The day of the New Year’s Eve festival had arrived, and the air was filled with anticipation. Aizen stood in his apartment, adjusting his traditional outfit in front of the mirror. He wasn’t used to wearing such attire, but for the festival, he thought it would be a good idea to embrace the tradition.

  His thoughts, however, kept drifting to Violet. He knew she was wearing a yukata, and the thought of seeing her dressed up in traditional wear made his heart race. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the nervousness that had been growing since morning.

  In the apartment next door, Violet was standing in front of her own mirror, carefully adjusting her yukata. She had chosen a soft lavender color with delicate floral patterns that complimented her style. As she finished tying the obi, her heart fluttered at the thought of meeting Aizen.

  She had never worn a yukata around him before, and the idea of it made her feel both excited and shy. Would he like how she looked? Would it be awkward?

  With her hair styled in a simple, elegant way, Violet took one last look in the mirror before stepping out into the corridor.

  Aizen had just locked his door and turned around when he saw Violet stepping out of her apartment. His breath caught in his throat.

  Violet was stunning.

  Her lavender yukata, the soft glow of her skin, and the way her hair framed her face left Aizen completely speechless for a moment. She noticed him staring, and her cheeks flushed a delicate pink.

  “Violet… you look... beautiful,” Aizen finally managed to say, his voice soft and full of admiration.

  Violet’s blush deepened, and she shyly glanced down before meeting his eyes again. “Thank you, Aizen. You… you look really nice too.”

  They stood there for a moment, both blushing and trying to navigate the sudden awkwardness that came from seeing each other in such different attire.

  “You look cute,” Aizen added with a small, sincere smile, causing Violet to giggle lightly in embarrassment.

  “Shall we go?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Aizen nodded, offering his hand to her. She hesitated for a second before taking it, and they walked down the corridor together, hand in hand, both of them feeling the warmth of each other’s presence.

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  At the entrance of the festival, Ryuen and Rin were already waiting. Ryuen was dressed in a dark, casual kimono, while Rin looked radiant in a vibrant red and gold yukata. They were standing close, laughing and chatting with each other.

  As Aizen and Violet approached, Ryuen’s eyes lit up. “Finally! There you guys are!”

  Rin smiled warmly at them, her eyes sparkling with the joy of the festival. “You both look amazing! Violet, your yukata is so beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” Violet replied with a shy smile, her cheeks still slightly pink from Aizen’s earlier comment.

  Just then, Kei appeared, slightly out of breath from running to catch up. She was dressed casually, though her hair was styled more neatly than usual. As she approached the group, she glanced at Ryuen and Rin, her eyes narrowing slightly.

  “Wait… who’s this?” Kei asked, pointing to Rin, her expression one of confusion.

  Ryuen, sensing Kei’s suspicions, awkwardly scratched the back of his head. “Uh, Kei… this is Rin. My… girlfriend.”

  Kei blinked, her eyes widening in shock. “What?! You have a girlfriend? And you didn’t tell me?!” She looked at Rin with surprise and curiosity. “How long has this been going on?”

  Rin chuckled softly, giving Kei a kind smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Kei. Ryuen’s told me a lot about you. We’ve been dating for a while now.”

  Kei crossed her arms, looking mildly offended. “I can’t believe you kept this from me, Ryuen! I thought we were friends!”

  Ryuen laughed nervously, trying to diffuse the situation. “Come on, Kei. I was going to tell you, I swear. I just… didn’t know how to bring it up.”

  Aizen and Violet exchanged amused glances, watching as Kei playfully berated Ryuen for his secret-keeping. Rin, ever the gentle soul, tried to smooth things over, and soon enough, Kei seemed to warm up to the idea of Ryuen having a girlfriend.

  “Alright, fine,” Kei finally said, giving a mock pout. “I’ll forgive you this time. But you owe me!”

  The festival was vibrant and lively, with stalls lining the streets selling delicious food, traditional sweets, and colorful trinkets. The group wandered through the festival together, enjoying the festive atmosphere. Ryuen and Rin walked ahead, their fingers intertwined, while Aizen and Violet stayed close behind, their hands occasionally brushing against each other’s.

  At one point, they stopped at a food stall to try some takoyaki. Aizen offered Violet a bite, and she smiled as she took it, their eyes meeting in a moment of quiet connection.

  As the evening went on, the group made their way to the shrine to offer their prayers for the new year. They stood together, the soft glow of lanterns illuminating the shrine as they bowed and made their wishes.

  Later, they found a quiet spot in the park near the festival grounds. The sky was clear, and the stars twinkled above them. Aizen and Violet sat together on a bench, while Ryuen and Rin sat on the grass nearby, laughing and sharing stories.

  Violet glanced at Aizen, her heart swelling with emotion. The night had been perfect— filled with laughter, warmth, and the gentle comfort of being together. She could feel the weight of unspoken words between them, but she wasn’t sure how to voice them.

  As if sensing her thoughts, Aizen gently took her hand in his. “I’m really glad we came to the festival together, Violet.”

  She looked at him, her cheeks flushing slightly as she smiled. “Me too, Aizen.”

  The moment was quiet, but it was filled with the unspoken understanding that their bond had grown even stronger.

  The new year was just around the corner, and with it came the promise of new adventures, new memories, and the deepening of their relationship.

  To be continued...