Aiko arrives in Japan for the first time with her father’s memory pressing close and a grief she can’t quite name. She comes to honor him during the Obon festival, but the rituals, the incense, and the soft rhythm of remembrance leave her feeling both grounded and adrift. Then she meets Yuto, a shrine volunteer whose steady presence changes everything.
Yuto speaks little, carrying his own private sorrow. His quiet patience and the ink on his hands from folding lanterns teaches Aiko more than tradition. He shows her how silence can hold meaning, how connection can grow without words.
As the final night of lanterns approaches, their bond deepens. Still, shadows remain: Aiko’s return home, Yuto’s grief, and the fragile weight of a love sparked in mourning.
Can Aiko step through loss into something new, or will their lanterns drift away with the light?
***
This is only one chapter of A Year of Sweethearts, a series that captures the gentle magic of love woven through traditions worldwide.
Twelve holidays. Twelve tender stories. A Year of Sweethearts gathers standalone romances set against the world’s most joyful celebrations. From the laughter of Songkran’s water fights to the quiet glow of Mid-Autumn lanterns, each tale offers a gentle, uplifting journey of connection. These are romances with soft edges light conflict, warm charm, and love that unfolds in the simple beauty of tradition and festivity.
Wholesome, cozy, and filled with cultural color, this series is for readers who want love stories that leave them smiling.
Twelve celebrations. Twelve chances to fall in love. Which one will you open first?
