A TV speaker that sounded broken emitted a distorted voice of a girl. I didn't know if the problem was with the TV speaker itself or if the recording was meant to sound that way. Meanwhile, the TV screen played a recording from a DVD disc showing the girl on the screen. Her very familiar face left me stunned. Even though I only saw her for a few minutes, I instantly knew the nature of that girl. Cheerful, radiant, joyful, and full of happiness, it emanated from her face.

I was convinced that she was someone remarkable in her time.

That's what I thought before Hana uttered the word 'Mother' with a nearly tearful face upon seeing the person she loved so dearly appearing once again in her life. The confirmation from her uncle Tio was also an undeniable fact.

The recording continued to play. From what I could gather, it was a recording for the "Fire Dancer" performers. They were the participants in a show during the grand festival of Ilutu city, held once a year. It had been a long time since the last time I saw that performance, as it had not been continued. To my knowledge, there were no 'performers' left to carry it on. It was a stunning artistic heritage left behind.

The recording concluded with a performance by Nathalia Amber, also known as Hana's mother, as the 'Fire Dancer'. It was a luxurious and grand performance. The elegant fire dance and the shimmering lights made me feel warm. This performance felt so different from the last one I saw, maybe three years ago.

The expression on Hana's face that I saw at the moment was difficult to put into words. She seemed to be holding back tears but kept her gaze fixed on the TV screen. Her hands were clenched. It was as if she couldn't believe she was witnessing the past of the person who raised her with love and care is such a beauty and elegant person.

The TV screen dimmed, indicating that the recording had finished playing. Hana lowered her head, and I could see her tense lips returning to normal, while her rigid hands opened wide, and she spoke.

"...What is the meaning of this...?" she said softly.

All eyes turned toward the source of the voice, but no one could provide an answer.

She continued with a weakly rising tone, "Why is my mother in this recording? Why is she here?! Is this city her hometown?!! THEN, WHY?! I... don't know what to do." Her voice trailed off weakly at the end.

A single tear fell from Hana's lowered face. Her hands covered her saddened expression, collecting the tears that fell. My body stirred slightly, but to only ends up losing to Chika who quickly reached her side and comforted her.

"...What... should I do?"

At this moment, I didn't have an answer to Hana's question.

Tio, who was beside me, tapped my left thigh and gestured with his head, indicating that we should give Hana some space for a while. I silently agreed and stood up, and it turned out that Uncle Tio followed us as well.

We ended up on the back porch of Tio's uncle house. The drizzling rain still accompanied us. The atmosphere wasn't as lively as before because the rain had subsided, but the cold and dampness in the air still felt thick. Despite being attacked by the cold weather, my mind was still hot with thoughts about what had just happened. Ah, that's right.

"Uncle, when did you find out?" I asked.

"If you ask when... maybe it was when I first met Miss Hana yesterday. Her face looks exactly like how Miss Natha looked when she was young, even her personality, especially when she touched the sparkler earlier and sang, it reminded me of her. But I never expected that she had..."

Once again, the atmosphere turned gloomy and cold. Even though I had never known her, it seemed that the memories she gave to Uncle Tio were very precious if he was affected like this...

"So her name is Nathalia Amber, huh?" Tio's statement, which seemed like he knew Hana's mother, intrigued me.

"Hmm? Do you know her?"

"Her face, yes. But her name, no. I often watched old recordings of the 'Fire Dancer' performers. And hers was like a treasure eaten by time," he explained.

"Yes. If I'm not mistaken, you really liked Miss Natha's performances," Tio continued, teasing his own niece.

"Yes, yes, I admit that I liked the shows she did." Wow, Tio rarely gets honest like this.

I changed the topic of conversation. "But what about the festival tonight? Will the rain be a problem?"

"Hmm? There shouldn't be any problem. The supply of fireworks can be sent to the city center later in the afternoon," Tio answered my question.

"What kind of preparations are there a few hours before the event starts?"

"What do you want, anyway? Right now, only me and Uncle can take care of this place. The other staff members are in the city center, getting ready. It's the usual."

"I regret saying unnecessary things in front of Hana."

"Huh? What did you say?"

"...'One of the biggest suppliers.' My ass."

The dark sky finally allowed a beam of light to pass through. The rain had also stopped. The large puddles on the field reflected this phenomenon. Unconsciously, 15 minutes had passed. It was time for us to go back. It seemed that Tio and Uncle understood as well.

As we returned, it turned out that the TV speaker was playing the sound from the recording we had just heard. The TV screen also replayed the recording we had watched. On the sofa, just like before, Hana sat and focused on watching the recording. She recorded in her memory the precious moments of someone who was so dear to her life.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Until the recording ended again, we just stood silently at the entrance of the room, observing from afar a fragile girl in confusion, collecting memories of her mother. The TV screen turned pitch black, Hana clenched her hands, and her mouth seemed to be swallowing something bitter.

"...Are you feeling calmer now, Young Hana?" Tio's uncle said as he approached the chair he had previously sat on.

"Yes, I'm sorry for losing control of my emotions," Hana weakly replied.

"It's okay. Uncle understands the longing for your mother. I'm sure Miss Hana has some questions, and I will gladly answer them to the best of my ability."

"In that case... if this is indeed my mother's hometown. The place where she grew up to become the mother I knew. How was she back then?" Hana asked with a serious tone. The expression on her face showed both conviction and curiosity.

"Ah, Miss Natha when she was young, right? Let me dig through my memories first. This old head of mine tends to be a bit slow," he said, scratching his head with his hand.

Finally, perhaps, he retrieved some memories hidden in his mind.

"This was the first time I met her in person. She was still in high school at that time. It might not be accurate to say that it was the first time we met, but it was the first time we directly interacted with each other. Her personality... she was too cheerful for her age. Her optimism, cheerfulness, creativity, and sometimes recklessness easily set her apart from others."

Hana's face appeared more relaxed than tense after hearing that statement. Did she feel happy because her mother's personality hadn't changed since then?

"Then, what was the reason for my mother leaving her hometown?" Hana threw the question.

Uncle Tio's face showed disappointment upon being asked such a question, then he sighed. "...They really didn't tell you anything, did they?" He continued, "At some point, I received a letter from Miss Natha saying that she would leave this town, maybe forever. Shortly after, I was informed that she had married a man, your father. I don't know the name of the man. But when she said she wouldn't return to this town, it worried me. Since then, I never knew about Miss Natha's whereabouts."

"So... it was my father who made my mother leave her hometown?"

"It seems so. As for this matter, it's better to ask your father directly or someone close to him. Like that old rascal Elard," Uncle said with a slightly harsh tone at the end.

"Elard...? Do you mean my uncle?" Hana asked.

"He should know. Because he was the one who informed me about Miss Natha's marriage."

"I see." Uncle continued with a new topic.

"And when I first met your mother. Nathalia came to me because she was interested in fireworks. And at that time, she was the next candidate for a 'Fire Dancer,' so she was interested in fireworks as a prop for her performances."

"...A 'Fire Dancer'?" Hana asked.

"Ah... like your mother, they were individuals who mastered the art of manipulating movements like fire to create captivating performances. With graceful movements and a deep connection with the element of fire, they managed to captivate audiences with their daring and skilled displays. And one of their tools was a type of firework called Sparklers. They would perform during every major festival in the city of Ilutu. But unfortunately, no one has held that title for the past three years," Uncle explained.

"So, that's how it is. So, my mother was also a 'Fire Dancer' back then..."

"And perhaps, without you realizing it, Young Hana, you just performed that show earlier," Uncle added.

"E-Eh...?" Hana responded in confusion.

"Well, even though your moves weren't entirely correct..." Tio continued. "S-So, that's it? I-I'm sorry," Hana replied, feeling guilty. "No need to apologize. Does anyone instantly master such difficult moves?" he continued.

"But honestly, I was stunned watching Hana dance earlier. I couldn't take my eyes off her for some reason. Maybe because everything was too perfect—the backdrop, Hana as the performer, and the blue fireworks," Chika finally spoke up. I almost forgot she was here. Oh, by the way...

I glanced at Chika, and our eyes met. She seemed bothered and said, "W-What?"

"Nothing, but what I said earlier was true, right?"

...

"Ah..." Both of us then looked at Hana.

Hana, who finally understood my statement, blushed. She felt embarrassed because my prediction that she would dance today came true. Apart from the three of us, others were just confused by our behavior.

"Is it difficult to become a 'Fire Dancer'? I understand that the movements look challenging, and playing with fire can be dangerous... but surely, there must be someone crazy enough to do it, right?" Chika continued asking.

"Well... actually, only descendants of the tradition are allowed to become 'Fire Dancers,' and they must be female," Uncle answered the question.

"Gross... what kind of tradition is that?" Chika said with a disgusted tone.

But this was also new knowledge for me. I knew that only women could play the role because I had seen only women perform in the show over the years. However, I had just learned that it was a rule that only descendants of a certain one could portray the role.

A thought crossed my mind.

"Wait, if Hana's mother could play a role as a 'performer' in that show, technically, Hana could also play a role, right?"

"Ah," all four of them said simultaneously.

In an instant, Uncle slammed his hands on the table, startling those around him. "THAT'S IT!!" he exclaimed. "WE CAN REVIVE THAT DEAD TRADITION, WITH HANA'S HELP, WE CAN DO IT!" Uncle continued shouting with great enthusiasm. He was thrilled because one of the best performances in the Ilutu city festival could be revived.

"You need Hana's consent first, you old brain," Tio retorted. "I know. In that case, what do you say, Young Hana?" Hana, still shocked, tried to calm herself while Uncle awaited her answer. "I can also hire you as a part-time employee here. Of course, you'll be paid. While you're here, you can also learn the 'Fire Dancer' movements. How about it?"

Hana, feeling pressured, could only respond, "I-I'll think about it first."

"O-Okay..." Uncle's disappointed voice could be heard.

Finally, the conversation came to an end, and they shifted to discussing Hana's mother and the moments they had shared in the past. The rest of us could only watch without interrupting, as seeing them share memories of the same person was very comforting.

Funny incidents, moments of sadness, extraordinary experiences, and the kindness of that person were continuously recounted by the two of them. I thought Hana's mother was amazing. If she could make these two individuals so enthusiastic when discussing her, she must be an extraordinary person. Perhaps, if I can, I would like to meet her.

All of this continued until the afternoon turned into evening, precisely at three o'clock. Since I felt that the matter of the game console entrusted to my acquaintance technician should have been taken care of by now, and we shouldn't stay here for too long as it could disrupt Tio and his uncle's work.

"Hana, let's go home. They will be busy with the evening festival. We shouldn't disturb them," I said.

"Ah, is that so? Alright."

"Are you leaving? It's actually fine if you stay here a bit longer," Uncle Tio replied.

"We... are going. Home," I emphasized for the last time.

"I-Is that so? Alright. The rain has stopped a while ago."

The three of us bid farewell from Tio's uncle's house. We walked along the road surrounded by the same rice fields as yesterday, using the same train station, stopping by my acquaintance technician as we did earlier to pick up her game console, then taking the same route until we were near Hana's house.

"Ah, you two go ahead. I want to drop by my uncle's house first. Here's the key. If you want to go home, just hide it under the doormat, okay?" Without waiting for my approval, Hana immediately left after handing me her house key.

"Wait, Hana!" Chika called out to her, but she kept running.

"You better give it up, you should know what she intends to do."

"But... why do I have to be with you again?"

"Don't ask me," I replied.

The two of us then quickly headed to Hana's house.