Later that night, after the festival had ended, Kyle walked Mayu home. The streets were quiet, the only sound the soft crunch of snow beneath their feet. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale light over the city, and the stars seemed to twinkle just a little bit brighter.
They walked in comfortable silence, the air between them filled with an unspoken tension. Mayu's heart was still racing from the dance earlier, and she couldn't stop thinking about how close they had been, how right it had felt to be in his arms.
Kyle glanced over at her, his eyes soft. "Did you have fun tonight?"
Mayu smiled shyly. "Yeah, I did. Thank you... for the dance."
He shrugged, but there was a warmth in his gaze that made her heart flutter. "It was my pleasure."
They reached her apartment building, and Mayu stopped at the steps, feeling a sudden nervousness wash over her. She didn't want the night to end, but she didn't know how to ask him to stay. She turned to face him, her breath visible in the cold air.
"Thanks for walking me home," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kyle took a step closer, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair away from her face. His fingers lingered for just a moment, and Mayu's heart sped up. "Mayu... there's something I've been meaning to tell you."
Her breath caught in her throat. Was this it? Was he finally going to confess? She felt her pulse quicken, her cheeks flushing with a mix of anticipation and fear. "What is it?"
Kyle hesitated, his eyes searching hers. The moment stretched on, the silence between them growing heavier with each passing second. But just as he opened his mouth to speak, a car honked loudly in the distance, breaking the moment. Kyle blinked, stepping back slightly, and the spell was broken.
"Never mind," he said, forcing a smile. "I'll tell you some other time."
Mayu felt a pang of disappointment, but she smiled anyway. "Alright. Goodnight, Kyle."
"Goodnight, Mayu."
As he walked away, Mayu watched him, her heart aching with the words left unsaid. She turned and headed inside, her mind swirling with thoughts of what could have been. But even though the confession hadn't happened, she knew deep down that it was only a matter of time.