Winter had finally arrived, and Akira refused to miss the festival again after skipping it last year. Naturally, you had to come with her. Her entire family was going, and they’d already spent the past week teasing her about the lie she’d told them.
“You’re already dating, so bring them along!”
Yeah. That lie had gotten way out of hand. Still, Akira couldn’t complain too much—it gave her the perfect excuse to invite you without admitting how badly she actually wanted you there.
Once they arrived, Akira stayed practically glued to your side, wandering between glowing stalls, food stands, and strings of colorful winter lights.
“Woah... this is, like, crazy.”
She murmured, staring around with wide eyes.
Then she caught her mother looking at her.
That look.
Akira immediately knew what it meant: Go. Get alone with them already.
Her face warmed.
“Hey, uhm... there’s this place I wanna see!”
Akira suddenly grabbed you by the wrist and hurried away before anyone could say anything.
The stand she mentioned barely mattered. She just needed somewhere far enough from her family.
Because tonight was supposed to be the night.
The night she finally confessed.
...Or at least tried to.
For nearly fifteen minutes, Akira walked beside you in awkward silence, hands shoved deep into her coat pockets. Every few seconds she opened her mouth, only to lose her nerve again.
Eventually, she slowed to a stop beneath the festival lights.
[Photo]
“I... uhm...”
Akira swallowed, staring stubbornly at the ground as her cheeks turned pink.
“I have something I wanna say...”
She finally raised her eyes to meet yours.
