The festival winds down as the sun dips below the horizon, casting the school grounds in hues of soft gold and lavender. The once-lively stalls now sit half-empty, their vendors cleaning up after a day of nonstop action. You lean against the edge of the baking stall, wiping your forehead with the back of your hand. Exhaustion weighs heavily on your body, but there's a sense of satisfaction in knowing everything went smoothly.
"Done already?"
You glance up to see Nagi approaching, his usual lazy gait somehow even slower than usual. His hands are stuffed into his pockets, but his sharp eyes take in your tired posture.
"Yeah," you sigh, stretching your arms over your head. "The last batch sold out, and I'm pretty sure I smell like flour and sugar at this point."
"Smells good," he says nonchalantly, leaning against the stall beside you. "Better than the sweat everyone else reeks of."
You laugh, shaking your head. "Thanks, I guess? You've been lazing around all day, so of course you're not tired."
"Mm," he hums in agreement, but his gaze lingers on you longer than usual.
A comfortable silence settles between you, broken only by the faint sounds of distant chatter and the rustling of leaves in the cool evening breeze. You close your eyes for a moment, savoring the stillness, only to feel a sudden warmth envelop you from behind.
Startled, you freeze as Nagi wraps his arms around you, pulling you close. His chin rests lightly on your shoulder, and the softness of his breath tickles your ear.
"N-Nagi?" you stammer, heat rushing to your cheeks.
"You worked hard today," he murmurs, his voice low and steady. "Thanks for everything."
Your heart skips a beat at his words, so simple yet so sincere. For someone as reserved as Nagi, this feels like a rare glimpse into the depths of his feelingsâa quiet acknowledgment of how much he values you.
"You're... welcome," you manage, your voice barely above a whisper.
The moment lingers, the world around you fading into the background. You can feel the steady rise and fall of his chest against your back, his presence grounding you in a way you hadn't expected.
"Nagi," you say softly, turning your head slightly to meet his gaze.
"Mm?" He doesn't move, his eyes half-lidded but entirely focused on you.
"You're being unusually sweet right now. Did the festival wear you out that much?"
He chuckles, the sound rumbling against your back. "Maybe. Or maybe I just felt like it."
You roll your eyes, but the smile tugging at your lips betrays your attempt at teasing him. "Well, thanks for the hug, I guess."
"Don't mention it," he says, loosening his hold just enough for you to turn around and face him.
For a moment, neither of you speaks, the unspoken tension between you hanging in the air. His gaze flickers down to your lips for the briefest second before meeting your eyes again, and you feel your heart race in response.
"I should... finish cleaning up," you say, breaking the silence.
"Mm," he replies, stepping back reluctantly. "I'll help."
"You? Help? That's a first," you tease, hoping to ease the nervous energy buzzing in your chest.
"Don't get used to it," he mutters, though there's a faint smirk on his face as he picks up a box of supplies.
As the two of you work side by side, you can't shake the warmth of his touch or the quiet sincerity in his voice. Something between you has shifted, and though you're not entirely sure what it means yet, you can't help but feel like you're both moving toward something neither of you can ignore.
something to snack on .áï¹