The summer air was thick and warm, carrying the faint scent of fireworks, grilled corn, and candy apples. Aki adjusted the straps of her backpack nervously as she approached the school grounds. Tonight was the annual summer festival, an event that had always been loud, chaotic, and impossibly crowded. Usually, she would have avoided such a gathering, preferring quiet evenings at home with a book or her favorite movies.
But Lua had insisted.
"I feel ridiculous going alone," he had said earlier in the week, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. "You know… everyone's going to be there. I… I would rather not face it by myself."
Aki had smiled softly, feeling the familiar pang of warmth in her chest. "I suppose I can accompany you," she had replied, though her voice betrayed her nervousness. She had spent the entire afternoon imagining what the evening would hold, and each thought left her heart beating faster.
Now, standing among the throngs of students, the festival lights glowing like fireflies against the darkening sky, she felt a mixture of excitement and unease. Lua was already there, leaning casually against a stall, his white hair catching the last rays of the setting sun. Red eyes scanning the crowd with effortless ease, he looked entirely at ease, though Aki could see the faint tension in the way he straightened when someone bumped into him.
Her chest tightened. He was beautiful. Always had been, and yet tonight, in the soft glow of festival lanterns, he seemed almost ethereal.
"Hey," Lua said, turning toward her, his voice casual but warm. "You made it."
Aki nodded, smoothing the hem of her shirt as her fingers trembled slightly. "Of course."
They began walking together, shoulders brushing occasionally in the crowded pathways. Every time their arms grazed, Aki felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her. Her heart raced, and she had to remind herself to breathe.
The first stall they approached sold candied apples, bright red and glistening under the festival lights. Lua handed her one, his fingers brushing against hers as he did so. The contact was fleeting, but Aki's entire body seemed to hum from it. She could barely meet his eyes, feeling the familiar warmth creeping up her neck, coloring her cheeks.
"Careful, they are hot," Lua said softly, his gaze lingering on her lips for a fraction of a second longer than necessary.
Aki's heart skipped. "I… I'll be careful," she whispered, gripping the apple like a lifeline. She wanted to say something else, something that conveyed the storm of feelings inside her, but the words would not come.
They continued walking, passing through stalls of games, toys, and glowing lanterns. Laughter echoed around them, children and teens alike enjoying the celebration, but Aki felt as though the world had shrunk to just the two of them. Lua's presence was magnetic, overwhelming, and intoxicating.
At one point, they came across a ring toss game. Lua grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling in that familiar, teasing way. "You want to try?"
Aki hesitated, then nodded. "I… suppose I could."
He handed her a small ring, his fingers brushing hers once again. Aki's chest tightened, and she had to suppress a shiver. Every casual touch seemed to send her entire body into overdrive. She tossed the ring, missing by a hair. Lua chuckled softly, leaning closer to demonstrate, and in the crowded stall, their shoulders pressed together.
Aki's thoughts spiraled. He was so close. His scent, faintly of soap and the summer air, enveloped her. His warmth pressed against her, subtle but undeniable. She could feel her knees weaken, and she struggled to maintain her composure.
"You're close enough to cheat," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the laughter and chatter around them.
Lua smirked, leaning even closer. "Maybe I am," he murmured, his lips brushing just past her ear. The heat of his breath made her heart skip violently.
They moved on to the food stalls, sampling takoyaki and yakisoba, sharing bites and exchanging glances that made Aki feel dizzy. Each laugh he gave her, each teasing remark, sent shivers through her entire body. She was acutely aware of how her chest heaved, how her fingers twitched, how her mind refused to focus on anything except him.
As night fell, the festival grew louder, the fireworks beginning to fill the sky with brilliant bursts of color. Lua grabbed her hand unexpectedly, pulling her gently toward a quieter spot near the edge of the field. Her breath caught. His hand was warm, firm, and grounding, yet it sent her heart into chaos.
"Look," he said softly, pointing to the sky. A cascade of fireworks exploded in brilliant colors, reflected in his red eyes. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
Aki nodded, her voice caught in her throat. "Yes… it is."
For a moment, they stood there in silence, watching the fireworks. Aki's hand trembled slightly in his. She wanted to lean closer, to rest her head against his shoulder, to tell him everything she felt, but fear held her back.
Lua turned slightly, his thumb brushing over the back of her hand. "You're quiet tonight," he said, voice low, almost teasing.
"I… I'm fine," she whispered, though the warmth flooding her chest betrayed her words.
He tilted his head, smiling knowingly. "Sure you are," he murmured, leaning just slightly closer so that the warmth of his chest brushed against hers. Aki's knees threatened to buckle. She felt dizzy, weak, and more alive than ever.
The crowd around them faded into a blur. The noise of laughter, music, and chatter became distant. There was only Lua, the fireworks above, and the small, intoxicating closeness that made her heart feel as if it would burst from her chest.
"Lua…" she whispered, barely audible, her fingers tightening around his.
He looked down at her, red eyes gentle and aware. "Yes?"
Aki swallowed hard, feeling her heart hammer violently. She wanted to say so much, to tell him everything she had felt since that rainy umbrella day, but words failed her. Instead, she leaned just slightly closer, her shoulder brushing his, feeling the warmth of him envelop her.
Lua's smile widened, faint and soft, as if he understood her without her saying a word. "I'm glad you're here," he murmured.
Aki felt weak. Vulnerable. Alive. Every thought, every sensation, every heartbeat told her that she could not deny her feelings any longer. She wanted to stay like this forever, hand in hand, close and intimate, wrapped in the quiet magic of the festival night.
The fireworks exploded once more, bright against the dark sky, reflecting in their eyes. Aki's chest tightened, and her lips parted slightly, her gaze locking on his. The night was perfect, chaotic, and beautiful, and for the first time in a long time, she felt that maybe, just maybe, Lua was hers in ways beyond friendship.