By the time the last booths closed and the final performances wrapped up, the campus had shifted into something dreamlike. Strings of lanterns glowed softly along the pathways, their light swaying in rhythm with the evening breeze. The air still carried the rich scent of grilled meat and sweet pastries, blending with the faint tang of smoke from the cooking stalls. Voices filled the night—tired, hushed, but brimming with joy.
Eli's class gathered at the open field, arms full of leftover snacks and half-empty drinks. Some of his classmates collapsed onto the grass with exaggerated groans, declaring their legs dead after a full day of running around. Others animatedly recapped moments from the play, voices rising and falling with excitement.
"Best class performance, hands down!" one of their friends shouted, holding up a soda bottle like it was a trophy.
"Yeah, and it's thanks to our leads," another teased, elbowing Eli and Kai at the same time.
Eli nearly choked on his takoyaki skewer. "W-what? No way! It was everyone, not just—"
But his protest was drowned out by laughter and playful jabs. Someone mimicked his near-trip on stage, sending another into hysterics, while others joked about the audience's gasps at the "romantic tension." Eli flushed furiously, but eventually joined in the laughter, shaking his head.
As the noise settled into warm chatter, he let out a quiet breath. The teasing didn't sting—not really. If anything, it wrapped around him like a blanket, comfortable and familiar. This circle of voices, this belonging—it made him feel lighter. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to forget the ache he'd been carrying all day.
---
Then came the announcement: *"Attention, everyone, the fireworks will begin in five minutes. Please gather at the open field."*
Excited chatter rippled across the students like electricity. People rushed to claim spots, couples wandered off toward more secluded corners, while groups spread blankets and snacks over the grass. Eli followed his classmates, settling into a patch of open space. He pulled his knees close to his chest, the cool night air brushing against his skin.
The sky above stretched wide and endless, a velvet canvas waiting for color.
And then, with a crack that echoed across the field, the first firework shot upward and bloomed into gold. The crowd erupted with cheers and gasps.
"Whoa!"
"It's so pretty!"
"Quick, take a picture!"
Eli tilted his head back, eyes following the glittering trails until they dissolved into sparks. His chest tightened, though he didn't understand why.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
The voice came from beside him, low and steady.
Eli turned slightly. Kai leaned back on his hands, gaze fixed on the sky. The glow of the fireworks reflected in his eyes, making them shine brighter than the lanterns overhead. For a second, Eli's breath faltered.
"…Yeah," he murmured. "Beautiful."
---
Another firework burst above them, painting the night in red and white. Around them, their classmates shouted and laughed, some scrambling for blurry photos. Eli heard none of it clearly. His awareness narrowed to the quiet presence at his side, to the way Kai's voice seemed to thread through the chaos and reach him alone.
A particularly loud crack made Eli jump, his skewer wobbling in his hand.
Kai chuckled softly. "Careful."
Eli's cheeks warmed. He scowled half-heartedly. "I wasn't scared."
"You flinched."
"Did not."
Kai only smiled, eyes glinting faintly as another firework lit the sky.
The banter was light, harmless, yet Eli felt his ears burn as he turned quickly back to the spectacle above, pretending to be absorbed in the bursts of color.
---
The finale came in a rush of sound and light—fireworks shooting up in rapid succession, blooming into waves of red, blue, and gold that overlapped in a dazzling storm. The cheers of the crowd rose with it, thunderous and unrestrained.
Eli's heart pounded with each explosion, though he wasn't sure if it was the fireworks or something else entirely.
He risked a glance to his side.
Kai was already looking at him.
For a heartbeat, the world seemed to fall away—the shouts of the students, the brilliance of the finale, the rain of golden sparks. All Eli saw were those steady eyes, reflecting light and shadow, pulling something raw and frightening out of him.
His breath caught. *Why does it feel like it's always been him?*
And then, as quickly as it came, the moment broke.
The finale ended in a final shower of gold, glitter raining down the night sky. The crowd erupted into applause, classmates sprang up to stretch, chatter reignited about which stalls might still be open.
Eli blinked, dragged back into the noise. He forced a grin, standing with the others. "Come on, before everything sells out."
He told himself it was just the fireworks, just the festival glow, just a fleeting moment.
But even as he laughed and followed his friends, the truth pressed against his ribs.
Tonight wasn't just about fireworks.
At least… not for him.
---