On the day of the closing ceremony, while other students have plans to meet outside on this short school day, I can't since I have to be in the Pivoine Salon.

"It's too bad that Reika-sama can't come…" Despite that, Serika-chan and the others are happily planning what to do.

"Why don't we have lunch at the place in the magazine?"

"That new, trendy spot with the fashionable lunch plate?"

"Right, right."

"The soup looked nice with all the ingredients."

"Sounds nice. Where should we go for tea after that?"

"Let's see…"

"I want to shop for summer clothes."

"Me, too. Should we go shopping after we eat?"

Sounds nice. Sounds fun. I want to go, too. I can't see most of them over the holidays since our homes are far apart. But as a daughter of the Kisshouin family, I can't ignore the relationships made in the Pivoine. After all, the Pivoine was formed in part to bring those of families of high social and financial standing together. That's partly why even Kaburagi shows up in the Salon.

And the president in measured by how much the Salon prospered, so I have to prop up Kaburagi, being in the same grade. I can't have people talk about 'that grade…' It affects the rest of the class. Even without me, Kaburagi has plenty of believers who gather, so I shouldn't worry.

It they're going out until late afternoon, I might be able to join them later. Will they ask me? I want them to ask me… I sent out signals in my mind, but nobody seemed to notice…

"I want a hairpin to match my new yukata (a summer kimono) that's suitable for the summer, but will you come with me?"
"Wow, Rune-san, what design did you get for your yukata? I had one made for the fireworks festival."

"Oh, the fireworks festival!?" I reacted "Ayame-san, you're going to a fireworks festival?"

"Uh, yes." Lucky, lucky. I want to go in my yukata, too!

"That sounds like fun. Which one will you be attending?"

Ayame-chan names a famous one. Ah, that one. I've seen that one with my family a few times while we looked from a nearby hotel having dinner. It's always extravagant. It's stress-free watching away from the crowds, but it's fun to be with people, too. Walking around in the yukata with friends, having food from the food stands, to watch is the essence of the fireworks festival.

If I actually went, it's too crowded to move, it's hot, it's tiring, and my feet would hurt, and I wouldn't be able to watch properly, but even that would become nice memories.

I want to go. Maybe I should ask everyone. They wouldn't mind going, if they had yukatas made.

"Rune-san, everyone, do you have plans to see a fireworks festival?"

"Us?" As expected, they became excited about going to this festival and that. Of course. After having a yukata made, you'd want to wear it. But it sounds like they already have plans to see it with somebody. Hmm… Too late. Either way, it's hard to imagine me walking around with Serika-chan and the others to walk around the food stands at a festival. They might be be stunned if I suggested it.

"Oh, it's Kaburagi-sama and Enjou-sama."

As we entered the auditorium, we saw Kaburagi and Enjou shining brilliantly under the lighting from above. Their very existence is showy. They're under the same lighting as the other students, so why do they seem to shine? Do they actually radiate light?

"I glad that vacation's starting, but I'm sad that I won't see their faces, too."

"Yes. We won't be able to see Kaburagi-sama and Enjou-sama for over a month." Serika-chan sighed holding her cheeks.

"But won't Reika-sama have a chance to see them over the holidays?" asked Kikuno-chan.

"I wonder…" I smile. "They're busy people, so I probably won't see them without a planned event." I'd rather not see them. They always bring trouble. Kaburagi… He's busy with cram school every day this summer. Even so, Kikuno-chan and the girls weren't satisfied.

"Oh, but the Pivoine has the summer party!"

That's right. The Pivoine throws many events like a tea party, but the most brilliant of them all would be the summer party. Former members will attend, and it's also the party that the members look forward to the most. There's a lot of trouble involved, but when I attend, I'm glad that I'm a part of the Pivoine.

"Have you chosen a dress this year, Reika-sama?"

"No. Not yet. I have some prepared, but I haven't been able to choose… I plan on having Onii-sama escort me, so I'm thinking about coordinating colors."

"How splendid!" They become excited about the summer party, and I tilt my head puzzled.

"To Zuiran students, the Pivoine's summery party is something to admire." I see. I think of the Pivoine when I think of Zuiran, and I think of the summer party when I think of the Pivoine. I admired it, too, when I read the manga.

"I wonder what it's like. I've heard of it since elementary school, but I've never seen it."

"There's dancing, isn't there? How wonderful."

"Dancing… It would be like a dream to be able to dance with Kaburagi-sama or Enjou-sama."

"My heart's racing just imagining that. Oh, I wish I could attend, just once."

That must have hit the spellbound switch on Serika-chan and the girls. They were about to start talking about their delusions of dancing with Kaburagi and Enjou, so I cut in, worried about others looking at us. Talk about delusions quietly.

After listening to the speech by the headmaster of the school, Fellow Stalking Horse went up to the stage. The crowd stirred, as he was well liked, though not as much as Kaburagi and Enjou. The election of the next student council president will happen after the summer. He must be busy the next month preparing everything. I'll be coming to school to attend supplemental classes and for the handicrafts club. I wonder if I'll see him.

The ceremony in the auditorium ended, and we were handed points of note for the summer and our report cards before we disbanded. My grades went up… Ufufu…

Serika-chan and the girls were going to lunch as they had discussed earlier, so it's goodbye.

"Well, Reika-sama, gokigen yoh."

"Gokigen yoh."

"We'll contact you before our short trip."

"Yes." I don't mind if you contact me before then at all.

I go through the documents confirming the attendees to the Zuiran supplemental classes with Satomi-kun, and head to the Pivoine afterwards.

Almost everyone is attending, so it's crowded, but my favorite sofa was left open for me, so I gladly sit down after greeting everyone with a "Gokigen yoh." This sofa is relaxing, more or less being in a corner.

As the end of the term, Kaburagi addresses everyone as the president before we enjoy the tea, snacks, and chatting. Since it was still before lunch, a light meal was catered from a famous restaurant. I got up to see what to eat when I spotted Salala-sama. In front of her was an éclair. Oh, an éclair!

The éclair in the Pivoine aren't the simple cream puffs topped by chocolates, but a colorful and beautifully decorated éclair made by a specialty store. I like the cheap éclairs, but I love these.

"Gokigen yoh, Salala-sama."

"Gokigen yoh, Reika-sama."

Drawn to the éclair, I wandered to Salala-sama. I see some pieces of nuts on top of the green coating. I ask the flavor, and am told that it's pistachio. What should I have? I have to have chocolate on my éclair, but maybe I'll try the brilliantly colored red berry éclair.

I sat down next to Salala-sama and asked for some black tea with my éclair.

"What are your plans this summer, Salala-sama?"

"I go to a villa with my family every year, so I'll relax out of the heat reading." As expected of the literature girl. She's always reading quietly in the Salon, too.

Enjoying the masterful sourness of the sweet éclair, I talk with Salala-sama about recent books she read. Her tastes are too refined for me to follow. I like books, but not enough to read in the original language.

Fuyuko-sama approached and asked, "May I join you?"

"Oh, Fuyuko-sama. Please sit down."

She thanked us and took a seat next to me. The occult-loving Fuyuko-sama enjoyed fantasy literature and she read through everything of that genre, so she could match Salala-sama.

"I had primarily fixed myself in Europe, but after I became friendly with Reika-sama, I've looked to Japan, recently. There were many things to learn."

"I understand, Fuyuko-sama. There are many wonderful books in Japan, also," agrees Salala-sama, but Fuyuko-sama is probably not talking about books, but of the occult.

I glanced at Fuyuko-sama, and she was only having tea. "Is tea enough for you, Fuyuko-sama? The éclair that we had were quite delicious."

"Yes… I am hungry, but I'm not in the mood for snacks…"

It's about lunch, so maybe she wants a proper meal. "We have catering, so shall we pick something up?" Fuyuko-sama nodded.

Going to the catering corner, there were many things, from appetizers to main dishes. What should I have? Having so many to choose from is fun.

I then remembered the talk of the fireworks festival. Honestly, my objective is the food stands. The fireworks are beautiful, but they aren't something that I have to see. To me, the fireworks festival is about the food.

Octopus dumplings, fried noodles, shaved ice, potatoes with butter, broiled squid, candy apple… Oh, I want to go! …But I don't have anybody who would go with me… I can't ask Fuyuko-sama.

I'm fairly used to going out alone, but a fireworks festival by myself, getting in line myself, and then coming home…? Maybe if it were local…

Hmm… If it's for the food stands, it doesn't have to be a fireworks festival. Maybe a summer festival. Temple festivals run during the day, and they should happen all over the place. But going alone to get to food stands…

I'm getting worried that I'm going so far to get to a food stand. When I'm old and senile, my obsession with food will creep out. 'Grandma Reika just ate, but she's asking for more because she says she hasn't,' they would say behind my back. I can just imagine that dreadful future… No, I'm not going just to eat, it's the atmosphere around the food stands that I enjoy. That's right. It's the nostalgia.

I know. Why don't I try the morning glory fair or a Chinese lantern fair? Can't I claim to drop by after going to buy potted plants? Is my mind filled with the food stands because I haven't eaten lunch?

I can't hold back any longer, and I take out my cell phone to search for morning glory and Chinese lantern fairs.

"You're going to a morning glory fair?" Shocked, I turned around at the voice directly behind me.