Festival
The town of Hoshikawa was alive with excitement. Paper lanterns glowed warmly against the evening sky, casting soft, flickering lights over the bustling streets. The scent of grilled meat, fried snacks, and sweet treats filled the air, blending with the lively laughter of families and friends. The seasonal festival was in full swing, and the town square was packed with people enjoying the festivities.
Kohaku adjusted the simple yet elegant yukata Ruri had insisted she wear, the deep blue fabric adorned with golden floral patterns.
“I don’t see why I have to dress up for this,” she grumbled, adjusting the sash around her waist.
“Because it’s a festival,” Ruri replied with a knowing smile. “And because Yumi will throw a fit if you don’t at least try to enjoy yourself.”
Yumi, as if summoned by her name, practically bounced toward them, dragging Chrome along.
“Kohaku! You actually look like a proper lady tonight!” she teased.
“Want me to punch you?” Kohaku shot back, crossing her arms.
Chrome chuckled nervously. “Hey, let’s not start a brawl in the middle of the festival, alright?” He looked around before grinning. “Oh, by the way… Senku’s here.”
Kohaku raised an eyebrow. “And that’s supposed to mean something to me?”
Yumi clapped her hands together with a mischievous glint in her eye. “It means you’re going to be the one showing him around!”
“What?” Kohaku blinked. “Why me?”
Chrome scratched his head. “Well… he’s not exactly great at social stuff, and since you’re not the type to care about fancy science talk, we figured you’d be the best person to keep him from, you know, offending half the festival.”
Before Kohaku could protest, she spotted Senku standing off to the side, looking as out of place as a lion in a chicken coop. He wore his usual attire—no yukata, no effort to blend in, just his regular lab coat over simple clothes. His sharp red eyes scanned the festival with mild interest, but he seemed more like an observer than a participant.
With a sigh, Kohaku walked over to him. “You look like you’re about to bolt,” she said, smirking.
“Tch. I don’t see the point of all this,” Senku replied, hands in his pockets. “People wasting time playing rigged games, eating overpriced food, and—”
“Okay, I’m stopping you there,” Kohaku interrupted. “First of all, festivals are fun. Second, you don’t have to be such a killjoy. And third—” she grabbed his wrist and tugged him forward, “—if you’re stuck here, you might as well experience it properly.”
Senku let out a resigned sigh but didn’t resist. “Fine, but if I see one scientifically inaccurate ‘magic trick’ stall, I’m walking the other way.”
The first stop was a goldfish scooping game. Senku observed as kids excitedly tried (and mostly failed) to catch the tiny, darting fish with their flimsy scoops.
“These scoops are designed to break easily,” Senku muttered, analyzing the setup. “The paper is weak, and the water resistance—”
Kohaku shoved a scoop into his hand. “Less talking, more playing.”
With an exasperated sigh, he crouched by the water and examined the fish. “The trick is to move slowly,” he murmured before dipping the scoop in. Kohaku watched as he precisely calculated the movement, carefully maneuvering until—
Snap.
The paper tore, and the fish darted away.
“…Huh,” Senku said, blinking.
Kohaku burst out laughing. “Mr. Genius Scientist outsmarted by a goldfish!”
Senku clicked his tongue and tossed the useless scoop aside. “This game is clearly flawed.”
“Or maybe you just suck at it.” Kohaku smirked. “Come on, let’s get something to eat before you embarrass yourself more.”
At the food stalls, Kohaku eagerly grabbed a skewer of grilled meat and bit into it with satisfaction. Senku, meanwhile, skeptically eyed the festival snacks.
“I swear, if you start lecturing me about nutritional value, I’m shoving this into your mouth,” Kohaku warned, holding up a taiyaki.
Senku smirked slightly before taking a cautious bite. He chewed, paused, and then nodded. “Not bad.”
Kohaku grinned. “See? I told you festivals are fun.”
A few games later, they found themselves at a ring toss booth.
Kohaku cracked her knuckles. “Alright, how about a challenge? Winner gets to make the loser do one thing of their choice.”
Senku raised an eyebrow. “You sure you want to bet against me?”
“Oh, bring it, scientist.”
The competition was fierce—Kohaku had a steady hand from years of martial arts, but Senku had the precision of an engineer. It was neck-and-neck, until Kohaku’s last ring landed perfectly around the highest-scoring peg.
She smirked triumphantly. “Looks like I win.”
Senku sighed. “Fine. What’s your demand?”
Kohaku tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Hmm… You have to…” She smirked. “Wear a yukata next time.”
Senku scoffed. “Not happening.”
“A bet’s a bet”
“Tch. Whatever,” he muttered, crossing his arms.
As the night wore on, the festival crowd gathered by the river for the fireworks display. Kohaku and Senku found a quieter spot on a small hill overlooking the scene. The sky exploded in dazzling colors, reflecting off the water below.
Kohaku stretched her arms behind her head. “See? This is the best part of the festival.”
Senku, sitting beside her, watched the fireworks with an unreadable expression. “It’s… visually impressive, I’ll admit.”
Kohaku glanced at him. “That’s high praise coming from you.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the bursts of color painting their faces in shifting hues. The festival noise seemed distant here, just the two of them in their own little world.
After a moment, Kohaku spoke. “You know, you’re not as bad at this as I thought.”
Senku smirked slightly. “And you’re not as much of a brute as I thought.”
She chuckled. “You’re still a pain, though.”
“Likewise, lioness.”
As the last firework lit up the sky, Kohaku stole a glance at him. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to this scientist than she initially thought.
And maybe, just maybe, the festival had been worth it after all.
END OF CHARACTER