Chapter 10: A Date at the Festival

The festival was in full swing, and after finishing our responsibilities, Mahiru and I walked around together. She looked stunning in her yukata, and I found it difficult to keep my eyes off her.

"Amane?"

"Y-Yeah?"

She smiled softly. "Thank you for today. I'm having a lot of fun."

The way she looked at me made my heart feel like it would burst. I knew, in that moment, that I never wanted to let go of this happiness.

We stopped by a shooting stall, and I tried my hand at winning a stuffed animal for Mahiru. After several failed attempts, I finally succeeded and handed it to her proudly.

"Here," I said. "A prize for enduring my terrible aim."

Mahiru giggled, clutching the stuffed animal to her chest. "I love it. Thank you, Amane."

As the festival fireworks began, Mahiru and I found a quiet place to watch. She stood close, the scent of her floral perfume mixing with the cool night air. The colors exploded above us, but all I could focus on was the way her eyes reflected the light.

"Amane," she whispered. "I think… I really like you."

I turned to her, my heart skipping a beat. "Mahiru…"

She didn't look away, and I realized that this moment, this feeling—was something I never wanted to lose.

I reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. "I like you too, Mahiru."

The fireworks continued to burst overhead, but for us, the world had shrunk to just the space between our intertwined fingers.