"Love isn't just about fitting into each other's worlds; it's about finding beauty in the spaces between. Hiiragi taught me to savor the quiet moments, while I showed him the thrill of chasing dreams. Together, we bridged the gap between tradition and modernity, creating a home in each other where Kyoto's calm meets New York's energy."—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The summer evening was alive with excitement, filled with the chatter of families and friends gathered for the annual fireworks festival. Bright lanterns swayed gently above the crowds, casting a warm, festive glow. The sound of drums, laughter, and sizzling food stalls blended together in a joyful hum that contrasted sharply with the heavy silence hanging between Victor and Hiiragi.Sora had been relentless, tugging a reluctant Hiiragi along despite his protests, his rainbow-highlighted hair catching in the lantern light. "You need to get out of the house, Hiiragi! It'll be fun, trust me," he had said, flashing an encouraging grin. But Hiiragi's heart wasn't in it. He had been dragging his feet since the rejection, a constant ache in his chest that dulled everything around him. He moved through the festival like a ghost, barely noticing the vibrant colors or the cheerful energy.On the other side of the festival, Victor was experiencing a similar struggle. Ashton, his energetic and annoyingly persistent friend, had practically forced him into a yukata and shoved him out the door. "You can't mope forever, Vic! You'll miss out on the best part of summer!" Ashton's enthusiasm had fallen on deaf ears, though, as Victor's mind was miles away—stuck on a train, replaying every moment of his disastrous rejection of Hiiragi.Victor's stomach twisted at the thought of seeing Hiiragi again. The pain was raw, the guilt gnawing at him relentlessly. His blushy, flustered face from that day haunted him, the memory of Hiiragi's hopeful expression before he shattered it into pieces. He couldn't focus on the festival at all; every firework seemed to mock him, each explosion echoing the chaos in his heart.Then, without warning, it happened.Through the ebb and flow of the crowd, their paths crossed. As the people shifted around them like a tide, Victor and Hiiragi found themselves standing face-to-face, eyes locked in stunned surprise. Neither of them had planned this moment—yet here they were, under the dim glow of festival lights, and everything seemed to stop.Victor's breath hitched. His heart pounded so violently he was sure Hiiragi could hear it. His face turned crimson in an instant, the familiar blush that always betrayed his emotions sweeping across his cheeks and down his neck. The heat in his face was unbearable. He opened his mouth, tried to say something—anything—but all that came out was a shaky breath.Hiiragi stood frozen, wide-eyed and speechless, his heart dropping into his stomach. His first instinct was to turn away, to walk past Victor as if he didn't exist, as if the rejection hadn't carved a hollow space inside him. But he couldn't move. His feet were glued to the ground, his pulse drumming loudly in his ears. The silence between them grew thicker with each passing second, heavy with unsaid words and lingering pain.Victor swallowed hard, his throat tight. The blush on his face deepened, his palms sweating as his mind raced. I have to say something, he thought desperately. I have to make this right."Hiiragi..." Victor's voice came out soft, barely audible above the festival noise. He cleared his throat and tried again, his face burning with embarrassment. "I— I'm sorry."Hiiragi blinked, his chest tightening at the apology. His eyes darted away, unable to meet Victor's gaze. His feelings for Victor still clung to him, the rejection leaving a scar he couldn't quite hide. He hadn't expected to run into him here, and now all the pain was bubbling back to the surface, threatening to spill over.Victor took a shaky step forward, his blush refusing to fade. "I didn't mean to... I mean, I didn't want to hurt you. I—" His words stumbled, tangled in his own nerves. He felt the familiar pressure of tears building behind his eyes, though he blinked them away quickly. His heart thudded painfully in his chest, every beat reminding him of what he had done.Hiiragi shifted uncomfortably, staring down at the ground. His shoulders slumped, and he shoved his hands into his pockets, feeling small under the weight of Victor's words. He wasn't sure he wanted to hear this now. The wound was still fresh, and hearing Victor apologize only twisted the knife deeper.A loud crackle split the air as the first firework burst overhead, lighting up the sky in a shower of shimmering colors. The crowd erupted into cheers, but neither Victor nor Hiiragi noticed. The fireworks, for all their beauty, only seemed to drown out the fragile moment between them."I—" Victor tried again, louder this time, but another explosion of fireworks cut him off. The noise swallowed his words, leaving him standing there, mouth half-open, his confession lost in the sound.Hiiragi's brow furrowed, confusion flickering across his face as he looked up. "What did you say?"Victor's heart sank. His entire body flushed with heat, and he felt as if his face was about to catch fire. The one moment he had finally gathered enough courage to tell Hiiragi the truth, and the fireworks had stolen it from him. His chest tightened, frustration bubbling up inside him, mixing with the embarrassment that had turned his entire face redder than it had ever been before."I..." Victor's voice faltered again. He couldn't say it, not now. The moment was slipping away, the courage he had mustered was fading with each beat of his racing heart. His hands trembled at his sides, and he wanted nothing more than to shrink into the ground, to escape the weight of his own feelings.Hiiragi stared at him, waiting, but Victor could only shake his head, his eyes falling to the ground. The words he wanted to say were lodged in his throat, and the longer he stood there, the harder it became to force them out.More fireworks boomed above them, filling the sky with dazzling lights, but for Victor and Hiiragi, it was as if the festival had vanished entirely. There was only the silence between them, thicker and more oppressive than ever."Victor..." Hiiragi's voice was soft, but it was enough to make Victor's heart stutter. He looked up, meeting Hiiragi's eyes, and for a brief moment, everything else seemed to fade away—the crowd, the fireworks, the noise. It was just the two of them, standing in the midst of a festival that neither of them wanted to be at.But before either of them could say another word, the crowd shifted again, jostling them apart. The current of people swept them in opposite directions, and just like that, the moment was gone.Victor stood there, watching as Hiiragi was pulled away by the flow of the festival-goers. His confession still hung in the air, unsaid, unheard, and the weight of it pressed down on him like a boulder. The fireworks continued to explode above him, but Victor couldn't bring himself to care.All that mattered was the one thing he hadn't been able to say."I love you."Victor stood motionless as the last of the crowd disappeared from view. The fireworks continued to light up the sky, their colors casting fleeting, shadowy patterns on the ground. The vibrant bursts seemed almost mocking, highlighting the emptiness in Victor's chest.He took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to steady his racing heart. His mind was a whirlwind of regret and frustration. He had come so close to making things right, only to have his words drowned out by the festival's noise. The realization that Hiiragi might never know how he truly felt was almost unbearable.Victor turned to leave, his steps heavy and slow. The festival that had once seemed so inviting now felt like a cruel reminder of his own failure. He pushed through the crowd, his gaze fixed on the ground, unable to shake the image of Hiiragi's face—the confusion, the hurt, the silent plea for understanding.Meanwhile, Hiiragi was caught up in the crowd's current, his emotions a turbulent mess. The apology he hadn't quite heard echoed in his mind, a haunting melody of what might have been. He tried to focus on the colorful explosions above, but they did little to distract him from the ache in his heart.Sora, sensing Hiiragi's distress, looked over with concern. "Hey, are you okay? You've been awfully quiet since we got here."Hiiragi forced a weak smile, trying to mask his pain. "I'm fine. Just... a little tired, I guess."Sora wasn't convinced but chose not to press further. Instead, he nudged Hiiragi gently. "Let's find a spot to sit and watch the rest of the fireworks. Maybe it'll help take your mind off things."Hiiragi nodded, grateful for Sora's presence, even if it couldn't completely fill the void inside him. They found a place on the grass, and as they sat down, Hiiragi tried to lose himself in the beauty of the fireworks. Yet, every burst of color seemed to remind him of the unresolved tension with Victor.Back at the other side of the festival, Victor found a quiet spot away from the throngs of people. He sank down onto a bench, his shoulders slumped in defeat. He stared up at the sky, where the final fireworks lit up the night, and tried to collect his thoughts. The regret gnawed at him, each explosion above him a reminder of the confession he hadn't managed to make.He reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone and scrolling through the messages. There was nothing new, just the same old notifications and texts from friends, none of whom knew the real reason for his distress. He sighed and put his phone away, his heart aching with every beat.A figure approached from behind, and Victor looked up to see Ashton standing there, his face filled with concern. "Hey, I've been looking for you. What's going on? You disappeared after Hiiragi left."Victor shook his head, unable to articulate the depth of his emotions. "It's nothing, Ashton. Just... a mistake."Ashton sat down beside him, crossing his arms. "You know, you've been off all evening. What happened with Hiiragi?"Victor hesitated, the weight of his feelings making it hard to speak. Finally, he let out a long breath. "I— I tried to apologize, to tell him how I feel, but the fireworks... they covered my words."Ashton's eyes widened. "So you didn't get to tell him?"Victor nodded, feeling a wave of sadness wash over him. "No. And now I don't know if I'll ever get the chance."Ashton placed a reassuring hand on Victor's shoulder. "Look, it's not too late. You can find him, explain everything. It's worth the effort."Victor looked at his friend, the hope in Ashton's voice sparking a flicker of determination in his chest. "You really think so?"Ashton nodded. "Definitely. It's not going to be easy, but if you care about Hiiragi as much as you say you do, you need to fight for him."Victor took a deep breath, the sting of his earlier rejection still fresh but now mixed with a renewed sense of purpose. "You're right. I need to find him."He stood up, determination replacing the despair in his eyes. "Thanks, Ashton."Ashton gave him a supportive pat on the back. "Go get him. I'll be here if you need anything."Victor headed back into the crowd, his heart pounding with both anxiety and hope. The festival had lost its color to him, but the search for Hiiragi had become his only focus. He pushed through the people, scanning the crowd for any sign of the boy who had once meant so much to him.Meanwhile, Hiiragi was sitting with Sora, trying to smile through the pain. The fireworks continued to burst above them, their brilliance a stark contrast to the sadness he felt. He didn't expect to see Victor again tonight, and the thought of their unresolved moment left him feeling hollow.Sora nudged Hiiragi gently. "Hey, look at that one! It's huge!"Hiiragi glanced up, his eyes catching sight of a particularly magnificent firework that seemed to bloom across the sky. The moment of beauty brought a small, genuine smile to his lips, but it quickly faded as his thoughts returned to Victor.As Hiiragi was lost in thought, Victor's frantic search through the crowd finally bore fruit. He spotted Hiiragi sitting with Sora, their figures outlined by the glowing lights. Victor's heart raced as he made his way toward them, each step a mixture of hope and dread.As he approached, he took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. He was ready to face whatever came next, prepared to finally express the feelings he had kept locked away for far too long."Hiiragi," Victor called out softly as he reached them, his voice almost lost amidst the fireworks' final, thunderous finale.Hiiragi looked up, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw Victor standing there, looking both determined and nervous. The weight of their past encounter was evident in Victor's expression, and Hiiragi's heart skipped a beat.Victor took a tentative step closer. "I— I know it's probably too late, but I need you to know something."Hiiragi's breath caught in his throat. He wanted to speak, to ask what Victor meant, but the fireworks above erupted in a crescendo of sound, covering his words. He could see Victor's lips moving, but the noise drowned out the confession.Victor's face was flushed with both anxiety and resolve, his gaze locked onto Hiiragi's. He fought to be heard, his words blending into the background noise of the festival. "I love you, Hiiragi! I'm sorry for what happened before. I should have—"The final, resounding boom of the fireworks filled the sky, drowning out the rest of Victor's confession. Hiiragi's eyes widened, trying to catch every word through the cacophony. The fireworks' brilliant colors reflected in his eyes, but all he could focus on was Victor's desperate expression.As the last firework faded into the night, the crowd around them began to disperse. The noise gradually subsided, leaving a fragile silence in its wake. Victor's heart pounded in his chest, the confession hanging between them, finally given voice but still unsure of its reception.Hiiragi took a deep breath, his mind reeling from what he had just heard—or thought he had heard. He stood up slowly, his face a mixture of hope and hesitation.Victor took another step closer, his voice trembling. "Hiiragi, I—"Before he could finish, Hiiragi reached out, gently touching Victor's arm. "Victor, I... I think I heard you, but..."Victor looked into Hiiragi's eyes, his own filled with a mixture of hope and fear. "I meant it. I really do."Hiiragi's eyes softened, a tear escaping down his cheek. "I— I needed to hear that."Victor reached out, his fingers brushing Hiiragi's cheek gently. "I'm sorry for everything. I just... needed you to know."Hiiragi nodded, a small, tentative smile forming on his lips. "I'm glad you told me. I— I needed to hear it too."The two stood there, the festival's remnants fading into the night, the words finally spoken and the pain beginning to lift. In the midst of the fading fireworks and the quiet of the departing crowd, Victor and Hiiragi found a fragile but hopeful connection—a chance to mend what had been broken and build something new from the ashes of their past.And as they walked away from the festival, side by side, the night sky above them seemed a little brighter, the path ahead filled with the promise of new beginnings.Victor and Hiiragi walked away from the remnants of the festival, the night sky now a tranquil canvas dotted with stars. The air was cool and crisp, a soothing balm after the earlier chaos. The sounds of the festival were replaced by the quiet hum of the night, offering a peaceful backdrop for their conversation.They walked in silence, the tension between them gradually giving way to a more comfortable quiet. Victor stole glances at Hiiragi, noting the subtle changes in his expression—how his eyes seemed lighter and his posture more relaxed. There was a tentative hope in the way Hiiragi looked at him, as if trying to reconcile the hurt from their past with the warmth of Victor's confession.Victor took a deep breath, gathering his courage. "Hiiragi, I... I really meant what I said back there. I'm sorry for how things went down on the train. I was scared, and I didn't handle it well."Hiiragi stopped walking and turned to face Victor, his expression a mix of vulnerability and understanding. "I know. I could see that you were struggling. It hurt, but I also knew there was something more beneath the surface."Victor nodded, feeling a lump in his throat. "I'm glad you could see that. I've been so worried that I'd messed everything up beyond repair."Hiiragi's gaze softened. "It's not completely fixed yet, but... I'm willing to work through it. If you are."Victor's heart leaped at Hiiragi's words. "Of course, I am. I want to make things right. I want to be with you, to understand you and support you. I know I've made mistakes, but I'm ready to try and be better."Hiiragi smiled, a small but genuine expression of relief. "I want that too. I'm still hurt, but I believe in what we have. We can't just ignore what happened, but we can try to move forward together."Victor reached out, taking Hiiragi's hand gently. "Thank you for giving me a chance to make things right."Hiiragi looked down at their intertwined hands, a shy smile tugging at his lips. "We'll figure it out. One step at a time."As they continued their walk, the path was lined with quiet streets and dimly lit houses. The tranquil environment provided a serene backdrop for their conversation, allowing them to explore their feelings more deeply.Victor hesitated before speaking again. "So, what do you think about trying to talk things through more often? I think it would help us understand each other better."Hiiragi nodded thoughtfully. "I think that's a good idea. We should be open with each other, even when it's difficult. It'll help us grow stronger as a couple."Victor squeezed Hiiragi's hand gently. "I agree. And I promise to be more honest and open with you, no matter what."Hiiragi smiled, the warmth of his feelings reflected in his eyes. "And I'll do the same. Let's just be patient with each other and take it one day at a time."As they walked, their conversation shifted to lighter topics. They talked about their favorite memories from the festival, shared stories from their past, and laughed at small jokes and anecdotes. The ease of their connection slowly returned, each moment of laughter and shared experience building a bridge over the gap left by their previous misunderstandings.The night grew darker as they made their way through the quiet streets, but the closeness they shared made it feel brighter. The pain of rejection and misunderstanding was still there, but it was now tempered with a newfound hope and commitment to each other.Eventually, they arrived at a small park, its benches and pathways bathed in the soft glow of street lamps. They found a secluded spot to sit, the cool breeze rustling the leaves above them. The park was peaceful, offering a respite from the earlier chaos.Victor took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm as he looked at Hiiragi. "Thank you for being willing to talk. I know it's not easy, and I appreciate your patience."Hiiragi leaned against Victor, resting his head on his shoulder. "I'm glad we talked too. It feels like a weight has been lifted."They sat together in silence for a while, simply enjoying each other's presence. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the comforting warmth of their shared connection.As the night wore on, Victor and Hiiragi finally stood up, ready to head home. They walked hand in hand, the gentle touch of their fingers a reassuring reminder of the bond they were working to rebuild."Let's make a promise," Victor said softly. "No matter what happens, we'll always talk things through and support each other. We'll face whatever comes our way together."Hiiragi nodded, his eyes reflecting the sincerity of Victor's words. "I promise. We'll get through this, and we'll come out stronger."As they reached the entrance to Hiiragi's house, Victor paused. "Hiiragi, I—"Before he could finish, Hiiragi leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Victor's cheek. The gesture was tender and filled with unspoken emotion. It was a simple but profound act that conveyed all the affection and hope that words alone could not.Victor's face flushed with warmth, his heart racing as he looked at Hiiragi. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.Hiiragi smiled, a mixture of relief and affection in his eyes. "You're welcome. Let's make sure we don't forget this moment."As Hiiragi opened the door to his house, Victor watched him go, a sense of hope and renewal filling him. The night sky above seemed to promise brighter days ahead, and with each step they took together, the future felt a little more certain.And so, under the canopy of the night sky, with the warmth of Hiiragi's kiss still lingering on his cheek, Victor and Hiiragi continued their journey—ready to face whatever challenges and joys lay ahead, side by side."I love you, Hiiragi.""I love you more, Victor.."