“Why? Can’t I watch from here?”
As he was staring blankly at him, Declan asked. Only after hearing his voice did Henry come to his senses and answer hastily.
“No, it’s not that… Let’s watch together then.”
Words that weren’t in his plans and that he had never intended to say came tumbling out.
There was a sound of a chair leg being dragged like before, and Declan sat on it.
The entire school was plunged into darkness in preparation for the fireworks. The library at night with no visitors was quieter and darker than ever.
Enough to have the foolish thought that even his heartbeat might be heard.
Just as Henry, who had been enduring the awkwardness, was contemplating whether to declare that he would watch from outside after all—
Bang—!
—Waaaah!
The fireworks began.
Colorful fireworks burst and embroidered the sky.
It was a sight that made all his thoughts disappear. The noise of people laughing and chattering that had been faintly audible from below was instantly drowned out by the sound of firecrackers.
Unlike his vision that was instantly dyed with splendor, all around was quiet. Quiet enough that not even a breath could be heard.
The sense of space disappeared in the dreamlike scenery.
If he looked down, there would surely be countless people watching the same scenery, yet Henry felt like he was drifting alone in a different world.
Under the brilliant night sky, among all the happy people, a sense of alienation came to Henry that only he couldn’t fit in there.
If I had known it would be like this, I would have gone down to watch. Just as Henry was about to regret—
Rustle.
A presence was heard beside him.
Only then could Henry finally return to reality. And he remembered that a person was sitting beside him.
Henry glanced at the seat next to him. He looked at the man sitting about one seat’s distance away from him.
It was strange. Unlike last time, he didn’t think Declan Russell had left one seat empty because he disliked him.
Similarly, it was a vague certainty with no evidence.
He too was looking up at the sky like Henry had been moments ago.
Once again, firecrackers burst with a loud sound. Henry saw the fireworks reflected on Declan’s face instead of the sky.
Henry let out a small exclamation without realizing it.
Even in this huge explosive sound, though he didn’t know how Declan had caught Henry’s voice, he turned his face.
Their gazes entangled. Time seemed to stop.
The library, a place that hadn’t changed at all. The firecrackers still brilliantly shining.
Though it was a situation no different from moments ago, this time the sense of floating didn’t come. He felt a sense of stability that he hadn’t been left alone.
By the person beside him, Henry was able to safely find his place.
“…Why?”
Feeling puzzled by the gaze looking at him, Declan asked. Startled, Henry’s mouth moved.
Since I was the one looking at him first, I should answer. But he couldn’t think of a plausible excuse.
“Oh, nothing.”
He tried to answer pretending to be calm, but the end of his voice cracked badly. Henry cleared his throat and adjusted his posture.
He felt a gaze following his face. Henry tried hard to pretend not to notice him, but—
Grumble.
Tearing through the silence, an unexpected sound rang out. Henry’s mind went blank.
It clearly came from his stomach, but he didn’t want to believe it.
Henry’s eyes, looking out the window, shook here and there. He hoped he hadn’t heard, but that didn’t happen.
A small laugh leaked out from the man sitting next to him.
His face burned. The tips of his ears must be completely red.
“Were you staring because you’re hungry?”
“…Don’t laugh.”
“It is about time to be hungry. You wouldn’t have eaten anything since lunch.”
An answer so full of consideration came back that he almost forgot who the other person was. Henry’s voice, unable to give a peevish answer to him, also softened considerably.
“What about you?”
“Me?”
“…Aren’t you hungry?”
At Henry’s question, a smile appeared on Declan’s lips and his eyes gently folded. A calm voice flowed from him.
“It looks like the fireworks are almost over. Should we look for a booth that’s still selling food?”
At his suggestion, Henry quietly nodded.
Declan got up from his seat first. Henry quietly got up and followed behind him.
Among those returning to the dormitory with excited and elated faces, Henry and Declan squeezed through them and headed outside.
Declan walked endlessly slowly. As if matching Henry’s pace, whose walking was slow due to his injured foot.
All the booths in the main building that they saw on the way out had long been dismantled. The situation was similar for the booths that had been lined up on the playground. Everything had been dismantled and the poles and canopies were neatly organized.
Have they finished everything already? Holding a small worry, Henry, who had been looking around carefully, discovered a booth at the very edge of the playground where the lights hadn’t gone out. People were standing sparsely in front of it.
He couldn’t tell if it was a booth selling food, but wasn’t it worth a try?
“There’s one left over there.”
Henry said, pointing at the booth with his hand. Following that fingertip and confirming the booth where the lights hadn’t gone out, Declan moved his steps first.
The two walked side by side and arrived in front of the booth. The female student beyond the counter recognized Henry and Declan and greeted them with a welcoming face.
“Oh! Henry, Declan! Hi! What brings you two here together?”
Henry smiled somewhat awkwardly.
“Something came up. Do you happen to have any food left?”
“Wait a moment!”
At Henry’s question, she ran to the back of the booth. It seemed she was checking the inventory.
She returned not long after and said in a lively voice.
“Two hot dogs. There’s exactly one nacho left! You’re lucky, Henry?”
Henry nodded slightly while maintaining his smile.
“I guess so. I’ll buy everything.”
Soon hot dogs and nachos were placed in paper bowls. While Henry was fumbling in his pockets to take out money—
“Here.”
Suddenly, a hand extended beside him. Declan was handing over money.
“Thanks! Enjoy!”
The girl greeted brightly and disappeared to finish organizing the booth. Henry urgently said to Declan, who was picking up the bowls containing food.
“I’ll give you money.”
“You don’t have to.”
An emotionless answer, no different from usual, came back.
“…I don’t like it.”
Henry stubbornly took out bills from his pocket. He caught up with his steps and grabbed his outer clothing.
Because he had a hot dog in one hand and nachos in the other, Declan, who had no free hands, couldn’t move in case he dropped the food.
Taking advantage of his stop, Henry shoved bills into his pocket. Then he boldly extended his hand.
“I’ll carry the hot dog.”
Declan didn’t bother to say anything more. He obediently handed over the hot dog bowl as Henry wanted and slowly walked to sit on a quiet bench.
The lights were dim, and the only background sound was music heard from afar.
Henry bit into the completely cold hot dog.
“…It’s not good.”
Henry muttered softly. From Declan, who had put a nacho in his mouth first instead of the hot dog, came a snickering sound.
“Are the nachos edible?”
“No.”
To Henry’s question, Declan gave an utterly resolute answer.
It was actually natural.
The food students sold on campus at times like this was regulated. In the end, it was obvious they would have bought frozen food from the mart and heated it up in the microwave in advance to sell.
“What did Joseph and Aiden find so delicious that they went to buy more?”
“Well, that might have been delicious.”
Henry grumbled in a complaining voice. Declan answered him calmly.
The hot dog was cold and mushy, and the sausage tasted like a cheap processed product. The nachos boasted tremendous sogginess, as if a long time had passed since opening the bag.
Yet Henry thought.
It’s the worst food I’ve ever eaten, but somehow I feel like this taste will stay in my memory for a long time.
It was a really unpleasant premonition.
***
After eating the worst food without leaving any, on the way back to the dormitory—they were walking the same, but somehow no footsteps came from Declan.
He was finding this curious when someone stopped him.
“Excuse me, Henry.”
Declan also stopped along with Henry. Hidden in the darkness, he couldn’t see the other person well. Henry walked about three steps toward where the voice came from.
“Ah, Laila?”
Only then could he see her face. A student from the cheerleading club familiar to both Henry and Declan.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
An answer came back. Henry approached her a bit more and asked again.
“Sorry. I couldn’t see because it was dark. What’s up?”
“Do you have time?”
“Yeah. Why…”
Now that they were close enough to see the other person clearly.
Henry, who saw Laila’s face, anticipated what would happen to him. Both his words and steps, about to ask why, stopped.
“Wait, Lai—”
“Actually… I like you, Henry.”
