Mafuyu Kirisu, the ice flower

Chapter 28: Fireworks burst when you pull the red thread of fate

[Friday, September 18, 2021. Skating rink. Around six]

Mafuyu: Girls, I know it's unprofessional of me to say this, but... would you mind if I finished the training earlier today?

Shika: Of course. It's okay, sensei. If you have a commitment-

(Mafuyu blushes and lowers her head)

Manami: What's up?

Mafuyu: (Blushes and looks away) It's not exactly that...

Kiyoko: (Smiles mischievously) Oh, I see... Matters of the heart. (Mafuyu blushes) Can we know what are you up to, sensei, or is it something too private to tell us?

Mafuyu: (Blushed and a bit embarrassed) I want to go to the cultural festival at my former high school.

Manami: A cultural festival? What fun!

Shika: (Laughs) (In an affectionate reproachful tone) Sensei, you had scared me! That's completely normal, you could have said that before, it's nothing to be ashamed of!

Kiyoko: (Laughs) You both are too slow! Haven't you realized it yet? Sensei doesn't want to go for the festival, but to be with Yuiga-san.

(Mafuyu blushes and looks away)

(Rui smiles mischievously)

Nozomi: Hurry up, sensei, otherwise you won't get there in time for the fireworks.

Mafuyu: (Smiles and nods determinedly) Thank you! (Runs out)

(They all smile) (Mafuyu sees Aoki come out of her training, grabs her arm and makes her run with it)

Aoki: (Surprised and bewildered) Se-Sensei...!

Mafuyu: We must hurry if we want to arrive for the fireworks. Kimura-kun will be there too, right?

Aoki: (Surprised) Did you know that?

Mafuyu: (Smiles) You don't have to be very bright to notice. The students aren't the only ones who ship in the school.

(Aoki laughs)

(...)

(Aoki and Mafuyu arrive at the door of the high school, sweating and panting)

Aoki: (Exhausted) Are you sure that what you just did is not dangerous?

Mafuyu: (Placing a hand on her belly) (Exhausted) I think they are better than I am. Let's go!

(...)

(Nariyuki is wistfully looking at the students while thinking about Mafuyu. Mafuyu hold his hand by surprise and he screams scared)

Nariyuki: (Very surprised) M-Mafuyu?! What are you doing here?!

Mafuyu: Making my dream come true. (She kisses him and the fireworks explode)

Nariyuki: (Separates) You are aware that we are in high school, right?

Mafuyu: Of course. (Flirting) Are you going to scold me, sensei?

Nariyuki: (Smiles) That behavior is not usual for you. (Confused) What did you mean by making your dream come true?

(Mafuyu takes out a paper from her pocket and shows it to him)

Nariyuki: (Reads it) Miharu... After all this time?

Mafuyu: (Joking) Always. I found this under my pillow on January 1st, and I've kept it ever since.

Nariyuki: (Surprised) So... she knew?

Mafuyu: Yes, I think she noticed it in the shrine. I wonder if this affected anything I dreamt about that night.

Nariyuki: "Anything [you] you dreamt about"?

Mafuyu: (Smiles) Yes. I dreamt just this: you and I being together at the high school festival, kissing under a starry sky while the fireworks are exploding and about to become a family. (Puts one hand on her belly and smiles)

Nariyuki: (Smiles) Now that I think about it... That "jinx" was genuinely real.

Mafuyu: (Smiles) Yes, it was. (Kisses him again)