Work Text:
Another day, another page.
Rohan adheres to his daily routine, quickly having breakfast before locking himself in his office to work on his manga as if it were the only thing he knows how to do, because in a way, it is. Ever since he started publishing his series "Pink Dark Boy" four years ago he has dedicated every single day to crafting the next chapter. Many would say it's an unhealthy habit, but the great Rohan Kishibe couldn't care less about the opinions of strangers. He doesn't expect them to comprehend the level of dedication that goes into his life's work—every sleepless night, every skipped meal, and every ache in his body. They are all sacrifices he willingly makes to maintain his level of professionalism and quality. His workaholic nature prevents him from living any other way that isn't through his art.
He finds himself in the midst of inking a page when the phone in his house starts ringing, piercing through his bubble of silence and tranquility. Against his will, he decides to rise from his desk to answer the call and put an end to this disruption as quickly as possible "Yes, this is Rohan Kishibe's residence. Who's calling?"
"Hello, Rohan-sensei! Good afternoon, how are you?" To his pleasant surprise, it's his friend Koichi Hirose on the other end of the line. Despite their close friendship, he wasn't expecting a call from him.
"Hello, Koichi. I'm fine, thank you for asking. Why are you calling me?"
"I'm sure you already know Sensei but today is the Tanabata Matsuri, and I thought it would be a great idea for all of us to go together as a group of friends! What do you say? Would you like to come?"
The mangaka remains silent for a moment, trying to recall what the younger one is referring to until he finally remembers that indeed, today is July 7th, the day of the Tanabata Matsuri. Honestly, it had slipped his mind completely, and if Koichi hadn't mentioned it, he probably wouldn't have realized. For someone like him, who remains unaffected by mundane distractions, this is just another day and nothing more "Thank you for the invitation, Koichi, but I think I'll pass. You know I have a lot of pending work."
"Are you sure, sensei? It won't take much time, just a few hours"
"Yes, Koichi, I'm sure"
"Alright, Sensei, I understand... If you change your mind, you can find us at the entrance at 9:00 pm, okay?"
"Sure, Koichi. Bye"
"Bye, Sensei!"
With the sound of a "click," he ends the call. He appreciates the gesture of Koichi wanting to include him, but festivals aren't of his interest and social events are not his forte.
Besides, Koichi mentioned it would be "all of us as a group of friends" so it's highly likely that the egotistical Yukako, the absent-minded Okuyasu, and the delinquent brat Josuke would be there too... Ha! The last thing he needs is to waste his evening and night with them
Rohan returns to his desk and resumes his work right where he left off, consuming his entire afternoon until the night sky gradually darkens, and the stars begin to twinkle above, mirroring the shimmering lights of the festival that illuminate the streets with their warm golden hues. Of course, Rohan remains oblivious to all of this as he remains absorbed in his creative bubble.
With a final stroke of ink, he declares the latest chapter finished. It has been a highly productive day, and he has managed to advance four chapters in total, ensuring he can stay ahead of his deadlines for at least another four months. Carefully pushing his chair back, allowing the weight of his body to sink into it, he only realizes how exhausted he truly is when he peels himself away from his pages to take a breath. It's then that his gaze casually falls upon the wall clock, which reads 8:47 pm.
Resonating within him is the conversation he had with Koichi earlier in the day "If you change your mind, you can find us at the entrance at 9:00 pm, okay?"
Should he go? The idea of spending his night in a noisy environment, surrounded by sweaty and odorous people due to the summer heat, enduring in the idiocies of Koichi's group of friends is closer to his idea of a "personal hell" rather than "fun." Despite knowing that the odds of having a good time are incredibly slim, if not nonexistent, an overwhelming sense of obligation weighs on his conscience. After all, Koichi was his friend and he took the trouble to call him and extend the invitation for a reason.
"Stupid emotional obligations" It was precisely because of situations like these that he had been happier when he had no friends and didn't have to worry about maintaining cordial ties. His manga would never do this to him.
Cursing inwardly, Rohan sighed and headed to his room to retrieve a yukata from his wardrobe. He opted for a dark green one with fine vertical lines in white—a truly beautiful yukata for which he remembered paying a good price. The quality of the fabric spoke for itself, but it was a shame he had never had a chance to wear it until today (although he fully admits that the fault lies with him for never leaving his house in the first place). Before leaving, he also grabbed a matching sensu. Despite being pressed for time, he knew that if he hurried enough, he could still arrive relatively early. He quickly changed into his yukata and left his house, heading straight to the predetermined meeting point.
After maneuvering through the crowded streets, he finally managed to reach the entrance. Although it took some effort, it didn't take him too long to spot the group of teenagers. "Alright, Rohan, just approach to say hello, and then you can leave" he comforted himself with this thought and took one final deep breath before approaching them.
"Rohan-sensei! I thought you wouldn't come. I'm so glad you're here!" Of course, Koichi was the first to greet him, seemingly the most (and perhaps the only) thrilled to see the mangaka had shown up
"Hello, Rohan-sensei" Yukako and Okuyasu followed suit with polite greetings respectively. Neither of them was particularly rude to him, but it was evident that they weren't nearly as excited as Koichi to see him there. He couldn't blame them; he wasn't making a great effort to hide his grumpy face and disinterest in the festival.
"Alright, now that we're all together, how about we start exploring the matsuri?" Koichi suggested.
"Shouldn't we wait for Josuke?" Yukako asked her boyfriend. Rohan hadn't wanted to say anything because it wasn't of his concern in the first place, but it was impossible not to notice the gaping hole left by the absence of the pompadour-haired guy.
"Josuke told me he wouldn't come" Koichi responded matter-of-factly, earning confused looks from everyone present.
"What? What do you mean he's not coming?" Rohan surprised himself as he realized he was the one inquiring about Josuke. Not that he cared whether the brat showed up or not anyway... but in the scenario he had envisioned in his mind for tonight, he had never factored in the delinquent's absence. It was already strange enough that he had chosen to take a break and come, but it was even stranger that someone as social and friendly as Josuke wasn't attending...
But why should he care? Right? He should be grateful that he wasn't here to make his night even more burdensome.
"I don't know, I also tried talking to him this morning to convince him to come, but he kept insisting he wouldn't be able to" Okuyasu added on this time
"Yeah, it's really a shame he couldn't come… but we can still have a good time even if it's just the four of us! What if we start touring the ikebana exhibits?" suggested Koichi encouraging his friends
"You guys go ahead. I'll go get something to eat, and then I'll catch up with you" Rohan decided that it wasn't part of his plans to stay any longer than necessary. It was already enough that he had agreed to come and greet them, but he had no intention of being dragged along all night. His plan was simple: he would buy something to eat and stay in the food area near the entrance for a few minutes until the group of youngsters had moved far enough away for him to sneak back home unnoticed. A straightforward and concise plan.
Once everyone went their separate ways, Rohan approached the food stalls and ordered a yaki onigiri, grateful for his stomach's sake. Although, due to his eccentric tastes, he had grown accustomed to consuming food exclusively served in the country's finest restaurants, he had to admit that nothing compared to the taste of a quick, homemade meal from a street vendor. Perhaps it was the accumulated hunger within him from all the hours he had focused on his manga without taking a break, but he would swear that the crispy texture of the grilled rice ball, accompanied by the sweet and savory flavor of the soy sauce, was a delight to his palate.
As he neared the end of his meal, he started walking back toward the festival entrance, ready to leave, but was suddenly halted by a familiar voice calling his name "Rohan?"
Of course, just as he was about to leave, he had to show up. Who else could it be?
Rohan turned his head toward the source of the sound, quickly spotting Josuke Higashikata approaching him with his signature pompadour hairstyle. Josuke was wearing a dark blue yukata adorned with small embroidered star details at the edges. For a moment, a fleeting thought crossed Rohan's mind that Josuke looked... cute. No, it was the yukata that was cute. Just the yukata and nothing else.
"What are you doing here, Higashikata?" The question came out harsher than intended, an involuntary reaction to the surprise of encountering Josuke there.
"The same as you?... To celebrate the Tanabata Matsuri...? I don't know what type of question is that sensei" Josuke responded, confusion evident in his tone. He seemed taken back by the question. While he had grown accustomed to Rohan's tendency to make snide remarks and engage in small conflicts, this interaction was unusual even for the mangaka.
"I know that, Higashikata. I meant why did you come? Your friends said they tried to convince you, but you declined"
"Oh yeah, about that... I really didn't feel like coming, but I guess the guilt of leaving them behind got to me, so I came out of obligation... What about you? When Koichi called me he said you wouldn't come either"
"The same as you, I'm here out of obligation. I was just planning to grab something to eat and leave"
"And you're eating alone? Aren't the guys with you?"
"No, they said they were going to go see the ikebana displays. You can catch up with them if you want"
"I'll probably join them in a few minutes, but first I wanted to grab something to eat. I'm starving. What do you recommend?"
"I bought a yaki onigiri. It was pretty good."
An uncomfortable silence hung between the two as Rohan noticed Josuke's gaze fixed on him until...
"And...?"
"What do you mean 'and'?"
"Yeah, like, you ate a yaki onigiri, and what else?"
"Nothing else, just the yaki onigiri."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN JUST A YAKI ONIGIRI AND NOTHING ELSE??? AND YOU WERE ABOUT TO LEAVE???" Josuke exclaimed, his surprise and anger evident. Without hesitation, he took hold of Rohan's hand and dragged him back to the food area against his will. The older man futilely attempted to free himself from Josuke's grip, but the younger boy had a firm hold "You can't be at a Tanabata Matsuri and just eat a yaki onigiri. You HAVE to try the rest of the food"
Rohan was about to protest, but deep down he knew it would be in vain considering how stubborn Josuke could be. It would be quicker and more efficient to simply eat something else just to appease him so he could avoid starting an unnecessary fight as all he would do would be to further extend his stay. They approached a food stall, with Rohan ordering soup dumplings while Josuke requested gyūtan. After a short wait, they both received their orders and began eating in silence.
He reluctantly admitted that Josuke was right. He needed to try more of the food before leaving. The hot and juicy flavor of the broth, combined with the softness of the dumpling dough, was delicious and worth savoring with each bite.
"Is it good?" Josuke asked, a satisfied expression on his face as he also enjoyed his dish
"Yes, it is. Why?"
"Can I have a taste?"
"You already have yours."
"Yes, but yours smells amazing. Please, sensei, just a bite, pleeeaaaase"Josuke pleaded, inching closer and closer to Rohan until their faces were uncomfortably close. Causing his face to blush at the unexpected proximity that had developed between them.
"Fine... but then you have to give me some of your gyūtan too" Rohan wasn't one to succumb to pleas, but he couldn't find the words to refuse Josuke's request... because he was annoying, of course! He had only agreed to make Josuke stop bothering him… no other reason.
Accepting the agreement, they exchanged a piece of their meals. Josuke took one of the soup dumplings and brought it to his mouth, while Rohan took a big bite of the tender yet juicy beef.
"It's really yummy! you did a really good choice picking this one"
"Of course it is. I always make the best choices" Rohan asserted with a hint of arrogance. As he glanced upward, he noticed a small droplet of soup lingering at the corner of Josuke's lips. Without thinking, he instinctively moved his thumb to wipe it away. It lasted only a fraction of a second, shorter than the flutter of a hummingbird's wings, but in that fleeting moment, he felt the gentle touch of his lips against his thumb, leaving behind a lingering kiss. Immediately realizing what he had done, Rohan swiftly withdrew his hand from the young man's face, although Josuke didn't seem particularly bothered by it "I think I should go now. I've stayed longer than I anticipated," Rohan stated attempting to end the encounter.
"Already? But we still have dessert left" the young delinquent pleaded
"Josuke, I don't have time for this. I need to get back to work"
"Please Rohan, it won't take long. Also, you can't have dinner without a good dessert"
Once again, those bright, imploring eyes were fixed on him. Of course, if anyone could waste his time, it had to be Josuke...
Fine, just dessert and nothing more, so he could finally leave. Grumbling inwardly, he reluctantly acquiesced to Josuke's proposition, and they began to explore the food section together until they stumbled upon a stand that caught their attention. "That one" he declared, pointing towards a small stall selling daifuku.
Approaching the stall they took a closer look at the various flavor options available, leaving Rohan torn between which one to choose. On one hand, he was drawn to the matcha flavor, as it had always been one of his favorites in the world. However, he also had a weakness for the combination of strawberry and chocolate. It was a truly difficult decision.
"Do you know which one you're going to get?"
"Not really. I'm torn between the matcha and the chocolate"
"Why not get both?"
"I'm too full. I don't think I can finish both."
"What if I buy one flavor, and you get the other?"
The artist agreed to the arrangement, and they each purchased a daifuku with a different flavor. Josuke opted for the chocolate, while he chose the matcha. They both took a bite from the center, allowing the sweetness of the strawberry to envelop their taste buds, accompanied by the soft and elastic texture of the mochi.
After swallowing, Rohan extended his hand, offering half of his daifuku to Josuke, expecting him to take it and exchange desserts. However, to his surprise, Josuke opened his mouth directly, accepting the sweet morsel from his hand. In response, Josuke extended his own hand, presenting half of his daifuku for the manga artist to try. However, as Rohan reached out to take it with his hands, Josuke quickly pulled it away, keeping it just out of his reach, while playfully shaking his head from side to side, insisting, "You have to say 'ahhh'"
"I'm not in the mood to be publicly humiliated, Josuke. Give me the daifuku" Rohan grumbled, making another attempt to retrieve the dessert. However, Josuke's height advantage worked against him, as his hand remained tantalizingly out of his reach.
"You have to say 'ahhh'"
"Josuke just give me the daifuku"
"I said 'ahhh'"
"Josuke"
"aaahh-"
"Josu-"
"aaaaaahhhhh-"
"Jo-"
"aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh-"
…
Fucking idiot.
He couldn't believe he was playing along with Josuke's silly games just for a piece of daifuku. Letting out a sigh of resignation, he reluctantly opened his mouth, uttering a small and almost inaudible "ahhh"... He couldn't believe that he, the great Rohan Kishibe, was subjecting himself to such humiliation. With delicate precision, Josuke placed the dessert onto Rohan's waiting lips, anticipating his bite.
"See? It wasn't so hard."
Rohan refrained from making any further remarks, as the sticky mochi on his palate and the lingering embarrassment in his mind rendered him speechless. Perhaps it was for the best, as any words directed towards the brat wouldn't be particularly friendly. That idiot was fortunate that the taste of the chocolate felt sweeter than ever.
"I should be leaving now" Rohan said goodbye once again to the young man, ready to head back to the entrance and make his way home. However, he hadn't considered that after enjoying the food and wandering through the stalls, they had inadvertently walked too far from the exit, nearly reaching the other end of the plaza. He glanced back at the path they had taken to get where they were, but quickly realized it was congested with a sea of people, blocking their way.
"I don't think we can go back this way. We should take the path through the game section; it's likely less crowded than here," Josuke suggested, observing the obvious crowd that had formed in the food area. He honestly didn't plan on staying with the older man any longer than necessary since he still had to meet up with the rest of his friends. However, upon seeing Rohan's confused and fatigued expression, he decided he could at least assist him in finding the way out. Taking his hand once again, this time with much more care than the first time, Josuke led him towards the game section where they could walk much more freely.
As they strolled through the games in their way to the exit, Rohan suddenly felt Josuke come to a halt, fixing his gaze on a stall with small water tanks filled with goldfish "Do you want to play Kingyo Sukui?"
"I don't play children's games, Josuke" he replied, completely dismissing the preposterous idea from the teenager. But Josuke knew precisely how to get under the his skin.
"Why not? Are you afraid I'll beat you?"
Like a spark igniting dynamite, this time it was Rohan who took the lead, hand in hand, straight to the game stall. He was determined to show Josuke that the great Rohan Kishibe wasn't afraid of losing.
The objective of Kingyo Sukui was simple: using a small scoop called "poi," players tried to catch as many goldfish as they could. The trick was that the scoop was made of a thin sheet of paper, making it very fragile and easy to break.
They both paid for a scoop and began to play. Josuke went first and carefully managed to catch one fish before his scoop broke.
"Ha! Just one? That was supposed to be easy. I just had to-" Rohan's scoop broke before he could even finish thinking.
"Alright, I'll just buy another one, and this time I'll handle it carefully-" His scoop broke, again.
"The third time's the charm, right?"
He bought a third scoop, and now, very cautiously, maneuvered it through the water, gently lifting it- IT BROKE AGAIN FOR FUCK SAKE
Anger was easily taking over him with each failed attempt, only making him more and more desperate.
"Do you need help?" He looked up to see Josuke with a ridiculous smirk from ear to ear. He had no doubt that he was enjoying seeing him so frustrated.
"No thanks, I can handle it myself," the artist replied with the sixth scoop he had prepared during the game... but it broke, too.
"Come on, let me help you." After buying a seventh scoop, Josuke positioned himself behind Rohan, holding his hands and slowly guiding them through the water until they finally found a small fish, perfect for their goal. With caution, they managed to lift the fish and put it into the plastic bag the vendor had given them earlier.
"Look! it has a grumpy face, just like you" the pompadour-haired boy pointed out, indicating the fish in the bag.
Rohan tried to ignore the comment, but he couldn't help hearing little contagious laughs coming from Josuke "What? What's so funny?" he finally asked, turning to face the boy who couldn't contain his laughter.
"I'm going to name him 'Rohan Fishibe'."
…
Fucking idiot.
The mangaka averted his gaze, attempting to maintain a serious expression and salvage what little remained of his image. His ego would never forgive him for laughing at Josuke's silliness, though he couldn't help but think he was doing a terrible job at concealing his amusement. "Then I'm naming mine Josuke Higaseakata because it has the same stupid face as you" he retorted.
"Thank god your job is drawing, not coming up with puns, because that was horrible" Josuke replied with a playful grin.
"You say that as if 'Rohan Fishibe' wasn't equally terrible," Rohan countered, trying to mask his growing smile.
"It's incredible, but you just don't have the sense of humor to understand it."
"If I have a sense of humor, it's you who doesn't have good jokes."
"My jokes are as good as my fishing skills."
"How are you so good at this game anyway? Or do you cheat like when you play cards?"
"I don't need to cheat; it's just a lot of practice. My grandfather always brought me to the Tanabata Matsuri since I was a kid, and every year I tried to take a goldfish home. The difficult part isn't catching the fish; the difficult part is making it look so easy."
"That's not fair; you already have years of experience"
"Weren't you the one who said it's just a children's game?"
"It's still not fair; I didn't know my opponent was a giant kid" As they walked, Rohan's attention was captivated by a small game stall that seemed perfect for a rematch "How many times have you played Daruma Otoshi?"
"Mmm, not many. I'm not really good at it. I rarely play it, I'm sure I can count on one hand the times I've won."
"Good" Without wasting a second, he grabbed Josuke's hand and led them to the mentioned game stall.
Daruma Otoshi was a relatively simple yet extremely tricky game. It consisted of a stack of blocks on top of each other, and the goal was to knock them down from the bottom using a small hammer without toppling the Daruma doll on top. But don't let its simplicity deceive you; Daruma Otoshi is a game that heavily relies on the principles of inertia and friction, so luck won't be enough to help you.
They both gave their best efforts, attempting several times without success. The farthest they got was on their fifth try, where Rohan managed to leave only two blocks under the Daruma before everything collapsed. Neither won anything this time, but at least they had fun for a couple of minutes. As they resumed their path towards the exit, they kept teasing each other about how bad they were at the last game "What's wrong, Josuke? I thought you were good at hitting things."
"That's because my specialty is fixing things, not destroying them"
"It shows; you're terrible at Daruma Otoshi."
"I just need a bit more practice, that's all. What about you? I noticed you did better than me. Do you usually come to play this every year?"
"Oh no, this is the first time I've come to a Tanabata Matsuri in years."
Josuke felt like his jaw dropped to the floor, unable to believe what he had just heard. He almost felt personally offended by how casually the mangaka said it. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE COME TO THE TANABATA MATSURI IN YEARS?!?!"
"Josuke, it's not a big deal."
"But it IS a big deal. It's an event that happens only once a year, and you say you've been missing it for years???"
"What am I missing, some food and a few fair games? I'm telling you, it's not a big deal."
"It's the Altair and Vega stars, literally the most important part of the matsuri, that's what you're missing." Josuke extended his hand as an invitation for the artist to take "are you coming or will you keep missing it?"
Rohan took one last look at the entrance, which was just a few steps away from where they were. He contemplated for a moment the possibility of leaving and going back home. Even though deep down inside, he knew it was the most logical option, it wasn't the one he desired. He firmly grasped Josuke's hand and allowed himself to be led wherever he wanted to take them. The younger boy guided them to a secluded area away from the attractions, entering the wilder part of the park where trees and vegetation began to dominate. Both ran through tall grass and puddles of mud, their yukatas getting dirty in the process, but neither of them cared at the moment. With each step they took, they moved further away from the festival lights, enveloped by the darkness of the night and the soft moonlight. They walked together for a few minutes until Josuke finally stopped near a small, long-abandoned rock altar, evident by its dirty and neglected appearance. They both sat on one of the equally neglected stone benches around it.
"So you brought me to see an abandoned piece of rock?"
"I didn't bring you here to see the rocks, look" Josuke used his free hand to draw the mangaka's attention to the starry night above them, and among the countless stars shining brightly, he pointed out two stars in particular. "That's the Vega star, and that's Altair"
The Tanabata Matsuri, also known as the Night of the Stars, held a special significance for its connection to the celestial tale of Princess Orihime, represented by the Vega star, and Hikoboshi, represented by the Altair star. Once a year, they could set aside their heavenly duties and obligations to reunite, a celestial love story etched across the night sky. Rohan was familiar with the folklore tale of the lovers, but he had never had the opportunity to witness their reunion with his own eyes. The sight before them was truly mesmerizing. Positioned in a secluded spot, they had the perfect angle to see the sky clearly without any obstructing lights or annoyances. Minutes passed, and they both found themselves gazing at the sky in silence, feeling the weight of unspoken emotions exchanged in the tranquility of the moment.
At one point, Rohan caught Josuke's eyes on him, unintentionally glancing sideways. "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?" he asked, a mix of sarcasm and warmth in his voice.
"Sorry, I guess I'm just not used to seeing you smile so much" Rohan questioned how long it had been since he had smiled without realizing it. His instinctive reaction was to hide his emotions, but Josuke stopped him.
"No, no, it's okay. It's not a bad thing; you have a lovely smile." Josuke returned a faint smile, hardly visible in the darkness of the night. Perhaps it was better that way; the darker it was, the more he could hide the slight redness on his face.
Their gazes returned to the night sky, both marveling at its beauty. Rohan couldn't help but wonder how Josuke had discovered this hidden location. "How do you know about this place?"
"My grandfather always brought me here every time we came to the tanabata Matsuri. He said the most important part of the festival was witnessing the meeting between Orihime and Hikoboshi."
"Why didn't you want to come today? It's obvious that you love the matsuri"
Josuke took longer than usual to answer, and Rohan had a feeling that he had probably touched upon a sensitive topic. But before he could change the subject, Josuke spoke up, "This is the first tanabata matsuri I've come to since my grandfather passed away. I didn't want to come because it didn't feel right without him… I guess I'm still not ready to accept that he's no longer here with me"
"I'm sorry" was all he could say, he didn't know exactly what to say and words never seemed to be at his side but at that moment that simple answer was the best way he could express his more genuine condolences
"It's okay. To be honest, I had more fun than I imagined"
"I also had more fun than I imagined"
"And what about you? You said you hadn't been to the Tanabata Matsuri in years. Why?"
Rohan fell silent, delving into memories of his childhood, where only blurry fragments remained. Afternoons spent with Reimi, savoring desserts and playing games with the innocent joy of a child. They attended every festival without fail, every festival until she...
The accident that followed left his memory hazy, and soon after, his parents decided to move from Morioh to Nagoya for his safety. Despite moving to a new place nothing in his life felt different, he was still the same lonely child without a place at a lively party like matsuri; so he would find his own place in the empty pages of paper. From there, drawing became his way of life.
Drawing to fill the void of loneliness.
Drawing until his hands hurt and his fingers cramped.
Drawing until he managed to publish his own manga in a major manga publisher at the age of 16.
Drawing until he had enough money to move out to a new site he could find a place of belonging.
Drawing until he became the Great Rohan Kishibe.
Drawing because it was the only thing that gave meaning to his existence.
"I guess I'm always busy drawing" was the simple way he encapsulated the weight of his life.
"So you're like the Princess Orihime" Josuke said
"Excuse me?"
"I mean, you're always working. It's like you only come out one day a year, and that turned out to be today."
Rohan turned his head again, ready to object to Josuke's comparison, but as he did, the words escaped him. Without realizing it, he had found an undeniable truth: that even if all the stars of the night sky were inside his eyes there were only two stars that shone brighter than any other. For the first time in his life he saw Altair and Vega face to face, and yet, all he saw was their reflection.
Both continued to gaze at the stars for what seemed like an eternity, time frozen in that fleeting moment. As long as they held each other's hands, the world remained still. Eventually, they stood up, preparing to return to the matsuri, but neither was quite ready to let go just yet.
"I hope you're not thinking of leaving without writing a wish first" Josuke said, catching Rohan by surprise. It reminded him that his original plan to leave for home as soon as possible had disappeared from his mind hours ago. The two approached a small table filled with colorful papers and pens, each taking one and starting to write their wishes.
"What are you going to wish for?" Josuke asked first, raising his gaze.
"I wish for inspiration so I can keep working on my manga" the mangaka replied, hanging his tanzaku on one of the nearby bamboo branches "and you?"
"For you to stop working for a day" Josuke responded, laughing, as it was now his turn to hang his tanzaku on the bamboo branches. His wish read: "I wish Rohan Kishibe attends the next Tanabata Matsuri"
He holded Josuke's hand tight and intertwined their fingers together. Tradition says that wishes don't come true until the bamboo leaves are burned or released into the river to reach the sky. However, Rohan believed that at that very moment, Orihime and Hikoboshi already heard them.