During the summer, the town's annual festival was a vibrant celebration of food, lanterns, and fireworks that stretched deep into the night. Hina stood in front of her mirror in a soft lavender yukata with a delicate floral pattern, her hair tied up with a silk ribbon. She turned to check the obi knot for the third time, heart pounding.
She hadn't worn a yukata in front of Yuto since they were children. This time felt different.
When the doorbell rang, she ran to answer it—only to freeze when she saw him at the gate.
Yuto, in a dark navy yukata with silver-gray detailing, sleeves rolled up just slightly, his hair perfectly tousled by the breeze.
He looked up and stopped too.
His breath caught. "Wow."
Hina flushed. "Don't stare."
"You look like a dream," he said, walking closer. "No fair. How am I supposed to stay calm tonight?"
She turned her face away quickly, cheeks burning. "Let's just go."
He offered his hand. She slipped hers into it without hesitation.
*****
The festival was alive with lights and sound. Children laughed, wind chimes clinked from booths, and the smell of grilled yakitori and fresh taiyaki filled the air.
Yuto bought them ramune and helped her scoop goldfish and in the middle of a firework burst, he gently slipped a small pink floral hair clip on her hairdo.
"It suits you," he murmured.
"Did you… plan this?"
"I just want to make this memorable," he said, his thumb brushing over her wrist.
She smiled, leaning into him as fireworks exploded overhead, casting their faces in red, gold, and violet.
And for a while, everything was perfect.
Later, Hina excused herself to use the restroom behind one of the vendor alleys. She told Yuto to wait at the food stall near the lantern bridge.
But when she stepped out, adjusting her yukata sleeves—
Reiki Hoshino was waiting.
He leaned casually against the wall, his own yukata slightly loosened, eyes glinting under the paper lanterns.
"You look beautiful tonight," he said, pushing off the wall. "Too beautiful to be left alone."
Hina stiffened. "What do you want, Reiki?"
"Just to talk. Maybe share a drink. Like friends."
"We're not friends," she replied, turning to walk past him.
He grabbed her wrist firmly. "Don't be cold. We can get to know each other better."
"You should know our fathers are rival," she attempted to free herself from him.
His eyes narrowed.
"You're really choosing him?" he hissed. "Daiki's kid? The quiet one who plays bodyguard?"
"Let me go."
Reiki's grip tightened. "No one's here. Just a quick kiss won't hurt—"
She tried to pull away, but Reiki's grip tightened, and in a sudden, forceful motion, he yanked her into the narrow alley behind the storage shed.
"Reiki, stop!" Hina shouted, panic rising. "Let go of me!"
But he didn't.
He shoved her hard against the wall with rough. One hand slammed against the concrete beside her head, blocking her escape, while the other snaked toward her waist.
Hina's breath caught. She moved on instinct, trained by years of karate, but the moment she tried, she felt it. She was outmatched. Her skills meant little against the wild strength of a man pushing with ego and desire, and this wasn't a dojo.
This was real. And she was not winning.
"I said stop!"
That's when Yuto's voice cut through the alley like a blade.
"Step away from her."
Reiki froze. Hina's eyes widened in relief.
Yuto's expression was pure ice. His yukata rustled as he moved toward them, his hand clenched into a fist.
"I said move."
Reiki laughed nervously. "It's just a misunderstanding—"
Yuto grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall opposite Hina.
"Touch her again and I won't just talk next time," he growled. "Hina is the only daughter of Ren Kazama. You think her father would let you breathe after this?"
Reiki sneered, but his voice faltered. "It's just a girl—"
Yuto's fist slammed into the wall beside his head. "She's not just a girl. She's mine."
Reiki flinched.
Yuto dropped him. "Get lost. Before I call Kazama-san myself."
Reiki scrambled to his feet and stumbled away into the shadows.
Yuto turned immediately to Hina, his expression shifting as panic replaced fury.
"Are you okay?" he asked, reaching for her.
She nodded shakily, her voice trembling. "Y-yeah. Just… shaken."
He gently pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against him. "I'm so sorry I should have insisted to accompany you."
She clutched his yukata tightly, her face buried against his chest. "I was scared."
"I'm here now," he murmured. "He's never touching you again."
Yuto didn't let go of Hina's hand the entire walk home.
Even as the lights and music of the festival faded behind them and the cool silence of the Kazama estate approached, he stayed close, his fingers curled gently around hers.
When they reached the gate, Yuto paused.
"You don't have to say anything if you're not ready," he told her softly. "But I have to tell your father."
Hina swallowed hard. "He'll be furious."
"I know," Yuto said. "But he needs to know. And I want him to hear it from me."
She nodded, her hand tightening around his. "I'll go up first. Take a bath. I… just need a little time."
Yuto gave her a warm look, leaned in, and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Go. I'll handle this."
*****
Inside the house, Ren Kazama was seated in the dim living room, still in a dark suit, sipping sake with the quiet focus of a man who rarely relaxed even at home.
He looked up the moment Yuto stepped in.
"You're back early," he said. "Where's Hina?"
"She's upstairs," Yuto said calmly. "Taking a bath."
Ren narrowed his eyes. "Did something happen?"
Yuto stood straight, hands loosely at his sides, but his voice was firm. "Yes. I need to speak with you."
Ren set his cup down slowly. "Go on."
Yuto didn't soften his words.
"At the festival, Hina was briefly separated from me after going to the restroom. Reiki Hoshino approached her. He flirted. She tried to walk away, but he became aggressive. He tried to force her into an alley. Tried to touch her."
Ren's entire body stilled.
"I arrived before he could do more," Yuto continued. "I stopped him. He left uninjured but I made my warning clear."
Silence.
The kind of silence that pulsed with a controlled fury beneath the surface.
Ren stood, slow and deliberate. His eyes were cold steel.
"And Hina?" he asked quietly. "Did he harm her?"
"No," Yuto said, shaking his head. "She was shaken. But not hurt. I got there in time."
Ren's jaw flexed, the vein in his temple tightening.
"If you hadn't…" he said, voice low, "I would be dragging the Hoshino boy's body out of a river right now."
Yuto didn't flinch. "I know."
Ren stepped closer. "And you protected her."
"Yes, sir."
"You took responsibility in the moment," Ren said, voice like stone. "Not just as her friend but as someone who intends to stand beside her."
Yuto didn't hesitate. "Always."
There was a long pause.
Then unexpectedly, Ren's shoulders lowered just slightly. Not with relief, but with something heavier. Something closer to fear.
"She's my only child," Ren said. "And there are too many people in this world who will try to use her to hurt me."
"I'll never let them," Yuto said. His voice was quiet but it rang with the weight of a vow.
Ren stared at him for a moment longer.
Then, with a slow nod, he stepped back.
"Thank you," he said. Not loudly. But clearly.
Yuto bowed deeply.
Ren looked toward the stairs. "Go to her. She'll need you."
Yuto straightened, and with a final glance of silent respect, turned and made his way upstairs.
The steam still clung to Hina's skin as she sat curled up on her bed, hair damp from the bath, wrapped in an oversized T-shirt that brushed the tops of her thighs. Her yukata had been folded and tucked away in the basket. The pink floral hair clip Yuto had given her sat on her bedside table, its soft chime still ringing in her memory.
There was a gentle knock at the door.
"Come in," she said softly.
Yuto stepped inside. He closed the door behind him without a word and crossed the room slowly. When their eyes met, Hina felt her throat tighten again, not from fear this time, but from the comfort of knowing he was here.
"Is it okay if I sit?" he asked, voice low.
She nodded. "Please."
He sat beside her on the bed, the mattress dipping beneath his weight. Then Hina leaned into him slowly until her head was resting against his chest.
Yuto moved just enough to wrap an arm around her, drawing her closer.
"I thought I was okay," she whispered. "But now that everything's quiet, I just… I keep thinking about what could've happened if you didn't come in time."
"You don't have to think about that," Yuto murmured, brushing his hand along her arm. "You're safe. That's all that matters."
"I felt so helpless," she admitted, voice shaking slightly. "I hate that someone like him thought he could—"
"You don't have to be strong all the time, Hina," he said, gently tipping her face up with his fingers. "You're allowed to be shaken. You're allowed to feel everything. That doesn't make you weak."
Her eyes glistened. "Then can I… just stay like this? Just for a while?"
He nodded, his forehead brushing hers. "As long as you want."
Their lips met. Yuto kissed her like he meant to erase every shadow Reiki had left behind.
And Hina kissed him back like she was finally letting herself fall, knowing she'd be caught.
When they pulled apart, Yuto pressed a kiss to her temple, then tucked her fully against his chest.
She nestled into him, her fingers resting lightly over his heart, feeling its steady beat beneath her palm.
"Can you stay a little longer?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Yuto kissed the top of her head.
"I'll stay till you fell asleep" he said.
And so, in the quiet sanctuary of her room, they lay side by side. For the first time in years, Hina fell asleep in someone's arms and she felt safe and protected.