Eadlyn and Sayaka stepped through the entrance of the festival street, the lanterns glowing warmer now that dusk had deepened into evening. Without realizing it, Eadlyn's hand had naturally reached for Sayaka's earlier and… stayed there.
He noticed too late.
Sayaka noticed immediately.
The second he became aware, he gently released her hand, shifting a little to the side with a flustered cough. Sayaka didn't look at him, but her fingers twitched—almost as if missing the warmth.
"Let's keep moving," she said lightly, masking her embarrassment. "There's something I want to show you."
"Lead the way," he replied, his tone casual but his ears slightly red.
A Shrine for the Young Hearts
They walked past food stalls and game booths until the path opened into a quieter area. Before them stood a small shrine illuminated by hanging lanterns, their glow soft and inviting.
"This shrine is famous among young couples," Sayaka murmured, her voice gentler now.
Eadlyn blinked. "Sayaka… you sure you're not trying to tell me something?"
Sayaka glared at him, but her cheeks betrayed her. "N—No. I just thought you'd like the atmosphere!"
They stepped inside and prayed. The silence between them felt strangely intimate, as if the night itself listened.
Then Sayaka pointed at the fortune box.
"Let's roll. For love luck."
Eadlyn laughed. "We're really doing this, huh?"
"Don't act shy now," she muttered.
They rolled together.
When they opened their slips, their eyes widened.
Both fortunes said the same thing:
"Troubles lie ahead. But love will succeed if the heart stays sincere."
Sayaka's lips curved with quiet, almost embarrassed happiness.
Eadlyn's brows lowered in thought.
Troubles?
He didn't dwell on it long—but the words didn't leave him either.
Dances, Laughter, and Unsaid Things
The festival dance began nearby, the rhythmic drums echoing through the night. Residents in yukatas moved in synchronized grace, and Sayaka watched with admiration.
"You've never been to a real festival before, right?" she asked.
"No," Eadlyn said, smiling. "Feels like something out of an anime."
Sayaka's soft laugh blended with the music.
Moments like this—small and natural—were exactly what he had dreamt of when coming to Japan.
They moved to the fish-scooping stall next.
Sayaka caught one goldfish easily.
Eadlyn's paper scooper tore instantly.
"That's illegal," she teased. "You didn't even last one second."
"Rematch," he grumbled.
He lost instantly again.
Then came the shooting booth. Sayaka aimed with determination but missed the big plush toy she wanted. Eadlyn took the gun, aimed once, fired once, and the toy toppled.
He held it out to her.
"Our first festival together. Keep it."
Her eyes softened.
"Thank you… Eadlyn. I will."
Not far away, a small trio watched them from the shadows—Rin and Manami whispering excited commentary, and Ken staring with a mix of awe and calculative concern.
"She's actually blushing," Rin whispered.
"Eadlyn's progressing fast," Manami smirked.
Ken sighed. "School's going to explode on Monday."
They didn't interrupt him, though. The night was his.
Fireworks and Realizations
Later, they found a clearing near the riverbank just as fireworks shot into the sky. Bursts of gold, red, and emerald painted Sayaka's face with shifting light.
Eadlyn almost forgot to look at the sky.
He watched her instead.
Sayaka, unaware of his gaze, whispered, "Fireworks always make me feel like summer doesn't last long… like it's a reminder to enjoy the moment."
Eadlyn didn't answer immediately.
He simply looked at her with a quiet warmth he didn't know he had.
Maybe festivals weren't about romance.
Maybe they were about understanding someone better under a sky full of fleeting lights.
And tonight, he felt closer to her than he ever had before.
A Promise of Summer
As the crowd dispersed and the lanterns dimmed, they walked together—closer than before, steps naturally in sync.
They didn't confess.
They didn't need to.
The festival had already said enough.
Summer wasn't over.
And this night—this soft, glowing memory—would carry them straight into Season 2.