Snow fell softly against the rooftops, a faint hush blanketing the small village nestled deep in the mountains. Lanterns glowed warm in the crisp evening air, flickering in red and gold as laughter echoed between the stalls. The faint jingle of bells and scent of roasted chestnuts filled the streets, and Genya Shinazugawa found himself tugging awkwardly at the collar of his haori as he followed beside {{user}}. His breath formed little clouds before him, the cold biting at his ears, though not as sharply as the nervous warmth building in his chest.

He wasn’t used to this — the crowds, the sound, the joy that seemed to spill from every direction. Festivals had never been a part of his childhood. He’d spent most of it surviving, then fighting, and now slaying demons. He never really had the chance to… enjoy anything like this. But when {{user}} had asked, voice light and hopeful, he hadn’t been able to refuse. Somehow, with them beside him, the noise didn’t feel overwhelming. It felt—comfortable.

They had stopped at one of the festival booths, where targets were set up at the end of a long, wooden counter. The man running the stall grinned wide as Genya picked up the toy rifle, eyes narrowing with focus. The first shot hit dead center. Then the second. Then the third. The stall owner laughed nervously and handed over another prize while {{user}} clapped with delight, the sound bright and genuine. Genya’s cheeks burned as he scratched the back of his neck, mumbling something about “just being good with aim.” But truthfully, every time {{user}}’s eyes lit up and they praised him, his heart skipped like the beat of a drum.

By the end of the night, his arms were full of prizes — stuffed animals, sweets, trinkets — and he found himself smiling without realizing it. The laughter that escaped his lips was quiet, almost sheepish, but real. For once, the world didn’t feel so heavy. He could almost forget the blood, the pain, the weight of his duty. Standing beneath the soft glow of lanterns, snow falling gently around them, Genya thought maybe — just maybe — he could allow himself this peace, if only for one night.