落とし穴４１堀：夏の始まり (Part5)
"Hey, settle down and listen. Children who don't pay attention won't be able to see the fireworks."
"Augh. Okay."
"Now, regarding the fireworks, please be aware that there will be very loud noises at frequent intervals. They are just the sounds of the fireworks, so please don't panic. We have ensured your safety, so please rest easy."
"Oh, it's Ratz-sama next!"
"Hey!"
"Sorry."
After that, she went over the festival precautions and mentioned that if anyone had any trouble, they should head to the nearest police box.
"Now, the time is almost upon us. From here on, Seraria, Queen of Weed, will be taking command. *Ahem.* Citizens of Weed, people from other nations, and representatives of those nations, I thank you for participating in this summer festival. I believe the fireworks that are about to begin will prove that coming here in this heat was not a mistake, and I hope you will be satisfied. Please feel free to watch until the end. Oh, and don't push yourselves. If you feel unwell, please go to the first-aid tent. Now, it's time. Look to the western sky."
At Seraria's words, the people who had come to the festival all looked up at the western night sky, where the sun had already set.
"Now, I, Ratz, will take over the commentary. First, the opening fireworks will be provided by our mages. These fireworks are brought to you by Super Ratz and the Weed Blacksmith District."
"Haha, as expected of Ratz-sama. She's using this opportunity to promote Super Ratz. If the fireworks are impressive, it'll be one hell of an advertisement..."
*Whoosh...* *Boom.*
The words my husband started to say were cut off by the flower that bloomed in the night sky.
No, every single person around us lost their voice.
...Truly, a flower had bloomed in the night sky.
And it didn't happen just once.
*Whoosh...* *Boom.*
*Whoosh...* *Boom.*
The low-frequency vibrations echoing through the air told us that fireworks were blooming in the night sky.
Flowers that bloomed and scattered in an instant.
One after another, they bloomed and vanished.
No one could take their eyes off that fantastical sight.
"Yes, that concludes the mages' fireworks."
At Ratz-sama's words announcing the end, we snapped back to reality, and thunderous cheers and applause erupted from those around us.
My husband, my daughter, and I were clapping along with the cheers.
"Amazing!! Amazing!! Father, Mother, fireworks are incredible!!"
"Yeah, I never imagined they would be this impressive..."
"...I didn't know magic could be used like this."
However, that was not the end.
"Fufu, I can tell from your cheers and applause that you enjoyed them. But it's not over yet. That was the end of the mages' fireworks. Those were performed by Kaya and Cleena. And now, the main event. Our husband, Yuki, proposed these fireworks. The ones coming up are even more amazing. We aren't using magic; we are launching these with gunpowder. Oh, and the funding is provided by the royal families of Weed, Roschur, Lithea, and Gartz."
...Funding from the royal families!?
How on earth did Ratz-sama's husband, Yuki-sama, manage that!?
That man is usually a bit scatterbrained, and if I may be so bold, he really doesn't seem like a military staff officer.
He holds our daughter and opens ramen shops, after all. Well, they are delicious, though.
*Whoosh...*
Then, the sound of fireworks launching echoed, and everyone quietly looked up at the sky.
But no flower opened. Based on the previous timing, the flower should have bloomed by now.
Could it be a failure?
Just as I was thinking that...
*BOOM!!*
A roar, incomparable to the previous ones, echoed...
And in the night sky, a massive, massive firework bloomed, making the previous ones look tiny in comparison.
The onlookers were unable to react to the sheer size and intensity. I was the same, but that wasn't the end either.
*Whoosh...*
*Whoosh...*
*Whoosh...*
*Whoosh...*
The sound of fireworks launching continued in rapid succession.
Before, they were one by one, but now they were continuous!?
My prediction was correct; the sky shone as if it were daytime, and many fireworks continued to bloom in the night sky one after another.
*Dudududoom.*
...Words were no longer necessary.
I simply stared at the beautiful flowers blooming in the night sky.
To think that something this beautiful could exist in this world...
*Whoosh...* *BOOM!!*
"With this, the summer festival fireworks have concluded. The food stalls will remain open until 10 o'clock, so please enjoy yourselves. Yes, a lost child announcement. Height..."
Before I knew it, I was on my way home with my husband and daughter.
I was holding cotton candy in my hand, and my husband was carrying yakisoba and takoyaki.
My daughter was wearing a mask and eating an apple candy happily.
"That was amazing..."
"...Yes, it really was."
I will never forget the sight of those fireworks.
It was a sight that made me truly glad I came to this country of Weed.
"Father, Mother, let's come again next year!!"
My daughter said, looking very happy.
"That's right. Let's come again next year."
"Yeah, if there isn't enough funding, I'll give them my pocket money!!"
"Oh, I'll give my pocket money too!!"
"Fufu, I suppose so."
And so, it was decided that the summer festival, which announces the beginning of summer, would be held every year.
I wanted to write in detail about the drums and the food stalls, but I had to give up on various things due to the flow of the text.
Well, I hope you could feel something through my clumsy writing.
Also, have you seen fireworks yet?
Summer has already begun!!
Go draw a lottery you won't win!!
Buy a strange mask!!
Buy overpriced food and drinks from a stall!!
Pop a water balloon and get soaked!!
Walk around with a weird glowing stick!!
That's right, summer has only just begun!!
Go crash a festival somewhere!!
Well, I'll be spending it leisurely at home.
I really can't stand crowds.