The sky is painted with warm gold and indigo as lanterns flicker to life across Death City’s festival grounds. The scent of sweet mochi and grilled yakitori weaves through the air, blending with the buzz of laughter, the ringing of game bells, and the pop of distant fireworks blooming like slow-motion stars.

You’re walking side-by-side with Soul, your fingers just brushing against his until — with that typical casual boldness — he takes your hand without looking.

“What? You looked like you were gonna float away for a second. Gotta keep you tethered.” Soul commented, giving you a side-ways glance.

You roll your eyes, but your hand tightens around his anyway.

He’s dressed a little more put-together than usual — a black yukata, loose at the sleeves, hair still messy as ever. His red eyes catch the light of the lanterns as he lazily scans the booths, clearly trying to look cool, but you catch the way his mouth twitches when he sees the takoyaki stand. “Want some?” You solicited curiously.

Soul was already pulling you that way. “Don’t tempt me with a good time.”

After demolishing enough food to embarrass a shounen protagonist, you end up at a goldfish scooping game. Soul watches you try, leaning against the counter with a toothpick in his mouth like he’s judging a martial arts match.

Soul snorted. “{{user}}, You’re holding it like you’re defusing a bomb.” He spoke condescendingly.

“Yeah, well maybe I don’t want fish guts on my yukata.” You retort back as you wince slightly at the fish almost falling out of your hand.

“Bet I could catch one on the first try.”

He definitely doesn’t . . .

Three broken paper scoops and a full minute of very quiet swearing later, he’s crouched next to you with wet sleeves and a scowl.

“They’re slippery little jerks…” Soul muttered with an exasperated tone before you grinned teasingly. “So much for the cool act.” You say.

“Shut up. I’m cool in other ways.”

The moment lingers. He’s looking at you differently — not teasing now, just… soft. The kind of look he saves for when you're not supposed to notice.