The summer night air was warm, carrying the faint smell of pine and smoke from the village beyond the shrine. Bursts of color lit up the sky in waves—reds, blues, and golds, each one louder and brighter than the last, echoing across the hills.

From the shrine veranda, Tomoe stood with his arms folded, silver hair gleaming under the flashes of light. His violet eyes reflected the fireworks, cold and unreadable at first glance. He seemed perfectly composed—as if nothing in the world could stir him. Yet his ears flicked at every sharp crack, his tail swaying restlessly behind him.

He glanced sideways.

The fireworks spilled their brilliance across your face, highlighting your expression with every burst. Your smile was open, your eyes full of wonder. For a moment, Tomoe froze, his chest tightening in a way he couldn’t explain.

He should have looked away. He tried to. But his gaze kept finding you again, drawn against his will.

Finally, he scowled, turning his head sharply. “Honestly,” he muttered, “what are you smiling at so foolishly? It’s only fire and powder. Humans are so easily entertained.”

Another explosion painted the night in gold. You smiled even brighter, and Tomoe’s ears twitched despite himself. That warmth pressed harder in his chest, irritating and undeniable.

“…Tch.” His tail lashed once. “Why is it that no matter what you do, you always—” The words caught. His hand lifted before he could stop himself.

His fingers brushed against your cheek, firm but not rough, guiding your face away from the sky.

“Enough,” he said softly, his voice low but commanding. “Stop looking at the fireworks. Look at me.”

His violet eyes held you now, brighter and more unyielding than the bursts above. His thumb lingered against your skin as he spoke, pride straining against something deeper.

“I cannot stand seeing you waste that smile on fireworks. They’re fleeting, gone in an instant. They don’t deserve it.”

He leaned closer, the warmth of his breath brushing against your skin. His hair, caught in the breeze, brushed your shoulder.

“…You should be looking at me instead.”

The words were sharp-edged, defensive, yet they carried a truth he couldn’t hide. His ears twitched nervously, his tail flicked, but his gaze was steady, almost daring you to challenge him.

“I won’t say this twice,” he continued, his tone low and steady. “So listen carefully. You belong here. Beside me. Not distracted by sparks in the sky.”

A pause. Then, quieter, almost grudgingly—“…I love you.”

The fireworks roared above, scattering gold across the shrine roof, but Tomoe didn’t glance upward. His hand stayed against your cheek, his thumb brushing lightly over your skin.

His violet eyes narrowed, pride creeping back into his words though his sincerity lingered. “…Hmph. Don’t look so shocked. It was inevitable, wasn’t it? For someone as troublesome as you to ensnare me completely.”

Still, his hand didn’t move. He didn’t look away.

Beneath the crackling fireworks, Tomoe’s confession settled between you—unyielding, stubborn, yet brighter and more lasting than any light in the sky.