Viola invited me to the festival.
The moment her words sank in, my eyes widened slightly.
I don't think she'd ever suggested something like this before. Viola never struck me as the type to enjoy crowded, lively events. If anything, I'd always thought she preferred quiet corners and the company of books.
Yet here she was, inviting me herself.
I had planned to spend the holiday resting, but turning her down didn't even cross my mind. The break was long anyway—one day wouldn't make much of a difference.
"Sure," I replied after a brief pause. "Let's go together."
"…Really?"
She looked genuinely surprised, as if she hadn't expected me to agree so easily. When I nodded, her lips curved into a bright, unguarded smile.
For a moment, that smile reminded me of the younger Viola I'd met inside her dream.
Lately, her expressions had been changing—becoming warmer, more vivid. It was unfamiliar… yet strangely captivating.
