Volume 1 - Top-Tier Character Ayanokōji-kun [DISCONTINUED] [READ THE REVISION]

SS - Matsuo: New Year's Reminiscence

A story from when Ayanokōji Kiyotaka was still a first-year...

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"Are you ready, Master Ayanokōji?"

"Yes."

We were currently in the apartment I had rented for him, preparing for the new year's fireworks festival. As always, I had my black coat on. I bought him a jacket that should keep him warm.

"Here you go, please wear it." I handed the jacket over to him.

"Thanks," he said, in his ever-so monotone voice.

I was glad he got the chance to experience such a sight. I sincerely hoped he would enjoy the dazzling display of sounds and colors.

"But Matsuo, why are we even going there? It's just fireworks, no?"

Ah, I expected this question. It was only a matter of time when his curiosity would take over and lead him to investigate. But I was prepared to answer.

"Well, I assume part of it is tradition. Fireworks have held cultural significance in Japan since the Edo era. But I assume you know that already, do you not?"

It was obviously a rhetorical question. I knew that, with his education, he would have no problem answering pretty much any knowledge-related question in any field. His pure knowledge already far exceeded mine and many others, which was truly astounding.

But I did not look at him as "the masterpiece", like many others did. No, in my eyes he was Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, a simple boy. Even if he was such an extraordinary child, he was still a child. He only knew so much.

"Yes. But I did some research and read online that there are other reasons people go to a fireworks festival."

Oh? I knew he was curious, but to think he was this intrigued in fireworks..

Haha! Well, I should have expected it. But no matter how much research he did, no matter how much knowledge he gathered, it could not be explained in simple text. One needed to witness the spectacle themselves to understand the effect.

"Well, I am quite curious about your findings. How about we continue this conversation while we are walking towards the festival?"

"Sure."

And with that, we left the apartment.

---

"Haaa... it's cold, isn't it, Kiyotaka?" Once I stepped foot outside, a chilling cold went down my spine. Every single breath condensed into a white and misty cloud. Wearing this thick coat was definitely the right choice.

As I looked over to check, I saw that Kiyotaka had his hands in his pockets and simply stared straight ahead, seemingly not affected by the cold at all. As expected, he was truly impressive.

"Yeah, it is. We've gone under zero degrees," he said.

Well, snow was already plenty everywhere, so that was obvious. 

"Anyway, Kiyotaka, what were those other reasons you found?"

I wanted to know what he had read and consequentially, what expectations he had set for himself.

Kiyotaka began talking, "Well, apparently, bright colors and high-decibel sounds influence an individual to release several times the normal amount of dopamine produced by receptors in the brain, which causes a heightened sense of enjoyment. Also, due to the possible danger of fireworks, the primal instinct is stimulated, creating a sense of fear that helps with adrenaline release too."