Reds and Golds

Haruto's POV

The quiet hum of the evening filled my room as I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my phone. My thumb hovered over the screen, my heart unexpectedly light as I scrolled through the group chat.

Ren: "Are we all set for tonight?"

Rei: "Wouldn't miss it!"

Haruna: "I've been waiting for this."

I smiled at their flood of excitement, but it was the last message that made me breath hitch.

Hinata: "See you there!"

I exhaled slowly, setting the phone down. My mind wandered back to the promise I had made with Hinata to attend the festival together. The thought of seeing her there, of spending the night under the fireworks, walking through the festival, sent a jolt of nervous excitement through me. The feeling was new and unfamiliar, a mix of anxiety and something more.

I quickly got dressed, choosing a casual but clean outfit. My eyes drifted to the clock. It was almost time.

***

The festival entrance was already buzzing with the energy of families and friends, the smell of grilled food wafting through the air, lanterns glowing softly overhead. I arrived a few minutes early, adjusting my collar out of habit. I glanced around, wondering how long I'd have to wait.

“Haruto!” Ren’s voice cut through the chatter. I turned to see him waving, with Haruna walking beside him.

Haruna wore a light blue yukata, her hair neatly pinned up with delicate hair ornaments. She looked graceful, almost glowing in the festival lights. I blinked in surprise, realizing how rarely I had seen my friends dressed up like this.

“Wow, Haruna,” I said, trying to keep my tone casual. “You look... amazing.”

Haruna smiled, her cheeks slightly pink. “Thanks, Haruto. It's a festival, after all. Gotta dress the part.”

Ren chuckled. “Took me forever to convince her to wear it, but hey, it was worth it, right?”

Before I could reply, I caught sight of Rei approaching. And there, walking just behind her, was Hinata. My heart stuttered to a stop.

Hinata wore a soft lavender yukata with floral patterns, the fabric flowing gently with each step. Her hair, usually left loose, was styled up with a delicate clip, a few soft strands framing her face. The festival lights caught in her eyes, and for a moment, the world around me seemed to blur.

Rei nudged me lightly as she walked by, a teasing smile on her lips. “You okay there, Haruto? You’re staring.”

I blinked, snapping back to reality, my face warming with embarrassment. “Yeah, uh, just... wasn’t expecting this.”

Hinata approached, offering me a shy smile. “Sorry we’re late.”

“No, you’re right on time,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, but the slight tremor gave me away.

Rei raised an eyebrow. “Shall we get going, then?”

Ren slung an arm around my shoulders, giving me a knowing look. “Let's hit the food stalls first. I’m starving.”

***

The festival grounds were alive with laughter and the clatter of game stalls. I found myself walking beside Hinata more often than not, the distance between us closing with each turn of the path. We played ring toss, tried our luck at the shooting gallery, and shared snacks, takoyaki, sweet mochi, and candied apples.

As the evening went on, laughter grew louder. Ren challenged me to a dart game, while Rei and Haruna tried their hand at scooping goldfish. The warm, buzzing energy of the festival soaked into my skin, but my attention kept drifting to Hinata.

At one point, as we passed a booth selling fireworks masks, Hinata reached out and gently touched my sleeve. “Haruto, do you want to try these on?” she asked, pointing to the colorful masks of kitsune and tengu hanging on display.

I grinned, feeling more relaxed now, the earlier nervousness beginning to ebb away. “hmm…sure.”

Hinata giggled softly as we each picked a mask, and we turned to each other, wearing playful grins. I couldn’t help but notice the light in Hinata’s eyes when she laughed, how it was the same whether we were studying for exams or here, at a festival under the summer sky.

As the night went on, the sky above us deepened into a rich twilight. The crowds began to gather toward the main festival stage, where the fireworks would soon begin. I walked beside Hinata, our shoulders brushing lightly. Neither of us said anything for a while, content to enjoy the festival’s warm hum.

Just as we reached the hill where everyone planned to watch the fireworks, I found myself glancing at Hinata once more. The soft glow of the lanterns illuminated her face, the warmth of the summer night wrapping around them.

Without thinking, I spoke, my voice quiet amidst the distant chatter. “You really look beautiful tonight, Hinata.”

Hinata turned, her eyes widening slightly. Her cheeks flushed under his gaze, but she offered a small smile. “Thank you.”

***

The laughter of the festival still rang in the air as we found a spot to rest. We settled onto a wooden bench under the swaying paper lanterns. Ren, always full of ideas, stood up with a grin.

“Alright, let’s make this interesting. Let’s play rock-paper-scissors,” Ren declared, his eyes glinting mischievously. “Two losers have to go and buy drinks for everyone.”

Rei raised an eyebrow. “You just want to avoid getting up, don’t you?”

Haruna giggled, already making her fist. “Let’s do it! I could use a drink anyway.”

Hinata and I exchanged a quick glance, we both silently hoping to avoid being the ones sent on the errand. But in a flash of hands, the result was clear: both me and Hinata had lost.

“Well, looks like it’s on you two,” Ren smirked, stretching out on the bench with satisfaction. “Don’t take too long, or we’ll be parched.”

I sighed with playful defeat. “Alright, alright. Let’s go, Hinata.”

Hinata stood up, chuckling softly. “I guess it’s our turn to be the delivery service.”

The two of us made our way through the bustling crowd, weaving between festival stalls selling everything from candied apples to colorful masks. We finally reached the drink stand and ordered five bottles of soda, one for each of us.

Carrying the tray of drinks, I led the way back into the sea of people. But soon, the lively crowd thickened, and it became harder to see ahead. A moment later, we found ourselves lost amidst the swirling sea of people.

“Uh… do you have your phone to call the others?” I asked, glancing at her.

Hinata frowned, shaking her head. “I gave mine to Rei earlier. She needed it to check something. And… didn’t you say your phone’s out of battery?”

I rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “Yeah, it is. Looks like we’re on our own for now.”

Hinata’s eyes scanned the crowd, a bit of worry creeping into her expression. Me, sensing it, offered a reassuring smile. “It’s fine. We just need to stick together.”

Without hesitation, Hinata reached out and gently grabbed the hem of my shirt, holding onto it like an anchor. “I don’t want to lose you in this crowd.”

My heart skipped a beat at the simple gesture, but I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady. “Let’s find some higher ground. We can probably spot them from there.”

We moved carefully through the throngs of people, heading toward a small hill on the edge of the festival grounds. The view from the top was clearer, but before we could search for our friends, the sky above us burst into life.

A loud crack echoed, and the first firework exploded in brilliant reds and golds, lighting up the entire night. Me and Hinata stopped in our tracks, momentarily stunned by the sheer beauty of it. The fireworks bloomed overhead, our reflections shimmering in Hinata’s wide eyes as she looked up in awe.

The noise of the festival melted away, and for that moment, it was just the two of us standing side by side, bathed in the glow of the fireworks.

“They’re beautiful,” Hinata whispered, her voice soft, barely audible over the fireworks.

I glanced at her, my heart pounding for a reason that had nothing to do with the fireworks. “Yeah… they are.”

Another burst of light filled the sky, casting fleeting shadows on our faces. I couldn’t stop the wave of warmth that washed over me as I stood there next to her, the space between us feeling both intimate and infinite.

For a long while, we simply watched in silence, the fireworks dazzling the sky with every new explosion. Time seemed to slow, and I found myself wishing the moment would stretch on just a little longer.

When the final firework faded, the festival sounds returned in a rush. I shook my head slightly, snapping out of the spell. “We should head back to the entrance. I’m sure the others will meet us there.”

Hinata nodded, still holding onto my shirt. “Let’s go.”

We navigated through the crowd again, making our way to the entrance where Ren, Rei, and Haruna were waiting. Ren waved us over with a relieved grin.

“There you two are! We thought you got lost or something.”

I chuckled. “Kind of did, but we found our way back.”

“Did you bring the drinks?” Rei asked, half joking, as Haruna nudged her.

Hinata pointed to the bag of drinks I was holding with a smile. “Mission accomplished.”

After exchanging a few more laughs, we decided it was time to call it a night. Each heading home under the glowing lanterns and lingering smoke from the fireworks.

***

I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts drifting back to the festival and that quiet moment I had shared with Hinata under the fireworks.

My phone buzzed beside me, lighting up with a message.

Hinata: Thank you for today. I had so much fun.

A small smile tugged at my lips as I read the message. I quickly typed back a reply.

Haruto: I had fun too. Let’s do it again sometime.

Hinata’s response came almost immediately.

Hinata: Definitely. Good night, Haruto.

Haruto: Good night, Hinata.

I set the phone down, my heart feeling light. I closed my eyes, the memory of the fireworks still fresh in my mind. This summer, I thought, was already turning into something unforgettable.

To be continued…