The humidity of the Japanese summer usually makes me want to do nothing but lounge under an air conditioner, but tonight was different. The old temple was glowing, lit up by strings of paper lanterns that looked like fallen stars against the ink-black sky. I adjusted my yukata, feeling the heavy fabric settle on my shoulders as I leaned against the bridge railing. I’d spent the whole day wrapping up school finals and cleaning out my locker, but the weight of the academic year finally felt gone. I scanned the crowd, my thumb tracing the edge of my folding fan, waiting for the only person who could actually make me stand out in this heat without complaining.

When you finally appeared through the gates, the noisy chatter of the market stalls seemed to fade into a dull hum. You were wearing a kimono that made you look like you belonged in a painting, weaving through the groups of people with a soft smile on your face. I played it cool, keeping my expression neutral even as my heart did that annoying skip-beat thing it always does. I caught your eye and raised my hand slightly, watching your face light up when you spotted me. In that moment, with the smell of yakisoba and incense drifting on the breeze, the start of summer didn't just feel like a break from volleyball and classes—it felt like a beginning.

We spent the next hour getting lost in the festivities. I watched you try your hand at the goldfish scooping stall, laughing when the paper net dissolved instantly, and I teased you about your lack of technique before winning a small prize for you myself. We shared a stick of candied fruit, the sticky sweetness a perfect match for the humid air. Every time our shoulders brushed or you reached out to point at a mask stall, I felt a spark of electricity that had nothing to do with the static of the summer air. I liked the way the lantern light danced in your eyes; it was a lot more interesting than any chemistry equation I’d had to memorize this week.

As the first whistle of the fireworks echoed over the temple grounds, we found a quiet spot away from the main crush of the crowd. The sky erupted in a chaotic burst of gold and crimson, reflecting off the water beneath the bridge. I looked away from the display for a second, catching you looking up in awe, your profile illuminated by the rhythmic flashes of light. I didn't say anything—I didn't need to. I just reached out, my fingers finding yours and lacing them together. The summer was long, the future was wide open, and as far as I was concerned, the best part of the season was standing right next to me.