"Umm, how did we end up like this?" I muttered, staring at the ridiculous pile of toys, prizes, and oversized stall rewards Kayda and I were carrying. They spilled from our arms in heaps: brightly colored stuffed animals, cheap wooden trinkets, masks, and strange magical toys that buzzed faintly with unstable mana. In one arm, Kayda carried a giant teddy as tall as herself, while in her other arm she balanced the girl from earlier—Jenny—whose tiny legs dangled and swung back and forth happily as if she hadn't noticed she'd become another one of Kayda's prizes.
"Well, I blame everything on you," Kayda replied with a dramatic pout, puffing her cheeks out as she shifted her balance. Her wings twitched in irritation at the effort of holding everything.
"Who was the one that said, 'It's fine, we'll take care of her for the night'?" I reminded her flatly, raising a brow.
"Ugh, that might be my fault," Kayda admitted, rubbing the back of her head awkwardly while looking away. "But I couldn't help it. Her puppy eyes were just… adorable."
I sighed, exasperated. "Yeah, and my glare did nothing."
"That… you were glaring at me?" Kayda tilted her head, genuinely confused. "I thought you were just wondering what I was going to do with that straight face of yours."
"...No, I wasn't," I mumbled, looking away in irritation.
'Fuck you, illusion,' I cursed inwardly. Of course my carefully crafted mask would make her misinterpret my glare.
Kayda giggled under her breath, clearly amused. "Also, I can't take all the blame for this. You didn't have to win all those festival games."
I clicked my tongue. "I hate losing, and you know that."
"Tch. True," Kayda admitted, glancing off to the side as if conceding a point she really didn't want to.
"So what are we going to do now? The main event is happening soon."
"What?" she asked, blinking at me.
"My flower," I explained, pointing toward the massive flaming rose at the center of the festival. The golden fire that had burned so brightly at the start was noticeably dimmer now, its brilliance draining away little by little. "It's going to vanish in about an hour or so."
"Wow, you're right," Kayda said, her eyes widening slightly. "Now that you say that, it does seem like the mana's being siphoned off."
"Yeah. Someone's drawing the mana out to make a perfect night."
Her ears perked. "Huh, you can see the mana moving now?"
"Huh? No." I shook my head. "Remember, that flower's made out of my mana. Of course I'd feel it moving around—at least when I'm close enough to it."
"But you can't take control back?"
"Well… no," I admitted.
Kayda stared at me silently, her eyes searching my face. She didn't say anything, but the weight of her gaze made my ears twitch uncomfortably.
I cleared my throat, shifting the topic quickly. "...Hey, little girl, let's get you back to your uncle, okay?"
"Okay!" Jenny shouted happily, her voice clear and innocent as a bell.
"You remember the way, right?" I asked to confirm that we weren't about to wander in circles.
"Umm, yeah, I do." She nodded, her small hands gripping Kayda's teddy bear for balance.
"Cool," I mumbled, giving her a kind smile.
"Hehe, Jenny is a smart girl," she said proudly, puffing her chest a little.
"Yes, yes, you are intelligent," Kayda agreed, her voice softening.
"Hehe, thank you for the great night," Jenny added suddenly, glancing between us.
"If you say so," I replied with a faint smile.
"You are a very nice person, Kitsuna," Jenny said, her voice earnest and innocent.
"And you're a very naïve girly. Don't change." My words only made her blink at me, confused.
"It's Jenny," Kayda corrected firmly. "And she's a kid. What do you expect?" She gave me a disappointed look.
"Nothing. I meant that she should never learn what the world's really like," I said, shrugging.
Kayda sighed heavily and shook her head. "Okay, whatever. We're almost back to your uncle anyway."
"Okay!" Jenny chirped.
[10 minutes later]
"Thank you so much for taking care of little Jenny," her uncle said, bowing deeply to both of us. His relief was obvious in the way his shoulders relaxed.
"It's fine. We said we'd take care of her," Kayda replied warmly.
"We?" I muttered, side-eyeing her.
"Yes, we," she repeated firmly, ending the argument before it could start. I hadn't intended to argue about it.
"Again, thank you." The uncle bowed once more before taking Jenny and the mountain of toys we'd somehow acquired.
"Thank you, guys!" Jenny shouted over her shoulder, waving enthusiastically as she was led away.
"Blegh. "Blegh. There are too many sparkles," I muttered, wrinkling my nose at the overly cheerful tone she used.
"For once, I agree with you," Kayda said, waving back half-heartedly.
"Now what?" I asked, turning to her.
"Hmm, excellent question. Search for a spot where your flower explodes?" she suggested, tilting her head.
"Yeah, that sounds good," I agreed.
"And romantic."
"...I guess," I said reluctantly.
"Hehe. Come, let's go," Kayda said, her voice bright as she grabbed my left hand.
"Hey, guys, you're back!" Katie's voice cut through the noise. She waved at us from nearby, surprisingly without Ann by her side.
"Oh, Katie. What's up? Did you lose your mother?" I asked, tilting my head.
"Huh? No. She told me to tell you there are stands set up in that direction for everyone to watch the festival's highlight."
"Highlight? Not the end?"
"No, there's still a dancing part at the end."
"Oh shit," I muttered under my breath as realization hit me.
"Hmm? Is there a problem with dancing?" Katie asked, clearly confused.
"No, not at all," I said quickly, looking away.
"She can't dance," Kayda chimed in with a grin. "Or so she says."
"I really can't... I've never had it before," I admitted, my last words so soft they were almost inaudible.
Katie tilted her head. "Hmm, but you're a good fighter, right? Like, with using your body?"
"Hmm. "I'm not as good at dancing as my mother, but I'm decent enough," I said thoughtfully, unsure of what she was leading to.
"Then you'll be fine if you have a good leader," Katie said confidently, looking straight at Kayda.
"Nope, I have no idea how to lead someone in dancing," Kayda admitted instantly, raising her hands in surrender.
"Hmm. Then I guess I'll ask Mom to help her," Katie said to no one in particular.
"And if I don't want to?" I asked sharply.
"You don't have a choice. My mother wants to see you two dance together, and she's going to get it."
"...Why does this feel like a thing with the marquises? Like all of you just get what you want."
"Ah, now that you mention it, it does sound like that to you, doesn't it?" Kayda said, smirking.
"So, Mom and Ann do this to everyone?" I asked.
"No. Only to you," Kayda replied.
"Ugh, seriously?"
"Yeah~."
"Why?"
"Because it's probably funny for them," Kayda said, laughing.
"Ugh. I hate them," I muttered, pouting.
"Haha, don't be like that. They're doing it out of love," Kayda teased, grabbing my arm.
"Pfft. Yeah, sure."
Katie folded her arms. "So, are you all coming with us or not?"
"No, we'll find our own spot. We'll join you later," I said, trying to shoo her away.
"Uh, nope. You're coming. No choice."
"What? Really?"
"Just give it up, Kitsu. We're not getting out of this one," Kayda sighed.
"So let's go," Katie said firmly.
"...Damn it!" I cursed, trailing behind while still holding Kayda's hand.
[5 minutes later]
"Oh, you guys are finally here. The fireworks won't be happening for another thirty minutes," Ann greeted, smiling as we arrived at her bench outside the festival area.
"Yo, still that long?" I asked.
"Yeah, we planned them for midnight," Ann explained, pointing up at the dark sky.
"Huh. It's already that late?" I tilted my head back, spotting the moon high overhead.
"Yes. Haven't you noticed how dark it is?"
"Nope. Too preoccupied all night," I admitted.
"Sigh. With what? Destroying people's businesses?" Ann teased.
"Ah, Katie, let's get drinks," Kayda said quickly, dragging Katie off before I could retort.
"She—she just left me," I said, baffled.
"Yes. Just like that," Ann laughed. "She left you."
"Tch. So what did you two do all night?" I asked, sitting beside her.
Ann launched into a rant about smoothies, candy apples, and cheaters at the stalls, each detail making me grin wider. When she finished, I said dryly, "Man, that sounds familiar."
We swapped stories back and forth until she narrowed her eyes knowingly. "Do you know what all the chaos tonight had in common?"
I tilted my head innocently. "Hmm? No clue."
"A red fox," she said flatly.
"Nope, not ringing a bell. Anyway, Katie said you'll teach me how to dance."
And so, Ann stood and, despite my protests, pulled me into an impromptu dance lesson.
"Okay, now give me your hands," she ordered, holding hers out.
"Okay?" I hesitated, cutting them off and handing them to her.
"Not like that, you idiot! They're supposed to still be attached to your body!" she yelled, shoving them back.
I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. "Haha, okay, okay. Here."
Soon enough, she had me stumbling through the basics, guiding my steps with surprising patience.
"Ha-ha, there you go. Not so bad, right?" she said.
"I don't really know what you mean," I admitted, baffled.
"Sigh. You dumbass. We're dancing right now."
"Huh? What do you mean we're dancing? I'm just dodging your—oh." Realization hit, and my eyes widened. "Now I get it. That's why you asked all those questions earlier."
Kayda's voice piped up from the side. "Wow, your mom is good."
"Of course she is," Katie replied proudly.
I stopped abruptly, glaring. "I object."
"What?" Katie blinked.
"I object that your mother's better at teaching than mine," I declared, helping Ann sit again.
Katie huffed. "But you just learned how to dance in five minutes!"
"Not really. All I know is how not to step on people's toes," I said, smirking. "Knowing how to dance means you can lead."
Katie tried to argue, but Ann sighed. "She's impossible."
Eventually Kayda and Katie returned with crates of food and drinks, the smell of sweet crepes and fatty meat filling the air. We ate, teased, and argued until Kayda leaned close again.
"Yeah... so what's your answer?" she asked softly, bringing the conversation back to what she'd been pressing me about all night.
I froze, stammered, then finally muttered awkwardly, "I guess you're my second most important person."
Kayda blinked. "...Is Stacy first?"
"Yeah. Sorry."
She only smiled wryly. "Don't worry. I understand. You're a mommy girl."
"Ugh, that's so mean," I groaned.
But before I could complain further, the flower at the center of the festival suddenly exploded into a cascade of golden sparks. The crowd gasped as the night sky bloomed with light.
And in that moment, without thinking, I grabbed Kayda's collar and kissed her.
Boom!
The crack of fireworks swallowed her muffled gasp, but she kissed me back, her arms tightening around me.
'Fuck. This will be addictive,' I thought, pulling her onto my lap as the night burned bright above us.