The hours fly by before I even notice.

  After grabbing snacks, we explore the rest of the shopping center, hopping between all the attractions they prepared for the festival. We battle each other in VS games at the arcade, buy little gifts from different shops, and even get compatibility readings.

  Ari and Maika score a perfect match.

  Tama and I get one that reads: Growing Closer.

  We laugh so much our LuminWeave glows bright yellow all afternoon.

  Eventually, we end up in a karaoke bar.

  Loud drums and electric guitar blast through the speakers as flashing lights sweep across the room. Tama stands center stage, throwing her arms wide and bouncing in rhythm as she sings.

  I wore the halo the till it burned my skin

  Now cracks appear and you wanna give in

  Each blink I take I measured by your eyes—

  “Waiting for the moment your love dies~” we shout as background vocals.

  The guitar slows, building tension as Tama drives into the final pre-chorus.

  The pedestal’s breaking under me

  I rise up from the roots so painfully

  Call it a fall or call it disgrace

  But you won’t see tears run down my face~

  Then the beat drops.

  Sorry but I’m still your Idol tonight!

  “Woah oh~”

  Even when you cast me out of sight!

  “Woah oh~”

  You tried to tear me from the wall

  But you’re the one who’ll burn and fall

  The goddess bleeds but won’t bow down

  Still the only head to wear this crown

  The final guitar strum echoes through the room before cutting out.

  Tama stands there panting, flushed and glowing, half-exhausted from her performance.

  We erupt into applause, laughing and cheering.

  “Phew~” Tama breathes, dipping into a dramatic bow. “Thank you—huff—you’re all too kind!”

  “You’re such a good singer, Tama!” Ari beams, hugging the stuffed spider plushie Maika bought her.

  Maika nods. “Yeah, and I love the song you picked.”

  Tama lifts a finger. “Huff—huff—one sec…”

  She grabs a glass of water and chugs it down, then sets it aside with a sharp gasp.

  “Thanks!” she says, popping back up with a bright smile. “It’s from my favorite band, BKKS.”

  “I’ll have to look them up,” Maika laughs.

  Then Tama turns toward me. “So, what did you think, Bunny-chan?”

  “I thought you were amazing!” I say quickly, nodding a little too hard. “Your singing got me super hyped!”

  Her smile widens. “Hyped enough for you to sing a song?”

  My breath catches and the room suddenly feels smaller.

  “Ah—no no no no!” I shake my head. “I made it very clear I wouldn’t be singing tonight.”

  “Aww, why not~?” Ari groans dramatically, hugging the plushie tighter to her chest.

  Maika nudges her gently. “Ari. We shouldn’t pressure Rika. If she’s shy, we need to respect that.”

  “But you were doing just fine with the background vocals of my song,” Tama says, tilting her head at me.

  My cheeks heat instantly.

  “That wasn’t singing,” I protest. “I was just cheering you on.”

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  It was easy when everyone else was loud. Easy when my voice blended into the noise.

  But singing alone feels… different. It feels exposed.

  “And besides,” I add quickly, “we only have time for one more song anyway.”

  “Then it should be a duet between the two of us~!” Tama grins.

  I don’t know why, but that idea suddenly makes my stomach twist.

  “I think we’ve all heard enough duets for today.” I glance pointedly at Ari and Maika.

  Ari rubs the back of her head with a sheepish laugh. “Yeah… we might’ve gone a little overboard.”

  “No!” Tama huffs, pointing at her. “Those love songs were beautiful. I’d listen to a hundred more if you two sang them.”

  Maika smiles. “Maybe the four of us should come to karaoke more often.”

  “We should hang out more in general!” Ari claps her hands together. “I’ve had so much fun!”

  “See?” I cut in quickly. “No need to ruin such a good time with my awful singing voice.”

  Tama flops onto the couch and props herself up on her arms, leaning far too close to my face. “But we’ve never even heard you sing.”

  Her playful grin shifts into something stubborn. Focused.

  My eyes slide away from hers, and my heart skips a beat.

  The air feels heavier, like it’s pressing in around me. My LuminWeave slowly fades from bright yellow back into pink.

  I don’t like singing in front of people, and not like this.

  The only time it ever feels easy is when it’s just me and—

  I swallow the thought before I can finish it.

  Maika notices immediately.

  Her gaze flicks from my face to the color shifting along my sleeves.

  “Uh, Tama,” she says gently, reaching out a hand. “I think—”

  Beep beep beep!

  All of us turn toward the timer on the wall as it flashes zero.

  “It looks like we ran out of time arguing,” Ari says softly.

  “Should we book another slot?” Tama asks.

  “No.” Maika stands a little too quickly. “There’s still plenty we need to do before the festival ends.”

  She pulls Ari up with her, her eyes lingering on me for half a second longer than necessary.

  “Yeah,” I say, forcing a small smile. “We should probably go.”

  Tama blinks as I maneuver around her.

  Ari and Maika head toward the door, but I stop just before leaving and glance back.

  “Don’t worry,” I say. My colors flicker uncertainly between yellow and pink. “I’m still having fun. That’s what today’s about, right?”

  Tama pauses.

  Then her bright smile snaps back into place. “Yeah! You’re right!”

  She stands and walks toward me, offering her hand.

  I hesitate, my gaze drifts from her fingers to her face.

  But I eventually slide my hand into hers and we leave together.

  ?

  “Last call for custom heartbeat charms!”

  All four of us pause.

  A female clerk stands in front of a small storefront, one hand raised high as she calls out to passing couples. Above her, a bright neon sign reads ‘Custom Print Shop’, the entrance draped in thick black curtains that swallow the light behind them.

  “Come make custom charms to give your partner during the final exchange!” she announces.

  Ari gasps dramatically. “I can’t believe we almost forgot to get our heartbeat charms!”

  She grabs Maika’s arm and pulls her toward the shop without hesitation.

  Tama and I blink at each other.

  “Heartbeat charms?” we say at the same time.

  Ari and Maika disappear through the curtains. We hurry after them, and the moment I step inside, I nearly squint from the sudden brightness.

  The interior is flooded with white light. Once my eyes adjust, I see a large open room lined with sleek 3D printers humming along the walls. Each machine works nonstop, shaping resin and metal into tiny, intricate charms that glow faintly as they cool.

  Ari and Maika rush toward a woman in an all-white uniform and frilly apron standing behind a pedestal counter.

  The hostess’s smile widens as they approach. “Welcome! Are you here to make custom charms for the Heartbeat Festival?”

  Maika shakes her head politely. “Actually, we ordered ours this morning but forgot to pick them up.”

  “That’s no problem at all. May I see your confirmation codes?”

  Maika opens her holo-screen, the code hovering above her palm and Ari does the same. After a moment, the hostess retrieves two small velvet boxes from beneath the counter and hands one to each of them.

  Ari lifts hers carefully. “So this is the one I made, right?”

  “That’s correct,” the hostess replies. “And once the festival ends, you’ll exchange it with your partner during the final event.”

  “Great!” Ari squeals. “Eeeeee~ I’m so excited~!”

  Maika laughs softly and squeezes her hand. “Yeah. Me too.”

  My breath catches at the way they look at each other.

  I turn toward Tama.

  “Should we make some?” I ask.

  “Heck yeah!” she blurts, grinning from ear to ear. “This’ll be super fun!”

  I can’t help smiling back. “Alright then.”

  Ari and Maika step aside as we approach the pedestal.

  “Hi,” I say, trying to sound confident. “Can we make custom charms too?”

  “Of course!” the hostess beams. “There’s just a small delivery fee so we can get the finished charms to you after closing.”

  “That’s fine,” I reply, then glance quickly at Tama. “And… I’ll be paying for both of us.”

  The hostess nods approvingly. “Wonderful. Just follow me.”

  We follow the hostess to a small table tucked near the back of the shop. Two tablets sit across from each other, angled so we can’t see one another’s screens.

  “Here you go,” the hostess says brightly. “Once you decide what you want your special partner’s charm to look like, you can enter the details here. You can type a prompt, sketch a doodle, or upload reference images—whatever you’d like.”

  I take my seat first. Tama drops into the one across from me.

  She tilts her head. “So… we’re not allowed to see what the other person is making?”

  “Of course not!” Ari laughs. “They’re supposed to be a surprise!”

  “What are we even supposed to make?” I ask, picking up the stylus.

  “Anything,” Maika says gently, resting a hand on my shoulder. “But if it’s a heartbeat charm, it should represent your relationship.”

  My fingers still.

  Represent our relationship?

  “Ahh, I see…” Tama murmurs, then turns to me with a mischievous giggle. “We got this!”

  I nod, but hesitation creeps up my spine.

  Tama’s smile fills my vision. My focus narrows on her sharp, shark-like teeth peeking through her grin.

  I let out a quiet laugh. “I think I already have something in mind.”

  “Perfect!” the hostess claps. “Let’s get started!”

  I lower the stylus to the screen.

  I don’t draw anything flashy or complicated. Just something that feels like Tama.

  Something strong. Confident. Something that could keep me safe.

  The lines come to me easily once I begin.

  Across from me, Tama mutters to herself, occasionally huffing in concentration, but after a while, the hostess clears her throat.

  “Um… sorry, miss. I don’t think our printers can handle something this intricate in a single session.”

  “Huh~?!” Tama whines.

  I glance up. The hostess, Ari, and Maika are all crowded behind Tama’s tablet.

  “Wait—what did she draw?” I ask instinctively.

  “Oh no,” Maika laughs. “We can’t spoil it.”

  “Can I at least save a copy?” Ari snickers, covering her mouth.

  “Maybe try something a little simpler?” the hostess suggests kindly.

  Tama groans dramatically. “Aww, fine…”

  I feel the urge to peek over her shoulder, but I stop myself.

  Even if she’s deleting it… I don’t want to ruin the surprise.

  After some adjustments, we finally finish our designs.

  The hostess collects the files with a satisfied nod. “Thank you so much for stopping by!”

  The four of us wander the shopping center a while longer, laughing about Tama’s “overengineered masterpiece.” We’re having so much fun we barely notice how quickly the time flies by.

  By the time we return to the main lobby, the atmosphere has changed.

  The lanterns glow softer now. The chatter has lowered into something warmer, expectant.

  Ari and Maika drift a few steps ahead of us before turning around, their hands interlocked.

  “Well,” Maika says quietly, her eyes soft as they flick toward Ari, “the night’s almost over.”

  Which means there’s one last event.

  I glance at Tama, a faint blush creeping across my cheeks.

  “Yeah,” I murmur. “I know.”

  “And we’ve got this, right Bunny-chan?” Tama grins, confidence radiating off her like it’s contagious.

  I nod. Because of course we do.

  The Heartbeat Dance.