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In the end, Kou and Subaru agreed that they would visit the dojo and help clean up the day before Obon, and passed that along to the current tenants—the master’s daughter and her husband. Or rather, Subaru did, since Kou no longer looked like she did back then.

“I’m still surprised you two are this dedicated. Didn’t they say it was fine if you stopped helping them before?”
“I mean, they did… but we were the last of his pupils, so I still feel like it’s our duty to look after the dojo.”
“Well, you know how boneheaded she gets about that stuff. She won’t listen no matter what anyone says.”
“You say that, but then you come with me every year too, so you also care just as much.”

Subaru couldn’t help but look away when Kou replied with a pout, spinning the Japanese umbrella she was carrying—white with morning glories drawn on it, and similar in design (except for the color) to the one Amari carried.

Kou had hit the nail on the head, and Subaru’s reaction confirmed it, making her grin devilishly.

They continued chatting about anything they could think of until they reached the festival location, which was beside a dry riverbed.

It wasn’t dark yet, but the area was already packed with people. Many had secured their spots with mats and were sitting down. Some had even brought food and cans of beer to sit back and relax.

There, Kou and Hijiri took Hinagiku’s hand, and Subaru held Miyuki’s, ensuring they wouldn’t get separated in the crowd, and began searching for a good place to watch the fireworks.

“It’s pretty crowded already.”
“Can’t blame them. There are hardly any special festivities around here, so this is one of the few times they get to enjoy something like this.”

Kou looked around in disbelief as Subaru explained.

Usually, the riverbed—paved with ornate tiles and designated as a historical landmark—was a calm place. The only people nearby were joggers or dog-walkers. But today, it was filled with food stalls and people, including whole families and couples in yukatas.

“The prez said she was coming too. Do you think she’s already here?”
“Ah, let me check with her real quick…”

When Kou asked, Hijiri quickly opened her messaging app and texted Kasumi. While they waited for a response…

“Ah, it’s Hinagiku!”
“G-Good afternoon, Miyuki!”

A group of kids suddenly spoke up. When they turned to see who it was, it turned out to be kids from Kou’s neighborhood.

“Who are they?”
“Ah, hello! We did radio calisthenics together with them!”

Hinagiku responded politely, while the more timid Miyuki hid behind Subaru.

“You two came to see the fireworks too?”
“You… you look really cute in yukatas…”
“Umm… would you like to hang out later..?”

The kids surrounded the two girls, who seemed slightly overwhelmed, but Kou could only think how glad she was that Ryunosuke wasn’t there.

“I’m really sorry. We’ll be together with our mothers tonight.”
“Aww, that’s too bad…”

Hinagiku politely declined, and the kids looked somewhat disappointed.

“Umm… umm, why are you with the Furuya twins..?”
“Well, we’ve been staying with them these days, so they’re still accompanying us.”

The kids had noticed Hijiri looking at them with a wide smile, so they nervously stammered a question about her.

It made sense—they often saw Hijiri as the beautiful older girl who lived nearby, and now she was with the two cute girls they had just met, who were around the same age as them.

…And Kou was watching it all unfold, not really thinking much of it.

“And… and… who is that girl… standing next to Furuya, umm…?”
“Hiee?!”

Then suddenly, all of their inquisitive eyes turned to the girl standing next to Hijiri—Kou—and she yelped in shock.

Hey, Mom, you mentioned you manipulated the memories of everyone who knew me, but exactly what did you do?

Kou turned around, glaring at her mother intently and asking that with her eyes. The idea that something like that was even possible was terrifying on many levels, but Kou distinctly remembered Amari hinting at it at the hospital.

However, she had never gone into detail about what she had actually done.

Sorry, none of them even remembers meeting you.

Amari’s gaze seemed to say that, her expression apologetic—and Kou felt her heart sink.

Somehow, Kou had now become just another cute new girl the neighborhood kids were curious to know more about.

Thinking about it, her school started at a different time than elementary and middle schools, and she almost never left the house, so she had very little contact with her neighbors.

For many of the kids, this was probably the first time they had seen her at all.

Ahh… Now I get why they’re looking at me that way. I look so different now…

While Hijiri patiently chatted with the kids, Kou was forced to lower her umbrella to hide from the middle schoolers in the group, who were staring at her intently. She couldn’t help but lament her own shortsightedness.

Some of those older kids attended the same middle school Kou had gone to, and she had looked after them before—as their upperclassman.

Seeing those same boys now looking at her with curiosity, desire, and romantic interest was something she had never anticipated. And since she had absolutely no intent to date a boy, she also felt a little sorry for them.

She had to remind herself once again that everyone now saw her as a girl—and that she needed to be mindful of that fact. Letting out another sigh, she gave them a forced smile…

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