PHASE 56 - WISH UPON A FIREWORKS

Rikkun glanced around us. The park is sure lively. There’s a lot of people in here that will certainly make that “Kiss without being seen during the fireworks” hard to do. I’m sure more people will come here later, so there will be no blind spots to do that thing.

“Hmmm…” Rikkun succumbed to deep thought. “We should really plan this thoroughly if we wanted it to succeed.”

It surprised me that Rikkun is taking this seriously. Normally he would say “Huh? Are you an idiot? Such superstition is not true! Kiss upon fireworks my ass!”. I think he really wants us to have a happily ever after.

I looked above and saw the giant spinning wheel. Then I finally had an idea.

“...How about we do it on the Ferris Wheel?” I muttered.

Rikkun looked where I’m staring at, and then he projected a smile. “That’s a great idea! We would surely see the fireworks there, and nobody would see us!”

“R-Right!” I smiled with a blush.

<>

While waiting for the night to come, we spent our time on other rides such as teacup, carousel, octopus, and Vikings while waiting for the sun to come down. We even entered the horror house which forced me to hug my boyfriend for the whole fifteen minutes. I clung to his slightly bulky biceps, afraid of him letting go of me. Seriously, all I did inside the horror house is to scream “Eeeeeek!” every time a jumpscare appears.

“Now that horror house is my second favorite next to the roller coaster!” Rikkun laughed.

“...Auuuu…” I cried like a pup. “Rikkun, you’re such a bully.”

I don’t mind being bullied by him though. Because every time I feel scared, he would pat my head with his caring hands.

After those rides, my stomach had a smooth time eating the snacks. We had grilled squid, grilled corn, black pepper burger, bacon shawarma, footlong sausages, milk tea, and popcorn. Rikkun only ate a little of those. He’s more enjoyed watching me eat like a pig.

I got a little self-conscious so I asked him a weird question.

“U-Uhm… Rikkun… A-Are you really okay that I’m eating like this?”

“I don’t mind it at all~” Rikkun smiled like a kid. “At least you’re not picky about the food. It’s way better than a girl who’s requesting a slice of gluten-free bacon.”

“Ahahaha…” I forced a dumb laugh. I’m pretty sure he’s talking about Necchan when they had a date…

It’s weird… I have a fragment of that memory too.

<>

The skies are now dark, and it’s about seven. Thankfully, the line to that Ferris Wheel is not that long. We had carefully planned and timed our ride to the Ferris Wheel. If this goes smoothly, we can certainly do that kiss during the fireworks display without getting seen.

Our gondola is taking its sweet time to fly. If it’s as slow as this when falling, I will not be scared. I’m fine with heights anyway. There’s no problem with this ride.

But there is a problem. This awkward silence between us… I can’t bear it.

“...”

“...”

Nobody is uttering a word, and we’re both looking at the floor, waiting for an ant to show up. We’re both blushing, and I’m sure he can hear my heart punching.

“...”

“...A-Are you embarrassed?” Rikkun asked with a forced smile, maintaining his red cheeks.

“Y-Yeah… a little.” I mumbled.

“There are people on the other gondolas as well. They can see us… So I think we should do it when we’re at the highest point.” Rikkun said as he gazed on the window. “We’re almost at the top.”

Just three more seconds before we reach the peak. And that was the longest three seconds of my life.

One.

Two.

Three.

Swoooooooosh! Bang!

Surprisingly, the first missile rocketed to the sky when we’re at the highest point. It made a colorful burning light as it showered on the dark space.

Chu~

“Ah!”

Rikkun didn’t waste any split second! Her warm and soft lip collided unto mine in an instant!

“...Uh…”

It was just a smack. The shorter the kiss is, the more likely we won’t get caught by anyone. And the more likely we could get a happily ever after… according to that superstition...

“N-Nobody saw us, right?” Rikkun asked as soon as he withdrew his lips.

I shook my head in confirmation. I’m sure nobody saw us since we’re at the peak. I can’t even imagine a crow watching us from this height.

“...I’m so embarrassed… I feel like I could die…” I said under my voice.

As our gondola started to go down, we watched the colorful fireworks with smiles on our faces. Rikkun sat beside me as we hold hands and enjoyed the warmth of each other’s hands.

“Fireworks never fail to make me feel nostalgic. It’s always like the first time we met.” Rikkun said.

“Y-Yeah…” I said in a soft voice as a smiled. “I wish we can be like this forever.”

“Of course, we will be. Toujours et a Jamais.” Rikkun said.

“Right,” I said as I safely leaned on his shoulder. “Forever and ever. Toujours et a Jamais.”

We went silent for about five minutes, savoring the sensation of love and beauty of this scenery. For seven million timelines, I never thought that we would end up together as a high school couple. We’ve never made it this far before.

I momentarily closed my eyes as I tried to hear the music of my lover’s heart.

For just a second, my stupid brain replayed what Helena told me before.

(“Alaric Eisenhower is dead. Are you going to use the , to see him suffer and die again?”)

No.

I will never do that again.

I promise myself not to repeat the timeline again. I’m already happy just by having a kiss. Now that I’m his girlfriend, I could never force him to keep on living. Rikkun might forget all his deaths, and he may not have any qualms with me singing the , but I don’t want him to suffer more deaths. All I wanted to see is his smile.

“...Tiara…”

“W-What is it, Rikkun?”

“...You’ve been so sweet on me lately, and I think you’ve been pampering me too much. You even proposed to me... That’s a boy’s job, you know…” My prince charming adorably cleared his voice. “So I think… I’m going to repay them... You can ask me one wish, and I’ll do all my might to make it happen.”

“That’s not necessary.” I chuckled. “You know what I wished from the start, and it has already been granted.”

“...No, other than that. Just give me one… One wish. No matter how hard it is, I’ll do it for you.” Rikkun rubbed the top of my head.

Judging from his emerald eyes, he’s determined and serious.

“...I… I wanted to reunite my family… That’s the wish I wanted since I was a kid.”

Rikkun became silent for a couple of seconds. When I raised my head to look at him, he immediately replied.

“I think I can do that. I may not be a fairy god mother that can grant all kind of wishes. I can’t revive your mother, and I don’t know the whereabouts of your father... But I think I can do something with Diadem.”

“...Rikkun…”

That’s all I can mutter.

The fireworks continued to fill the black skies with colorful happiness as we locked on each other’s eyes.

I can’t believe a wish upon fireworks has a chance to come true.

[Days before Helena’s Return - 20]