"Summer festival"

"Do you wanna see the fireworks?"

Muichiro leaned in, his long raven locks falling on top of his crossed arms, dancing with the gentle breeze and showing a slightly odd color due to sunlight. You'd gathered most of his hair in a high ponytail, leaving some side locks free to frame his perfect angel face, since due to the heat his hair was sticking to him thanks to the sweat. You suggested him to roll up his sleeves as well, hence why you'd bought so many bandages the days prior —the mosquitos had no fear coming to bite him—.

You dipped one of his uniforms into the river's fast waters to wash away the soap. Your fingers loosened their hold on the piece of clothing by the sudden question, the rapid waters ran with it far away from you. Luckily, Muichiro caught it before it was gone for good.

Blinking nervously, you took the soaking uniform from his hands.

Watching fireworks? Is it a date?

"Yes! I'd love to, Tokito-sama!" you exclaimed, feet wiggling.

To hide your flustered face, you returned to doing the laundry.

You'd heard about the summer festival from Shinobu. She'd told you the romantic things that happen during such festival, and watching the fireworks together was the peak of romanticism. If you'd suggested it to Muichiro, he would've said no without hesitation. But, if he's the one asking, then certainly the goddess of luck had blessed you.

Ideas sprout inside your head, intensifying the blush.

"Alright, there's a demon around the city and he might attack during the summer festival today."

Your shoulders sank, head hanging low. It wasn't too heartbreaking though, you already expected it.

"Of course"

Grabbing onto a corner of the piece of clothing, you began hitting it against a large, smooth rock.

"But, will that really be okay? Oyakata-sama told you not to bring me in any more missions until the Final Selection"

Whilst you set his uniform apart, he knelt down closer to the river and dipped one of your kimonos inside. Sitting beside him, you stared as he casually handed it to you and grabbed onto another one. A soft feeling bloomed inside your heart, reflecting on your lips which melted into a small smile. It was the simplest of actions, that he was helping you wash the clothes, yet it felt big.

"Yeah, but I'm not breaking any rules if nobody tells the tale, right?"

"Y-yes! I, um, I imagine that it'd be hard to spot a demon in a crowded place" you chuckled nervously.

Muichiro simply nodded, washing away the soap of that very same kimono after you had massaged it against the rock.

"Yeah, that. And I guessed that you've never been to a festival before, so why not kill two birds with a stone?"

"Y-yes! No! I mean, we're not killing any birds, right?"

"If the demon isn't in the shame of a bird, then no."

『 °*• ❈ •*°』

A bright road of pink, blue and yellow lights hanged above your heads, illuminated the dark night along with the crescent moon and the stars. The chatter was loud, drowned by the music. The hundreds of people gathered were nothing but smiles and laughs as they moved in their yukatas and kimonos, all of fine silk or cotton. From the entrance, it was so overwhelming to your jaw dropped and your eyes went blank, matching your already pale face. You clenched your hands against your sickening stomach, wrinkling the fabric of the plain light yellow kimono that the girls at the butterfly estate had given you months ago, you hadn't had the time or money to buy another one.

Muichiro, in a light blue kimono with white japanese mist patterns, didn't fail to notice your distress.

"Why are you so nervous? They won't be looking at you."

Shifting your weight from one leg to the other, you answered "I know... it's just that... I can't calm my heart"

"Seriously? You're able to kill a demon with no hesitation, but can't face people?"

You swallow hard, nodding slowly as your gaze was fixed on your socks and zori. Your troubled expression quickly fell when Muichiro's fingers wrapped around your wrist, and he began walking past the entrance without letting you protest for a fraction of second.

A pink tint made its way to your cheeks. Your eyes were set on his figure alone, making the lights and people in the background a blur. Somehow, his hold washed all the anxiety away.

There's nothing to worry about while I'm with him. All that matters is that he's with me.

"Stay alert, the demon could be anywhere"

You nodded, frowning determined and turning your head from side to side in search of anything suspicious. As he took a peek at your silly antics, his stoic expression softened, his lips slightly curved upwards for an instant, as well as the almost invisible light pink color that was present on his cheeks.

But he regained his poker face when you forced him to stop dragging you by burying your sandal's heels on the ground.

"What now?"

It took him by surprise seeing your eyes sparkle like stars; just a minute ago you had been so scared of being around people.

"T-Tokito-sama! Can we try that?" your free hand pointed towards a game stall: a small pool full of fishes and people outside it trying their hardest to get one.

He return to look at you, practically giving him puppy eyes as if that would work.

He shrugged, "Sure"

You skipped all the way there, taking a poi —a round plastic frame with thin washi paper that can be easily torn when contacted with water— from the man guarding the stall. Muichiro stood close behind you, staring at the fish as you desperately tried to get one to your small bowl, but the paper kept tearing up before you could get the goldfish to it.

You let out a frustrated grunt, looking at the mist pillar behind you with a pout.

«What was that fish called...?»

"They're called goldfish" you answered, knowing full well what he was thinking.

With his mouth slightly agape, he nodded. Then, came back to see you kneeling in front of the pool without any fish in hand and three broken poi.

"You're still playing that?" he asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"It's too hard!"

He rolled his eyes, taking a new poi from your hands and kneeling down next to you, his hollow blue eyes set on a single fish. As if it were the easiest thing in the world, he effortlessly took the goldfish and placed it inside your bowl. Your jaw dropped, whilst he stood up casually to get the fish into a water bag instead of the bowl so you can take it home.

"What are you still doing there? Come over here and take your fish"

"Fine" standing up, your eyes caught another interesting-looking stall "W-Wait, I wanna see what's over there!"

Following close behind, and keeping a straight face, he paid for all the games you wanted to play, like gun shooting and ring toss, which you ended up failing while he stared up at the stars or got lost in his thoughts.

After you had failed another scooping minigame and you two began walking peacefully in the main road again, Muichiro searched around for the demon, but came to a halt when he felt a light tug on his sleeve.

"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you again, master, but... I'm hungry"

He lifted his gaze, meeting a stall that sold caramelized apples, surrounded by little kids wearing masks.

"Do you want that?" he pointed at it, and with a single nod from you, he went and bought two.

A wide smile grew on you. The sweet taste was so delightful that you couldn't contain it. Muichiro ate his in silence, eyes fixed on your beaming self until you two finished eating.

"Thank you... and sorry for all the interruptions! I got too excited!"

"It's fine"

He offered his hand and you took it, the feeling of nervousness that such action meant was present on you as always, while Muichiro didn't seem to care.

Walking hand-in-hand, completely silent and alert, you made sure to make your way around the entire festival, including every single corner, in order to find the demon. Alas, you found nothing but colorful lights and people having fun. When you were passing by the main road, your eyes caught a stall that sold beautiful and expensive ornaments, but averted them quickly. The wasn't a single second to waste in things that a demon slayer doesn't need.

As you returned to look ahead, your face collided with his back, making you take a couple steps backwards.

"What happe—"

Rolling on his feet and holding your hand tighter, he walked towards the stall that you were staring at seconds ago. You blinked several times in disbelief as he peered over all of the ornaments and finally took a silver kanzashi, which was decorated in a way that looked simple and pretty.

"You were staring at them" he justified himself, closing the space between the two of you to place the kanzashi in a side of your hair "This one matches you"

Fidgeting, you faced downwards. "B-but, Tokito-sama, isn't this too expensive?"

"Not really, I'm paid more than I need anyway."

Searching for his hand and taking it softly, a gentle smile bloomed on your face, dedicated to him. Muichiro turned around and reassured the hold, going back to focus on the mission that you were supposed to have finished by then.

"Now let's go kill a demon, [Y/N]."

You nodded determined, your heels clanging the road as you tried to keep up with him without getting dragged.

"Yes, master!"