Koma Chihana reached out to take the bag, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against Imaizumi Keita's palm.
It was very warm.
Completely different from his tone and gaze, which always carried a bit of aloofness.
"T... thanks."
Koma Chihana thanked him in a small voice, then took out a most common Sparkler from the bag.
Imaizumi Keita also squatted down beside her, took out a long-handled Lighter from his pocket, and brought the flame close to the Sparkler in Koma's hand.
The fuse was lit with a 'hiss,' and a small bundle of golden sparks bloomed from the tip, scattering fine points of light into the air.
Koma Chihana stared blankly at that beam of light, watching it go from its initial brilliance to slowly fading.
After burning out, a wisp of blue smoke slowly drifted from the end of the Sparkler, dissipating into the night breeze.
Just like her unrequited love that had already been declared over before she could even voice it.
Brief, and noticed by no one.
Seeing that she had no intention of continuing, Imaizumi Keita also pulled a Sparkler from the bag and leaned in to light it with the lighter.
Then, staying by her side, he quietly watched that tiny spark.
One burned out, and another was lit.
A faint scent of gunpowder filled the air.
No one spoke.
It wasn't until the third firework had turned into a charred piece of wire that Koma Chihana finally spoke.
"Imaizumi..."
"Hmm?"
"Is it... really okay for you to be like this?"
Koma Chihana didn't look at him, her gaze still fixed on the spark that was about to burn out.
"Even though you told me you like Ya-Yanami. Yet here you are, being so... kind to me."
She paused, shifting her gaze from the firework and turning her head to look at him with slightly reddened eyes.
"Aren't you worried that my impression of you will become even worse?"
This question, tinged with a hint of accusation, caused a flicker of surprise to appear on Imaizumi Keita's face.
He turned his head to meet Koma's gaze, curious about how she truly saw him, and asked in return:
"Koma, do you think all these actions of mine are meant to pursue you?"
This counter-question, so direct it was almost tactless, left Koma Chihana completely unsure of how to respond.
"I-I didn't think that!"
She hurriedly looked away and advised, "I-I just feel... I-Imaizumi, this kind of behavior is easy to... to misunderstand."
She took a deep breath, seemingly remembering something, and pointed the finger at someone else.
"Just like... just like how you are with Yakishio! You-you're very kind to her too... Isn't that just being a... a Scumbag?!"
By the time she finished, her voice had unconsciously weakened, but she stubbornly added what she considered her strongest argument.
"...Anyway, you're definitely not as good as the President."
As soon as she said it, Koma Chihana felt her heart skip a beat, and she instinctively wanted to bury her face deeper, pretending she hadn't said anything.
Imaizumi Keita didn't lose his composure as Koma had imagined; instead, he nodded along with her.
"Fine, let's just say I'm a Scumbag then."
His voice was very soft as he asked about Koma's condition with concern, "So, Classmate Xiao Ju, do you feel a bit better now?"
"Eh?"
Koma Chihana slowly raised her head, meeting his still-gentle eyes.
At that moment, Koma Chihana's heart, which had hardened from disappointment and frustration, softened without warning.
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