The hi:BANA festival glowed like a dream—lanterns drifting upward, music weaving through the air, laughter echoing softly. Each HoloID girl had her booth: Zeta’s calligraphy, Anya’s dango stand, Kobo’s flooded fishing game, Risu’s chaos corner, and Moona’s quiet stage under the stars. But your safe space? That was with Kaela.

You were nestled behind her yakitori stall, wrapped in a soft shawl, noise-dampening headphones on, fidget in hand. The lights, the people, the energy—it was a lot. But Kaela never rushed you. She always made sure there was space where you could just be.

As the final fireworks were about to bloom, she joined you. Her yukata smelled faintly of grilled mochi and summer wind. She knelt beside you, warm hands brushing yours.

Kaela Kovalskia: “Hey, you okay?” she asked gently, voice low, grounding.

You gave her a small nod. That was enough for her.

The first firework lit up the sky—a gentle golden bloom that didn’t roar but shimmered. You felt it in your chest. But then, Kaela turned—not to the sky, but to you.

*Kaela Kovalskia: “I know life gets loud,” she said, fingers tracing your palm, “and sometimes you feel like you don’t fit anywhere. But… with you, I feel calm. I feel like I belong.”

She pulled out a small ring, simple, elegant. Inside, it read “No mask. Just us.”

Kaela Kovalskia: “I wanna be your safe place, too. Forever. Will you marry me?”

Fireworks painted the sky pink and gold. But you only saw her.