The sound of fireworks exploding in the night sky drowned out their breathing, neither of them looked away.

Fushimi Roku's hand was still suspended in mid-air, his fingertips trembling slightly; while Minamoto Tamako's ears were already red, her knuckles turned white from gripping the railing too tightly.

"Ah, I brought this..."

Fushimi Roku snapped out of it, took out his wallet, and said, "I've thought about it, you don't lack anything. Giving a ring seems strange, giving a necklace feels like I'm copying others, so I decided to give you what you most want."

He took out the red Redemption Voucher, looked away, and handed it to Minamoto Tamako: "Those things... I should have told you about them in the first place."

Minamoto Tamako received the Redemption Voucher with both hands, wanting to say something but not knowing what, her mind all a jumble.

Granny Hamada pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, while Granny Yamaguchi laughed and shouted upstairs, "Don't forget that thing!"

Minamoto Tamako, with sharp ears, heard them and remembered the lines she had prepared in advance, stammering as she said, "Th-thank you! I shouldn't have compared myself to others... and I-I wasn't intentionally upset, just a lot of unexpected things happened these days..."

"Mhm." Fushimi Roku nodded.

Minamoto Tamako breathed a little easier and spoke more fluently, she continued, "Also, Fushimi invited me to see the bonfire festival. At the time, I didn't understand Fushimi's feelings... Now that I'm here, I understand..."

"Mhm." Fushimi Roku moved a step closer.

Minamoto Tamako lowered her head, clutching the Redemption Voucher, her fingertips trembling with nerves: "Lastly, Grandpa said... he said... you mentioned breaking up..."

Fushimi Roku strode forward and grabbed Minamoto Tamako's wrist, pulling her towards him. Minamoto Tamako staggered a step, nearly bumping her forehead against his shoulder, but heard Fushimi Roku's rare, awkward voice coming from above her: "I never said that."

Minamoto Tamako looked up, eyes reddened, murmured an "Mhm," and buried her face in his arms.

Mr. and Mrs. Yoshida whistled, and Uncle Sugiyama patted Kujo Mutsumi's shoulder: "Mr. Kujo, you have a very outstanding granddaughter."

Kujo Mutsumi snorted, crumpled the bill into a ball, stuffed it into his pocket, and gazed with a complex expression at the silhouetted figures embracing atop the lighthouse.

...

In the presence of friends and family, Fushimi Roku and Minamoto Tamako completed the local Otaru custom, confessing at the fireworks festival. Legend says the Sea God will bless them.

The fireworks ended in just a few minutes, it was Minamoto Tamako's last-minute procurement from the organizers, actually just one box, which ran out once set off.

They embraced on the lighthouse for a while. The Tower Keeper knocked on the bell, reminding Minamoto Tamako that the time was up; they couldn't stay too long, soon the ship would dock.

Fushimi Roku grabbed her hand and headed down the stairs, amidst the aunt-like smiles of all the elderly ladies and gentlemen, they rode the motorcycle parked by the roadside.

Kujo Mutsumi wisely didn't follow but watched from afar. His second goal had also been achieved, thus an invisible contract was formed between Fushimi Roku and the Kujo Family, just requires patience now.

Fushimi Roku and Minamoto Tamako bid farewell to Granny Hamada and others, riding the motorcycle back to the old house.

Halfway through, Minamoto Tamako hugged his waist from the back seat and shouted into the wind, "Speaking of which, why is Sakurako's luggage missing?"

Fushimi Roku had just confessed, unable to say "Sorry actually I originally planned to return to Tokyo with Sakurako..."

Moreover, he didn't want to seem foolish, like "Actually I was duped by your grandfather, thinking you were going to break up with me," which would make him appear as dazed by love as Minamoto Tamako, becoming anxious and fretful...

Caught in a dilemma, Fushimi Roku's bad habits resurfaced, he lied: "Sakurako kept insisting on returning to Tokyo, so I sent her back first and then took the car back."

This statement perfectly resolved the issue of missing luggage and the absence of Taira Sakurako, placing all blame on Taira Sakurako.

"Eh?" Minamoto Tamako raised her head: "Then isn't there no one to take care of Sakurako?"

"Senior Kazama is taking care of... I think." Fushimi Roku gripped the motorcycle handle, changed the subject: "Riding isn't convenient for distractions, let's talk more when we get home."

Minamoto Tamako, not quite reassured, called Kazama Tatsuya. The latter had already picked up Taira Sakurako, and was on the way to take her home.

"Really sorry, Sakurako was so headstrong, suddenly insisting on going home, causing you trouble..." Minamoto Tamako said, covering the phone's mouthpiece.

Kazama Tatsuya's voice came from the receiver: "It's fine, I don't have much to do anyway. Sakurako is actually quite sweet, no need to be too harsh."

After a pause, he added: "Don't let Fushimi casually teach Sakurako, you should spend more time with her, lest Fushimi leads Sakurako astray."

Minamoto Tamako nodded repeatedly, indicating she would hurry back to Tokyo tomorrow.

Kazama Tatsuya's phone was on speaker, Taira Sakurako heard the conversation and interjected: "Actually, there's no need to rush, I don't want to interrupt your time together. Maybe return in two days... no, two weeks from now!"

Minamoto Tamako was greatly moved, yet felt a pang of guilt.

She knew how upsetting it is for children to witness their parents argue; as a child herself, she had vowed never to quarrel with someone she loved... but she not only failed to uphold that, she dragged Taira Sakurako into it too.

Perhaps Taira Sakurako wanted them to make up, which is why she insisted on returning to Tokyo?

Minamoto Tamako understood this attribution mentality, children may feel their parents argue because of their own shortcomings, maybe Taira Sakurako thinks this way too, so she hurriedly comforted her, promising to buy tonight's train ticket and return overnight.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.