After walking for quite some time, they finally reached the top of the hillside.
The area was already crowded with people, but they managed to find a small, open clearing with a perfect, unobstructed view of the sky.
"Hurry, Brother Hakuji!" Aoi gathered the hem of her yukata and ran lightly toward the empty space, her sky-blue fabric rippling in the wind like a blooming bellflower.
Hakuji followed close behind, his eyes never leaving her silhouette.
Aoi sat down with a laugh and tugged on his arm, pulling him down to sit beside her. She gazed up at the ink-black night sky, her eyes wide with anticipation, her fingers absentmindedly and gently stroking the back of Hakuji's hand.
Sitting beside her, Hakuji's gaze didn't wander to the sky; instead, it settled on her profile. The moonlight traced the petite bridge of her nose and the corners of her lips, which were pulled into a lingering smile. Her long lashes cast soft shadows beneath her eyes, fluttering slightly with every breath she took.
He watched her, entranced. Even the subtle sensation of her fingertips against his skin felt extraordinarily vivid.
The evening breeze carried the scent of festival incense and gunpowder, tossing their hair. A faint flash of light flickered in the distance—a precursor to the coming display.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Brother Hakuji, what color do you think the first firework will be?"
"Whatever the color, as long as I'm watching it with you, I'll love it."
Aoi turned her head, her gaze colliding with Hakuji's earnest eyes. In those dark irises, she saw the reflection of the moon, her own silhouette, and a tenderness so profound it seemed ready to overflow.
She couldn't help but smile. Reaching out, she lightly looped her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder. Her voice was as soft as cotton. "Me too. As long as I'm with you, I'm happy watching anything."
Hakuji raised his hand, cautiously covering hers. The warmth of his palm seeped into her cool fingertips.
At that moment—BOOM!—a deafening roar echoed as the first firework exploded across the night sky. Brilliant sparks of gold and crimson rained down, illuminating the entire heavens.
Aoi let out an involuntary cry of wonder, her eyes shimmering.
Watching her look up in awe, Hakuji couldn't suppress the smile tugging at his lips. He tightened his grip on her hand.
Father, I think... I've finally found happiness.
Hakuji gazed at the exploding gold and red lights, a soft, nostalgic glow in his eyes.
Aoi seemed to sense the shift in his emotions. She didn't speak to disturb him; she simply tilted her head and nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder.
Hakuji's thumb lightly traced the back of her hand. His voice was low and raspy, yet filled with iron-clad resolve. "Every year from now on, I'll come with you to see the fireworks."
Aoi smiled, pressing her face closer to him. "Okay. It's a promise. We'll watch them together every year."
Fireworks continued to bloom in the sky—purple, pink, and silver—decorating the darkness with a kaleidoscopic brilliance. The wind carried the scent of summer and smoke, blowing through their intertwined hair. Even the air seemed to taste of something sweet.
Hakuji looked down at her, his fingertips lightly brushing her skin. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed back the words "I want to be with you for the rest of my life."
He thought that some things didn't need to be said aloud. As long as the person by his side remained her, year after year, that would be enough.
As the festival drew to a close, Aoi held Hakuji's hand as they walked down the hillside, stepping over the scattered remnants of spent fireworks.
Aoi walked slowly, occasionally looking back at the dying embers in the sky, a lingering smile on her face. Hakuji let her lead him, his palm burning with heat, his gaze never wavering from her profile.
As they reached a turn in the path, Aoi suddenly stopped. She turned and stood on her tiptoes, pressing a soft, fleeting kiss against his cheek.
Hakuji's face turned bright red instantly, the heat spreading all the way to his ears. He instinctively reached out to steady her by the waist, his voice gravelly with a joy he couldn't hide. "Koyuki..."
Aoi looked at his flushed face and laughed, her eyes curving into crescents. She poked his cheek playfully. "That's the seal on our promise. You can't back out now. You have to watch the fireworks with me every single year."
Hakuji tightened his arms around her, pulling her into a firm embrace. He rested his chin atop her head, his voice muffled by her soft hair but carrying an unprecedented weight of sincerity. "I would never back out."
In the blink of an eye, Hakuji turned eighteen, and Aoi had reached a marriageable age.
One day, Keizo called Aoi into his room. "Koyuki, what do you think of Hakuji?"
At the question, Aoi's face turned scarlet. Her fingers instinctively clutched the hem of her clothes, and even the tips of her ears turned pink. She lowered her head, staring at the wood grain of the floorboards, her heart hammering against her ribs. It took a long time before she managed to squeeze out a single sentence.
"Brother Hakuji... he is a good man."
Keizo watched her shy, flustered display and couldn't help but chuckle. His eyes were filled with a gentle, knowing warmth.
Aoi bit her lip and looked up, meeting Keizo's amused gaze. She added in a small but firm voice, "Father, I... I love him."
"Alright, I understand." Keizo sighed inwardly, feeling the classic parental realization that his daughter was all grown up and ready to leave the nest.
The next day, Keizo summoned Hakuji. Aoi, knowing exactly what was about to happen, felt restless and unable to sit still.
"Hakuji, you've been at this dojo for three years now. I've decided to formally pass the dojo on to you."
Hakuji's spine straightened instinctively, his eyes wide with shock. "Master? This... how can I? I'm not yet qualified..."
Keizo raised a hand to cut him off, his gaze steady and full of conviction. "You have a resilient spirit, a kind heart, and you never shy away from hard work. I can rest easy knowing the dojo is in your hands."
Upon hearing this, Hakuji prostrated himself, his forehead pressing firmly against the cold floor. "Thank you, Master! I... I will not let you down!"
"There is one more thing. I want to entrust Koyuki to you."
Hakuji snapped his head up. His pupils shrunk, and the shock on his face was instantly swept away by a tidal wave of sheer ecstasy.
"Ma—Master..." He opened his mouth, his voice sounding entirely wrecked. "I am honored."
He looked over at Aoi. The girl's face was already as red as a ripe fruit. She kept her head down, her long lashes trembling.
Hearing Hakuji say he was willing, Aoi's eyes welled with tears. She looked up, her vision blurred, but a smile she couldn't suppress broke across her face. Her voice was thick with emotion. "Brother Hakuji..."
He reached out and carefully wiped away a stray tear, his fingertips warm against her skin.
"Don't cry," he whispered, his eyes full of tenderness.
Keizo stood to the side, watching them. He laughed softly, shook his head, and quietly slipped out of the room, leaving the space—filled with such profound gentleness and joy—to the two young lovers who finally knew each other's hearts.
"Brother Hakuji, I'm so happy." She reached up to circle his neck, burying her face in the crook of his shoulder. Her warm breath against his skin made his heart skip another beat.
Hakuji held her tightly in return, resting his chin on her soft hair. He lightly patted her back, his voice deep and resonant with a solemnity he had never felt before. "Me too. Being able to marry you... is the greatest luck of my entire life."