>You... are Shimmer Light.
>The Festival of Hearts begins in an hour, and you just knocked on Hexferry's door.
>"Come in!"
>... You were expecting her to actually open the door.
>You would've seen her dress and she'd see yours...
>You sigh and open the door.
>... So you'll just wait for...
>What are you waiting for, exactly?
"Hexferry?"
>She certainly isn't in this room.
>Her voice echoes from a few rooms away.
>"Sorry, just finishing up. I should be out in... three minutes?"
>... Right, she's still getting ready.
>That's about right; the usual correct time for earliness is an hour, as far as you know.
>... You've been ready for three hours.
>Meisa told you to do your mane and tail a certain way with your dress to... complement them, or something like that.
>Also, you made a few jewel accessories to match you and your dress.
>You now have a piece next to your ear and a few gems in your chest fluff.
>Everything looks good to you.
>...
>After a while, you hear a door open from a few rooms away.
>"Okay, Shimmer. I'm done. Still in the main room?"
"Yeah."
>"Okay..."
>Well, you may get that open-door reveal after all, because there's a door still between you.
>You can hear her walk to the other side of it.
>The doorknob jiggles and turns.
>... Slowly, the door opens to reveal.
>... Oh.
>Oh.
>She's... beautiful.
>Your heart gets lighter just by looking at her.
>She looks so elegant, so lovely, so... familiar...
>Something's odd.
>Her dress is a nice mix of light cyan and white, which works well with... her...
>Oh.
>Those are your colors.
>All of the sudden, you realize why your dress feels so familiar as well.
>They're hers.
>Well, her mane's colors but they're still there.
>You'll admit, none of the colors are exact, but they're easily close enough to make a connection.
>How did you not see it earlier?
>Your dress has the same general colors as her beautiful, flowing mane.
 
>... Oh, you're already in full-compliment mode.
>You're going to have to restrain from telling her how lost in her gorgeousness you are.
>Why is the room so hot all of the sudden?
>She's just so beauti-
>"Shimmer?"
>Oh right! Hexferry's right in front of you and you've just been staring at her and her absolutely... just...
>At least your running out of words to describe how hard you've fallen for her.
"S-sorry."
>She's blushing lightly.
>... That totally means she likes you.
>You really wish your brain would stop.
>This is painful.
>"Y-you look nice!"
>Okay, here's where you prove you can control yourself.
>Don't say anything romantic.
>Whatever you do, don't be so painfully obvious.
"... You look... beautiful..."
>... It's going to be one of those days.
>She blushes more and averts her gaze.
>"Y-yeah, Sequin did a really good job on it."
>Well, at least she's able to divert the compliment correctly.
>She obviously knows you called her beautiful, not the dress, but as far as she knows, it's possible you're just so out of touch with saying nice things, you might actually be talking about the dress.
>It's possible she believes you just say nice things in weird ways.
>If not, you should just give up now, because it's going to be a long festival.
>"Well, we should probably get going, right? The festival hasn't technically started yet, so the café isn't overpriced yet."
"But they aren't selling the festival treats yet either."
>She blinks and ponders for a moment.
>"Well, if we really want them, we can probably just get them later in the night. The café never runs out of anything during festivals, so we don't have to worry about that. B-besides, those treats are all about the holiday, so they're all..."
>... Right, they're all love-oriented.
>That's exactly how you feel, but...
>You really want to have a nice, romantic meal with her, yet you don't want her to think of it as romantic.
>Unless she has those feelings for you.
 
>Why is this room so hot, especially on your face?
>You'll make a decision on that later.
>For now, you two need to get the food before it's so overpriced.
"Yeah, let's go now."
>Hexferry gives you a warm smile and you both head out for the festival.
>...
>The walk to the café wasn't interesting... itself.
>It did give you more time to look at Hexferry's dress, though.
>The dress is pure and regal, but it also gives an air of approachability.
>The design of the dress itself folds over itself several times at the back of it, but...
>Maybe "folds over itself" isn't the best way of describing it.
>... It seems like it's sort of... bunched up, maybe? Like it's much longer than it seems to be, but it's pinned higher to make a design with many curves and folds...
>It looks much better than you'll ever be able to describe.
>There are many reasons you aren't a dressmaker.
>There's also a cape-like part to it, which goes over one side more than the other.
>Most of the dress is white, with the trim being cyan.
>It really reminds you of that dream you had a while ago, the one with the coliseum, staircase and...
>Hexferry sitting up top, waiting for you...
>How beautiful she was...
>... How beautiful she is.
>Oddly enough, her mane is styled very closely to how it was in that dream also.
>... Maybe you should stop thinking about her.
>For at least five seconds.
>Seriously.
>You wonder if you've become dependent on her very existence...
>The weather was incredibly nice, even though it's still Winter.
>Nature decided to be tolerable on the day you may need it the most.
>How convenient.
>... You both finally approach the café.
>Hexferry opens the door and holds it for you.
>The inside is completely decorated in a romantic way. Everything is some kind of pink, paper hearts are cut out and thrown everywhere and all of the tables are covered in lace.
>At the counter is... Birch.
>Just Birch.
 
>Minty is nowhere to be found, even though she owns the café half.
>"Hexferry, Shimmer! You both look amazing! Going to the festival together?"
>No, you're just dressed up nice because it feels good.
>... You're really glad you didn't say that out loud.
>Birch didn't have many choices on what to say, so she said what she could.
>As per usual, Hexferry speaks for both of you when talking to others.
>... You just don't like talking to moths you don't know as well as Hexferry or Meisa (though many of them, like Golden Corral, are still tolerable).
>"Well, we're just going as friends."
>... Right, as friends...
>"Shimmer's never been to a festival, so I'm showing her what they're like."
>That... is the main reason for this whole thing. You completely forgot about it.
>Birch tilts her head a little.
>"Then why are you both in full dresses? Aren't those usually for couples?"
>... You weren't aware of this.
>That would probably explain how Meisa figured out how serious you were about this; though that would mean it was completely by chance, because neither you nor Hexferry knew.
>Did Hexferry know?
>You look over to h-
>She's blushing intensely.
>"I-I-I didn't know that! W-why... Oh my goodness..."
>... You can't tell if she's telling the truth or lying very poorly, because both reactions would be exactly the same for her in this exact situation... you assume.
>What if she was aware of that?
>That would mean...
>She wanted to go as a couple.
>Everywhere is so hot today.
>That's still just a possibility, though, not a certainty.
>"Well, don't worry about it. Your dresses are both so good, I'd say it's worth going as a couple!"
>... If you weren't the only three moths in this store right now, you're sure every eye would be on you and Hexferry.
>The room is completely silent.
>You'd be beyond ecstatic to be a couple, but you don't know if Hexferry would feel the same way.
>She slowly turns to you.
 
>... You just stare at each other.
>Is she waiting for your opinion?
>You desperately hope she isn't.
>"Sh-Shimmer..."
>Fantastic!
>This is the best possible situation and not at all horrible!
>It's getting really difficult to breath.
>"... What do you think? Should we?"
>You can't feel your heart anymore, even though it was just pounding very painfully.
>Think of something.
>Don't mess it up.
>This is it.
>It's all over.
>Don't mess it up...
>You can't do it.
>This is the...
>... Don't mess it up.
"... I..."
>Your voice sounds terrible and strained beyond belief.
"... I'd... b-be fine... with it."
>... To be honest...
>That was probably the best you could do with that situation.
>You're still disappointed with yourself, but you couldn't have done any better.
>... Wait, no! You should've asked why! You should've asked what the difference was between going as friends and as a couple!
>It's too late.
>... It's too l-
>"Cool! That means you two can get discounts on things and can actually do everything in the festival!"
>Birch scared you half to death.
>"R-right! Now we can... do that! Good call, Shimmer!"
>At least she knows how to save the situation.
>If only there was at least one moth here who wasn't completely aware of every part of it, it might actually fool someone.
>This is probably the worst start to any date ever.
>This isn't even a date... or is it a date now?
>"Well, since you two are a couple, you can order from the Special Menu a bit early!"
>... You aren't opposed to it.
"W-we... might as well, right?"
>If you had your usual calm, you'd be so suave right now.
>Instead, you're a mess of stuttering moth.
>Hexferry isn't doing much better.
>She smiles nervously.
>"Yeah, we can do that."
>...
>It took you both a while, but you eventually paid for things from the Special Menu.
>Hexferry got the Sweet as Honey Cake, and you got the Lovers' Smoothie.
>... The waiting is pretty awkward.
 
>At least she can't tell when your looking at her.
>You absolutely love how your eyes are.
>Your head is tilted away to seem like you aren't looking at her, but you haven't looked away from her for a while now.
>She occasionally looks at you, but she mainly avoids it.
>If you weren't madly in love with her, you'd probably do the same.
>It's sad. You can't even control yourself.
>Birch walks to the table and places down you orders.
>It's a single slice of cake covered in luscious honey. The slice isn't really small, so you'd say it isn't a waste of money... as long as you have the couple's discount.
>That discount seems to subtly encourage love. In fact, this entire festival seems to do that.
>Obviously, because it's the Festival of Hearts, but it's also subtle alongside blatant.
>You appreciate the hidden tact of it.
>... Back to the food...
>The cake itself... looks incredibly dry.
>She probably should've gotten a drink with that.
>Your smoothie is a mix of strawberries, peaches and passion fruit.
>It certainly isn't a combination you would've ever though of.
>... For some reason, it has two straws in it.
>Whatever.
>Hexferry takes a bite out of her cake and you take a sip of your drink.
>... You can definitely understand why you've never had this mix before.
>It's really weird.
>It isn't bad, it's just... well, weird is the only word you can think of right now.
>Hexferry looks like she really likes the cake.
>She's already taken another bite of it.
>... On the next one, she seems to have a little trouble swallowing.
>You were right; it is way too dry.
>She continues, with difficulty, eating the slice of cake, while you sip at your smoothie.
>... It just takes a little getting used to.
>It's actually pretty good.
>... Hexferry doesn't look like she's doing very well.
"Hexferry, are you okay?"
>"Y-yeah, just..."
>Definitely dried out.
>"I just... need a drink."
 
>Her eyes wander down and stop on...
>Your smoothie.
>... Oh.
>Oh... That's why there are two straws.
>Oh...
>Why is every room in this village so hot?!
>Your face feels like it's on fire!
>Okay, you can do this.
>You know she's thinking of it, so you don't need to explain anything.
>This'll be the easiest thing you do today.
>You gently slide the smoothie closer to Hexferry.
>Her eyes widen and she her blush grows.
>"Sh-Shimmer?"
>... Of course you need to say something.
>Still, you can do this.
"... You need a drink, and I have a drink..."
>Hexferry looks back down at the smoothie.
>... She slowly picks it up and puts her mouth on the other straw.
>She gulps down a little bit of it and she wrinkles her nose.
>"Bleh, that tastes really weird."
>... That's not exactly what you were expecting, but you'll gladly accept it.
>Your heart gets lighter.
"Y-yeah... but it's good if you get used to it."
>She tentatively takes a few more sips.
>Her expression calms down with each and she nods.
>"Yeah, you're right. That's still really weird."
>She slides it back to you and finishes her cake.
>... Every sip you take feels like it tastes better, even though the taste is exactly the same.
>You don't know why you don't think this is gross all of the sudden. Just a month ago, you never would have done this...
>Right?
>After finishing her cake, Hexferry blushes and looks at you sheepishly.
>"... Can... have..."
>That cake is way too dry.
>You slide the smoothie back to her and allow her to finish it.
>After the last of it goes, she gives a light, relaxed sigh.
>"... Th-thank you. You didn't h-have to do that, you know..."
>You just nod.
>She smiles and looks away.
>"... So, to the festival?"
"S-sure.
>...
>The festival... was absolutely amazing.
>There were decorations everywhere, events going on, games to play, places to eat at and several other things geared toward togetherness with a... partner...
 
>You and Hexferry played many games, which you won a few prizes at, and stayed active for most of it.
>... You learned you suck at darts...
>At least Hexferry doesn't. She won a giant stuffed strawberry for you, so you carried that with you most of the night.
>To make it even, you won a prize through a "Which cup is it under?" game. You chose a giant stuffed pineapple and gave it to her, which made her laugh.
>Goodness, her laugh was so cute.
>You felt better just by hearing it.
>The next hour was spent looking at the beautiful things everywhere.
>Everything seemed to be in full bloom somehow, even though you know nature doesn't work that way.
>Maybe this holiday changes nature somehow.
>That'd be interesting.
>There've been more absurd things.
>... You feel like you were constantly walking closer to her while looking at everything.
>Well, you weren't really looking at everything equally, because for every second you spent looking at anything at all, you spent another looking at Hexferry.
>She's just so beautiful beyond anything else!
>She fits the exact feeling you had in that dream: beauty above all, both physically and emotionally.
>At one point, you noticed something you weren't expecting... even though it seems obvious now.
>There was a dance.
>So badly, you wanted to ask her to it, but... you just never got the courage.
>You both walked past it as though you didn't even notice it.
>... To be fair, it was a bit in the distance, so it's possible Hexferry didn't notice it.
>... You just wish you'd brought it up...
>At least the rest of the festival, up until now, was great.
>Now, you're sitting next to her on a hilltop.
>... Well, you're leaning on her...
>Still.
>You're pretty tired from all of it and she is too.
>Usually, you'd be asleep at this time, so you can't expect yourself to stay up much longer.
"Hexferry, what are we waiting for?"
>"Don't worry, it'll start soon."
 
>She just continues to look into the sky.
>... You do the same.
>... Even then air out here is really hot, but that's fine with you.
>Everything about this day is just so... beautiful.
>It makes you feel so great inside.
>You adjust yourself and subtly lean on Hexferry a little more.
>... Maybe it wasn't subtle enough, because she looks at you.
>"Shimmer..."
>Okay, you're being too obvious about it, but you don't really care anym-
>"You're smiling."
>... What?
>"You're smiling! Shimmer, I've never seen you smile before!"
>She hugs you tightly.
>You're smiling? You don't remember being able to do that.
>Maybe Hexferry's just that good for you.
>Just being with her helps you enjoy life.
>... A loud whistling sound goes in the distance.
>"Oh it's starting!"
>She doesn't stop hugging you, but she does adjust herself so she can also see the sky.
>The sky explodes with light and color. A pattern of a heart goes out and fizzles into the darkness.
>Before you can think about it, more go off, brightening the sky with many other love-like patterns.
>...
>The lights continued on for quite a while, and you nuzzled closer to Hexferry as they went on.
>It's possible she knows how you feel.
>... It's possible she's known for a long time.
>Though there's still a chance she doesn't know.
>... Still, you won't say it.
>Not yet.
>This day has been too amazing to possibly ruin by saying something she doesn't want.
>You won't be selfish.
>Hopefully, you'll be able to get enough courage to ask her soon.
>For now, you'll enjoy your probably one-sided love with a smile on your face.
>You think you finally understand what true perfection is...
>... This.