Students rush down the hallway after the bell rings for their final class of the day. Chifuyu waits outside his classroom for Erika who had texted him if she could ask him something after school.
"Thanks for waiting Chifuyu. Sorry, I know you should be getting ready for practice but I just wanted to ask you this in person."
"No worries, I have time. So what's up?"
"Well, you probably forgot about this. But the Moon Festival is tonight, and I wanted to see if you wanted to go there."
The Moon Festival is one of many festivals held in Shioto. It takes place in District 5 on March 9th every year in celebration of the year Princess Kaguya was believed to be found. It's an ancient story that most of the people believe in, but this will be a tale for another time.
"Oh wow, you're right. I totally forgot about it."
"Hehe, I thought so. I asked my little brother if he wanted to go but he said he's already going with a female friend of his."
"Wait, how old is your little bro again?"
"He turns 11 next month."
"Turning 11 and he's already making moves on girls? Ha! You have quite the playboy little brother, I've gotta meet him one day."
"Yeah, he's a bit of a rascal. Sometimes I wanna clobber him."
"Wow. He even gets you riled up huh."
"Excuse me!"
As Chifuyu and Erika were chattering, a girl who's a year younger approached them. Chifuyu recognized her because he saw her just yesterday.
"Oh, hey Sumire. How are you?"
"You know her Chifuyu?"
Before Chifuyu gets to answer, Sumire interjects, answering for him.
"He saved me yesterday from some bullies, and I never got to thank him. So I just asked around to see what class you were in and rushed over here."
"Ah come on, it's not that big of a deal."
"That may be true. But still, I want to thank you."
As she lowers her head to bow down, she expresses her gratitude and leaves.
"Thank you very much!"
It was a short exchange, the girl simply wanted to let Chifuyu know how grateful she is. Erika gleefully looks at Chifuyu as he shyly scratches his head.
"So, would you be able to go to the festival tonight or would you be too tired from practice?"
"Oh yeah, you can definitely count me in!"
Erika sighed with relief, Chifuyu's straightforwardness always manages to put a smile on her face.
"I can't wait! I'll leave you so you can get to practice now. See you later!"
"Yeah, see you later!"
As their conversation ends and Erika walks away, someone who had been listening comes from around the corner behind Chifuyu.
"Oi Chifuyu, it's time for practice. Let's go."
"Oh, hey Mikey. You came to pick me up?"
"Don't call me that. I see you're as friendly as ever with Erika.
"I guess so."
"Tch."
Mike clicks his tongue at Chifuyu's laid-back response. Mike is a year older who's also on the basketball team. He has feelings for Erika and is jealous of Chifuyu's close relationship with her. Mike also detests Chifufyu because he came to this high school believing he'd be the best player, only to be far outshined by someone he'd initially thought wouldn't even make the team. Although he's bitter about this, basketball is just a hobby of his. Mike has bigger plans. As they walk to the gymnasium, he brings up a certain topic.
"Chifuyu, we're only sophomores right now. At the rate I'm growing right now, I would absolutely steal the title of Star Player come next season. But, I'm afraid I'm quitting basketball after this semester."
"Why's that?"
"Heh, I'll be taking the transfer exam for the Hunter Training Academy in July. And when I pass it, I'll be accepted as a student there. So naturally there will be no need for me to continue playing this sport. It was a mere pastime anyway."
"So you're chasing a greater dream, I'm happy for you."
Chifuyu replies genuinely, this pisses off Mike even more. His intent was to gloat, but he should've known that would have no effect on Chifuyu.
"Do you ever feel envious?"
"Who doesn't? This one time, there was a prize I really wanted from a raffle. So when I didn't win it, naturally I was jealous of who did."
"Forget it, I shouldn't have asked."
***
"Ah, nothing better than basking in the glorious sunset of 5:30 pm."
Chifuyu leaves the school campus after finishing practice. The sunset at 5:30 is a joke he and Dakota make. In lots of anime, it's not rare for a dramatic scene to occur at sunset. Chifuyu and Dakota noticed this and made it an inside joke between them. Speaking of Dakota…
"Yo."
"Dakota, what're you still doing here?"
"Erika told me you guys are going to the Moon Festival tonight and invited me as well."
"So you waited 2 hours for me to finish practice? You could've just gone home first."
"Nah, actually I went to tutoring."
"Tutoring?! You did?"
"Ha, you don't have that surprised. You pickin a fight with me you little..."
Dakota headlocks Chifuyu and playfully gives him a noogie.
"I mean, you never went to tutoring! Isn't it natural that I'd be surprised?"
"Hmph, you won't believe it. My mom called after school and told me she's gonna start giving me an allowance if I can keep up with my grades."
Dakota sticks his chest out proudly, Chifuyu slightly laughing at how simply he gets motivated.
"Why am I even surprised, I should've known there was something in it for you."
"Heh, what can I say?" remarks Dakota as he slyly shrugs his shoulders.
"Uh, hey Chifuyu."
"What is it?"
"Those wouldn't happen to be your friends would they?"
A group of upperclassmen approach the two of them, they're the spitting image of what you'd call cliche high school delinquents.
"Oh, it's you guys."
"So you do know them, that's a relief."
"We're acquainted I guess."
"Acquainted my ass, you think you're some kind of hero? Huh, Chifuyu?"
The group leader of the delinquents strolls right up to Chifuyu with his hands burrowed in his pockets and head stuck upright, casting his eyes down on who he believes is below him. An old-fashioned way of trying to intimidate someone. But Chifuyu is unfazed, Dakota on the other hand is already making preparations to hightail it out of there.
"Hero? I'm not anything of the sort nor do I want to be. I just wanna enjoy living my normal everyday life."
"Is that so. You say that but you must think you're some knight in shining armor sticking up for that girl yesterday."
Yes, these are the same punks who were bullying Sumire.
Chifuyu picks his nose and flicks the booger towards them.
"I don't understand what's got your panties in a bunch, isn't it right to stick up for someone who's getting bullied?"
Chifuyu was starting to enjoy the situation, so he thought he'd provoke them a little.
"Mommy and daddy aren't gonna be proud of you if they hear about this. Bullying doesn't make you popular you know."
"What was that wise ass!?"
The stereotypical delinquent grabs Chifuyu by his collar, giving him a nasty glare. Chifuyu decides to pour more fuel on the fire.
"Wow, one little sentence is all it takes to offend you. This is why I hate punks like you, all brawn and no brain."
"Why you..."
Chifuyu knew his simple provocations would get them enraged, this whole situation had become a comedy skit to him.
The delinquent throws a punch that is easily evaded. Chifuyu then squares up to show he's ready to throw down.
"No going back now, I'm pummeling you!"
Delinquent 1 charges in with no strategy in mind, he just plans to swing his heavy fists. Chifuyu smirks, dodging the predictable right swing. Then, his ultimate counterattack begins.
"Huh?"
In mere seconds, the delinquent is gazing at the sky. After easily moving around the right swing's trajectory, Chifuyu pantsed him and swiped his foot under delinquent 1's legs causing him to fall on his ass.
"You little.."
The other delinquents finally charge in after witnessing their leader get an embarrassing taste of defeat.
"Let's go Dakota!"
"Yeah!"
Zoom
Being on the same wavelength, Chifuyu and Dakota dash out of there while laughing hysterically.
"Oi, you're running away without fighting?!"
"What a bunch of pussies."
Delinquent F and C fail to understand that Chifuyu could've easily beaten them. It's ironic that in the future, there will be countless times when Chifuyu would rather run than fight. But his soul will not let him. His drive will not let him. Chifuyu will face countless hardships, but he will never back down.
***
The night of the Moon Festival is bustling with tens of thousands of people. Countless musicians playing a plethora of songs combined with stages of professional dancers giving the audience an abundance of energy. Energetic cheers could be heard all throughout the festival grounds. The pathways were lined with floating lanterns painting the night sky bright orange and yellow. Countless booths provided food, drinks, and games. There were people of all ages. You could find babies probably no older than 2 being cradled by their mothers, kids running around having the time of their life, teenagers enjoying their youth with friends, adults drinking and appreciating this beautiful event, along with seniors just enjoying themselves.
On a normal day, kids and teenagers wouldn't be able to be out and about as they are right now during this festival. That's because unaccompanied minors aren't allowed to be out past 9 pm, 7 pm if you're not even in high school. In other words, everybody under 18 has been given a curfew. This law was put in place to prevent cases of unsuspecting minors being easy victims for vampires.
Vampires aren't affected by the sunlight like they are in fictional stories, they just move around at night because it's more convenient for them. At least, in this world. By giving minors a curfew, their mortality rate dropped significantly when vampires first showed up. They're only allowed to roam freely at night during big events. Naturally, there's still security at such big events. Along with hunters blending in with the crowd and others patrolling the perimeter.
Thousands of people are gathered at the Moon Festival this night, there will definitely be vampires trying to snatch some easy prey.
Sora and Dakota arrive at the festival and meet up with Erika. She's wearing a pink yukata plastered with bright red lilacs, with the left side of her bangs that are usually showing swept behind her ear showcasing a marigold orange crescent moon earring. The 2 boys are just dressed in casual clothes.
"Wow, look who dressed up for the occasion."
"Hehe, do I look okay?"
"It suits you well."
Chifuyu compliments Erika who lets out an innocent giggle after receiving his modest praise.
"You guys should wear yukatas next year, it helps you get more immersed in the festival spirit."
"No way, it wouldn't good look on me."
Dakota's lack of self-confidence shows itself.
"Anyway, the night's still young. Chifuyu, Erika, let's enjoy ourselves to the fullest tonight!"
"Yeah!"
Chifuyu and Erika chant in unison before they take off to the glorious Moon Festival.
***
"It sure is noisy over there. For better or worse, I have to make sure I keep it that way. I won't allow their peace to be shattered. I'll kill this Vampire Lord myself, tonight."
Next to the Moon Festival is a vast forest. Shoyo is currently in it waiting for the vampires to show up. Unbeknownst to all of the people of Shioto, one of the strongest vampires is sealed there. Ariel Ryuji, a Vampire Lord from over 200 years ago who couldn't even be killed. The location of where she is sealed was somehow leaked to the vampires. Meaning there's a traitor in the Hunter Agency. Even as the Moon Festival is going on right now, each and every member of the HA is being interrogated. The Vampire Lord is sealed in a hidden tomb underneath this forest. Shoyo would have no problem preventing the vampires from entering the tomb, but he has other plans.
It seems I'm totally surrounded, and it's a lot of them. Most likely no less than a few dozen.
Shoyo has been encircled by several vampires. It's nothing he can't handle. In fact, he allowed them to surround him. The reason being he has no intention of stopping them from unsealing Ariel. He plans to wipe them all out. Yes, every single one of them in the forest. Vampire Lord included, Shoyo isn't one to discriminate. He'll kill all vampires equally.
***
The trio of friends experienced the Moon Festival to its full extent and had an absolute blast. They all agreed that this had been the best night of their lives. Surprisingly, this had been the first time all 3 of them went together. They'd gone to a few other small festivals together, but the scale of the Moon Festival was much larger. As the festival reaches its end, they laugh at the hilarious pictures they took at the photo booth.
"Man, I wish times like these would last forever."
Youth at its finest. Dakota speaks his mind while the 3 of them are laying on a small grassy hill just outside the festival.
"They will last forever. We still have endless amounts of fun times to look forward to. But don't think you'll be able to goof off for the rest of your life without having any responsibilities."
"Tch."
"Hehehe."
Chifuyu tells Dakota the sad truth which he clicks his tongue in response to, Erika giggles on the side. Then, the final attraction had begun. The night sky was illuminated with vibrant fireworks, people who weren't even at the festival were able to see this magnificent display.
"How beautiful."
Erika expresses her awe without even knowing she spoke. The words just came out naturally. They all wear satisfied smiles, appreciating the grand fireworks.
After the final attraction ends, they all doze off for a bit. No more than 10 minutes. But by the time they woke up, Chifuyu had gone missing.
Comments (0)
See all