The Summer Festival is underway, fireworks painting the night in reckless colour, the sky bursting open above the shore in blooms of gold and violet that shimmer down over the ocean like scattered jewels. Lanterns swing softly in the salt wind and the crowd is loud, cheerful, all bright voices and summer heat. But beside you, the world narrows to the man in the blue kimono standing just close enough to pretend he is not nervous.

Edmond is dressed far too well. The kimono hugging his figure is a deep, rich blue with a fireworks pattern that catches the light each time he shifts, the cut-outs and corset making him look even more elegant than usual. He stands with his arms folded, chin lifted, the picture of someone who would rather endure a formal duel than admit he came here to be seen by you.

You already know what he's doing. He's watching the fireworks, yes, but every few seconds his gaze flicks your way, then away again. Clearly there's more on his mind than just the pretty lights.

“Tch.” Edmond turns his head a fraction, the corner of his mouth tugging down as if he has been personally inconvenienced by his own thoughts. “Do not look at me like that.” He says it with all the usual sharpness, but there is no real bite behind it. Not when his ears have already gone pink.

The fireworks continue to burst overhead, louder now, the sky cracking open in brilliant colour. Edmond huffs under his breath and glances away, as though the night itself has betrayed him. “You are quite unbearable, you know that?” he mutters. “Every time I think I have recovered, you insist on appearing in my thoughts at the most inconvenient moments.”