"Kabhi kabhi sabse zyada shor... sabse khoobsurat palon mein hota hai.""Sometimes, the loudest noise happens during the most beautiful moments."— Akari Fujiwara
Tokyo Summer Matsuri — the annual night of fireworks, yukatas, and street food.
The streets were flooded with people.
Couples holding hands. Kids chasing candy stalls.Laughter, music, paper lanterns.
Aryan was there too.
Alone.
Wearing a black hoodie — not festive, but familiar.
His eyes scanned the crowd.
He didn't want to be there.
But part of him hoped… maybe she would be.
Akari arrived late.
Wearing a soft blue yukata. Her hair loosely tied.No makeup. No smile.
But still… beautiful in the way that only truth looks beautiful.
She wasn't here for celebration either.
She just needed air. Space. A reason to not keep thinking.
And then…
Their eyes met across the lantern path.
No fireworks yet.Just the sound of wind, crowd, and two heavy hearts thudding in silence.
Aryan didn't move.Akari didn't smile.
They stood frozen.
Then the sky burst open.
💥 First firework.Blue and gold.
Aryan walked slowly toward her.
She didn't step back. But she didn't lean in either.
They stopped just a few steps apart.
"Didn't think you'd come," he said.
She shrugged.
"I didn't plan to. Just… needed somewhere loud."
He smiled sadly."So you don't hear what's inside?"
She looked away."Something like that."
Another firework exploded.
This time… it reflected in her eyes.
Aryan took a breath.
"I don't know how to fix us."
Akari whispered, "Then why did you let us break?"
Silence.
Not the sweet one. The cold one.
He replied, honestly:
"Because I'm still learning how to love someone…without running when it hurts."
Akari blinked.
And in that moment, one tear slipped.
Not from pain. But from how true that sounded.
Another firework.
This time red.
Aryan gently offered his hand.
"I can't promise I won't mess up again.But I can promise… I won't walk away."
Akari looked at his hand.
Then her own.
Then slowly, softly… placed hers in his.
No words.
Just a touch.
And above them… fireworks wrote everything they couldn't say.
[End of Episode 22]📝 Next: "Haru's Drawing" – Akari's little brother unknowingly draws a picture that reveals more about Aryan and Akari than they realize. Sometimes, kids see the truth adults hide.