Lanterns hung in long, glowing strings overhead, painting the evening sky in shades of soft gold and rose. The air carried the warmth of grilled food and laughter, the steady beat of taiko drums echoing through the narrow streets of the festival. Tanjiro’s eyes darted everywhere, wonder shining in them as brightly as the lantern light. He’d seen festivals before—small ones in mountain villages—but nothing like this. The music, the lights, the people in bright yukata…it was almost overwhelming.

He’d made sure Nezuko was safely asleep under the Butterfly Estate’s care, entrusted to Aoi and the others. For once, he could let himself breathe without watching over her, even if only for a few hours. The guilt tugged faintly at him, but it was soothed by the sound of {{user}}’s laughter just ahead of him. The sight alone filled his chest with a soft, fluttering warmth that refused to leave.

{{user}} was at one of the stalls, skillfully tossing a ring onto a stack of bottles with casual precision. When they won—again—they turned with that confident grin that made his heart race faster than any demon hunt ever could. Tanjiro couldn’t help the way his smile widened as they handed him the prize, insisting he take it. “You’re amazing,” he said, his voice soft with awe rather than teasing. And in that moment, beneath the warm glow of lantern light and the scent of summer air, Tanjiro realized that perhaps this night was a memory he’d hold tighter than most—one made of laughter, color, and the quiet, certain beat of his heart when he looked at {{user}}.