[Gift] SUMMER FESTIVITIES

Summer was slowly drawing to an end. While the sweltering temperatures outside didn’t make it seem like there was an end in sight, every day that passed meant that autumn was approaching.

After several months of warm weather and bright light, what would be a more perfect way to send off summer with a festive fair?

At the edge of Burrowgatory, where there was plenty of room to set up stalls and attractions, a fair was in full swing. From the balcony of Jibun’s apartment he could see the giant ferris wheel above the skyline, and he could hear the excited screams of succubun enjoying themselves on rides.

Jibun hadn’t thought he’d find himself attending an event like a fair. Carnivals and the likes weren’t places that needed a piano player, and it didn't make much sense to go to one as a regular attendee. However, on a whim he had sent a text to his boyfriend, Huang Yi, and asked if he wanted to go to the fair. If not, Huang Yi was more than free to come over and spend some time with Jibun at his apartment. When Huang Yi replied and accepted Jibun’s invitation to the fair, Jibun was delightfully caught off guard.

The next day, he was standing at the entrance to the fair with Huang Yi by his side. The two of them stood there for several moments, Huang Yi waiting for Jibun as Jibun formulated a plan in his head of where to go and what to do. When he was ready to move, he took Huang Yi’s paw into his own and began walking through the gate and into the crowd of excited succubun.

Neither one of them were interested in any of the rides. Jibun wasn’t one to seek thrills and excitement on roller coasters ( he’d much rather climb up something himself to soak in the thrill of being somewhere high up ). When he looked over at Huang Yi and saw a split second of unease when looking at the rollercoasters, Jibun decided they could spend their time elsewhere.

As the two of them continued on and arrived at a series of game stalls, Jibun noticed Huang Yi looking over at one. It was a typical game where several balls are provided, and if you’re able to knock something over then you win that prize. As all fair games were, this game was clearly rigged, but if it was something that Huang Yi wanted to play then Jibun was content with giving the game his attention.

“Would you like to play?”
“I have no preference.”

Huang Yi’s signature cryptic reply. Jibun guided the two of them out of the walkway and towards the game stall so Jibun could mull over what Huang Yi truly desired. Meanwhile, Huang Yi gave the prizes in the back a quick look over, then looked over at the balls on the counter, then looked to the side.

“What is the price?”

Jibun looked down at the large sign on the stall that gave the price per three balls.

“10 carats per three tries.”
“Ah.”
Huang Yi paused for another moment, thinking something over, then spoke up again.
“I meant what is the price to have you play.”
“You don’t want to play it?”
“The price for you to play?”

What a strange request. Perhaps Huang Yi was interested in one of the prizes but didn’t think he had it in him to win it. The green succubun shrugged his shoulders slightly.

“I suppose you can pay the 10 carats for each try.”
“The price needs to be higher.”

Onto the negotiating. It didn’t make a bit of difference to Jibun- he was happy paying the fee if needed, but he had come to understand how stubborn Huang Yi actually was.

“Pay the fee, and buy us lunch?”

That seemed to be enough for Huang Yi to consider. After what felt like way too long to be considering the offer, Huang Yi finally nodded his head and stepped over to the game stall attendant and offered them carats. To the surprise of both the attendant and Jibun, Huang Yi handed over 100 carats. Guess Jibun was going to be here for a while throwing balls at objects that may or may not be fixed to their shelves.

As Jibun lunged plastic balls at the stuffed animals towards the back, hoping to jostle at least one of them off, he hadn’t noticed that Huang Yi was paying no mind to the prizes. Huang Yi’s attention was focused solely on the green succubun- taking in the way he moved, his facial expression when he managed to make something move compared to when Jibun completely missed. Had Jibun known Huang Yi was looking at him he would have straightened his posture or been pleased, but at the moment he was focused on his goal.

Twenty-nine plastic balls later and nothing had managed to fall over. Huang Yi began to reach into his carat pocket, tempted to give the attendant 100 more carats so he could keep watching Jibun. As he was looking away Jibun threw the last ball with all his strength and hit a small plush square in the face. The small plush of a green furdin swayed before falling off its shelf onto the ground. When Huang Yi looked up, the attendant had picked the plush off the ground and handed it towards the two of them.

“Congrats! Here you go!”

Jibun let out a soft sigh of relief before reaching over and taking the plush. Without giving it a look over he handed it to Huang Yi.

“Here. It’s yours.”
“Ah? Why is that? You won something? It is yours.”
“You can have it.”
“The price…?”
“A kiss. And some ice cream.”
“...... Very well.”

The rest of the day at the fair was set. Jibun and Huang Yi made their way over to some food stalls and grabbed lunch before walking over to an empty table to enjoy their meal. Huang Yi nibbled only a little of his food, more interested in looking over his new plush. Once they were done eating, the afternoon heat was starting to set in. Between the heat and the crowd of succubun that was growing by the minute, Jibun and Huang Yi decided to head off from the fair.

Jibun was pleased with how the day went. He would have to remind Huang Yi about that owed kiss- but for now, he was content.