As I walked back to my friends, Maya's voice echoed in my head, chiding me for being alone again. I found Maya and Aoi chatting animatedly near one of the food stalls.
"Hey, there she is!" Maya waved me over.
"Sorry for making you wait," I panted, my earlier encounter still replaying in my mind.
"No worries, we just got here too," Maya said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "So, did you find a handsome stranger in the crowd?"
I blushed and rolled my eyes. "Maya, seriously? It was nothing like that."
"Sure, sure," Maya grinned. "But we saw you talking to someone over here earlier."
I quickly changed the topic. "Never mind that, have you guys seen the rest of the festival? It looks amazing!"
We decided to explore the festival together, wandering through the stalls, sampling various treats, and enjoying the lively atmosphere. As the sun began to set, the fairy lights and lanterns lit up the forest, creating a magical ambiance. Laughter and music filled the air, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement.
After a while, we decided to find a good spot to watch the fireworks. We climbed the stairs to the top of the mountain, where we were greeted by a breathtaking view of the city below. The city lights twinkled in the distance, and the anticipation for the fireworks show grew.
"Wow, this is incredible," I whispered, my gaze fixed on the horizon.
"It sure is," Maya agreed. "Hey, Yui, can you believe we've been coming here every year?"
Yui smiled wistfully. "Yeah, it's like a tradition now."
As the first burst of fireworks painted the sky in vibrant colors, I couldn't help but think about the mysterious guy who had saved me earlier. I wondered if he was somewhere in the crowd, watching the fireworks too. Despite my attempts to brush it off, there was something intriguing about him.
The fireworks show continued, each explosion more mesmerizing than the last. I was lost in the beauty of it all when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to find Maya looking at me with a knowing smile.
"Got something on your mind, huh?" she teased.
I sighed. "It's just… I bumped into someone earlier, and he caught me before I fell."
"Ooh, a handsome hero!" Maya winked.
I nudged her playfully. "Stop it, Maya. It's not like that."
Aoi chimed in, her eyes twinkling. "Well, you've got to admit, it's an interesting start to the festival."
We shared a laugh, and for a moment, I let myself enjoy the company of my friends. The fireworks show came to an end, and we slowly made our way down the mountain, taking in the last traces of the enchanting night.
As we reached the exit, I turned around, hoping to catch one last glimpse of the festival grounds. In that moment, our eyes met again – mine with those intense red orbs. He was standing near the gate, his expression unreadable.
"Hey, there he is again," Maya whispered, noticing my gaze.
I blushed, feeling caught. "Yeah, I guess he's still here."
"Maybe you should go talk to him," Yui suggested with a mischievous grin.
I shook my head, my heart racing. "No way, I can't just go up to him."
Maya winked. "Well, if fate brought you together once, who knows what might happen?"
We walked away from the festival grounds, the memory of the mysterious boy and the magic of the night lingering in my thoughts. As I lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling, I couldn't shake the feeling that our paths might cross again, that there was more to the encounter than met the eye. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns, all sparked by a chance meeting under the twinkling lights of the festival.
MIYAKI'S POV:
The festival had ended, but the memory of the girl I had saved lingered in my mind. Those brief moments of contact had left a strange sensation within me – a sensation that I couldn't quite decipher. I stood by the gate, lost in thought, as the crowd gradually dispersed.
"What are you thinking about, Miyaki?"
I turned to see my sister, Akira, standing beside me. Her black hair shimmered in the moonlight, and her red eyes held a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
"Nothing much," I replied, though the truth was far from that. "Just the festival, I guess."
Akira nudged me playfully. "Come on, you can't fool me. I know when something's bothering you."
I sighed. "Alright, fine. I bumped into someone earlier at the festival. She almost fell, and I caught her."
Akira's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? That's unusual for you."
I scowled at her. "Hey, I'm not heartless."
She chuckled. "I know, I know. It's just that you usually avoid crowds."
I glanced back at the festival grounds. "Yeah, I guess."
Akira linked her arm with mine. "Well, you never know, Miyaki. Fate has a way of bringing people together."
I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't help but smile at my sister's optimism. "You and your fate theories."
"Hey, I've seen it happen," she said with a wink. "So, what's her name?"
I hesitated for a moment before answering. "I didn't ask."
Akira raised an eyebrow. "You didn't ask? You saved her from falling, and you didn't even get her name?"
I shrugged, feeling a bit embarrassed. "It all happened so quickly."
Akira laughed. "You're something else, Miyaki."
As we started walking away from the festival grounds, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to that encounter than met the eye. Akira's words about fate echoed in my mind, and I found myself strangely drawn to the memory of those soft eyes and the fleeting connection we had shared.
---
Akira'S POV:
Watching my brother lost in thought, I couldn't help but smile. Miyaki had always been the quiet and reserved type, but something about tonight had shaken him up a bit. As his sister, I knew him better than anyone, and I could tell when something was on his mind.
"Miyaki, you're really something," I teased.
He shot me a mock glare. "What's that supposed to mean?"
I chuckled. "Just that you're usually so focused on your studies and training. It's rare to see you so preoccupied with something else."
Miyaki sighed. "I don't know, Akira. There was something about her."
"Her?" I raised an eyebrow. "So, she's caught your attention, huh?"
He looked away, his cheeks slightly tinted with pink. "It's not like that. It's just… I can't explain it."
I patted his shoulder playfully. "Well, whatever it is, I hope you get to meet her again."
Miyaki rolled his eyes, but I could tell he appreciated my support. As siblings, we had always been there for each other, even when we didn't understand each other's feelings completely. Since childhood, our when our parents died.
"I have a feeling our paths might cross again," I added, my voice filled with conviction.
Miyaki glanced at me with a half-smile. "You and your fate theories."
I grinned back at him. "Hey, it's not just a theory. Sometimes, things are meant to happen."
We walked together under the starlit sky, leaving the festival behind. Little did we know that our lives were about to become entwined with those we had encountered that night – a turn of fate that would lead us on a journey full of mystery, discovery, and unexpected connections.