“I’ve never seen you around before… Did you just move to the capital?”
Those were the first words the young man in a vivid crimson kimono spoke as he greeted the orange-haired girl amidst the bustling festival crowd.
The girl answered shyly. It was the first time she had ever spoken to a stranger around her own age in the capital.
He asked, concern evident in his voice.
“I—I was so busy looking at the carp streamers… that I kind of wandered off…”
Unable to hold it back, the young man let out a quiet laugh at her honest answer.
“So this is your first time at this festival, huh?”
“Perfect! Then I’ll show you around today~”
Before she could even respond, he grabbed her hand and started leading her deeper into the festival without asking for her opinion.
The girl hurried after him as he wove through the lively crowd. Above their heads, colorful carp streamers danced gently in the spring breeze.
Along the way, the young man kept trying to start conversations, hoping to ease her nervousness. Every so often, he would glance back to make sure she was still following.
“By the way, what’s your name?”
“Akane… That’s a lovely name.”
“Th—Thank you. Um… what’s your name?”
The young man paused for a brief moment, caught off guard that the timid-looking girl had asked him the same question so quickly.
He answered with a cheerful smile.
After that, their conversation continued naturally as they strolled through the festival, neither of them realizing that this small encounter was only the beginning of their story.