The festival buzzed with life.
Colorful banners decorated the campus, and students roamed in groups, laughing, chatting, and enjoying the stalls lined up along the pathways. The air was filled with the smell of delicious street food—takoyaki, yakisoba, cotton candy, and all kinds of festival treats.
Sam weaved through the crowd, glancing at the various booths. Some students were playing traditional games, while others were dressed in costumes for performances.
Then, his eyes landed on a familiar face.
Mahiru stood near the entrance of a large stage area, dressed in a beautiful historical-style outfit. The soft, flowing fabric made her look like a princess from a fairytale.
And honestly
Sam couldn't stop staring.
Mahiru noticed him and immediately turned red.
"Y-You're here already?" she stammered, fiddling with the hem of her dress.
"Of course," Sam said, walking up to her. His eyes gleamed with amusement. "You look… stunning."
Mahiru's face burned. "D-Don't say that so suddenly!"
Sam chuckled. "So, what's your role?"
She hesitated. "Um… I play the female lead."
His smirk grew. "Which means… a romantic role?"
Mahiru groaned. "Please don't tease me!"
Before he could say anything else, a group of students approached.
"Mahiru! You're here!"
Sam turned to see Mahiru's friends from her college—a mix of boys and girls, all eyeing him with curiosity.
One of the girls nudged Mahiru. "Is this the famous boyfriend?"
Mahiru's entire body tensed.
Before she could respond, Sam casually slipped an arm around her waist and smirked.
"Yeah, I am," he said smoothly.
The group erupted in cheers.
Mahiru gasped. "S-Sam!"
One of the guys grinned. "Damn, Mahiru, you never told us he was this bold!"
Another girl giggled. "You two look so cute together!"
Mahiru hid her face in her hands, completely defeated.
Sam just laughed, thoroughly enjoying her embarrassment.
The auditorium was packed. Sam took a seat near the front, eagerly waiting for the show to start.
As the lights dimmed and the curtains rose, he spotted Mahiru on stage.
She looked breathtaking.
Her character was a noblewoman in a historical setting, caught in a forbidden romance.
And then—
A male actor appeared beside her.
Sam's casual smile faded as he got a proper look at the guy.
Tall. Well-built. The kind of face that belonged on a magazine cover. His hair was perfectly styled, and his presence alone commanded attention.
The "perfect" leading man.
This guy looks like he walked straight out of a shoujo manga.
The play progressed, and the male lead played his part too well. His voice was smooth and deep, his expressions filled with emotion, and worst of all—he had too many scenes with Mahiru.
He held her hand. Stood inches away from her. Looked at her like she was the only person in existence.
Sam felt something tighten in his chest.
Then came the climax.
The confession scene.
The male lead gently took Mahiru's hand, his voice dripping with sincerity.
"My love, I would give up everything to be with you."
Sam exhaled slowly through his nose.
"Say the word, and I will abandon my name, my title—anything to stay by your side."
Sam clenched his jaw.
And then—
The guy lifted Mahiru's hand and kissed her fingers.
Sam's mind went blank.
For a second, he almost forgot he was sitting in an audience. His body instinctively leaned forward—his legs tensed as if ready to stand—
No. No, no, no. Stay put.
His fingers twitched. His breathing slowed.
Then, with as much restraint as humanly possible, he physically forced himself back into his seat—by smacking his own forehead.
A few people sitting nearby gave him weird looks, but Sam barely noticed.
He squeezed his eyes shut, inhaled deeply, and let it out.
It's just acting. It's just acting. It's just acting.
The scene ended, and Mahiru moved away from the guy.
Sam released the grip he hadn't realized he had on his jeans.
When the play concluded, the audience erupted in applause. Sam clapped along, his expression neutral.
But deep inside, one thought lingered—
I really didn't like that.
After the performance, Mahiru found Sam outside.
"How was it?" she asked, looking nervous.
Sam crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly. "...It was good. You were great."
Mahiru blinked at him, then narrowed her eyes. "...But?"
Sam exhaled. "That guy—"
Mahiru groaned. "It was just acting!"
"I know that!" Sam muttered. "It's just… he was really good at it."
Mahiru giggled. "Are you jealous?"
Sam scratched his cheek. "...Maybe."
She smirked. "You know, he's pretty popular at my college. A lot of girls like him."
Sam gave her a dry look. "You're not helping, Mahiru."
She laughed. "You're cute when you're jealous."
Sam sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I wasn't jealous. I was just… mildly concerned."
Mahiru poked his arm. "Oh? And what were you so concerned about?"
Sam hesitated. Then, in a low voice, he mumbled, "What if he actually liked you?"
Mahiru's eyes widened slightly.
For a moment, she just looked at him—then, softly, she smiled.
"Sam," she said, reaching out and intertwining her fingers with his, "I chose you, remember?"
Sam blinked.
His heartbeat stuttered.
He looked down at their joined hands, then at her face, which was filled with quiet certainty.
His shoulders relaxed. "...Yeah."
Mahiru giggled. "Come on, let's enjoy the festival!"
Sam sighed but smiled. "Fine. But I'm buying the first snack."
The rest of the day was spent wandering through the stalls, trying out different foods, and playing festival games.
Mahiru laughed as Sam failed miserably at a ring toss game.
"You're supposed to aim, you know," she teased.
"Excuse me, I was aiming!" he huffed.
She ended up winning a small stuffed fox and handed it to him.
"For you," she said playfully.
Sam raised an eyebrow. "You're giving me a plushie?"
She nodded. "Since I got a teddy from you on Teddy Day, it's only fair!"
He chuckled, tucking the fox under his arm. "Fine. I'll accept it."
As the sun began to set, they sat on a bench, watching the sky turn golden.
Mahiru leaned against him, sighing contentedly. "This was fun."
Sam smiled, resting his hand over hers. "Yeah… it was."
And as the day came to a close, he realized—
No matter what they did, as long as he was with her, every moment felt perfect.
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