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Yuki held Ronin’s eyes a beat longer, the two exchanging some form of silent sibling communication.

Eventually, Yuki broke away and gave Naia a wink, returning to her light demeanor as she allowed Akane to drag her away. “You two have fun,” she sang.

Ronin rolled his eyes.

The crowd swallowed up Akane and Yuki. There were so many people. Naia had second thoughts about deciding to come. She hadn’t realized the festival would be so packed.

Paranoia crept over her and coiled her insides. She quickly inspected the faces around her in search of familiar ones or anything out of the ordinary, while checking Wren in her braids, reassuring herself the hairpin was still there.

Ronin stood a few feet from her, waiting with his brow arched. “Are you coming?”

“If you would walk slower, then yes.” Naia stalked behind him.

“We’re practically the same height. I think maybe you need to take wider strides with those long legs of yours.”

She did not miss the way he gave her bare legs a sidelong glance as they walked side by side.

Her cheeks prickled. “I suggest you stop looking at my legs before I take my hairpin out again.”

Ronin laughed.

The congested pathway caused him to walk closely beside her. His arm grazed hers with every other step, and the touch grated on her. Each encounter constricted the breath in her lungs.

Unable to take a second longer of it, she widened the space between them.

Ronin glanced at her. “Have you ever been to one of these festivals before?”

The stall they passed by caught her eye. A little girl, around Akane’s age, held a chocolate-covered banana.

Naia faltered in her step, salivating over the delicious-looking treat. “Yes, but from a different perspective. I watched from afar.”

Ronin stopped walking, and she did the same.

Naia tore her gaze away from the fruit dessert dripping down the little girl’s wrist to Ronin.

He stared at her, his piercing gaze cataloging every inch of her face, hunting for something.

Naia backtracked and replayed her response in her head, internally groaning at how suspicious her answer sounded. What type of person watches the festival from afar?

“I could not attend,” she clarified.

Ronin continued to stare at her.

Her pulse stammered, and she fumbled to think of another excuse.

Then, after a long second, he jerked his chin towards the stall behind them. “You want one?”

Gods, did she ever.

“Yes, please.”

Ronin handed the banana dessert to Naia, its chocolate coat decorated with an assortment of rainbow-colored sprinkles.

“I’m not a child,” Naia said. “You could’ve gotten me a plain chocolate one.”

Ronin carried on down the busy aisle of stalls.

“I could’ve, but it’s your first Summer Solstice Festival.” He angled his head to get a better look at her, and she quickened her pace to catch up to his stride. “And besides, you seem like a sprinkles-kind-of-girl.”