Hikari was glad that he was okay with letting it be a surprise. It would have been okay even if it wasn't, but she thought that it would be better this way. And so, with that, she led him on toward the hill, her hand still linked with his. She enjoyed the warmth of his hand, the way it somehow felt comforting, even as her heart beat just a bit faster in response to the light touch, the simple contact of their fingers and palms. It was strange, the response that came with something seemingly simple, but it wasn't a bad thing at all.<br/><br/>Once she'd said the things she wanted to say she fell silent. She didn't expect a reply, really, but she didn't expect that he wouldn't reply, either. Honestly, she didn't have any expectations. She'd spoken to speak more than she'd spoken to gain a response. She tilted her head slightly, looking his way as he spoke up, saying it wasn't a problem, and then opening up much more than she could have ever anticipated. She smiled lightly, feeling warm and happy that he trusted her enough to open up about all of this. She felt a tinge of pink form on her cheeks when he said that no one had ever looked at them that way, or touched them, or him the way she had. Truthfully, she'd never even thought about touching someone like that before. Then again, she hadn't really thought about it this time, either. It'd just kind of happened. It just seemed right.<br/><br/>Hikari was quiet as she listened to him speak, and for a moment afterwards as she thought about what he'd said. "I don't think that being different is a bad thing. I mean, sometimes it sucks because people are cruel and that hate what they don't understand..." she knew that from experience. "And even if we try not to care, somewhere inside, most of us just want to fit in. But really, our differences are what make us who we are. They're what set us apart and make us special. I don't understand how people can be so small minded and ignorant of that." She continued, her eyes focused in front of her, save an occasional glance his way. "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I wish that people were better, so that you wouldn't hate any part of yourself. So you could see that you're exactly how you're supposed to be, and you're perfect just the way you are. Even if no one else can see that." Her cheeks were a slightly darker pink as she spoke, not sure how well she was getting her point across, but not really sure how else to say it.<br/><br/>"And maybe you're an Uchiha, maybe you're not." She paused, "But in the end, Uchiha or not, you're still you." She, once again, wasn't sure if he would understand what she was getting at. "And, well... For whatever it's worth, I'll still like you either way." She smiled gently, her cheeks a faint pink as she did. She understood that it must be hard not knowing who you are, not knowing whether to identify as an Uchiha, or accepting that you don't know your identity, and subsequently, maybe you don't know where you belong. But she didn't care if he was an Uchiha or not. Her feelings were the same either way. "If you want..." she spoke up again, glancing his way, "Well... I'm really good at researching and finding things, so... If you want... I could help you look." she offered, looking back to the path in front of her. "I can't promise that I will succeed, but I can always try. After all, two heads are better than one, right?" She smiled somewhat timidly and looked back his way for a moment. If he didn't want her help, she wouldn't be upset or anything, but she would be remiss if she didn't at least offer.<br/><br/>After this she fell silent as they made their way to the hill and she got the urge to jump onto his back. He said he didn't mind, so she kept her arms loosely around his shoulders, leaning closer to him as he carried her up the hill as if she weighed nothing at all. She was acutely aware of how close they were, of his warmth against her. Her heart was beating so loudly that she was afraid he might hear it, and her cheeks were once again a shade of pink as they reached the top and she pointed to the spot she had chosen.<br/><br/>Once he'd let her down she surveyed the festival below, as well as the sky above, to make sure it was perfect. Upon deciding that it was, she smiled lightly, and then looked back to him as he asked what was going on and if something was going to happen. "Yep. Something is going to happen." She nodded with a bright smile, placing the owl he'd won for her gently on the ground before taking the two lanterns out of the bags she'd grabbed on the way there. She got them both ready and handed him a piece of paper, writing something on a piece of paper she'd kept for herself and attaching it to the bottom of the lantern. "You're supposed to make a wish and write it on the paper and put it into the lantern. Then we'll let them go. It's kind of like making a wish and sending it off to the heavens in hopes that it'll come true." She explained, smiling lightly.<br/><br/>She knew that it was maybe a bit silly, sending off wishes in hopes that some unknown power would grant them, but she hoped it didn't seem too ridiculous to him. She waited a moment for him to write on the paper, if he chose to, and then handed him the lantern, which was now lit, and stared out at the scene in front of them. She felt his hand take hers and her heart skipped a beat. She didn't think she'd ever get used to that, but maybe that wasn't a bad thing. She smiled lightly as she stared down at the festival, seeing lights begin to pop up all over the place. "It's time." she told him, holding her lantern in her free hand.<br/><br/>She watched as the countless lights began to slowly float up into the air, a bright smile spreading across her face. She waited until the lights got a little higher and then let her own go, giving it a small push towards the sky, watching as it floated away, joining the other lights in the sky. It was beautiful. Like a field of fireflies, or a million little stars dotting the sky in front of them, close enough that they could almost reach out and touch them. And each one held a wish. Each one was like little dot of hope lighting up the sky. She thought it was beautiful. It was perfect. The whole night was, really.<br/><br/>She gave his hand a light squeeze, glancing his way and giving him a bright smile. "Isn't it beautiful?" She asked, turning her gaze back to the thousands of lights that covered the sky, a bright smile on her face, her eyes holding a look of awe. After several minutes, she spoke up, looking his way again. "Hey, Kuro?" She spoke up with a soft voice, her blue eyes meeting his. "Thanks." She smiled, soft and sweet. She didn't explain what she was thanking him for. There were too many things for her to list. But she wanted him to know that she was grateful for everything today. She hoped he enjoyed the lights, and that he was enjoying tonight as much as she was. It was amazing, and for that, and many things, she was grateful.