We make it to the food court, and Ari immediately rushes ahead with Maika’s hand locked in hers. She stops behind another pair of girls waiting on a vendor drone.

  It’s a tall rectangular bot made of glass panels; its belly stacked with neatly arranged snacks. A mechanical arm glides up and down its frame, a small display flickering as it retrieves each order and passes it out.

  As soon as it’s Ari’s turn, she throws her hand into the air. “One strawberry cloud crepe please~!”

  The drone beeps brightly and produces a large heart-shaped pastry overflowing with strawberries and whipped cream, drizzled in glossy chocolate syrup.

  Ari pays and takes it eagerly, licking her lips.

  She leans in for a bite—then stops herself.

  “Oh wait!” She turns and offers it to Maika instead. “Here ya go, the first bite’s yours~!”

  “No, it’s okay. You can have it,” Maika says.

  “But you always let me get the first bite,” Ari whines. “I want you to have it this time~”

  Maika chuckles, shaking her head. “Fine… but how about this instead?”

  She slides an arm around Ari’s waist and pulls her closer, positioning the crepe between them.

  “We’ll share the first bite.” Her eyes lock onto Ari’s, voice lowering just slightly.

  Ari’s smile turns knowing. “I like the sound of that.”

  They lean in together and bite into opposite edges of the crepe at the same time.

  When they pull apart, Maika laughs softly.

  “Uh… you’ve got something on the corner of your lips.” She taps her own mouth to show where—right where a smudge of whipped cream clings to Ari’s skin.

  “Oh really?” Ari tries to lick it off but misses completely.

  Maika shakes her head. “Never mind. I’ll get it.”

  She leans in and—

  Mwah!

  Kisses her.

  They both burst into giggles as Maika pulls back.

  “Eeeeee! You two are so cute~!” Tama squeals, bouncing on her heels.

  Maika laughs, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. “Thank you. We rarely get to be this affectionate in public. The festival lets us get away with a little more than we usually can.”

  “Well,” Ari giggles, pointing straight at me, “maybe we went a tiny bit overboard. Buni looks like she short-circuited.”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  All three of them turn toward me.

  My hands fly up to cover my face. Heat floods my cheeks as I peek through my fingers. My clothes sputter bright red, pulsing wildly in time with my racing heart.

  “Ah—w-w… I—” The words tangle in my throat and refuse to come out.

  Tama steps closer and bumps her shoulder gently against mine. “Maybe you’re just hungry,” she laughs. “Come on, I already know what I want!”

  She grabs my hand and pulls me toward the vendor.

  My chest tightens.

  Tama places her order, but her voice fades into the background. The crowd noise dulls and the music softens.

  Everything goes quiet.

  What’s wrong with me?

  Every time Ari and Maika act like that, I lose it. They move so easily together—they already know each other’s rhythms and move perfectly in sync. Like they’ve had their whole lives to grow that close. It just seems so natural to them.

  So why does that make my chest ache?

  Is it because I—

  “Bunny-chan~”

  Tama’s voice cuts through my thoughts as she pokes my cheek.

  “Eep!” I squeak, jolting away. “T-Tama! What are you—”

  “Here you go~!” she chirps, holding out a strawberry cloud crepe.

  I blink, still touching my cheek. “W-where did this come from?”

  “Hehe, I bought it from the vendor, obviously.” She tilts her head with a teasing smile. “Now let’s share a bite like Ari and Maika did!”

  I freeze.

  A single, bright pulse ripples through my clothing.

  Tama’s eyes widen. “Whoa—did your lights just spike?”

  My breath catches.

  “Well, duh.” She says it like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Who else would I do it with?”

  “N-no, I don’t think I’m ready for that~” I squirm, shaking my head.

  Tama sighs dramatically. “Fine~ But that means the first bite’s mine!”

  She takes a bite, and her eyes light up instantly.

  “Whoa, this is so good!” She holds it out toward me. “Come on, you have to try it!”

  I take the crepe carefully. Beneath the chocolate drizzle, strawberries peek through the whipped cream, and my stomach growls traitorously.

  “O-okay!” I blurt out. “I’ll try it…”

  My gaze drifts to the corner she bit off, and I swallow.

  I lean in and bite along the same edge.

  Warm bread brushes my tongue first. Then a rush of cream. Then the bright sweetness of strawberries bursting under my teeth. The flavors blend together, rich and soft and overwhelming.

  “Mmm~ so sweet…”

  “Hehe~ I knew you’d like it!” Tama beams—then pauses. “Looks like you’ve got a little cream on your cheek.”

  “Huh?”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll get it~!”

  The words slam straight into my memory of Maika’s kiss, and I freeze up,

  Tama takes steps closer. Her fingers slide under my chin, lifting it gently. My pulse spikes again, and I instinctively raise my hands, half in defense, half in panic.

  Her face moves closer to mine.

  Is she going to…?

  “W-wait—n-no~” I squeeze my eyes shut.

  My heart pounds so hard I’m sure my clothes are flashing like a warning signal.

  I tense up until—

  Something glides across my cheek.

  Soft and warm, but… not a kiss?!

  My eyes snap open.

  Tama pulls back, licking a smear of whipped cream from the tip of her thumb.

  I blink. “Huh?”

  The world slows as my eyes meet hers. A mischievous grin spreads across her face as she laughs in delight.

  I lift my hand and touch the corner of my lip. She used her thumb.

  She didn’t kiss me, so why does my chest still feel tight?

  My cheeks are still warm—but not from embarrassment this time.

  Am I… disappointed?

  The thought lingers longer than I want it to.

  I glance back at Tama. She’s already chatting with Ari and Maika, laughing easily like nothing happened.

  And just watching her—watching that bright, carefree smile—my pulse finally begins to steady.

  No. We’re just friends.

  Not only that… she’s my Idol. Of course I’d get nervous being that close to her. Anyone would. I’ve just been overreacting.

  I should have known she wouldn’t go that far.

  “Pfft… hahaha~”

  The laugh slips out of me before I can stop it.

  The tension drains from my shoulders and my breathing evens out. The frantic red glow fades from my clothes, settling into a calm, steady blue.

  Tama pauses mid-conversation and looks over at me.

  “Hey—you’re not red or pink anymore! Does that mean you’re finally ready to have some fun?”

  I nod, flashing her a confident smile. “Yup!”

  I don’t even know what I was so worried about. Sure, the festival’s about getting closer to someone, but I’ve been thinking about it the wrong way this whole time.

  “Great!” Tama beams. “Then I know the perfect place for us to go next!”