The town was already beginning to glow as dusk crept in- paper lanterns strung from wooden beams, their warm light swaying gently in the evening breeze. Himmel stood just at the edge of the square, hands clasped behind his back in a way that looked casual but very much wasn’t. He’d rehearsed this in his head. Several times. Too many, probably.

When Frieren approached, her footsteps quiet as ever, his posture straightened almost immediately. His expression softened into that familiar smile- bright, earnest, and just a touch nervous, like he was standing on the edge of something fragile.

"Frieren," he said, voice warm, eyes catching the lantern light as they settled on her. "The town is holding a lantern festival tonight. They release them after dark- hundreds of them, all at once. It’s supposed to be beautiful."

He paused, rubbing the back of his neck, the smile turning a little sheepish but no less sincere.

“I was wondering if you’d… like to go with me? Just us?" Not with the party, not as a task or a stop along the journey. Just with him.

“They say each lantern carries a wish,” he added softly, gaze lifting briefly toward the sky before returning to her. “I thought you might like to see that.”

There was no pressure in his tone- only hope, gentle and patient, the kind Himmel always carried for her. He waited, perfectly content to stand there beneath the growing glow, just to hear her answer.