The school festival had passed, but the summer fireworks festival was just getting started.
Ren sighed, adjusting his black hoodie as he stood outside the small train station. The air was buzzing with excitement. Stalls lined the street, laughter echoed, and kids ran past with candy apples and sparklers. Lilia, dressed in a yukata she picked out with Sayaka's help, had somehow managed to drag both him and Kaito into attending.
"I still think this is a waste of time," Ren muttered.
"Oh come on," Lilia pouted, tugging his sleeve. "It's tradition! Festivals are magical!"
Ren gave her a side glance. Her golden hair was done in a loose bun, a few strands falling across her face. She was definitely causing heads to turn… again.
"Besides," she added, grinning, "you promised to loosen up a bit. You're the one who agreed to come."
"I agreed because you threatened to burn the house down if I didn't," Ren replied.
"That's not a no," she said, and winked.
"Don't you two ever stop flirting?" Kaito groaned, munching on some takoyaki. "You're not even real siblings, are you?"
Ren choked on his spit.
Lilia quickly laughed, trying to cover the awkwardness. "O-of course we are! Brother and sister, you know, just… super close!"
Kaito narrowed his eyes, suspicious as ever. "You're not fooling anyone. Especially when you're feeding each other like lovebirds."
As if to prove him wrong, Lilia picked up a rice cracker and held it toward Ren. "Say aah~"
Ren's face twitched. "No."
"Come on, do it for the bit," she whispered with a grin.
"…Fine."
The second he opened his mouth and took a bite, a camera flash went off.
Sayaka, standing behind them, snapped a photo with a smug look. "This one's going in the student council newsletter. Sibling bonding, huh?"
"Sayaka…" Ren groaned. "Please delete that."
"Nope. My phone mysteriously refuses to obey me when it comes to you, Ren-kun," she teased, her voice dangerously sweet. She wore a blue yukata and walked closer, locking arms with him.
Lilia's smile stiffened. "Sayaka-san… I think Ren needs his arm back."
"Oh? We're just friends. No harm, right?"
Kaito was too busy laughing at the chaos to intervene.
And so the evening began—one full of tension, mischief, and awkward blunders. They tried their hand at the goldfish scooping game—Ren broke the net in three seconds. At the ring toss, Sayaka somehow kept winning plushies and "accidentally" gave one to Ren every time. Lilia burned her tongue on hot yakisoba. Kaito tried a haunted house stall and screamed like a child.
Eventually, they reached the shrine on the hill where the fireworks would be visible.
Everyone was seated on blankets. The sun dipped low, and twilight bathed the world in a soft orange glow. The first firework burst into the sky—an enormous bloom of gold and green.
Ren sat a little apart from the group, staring at the sky. Lilia noticed and quietly made her way over to him.
"You okay?" she asked.
He nodded. "Just… thinking."
"About?"
"…Stuff."
She sat down beside him. "Deep."
Ren smirked. "It's complicated. But I guess I don't hate this."
Lilia leaned back on her hands, looking up at the glittering sky. "I used to watch fireworks from my castle's balcony. But it never felt this warm… never felt this real."
"…Must've been lonely."
She nodded softly. "Always surrounded by people… and still alone."
Ren didn't speak, but the silence felt shared, not empty.
Another firework burst overhead, illuminating the sky—and that was when it happened.
A tall man in a dark cloak appeared at the edge of the shrine path. His presence was calm but commanding. Ren noticed him first, squinting.
"Do you know him?" he asked.
Lilia turned, and her face went pale. "…That can't be."
The man stepped forward, just enough for the fireworks to reveal a faint scar across his cheek. "Princess," he said softly.
"Sir Gael?" she whispered, standing.
Ren stood beside her protectively.
Gael bowed. "I'm glad you are safe."
Lilia rushed forward—but he raised his hand, stopping her. "Forgive me. I cannot stay."
Ren narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
The knight met his gaze. "Just someone who failed to protect her once. I've come to pass that duty… to you."
Ren's heart skipped. "Me?"
Gael placed a small silver pendant in Lilia's hand. "This belonged to your mother. The nobles who betrayed your kingdom are still searching for you. But I believe… you're safest here. With him."
Lilia looked down, trembling.
Gael gave a final nod. "Take care of our princess."
And before anyone could speak again, he turned—disappearing into the shadows just as another firework lit the sky.
Silence fell.
"…Was that real?" Ren whispered.
Lilia clutched the pendant tightly. "He was my knight… the last one who stayed with me when the palace fell."
Ren looked at her. "And now?"
She looked up at him, her eyes shining with the reflection of the fireworks. "Now… I'm really not alone."
He looked away, cheeks faintly red. "Yeah… I guess neither am I."
From a distance, Sayaka watched them. Kaito stood beside her.
"You still think they're siblings?" Sayaka asked quietly.
Kaito smiled. "No. But I don't think they know what they are yet either."
Back on the hill, Ren and Lilia sat again—this time closer.
The sky sparkled above them, and though nothing was said, the warmth between them was more than enough.