The festival continued in full swing, the sounds of laughter, music, and the occasional pop of fireworks filling the air. Aizen and Violet had found a quiet bench near the edge of the park, away from the bustling crowds. Ryuen and Rin had wandered off to one of the food stalls, and Kei was engrossed in a shooting game, determined to win a prize.

  Aizen glanced at Violet, who was gazing up at the stars, her face bathed in the soft glow of the lanterns. The peaceful moment between them made his heart race. Even though they were officially in a relationship, there was something he had yet to say to her— something that had been on his mind for a while.

  He took a deep breath, feeling the small box in his pocket. This was it. This was the moment he had been waiting for.

  “Violet,” Aizen began, his voice soft but steady.

  She turned to him, her eyes filled with curiosity and warmth. “Yes, Aizen?”

  His hand trembled slightly as he pulled out the box and held it out to her. Violet’s eyes widened in surprise, and she gently took the box, her fingers brushing against his.

  “What’s this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Aizen smiled, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. “It’s something I wanted to give you. I know it’s not much, but… I hope you like it.”

  Violet carefully opened the box, revealing a delicate necklace inside. It was simple, with a small, elegant pendant that caught the light beautifully. She gasped softly, her eyes shining with happiness.

  “Aizen, it’s… it’s beautiful,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. “Thank you so much.”

  He could see how much the necklace meant to her, and that made his heart swell with joy. “I’m glad you like it, Violet. I wanted to give you something that would remind you of how special you are to me.”

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  Violet’s cheeks flushed with a deep blush, and she gently took the necklace out of the box. “Would you… would you help me put it on?”

  Aizen nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. He stood up, moving behind her as she lifted her hair to reveal the back of her neck. His hands were steady as he carefully fastened the necklace around her neck, the cool metal resting against her warm skin.

  As he finished, Aizen let his hands linger for a moment, feeling the softness of her hair and the warmth of her presence. He knew this was the right moment—he had to say what had been in his heart for so long.

  “Violet,” he whispered, leaning closer to her ear. She turned her head slightly, her eyes meeting his.

  “I… I love you.”

  The words came out softly but with a depth of emotion that left no doubt about how he felt. Aizen’s heart raced as he waited for her response, his breath catching in his throat.

  Violet’s eyes widened, and for a moment, she was speechless. But then a radiant smile spread across her face, and she turned fully to face him.

  “I love you too, Aizen,” she replied, her voice filled with warmth and sincerity.

  The world seemed to fade away as they looked into each other’s eyes, the festival, the crowds, and even the noise of the fireworks disappearing in the background. All that mattered in that moment was the love they had just confessed to each other.

  Violet reached up, gently touching the necklace that now adorned her neck. “This… this means so much to me. I’ll treasure it always.”

  Aizen felt a wave of relief and joy wash over him. He leaned in closer, their faces just inches apart. “I’m so glad, Violet. You mean everything to me.”

  As the distant sound of fireworks echoed through the night, Aizen closed the distance between them, their lips meeting in a gentle, heartfelt kiss. It was a kiss filled with the promise of a future together, one where they would continue to grow closer, face challenges, and create countless memories side by side.

  When they finally pulled away, both of them were blushing, but their smiles were brighter than ever.

  “Let’s go find the others,” Violet suggested, her voice still soft with emotion.

  “Yeah,” Aizen agreed, taking her hand in his. “But no matter what, this moment… it’s ours forever.”

  They walked back to the heart of the festival, hand in hand, their hearts lighter and their bond stronger than ever. The night was far from over, but they both knew that this would be a New Year’s Eve they would never forget.

  To be continued...