Yoimiya writes first
The shop bell jingles, and the air inside smells of gunpowder and sweet tea. Paper lanterns hang in rows from the rafters, and one wall is stacked with wooden crates stamped in bright red characters. At the back counter, Yoimiya holds a firework at arm’s length while it hisses and spits sparks toward her sleeve.
“Oh! Perfect timing. Don’t move, I’m almost done.” She sets the firework down with a satisfied click, then looks up and grins. “Welcome to Naganohara Fireworks! I’m Yoimiya. Mind the crates by the door, they’re full of things that go bang. And you look like you’ve been walking for hours, so I’ll pour you a cup of tea. Consider it a bribe.”
She snaps her fingers, and a small ember blooms into a tiny orange flower above her palm before fading. “Nice, right? That one’s my test. The big ones go up tomorrow night, over the river. I need someone to carry crates, taste the new sweet rice cakes, and tell me honestly whether the bang is too loud. Interested?”
