I, Tomoya Aki, am not a bootlicker

Just outside the station is Ueno Park, the first park in Japan and the landmark here.

The stone and bronze lanterns on both sides of the shrine's approach have been lit.

Tonight, many people will stop by here before going to Sensō-ji Temple.

Girls in yukatas can be seen everywhere, and there are many couples. The busiest time period in summer is also the time when the smell of dog food is the most serious.

I waited outside Ueno Park, chose a place where I wouldn't disturb others and stayed quietly, and asked her via Line how long she would have to wait.

"An Yi, just stay there quietly, waiting for me to come and take you away. Don't let a stranger take you away!"

"Take it away? Am I an object?"

You still have to wait here to be picked up by someone. It’s not a good thing to come too early.

Moreover, it is not certain that anyone would come over to chat with you, and no one would notice you if you just quietly acted as a handsome man.

"Brother, are you alone?"

As expected, someone finally noticed him?

"Well, you're alone too?"

Aki Tomoya nodded calmly, and at the same time looked at the girl who was wearing black wooden clogs and a light pink yukata with cherry blossom patterns.

She was holding a small bag hung with a red string in her hand. Her long hair, which had been cut off previously, had grown back after more than two years and was neatly wrapped behind her head with a white satin ribbon.

"No, An Yi, you're too cold. This will make the girls who come to chat with you very embarrassed!"

Sayaka Kudo shook her head and looked at him with a look of disappointment.

"At this time, you should smile, ask the girl how old she is, and praise her for being beautiful..."

She started to teach him the method, and her words made Aki Tomoya laugh.

With a chuckle, after taking a closer look at Kudo Sayaka today, he couldn't help but praise: "You look beautiful today, this yukata suits you very well."

"Yes, yes, that's right. You should be more proactive when complimenting a girl!"

But Sayaka Kudo didn't seem to realize it.

I thought that Tomoya Aki was just joking at this time.

"How am I today?"

At this time, she turned around in front of Tomoya Aki and showed him her full figure.

"I just said that."

Sayaka Kudo was stunned by Tomoya Aki's teasing.

She was stunned for a moment, then said hurriedly, "That doesn't count. Give me a more serious evaluation!"

Sayaka Kudo raised her hand and gently pushed Tomoya Aki's shoulder with her fingers.

Now she couldn't tell whether the other party's comment just now was serious or just a joke.

"What else do you want me to say? Should I exaggerate and make you look like the greatest person ever?"

"You are so cunning. You actually want to fool people like this!"

The slightly dissatisfied expression on her face was very interesting.

Looking at her current appearance, Aki Tomoya's smile became more and more playful. He shrugged helplessly, as if he was at a loss, and said, "Very beautiful, really beautiful, I was moved just now!"

"...Be more perfunctory, please!"

"Alas, I would like to compare my heart to the bright moon, but the bright moon only shines on the ditch!"

He covered his chest and cried out for justice in front of the girls.

What was originally a serious statement was regarded as perfunctory by others.

In fact, she was really beautiful, and he swore he was telling the truth.

"It's getting late, let's go, your Ueno Park is just ahead."

Knowing when to stop, Aki Tomoya estimated that he didn't need to look for time anymore. It would be perfect to go directly to Sensoji Temple after visiting Ueno Park.

On the approach to Ueno Park, the number of pedestrians gradually increased, and Aki Tomoya's urging made Kudo Sayaka let him go for the time being.

Walking beside the boy, Sayaka Kudo talked about recent events. As more and more people passed by, she couldn't help but move closer to the boy, and the distance between them was almost shoulder to shoulder.

At this time last year, we were still in cram school, but this year, we each entered the university we wanted to go to.

Having spent half a year at the long-desired Keio, Sayaka Kudo and Tomoya Aki have known each other for about three years.

"It's rare that you specially invited me out today. I thought you would be with your friends."

Being invited out to a summer festival with girls was definitely the first time for Tomoya Aki.

As for whether it was a date or not, he couldn't say for sure, and he didn't dare to ask the girl next to him whether it was a date.

Because it's still a bit embarrassing.

"Fumino has to take tutoring classes, and all my best friends in high school have betrayed me and got boyfriends!"

The first half of the sentence is full of regret, and the second half is full of indignation.

A good friend I met in the cram school is repeating a grade this year and has basically no time.

All her best friends in high school are now single, and some are even showing off in front of her, urging her to find a relationship as well. After all, she is a girl from Keio University and will definitely be popular.

Sayaka Kudo's words made Tomoya Aki smile.

As the night deepened, the lights on both sides became brighter, and the light shone on the girl next to him. Aki Tomoya's eyes paused on her profile for half a second.

"The former hottie has now become a talented lady in the literature department."

"Department of Literature? Are you teasing me on purpose?"

"No, no, no, how could that be? It is true that you will have the opportunity to publish a book, isn't that right?"

When talking about the surprises she encountered at the publishing house, the boy's eyes flashed with admiration.

To be able to pass the strict review, it turns out that the girl around me has grown to such a great level.

"Beautiful girl literature writer!"

"Hey, I have goose bumps. Shut up, I was just trying it out!"

What kind of beautiful girl literature writer? Sayaka Kudo said she couldn’t stand it and decided to give up the title.

She simply wrote her story and was pleasantly surprised to find that it seemed to be publishable.

After being admitted to Keio University, I continued to read books every day, but I couldn’t find my goal. If I didn’t try, I would be exhausted physically and mentally.

Similarly, Kudo Sayaka would occasionally think of the boy next to her who she had always been compared to. After writing down all her feelings during the two years of school on paper, she felt like she was a lot more relaxed.

If this story had to be told to someone, she thought of this person and ended up doing it.

Before submitting her work, she asked Tomoya Aki to review it. Although it was just a simple comment of "very good", it gave her a lot of confidence.

The two walked through Ueno Park and headed towards Sensō-ji Temple.

The lanterns hanging on both sides and the roadside stalls at the temple fair were reflected in the eyes of the two people along the way.

People were coming and going, and this time was already the busiest. They were in the center of the crowd, moving slowly forward.

Suddenly, Sayaka Kudo's body shook slightly, and she subconsciously hugged the arm of the boy next to her.

After being lightly bumped, Aki Tomoya turned around and looked at her worriedly, and asked, "Are you okay?"

Sayaka Kudo shook her head, and then found that she was hugging the other person's arms with both hands. Her cheeks were a little red, but it was not so obvious under the light.

She immediately let go of her hands and complained, "Sorry, there were too many people and I got bumped into..."

There were indeed a lot of people, after all, it was a summer festival.

This is the busiest time of summer.

Aki Tomoya looked around and replied softly, "It's not impossible to lend you my arm for a while."

"…I'm just borrowing it for a bit, don't let your imagination run wild, and don't be so arrogant!"

She muttered for a while, which made Akito Tomoya want to laugh but he didn't dare to.

It seems that she is the one who might have wild thoughts.

Amaki Tomo didn't say anything, but when Kudo Sayaka carefully stretched out a hand and grabbed his arm tightly, he said helplessly: "Too hard."

"..."

Because of his reminder, the strength of the hand on the arm weakened a little.

There are a lot of people at Sensoji Temple tonight, so if you do this, you don't have to worry about getting lost.

Slowly following the boy's footsteps, Sayaka Kudo couldn't help but look at the boy's face next to her several times.

After confirming several times that the other person had no other thoughts on his face, she breathed a sigh of relief.

But after a while, she began to feel anxious again, and she didn't know why.

"By the way, is today considered a date?"

Sayaka Kudo said in her heart.

It was only then that I realized that today's summer festival was with a boy who was also single.

When this thought came to her mind, she became a little flustered and started to have wild thoughts.

"But it seems that this guy doesn't think about it that way, so I shouldn't bother myself with unnecessary things..."

Thinking of this at last, Sayaka Kudo felt a little calmer.

However, what she didn't know was that before rushing to Ueno, the boy next to her had also thought about the same question.

But now it seems that no one can ask the other party whether this is a date or not.

"Here you go. It's my treat."

Passing by a stall selling apple candies, Akitomo obediently took out his wallet and expressed his feelings as a boy should on a day like today.

"Of course! But...thanks!"

Sayaka Kudo took the candy apple without any hesitation.

Then she looked at a stall selling sweet wine and jokingly said, "An Yi, are you good at sweet wine?"

"Just stop it!"

He rolled his eyes at Sayaka Kudo.

The road to Sensoji Temple is not long, but there are so many people that people walk slowly.

After walking around Sensō-ji for a while, I followed the crowd and returned.

The fireworks display at 8 o'clock is about to begin, looking at the time.

After walking out of Temple Street, they both breathed a sigh of relief.

“There are so many people!”

Sayaka Kudo gently wiped the sweat from her forehead, and the ends of her hair on her forehead were already a little wet.

She turned her head to look at Tomoya Aki, and when she realized that she was still holding his arm, she smiled embarrassedly and let go.

After taking a short rest on the roadside, we had to go to the riverside to find a good spot before the fireworks display started.

However, looking at Sayaka Kudo's flushed face, Akitomo couldn't help but ask, "Do you still have the strength to walk?"

"How about you carry me?"

"It seems you still have strength. You are really different from other girls, Kudo!"

"Don't talk weird to me, damn it!"

After a few simple jokes, the two smiled at each other.

Walking slowly towards the river, it wouldn't be a problem to get there before eight o'clock.

When they arrived at the river, there were already a lot of people gathered there. The two did not think about squeezing in, but instead leaned under a tree and chatted.

"An Yi, you know so many girls, don't you have any intention of dating anyone?"

Being asked this kind of question, An Yilun didn't know how to answer.