Chapter 364: The Fireworks show... Part-2.
Chapter 364: The Fireworks show... Part-2.
Central City, Southern District.
Near the Akurla River.
Rio and the group met up with each other at the promised location and then made their way
here.
The fireworks show will be held on the other side of the river, and the audience can stay on this side and watch.
Rio and Lia sat on the well-trimmed grass side by side.
"When was the last time we watched fireworks together?... I think we haven't..."
At Rio's words, Lia also nodded her head and replied with a slight blush on her face.
"Last time we had the chance to watch them like this was during the first year festival, but I ended up fainting, went home, and missed the chance..."
"Later you went over to help out Link there and wasn't able to enjoy the fireworks either..." Rio sighed at those words.
"Yeah, that was the day when we confessed to each other and officially became a couple; it's been more than a year since then..."
"The friendship with Link and Riya also started around that time... That day changed a lot of things in our lives..."
Although the things that happened that day seemed simple and not of much concern, they literally changed many lives.
That day was where everything started: Rio and Lia became a couple, Link and Riya were redeemed, and Fade was scared off by Rio.
If Rio had to pinpoint the beginning of his adventures, it would be that day.
"You were such a Tsundere back then; you fainted on the spot from a kiss, haha..."
Thinking about that, Rio smiled a bit, and Lia felt embarrassed.
"W-well, I have grown up a lot now! T-that was just because it was my first kiss, you know! I was shocked by your sudden move!"
Rio stopped teasing her and shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, you get riled up pretty quick even now though..."
Lia puffed up her cheeks in response to those words.
"W-well, that's because you tease me all the time; if it were someone else, I would have kicked them twice by now... Alas, my kicks won't even hit you, and you can dodge them easily... ugh..."
Rio chuckled slightly at those words, pinching her cheeks before spoking.
"Haha, it's just too much fun messing around with you... You are the one who has made me addicted to this, so you have no rights to complain~"
Lia pulled her head back to get rid of those hands and rubbed her reddened cheeks before glaring at Rio and saying,
"Hmph, I definitely win one day! And then I will laugh at you and tease you continuously!"
Rio gave her a thumbs up while nodding his head.
"Ah, yes, yes, you are the best!"
"Glaring at me like that, are you tempting me to kiss you? Heh..."
Seeing that rare mischievous look on Rio's face, she knew that it was over.
"W-wait there are people-"
Rio gently grabbed her chin and sealed her lips just like he did on the very first date of theirs! Lia might have become stronger than that day, but in his eyes, she's just the same Lia she ever was; for him, she will remain the same girl who he fell in love with no matter what changes may happen.
And just like that day, Rio whispered in her ears.
"Delicious-"
Thankfully, Lia has grown up mentally in the past years or so, so she didn't faint like she did on the first date.
Her face became as red as a tomato.
The fireworks show started at that moment, so Lia was able to hide her embarrassment as Rio's attention was diverted at the moment.
'Idiot... You haven't changed much though; you are still the same Rio who likes to mess around too much... but I guess I like this side of you too...'
Lia directly took a bold action and placed her head on his lap to watch the fireworks.
'Hmph, this is payment for making me embarrassed!'
Rio also didn't stop her and smiled happily; he liked it even more when Lia herself tries to be more open about her feelings.
'Just like that first date, this day will be forever etched in my memory now...'
...
Around the same time,
Link and Riya were also sitting not much far away from Rio and Lia, and the two of them were also lost in their own world, just like Rio and Lia.
"Riya, I am very grateful to you that you took me to that first-year festival that day... If not for you dragging me along, I would have never had the chance to meet someone as amazing as
Rio..."
"I wouldn't have had been able to make such amazing friends, and I might have been still stuck in my past mentality..."
"Truthfully speaking, if not for you, so many things could have gone wrong for me... I guess I can say you are my lucky charm; without you, I will always lose my luck..."
Riya also stopped focusing on her candies at this moment and glanced at the sky to watch the fireworks with Link.
"That day... I was ready to sacrifice myself, actually... That assassin wanted you to kneel and beg for mercy for me... But I didn't want you to lose your dignity like that..."
"That's why I was ready to throw away my life... You are thinking too much, Link... That day I dragged you along with me because I was worried about you hanging around with those shady friends of yours..."
"They were making you take part in bad things... I just wanted you to stay away from that... And I think I did quite a good job in helping you out of that bad friend group..."
Link also nodded his head.
For some weird reason, he was fixated on bullying Fade during the starting days of the academy, and his lackeys were giving him constant advice and motivation to keep bullyingn/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
Fade.
If Riya hadn't dragged him away from that bad friend circle, he might have really gone
haywire.
If not for that day, he wouldn't have met an amazing friend like Rio; he wouldn't have met
Liam and others.
One thing would have led to another, and things would have been completely different.
If Rio wasn't there to save the day, Riya would have lost her life, and he would have gone completely insane from that massive loss.
To him, there are only two things that matter the most in life.
One is getting stronger and surpassing all; the other is to protect Riya and ensure her safety.
He doesn't even give a single sh*T about anything else.
Riya glanced at the fireworks in the sky and smiled happily.
"That day I was quite happy that you agreed to hang out with me instead of those friends of yours... I guess that was a lucky day for us both... Things could have been so much different
otherwise..."
Rio's decision to get involved in that event himself changed everything that day.
If he hadn't gotten involved in the event, Riya would have died, Link would have become a total maniac, and Liam and Ellie would have never joined Team Astra.
Furthermore, Lia would have lagged behind in progress.
At that point, only Rio would have been strong enough to participate in the academy's three
trials and win a candidate's seat.
Rio would have to deal with Fade and Kira's bullsh*t all alone at that point. It would have
been a nightmare for him.
But that one action changed many things and created better outcomes. "Originally, I was irritated and frustrated thinking... 'How could Rio keep up with me despite me being so talented!?'... But as time went by, I figured it out..."
"The world doesn't revolve around me; there are always people who are better than you at certain things, and you can't do anything about it... Instead of being angry and frustrated, it's better to work hard and improve..."
Link smiled to himself and glanced at Rio, who was watching the fireworks with Lia.
"I guess I can never really keep up with him in terms of mastery over the legendary skills, but
I will keep trying my best... After all, giving up is not in my dictionary..."
Riya nodded her head at those words and replied with a smile on her face. "You aren't alone; I will always support you... Don't underestimate me; I swear upon my honor as a healer that I will be the best healer in the world, and you will never be disappointed
by my abilities!"
Although Riya might be bad at other things, she's proud of her abilities as a healer.
In terms of healing magic, buffs, and debuffs, there's literally no one in the younger generation who can even think about competing with her.
Just like how Rio can already fight with S rankers despite being at rank A, Riya's healing abilities can put an S-rank healer's healing magic to shame.
Heart of Eternal Nirvana is no joke; it's a genuine legendary power blessed with the power of
the 'Law' of 'Healing'.
Even fairies, the race who first created healing magic, will be in awe if they see Riya's healing
magic.
"Haha, no way, I fear I might disappoint you instead, there's no way that I will get disappointed in you... As I said, you are my lucky charm, my eternally shining bright star of
great fortune!"
Riya sighed at those words and rolled her eyes.
"Did you learn that line from Rio? Only he knows how to say those complex praises..."
Link scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment after hearing those words.
"Well, something like that..."
...
Author's Notes.
Yo! It's your beloved author here!
Do you also enjoy festivals with your friends?
(Tell me your opinions in the comments) By the way, don't forget to use those power stones!!