Miko adjusted her bandana, attempting to tame her unruly auburn hair. She wore a deep burgundy button-up shirt, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, paired with dark jeans and her favorite worn-in boots. Turning to Y/N with a nervous grin, she asked, "Ready for your surprise?"
Y/N, dressed in a soft pink sweater that complemented their complexion, along with a flowing skirt and ankle boots, raised an eyebrow. "You've been hyping this up all week. If it's another trip to that run-down karaoke bar where there's barely room to stand, we might have to reconsider our date spots."
Miko laughed, her blue eyes twinkling. "Nope, no cramped karaoke bars this time. Promise."
They walked hand in hand down the cobblestone path, hearts fluttering in sync. Miko's fingers felt slightly clammy—she'd never been great at planning romantic gestures. But tonight was different. Tonight, she wanted everything to be perfect.
As they rounded the corner, Y/N's jaw dropped. The park pavilion was transformed into a glittering paradise. Fairy lights dangled from the beams, weaving a delicate canopy of golden stars. Paper hearts of all sizes fluttered in the gentle evening breeze, some taped to the pillars, others hanging from thin threads that swayed above. The ground was sprinkled with rose petals, forming a path that led to a small, candle-lit table draped in crimson silk.
"Miko... did you do all this?" Y/N's voice was barely above a whisper.
Miko's cheeks flushed. "Well, I had some help... and almost set myself on fire with the candles... but yeah. Happy Valentine's Day."
Y/N squeezed Miko's hand. "It's beautiful."
They moved to the table, where a small speaker softly played a familiar love song. Miko pulled out a chair with a dramatic bow. "Your throne, my love."
Y/N laughed. "You dork."
Just as they settled in, a man with a guitar emerged from behind a tree, strumming the opening chords of a familiar tune. Miko's eyes widened. "Oh no..."
Y/N looked curious. "You hired a musician? That's... actually sweet."
Miko's face fell. "I didn't. I have no idea who that is."
The guitarist launched into a terribly off-key rendition of "My Girl," his voice cracking on every high note. Y/N covered their mouth to stifle a laugh, eyes watering from the effort. Miko's face was a mixture of horror and disbelief. "I swear this wasn't part of the plan!"
They tried to ignore the serenade, but it was impossible. Every note was worse than the last, and the man's exaggerated facial expressions made it all the more hilarious. Y/N finally broke, laughing so hard they had to clutch their stomach. Miko buried her face in her hands. "This is a disaster..."
Y/N wiped away a tear, shaking their head. "No... it's perfect."
Miko looked up, confused. "How is this perfect?"
"Because it's us. Nothing ever goes smoothly, but it's always memorable." Y/N reached across the table, taking Miko's hand. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."
Miko's expression softened, her thumb brushing over Y/N's knuckles. "You're really something, you know that?"
Before Y/N could respond, the guitarist ended his song with a dramatic flourish, blowing kisses to his imaginary audience. He gave them a thumbs up before disappearing back behind the tree.
They burst into laughter, leaning into each other as the fairy lights above them twinkled like stars. The hearts fluttered around them, caught in the soft breeze, as they shared a kiss under the glowing canopy.
Maybe it wasn't perfect. But it was theirs. And that made it the best Valentine's Day ever.
