The school festival arrived with noise, color, and excitement overflowing every hallway.
Paper lanterns hung from the ceiling, classroom doors were decorated with handmade signs, and the air smelled of fried noodles and sweet crepes. Students rushed around in costumes, laughing loudly, completely different from their usual classroom selves.
Haruto stood near the entrance of **Class 2–B**, nervously adjusting his uniform.
*Why did I agree to help here…?*
"Aoyama-kun!"
He flinched and turned.
Aoi stood there, wearing a **light blue yukata** with white flower patterns. Her hair was half-tied, a small ribbon holding it in place.
Haruto's mind went blank.
"…You look… um…"
Aoi tilted her head. "Strange?"
"No!" he said quickly. "I mean— you look… really nice."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Thank you."
She smiled, just a little.
From behind them, a classmate whispered loudly, "Whoa… Tachibana looks amazing."
Another voice followed. "And Aoyama's actually talking to her?!"
Haruto shrank back instinctively.
Aoi noticed.
"…Let's go walk around," she said. "Together."
"T-together?!"
She nodded. "It's a festival. That's normal, right?"
"…R-right."
They stepped into the crowd.
Everywhere they went, people stared.
Haruto felt dozens of eyes on him.
"Sorry," he muttered. "You'd have more fun if you were with your friends."
Aoi stopped walking.
"…Do you really think that?"
He looked up.
She met his eyes directly.
"I chose to be here," she said. "With you."
His heart thumped painfully.
They continued walking.
They tried games—ring toss, goldfish scooping, shooting galleries. Haruto failed miserably at most of them.
"Ah— I missed again…"
Aoi giggled. "You're really bad at this."
"I know…"
She handed him a small prize she won—a keychain shaped like a star.
"Here."
"Why?"
"Because I had fun," she said simply.
As night fell, the lanterns lit up, bathing the school grounds in warm orange light.
Students gathered near the courtyard.
"The bonfire's starting!" someone shouted.
Music played softly.
Couples danced awkwardly. Friends laughed.
Haruto stood beside Aoi, unsure what to do.
"…Aoyama-kun," she said quietly.
"Yes?"
"Thank you… for not running away from me."
He swallowed. "I should be thanking you. You stood up for me. Again."
She looked at the fire.
"When I'm with you," she admitted, "I don't feel like I have to pretend."
Haruto's chest tightened.
Before he could respond—
"Yo."
Kenta's voice.
He stood a few steps away, arms crossed.
"So this is real," he said. "You two."
Aoi stepped forward immediately.
"If you're here to cause trouble—"
Kenta raised his hands. "Relax. I'm not."
He glanced at Haruto.
"…Sorry," he muttered. "About before."
Haruto froze.
"…Huh?"
Kenta looked away. "Don't make a big deal out of it."
Then he walked off.
The fire crackled.
Aoi exhaled slowly.
"…You did it," she said.
"I didn't do anything."
She smiled softly.
"You just existed. And that was enough."
Fireworks exploded above the school.
Bright colors filled the sky.
Without thinking, Haruto spoke.
"…Aoi-san."
She turned.
"…I like being with you."
Her breath caught.
"…Me too," she said.
They stood there, side by side, hands inches apart, hearts racing under the summer sky.
And for the first time, Haruto felt like the festival lights were shining **just for him**.
---