TAKE ME BACK
TO THE YEAR
1981
Chapter Eight:
"The Moment That Stood Still"
Haruto finally reached the spot where Souta had told him to meet her, but as he stepped into the heart of the festival, he quickly realized how difficult it would be to find her.
The festival was alive with vibrant colors, lanterns glowing softly against the night sky. The air smelled of sweet dango, grilled yakitori, and freshly made taiyaki. Children ran past him, laughing, while groups of friends gathered around food stalls, trying their luck at the festival games.
He sighed, ruffling his hair in frustration.
"How am I supposed to find her in all this?"
Everyone around him seemed to blend together—men and women dressed in colorful yukatas, their laughter filling the warm summer air. The crowd made it almost impossible to move freely, and he debated pulling out his phone to text her.
But before he could reach for it—
His eyes landed on her.
And just like that, everything else faded into the background.
There she was, standing a short distance away, framed by the warm glow of the festival lanterns.
She wasn't moving.
She was simply watching him.
A soft, knowing smile curved her lips as her gaze remained fixed on him. Even though people moved between them, even though the festival was crowded and lively, in that moment, it felt as if they were the only two people there.
Haruto froze.
She looked breathtaking.
Her light blue yukata, decorated with delicate white flowers, complemented her perfectly. Her hair was tied up, a few loose strands framing her face, making her look softer, more elegant than usual.
He swallowed hard.
"She looks... beautiful. As always."
The words left his lips in a quiet murmur, barely above a whisper.
And yet, his heartbeat was deafening.
——
On the other side, Souta was staring at him just as intently.
Haruto had never been the type to dress up, always opting for his usual casual clothes. But tonight... tonight was different.
He looked handsome. More than she had expected.
His dark yukata, simple yet perfectly suited to him, made him stand out despite the crowd. His normally messy hair looked slightly neater, though still holding that natural, effortless charm.
And his expression—
The way he was staring at her, as if she was the only thing that mattered—
It sent warmth spreading through her chest.
"It really suits him," she thought to herself, her fingers lightly gripping the hem of her sleeve.
They didn't move.
They didn't speak.
For a moment, it felt like time had slowed, the festival's bright colors and noisy surroundings blurring into the background.
It was just them.
Only them.
The sound of her voice finally broke through the trance.
"You're staring, Haruto."
Haruto blinked, snapping back to reality as he quickly looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. "S-So are you."
She giggled, stepping closer, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Well, you look really good."
He groaned inwardly, feeling the heat rise to his face. "Don't say weird things."
Souta grinned, clearly enjoying his reaction. "It's not weird if it's true."
Haruto sighed, shaking his head. "Whatever."
But despite his efforts to act normal, his heart continued to race.
"Come on," she said, reaching out and gently tugging at his sleeve. "Let's enjoy the festival."
Haruto exhaled, forcing himself to relax.
Yeah.
Tonight, he wasn't going to overthink.
Tonight, it was just the two of them.
And for now—
That was enough.
————
FESTIVAL MEMORIES
After that brief moment of silence between them, they finally started moving, immersing themselves in the festival's lively atmosphere.
Souta led the way, dragging Haruto along as she excitedly explored the different stalls, her eyes practically sparkling with excitement.
"Look, Haruto! Takoyaki!" She pointed at a stall selling the delicious snack, and before he could even respond, she was already pulling him towards it.
Haruto chuckled softly at her enthusiasm. "You act like you haven't eaten in days."
Souta pouted. "That's because festival food tastes better than normal food!"
He simply rolled his eyes but allowed her to order. She happily took a piece and blew on it before taking a bite. Her eyes widened in delight.
"Mmm! So good!" She turned to him, holding out a piece with her chopsticks. "Here, try it!"
Haruto hesitated. "I can eat by myself, you know."
She huffed. "Just eat it."
With a sigh, he leaned forward slightly and took a bite. The moment he did, Souta grinned. "See? It's amazing, right?"
He chewed for a moment before shrugging. "Yeah, yeah, it's good."
Satisfied, she continued eating, and they wandered around, stopping at various stalls—trying candied apples, taiyaki, and even drinking refreshing ramune.
They laughed as they watched street performances, from dancers in colorful outfits to a comedy act that had them both giggling.
Everything felt perfect.
Until—
"Haruto! That plushie is so cute!" Souta suddenly gasped, pointing at a game booth.
He followed her gaze and sighed when he saw what she was talking about—a shooting game where you had to knock down targets to win prizes. And, of course, there it was—the plushie Souta was staring at so eagerly. A small, soft-looking cat plush with a ribbon around its neck.
Haruto sighed. "You really want it?"
Souta nodded, clasping her hands together. "Please?"
He groaned but stepped up to the game booth. "Alright, alright."
The man running the booth handed him a small toy rifle. Haruto took a deep breath, adjusting his stance as he lined up his shot.
Souta is watching.
He couldn't mess this up.
He fired.
Miss.
Souta let out a soft, "Oh…" but quickly smiled. "It's okay! Try again!"
Haruto exhaled, narrowing his eyes. He wasn't about to let her down.
He took another shot.
Miss.
A deep frown formed on his face.
This was harder than it looked.
Souta placed a hand on his arm. "Hey, no pressure, okay? It's just a game."
But that wasn't the point.
If she wanted something, he had to get it for her.
With renewed determination, he aimed once more.
This time, he focused harder, blocking out all the noise around him.
He took a deep breath.
And fired.
Bulls-eye.
The target toppled over, and the booth owner gave him a nod of approval. "Nice shot, kid."
Haruto smirked in satisfaction as the man handed him the plushie.
He turned to Souta, holding it out. "Here."
Her eyes sparkled as she took it, hugging it close. "Haruto! You did it!"
Her excitement made his chest warm. "Yeah, yeah."
Without thinking, she suddenly threw her arms around him in a quick hug. "Thank you!"
He stiffened for a second before awkwardly patting her head. "Yeah… no problem."
She pulled back, still grinning. "You didn't have to try so hard, you know."
He looked away, shoving his hands in his pockets. "You wanted it. That's reason enough."
For a moment, Souta simply stared at him before a small, knowing smile formed on her lips.
"Haruto," she said softly, hugging the plushie tighter. "You're really sweet, you know that?"
His heart nearly stopped.
He cleared his throat, looking away. "Don't say embarrassing things."
She laughed, and the two of them continued walking, wandering through the festival.
—
The night had grown darker, but the festival lights illuminated everything beautifully.
Haruto and Souta continued to walk side by side, occasionally bumping shoulders as they strolled through the crowded paths.
Souta clutched her new plushie while happily swinging her arm back and forth. "This might be the best festival ever."
Haruto chuckled. "Just because you got a plushie?"
She shook her head. "Nope. Because I got to spend it with you."
Haruto nearly tripped over his own feet.
Souta giggled, clearly noticing his reaction. "What? It's true."
He quickly looked ahead, his face heating up. "You say things too easily."
She shrugged. "Well, it's the truth, so why not say it?"
Haruto exhaled, shaking his head.
High school.
Festivals.
Warm summer nights.
And her.
He wasn't sure what exactly was happening between them.
But right now, he was happy.
And he didn't want the night to end.