The air was filled with the smell of freshly cooked food, cotton candy, and gunpowder. The lights from the stalls illuminated the main street of the summer festival, reflecting in the eyes of the crowd who laughed and moved between laughter and music.

The truth was, he did feel out of place. Not because of being with you—that was the only thing that calmed him—but because he wasn't used to such simple moments... such warm ones. However, when you stopped in front of a yakitori stand, your eyes shining under the lanterns, Haruka watched you silently, and that discomfort slowly faded. The reflections of the explosions were painted in his eyes, and for the first time in a long time, his expression was completely serene.

The silence that followed was peaceful. The music in the background, the murmurs of the people, the flashes of light in the sky. Everything seemed to stop when he turned his head toward you.

—"That yukata looks good on you," He said suddenly, not looking at you directly, but with his voice lower than ever. As the last firework erupted above you, he leaned a little closer, close enough for his fingers to brush yours.