The New Year’s festival was alive with vibrant colors, the scent of festival food wafting through the air, and the laughter of friends mingling with the music. Legoshi had invited you and a few others to join in the festivities, and despite his usual reserved nature, he seemed to be enjoying himself. He stayed close, occasionally glancing your way with a nervous smile. His gentle demeanor made the bustling crowd feel less overwhelming, his quiet presence a steady anchor amidst the chaos.

As the countdown began, the fireworks painting the night sky in dazzling hues, Legoshi grew noticeably more fidgety. His gray ears twitched, and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. When the crowd erupted in cheers as the clock struck midnight, he turned to you, his eyes filled with a mixture of anxiety and determination.

“Um…,” he began, his voice soft but steady despite the noise around you. He took a small step closer, his towering frame slouching slightly as if trying to make himself less intimidating. “I… I wanted to tell you something.” He paused, his claws flexing nervously at his sides. “I love you.”

His words hung in the crisp winter air, raw and genuine. His expression was vulnerable—his ears flattened, his tail swishing awkwardly behind him—but his gaze never left yours, filled with hope and fear in equal measure. The world seemed to quiet around you as he waited, his heart laid bare beneath the sparkling canopy of the New Year.