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AUGUST EVENT PT 1

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→ 8/3-8/4 School Cultural Festival

Good morning!! The crows start cawing at the crack of dawn and they're really noisy, but while they're usually a nuisance on the best of days, perhaps the wake-up call will be appreciated this weekend, as the school gates are open over the weekend for the annual cultural festival the students have been hard at work on for the past few weeks. It's an open event for family and friends to come enjoy themselves, or perhaps get dragged into helping out in a booth or two, as some of the students have called in sick or can't be reached at all. Either way, the general commotion centered around the school is probably even loud enough to be heard all the way over in Castle Ouma if you're quiet enough. I don't know how else to get you guys who still live in the castle ruins over here... Hopefully you've been hearing people talking about it all of last month? Or maybe you're a newcomer who's just woken up in the castle ruins, spent ten seconds with Kokichi, and decided to leave the forest and never return, that's also very plausible.

Involving the elementary, middle, and high school buildings on their shared campus, all the typical sorts of booths can be found, including a school play performed by the elementary school students in the auditorium in the morning, and various concerts or performances held throughout the day. In the classrooms, food stalls and cafes are common, along with haunted houses for the braver souls. Rumors say that sometimes people who enter the haunted houses never come out the other side... but never mind that. It's fine. Sports clubs hold friendly competitions outside on the field, and many cultural clubs have displays of their work to show off in their club rooms, so there's plenty to do and see and eat all around campus. Despite all the preparation, however, some of the stalls appear to be empty, others with students frantic about not having enough people to keep things rolling smoothly. Looks like the strange illness going around town last month hasn't completely resolved yet, but maybe it's best for those who are ill to stay home in a crowded place like this.

For those seeking something quieter, tucked away in a corner of the high school building next to a struggling yakisoba stand is a fortune telling tent which doesn't seem to be getting many customers. The line is short and there's no fee, so why not give it a shot? Inside, a hooded figure sits, head bowed and face completely obscured in shadow aside from their chin, illuminated by a cheap looking crystal ball placed in the center of the table. A stack of cards lays on their left, a bag of something smelling faintly sweet and spicy sitting on their right. Without prompting, the fortune teller speaks in a low soft voice, greeting you by name. Weird. Weirder yet, they go on to address you by the arcana on your omamori, be it The Fool or The Hermit or what have you, and rather than answering any questions you may have about your future, the fortune teller instead offers one of two messages:

『To return to where you hailed, you must return to where you arrived. Take with you that which bears the name of the being you have banded together to defeat, and restore what once was.』
or
『When the moon's face shines full and bright, at the cusp of night and day, return to the place of beginnings. Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai must be played, to return two lost souls to this world.』

Huh... Before you can ask any questions, however, your time is up and the next person in line is already pushing you out the seat to the exit. You can always return to the end of the line to have another go, but... curiously, when you enter the tent any subsequent times, a high schooler in uniform greets you, bright and chipper. Home? Souls?? She has no idea what you're talking about if you repeat the messages from before, but never mind that! She can read your fortune!! Maybe you'll let her show off some palmistry and— oh... your life line is rather short... Unfortunate. Never mind, we'll try tarot instead and- hm. That sure is The Tower. Oh well, time's up, next person please!

On Sunday evening as the festivities wind down, a bonfire has been set up in the middle of the field, adding to the unnaturally hot summer night. It's still pretty, though, with the sky dark and bright stars starting to peek out, blankets laid out across the grass and sweet potatoes being passed around to be roasted by the fire. Take the time to relax and breathe... because it's un/fortunately a festival month and the villagers are hype about their festivals.

→ 8/6-8/8 Tanabata Festival

While the students had been hard at work setting up the school festival, the rest of the town had been preparing for the tanabata festival, with stalls set up encircling the entire lakefront at the center of town. Yukata can be bought or rented, along with traditional hand fans to ward off the heat of the summer, and many of the typical food stalls and carnival games can be found, including stalls where you can test your luck in scooping goldfish/yo-yos/other small plastic toys, shooting targets with cork rifles, attempting the rigged ring toss that's impossible to win without cheating, or playing the lottery with tickets for free food from the stalls as consolation prizes. Maybe your luck sucks and you just want to buy stuff and that's fine too. Come with full wallets and leave with full stomachs filled with yakitori skewers, sweet or savory dango, roasted sweet potato, and the seasonal favorite: shaved ice. It's seasonal because it's summer and summer is so hot. This particular summer feels like hell and halfway through the last day, they run out of syrup, but cups of plain ice are still selling very well, so... yay...

While some of the stalls are already heavy with decoration, others are pretty sparse, with the lack of people running them. Which is fine, or intended, because there are workshops held all around for teaching and encouraging people to make decorations meant to improve different aspects of one's life: paper kimonos for artistic ability, strings of a thousand paper cranes for long and healthy lives, paper purses for wealth, colorful streamers for handicraft, wastebaskets for cleanliness, and of course, tanzaku- paper strips hung up on bamboo trees for a wish to be granted by the gods. Decorations are judged for artistic ability, with a small prize given to the best decoration judged at the end of each night.

In the evenings, stages set out along the lakeside feature folk dance performances, and decorations are collected to be lit on fire and sent off in small boats in the lake, the collection of flames giving off a soft light as the paper burns down and turns to ash, reclaimed by the lake as they sink. A reminder from the townspeople to anybody who stands too close to the lake: please do not touch the water. On the very last evening of the festival, a fireworks show is held, shooting up overhead above the lake and is visible anywhere around town, raining down sparks of gold and red, hell fire from the sky.

...Also hell fire in the woods. It's been windy and dry all month, and a small forest fire has started at the edge of town, be it from arson or by accident. The villagers cut the evening short to go help, as there is no established fire fighting service, so any and all assistance would be appreciated. Somewhere nearby, a child starts to cry, unable to find his mother. With the villagers pulled away, the night ends with the stalls left empty. Nobody comes to clean up the next morning...

→ MOD NOTES

⬥ As mentioned in the OOC plotting post, a heat wave befalls the town and NPC villagers start disappearing until the daitengu from last month is defeated. 2 more dungeon threads must be submitted before 8/11 to secure the ofuda. Lockdown continues to occur each midnight, with the school transforming into the dungeon; details can be found on last month's event log.
⬥ For the cultural festival: characters will receive a hint about either 1) how to return home (take the ofuda received after beating the dungeon boss to the castle ruins), or 2) how to summon the Velvet Room attendants (playing Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai at the castle ruins during the full moon), and are highly encouraged to discuss both messages amongst themselves. Characters may learn more about how to play Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai, date of the full moon, etc. by asking around town.
⬥ On 8/12 (ICly dated on 8/15, the night of the full moon), a mini-log will go up encompassing both of these findings.
⬥ For the tanabata festival: each character may claim one small wish pending mod approval at any time this month (comment below) for writing their wish down on a tanzaku, and 3 characters will be randomly chosen on 8/12 as winners for the decoration judging, and will be contacted at that time for the option of receiving an additional wish.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Leon says a lot of things without thinking them through. Though never once did he mean to hurt anyone, that doesn't excuse the things he says, nor the jokes that are taken too far. Words may be just words, but they hold a power ー they can mean many things to different people. As someone who stands on the stage, who speaks to the public, he needs to be careful with them. It's a good thing that Kido makes that clear for him, unlike the way he always got away with things back home.

This is where he'd usually plead for forgiveness, but the atmosphere around Kido makes him swallow it back. That doesn't feel like the right thing to do, and he doesn't want to upset her further. Quietly, he walks behind her instead of beside, just like a post-scolding guilty child. ]

Mm. Still, that made you unhappy. [ He's never had to feel like this ー he didn't know how awful it feels, making someone genuinely upset. ] Of course you wouldー they're your friends. I can't take back what I've said, but... I'll be careful with what I say from now on.

[ At the very least, he'll try his very best. People can't change overnight, after all. ]

[ It'd be almost incomprehensible for Kido to wrap her mind around the idea of going through life without knowing how people feel when you say something insensitive to them, but of course that takes being aware of it in the first place. She's no stranger to running her mouth and stabbing people with her words either, but she has a sharp tongue when she's angry and Leon's just... careless. And that, for whatever reason, makes Kido both angry and finding it hard to be angry.

With a huff, she turns around, and flicks Leon's forehead without warning. ]

Good. Reflect on what you said and don't do that to others, either, at least until you get to know them better.

[ Because god knows that there's people here who would just laugh off whatever Leon says and play along with the joke, but Kido's never had a great sense of humor. ]

I'll give you one chance to make it up to me, and if you can do that, we're good. Okay?

Ouch!

[ Leon puts his hands over the spot she flicked, eyes watering from both surprise and relief, because he thought Kido will just ignore him forever. ]

Kido... Thank you!! [ He grasps her hand for with both his hands for a moment, before his instinct kicks in and tells him to let go. So he does, fists balled, filled with determination. ] I'll do whatever it takes!!

[ lmfao yeah, if he touched her should would have sunk her fist into his stomach, probably. But instead of answering any of that thank you or saying anything about how desperate he sounds, she points at one of the booths. One of those ones where you throw basketball and get a prize depending on how many make it through the hoop in a certain amount of time. ]

You any good at that?

[ Oh!!! He can do this, P.E. is his forte!! He's more of a soccer dude than basketball, but his teammate Daiya's been getting into NBA before he left, so there's that influence... ]

Leave it to me!! What do you want?

[ He gestures at all the different prizes lined up at the back of the booth. They range from assorted snacks and candies, to stationery sets, to toys (including some plushies), and more! ]

[ Without hesitation, Kido points to one of the plush toys- a black cat with yellos eyes- but before Leon can say anything about it being a cute choice or anything like that, Kido gives him a sharp glare. ]

It's just that I promised Suzume I'd bring her something back, okay?

[ It's not... technically... a lie. But the doll is for Kido and Leon doesn't have to know that. ]

[ Kido... that actually doesn't sound very convincing. He deals with a tsundere every single day back home, and what she said sounded so much like what Reiji-kun would say. Then again, she might be saying the truth, she takes a good care of the kids, after all... Well, whichever it is, he won't say anything about it. ]

Alright! Watch me!

[ Leon talks to the guy in the stall so he can try it out. The moment the whistle blows, he moves in a high speed with absolute focus ー there's no smile in his face, but he doesn't seem to struggle getting the ball in. There goes another, and another. It really helps that he's tall... ]

[ As long as he doesn't call her out, it's fine...

She was hoping he'd be able to have an easier time with the basketball game since he's tall and doesn't have to throw the ball as far, but the amount of skill he displays is incredible— so unexpected that Kido ends up staring wide eyed at the hoop as the balls keep swishing through the net, and doesn't seem to notice herself when she starts to quietly cheer him on under her breath while she watches. ]

[ 2 minutes go by quick, and Leon's managed to rack up points nearly double than what's needed for the bigger prizes. The guy manning the booth is thoroughly impressed, letting him to pick 3 things instead of just 1 because he's broken their all-time record ー under the condition he's not allowed to play the game again, which is fair. ]

Kido! You can pick!

[ In the first place, he was planning to play two more rounds so they can get something for Suzume and Hayato as well, but this resolves it. For once, he isn't messing up...! Let's see how long it takes before he ruins it again. ]

[ It's incredible. He really isn't just some airhead when it comes to certain things, huh. ]

Is that okay? Then, um...

[ The cat plush that she'd pointed out before, a small model mecha for Hayato, and... ugh... if she chose out another cat, that would make it too obvious... ]

...You should choose something to keep. You're the one who earned it, after all.

[ This is the moment where Leon knows for sure that the cat plush was for Kido. ]

Really? Okay!!

[ He tries his best to suppress a smile, looking over the selection of goods. What'll be great for Suzume-tan... Figuring that plushies are probably the safest choice for little girls, he picks a cute pink rabbit doll, and holds it with him. ]

This one!

[ He can give it to Kido when they separate later, saves her from having to admit the truth. ]

Let's see the other booths, Kido!

[ Bless Leon, even though he'll never tell Kido and so she'll never know and her opinion of him will continue to hang low to the ground aflkjhds

The rabbit is cute too, something Suzume would definitely like, but she's just thinking now that Leon's the sort of person who likes cute rabbits. Actually, he seems the sort of person who'd like anything, without getting caught up with what's "cute" or "cool." ]

Mm, sure. I dragged you to this one, so you choose what we see next.

[ I'm so enamoured by the concept of how Kido and Leon relationship continue to be rocky and unfortunate, it's so great. ]

Really? Then-- Oh! Kido, look, look!

[ Before Leon can suggest anything, a long row of soap bubbles begin to float above them. Their sizes vary, but they all float in the same systematic manner very quietly, towards the same direction. The translucent rainbow spheres look even more glowing against the vibrance of the festival, reflecting on Leon's sparkling eyes. His mouth gapes open, like a child who's never seen one before. ]

So pretty... it's like the stars, isn't it? I wonder if this is what Orihime-tan and Hikoboshi-san see every year, too.

[ laughs... one day......

Bubbles really aren't anything like stars and Kido's about to turn around and tell him that, but she stops short when she actually sees the bubbles, the way they catch the light and bend it around the surface of the bubbles, splitting them into pinks and blues with the glow of gold behind them. ]

Yeah, they're pretty... They're even prettier at night than during the day; I'm sort of surprised.

[ Because bubbles bring to mind sunny parks or clear skies from a balcony, those sort of idyllic images that Kido never got to experience for herself. ]

...Do you want to go see if they have any for sale? Though it's easy enough to make at home, I'd imagine...

Aren't they just?

[ Leon turns his head to look at Kido, and the reflections of the bubbles on her eyes are pretty, too. He beams even wider now, seeing how she seems to like it. ]

Oh!! Can we?! Let's follow where the bubbles come from!

[ Had this been anyone else, Leon would take her hand and drag her along with him, but it's Kido... maybe one day, but that day isn't today and he isn't gonna ruin the good mood they're having now! ]

Looks like it's happening from that booth at the corner! Let's have a look at it!

[ He would usually rush without any chill, but the bubbles are just so pretty he wants to enjoy them slowly. His steps are slow and he continues to watch the bubbles as he walks, smiling all the while. ]

Did you use to play with soap bubbles too, Kido?

[ If it were anybody else but Rei or Terry— who just do what they want— who takes her hand, Kido would've broken his arm probably. But she's content enough to walk alongside Leon, gaze trailing to the bubbles every now and again but finding their way back to Leon; it's good that he stands out, so there's little worry of losing him in the crowd, especially when she was expecting him to just dart off in search of the source. ]

No, I haven't. I didn't spend too much time outside when I was younger, and when I did, it was mostly just running around on the streets.

[ Playing hero with her siblings, and it's a thought that brings a fond smile to her face ]

What about you? I can easily imagine you playing around with them, even now.

Running around on the streets! [ He chuckles. ] I miss doing that. Riding bicycles, collecting bugs, playing soccer... ah, but I still play soccer even now, haha!

[ He nods at her question, all smiles and bouncy. Watching Leon will probably get people dizzy, he's always seemed like he's dancing rather than just walking. ]

I did! The kids at the neighbourhood will have a contest on who can make the biggest bubble. It's so much fun! I wish we can do it now too. Well... but now I guess we can do it here! Kido's first experience ♡ Are you excited?

[ They were all nice things to imagine— up until Leon mentions bugs and Kido sort of pales and looks away. Even the thought of bugs makes her skin crawl, holding her arms close to herself despite the heat. Gross. ]

Hm? Ah...

[ They're talking about bubbles. Not finding the biggest bug or something creepy like that, but the lingering thoughts are still enough to put her off. ]

I'm fine with it. Watching is enough for me, and I think you would enjoy blowing them more than I would, anyways.

[ Leon is the tragic example of one word too many. Every time he says something remotely nice, he will follow it up with something bad... unfortunate. ]

Eeeh~ Really?

[ That's what Kido says, but she'll think differently when she actually tries it!! That's what Leon believes so he gets two of the bubble wands and soap bubble containers from the stall and comes back to where Kido is with a huge smile. ]

Here, Kido! Green one for you and yellow one for me ♡

[ Maybe... She takes the green wand in hand and dips it into the soapy water and even if she knows how bubbles work, it's still kind of disappointing to see that they come out as normal bubbles and not stars and hearts ): Not that she lets it show on her face or anything, but it's just sad.

The bubbles are pretty, but she doesn't really have an opinion about it either way... until a couple of children walking by excitedly run towards the bubbles, jumping and clapping them out of the air and she can't help but smile, watching them, laughing a little under her breath while she blows another stream their way. ]

[ Don't worry Kido, Leon's got you. He'll voice your disappointment out loud. ]

Eeeh?! They're round? I thought they'll come out like stars and hearts...

[ His dog ears droop, but when he sees Kido playing with the kids who are happily responding to the bubbles, he can't help but brighten back up. Kido is smiling! She's even laughing a bit!! He joins in blowing the bubbles towards the kids, so now they're surrounded with bubbles. They laugh and squeal in excitement, eventually beginning to run around to avoid the bubble attacks.

Leon lives by his instincts, so when he sees people running, he follows, and that's what he does, running after them laughing. ]

[ The smile on her face twists in amusement, like she's trying not to laugh out loud and is doing a terrible job of holding it in. Really, Leon acts like he's five more than he does somebody around her age, and she blows her bubbles up into the air so he can have his own set of bubbles to catch while leaving the ones that drift lower for the other kids to clap out of the air or stomp on once they're close enough to the ground.

It's fun until the bubbles run out or Kido runs out of breath, but then Leon will be all sticky from the soap and that probably feels a little gross haha ]

[ Together with the kids, Leon begins squealing and giggling, as he tries to pop the bubbles that Kido blows their way. Halfway through, he can't resist and begins dancing to the beat of the tune he's humming, and rhythmically popping the bubbles. ]

Funky love〜♪ Party time〜♪ The match starts here〜♪

[ The humming turns into singing the more he gets into it, though he can't help laughing in between when the kids try to imitate his moves. He's elated that not only the kids but Kido also seems like she's having fun! So when the soap bubbles run out and their fun time is over, he can't help feeling a little sad, especially looking at the kids going "ehhh" at him and Kido. ]

Aww... Next time! Let's do it again next time, okay? It was soooooo fun!!

[ He definitely is sticky with soap, his hair is flopping down from all the moisture. It should be gross, but he's feeling good! Now that he's done talking with the kids, he redirects his attention back to Kido, then laughs. ]

Kido, you have a bubble on your hair, too!

[ He blows the said bubble gently so it floats up in the air before it pops. ]

That was fun, wasn't it?

[ I started laughing watching the video and so does Kido, before she has to duck her head and try to focus her breath on blowing bubbles instead of laughing. It's hard and the bubbles don't come out in a steady stream, but it's okay because the kids (in which Leon is included) are having fun and Kido has fun watching them.

It's too bad when they're all gone, leaving her a bit lightheaded and breathless from blowing bubbles all this time, which gets a little worse when Leon turns his attention to her and she can feel his breath blowing the bubble out of her hair. ]

...Yeah, it was a lot of fun.

[ She can't really deny it, with that smile that's still on her face, but her voice is quiet like she doesn't want to admit it out loud that she had fun. ]

I can tell you had fun, without asking. You really went all out, huh? What was that, "funky love"?

[ Leon can be so dense sometimes, but Kido's reaction is one he doesn't miss out because of how familiar it is - it's almost exactly like how Reiji, fellow ARP member, is! Ok maybe Kido's a little more honest than Reiji, but he can tell that she's having fun and that makes him so exhilarated!! His eyes sparkle and twinkle and he jumps in front of her as if he can't contain all the happy bubbles he's feeling. He nods vigorously, and gets even happier that she asked about his song! Yes!!! He thought you'd never ask!!! ]

I'll show you how to dance it, Kido! Watch me!

[ He'll do every step in a much slower beat, singing it without holding back like he's holding a live performance.

Also oh my god after almost a year I finally realised that I have the lyrics wrong all these time LOL I've always thought it's funky love but it's funk it up, please pretend that's how the song goes bc it's funnier... s;ldjfs ]

Funky love! Party time! It's perfect! One day I'll make you my captive~ ♪ Dance with me, Kido!

[ Come join him flapping your arms like a bird!! ]

AUGUST EVENT PT 1

premise ⬥ taken ⬥ faq ⬥ navigation

→ 8/3-8/4 School Cultural Festival

→ 8/6-8/8 Tanabata Festival

→ MOD NOTES

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