The roasted wind-nut pastry was warm in Kaito's hands.
He finished the last bite while Yumi walked beside him with her arms crossed, chewing her own snack with the stubborn determination of someone pretending she wasn't enjoying it.
Lantern light shimmered across the plaza as festival music drifted through the night air.
Kaito glanced down at her.
"You didn't have to give me that, you know."
"I told you," Yumi muttered, still refusing to look directly at him, "I had two."
"Right."
"Don't make it weird."
"I'm not making it weird."
"You're making it weird by talking about it."
Kaito chuckled.
"You're the one who shoved it into my arm."
Yumi huffed.
"Eat your snack and walk."
They continued through the lively streets of the Wind Village.
The festival had fully come alive now.
Children ran between stalls with glowing toys made of tiny wind currents. Vendors shouted cheerful greetings while selling sweets, roasted nuts, and delicate pastries shaped like swirling gusts. Music and laughter blended together under the sea of floating lanterns above.
Yumi stopped suddenly at a booth.
"Ooh."
Kaito followed her gaze.
A ring-toss game.
Small wind charms hung from thin wooden pegs, gently swaying as faint currents moved them.
"Winner gets a wind fox charm," the vendor announced proudly.
Yumi immediately stepped forward.
"I'll try."
Kaito crossed his arms.
"You're competitive tonight."
"I'm always competitive."
She picked up the rings.
One toss.
Miss.
Second toss.
Miss again.
Third toss—
The ring bounced off the peg and landed on the table.
Yumi froze.
The vendor scratched his head.
"Ah… close?"
Kaito laughed.
"Very impressive."
Yumi glared at him.
"Shut up."
"Want me to try?"
"Fine."
Kaito picked up the remaining rings casually.
First toss.
Direct hit.
The ring slid neatly over the peg.
The vendor blinked.
"Well… we have a winner."
Yumi's jaw dropped.
"That was luck."
"Sure."
He handed the little wind fox charm to her.
Yumi stared at it.
"…It's cute."
"Thought so."
She quickly grabbed it.
"I only accepted it because it's a festival prize."
"Of course."
They continued walking.
A little later…
The two of them stood in front of a shooting stall.
Small spinning targets shaped like birds floated slowly through the air.
"Three shots!" the vendor called.
Kaito aimed.
Miss.
Miss again.
The third dart bounced off harmlessly.
Behind him, Yumi burst into laughter.
"You're terrible."
"Oh really?"
She grabbed the darts.
First throw.
Hit.
Second throw.
Hit.
Third throw—
Perfect hit.
The vendor clapped.
"Three in a row!"
Kaito stared.
"You've practiced that."
Yumi flipped her hair proudly.
"Skill."
"Cheating."
"Jealousy."
They wandered through more stalls, laughing and arguing.
At one booth they competed in a wind-balance game.
At another they tried to guess the weight of a floating lantern.
They even tried a strange game where players had to guide a tiny wind current through a maze without touching the walls.
Kaito failed spectacularly.
Yumi blamed the maze.
Eventually, as they walked toward the central plaza again—
"KAITO!"
A familiar voice called out.
Kaito turned.
Two figures approached through the crowd.
Kazu and Mei.
Kazu waved enthusiastically while Mei walked beside him with a calm smile.
The lantern light illuminated them clearly now.
Kazu wore a formal festival robe tied slightly looser than most people's, giving him a relaxed look. His short white hair shifted gently with the wind.
Beside him, Mei's robe was perfectly arranged, the elegant sleeves flowing gracefully as she walked.
Kaito blinked.
"Well."
He looked between them.
"You two look good today."
Kazu smirked.
"Oh?"
"Yeah," Kaito continued honestly. "You both cleaned up nicely."
Mei gave a polite bow.
"Thank you, Kaito."
But then Kazu leaned closer and examined Kaito from head to toe.
"…Huh."
"What?"
Kazu folded his arms.
"You actually look noble today."
Mei nodded.
"It suits you."
Kaito blinked.
Then his expression shifted slowly into confusion.
"…That's the second time someone has said that to me today."
The three of them stared at him for a second.
Then all three burst into laughter.
Yumi tried to hold it in.
Failed.
Kaito sighed dramatically.
"I regret complimenting you two."
Kazu wiped tears from his eyes.
"Sorry, sorry."
Mei giggled softly.
Kazu looked toward Yumi.
"Oh hey."
"Hi," Mei added kindly.
Yumi stiffened slightly.
"This is my cousin," Kaito said.
"I know," Kazu replied.
He turned toward Yumi
"So you're Yumi."
Yumi looked away.
"…Yeah."
Mei smiled gently.
"We can see you're spending time with your cousin tonight."
Yumi immediately crossed her arms.
"I'm not 'spending time.' We just happened to walk in the same direction."
Kaito raised an eyebrow.
"We've been together for an hour."
"Coincidence."
Kazu grinned.
"Tsundere."
"I AM NOT!"
Mei laughed quietly.
"You two seem close."
"We're not close," Yumi insisted.
Kaito shrugged.
"She gave me food earlier."
Yumi froze.
"YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO SAY THAT!"
Kazu laughed loudly.
"Oh wow."
Mei covered her mouth, smiling.
"That's adorable."
Yumi's face turned bright red.
"Stop talking!"
Kaito grinned.
Kazu clapped his hands.
"Anyway!"
He pointed toward a row of festival stalls.
"Games."
Kaito cracked his knuckles.
"You're challenging me?"
"Obviously."
Mei sighed softly.
"This again…"
Yumi stepped forward immediately.
"I'm playing too."
Kazu smirked.
"Alright then."
He pointed dramatically.
"Four challengers."
"Festival games."
"Winner gets bragging rights."
Kaito grinned.
"You're on."
What followed was chaos.
The four of them rushed from stall to stall, laughing and arguing the entire time.
Ring toss.
Kazu won.
Archery.
Mei somehow scored perfectly on her first attempt.
Wind maze.
Yumi dominated the board.
Balance platform.
Kaito lasted the longest.
They competed in guessing games, target games, reflex games, even a ridiculous stall where players had to catch floating wind bubbles without popping them.
Each victory was met with loud celebration.
Each loss was met with dramatic accusations.
Finally—
They collapsed onto a low stone bench near the lantern plaza.
Kaito pointed accusingly at Kazu.
"You only beat me because you cheated."
Kazu nearly choked laughing.
"I did not cheat."
"You absolutely cheated."
"You just lost."
"The platform tilted."
"It didn't tilt."
"You leaned on it!"
"That's called balance!"
Mei laughed softly beside them.
Yumi folded her arms smugly.
"I clearly won the most games."
Kaito looked at her.
"You only won the wind maze because you memorized the path."
"That's strategy."
"That's cheating."
"It's intelligence."
Kazu leaned back.
"I think the real winner here is Mei."
They all looked at her.
She blinked.
"I only played three games."
"And won two of them," Kazu said.
Mei smiled shyly.
"Beginner's luck."
Kaito stretched his arms.
"That was fun."
Before anyone could respond—
A gentle voice approached.
"Kaito-sama."
The group turned.
A young woman stood nearby wearing the elegant uniform of a personal attendant.
Sui.
She bowed politely.
"Yumi-sama."
Yumi immediately straightened.
"Sui?"
Sui smiled gently.
"The family is preparing for the second sacred event."
She turned to Kaito.
"Toru sama has told me to come get you."
Then she looked toward the others.
"Kazu-sama. Mei-sama."
She bowed again respectfully.
"It is a pleasure to see you."
Kazu waved casually.
"Hi."
Mei returned the bow politely.
Sui turned back to Kaito and Yumi.
"We must return to the estate soon."
Kaito stood.
"Got it."
Yumi sighed.
"Already?"
"The Divine Wind Prayer requires preparation," Sui explained calmly.
Kaito turned back to his friends.
"Well."
"Guess that's our cue."
Kazu stood up and stretched.
"Yeah, yeah. Go do your noble family stuff."
Mei smiled.
"Have a good evening."
Yumi waved slightly.
"…Bye."
"Bye, Yumi," Mei said kindly.
Kaito walked a few steps away with Sui and Yumi.
He glanced back once more.
Kazu was talking animatedly while Mei listened with a small smile.
Kaito watched them for a second.
Then he smirked slightly to himself.
Those two look perfect for each other.
Then he turned back toward the path leading home.
The next sacred event of the Whispering Wind Festival was waiting.