The festival lights glowed like a thousand stars, lanterns swaying gently above the cobblestone streets. Music, laughter, and the rich scent of festival food filled the air. Sho had wandered off from the main crowd, curious to explore the festival on his own.
> No training, no monsters, no nobles… just a normal festival.
He smiled faintly, letting himself relax as he passed stalls selling sweets, trinkets, and handmade toys. Then — he froze.
Among the crowd, a flash of silver-white hair caught his eye.
> No way…
Sho's heart skipped. He scanned the area quickly and spotted her again — the girl from the forest, standing at a skewer stall, biting into a piece of grilled meat with a faint smile.
Without thinking, he sprinted forward.
> Wait! Don't run! I… I mean…
Sho weaved through the crowd, knocking over a few stray baskets and nearly colliding with a dancing child holding a balloon.
"Sorry! Excuse me!" he shouted, dodging a rolling cart of dumplings.
The girl — Liyana — glanced over her shoulder, crimson eyes flicking toward him, then smirked slightly. She didn't move; she just started slowly walking away, deliberately giving him space to "chase" her.
Sho ran faster. "Wait! Stop! I… I just wanted to… uh…"
A rogue festival dog darted in front of him, forcing him to leap aside, nearly face-planting into a stall selling candied apples.
> Focus, Sho! Don't embarrass yourself in front of… her!
The silver-haired girl continued to walk calmly, holding her skewers in one hand like a queen surveying her domain. Sho, meanwhile, was weaving through adults, dodging flying lanterns, and accidentally bumping into a group of dancing performers.
"Hey! Watch it!" a performer shouted as Sho rolled past.
Sho groaned, cheeks burning. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I just…"
> Why is this so hard?!
Finally, the girl stopped at the edge of a small fountain, biting into another skewer. Sho skidded to a stop in front of her, chest heaving, hair sticking to his forehead.
"I… uh… there you are," he panted, trying to act calm while failing miserably.
She tilted her head, crimson eyes glinting with amusement. "You really chased me through half the festival for… skewers?"
Sho opened his mouth, then closed it, then tried again. "I… I mean… yes? No? Maybe I just wanted to… talk to you?"
She laughed softly, a melodic sound that made Sho's ears turn red. "You're… persistent. I like that."
Sho coughed awkwardly. "Persistent? I-I wasn't trying to—"
The girl held up a skewer, offering it to him with a teasing smile. "Here. Try one."
Sho blinked. "…Really?"
She nodded. "…Really."
He took it hesitantly, taking a bite. The flavor of grilled meat, lightly spiced and smoky, hit his taste buds. His eyes widened. "H-Huh… this… this is amazing!"
The girl laughed quietly again, crimson eyes sparkling. "See? Sometimes, the best things are worth chasing."
Sho swallowed hard, suddenly aware of how close they were, how the festival lights flickered across her hair, and how much his heart was beating in his chest.
> I can't believe this… I'm… talking to her… and sharing skewers…
The girl tilted her head, finishing her own skewer. "I should be going now," she said lightly, turning to walk away.
Sho panicked slightly. "Wait! Wait! I… I can walk with you!"
She glanced over her shoulder, faintly amused. "Very well, then. But no more chasing through the streets, alright?"
Sho wiped sweat from his brow, trying to regain some dignity. "Yeah… yeah, I promise."
And with that, the two of them walked side by side through the festival, the lanterns casting soft glows on their faces, laughter from the crowd mingling with the quiet thrill of this unexpected meeting.
Sho thought to himself:
> The forest… the apples… and now this. I don't know why, but it feels like… fate keeps pushing me toward her.
And for the first time, Sho realized that sometimes, even heroes need a little comedy in their lives.
---