"Didn't you buy one for yourself?"

"I'm not kid."

"That's rude, Minato-kun!"

Mitsuru smiled, gently biting it feeling the soft candy melting right away in her mouth.

"It has been a long time I actually eat this." Come to think of it, how many years did she missed the summer festival? How long her father did took her to join this? She couldn't remember, but deep in her memories, she's kind of sure he did. But it must be long time ago, seeing her memories were faded.

"Never mind that. We'll create more and more memories like this in the future…together with every one of us." Minato said, to which Mitsuru blushed.

"Yes, I agree."

Haruka took a bite of the cotton candy, surprised by the sweetness and texture of it.

"It's…melting in my mouth…" She bit again, and the same texture in her mouth. "It's…sweet."

"That's what we called candy, right?" Hamuko shook her head at her reaction. Even a small matter like this seemed to be a surprise to her.

They walked around, testing out all the foods in all yatai, such as yakisoba, kakigori, and okomomiyaki. Among them, okonomiyaki was Haruka's favorite, and she kept ordering until her little stomach couldn't afford.

"...The sound is beautiful…"

Haruka walked to one of a yatai, picking up a campanula and hearing the sound of it.

"Oh…that's campanula?" Hamuko approached her from behind. "You like it?"

"…I like its sound." She held the campanula nearer and listened to it.

Looking at her, Hamuko raised a smile, and picked two campanulas from the yatai and paid for it.

"Here, this is for you." She handed one of the campanulas to Haruka, and kept one for herself. "This is mine, as a sign of our friendship!"

"Friendship…?" This was a strange word to Haruka. She never thought of making friend in her life, but Hamuko simply broke into her world, and Haruka knew she always had right to do so. But friendship…she wouldn't dare to think about it. "…We're friend…?"

"What are you talking about Haruka? We're friend since the first day we went to school together. Didn't I tell you so?" Hamuko pouted, and grabbed Haruka to the others. "Come on, more fun behind!"

And then, they went around playing games. Junpei challenged Haruka on cork shooting game. The rules was simple, as just to tip the toy, you'll win and got the toy as the reward.

"Here he goes again…challenging Haruka for that." Hamuko giggling, recalling how awful the first time Haruka beat him in the game.

"He's not the type to learn." Minato raised a wry grin.

As expected, Haruka tipped the toy at the first round, and got the Jack Frost Doll as reward. While Junpei got empty-handed and used up his money.

"T-This is ridiculous!"

"The result tells everything, Stupei." Yukari kicked his butt. "What are you playing, Ken?"

Ken kneeled down in front of a yatai, using a hook to hook up the water balloons. But hooking up a water balloon wasn't easy as it saw. For most of the time, before he could hook up the balloon, it broke and water splashed on his face.

"It's too difficult…"

"Don't give up Ken-kun." Fuuka tapped his shoulder softly.

Minato walked near, staring at the water balloons for a while.

"I'll get you one." After paying the fee, Minato brought the hook and kneeled down. Yukari, Fuuka and Ken shut their breathes and stared without winking. While Minato, still with his cool face, hooking up a water balloon without breaking the balloon, safely passed it to Ken.

"Wow…you're great Minato-san!" Ken said with widened eyes and big smile.

"Minato-kun and Haruka-chan are both good in playing game." Fuuka giggled.

"Yeah…totally different with that priceless Stupei…" Yukari shot Junpei a glare, who now crying on the ground pitifully.

On one of the yatai, they sold mostly masks. There were many masks hanged on the wooden racks, like animal masks and Japanese yokai masks.

"Haruka, this one suits you!" Without noticing, Hamuko suddenly put one rabbit mask on her face and giggled.

Haruka gasped, pulling the mask off her face. She watched the mask that drew a rabbit on it, dumbfounded.

Was she looked like rabbit? Why Hamuko would say this suited her? She didn't fit to be a rabbit at all. Rabbit was supposed to be pure and innocence, but Kamijou Haruka wasn't innocence from the beginning. But…

She stared at Hamuko, and smiled.

But she liked it. She liked this warmed feeling.

Looking to the different masks on the racks, she picked one and put it on Hamuko's face.

"This one suits you." A dog mask, caring and royal at all times.

"Am I?" Hamuko imitated Koromaru and barked, which earned loud laughter from her friends, and then she laughed along. "I think this mask suits Minato-kun the most."

She put a cat mask on Minato's face and smirked. Everyone looked at him for a while, and agreed in unison.

"Yeah…I never thought about it before, but now…" Akihiko nodded.

"Sorry Minato-kun…I think it looks cute on you…" Fuuka hid her blushing face behind a folding fan.

"Dude, it suits you perfectly!"

A cat and a dog…Haruka shifted her gaze in between the two, couldn't help but let out a small laughter. This was the first time she laughed from the bottom of her heart. This was the first time she thought things were funny by this way.

What a strange night…

The sky lighted up with beautiful fireworks. They blossomed like flowers and different shapes, decorated the sky with rainbow colors.

"Look, the fireworks start!"

Everyone lifted their head with excitement. Firework was the most important event during summer festival, and it always so beautiful.

Hamuko took a look at Minato, who standing alone few feet in front of her, and decided to ran over. She shoved her hands into his. Both exchanged a sweet smile and watched the fireworks played its beauty above of them.

Haruka embraced the campanula and masks dearly. Today was sure the most wonderful day in her life. These would always be her precious treasures. If one day she was destined to vanish from the world, these two items would be the proof she had lived in this world.

She looked to her right side; surprisingly found Jin was passing by, but stopped a while to watch the sky. While on her left side, Izumi, accompanied by a woman and a little girl were staring the sky in admiration.

Today was special. It was a restful day, and would always be her most memorable day.

I am so sorry for the delay. My computer down few days ago, and luckily, it's repairable.

This chapter was mostly focused on building relationships and summer festival. No action, but some romance between Hamuko and Minato. To tell the truth, I didn't plan to write the date, but since the readers were looking forward on it, so I squeezed it out. I'm not satisfied with the date actually, but I think this was the best I could do in this moment. Sorry but I lack of romance.

Well then, see you guys later!