Love Live! Romance

Chapter 34: Firework Festival

"I wonder how Umi-chan loves you even though you're a stubborn guy?"

Someone whispered to my ears while poking my cheeks, its probably Honoka again

"I can hear you Honoka, stop poking my cheeks will you?"

I turned my head and opened my eyes, it was actually Nozomi sitting next to me

"N-nozomi? What are you doing here early this morning?"

"I just thought of buying some manjuus from Honoka's store and she let me enter here. And, its already afternoon." Nozomi replied

"Afternoon?" I looked at the window and, she's right, its already afternoon. I slept so late just to finish reading a manga last night.

"By the way, can I ask you a favor?" Nozomi asked

"Sure, what is it?"

"Can I ask for your assistance at the shrine right now? The firework festival will start soon so we need a lot of people to prepare everything for tonight" Nozomi explained

"So it will happen tonight? I was so focused on helping you guys that it slipped out to my mind. Sure I don't mind helping you"

"Really? Thank you so much! I don't know how will I repay you with your kindness" Nozomi smiled and held my hand

"N-no you don't have to, besides I really like helping you all anyway"

"Should I repay you with a kiss? Or feel my body? I'll do it for you, just say it" Nozomi added while trying not to grin

"W-w-wait a minute! You don't have to go that far! I'll just change my clothes then we'll go to the shrine"

I quickly grabbed a pair of clothes and went to the bathroom to change. Geez, what's happening to Nozomi today? She's really strange

**********

After an hour, we all arrived at the shrine to help Nozomi. She's waiting for us at the top of the stairway, wearing the traditional shrine maiden outfit which is a white kimono and red long skirt with her hair tied in a white ribbon

"Wow Nozomi-chan you look so pretty nya!" Rin rushed upstairs to Nozomi

"I'm really impressed Nozomi, you look very wonderful in that outfit" Eli complimented

"Thank you Elicchi. I can actually feel the spiritual powers deep in this world if I wear this shrine maiden dress" Nozomi replied

"Well what are we waiting for, lets go help Nozomi now!" Nico enthusiastically raised her hands and rushed to the shrine

"Nicochi really is a troublesome person isn't she?" Nozomi looked at me and smiled

"I guess so. I guess we better go to work now. Where should we start Nozomi?"

"You can ask the people who's starting to build up their stalls if they need help. If you need me I'll be at the shrine. See ya!" Nozomi waved as she walk away.

We all started to help the people around at their stalls. From food stalls and to some game stalls and a lot more, we helped everyone to finish their work. After that, the girls went back to their homes to change clothes for the festival

After an hour, they're all back to the shrine and looks very beautiful to their outfits. Eli is wearing a light blue kimono with her hair tied up. Nico is wearing a pink yukata and her hair is laid down, this is actually my first time seeing her without any ponytails and she look very wonderful on it. Nozomi is wearing a purple yukata with flower designs on it and her hair is tied up and braided to the right side of her hair. Rin is wearing a plain yellow yukata which makes her a bit uncomfortable for some reason. Hanayo is wearing a light green kimono and she's wearing her glasses instead of her contact lens today. Maki is wearing a red kimono with a very detailed design of flowers in the lower part of her skirt making it look very good to her. Kotori is wearing her gray yukata and her hair is tied up in a ribbon. Honoka is wearing her orange kimono that she used to wear before when we go to festivals when we were young. And Umi is wearing a plain blue yukata and her hair is braided to the side of her head and she looks so pretty on it.

"Wow, all of you really prepared for this day huh?"

"Of course, its the most important event that only happens once a year" Honoka replied

"Where do you think we should go first Kayo-chin?" Rin hold Hanayo's hands

"There's a lot of stalls here and I really can't decide which one to go first" Hanayo replied

"Wow! So many food stalls around here. I'll go get some takoyaki first!" Honoka glazed at the food stalls around and went to the nearby takoyaki store

"You're right, maybe I'll get some too."

"Honoka, be careful not to eat too much or else you'll get fat." Umi warned Honoka

"Oh come on Umi-chan its not gonna happen" Honoka confidently replied

"But if it really happened I'll have no choice but to have you on a diet again" Umi replied

"Come on Umi, let Honoka have fun at least for a while."

"He's right Umi, its the fireworks festival tonight. We should all have fun tonight." Eli added

"I understand. Maybe we should look for a place to sit where we can watch the fireworks later." Umi replied

"Okay then, lets go look for one and the others will buy food for all of us. Is that okay?"

Everyone agreed and we all seperated. Umi went with Kotori and Honoka to buy some food, Rin, Maki and Hanayo went to play to the booths around. Nozomi, Nico, Eli and I went to look for a place to watch fireworks later.

But we can't find a perfect place for all of us to sit so we decided to split and look for one. Nozomi and Nico went to the open grounds. Eli and I went to a nearby hill.

"Eli-san, I guess we can watch here. The view is great and there's not that much people here"

"I guess so. We should probably call the others here" Eli replied

I took a seat to the ground as I finished contacting the others. Eli seems to be worrying about something

"Eli-san, what's wrong?"

"Nothing" Eli took a seat next to me, "I'm just wondering what would happen to all of us if you're not around"

"Is that so?"

"Its you who brought us all here. At this adventure of becoming a school idol. I should really thank you for bringing us all as one. If you're not around, Nico will be probably lurking around in her room because of the loss of her father. Rin will be transferred to a different school. And of course, I won't be able to move on to my past." Eli moved close to my face and kissed my cheek

"Eli-san! Wh-what are you..."

"Its just a small token of appreciation. Do you want it on the lips instead?" Eli joked

"N-no, thanks"

"For a guy, you're pretty shy but really kind. I always thought men are jerks and doesn't care much about how we girls feel. But you proved me wrong. I guess living in an environment like that since I was a kid makes me want to stay away from them." Eli hold my hand and looked at me straight in the eye, "Promise me Ren. Whatever happens, you'll never leave at Umi's side no matter what. Don't mind all of the obstacles you'll face, we'll all be at your side rooting for you two until the end"

"Don't worry Eli-san. I never wanted to leave Umi's side in the first place. Besides, it's what lovers are for right? Staying together until the end. But µ's is also important to me so I'll do my best to support all of you."

"I appreciate that, thank you" Eli replied 

Everyone came by and we all have a feast. As we watched the fireworks all together, we all prayed that µ's will win Love Live and save Otonokizaka from closing. Tomorrow is the big day and we all went home to prepare for it.