The Cultural Festival arrived like a storm of color.
Food stalls lined the campus paths, students wore costumes both ridiculous and brilliant, and Mina had already disappeared into the crowd dressed as a pink dragon with glitter wings.
"Of all the possible partners…" Aika muttered, glancing at the tall figure walking beside her.
Kaito Renji adjusted the cuff of his jacket, his grin infuriatingly calm. "Try to look less miserable, rabbit. People will think I dragged you here on a date."
"This is work, not a date," Aika shot back.
"Mm. If you say so."
---
Their committee duties kept them together most of the day — organizing stage acts, refereeing food fights, rescuing Mina after she got stuck in a cotton candy machine.
Everywhere they went, classmates whispered.
"They're always together…"
"Rival-to-lovers vibes, right?"
"Bet they end up confessing at the booth!"
Aika nearly combusted. "WE ARE NOT—!"
Kaito smirked, enjoying every second.
---
By nightfall, the campus lights dimmed for the fireworks show. Students gathered on the lawn, laughter echoing in the cool air. Aika found herself sitting on the grass, Mina leaning against her shoulder, sticky with sugar.
And of course, Kaito sat down on her other side, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating off him.
When the first burst lit up the sky, Mina squealed. Aika's eyes went wide, the colors reflecting in them.
For just a moment, it felt almost… safe.
Kaito leaned closer, his voice low so only she could hear. "See? Not everything burns."
Her breath caught — but before she could respond, the crowd cheered at another explosion overhead. The moment vanished in the noise.
---
Hours later, when the festival finally ended, Aika returned alone to the quiet campus. The laughter was gone, the stalls packed away. Only the smell of smoke lingered in the air.
She thought the night was over.
Until she saw him.
Kaito.
Standing by the old science building again, a faint light glowing through the window behind him.
He wasn't smiling this time. His expression was sharp, dangerous, and in his hand — the same stack of papers she'd seen before.
She froze in the shadows, but his voice cut through the night like a blade.
"Still following, rabbit?"
Her blood ran cold.
Kaito turned slowly, his eyes meeting hers. The warmth from the fireworks was gone, replaced by something darker — something that whispered of betrayal, of secrets too heavy to carry.
"You enjoyed the show," he said softly. "But the real festival begins now."
---