During that week, they had been busy preparing everything for the festival. The food, the decorations, the activities and their art exhibition.

On Wednesday, during the noon, the class was organising their individual drawings for the showcase.

It was raining once again and the atmosphere inside the studio was really cosy and peaceful.  

Han and Dracarus were there again, they wanted to help them as they didn’t have many tasks to do for the Goddess.

The Oni boy was helping Lydia choose her drawings while Dracarus was sitting with Eclipse.

He was fascinated to see her drawings and other pieces which he had never seen… He only knew about her sculpture works.

– They all look pretty. – He affirmed, with his head resting on his hand.

– Oh, thank you. – Eclipse glanced at him.

He looked focused on admiring every artwork. Her artstyle and drawings reflected hidden emotions and feelings, probably related to the ones she was feeling when doing it. That’s the part he most adored in her works. 

He wished he could express his own emotions and feelings through art like she did… As he doesn’t like to speak about them to anyone, nor does he want to bother anyone close to him about those feelings that not even himself understand properly.

He looked at her, who was occupied in choosing her best draws. “I wonder if she also feels that way about herself…” 

– Why are you staring so hard? – She noticed his eyes on her once again. At this point she thought he knew something.

– Huh– I’m sorry. – He looked away, embarrassed. – I was just… curious about something… 

“Hm? Could it be about my injured hand? Did he find out the truth?!” She was already overthinking what it could be.

– About what? – She asked, stopping what she was doing.

He looked back at her.

– Well… Do you perhaps express yourself through art because you can’t talk about it? – He explained his curiosity straightaway.

“What the hell… How did he even realise that just by looking at my drawings?”

– Uhh– Kind of. – She sighed, sadly. – Although I have friends and a loving family, I still can’t bring myself to talk to them about it… Especially the most personal ones. – She explained.

“Ah… So, I was right. We feel the same with this.”

– I understand you.

~~~

They spent the rest of the day choosing the works, and on the next day they exhibited them at the festival place. It all seemed so easy to do this year.

~~~

Friday finally arrived. It was sunny, miraculously… It had rained all week.

Xavier, Eclipse and Catherine were entering the school together that day. They were excited about the event and how it would go.

– Do you think many people will come? – Catherine asked them. She was really happy that day.

– Hmm, maybe. By the fact there will be food, everyone will attend immediately. – Eclipse laughed off.

– Oh, right… About that, what food did you bring to your stand? – Xavier asked, looking at her.

– I brought some autumn themed decorated biscuits and a cake my mother made. Lydia said she’d bring some cupcakes and a pudding. – She answered. Their stand was focused on desserts and sweets. – What about you?

– I brought some prepared pork steaks to heat and two bags full of bread… Cath said she’s bringing a special soup and some fruits, right? – He glanced at her.

– Yeah! – She smiled.

– Ohh, can’t wait to taste a bit of everything, haha! – Eclipse giggled.

When they arrived at the festival spot, Lydia, Dracarus and Han were already there. They were chatting between themselves.

They greeted each other and were heading to their stands. They were next to each other.

– Huh? Why are there cute headbands next to each stand? – Xavier wondered.

“No… No way this is for what I think it is…” He didn’t want to wear one.

– Hum… I think we’re either supposed to use them or to sell… – Han tried to figure it out.

– Let’s just ask the decoration's main team. – Lydia said, pointing to a girl with a decoration team shirt.

She went with Catherine to ask about it and the girl said they were supposed to use it as it was a cute and funny idea the team had.

– Oh… – Xavier was in denial. 

– I like the idea, haha. Let’s do it! – Catherine was happy about it. It was cute and it would make them seem more approachable to the little kids.

Everyone was searching for the best headband that suited them.

– There’s no way I’m actually going to use this. – Xavier blushed embarrassed. He never thought he’d actually wear this type of thing.

– Oh, come one, Xavi! You’ll look like a cutie in them! – Lydia tried to convince him, and it seemed to work.

Her smile would always change everyone’s mind.

– Alright, fine… – Xavier sighed and got closer to her. – I’ll use the red panda one.

Lydia happily giggled. He looked really cute with that on and her heart was fluttering over.

“He looks so cute, I want to kiss him…!” She impulsively kissed his cheek. 

– Hm?! What was that for? – He asked, surprised.

– You look really cute… I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable. – She looked down, scared of his reaction.

“How silly she is…”

– It’s fine. – He smiled gently.

On the other headband stand, Eclipse and Dracarus were choosing theirs.

– Hmm, I’ll pick the bunny one. It matches my hair. – She put on the band.

Dracarus was trying to find one for him and secretly stealing glances at her… She really looked like a cute bunny.

– Oh, look! – She suddenly spoke to him. – There’s a black cat one… It would suit you. 

– Mhm? Do you think so?

– Yeah… – She turned to him, showing the headband and looking at him. – Can you try it? – She pleaded.

He shifted looks between her and the band, and tilted his head down.

Eclipse carefully put it on his head.

– How is it? – He asked.

“Oh, he looks really pretty…” She was randomly getting flustered. “Argh what the hell am I thinking of! I can’t fall for him!” She blushed away at his looks but she didn’t want it to happen at all. She needed to focus on her hidden motive.

– It looks good… Keep that one. – She answered, wandering her gaze away from him. She didn’t want to blush at him again.

As she gazed away, she noticed Han and Cath putting on their headbands. She had a cute reindeer and him a tiger.

– The tiger really suits Han… He’s strong and cute. – She implied.

Han heard her voice and glanced over. “Was she talking about me? Cute?” He was a bit confused and surprised.

– Yeah… – Dracarus looked at him. – He looks cute. – He crossed his arms while seriously looking at Han.

“He must be happy, he said she was pretty the other day… and now she gave him a compliment.” Dracarus thought, but with a sort of weird feeling… he couldn’t really explain it though.

Han felt his strong gaze on him. He looked back at him.

“What— Why is he staring at me so intensively?” … “Wait… Could it be because the so-called mysterious and interesting girl called me cute?” He laughed at him, it was funny seeing Dracarus like that. 

“Why is he laughing, does he know something I don’t?” Dracarus glared irritated.

“Is he actually jealous? Haha…” Han playfully winked at him.

– Hmph, whatever…

After choosing their headbands, they started preparing everything in the stands to sell the foods and drinks.

Lydia was cutting Dahlia’s cake into pieces when Irene, a girl from their class, came running towards their stand.

– Hey girls, can any of you help us at the activities spot please? – Irene asked, in a hurry.

– Hum– I guess so, but help in what exactly? – Lydia asked, stopping for a bit.

– Well, a large group of people came to an activity and we need at least two more staff to help in it. Since these two stands were closer, I decided to ask you. – She explained the situation.

Xavier heard the last part and glanced over, trying to hear the conversation.

– I can go… – Lydia looked at Eclipse to make sure if she could or if she wanted to go instead of her. – Yeah, I’ll go with you. – Lydia left the stand.

– I also volunteer… – Xavier said, walking towards them. – Sorry I overheard the conversation.

– Oh, alright then, thank you both. It’ll be quick, I promise.

Irene left with the two of them, leaving Han with Catherine on their stand, and Eclipse with Dracarus.

– Well, since Xavi left, you’ll do his work. – Catherine said, giving the apron to Han.

– Oh, uhh– I’m not sure if this will turn out well, I’m quite bad at cooking and kitchen-like things. – He tried to warn Catherine before something clumsy happened.

– Haha! Don’t worry, I’ll help–

Han dropped the heaviest pan by accident, not even a minute after warning about his skill problem.

– Oh goddess, my feet…! – He was jumping around in pain.

– Han! Are you okay?! – Catherine picked up the pan and was looking at his pouty face. – Man, you really don’t belong in a kitchen, haha!

– Hey! Why are you laughing?! It hurts…!

She couldn’t help but laugh. “I never knew he could be so clumsy…”

~~~

– Mom! Eclipse’s there selling candy, can I go buy one? – A little girl was asking her mother.

– Of course, sweetie. I’ll stay here talking with Lydia’s teacher.

The little girl went to Eclipse’s counter, happily jumping.

– Hi, Eclipse! Can you give me candy? – She asked, looking over the counter.

– Oh, hello Theo. – She smiled at the cute girl. – Which one do you prefer?

– My mother gave me this money, can I get a piece of the cake?

– Sure! Let me take off a piece for you.

Dracarus got up from the chair and was helping Eclipse.

He looked at the little girl who couldn’t even reach the counter, and she looked familiar.

– She looks like Lydia. Are they related? – He decided to ask Eclipse about it.

– Yeah, it’s her little sister, Theodora. She’s seven years old.

– Oh… that makes sense. – He exchanged looks with Theodora.

– I didn’t know you had a boyfriend, Eclipse. – Theodora said, out of nowhere. 

– Hm? What do you mean? – Eclipse was confused.

– Him… – She pointed at Dracarus. She thought he was her boyfriend.

“Wait, she’s talking about me?” He was kind of flustered. “Her boyfriend?!” “Doesn’t she know who I am—?” 

They looked at each other, embarrassed.

– He’s not my boyfriend… We’re just friends. – Eclipse explained, also surprised.

“Do we look that close to the point of a child thinking we’re dating?!” She didn’t want it to seem like that, at all.

– Ah… But my sister said you had a new friend who was really handsome and that you liked him.

Eclipse was embarrassed about this. “Why would Lydia say that…!”

She looked at Dracarus and he seemed stunned, or perhaps embarrassed.

“She really thinks that??”

– Oh, no, no…! – She was even stuttering about how awkward she felt. – I meant it in a friendly way, haha. But yes, it’s him. 

– Hmm, really? – Theodora somehow thought they looked cute together. Especially with the bunny and cat ears.

– Yeah, haha! Anyways… – Eclipse didn’t want to keep this conversation so she twisted it out. – Here’s your candy, you can return now. 

Eclipse smiled at her leaving while Dracarus kept focused on her.

“Agh, why does this keep happening to me… Why with the person I need to hide from…” She sighed, helplessly.

“Her face is red… Is it because of what the girl said?” He shyly thought to himself. “Could it be that she’s interested in me as well?”

He was kind of hoping she was, however, “Why would someone like her be genuinely interested in a man like me…? She’s probably just like the rest of the girls… They only like me for being pretty and a Prince… Quite annoying.”

After a while, Lydia and Xavier returned.

– We’re back! – Lydia exclaimed, excited.

– Oh, how was it? – Eclipse asked her.

– It was fun! Irene said she would call us again if she needed to.

– Oh that’s nice! We should go check on that later.

– Yeah, we could have some fun there together. – Lydia wanted them all to participate in the activities. – By the way, how was our little dessert stand? Everything’s almost gone…

– It went well, many people came here… even your sister. – Dracarus explained.

– Really? Did she bother you both? – Lydia was worried for them… Her sister was quite annoying sometimes.

– Not at all, she’s a cutie… – Eclipse replied, hesitantly. She wanted to talk to her about what happened but she couldn’t since Dracarus was there.

~~~