As the sky darkened and fireworks burst overhead in blooming arcs of light, Yuki found herself alone near the back of the festival grounds. The crowd had shifted toward the stage for the final performance, but she needed air—space to think.
The day had gone better than expected. Leo had walked beside her. Laughed. Even held her hand. But beneath it all, an invisible thread tugged at her thoughts.
Rin.
The way she'd looked at them during the karaoke contest—cool and unreadable, but with something hidden deep behind her eyes.
Yuki stared down at her drink, the condensation soaking into her yukata sleeve. She sighed.
"She still loves him," she murmured.
"Yeah," said a voice beside her. "She does."
Yuki turned, startled. Hana stood there, holding a pair of candied apples.
"I brought you one," Hana said, offering it.
Yuki accepted it silently.
They stood there, shoulder to shoulder, watching the firelight play across the sky.
"Didn't expect to run into you here," Yuki said.
Hana shrugged. "Too loud near the stage."
A pause. Then:
"You and Leo," Hana said. "It's real now?"
Yuki nodded. "Yeah."
"I figured."
Another silence, not awkward, just heavy.
"I'm not mad," Hana said finally. "A little sad, maybe. But not mad."
Yuki turned to her. "Really?"
Hana looked away. "It's not like I didn't see it coming. You've always been special to him. He lights up around you."
Yuki blushed faintly. "He lights up around you too, you know."
"Maybe. But it's different."
The crowd cheered as another firework exploded above. The sound echoed through the trees.
Yuki took a deep breath. "I don't want this to break us."
"It doesn't have to," Hana replied. "But Rin... she's not like us."
Yuki frowned. "What do you mean?"
"She doesn't speak unless she means it. And when she loves someone, she doesn't just move on. She holds it. Like gravity."
Yuki swallowed.
"I think she's hurting more than any of us," Hana said softly. "Because she tried so hard not to be."
Yuki looked down at the candied apple in her hand. "Should I… step back?"
Hana's eyes widened. "What? No. Don't do that."
"But—"
"Yuki."
Yuki stopped.
"You love him," Hana said firmly. "You've earned that place beside him. Don't throw it away just because it hurts someone else. That's not how life works."
Yuki's eyes shimmered. "You sound like a big sister."
Hana smirked. "Maybe I am. Or maybe I'm just tired of standing in the middle of a love triangle with no angle."
Yuki laughed through a sniffle. "I needed that."
"You're welcome."
They stood there, together, as petals from nearby cherry trees danced on the breeze. One drifted into Yuki's hair.
Hana gently brushed it away.
"Whatever happens," Hana said, "let's not let a boy ruin a friendship."
Yuki nodded. "Deal."
---
Meanwhile, Rin stood on the rooftop of the science building, watching the fireworks alone.
She hadn't cried.
But her fingers dug into the railing like she was trying to hold the whole world in place.
"…Stupid," she whispered.
The wind carried the sound away.