Fireworks on Paper

The gymnasium was packed. Rows of students, teachers, and parents buzzed with excitement, the hum of chatter filling the air. The stage was illuminated with soft blue and gold lights, casting a dreamy glow over the performers. Hinata stood in the center, her choir group lined up behind her, ready to perform.

From his spot at the back of the gym, Haruto watched, adjusting the lighting console, his fingers moving steadily across the controls. He had a perfect view of the stage and of her. She looked calm, focused, even as the crowd quieted down in anticipation. He couldn't help but smile.

"Alright," Haruto muttered to himself, preparing the final cue for the lights. "Let's make this perfect."

The music began, soft and haunting, the opening chords filling the gym. The first note from the choir rose like a wave, their harmonies blending beautifully. Hinata’s voice stood out, clear and strong, guiding the rest of the group like a beacon. Her eyes sparkled under the spotlight, completely absorbed in the music. The audience sat in silent awe.

As the song built to its crescendo, Haruto subtly dimmed the lights, creating a dramatic silhouette of the performers. It was perfect timing, the choir’s final notes rang through the gym like a spell, leaving the room breathless.

And then, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause.

Hinata stepped back from the front of the group, her face flushed but smiling. The other choir members glanced at one another, exchanging proud looks. They had done it.

From his corner, Haruto allowed himself a small grin. He clicked off the final light, stepping away from the console. It was over. And it was incredible.

***

Haruto's POV

Later, Outside the Gym, I wandered outside, the evening sun casting long shadows across the school courtyard. The festival was still in full swing, booths and food stalls lighting up the pathways with bright banners and twinkling lanterns. I was about to head toward the school rooftop, when I saw her.

“Haruto!”

Hinata’s voice rang out, and I turned to see her jogging toward me, still in her choir uniform, looking slightly out of breath.

“Hey, great job in there,” I said as she approached, my smile widening. “You were amazing.”

“Thanks,” she replied, her cheeks turning pink as she caught her breath. “And you…your lighting was perfect. Seriously, it made the performance even better.”

I scratched the back of my neck, a little embarrassed. “I just pressed a few buttons.”

Hinata laughed. “Well, whatever buttons you pressed, it worked.”

There was a brief pause as we stood there, the energy of the festival buzzing around us. I shifted slightly, glancing at the rows of booths lining the school courtyard. “Wanna check out the festival together? We’ve got time before everything closes.”

Hinata blinked, then nodded with a smile. “Yeah, let’s go.”

***

We strolled through the lively paths, the scent of sweet pastries hanging in the air. Laughter echoed from the game booths, and students in colorful festival costumes darted between stalls.

We wandered from booth to booth, stopping occasionally to admire the handiwork of different clubs, flower arrangements, handmade crafts, and even a haunted house run by the drama club.

“Wanna try some drinks?” I asked, nodding toward a booth where the lemon teas were being freshly made.

“Definitely,” Hinata replied, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the refreshing drinks.

We waited in line, the soft hum of festival music playing in the background. Hinata’s gaze drifted around the crowd, but her thoughts seemed distant, lost in the moment.

“You seemed really in your element up there,” I said after a moment, glancing at her.

She looked up, surprised. “Oh, you think so? I was so nervous.”

“It didn’t look like it. You were so composed. Like you belonged there.”

She smiled shyly. “Thanks… but I think it was the lights that helped me focus.”

I laughed. “Hey, if my lights helped you in any way, I’m glad.”

We both smiled at each other as we received our lemon tea, walking side by side through the bustling schoolyard. The sun had almost set, the sky now painted in hues of purple and orange, casting a magical glow over the festival grounds. Lanterns flickered to life above us as we walked, casting soft shadows on the path.

As we neared a quiet corner of the school garden, Hinata suddenly stopped, turning to me. “By the way, thank you for agreeing to help with the choir’s lighting. I… I know it’s probably boring work.”

I shook my head. “It wasn’t boring. Honestly, I had fun. And besides…” I hesitated for a second before continuing. “I wanted to be there. To see you perform.”

Hinata’s eyes widened slightly, her heart skipping a beat. “You did?”

“Yeah.” I glanced away, feeling slightly embarrassed. “It was important to you. So it was important to me too.”

***

For a moment, Hinata didn’t know how to respond. Her heart felt full, the warmth of his words sinking in. They stood there in the soft glow of the lanterns, the festival noise fading into the background as the moment stretched between them.

Then Hinata smiled softly. “Thank you, Haruto. That means a lot.”

Haruto gave her a small smile in return, but before either of them could say anything else, the sound of fireworks exploding in the sky interrupted them. They both looked up as brilliant colors burst across the evening sky.

“Fireworks already?” Haruto mused. “I thought they were scheduled for later.”

“Let’s go watch,” Hinata suggested, and without waiting for a response, she grabbed his wrist, pulling him toward the open field.

They found a spot near the edge of the crowd, standing side by side as the sky erupted into vibrant reds, blues, and greens. The fireworks reflected in Hinata’s eyes as she watched, her face lit up with wonder.

“Beautiful,” she whispered, more to herself than to Haruto.

Haruto glanced at her, catching the glow of the fireworks in her eyes. “Yeah,” he agreed softly, though he wasn’t looking at the fireworks anymore.

As the final burst of color lit up the sky, Haruto felt a strange sense of contentment wash over him. The festival, the performance, the fireworks, it all seemed to fall perfectly into place.

And for the first time in a long while, everything just felt… right.

***

Haruto's POV

The festival began winding down as the last of the fireworks faded. Hinata and I slowly made our way back to the main festival area, the sound of chattering students filling the air again.

“Well, that was a perfect end to the day,” Hinata said, stretching her arms.

“Yeah, it was,” I agreed. “Thanks for spending the festival with me.”

“Thanks for inviting me,” she replied with a smile. “And for the lights, and everything.”

I grinned, a little bashful. “Anytime.”

We paused at the entrance of the festival.

“Guess it’s time to head home,” Hinata said softly, turning to me.

“Yeah… but we’ll do this again soon, right?”

Hinata smiled. “Definitely.”

***

As they walked away from the festival at the school grounds together, Hinata couldn’t help but feel that today had been something special, something she wouldn’t forget.

A drawing of fireworks was drawn in her diary, with two silhouettes at the bottom corner of the page, where two figures stood side by side.

“Haruto.”

To be continued…