The bus rattled along the mountain road, its wheels humming softly against the winding asphalt. The trees outside were painted in gold and crimson — the kind of scenery that looked like it had been taken straight out of a painting. Autumn had fully arrived, and with it came that soft, nostalgic chill in the air.
I pressed my forehead against the glass, watching the leaves dance in spirals as we passed. The sunlight slipped through the trees, flickering across the window and scattering gold on everyone's faces.
"Hey, look, look!" Inohana pointed outside with the excitement of a little kid. "You can see the whole village from here!"
"Don't lean out too much," Rei said calmly, though she looked faintly amused. "You'll fog up the window."
"Ehh, come on, Rei! You're such a mom!"
"Someone has to make sure you don't fall out of the bus," Rei replied dryly, flipping a page of her small travel notebook.
Naoko sat a few rows ahead, earbuds in, her head bobbing slightly to a tune only she could hear. Mika was already opening a bag of chips — probably her fifth snack since we started the trip — and Hana was sitting across from me, smiling softly as she gazed outside.
Her voice came out gentle. "The trees look like they're on fire… but in a beautiful way."
"Yeah," I murmured. "It's like they're saying goodbye to summer."
Hana turned to look at me, her eyes bright. "That's poetic, Hayashi-kun. Didn't think you had that side."
"I don't," I said flatly.
She giggled. "Sure you don't."
Everyone seemed full of life — their chatter, their laughter — it all filled the bus like background music.
It was strange how natural it felt being part of it now.
A month ago, I would've stayed quiet in the corner, keeping my thoughts to myself.
Now... I actually wanted to listen.
When the bus finally stopped, the doors opened with a hiss, letting in a rush of cold mountain air. The scent of earth and fallen leaves hit me — clean, refreshing, almost nostalgic.
"Waaah~!" Inohana stretched her arms wide the moment she stepped down. "This is perfect! Totally worth waking up early!"
"You woke up late," Rei said, deadpan.
"Details, details."
I laughed quietly under my breath. She'd never change.
Naoko adjusted her ribbon, her voice soft. "It's beautiful here… The sound of the wind feels like a song."
"Please don't livestream that," I said without thinking.
Naoko blinked, then pouted. "I wasn't going to! ...Probably."
"Sure you weren't."
She puffed her cheeks, clearly embarrassed. "Y-you're impossible, Hayashi-kun."
"Guess so."
Meanwhile, Hana had her phone out, snapping photos of the landscape. Mika was already lining up to buy roasted sweet potatoes from a small roadside stall.
And Rei? She was trying to wrangle everyone into a semblance of order. "Alright, everyone, remember — the inn is to the right, festival starts after lunch, and don't wander off alone."
"Rei, you sound like a teacher," Hana teased.
"I'm just trying to make sure someone doesn't get lost," she said, glancing pointedly at Inohana.
"Hey! That happened once!"
"Twice," I corrected.
She crossed her arms. "Tch, betrayal from all sides…"
Afternoon – The Festival Begins
By noon, the village was alive.
Colorful lanterns hung from the eaves, small paper streamers fluttered in the breeze. The sound of laughter and drums echoed through the narrow streets, mixing with the smell of grilled squid and yakisoba.
"Uwaaa~ it's so cute here!" Mika squealed, pointing at a row of stalls. "There's food everywhere!"
"Of course that's the first thing you notice," Rei muttered, though she was smiling faintly.
Naoko's eyes lit up at the sound of a shamisen performance nearby. "They're playing live music…" she said softly, her voice almost trembling. "It's been a while since I heard something like that in person."
"Want to go listen?" I asked.
Her face brightened. "Can we?"
Before I could even answer, Inohana clapped her hands. "Group vote! Who's in favor of listening to music before eating?"
"Food first," Mika said instantly.
"Music first," Naoko countered.
"Food is music for the soul," Inohana said dramatically.
"Please stop," Rei sighed.
They argued for a good three minutes before Hana quietly decided for everyone.
"Let's split up for a bit. We'll meet again by the lantern bridge in an hour."
Simple solution. Peace restored.
I ended up with Inohana and Hana.
Which meant chaos.
"Hayashi-kun, come on!" Inohana pulled me toward a goldfish scooping stall. "We'll see who's the real champion this time!"
"I've literally never done this before."
"Perfect! I'll win easier!"
Ten minutes later, she was cheering while I stared into a bowl of water — empty.
"I hate this game," I muttered.
"You're just bad at it~"
"Do you practice at home or something?"
"Maybe~"
Her laughter was so contagious that Hana started giggling too.
"Hayashi-kun, you look like you're going to declare war on the goldfish."
"I already did. I lost."
"Don't worry," Hana said kindly, handing me one of her scooped goldfish. "Here. You can have mine."
"Eh? No, you don't have to—"
"I insist," she smiled. "Now you won't go home empty-handed."
Inohana crossed her arms, mock pouting. "Aww, that's so unfair! Why didn't I get pity points like that?"
"Because you're the reason I lost," I said flatly.
She laughed again, and for a brief moment, I forgot how tired I was.
Evening – The Lantern Lights
As the sun began to sink, the streets grew busier.
The stalls glowed under the orange sky, paper lanterns flickering to life one by one. Children ran past holding masks and fans, their laughter mixing with the faint rhythm of taiko drums.
We regrouped near the riverbank where the lanterns would be released later.
Everyone looked different now, somehow — the fading light brought out something softer in them.
Naoko's eyes gleamed in the glow.
Rei's usually strict posture looked relaxed for once.
Hana's hair shimmered like molten amber.
Inohana's energy hadn't faded at all — she was jumping between stalls with Mika.
"Hayashi-kun! Try this takoyaki!" Inohana called, shoving a skewer at me.
"I just ate."
"That's fine, it's takoyaki!"
"You said that like it explains everything."
"Because it does!"
I sighed but took a bite anyway. It was too hot, and I nearly burned my tongue.
Inohana laughed so hard she almost dropped her own food. "Pfft—! You should see your face!"
Naoko handed me a cold drink with a smile. "Here, to cool your mouth."
"Thanks," I mumbled.
Her fingers brushed mine briefly when I took it. Warm. Soft. I looked away quickly, pretending not to notice.
And yet… my heart beat faster.
Under the Maple Tree
We found a quiet spot by a large maple tree. The leaves above glowed red in the lantern light, falling gently whenever the wind passed.
"Man, this place really is something," Mika said through a mouthful of dango.
Rei gave her a napkin. "You have sauce on your cheek."
"Eh? Oh—thanks, Rei~ you're like a mom!"
"I'm not—never mind," Rei sighed.
Naoko leaned against the tree, watching the lanterns sway. "I wish I could stay in a place like this forever."
"Wouldn't you get bored?" I asked.
She smiled. "Maybe. But even boredom can be beautiful when it's peaceful."
"That's… oddly poetic," I admitted.
She giggled softly. "You're rubbing off on me, Hayashi-kun."
"I'm contagious, huh."
"You said it, not me."
Hana was sitting nearby, sketching something in her small notebook. "I'm drawing this," she said when she noticed me watching. "All of us — like this moment won't end."
"It will," I said quietly.
"I know," she smiled. "That's why I want to remember it."
For some reason, that hit me right in the chest.
Lantern Release
Night finally came.
Hundreds of people gathered by the riverbank, each holding a glowing lantern. The water reflected the light like stars scattered across the ground.
"Okay, everyone!" Inohana said, clapping her hands. "Let's make a wish before we let ours go!"
"What kind of wish?" Mika asked.
"Anything! As long as it's honest."
One by one, they whispered theirs.
Naoko wished for "more music."
Mika wished for "endless food."
Rei wished for "peace and quiet."
Hana… just smiled and said, "For everyone to stay together."
When it was my turn, I hesitated.
"I… just wish to feel something again," I whispered.
The lantern floated gently away, joining the others downstream.
The fireworks began soon after.
Bright explosions of color filled the night sky — red, blue, gold, white — each one painting the faces of the girls beside me. The reflection shimmered in the river, like the world itself was celebrating.
"Beautiful…" Hana murmured, eyes wide.
Naoko was smiling too, her hands clasped together unconsciously as she gazed upward.
Mika squealed every time a big one burst.
Inohana shouted, "That one looks like a heart!"
Rei rolled her eyes but smiled all the same.
I looked at all of them — and realized something.
Even if my past was still frozen, even if the cold inside me refused to melt completely… right here, right now, I was alive.
"Call Me By My Name Kaito-kun"
Just when I thought the night couldn't get any more embarrassing, Inohana suddenly turned around.
"Hey, hey! I have a great idea!"
"Uh oh," Rei muttered.
"From now on," Inohana declared dramatically, "no more last names!"
Everyone blinked.
"Huh?" Mika asked.
"It's too formal! We're friends, right? So from now on, call each other by first names only!"
Naoko's cheeks turned pink. "T-that's kind of sudden…"
"Exactly! Sudden things are the best!"
I sighed. "You really love chaos, huh."
"Shh, Kaito-kun~"
"Wha—hold on, don't call me that so casually!"
Hana giggled. "Then… Kaito, it is?"
"Wait—Hana, you too?"
Naoko fidgeted with her sleeve. "…K-Kaito."
Mika raised her hand like a soldier. "Roger that! Kaito it is!"
Even Rei finally gave up. "Might as well. Kaito."
"Unbelievable," I muttered, but they were all laughing.
And somehow, I didn't mind.
Final Scene
When the last firework faded, we stayed there a while — sitting on the grass, the cool air brushing past, the river glowing faintly under the moonlight.
No one said anything.
We didn't have to.
Their laughter earlier still lingered in my ears.
The warmth of their smiles still glowed in my chest.
For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel like someone who was just watching life from a distance.
I was part of it.
Part of something warm.
"Maybe I'm still frozen inside. Maybe the cracks in me will never really heal. But that's okay. Because even frozen glass reflects light beautifully — and when that light comes from people who care… it's enough to make the world feel alive again."