He was a tall figure. Somewhere close to Itsuki in height. Even in this dark evening I could tell apart his blonde locks, neatly placed on his head. Dressed very formally in a suit with a tie. Face very charismatic and welcoming with warm features.

  I could see why people would like him. He seemed approachable and important.

  The first impression is what I got when laying my eyes on Nobu Ichigo, the new face of Akasia.

  He tapped on the microphone, checking if it was on. A sound came out of the speakers. Then Nobu Ichigo smiled, taking the mic from the stand and in his hands.

  “Good evening people!” Nobu Ichigo looked at the whole crowd as one and gave out a bright and charismatic smile.

  The crowd seemed to cheer back at him positively.

  Nobu Ichigo looked behind the stage to check on something.

  “I was supposed to come out after my fathers…long speech. But it seems like he is late.” Nobu laughed nervously but still sounded very confident. “Seems to be having a hard time tying his shoes…” Nobu seemed to have cracked a joke.

  The crowd seemed to eat this and laughed.

  “Dad…you got one more time to come out and then have your retirement…one more appearance! Come out now!” Nobu said on the mic.

  Calling out his dad and giving another joke to the crowd.

  People laughed even harder at this.

  And not a moment later a man came out. He wasn’t running or worried about being late. With confident strides and a smile on his face. Mr. Ichigo put an arm on his son's back and patted it twice. Then the son gave the microphone to the father. Nobu walked a bit away from the stage.

  “Good evening you all! Akasia people!” A rough man’s voice spoke into the mic. His eyes confidently looked at the crowd. His stare was different. As if he was staring at everyone individually. Giving this vibe of someone with experience and recognition.

  The crowd did respond to him with much applause. Even louder than the sons. People genuinely seemed to like this man.

  I had no thoughts right now. My eyes were locked on the stage.

  Itsuki right next to me.

  Athena and my mom were still slightly behind us. I didn’t look their way but I was sure they were looking the same as I. Watching the scene unfold.

  A long speech did start. Which took around twenty minutes. My feet by the end of it were frozen. Mostly he was reflecting on his years as the head of the Akasia and how thankful he was to the citizens and how much his son must fulfil. Which seemed like taking forever, slowly reflecting times of his reign. In the end he passed the microphone to his son who made a couple of promises to make sure he would properly look after every citizen of Akasia.

  Everyone applauded and then they both asked us all to enjoy the festivities. Some singers went on the stage after that and the crowd moved on to the stalls. Dispersing to get some warm drinks and food.

  Honestly, I was not impressed. It was just like a regular city-wide gathering.

  My mom randomly took my hands, joining it with hers. I could feel the cold fingers around my hand.

  I looked over at her.

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  “Are you cold?” I asked her.

  She nodded.

  “I am a little bit.”

  We watched as the son and father went off the stage disappearing somewhere.

  “Come over here!” Athena happily called us out. Her hand with two cups of hot drinks.

  My mom happily turned, pulling me with her.

  “Thank you, dear!” My mom thanked Athena and also her mom. Taking the cup, our hands now dispersed.

  “Thanks!” I also reached out for the warm drink.

  I put it in my mouth and tasted it. The sweet chocolate taste in my mouth. A very nicely made hot chocolate.

  “A donut?” Athena’s mom asked.

  “Don’t mind if I do!” Itsuki also reached out for a cup and a donut.

  “Ohhh! We found you finally!” Rio arrived at this moment.

  Behind him were Dina, Marco and Julius.

  The crowd seemed to be on the move. People are going to get some drinks and food. Starting to enjoy the festivities available.

  “Oh guys! Hiiii!” Athena happily jumped over to her friends.

  “We got stuck in the crowd. Couldn’t make it here.” Dina explained their absence.

  “It’s fine you all! You are here now!” Athena was very positively happy.

  I got a tap on my shoulder from Itsuki.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “Should I take your mom home?” He asked me suddenly.

  I did not understand what he meant. I looked at my mom. She seemed a bit out of place. Like something was on her mind.

  “Is everything okay?” I turned to her.

  My mom turned over to me. Nodding very fast and not convincingly.

  “It’s too cold for you…I told you to wear something warmer.” I said.

  She had a coat but not a very warm one. Paired with a pretty fancy top and skirts.

  “Don’t worry, Rory! It’s all good!” She told me.

  “If you say so…” I said. Then it turned over at Itsuki.

  “She is fine.”

  Itsuki just looked at me, not saying anything else.

  Rio then came over to me.

  “Rory, hello!” He happily acknowledged me.

  “Hello to you too…” I replied.

  Our group ended up moving to check out different kinds of stalls. Athena’s mother gave people hot chocolate and other warm coffee drinks with donuts and cakes. We moved to different stalls that had games and other things.

  “Have you done this one before?” Athena looked my way very excitedly.

  “I think once…” I nodded.

  Itsuki took a step forward and pulled two guns, handing one to me.

  “Let’s compete!” He enthusiastically suggested.

  Athena clapped her hands, nodding me to do this.

  Dina and Marco in the background were getting some drinks and snacks.

  Rio is already sipping his hot chocolate watching us.

  I looked over at my mom, who’s hand was out to take my cup. I passed it over to her, taking the toy gun.

  “Let’s do this!” I nodded.

  “Let’s do this!!!” Itsuki repeated more excitedly than me, already in the position.

  “Do you know how to do this guys?” The person behind the stall smiled at us happily.

  “Give us the instructions.” Itsuki replied to the guy.

  “You each only get three shots. The highest ones up there give the most points. The trick is to knock the toys over. That means it counts.” He explained it to us.

  “So…if we hit it but it doesn’t fall…it doesn’t count?” I wanted to confirm.

  The guy nodded.

  “Yes…good luck!” He confirmed and went over to pass us each three corks to shoot with.

  Athena clapped behind us. Excitedly watching the scene.

  This specific game was a cork gun shooting game. It was a pretty common festival game where players use a cork gun to knock small targets off shelves.

  The rules are simple. You knock a prize you get. A must is to knock your target. The targets were different coloured plastic animals that were connected to a shelf. Behind these were a number of different sized plushies. All were numbered. Ten in total.

  The higher the number the bigger the prize.

  “I will go first.” Itsuki looked over at me with a big smile on his cheeks.

  I nodded, stepping back two steps. Allowing to get himself in the position.

  Ituski walked in the middle and slightly leaned, with his fingers he effortlessly put the corks inside the gun. His grip was firm and stance steady. He chose his target and aimed with his right eye. His breathing was steady, finger firm on the trigger. A slight breeze went past us. He did not shoot yet but waited.

  Half a minute in tension passed.

  We all watched him to shoot.

  A click and noise of a cork hitting a target with number five on. It flipped!

  “Woooh!” Athena excitedly clapped.

  “Well done!” Rio exclaimed.

  Itsuki turned towards me.

  “I want you to hit the same one!” He told me. With his eyes challenging me.

  “You got it!” I nodded.

  Then I walked towards the same position and stood there.

  I repeated the same steps. Put the corks in the gun, slightly leaned over to see my target and positioned my gun. Then I breathed in, noticing the breeze to come again. The cork is light, a strong gust can impact the landing, I waited to be safe.

  Then shot. And it landed, knocking over number five.

  “Woooh!!!” Athena clapped her hands and came to me.

  “You did that effortlessly!” She exclaimed.

  “Proud of you sweety!” My mom called out.

  I smiled and looked over at Itsuki.

  He was glancing at me knowingly.

  “Ten!” He announced the next target!

  “Bring it on!” I accepted the challenge.