Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The glow of orange fairy lights wrapped around the front porch like a warm invitation, flickering against the crisp October air. The scent of cinnamon and caramel apples hung in the air, mixing with the laughter and bass of music spilling from the open door.

Kou Minamoto adjusted his vampire cape for the third time, frowning at his reflection in the window. “Why do I look like I got this costume from the discount bin?” he muttered, tugging at the fake fangs that made him lisp.

From behind him, a teasing voice sang, “Because you did.”

Kou spun around to see Mitsuba Sousuke leaning against the porch railing, pink wig glinting under the fairy lights, a smug smile painted on his glossed lips. He was dressed as a ghost — in the loosest sense of the word. The oversized white hoodie with a cartoon ghost on it, paired with ripped jeans and pink sneakers, made him look more like a fashion model who’d misunderstood the assignment than an actual ghost.

Kou blinked. “That’s your costume?”

Mitsuba grinned. “It’s ironic. Ghost. Get it?”

Kou opened his mouth, then shut it again. “You could’ve just said you didn’t want to dress up.”

“I did dress up! I’m a very stylish ghost.” Mitsuba flicked a strand of pink hair over his shoulder dramatically. “You should be thanking me for even coming. Parties aren’t exactly my thing.”

“You mean socializing isn’t your thing,” Kou teased.

Mitsuba rolled his eyes. “You say that like it’s a bad thing. Anyway, you’re one to talk — you’ve been standing on the porch for, what, ten minutes? Afraid to go in?”

Kou blushed. “I was waiting for you!”

“Sure, sure. Totally not nervous.” Mitsuba smirked and brushed past him, heading inside.

Kou followed, pretending the pounding in his chest was from the loud music and not from how Mitsuba’s perfume — sweet and just a little sharp, like candy apples — lingered in the air between them.

 

---

Inside, the party was a riot of color and chaos. Fake cobwebs hung from the ceiling, plastic bats dangled from strings, and the punch bowl in the corner glowed faintly under a blacklight. Someone had set up a Polaroid photo booth with a pumpkin backdrop, and every few minutes, a flash went off as people posed in silly costumes.

Mitsuba wandered toward the snack table, inspecting the treats like a food critic. “These cupcakes look like they were decorated by toddlers.”

“Don’t say that too loud,” Kou whispered, leaning in. “Nene made them.”

Mitsuba froze mid–eye roll. “...Oh.” He picked up a cupcake and took a cautious bite. “Actually, they’re not bad.”

Kou laughed. “You’re such a liar.”

“I’m not lying! It’s called being polite.”

“You? Polite?” Kou grinned. “That’s new.”

Mitsuba gave him a mock glare but there was a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Keep talking, vampire boy, and I’ll stake you myself.”

“Please don’t,” Kou said, clutching his chest dramatically. “I just bought this cape. It’s limited edition.”

“From where? Spirit Halloween?”

Kou blinked. “...Yeah.”

Mitsuba snorted so hard he nearly dropped his cupcake.

 

---

Later, they ended up sitting on the back porch, away from the noise. The night was cooler now, and Mitsuba had draped his hoodie over his shoulders, sipping from a cup of the neon-pink punch. The faint sound of laughter and music drifted through the cracked door.

“Okay,” Mitsuba said suddenly, turning to Kou. “Honest question: if you could be any Halloween monster, what would you be?”

Kou tilted his head, thinking. “Maybe a werewolf. They’re loyal. And strong.”

“Predictable,” Mitsuba said with a smirk. “You totally give golden retriever energy.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It wasn’t.”

Kou chuckled. “What about you?”

Mitsuba leaned back, eyes glinting under the moonlight. “A ghost, obviously. They can walk through walls, disappear whenever they want, and no one can tell them what to do.”

Kou watched him for a moment, the way the soft glow of the lights made Mitsuba’s pink hair shimmer. “You’d still find a way to make haunting someone fashionable.”

“Obviously. I’d be the best-dressed ghost ever.”

Kou smiled, then hesitated. “You know… you actually look really good tonight.”

Mitsuba blinked, caught off guard. “W-what?”

“Your costume,” Kou said quickly, cheeks reddening. “It suits you.”

Mitsuba turned away, pretending to sip his punch. “You’re such a dork.”

“Hey, I’m serious!”

“I know,” Mitsuba murmured, almost too quietly. “That’s the problem.”

For a second, the world seemed to pause — the music faded, the laughter dimmed, and all Kou could hear was the sound of his heartbeat.

 

---

“Hey!” Nene’s voice broke the moment as she swung the door open. “You two are missing the photo booth! Come on, we’re doing group pictures!”

Kou looked at Mitsuba, who sighed but stood up. “Fine, but if anyone messes up my hair, I’m haunting them for real.”

They joined the others by the pumpkin backdrop. The Polaroid camera clicked and flashed as everyone squeezed together. Mitsuba stood next to Kou, their shoulders brushing. When someone shouted, “Make a scary face!” Mitsuba turned to Kou at the last second — and Kou turned toward him too.

The photo captured the moment perfectly: Kou wide-eyed in surprise, Mitsuba smirking with that little tilt of his head that made him look effortlessly photogenic.

When the photo developed, Mitsuba snatched it before anyone else could see. “This one’s mine.”

“Why? You look evil in it!” Kou said.

“Exactly,” Mitsuba replied with a satisfied grin, slipping the photo into his pocket. “It’s perfect.”

 

---

As the night wound down, people started to leave, trailing laughter and fake cobwebs out the door. Kou and Mitsuba lingered behind, helping clean up.

Kou was stacking empty cups when Mitsuba suddenly asked, “Did you have fun?”

Kou looked up. “Yeah. You?”

Mitsuba shrugged. “It wasn’t horrible.”

Kou laughed softly. “That’s your way of saying you had a great time.”

“Shut up,” Mitsuba said, but there was no bite in his tone. “It’s just… nice. You know. Doing something normal.”

Kou nodded, his voice gentle. “Yeah. I’m glad you came.”

For a moment, Mitsuba looked like he wanted to say something more. But instead, he pulled out the Polaroid from earlier, glancing at it with a small smile. “Here.”

Kou blinked as Mitsuba handed it to him.

“I thought you said it was yours.”

“I changed my mind,” Mitsuba said. “You look too stupidly happy in it for me to keep it.”

Kou grinned. “You’re terrible at giving compliments.”

“Who said it was a compliment?”

Kou tucked the photo carefully into his pocket anyway. “Thanks, Mitsuba.”

The ghost boy smiled faintly. “Don’t make it a big deal.”

 

---

When Kou walked him home later, the streets were quiet except for the rustle of fallen leaves. The moon hung low, and their breath misted in the cold air.

At the door to Mitsuba’s apartment, they stopped.

“Well,” Mitsuba said, crossing his arms. “This is where I say ‘goodnight’ and you say something awkward.”

Kou laughed nervously. “You know me too well.”

“I know.” Mitsuba smirked, then hesitated. “Hey, Kou?”

“Yeah?”

“Next time there’s a party… ask me to come again.”

Kou blinked. “You mean you actually want to go to another one?”

Mitsuba’s lips twitched. “Only if you’re there.”

Kou’s heart stuttered. “Then… it’s a deal.”

Mitsuba smiled — soft and genuine this time — before turning and disappearing inside.

Kou stood there for a long moment, hand in his pocket, fingers brushing the Polaroid. When he pulled it out, the flash had captured something the camera hadn’t intended: Mitsuba’s smirk, the faint blush dusting his cheeks, and the way their shoulders leaned together just slightly, like gravity itself had decided they belonged that close.

Kou grinned, whispering to the empty street, “Happy Halloween, Mitsuba.”

From somewhere above, a faint laugh echoed down the hallway.

And maybe, just maybe, the ghost costume wasn’t such a stretch after all.

 

---

🎃 👻 🍬

Chapter Text

The moment Nene Yashiro stepped into the house, she knew Hanako had gotten into the candy again.

“Hanako!” she groaned, hands on her hips as she scanned the decorated living room. “Did you seriously eat all the candy corn before the party even started?”

From behind the snack table, a familiar head of dark hair popped up, cheeks suspiciously puffed. “...No?”

“Don’t ‘no’ me!” she said, marching over. “You’ve got orange sugar all over your face!”

Hanako grinned, totally unashamed, wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his black-and-gold magician costume. “You mean my handsome magician’s face?”

Nene sighed, but the corner of her lips twitched. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet you still love me,” he said, eyes gleaming mischievously.

“Unfortunately,” she said with a fond roll of her eyes.

 

---

It was the same Halloween party Kou had begged her to throw, and somehow she’d agreed. The living room was glowing with warm orange lights, plastic pumpkins, and a DIY cobweb photo booth she’d made the night before. Mitsuba had approved of her decorations with a curt “acceptable,” which Nene considered high praise.

Hanako, of course, had immediately taken over the snack table like it was his throne.

“Your costume’s adorable, by the way,” he said now, reaching over to fix the pumpkin hairclip she’d placed in her curls.

Nene blushed. “It’s just a witch costume. I didn’t want to go overboard.”

“You could wear a bedsheet and still look cute.”

“Stop.”

“Never.”

She tried to glare at him, but the way his grin softened when he looked at her made her cheeks warm.

 

---

As more guests arrived, the party got louder. Someone started a playlist of Halloween classics — “Monster Mash,” “Thriller,” the works — and Mitsuba was loudly critiquing everyone’s costume choices while Kou hovered beside him, red-faced but smiling.

Nene was ladling out cups of neon-pink punch when she felt Hanako’s presence at her shoulder. “You’re working too hard,” he said.

“I’m not! I’m hosting,” she replied, pouring another cup.

Hanako leaned closer, his voice dropping. “Hosts are supposed to have fun too.”

“I am having fun!”

“Really?” His tone was teasing. “Because you’ve spent most of the night making sure everyone else does.”

She turned to protest, but the soft look in his eyes made her pause.

Hanako took the cup from her hand, setting it down. “Come on, Nene. Dance with me.”

Her eyes widened. “W-what? Right now?”

“Why not? The song’s perfect!”

The song had just switched to “I Put a Spell on You.” Hanako grinned like fate had personally given him permission.

Before she could object again, he’d caught her hand and pulled her toward the middle of the room.

 

---

Nene stumbled into him with a yelp, but his hand caught her waist easily. He twirled her once, clumsily but confidently, like he’d practiced just for this moment.

“Hanako!” she whispered, half laughing, half mortified. “People are watching!”

“Good,” he said, eyes glinting. “They should know I’m dating the cutest witch in town.”

She swatted his arm. “You’re ridiculous.”

He only laughed, spinning her again until they were both dizzy and grinning like kids. When the song faded into another, Hanako dipped her dramatically — and she shrieked before bursting into laughter.

From across the room, Mitsuba muttered to Kou, “They’re so gross.”

Kou snorted. “You love it.”

“Shut up.”

 

---

Later, after most of the guests had moved outside to the bonfire, Nene found herself on the quiet back porch. The air was cool, the night sky a wash of violet and silver. Fairy lights framed the railing, and from somewhere in the distance, someone was laughing — probably Mitsuba again.

Hanako joined her, holding two cups of leftover punch. “Truce gift,” he said, offering one.

She accepted it with a small smile. “I wasn’t mad.”

“I know. But I like giving you excuses to forgive me anyway.”

She rolled her eyes, sipping her drink. “You’re so cheesy.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“Sometimes it is.”

He chuckled, resting his elbows on the railing beside her. “You did good, you know.”

Nene looked up. “What do you mean?”

“The party,” he said simply. “Everyone had fun. You made it feel… warm.”

She blushed again, looking down at her cup. “I just wanted everyone to enjoy themselves. It’s been a stressful month.”

Hanako nodded. “Yeah, but you also made me happy tonight.”

Nene blinked at him. “You? You’ve been happy since you saw the candy corn.”

He grinned. “True, but that’s not what I meant.”

His tone was softer now, and Nene’s heart fluttered. “Oh.”

“I meant…” He hesitated, eyes flicking toward hers. “You make everything feel lighter, Nene. Even when things are crazy or busy or — or full of sugar and fake cobwebs — if you’re there, I’m happy.”

She looked at him for a moment, eyes wide. “Hanako…”

He smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. That probably sounded super lame, huh?”

“Yeah,” she said softly. “But also kind of perfect.”

For a few seconds, they just stood there, the fairy lights casting tiny reflections in Hanako’s golden eyes.

Then Nene leaned forward and kissed him — quick, shy, and sugar-sweet.

Hanako froze for half a heartbeat before grinning against her lips. “Careful, witch. You’ll put another spell on me.”

She laughed, hiding her face in his shoulder. “You’re so annoying.”

“And you love me for it.”

“Maybe.”

 

---

They stayed out there a while longer, talking and laughing under the stars. Every now and then, Hanako would sneak another piece of candy from his pocket and offer her one like it was a secret treasure.

At one point, Mitsuba opened the back door and yelled, “If you two start making out near the punch bowl again, I’m leaving!”

Nene turned bright red. “We weren’t—!”

But Mitsuba was already gone, cackling down the hall.

Hanako sighed dramatically. “He’s so jealous of our love.”

“Hanako!”

He just laughed, tugging her closer. “Okay, okay. I’ll behave. Maybe.”

 

---

When the party finally wound down, Nene walked Hanako home — or rather, they walked together, their hands brushing and intertwining as they went. The streets were quiet except for the occasional crunch of leaves underfoot and the distant hum of a streetlight.

“Do you ever think about next Halloween?” Nene asked suddenly.

Hanako tilted his head. “You’re already planning it?”

She shrugged. “Maybe a little. It could be fun to do a matching costume.”

Hanako’s grin widened instantly. “Oh, we have to! How about magician and assistant again?”

“We already did magician!”

“Then witch and familiar?”

“That’s kind of cute.”

“Or vampire and victim.”

“Hanako!”

He laughed so hard he nearly tripped. “You’re adorable when you’re flustered.”

“Keep talking and I’ll turn you into a toad.”

“Promise?”

She gave him a look, then broke into laughter. “You’re hopeless.”

“And yours,” he said softly.

Her smile softened, the teasing melting into something tender. “Yeah,” she whispered. “You are.”

 

---

They reached her door, the porch light flickering above them. For a moment, neither of them said anything.

Then Hanako held up a small Polaroid photo — one Mitsuba must’ve taken earlier in the night. It showed the two of them mid-spin on the dance floor, both laughing, faces blurred with motion but unmistakably happy.

He handed it to her. “A souvenir. For next year’s party.”

Nene looked at it, then at him. “You’re keeping one too, right?”

“Of course,” he said. “But I figured you should have the first one.”

She smiled softly, tucking the photo into her bag. “Thank you.”

“Anything for my favorite witch.”

She rose on tiptoe and kissed his cheek, then whispered, “Happy Halloween, Hanako.”

He grinned, brushing a thumb over her hand before stepping back. “Happy Halloween, Nene.”

And as he walked down the street, fireflies of orange light reflecting in his eyes, Nene thought that maybe — just maybe — this was the kind of magic she’d been looking for all along.

 

---

🎃 👻 🍬

Chapter Text

By the time Akane Aoi arrived at the Halloween party, it was already chaos.
Someone had spilled punch on the snack table, Mitsuba was arguing about the “correct way to wear a cape,” and Hanako was loudly trying to convince Kou that eating three cupcakes in a row was a “Halloween tradition.”

Akane blinked, clutching the strap of his bag. “Wow,” he murmured. “They’ve really outdone themselves this year.”

“Akane! Over here!”

He turned just in time to see Nene waving him over from the corner, dressed in a witch costume with a little broom charm dangling from her hat. “You made it!” she said brightly. “You’re late!”

“Yeah, sorry,” he said, adjusting his dark trench coat. “Teru wanted to ‘fix’ my costume.”

“Fix it?”

Before Akane could answer, the door swung open again — and in walked Teru Minamoto, dressed in a perfectly tailored vampire suit that probably cost more than Akane’s entire closet. His cape swished behind him dramatically, and his confident smile drew more than a few glances.

Akane groaned. “Case in point.”

“Aw, come on,” Teru said, grinning as he approached. “You look great, Akane. The coat really brings out your—”

“My what?” Akane deadpanned.

“Your mysterious loner aesthetic.”

“...Thanks, I guess.”

Nene giggled. “You two match! Vampire and vampire hunter!”

Teru slung an arm around Akane’s shoulders. “Exactly what I was going for. A duo costume!”

Akane gave him a look. “You said you were dressing as a ‘charismatic nobleman.’”

Teru smiled innocently. “Same thing.”

 

---

As the party went on, Teru effortlessly slipped into his usual role — charming, popular, and slightly infuriating. He complimented everyone’s costumes, helped refill drinks, and somehow still managed to hover around Akane the entire time.

Akane, meanwhile, tried to act unaffected — though his face was noticeably red every time Teru leaned in too close.

“Relax,” Teru whispered once when Akane nearly dropped his cup. “You look like you’re being hunted.”

“I am,” Akane muttered. “By you.”

“Guilty.”

“Please stop.”

“Never.”

Teru’s grin was blinding, and Akane could feel his heartbeat tripping over itself like a clumsy rabbit.

 

---

At one point, Mitsuba and Kou dragged everyone into a costume contest.

“Category one: best couple costume!” Mitsuba announced, waving a clipboard.

Hanako immediately threw his arm around Nene. “We’ve got this in the bag!”

“Absolutely not,” Nene said, swatting him.

Kou and Mitsuba were bickering over whether “vampire boyfriend and reluctant ghost” counted as matching, and Teru leaned toward Akane, whispering, “You know, we could totally win this.”

Akane blinked. “What?”

“We’re a perfect pair — hunter and vampire, sworn enemies turned secret lovers—”

“Stop talking immediately.”

Teru chuckled, eyes sparkling. “I’m just saying, people love a dramatic plotline.”

Akane crossed his arms. “You’re unbelievable.”

“And yet here you are, still standing next to me.”

Akane didn’t have a comeback for that — which only made Teru’s grin widen.

 

---

Eventually, Mitsuba declared everyone winners “because he was tired,” and the crowd dispersed toward the backyard bonfire.

Akane stayed inside, tidying up the snack table just to have something to do. The quiet felt like a relief — until he realized Teru had followed him.

“You know, most people come to parties to relax,” Teru said, leaning against the counter.

“I am relaxing.”

“By reorganizing cupcakes?”

“It’s called being useful.”

Teru smiled, stepping closer. “You’re cute when you’re defensive, you know that?”

Akane froze. “Wha— don’t call me cute.”

“But you are,” Teru said, voice softening. “Especially when you’re trying not to blush.”

“I’m not blushing!”

“You’re definitely blushing.”

Akane turned away, pretending to adjust the napkins, his ears burning.

Teru’s laugh was low and warm. “Alright, alright. I’ll stop teasing.”

He didn’t.

 

---

Later that night, after most guests had drifted outside, Akane found himself sitting on the porch steps, the distant chatter and crackle of the bonfire fading into background noise.

He looked up at the sky — a spill of stars across the dark. The chill in the air bit at his fingers, and he rubbed his hands together, breath misting.

A moment later, something warm settled around his shoulders.

He glanced back. Teru was standing behind him, having draped his cape over Akane’s back.

“You’ll get cold,” Teru said simply.

“I’m fine,” Akane muttered, though he didn’t give the cape back.

Teru sat beside him, close enough that their knees brushed. “So, did you actually have fun tonight?”

Akane hesitated. “...Yeah. It was nice. Loud. But nice.”

“Good. I was worried I’d have to drag you into another dance just to get you to smile.”

Akane snorted. “You’d love that.”

“Guilty again,” Teru said with a smirk. “Though I have to admit, I kind of liked watching you roll your eyes at me all night.”

“You like annoying me?”

“I like you. The annoying part is just a bonus.”

Akane blinked, caught off guard. “You’re joking.”

Teru’s smile softened. “No, I’m not.”

The quiet that followed wasn’t uncomfortable — it was steady, warm, threaded with the sound of crickets and laughter in the distance.

Teru glanced at him again, his voice gentler now. “You know, you don’t have to be so serious all the time. It’s okay to just… let yourself be happy, Akane.”

Akane frowned slightly. “I am happy.”

“I know. But sometimes it feels like you’re waiting for permission to be.”

That made Akane pause. He didn’t have an answer for it.

So instead, he said quietly, “You really like giving speeches, huh?”

Teru laughed. “Maybe. But only for the right audience.”

 

---

A gust of wind blew through, making the fairy lights overhead sway. Akane pulled the cape tighter around himself, and Teru smiled faintly, watching him.

Without thinking, Teru reached out, brushing a leaf from Akane’s hair. “There,” he said. “Perfect.”

Akane’s heart skipped. “You’re really bad at boundaries, you know that?”

“Maybe,” Teru said. “But you don’t seem to mind that much.”

Akane opened his mouth to deny it — and then closed it again. “You’re impossible.”

Teru’s grin softened into something almost shy. “You like impossible things.”

“Apparently,” Akane muttered.

Teru laughed quietly, and the sound was warm enough to rival the bonfire.

 

---

They sat like that for a while, talking about nothing and everything — school, dumb TikToks Kou showed them, Nene’s party-planning obsession. It was easy. Natural.

At one point, Teru reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny pumpkin-shaped lollipop. “Last one,” he said. “Want it?”

Akane gave him a look. “You’re offering me candy now?”

“It’s a peace offering.”

“For what?”

“For all the teasing.”

“You’re not sorry.”

“Not even a little.”

Akane shook his head but took the lollipop anyway. “Thanks.”

When he unwrapped it and popped it into his mouth, Teru chuckled. “You even make eating candy look dignified.”

“Do you ever stop flirting?”

“Only when I’m asleep.”

Akane sighed, though a small smile crept onto his face. “You’re unbelievable.”

Teru leaned in slightly, eyes glinting. “And yet, here you are — still sitting with me.”

Akane looked away, pretending to focus on the stars. “Yeah, well… it’s peaceful here.”

Teru smiled. “Then I’ll try not to ruin it.”

“You already did,” Akane said, but the words were soft, not sharp.

 

---

Eventually, the party died down, and the fairy lights flickered as the last guests left. Nene waved goodnight from the doorway, dragging a half-asleep Hanako behind her.

Akane stood, stretching, and handed Teru back his cape. “Thanks for the loan.”

“Keep it,” Teru said. “It looks better on you.”

Akane rolled his eyes but draped it over his arm anyway. “You’re such a flirt.”

“And you secretly love it.”

“I tolerate it.”

Teru smiled, stepping closer. “That’s a start.”

For a moment, they just stood there under the soft glow of the porch lights, faces inches apart.

Then Teru’s voice dropped, quiet but certain. “Next year, matching costumes again?”

Akane blinked. “You’re already planning next Halloween?”

“Of course. I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”

Akane laughed — a rare, genuine sound that made Teru’s heart skip. “Fine. But no more vampire stuff.”

“Deal,” Teru said. “Then we’ll be—”

“If you say ‘angel and demon,’ I’m leaving.”

Teru’s grin widened. “You read my mind.”

Akane groaned. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet…” Teru leaned in, eyes soft. “You’re still here.”

Akane hesitated, then smiled — small, real. “Yeah. I am.”

 

---

As they walked home together, the last of the Halloween lights twinkling behind them, Akane caught Teru humming under his breath — some old tune, cheerful and quiet.

And for the first time that night, Akane didn’t feel the need to roll his eyes or pretend to be annoyed.

Because maybe, just maybe, having someone impossible beside him didn’t feel so bad.

---

🎃👻🍬

Chapter Text

By the time the party had died down, the house had fallen into a comfortable kind of quiet — the kind that settles over everything after laughter has faded and music has stopped. The backyard was still glowing faintly with leftover fairy lights, their orange and gold reflections rippling across the grass.

Sakura stood near the fence, her fingers loosely wrapped around a paper cup of lukewarm cider. Her witch’s hat had long since been abandoned on the snack table, and her hair was loose now, drifting slightly in the breeze.

The night was cool, scented faintly with pumpkin spice and smoke from the dying bonfire. She liked this part — when everything was slower, when everyone else had already gone home.

Almost everyone.

Because from the porch, a familiar voice called, “I knew you’d still be here, Sakura-san.”

Natsuhiko stepped into the faint light, his vampire cape askew and his tie loosened. His usual grin was a little smaller now, softer around the edges, like he’d finally run out of energy for showmanship.

Sakura turned slightly, smiling just a little. “You didn’t leave with the others?”

“And miss my chance to keep you company?” He walked over, his footsteps quiet on the damp grass. “Not a chance.”

She arched a brow. “I thought you were allergic to silence.”

“I’m adaptable.”

“Mm. That would be new.”

He laughed quietly at that, rubbing the back of his neck. “You wound me, Sakura-san.”

“Only gently,” she said, taking a sip of her cider.

 

---

They stood together for a while, neither speaking. The last of the lights flickered, and a paper lantern by the fence swayed in the wind, casting soft orange circles across their faces.

Natsuhiko glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “You always stay behind after things end, don’t you?”

Sakura looked down at her cup. “Someone has to make sure everything’s really done.”

“You mean cleaned up?”

“Not just that.” She paused. “It’s nice to see things quiet. After the noise.”

“Yeah,” he said, his voice lowering. “It is.”

She turned slightly, surprised by how calm he sounded.

He noticed and chuckled. “What? You didn’t think I had a quiet mode?”

“Not often,” she admitted.

“Well,” he said, smiling faintly, “I save it for special occasions.”

“Like the end of a Halloween party?”

“Exactly.” He took a step closer, brushing a stray leaf off her shoulder before she could. “Can’t let the evening end without one last moment of atmosphere.”

Sakura tilted her head. “Atmosphere?”

“You know,” he said, gesturing vaguely at the lanterns, the sky, the half-empty cider cup. “The part where everything’s still, and you look at someone and think — this feels right.”

She blinked, surprised by the honesty tucked behind his words. “You’re being unusually poetic.”

“I’m being unusually honest,” he corrected gently.

The wind picked up, fluttering his cape. He laughed softly under his breath. “Maybe I’ve had too much sugar.”

“Or maybe you just mean it.”

He glanced at her, eyes softer now, the playful sparkle dimmed into something warmer. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “Maybe I do.”

 

---

The silence that followed wasn’t awkward. It was the kind of quiet that held more meaning than words could. The faint creak of the lanterns, the chirp of distant crickets, the hum of the house behind them — all of it settled between them like a slow heartbeat.

Sakura looked up at the sky. “The stars are nice tonight.”

“Mm.” Natsuhiko followed her gaze. “You’d think they’d be brighter out here.”

“They are,” she said. “You’re just not looking long enough.”

He smiled at that. “You always say things like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like they mean more than one thing.”

She didn’t answer, just smiled faintly into her cup.

 

---

After a while, Natsuhiko reached into his pocket and pulled out a small wrapped caramel. “Last piece,” he said. “You want it?”

Sakura shook her head. “You keep it.”

He held it out anyway. “Sharing’s the spirit of Halloween, isn’t it?”

When she didn’t take it, he carefully unwrapped it, split it in half, and held one piece out to her again — this time in his open palm.

She hesitated, then took it, their fingers brushing for just a moment. The touch was light — brief, but enough to send a faint warmth up her arm.

“See?” he said, smiling softly. “Now it’s officially shared.”

Sakura popped the caramel into her mouth, the sweetness dissolving slowly. “You’re very persistent.”

“It’s my best quality,” he said, mock-proudly.

“I’d say it’s your most exhausting one.”

He laughed again, softer this time. “That too.”

 

---

Another few minutes passed like that — quiet and easy.

Then, from the house, a voice called out, “Natsuhiko! You still alive out there?”

It was Teru, sounding amused and slightly tipsy.

Natsuhiko groaned. “Barely.”

Sakura hid a smile behind her cup. “You should probably go before they come looking for you.”

“Let them,” he said. “I’m having a better time here.”

“You’re impossible.”

“Maybe. But you didn’t tell me to leave.”

Sakura looked down at the ground, pretending to study the shadows of the lanterns. “You’d stay anyway.”

He grinned, delighted. “You do know me.”

“I try not to.”

“Not very hard,” he teased, and she let out a quiet laugh — small but real.

 

---

When the clock inside struck midnight, the lanterns began to dim. Sakura set her empty cup aside and straightened up. “I suppose that’s our cue.”

“Guess so.” Natsuhiko reached up to gently take down one of the lanterns, the paper glowing faintly between his hands. “You know, I think this one’s my favorite.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re standing next to it.”

She gave him a look that was somewhere between exasperation and fondness. “Still flirting?”

“Always.”

“You never get tired?”

He smiled faintly. “Not when it’s you.”

She didn’t say anything to that, just reached over, fingers brushing his as she helped him lower the lantern. Together, they set it on the porch railing, watching as its light flickered low, then steadied again.

The glow washed over them — gold and soft, blurring the edges of everything else.

 

---

“You know,” he said after a moment, his tone lighter again, “if this were a movie, this is where I’d ask for your number.”

Sakura looked up at him with a small smile. “You already have it.”

“I do?”

“You’ve texted me six times this week about snack preferences.”

“Oh.” He blinked, then grinned. “Then this is where I’d ask if you’ll go to the next party with me.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Next year’s Halloween?”

“Or something sooner,” he said. “I hear fall festivals are romantic.”

“Are they?”

“They could be.”

She studied him for a moment, the way the lantern light curved against his face, softening even the mischief in his eyes. “We’ll see.”

“That sounds like a maybe.”

“It is.”

Natsuhiko’s smile brightened, not with his usual confidence but with something quieter — a genuine, easy warmth. “Then it’s a date.”

Sakura didn’t reply, but she didn’t deny it either.

 

---

When they finally left, the lanterns flickered out one by one behind them. The air was cold now, but it didn’t feel unfriendly — just calm, the way things do when the night’s ending and the world has settled.

They walked side by side down the sidewalk, the streetlights stretching their shadows long across the pavement.

Natsuhiko shoved his hands into his pockets. “You know,” he said casually, “I think tonight went pretty well.”

Sakura smiled slightly. “For you or in general?”

“For both of us.”

“I’ll admit,” she said softly, “it wasn’t bad.”

He grinned. “Coming from you, that’s practically a declaration of love.”

Sakura’s laugh was quiet but genuine. “Don’t push your luck.”

“Never,” he said, though his tone made it sound like he absolutely would.

 

---

As they reached the corner, Sakura glanced up at the sky one last time. “The stars are brighter now,” she murmured.

Natsuhiko followed her gaze, smiling faintly. “Guess I finally looked long enough.”

She turned to him, her expression warm in the faint glow of the streetlight. “Maybe you did.”

And for once, Natsuhiko didn’t have another joke waiting. He just smiled — soft and content — as the two of them walked on into the quiet, the last trace of lantern light fading behind them.

---

🎃👻🍬

Chapter Text

The air smelled like cinnamon and cold leaves — that in-between kind of day where the sun was still warm but the wind whispered that winter was coming soon.

Kou spread out a plaid blanket on the grass with exaggerated effort. “Okay! Officially flat! Nobody move it!”

Mitsuba immediately stepped on the corner with one pink sneaker. “You’re welcome.”

“Mitsuba—!”

“Relax, hero boy. It’s fine.” Mitsuba plopped down anyway, adjusting his scarf like he was posing for a magazine cover.

Hanako was nearby unpacking snacks, humming something vaguely off-key while Nene rearranged thermoses of hot chocolate. “You brought way too much food,” she said.

“There’s no such thing as too much,” Hanako replied, grinning. “Besides, Teru eats like three people.”

“I heard that!” Teru called from where he and Akane were trying to coax a small, suspiciously uneven portable grill to light.

Natsuhiko appeared behind them, carrying a paper bag in one hand and waving the other dramatically. “Fear not, everyone — I have brought pastries! Fresh! Probably!”

Sakura followed at a calmer pace, holding a basket of tangerines and tea cups. She gave a tiny sigh at his flourish. “He almost dropped them twice.”

“But I didn’t!” he said proudly.

Hanako clapped his hands together. “Okay, everyone’s here — fall picnic commence!”

 

---

The group sprawled across the blanket in a jumble of colors — oranges, browns, and flashes of pink and red. Leaves drifted down now and then, landing in cups of cocoa or getting stuck in Mitsuba’s hair (which he swore was on purpose).

Nene poured hot chocolate for everyone, carefully passing mugs around. Hanako had already stolen one, adding extra whipped cream from a can he’d somehow hidden in his sleeve.

Kou leaned over with a grin. “Hey, careful, Mitsuba — whipped cream alert.”

Mitsuba gave Hanako a deadpan look. “I swear, if you spray that anywhere near me—”

Hanako aimed the nozzle innocently. “Who, me?”

Nene sighed, “Don’t start.”

Too late.

Hanako grinned, Mitsuba grabbed the can, and within thirty seconds they were both laughing, sticky, and very much not helping Kou clean the blanket.

 

---

Teru finally got the grill lit (miracle of miracles), and Akane handed him skewers of marshmallows.

“You’re surprisingly good at this,” Teru said.

“I camp,” Akane replied simply.

“You? The mysterious indoor type?”

“I like quiet places,” Akane said. “With fewer loud people.”

Teru smirked. “You mean fewer me.”

Akane’s lips twitched. “Exactly.”

Teru gasped dramatically. “Cruel. Accurate, but cruel.”

Akane chuckled softly — a sound Teru wasn’t used to hearing often — and Teru smiled to himself, letting the quiet stretch comfortably between them.

 

---

On the other side of the blanket, Natsuhiko had flopped onto his back, one arm over his eyes. “Ahh, this is the life. Blue sky, good food, beautiful company—”

Sakura’s voice cut in gently. “You forgot to say ‘cool wind.’”

He peeked at her through his fingers. “Ah, yes. The cool wind, which will soon knock over my pastry bag if you don’t grab it.”

Sakura leaned forward and caught it before the breeze could carry it away. She set it neatly beside him and said, “You’re welcome.”

Natsuhiko smiled up at her, softer now. “You always save me.”

“It’s not hard,” she replied, but her tone was fond.

 

---

Meanwhile, Mitsuba had somehow ended up wrapped in Kou’s jacket.

“I told you to bring your own,” Kou said.

“It didn’t match my outfit,” Mitsuba said, snuggling deeper into the sleeves.

“That’s not an excuse.”

“It’s the excuse.”

Kou laughed, shaking his head. “You’re impossible.”

Mitsuba smirked. “And yet you still give me your jacket.”

Kou pretended to sigh, but the way he looked at Mitsuba made the teasing lose its edge. “Yeah. I do.”

 

---

As the afternoon mellowed into gold, conversation drifted between them — classes, plans, upcoming festivals. Someone had brought a tiny Bluetooth speaker, and low music played under the chatter.

Nene leaned against Hanako’s shoulder, tracing shapes in the picnic blanket. “It’s nice like this,” she said. “No chaos, no ghosts, no parties to clean up.”

Hanako chuckled. “Just snacks and you.”

She nudged him. “You and your sweet tooth.”

“Can I help it if sweetness attracts sweetness?”

“Stop being smooth.”

“Never.”

 

---

Across the blanket, Teru looked over the group with a faint grin. “You know,” he said, “it’s weird seeing everyone not causing trouble.”

Akane snorted. “You say that like you’re not the cause half the time.”

“Me?” Teru said, hand to his chest in mock offense. “I’m the picture of responsibility.”

Natsuhiko chimed in lazily, “He’s got a point, Akane. That grill nearly exploded.”

Teru pointed his skewer like a sword. “And yet you’re eating my marshmallows.”

“Fair trade,” Natsuhiko said with a wink.

Sakura quietly pushed another marshmallow toward Teru’s plate. “Here. Peace offering.”

Teru’s grin softened. “See? Sakura gets it.”

“Only because I don’t want burnt sugar on my blanket,” she replied.

 

---

After a while, the wind picked up — cool enough to make everyone pull jackets tighter. Nene passed around a thermos of apple cider, and Mitsuba insisted on snapping a group photo “for memories.”

“Everyone squish together,” he ordered. “Kou, you’re blocking the light. Hanako, stop eating. Natsuhiko, look alive.”

“I am alive,” Natsuhiko said. “Barely.”

Teru threw an arm around Akane’s shoulders, grinning wide. “Say pumpkin spice!”

The shutter clicked.

The photo came out a little crooked, a few blinks, a few half-smiles — but it felt exactly right.

 

---

As the sun began to dip, the light turned soft and copper. The music faded, and conversations slowed until they were just murmurs and laughter over rustling leaves.

Nene leaned back, sighing happily. “This might be my favorite part of the whole season.”

Hanako nodded. “The part where you get to rest after all the fun?”

“Exactly.”

“Then,” Hanako said, “we should make this a tradition. Every year — after Halloween, same spot, same blanket.”

Mitsuba perked up. “As long as there’s food and photo ops, I’m in.”

Kou grinned. “And as long as you don’t make me carry everything again.”

Teru stretched his legs out. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll even bring better charcoal.”

Akane side-eyed him. “You mean you’ll make me bring it.”

“Teamwork,” Teru said, unbothered.

Natsuhiko lifted his cup of cider. “To annual autumn chaos.”

Sakura raised hers too, smiling faintly. “To warmth.”

“And to us,” Hanako added with a wink.

Their cups clinked together, the sound bright and small in the open air.

 

---

The last rays of light painted the park in gold. Somewhere nearby, a child laughed, and a dog barked, and the world felt simple for a while.

Kou was showing Mitsuba how to skip leaves like frisbees; Nene was pretending not to notice Hanako sneaking marshmallows into her pocket; Teru was poking at the dying coals while Akane quietly gathered cups; and Natsuhiko was telling a story too dramatically while Sakura listened, smiling into her tea.

It was easy, and maybe that was the best part — not the big moments, but these small, unremarkable ones that somehow meant everything.

 

---

When the sky finally slipped to twilight, they packed up slowly. Mitsuba fussed about folding the blanket “aesthetic-first,” and everyone ignored him.

As they started walking home, the group fanned out across the path — pairs falling naturally into step. Hanako and Nene ahead, Kou and Mitsuba bickering quietly, Teru and Akane arguing about directions, and Natsuhiko and Sakura bringing up the rear.

The wind tugged at their scarves; leaves crunched under their shoes. Someone laughed — maybe everyone did.

Sakura glanced at the others, her expression soft. “They’re happy,” she said quietly.

Natsuhiko smiled beside her. “Guess the spell worked.”

“What spell?”

“The one where we all get to have a good day.”

She looked at him, amused. “That’s not how spells work.”

He shrugged. “Maybe this one does.”

She didn’t disagree.

 

---

When they reached the park gates, Hanako called, “Same time next year?”

“Absolutely!” Nene said.

“Only if Mitsuba brings cookies!” Kou added.

“Only if Kou carries the cooler!” Mitsuba shot back.

Teru slung an arm over Akane’s shoulder. “It’s a deal.”

And Natsuhiko turned to Sakura, whispering just loud enough for her to hear, “You’ll come too, right?”

Sakura smiled, eyes reflecting the last glint of sunset. “Of course.”

 

---

The group drifted apart down the quiet street, laughter echoing long after. The scent of caramel and woodsmoke lingered in the air, the kind that always means something good just happened.

And maybe, in that simple moment between seasons — with warm hands, soft scarves, and hearts just a little lighter — they all realized that some magic doesn’t need ghosts or spells at all.

Sometimes, it’s just found in afternoons like this one.

 

---

🎃👻🍬