𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒍𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 | 𝑫𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒖𝒌𝒆 𝒙 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓

₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ Moments Before Midnight

ʟᴏɴɢ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ

It was time.
The festival was calling, and with it came the excitement of spending time with Daisuke. A smile began to creep onto your face as you thought about it.

Daisuke always had a way of grounding you, no matter how chaotic or unpredictable life became.
He reminded you that not all men were like Zane—arrogant, selfish, and full of empty promises.

No, Daisuke was different.

You couldn't help but feel the weight of his presence every time you were around him. And now, as you stood in front of the mirror adjusting your outfit, your thoughts were consumed by him in ways that frustrated and flustered you.

Why did he have to be so...

You had already convinced yourself that his confession of liking you was something you couldn't reciprocate—or at least, that's what you told yourself.
But the truth was, no matter how hard you tried to deny it, you were caught in a web that Daisuke seemed to spin effortlessly.

You tugged at your sleeve, smoothing out a wrinkle, and checked your reflection again.
You weren't just making yourself presentable for the festival; you were making yourself presentable for him.

That realization hit like a punch to the gut, and you scolded yourself internally.

"He's just a friend,"
you muttered under your breath, as if saying it aloud would make it true.

But the way your heart raced at the thought of seeing him again betrayed you. You thought about the way his eyes softened when he looked at you.

You let out a sigh, forcing yourself to focus.

The festival was supposed to be a fun distraction, not a time to overanalyze your feelings.

Once you were dressed and ready, you took a final look in the mirror before grabbing your phone, you shot Daisuke a quick text.

As you slipped on your shoes and grabbed your keys, you couldn't help but smile.
Tonight was going to be different. Tonight was going to be about moving forward. And best of all, tonight, you'd get to spend it with him.

...

The drive to the festival stretched on for 35 minutes, but the excitement made it pass in a blur.
Outside, the night sky was dark and endless, dotted with stars that peeked out between the glow of passing streetlights.

As the car slowed and finally stopped, the hum of the engine cut off, leaving you in the quiet buzz of the festival's outskirts.
You opened the door and stepped out, the cool evening air immediately wrapping around you.

Shutting the car door behind you with a satisfying thud, you smoothed down your outfit and adjusted the strap of your bag. The sound of distant chatter and faint music reached your ears as you walked toward the brightly lit entrance, your shoes clicking softly against the pavement.

And then you saw him.

Daisuke stood by the festival gates, leaning against a metal post with his hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket. His hair caught the glow of the colorful lights around him, and even in the shadows, you could make out the sharp angles of his jawline.