The Firework Shot into the Sky

Decame laid the cards out one by one before Blow's eyes and spoke in a calm, even voice.

"Four of Pentacles, the Wheel of Fortune, Two of Cups, Eight of Cups, and Two of Swords."

"They're really pretty cards."

There was not a shred of seriousness in his tone, and Jane's mouth flattened into a line all over again. Decame, if anything, burst out laughing as though he found it delightful, then swept a hand across the spread and began to explain.

"In the order they're laid: present situation, obstacle, advice, potential, and outcome. You've seemed awfully busy lately. Am I right?"

"Yes. I started a business recently."

"The first card, the Four of Pentacles, is about focus and stability. Right now looks like a season for concentrating on the work you're doing, rather than on romance."

"Oh, is that so? Hearing it put that way, it does seem to fit."

Blow nodded, and Yulia broke into a bright smile at his words. Decame went on.

"The obstacle is the Wheel of Fortune. It's about a certain uncertainty, so you'll want to be careful of unexpected things from here on."

"This is about my love fortune, isn't it?"

"Yes. Tarot depends on what you ask, so you can take it that way."

"That's a real relief."

Perhaps because the first card had pleased him, Blow Deblique was listening intently. Decame pointed at once to the third card.

"Next is the advice. The Two of Cups says that good relationships you're already in can grow even deeper. So your future partner may already be somewhere around you."

"Well, that much is obvious...?"

"Not necessarily. You might meet someone new."

At that, the expressions of the four seated beside Blow turned subtly strange all at once.

Decame looked them over in a slow sweep and began to interpret the fourth card.

"As for potential, that's the Eight of Cups—a card about choice. In a way, there may be something ahead of you about a choice you don't see coming."

"I'd rather pass on things I don't see coming, at this point."

"Haha. The outcome is the Two of Swords, a card about a kind of deadlock. For now, you can think of it as a card that says the answer cannot yet be known."

"So in the end, nothing is decided?"

"Yes, you could see it that way. The future seems to depend on what you choose from here."

"It is pretty fun, I'll give it that. So choice is what matters..."

Blow, who had been listening closely, stroked his chin. Of the four quietly taking in the reading beside him, the tension on Herbena's face suddenly eased.

From where she stood, the news that Blow's partner had not been decided sat very well indeed.

Having heard it, she stole a glance at Jane, seated beside her.

Jane's eyes had narrowed too, as if she were turning the reading over with care. When their gazes met, Jane—perhaps embarrassed at how hard she had been concentrating—needlessly looked away.

With the love reading thus concluded, Yulia leaned toward Blow.

"A time to focus on the business—that came out wonderfully, young master!"

"You think so?"

"Tarot is surprisingly accurate, you know? Young master, since we're at it, why not have your business fortune read as well?"

"All right. Keep this one simple, please."

"Then I'll do it in three cards."

"Good."

When Decame laid the cards out in a row again, Blow picked up three from the far right, just as he had before.

Each time a card was turned, Decame's eyes went wide, and he spoke in a voice gone a little flushed.

"Th-this is...?"

"Did it come out badly?"

"Ace of Pentacles, Two of Wands, Ten of Cups! There's nothing more to say."

"That good?"

"It came out incredibly well. You said you're running a business? Do you happen to take investments?"

"What?"

"It came out so well that I sincerely want to invest myself."

Marseille, standing beside them, glanced down at the spread and nodded along.

"Oh, it really did come out well."

"Senior, right? I've never seen a spread like this!"

Decame was even more excited now. Yulia, seated beside him, smiled a smile of quiet triumph.

"See? My eye was never wrong. Young master."

"Either way, it puts me in a good mood."

"Then that's enough. So this doesn't end as mere feeling, I, Yulia Edfolk, will help with everything I have."

Yulia said it so brightly. Herbena, who had been staring straight at her, slipped in as if it were nothing.

"Me too."

"Oh, you too, Herbena? Even just the words are a huge help."

Blow smiled at her, and Herbena answered with a gentle nod.

"This is fun! I want a reading too!"

Skadi, who had been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠quiet until then, shouted it—and after that they piled on questions without end. In the end they spent well over an hour in the tarot shop alone.

A good while after they had all had their fortunes read, Blow was back at the hot-spring booth, where the water was still running.

They had stepped outside for a time, wandered together, eaten all sorts of food, and even watched a play of a quality hard to believe had come from a school club.

"That was seriously fun!"

When Skadi said so, the rest nodded in agreement.

Skadi, feet in the water, shot Blow a thumbs-up.

"Our future great entrepreneur, Blow! You really are something!"

"Out of nowhere?"

"We're still making good use of the foot bath, aren't we?"

"True. I didn't think it'd get this much use."

Saying so, Skadi idly stretched out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her pale legs. Blow watched her and let out a short laugh.

"Speaking of which, your love fortune was pretty entertaining too."

"What about it!"

"Five of Swords? Who are you pining after, for it to come out like that?"

"I don't know. Maybe I'm the only one it isn't accurate for. And why were you listening so carefully!"

"You lot sat me in the middle. Do you have any idea how hard I worked so the reader wouldn't be embarrassed?"

"Tch... honestly."

Skadi was splashing water at him for no good reason when Melo came into the booth with an armful of food.

"Everybody, let's eat together!"

"Melo! Where did you buy all that?"

"I did! I went around and tried everything once, and only bought the yummy ones!"

Waffles slathered with maple syrup, meat pies, and cheeses. Everyone brightened and reached for them, and Megan tilted her head.

"Come to think of it, isn't it nearly time for the fireworks? I don't think we'll be able to see them from here..."

Every mouth stopped at once, and they all began to bustle without anyone needing to go first.

"Let's go to the roof! We arranged to have it to ourselves until the end."

"Young master, and here I thought you weren't interested!"

"Ha, the bear saves us again!"

"But where's Cunsai?"

When Blow asked Jane in a somewhat hurried voice, she answered at once.

"Ah, he said he was going to send a communication."

"A communication? Well... he's at this school. He'll manage to see them just fine on his own."

With that, they hurried outside.

Megan and Jane, watching the bustle from a little apart, met each other's eyes and smiled together.

In the meeting room beside the square of Chert Village, home of the Ain, there was the village's one and only magic-communication converter.

Communication magic was so expensive that most of the Ain wrote letters instead, and the device almost never saw use.

A few days earlier, Cunsai had sent his father, Tekun, a letter warning that he had something urgent to say by communication magic. Because of it, the village representatives—the elder among them—had gathered wound tight with nerves.

Cunsai had not sent a single communication in the two years since he left for Caipol, so it was plain that something had happened to him.

Unable even to guess whether the news was good or bad, everyone sat tense. Then the meeting-room door opened, and last of all Liliane and Cunsai's father, Tekun, came in.

"Elder, hello."

"Liliane? Why are you..."

"Cunsai said he wanted to hear her voice after so long, so I brought her."

Tekun answered thus and seated Liliane beside him.

A little later, when the promised hour of half past nine arrived, a magic circle unfolded before their eyes.

They swallowed hard. Every gaze fixed on the circle—and from beyond it came Cunsai's voice.

"Father? Can you hear me?"

"Yes."

"Is everyone there?"

"Yes. The representatives and the elder are here with me."

"Liliane too?"

"Yes. You insisted I bring her, did you not?"

At a voice so dear she had not heard in so long, Liliane ran to the circle before she knew it and called his name, her own voice thick with tears.

"Cunsai!"

"Your voice hasn't changed a bit."

"You too... have you been well?"

"Yeah."

The tense gathering waited, craning, for whatever he would say next.

Tekun, unable to bear it, carefully opened his mouth.

"What matter made you go so far as communication magic?"

"Father... I sold the sugar."

The moment the words landed, emotion flooded every face in the room, and cheers burst out here and there.

"Is that true!"

"The truth is, I contacted you to tell you that—but in the meantime, something else happened as well."

"What else ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could there possibly be?"

"To give you the conclusion first: I believe I've found an outlet for selling the sugar."

"An outlet?"

Tarkan, head of the Present faction, was shouting in a tone far more excited than Tekun's.

"We've agreed to a contract with the young master of House Deblique and the young lady of House Edfolk."

"Edfolk? You mean the house of Archmage Deschamp?"

"Yes. That's right."

"Such an impossible thing..."

Every mouth in the gathering fell open. Tekun and Tarkan met each other's eyes and spoke to him as one.

"Tell us properly—tell us everything!!"

And then Cunsai calmly recounted what he had been through.

A few of those hearing the recent events for the first time listened until their legs gave out, and they dropped into their chairs.

"Is it truly true that a man of Parso knelt to you?"

"Yes. It is."

"How could such a thing happen!!"

Even the elder, who always kept his mouth shut with a weighty dignity, could not hide his excitement, and Tarkan had forgotten speech altogether, simply ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠staring at the magic circle.

After a short while, Tekun decided to ask the thing he most wanted to know.

"That person you said you met—he truly is a benefactor. What is his honored name?"

"He is Young Master Blow Deblique."

"Blow Deblique."

As deep as the shock they had just taken, the name carved itself into every chest in the hall.

When the room had grown solemn, Tarkan, silent until then, opened his mouth in a careful tone.

"I owe an apology—to you, and to everyone..."

"No. Uncle, before I came up to Caipol, I received not only the bear hide, but your heart as well."

"Cunsai..."

"I didn't do this alone. Everyone did it together."

At those words Tarkan rubbed needlessly at his eyes, and from the circle Cunsai's voice came again.

"And if the contract goes well, there is something I must earnestly ask of the representatives."

"Say whatever you wish!"

They answered as if lunging forward, in a tone that said there was nothing they would refuse.

To them, Cunsai spoke in a thoroughly calm voice.

"If funds come in, please make Liliane's going to the academy the first priority."

"Understood. We will do everything in our power."

Liliane, who until then had barely held back the feeling welling in her, had eyes brimming in an instant. She spoke to him in a trembling voice.

"Cunsai, I'm old, and I think it's too late..."

"It's not late at all. And don't worry about submitting the application. I can do it from here."

"Cunsai..."

"Liliane, I got a letter from Aunt Tana. She said you've been researching all on your own."

"Th-that..."

"You've really been through a lot. It must have felt hopeless."

Cunsai's warm voice came from the far side of the communication magic. Tears Liliane had held and held fell in heavy drops, and Tekun, in his son's place, pulled her into a tight embrace.

"Father, I'll end the call now. I'll write with the details."

"Cunsai..."

"Yes, Father."

"You've suffered a great deal yourself. The truth is, Luta..."

Tekun had often received letters from Luta with news of his son—how Cunsai had been turned away, and by whom. Every time he read that long, hard record, he could not begin to count how fiercely he had blamed himself for being unable to tell the boy to come home.

"It only took two years, haha..."

"Was that not far too long?"

"It was short."

While no one could find a word, Cunsai's voice—brighter than at any moment before—rang through the hall once more.

"Everyone! I'll see you in winter."

With those words, the magic circle vanished.

The communications office of Central Academy.

Cunsai and Luta, who had been listening quietly at his side, pulled each other into an embrace.

Just then came the sound of fireworks rising, embroidering the sky, each in its own beautiful light.

A little past half past nine, on the roof of the culture hall—red, blue, green.

Watching the fireworks light the world in every color and then die away, Melo tugged on Blow's coat.

"It's pretty! Young master! It's really, really pretty!"

"Yeah. Not a bad view."

Everyone was leaning on the railing, sunk in their own feelings, when Skadi shouted so all of them could hear.

"Let's make wishes! Wishes!"

"You make wishes at fireworks?"

"Young master, sometimes it really does seem like you have no sense for these things."

When even Yulia said so, Blow had no choice but to clasp his hands like the others.

Jane watched until his hands came together, then clasped hers last and closed her eyes.

Please let days like this keep going.

As she made that wish, Melo was giggling, as if she could tell exactly what was being wished for. Megan and Hans, finished in no time, looked at each other and smiled.

While everyone who had wished wore a slightly embarrassed look, Skadi smiled brightly and tapped Blow.

"Blow Deblique! What did you wish for!"

"At times like this, you say yours first."

"Me? Me, well... just..."

"Did you wish for that one-sided love to come true?"

Skadi's face flared hot, and she smacked his shoulder.

"I did not! Nothing like that! I just wished to get to drink a lot..."

"Sounds like you. But there's something suspicious about that reaction. Herbena, you?"

"Just that I'd do well on the third exam."

"Oh, you wished for that? Unexpected."

"I get nervous too, you know...?"

In truth she had made one more wish besides that, but she decided not to speak of it.

"What about you, Senior Yulia?"

"Ah, I wished that this time next year, I would leave no regrets behind."

"Right. Once next year ends, you graduate."

"Yes. Time really does fly. And every single day is truly fun."

Yulia said it while looking straight at Blow, and he nodded as if he agreed.

Then Melo called out, clear and bright as a bursting firework.

"Me! I wished to become a wonderful chef!"

"Aren't you that already?"

"More, more, more! I'm going to make delicious things!"

"Yeah. Melo can do it."

Melo's face went red, as if she were embarrassed by her own words, and Blow stroked her head.

Then Megan spoke, almost casually.

"Coming back around—what wish did you make, young master?"

"Me?"

"Yes. To say mine first: I wished that boundless glory would go with you, all the days ahead."

Megan set a hand over her heart as she said it, as if she meant every word. Blow smiled faintly and answered.

"I just wished that everyone's wishes would come true."

At that, every expression grew complicated. Megan, having heard him, smiled quietly and added,

"Then it's a good thing I made my wish properly."

"Yeah. Thanks, Megan."

The moment he answered, the loudest firework yet split the air and came to rest at the center of the sky.

Then a burst the size of a planet opened, blooming an enormous flower overhead.

And so their festival was coming to an end.

Their restaurant was set to open on Sunday.

Everyone else had gone in still riding the afterglow of the festival. Those who remained were the magic-school members Yulia had brought along, and Cunsai.

"You really don't have to come."

"No! I'm just too curious about the settlement!"

Cunsai said it with sparkling eyes. Blow let out a breath, then shifted his gaze to Jane, who was setting down her pen beside him.

"Is it done?"

"Yes. It's done."

Even after coming back she had worked hard for a long while, and now she was squinting as she rubbed her shoulder.

"Jane, should I get you a pair of glasses?"

"I'm fine."

"Stop saying you're fine every time."

When Blow spoke in a deliberately serious tone, Jane answered as if she had no choice.

"Then I'll ask just one thing."

"All right. We'll go get them fitted next week."

"Thank you for looking out for me."

Herbena, listening to the two of them, pouted before she knew it.

...He only ever looks after Jane.

But she had nothing she could say. Jane had never left Blow's side, and so Jane, at least, was someone she had no means of beating. That was why Blow's tarot reading had been a comfort. If nothing was decided, then she only had to do well from here on.

She was clutching her skirt tight and watching the two of them when Jane, smiling, held up the paper and asked Blow,

"Where would you like to start?"

"The small one, obviously."

Skadi, at that moment, had at first been looking toward Jane without much thought.

But when her eyes met Cunsai of the donut booth, and Blow of the cooking booth, a subtle competitive fire began to rise.