The minutes shifted into hours as Caspian and Tatsumaki made their way through the festival, trying every game booth they came across.
After losing the bet to Caspian, Tatsumaki had pouted adorably, until she won the next several games in a row. At the balloon dart game, her psychic powers guided the darts straight to their targets without a single miss. At the goldfish scoop, her telekinesis kept the fragile paper nets intact as she effortlessly scooped up fish after fish. Even at the shooting gallery, her powers adjusted the trajectory of every pellet, ensuring every target fell.
It was almost comical how unfair these games were against an Esper. But seeing her having so much fun and hearing her infectious laughter, well, for that, Caspian would gladly lose every time.
"Still not going to tell me how you cheated at the ring toss game?" Tatsumaki asked, walking beside him.
"Why can't you accept your defeat?"
"Because you're terrible at every other game we played. It's obvious you cheated somehow."
"No need to start pouting again."
"Hmph! Who's pouting?"
Caspian reached the end of the row of game booths and rounded the corner, stepping into a row of food stands they hadn't visited yet. He froze when he spotted the first stand, its large sign boldly displaying: 'Stand of Takoyaki.'
The first person he saw was Mosquito Girl, wearing her usual work apron. From his side view, he noticed she was wearing some of the clothing he had bought for her underneath the apron. The outfit wasn't extravagant — just a pair of high-waisted denim shorts with a folded hem and a plain white shirt tucked in. Of course, she rocked the look, the absolute bombshell of a woman she was.
Mosquito Girl noticed him with unnatural speed, as though she could sense him coming. "Caspian!" she shouted, waving enthusiastically and drawing the stares of many passersby.
Shit! It's a little too soon for her to meet her new sister…
This could either go okay or very, very poorly.
Tatsumaki bumped his shoulder. "Who is that…?"
Caspian glanced at her, her narrowed eyes scrutinizing him. He did his best not to let anything slip. "What? I haven't mentioned my good friends to you?"
"No…"
Caspian placed his hand on Tatsumaki's lower back and guided her toward the stand, whereby now Dr. Genus and Armored Gorilla had noticed him as well.
"How have you all been? I had no idea you guys would be here," Caspian said, trying to cut through the odd pressure Tatsumaki was radiating.
Mosquito Girl's eyes wandered over Tatsumaki. "Wow, who's the beauty, Caspian? I didn't know you were seeing an—"
Dr. Genus interjected. "No need to joke around, Mosquito Girl. It's a privilege that the S-Class Hero, Tornado, would honor our takoyaki stand."
Caspian mentally thanked him.
Dr. Genus continued. "A festival like this is the perfect place to refresh and clear the mind. The shop can get quite cramped, and it's nice to be part of something bigger. Plus, the proceeds go toward a good cause."
He's really selling it.
"Mosquito Girl… Where do I know that name from?" Tatsumaki mumbled.
Caspian's heart lurched. Wher— That damn list! Why would she have paid so much attention to it?
As Tatsumaki was lost in thought, Caspian glanced toward Mosquito Girl, who gave him a wink and what seemed to be a nod of approval toward Tatsumaki.
Is she actually okay with this...?
Before an uncomfortable silence could set in, Armored Gorilla came to the rescue. "Here, one for our good friend Caspian and one for his delightful girlfriend. Free of charge."
The term 'girlfriend' broke Tatsumaki from her train of thought. She looked up, accepting the skewered takoyaki in a ruddy stupor.
Caspian accepted the takoyaki and a spare napkin, thanking Armored Gorilla before casting an apologetic glance toward Mosquito Girl. She met his gaze, an enigmatic smile playing on her lips. Eager to avoid lingering any longer, Caspian said his farewells and walked onward with Tatsumaki.
Both of them continued forward, eating their takoyaki. When Caspian finished, he glanced over and noticed she had stopped beside a trash can to dispose of her empty wooden skewer. He couldn't help but notice the crumbs around her mouth.
She's a bit messy when it comes to food, isn't she?
"Here." Caspian extended his hand, bringing the napkin to her face. She didn't say a word, only glaring at him as he gently wiped the crumbs away.
Right now, he imagined she was thinking something like, 'How dare he treat me like a child? I'll let him do this just this once.'
"Done." Caspian tossed his skewer and the napkin into the trash can. "What would you like to do next?"
Tatsumaki turned and pointed into the distance. "That might be fun… with you."
He followed her gaze toward the large Ferris wheel at the far end of the festival grounds. "You're right. That might be fun."
Without delay, they reached the Ferris wheel.
Caspian glanced up at the towering structure, its frame adorned with strings of flickering lights that glowed brightly even in the late afternoon sun. The gondolas, painted in faded red with golden accents, rotated at a steady pace.
"You've been on one of these before, right?" he asked.
Tatsumaki crossed her arms. "Why would I waste time on something like this by myself?"
"Really? Not even with your big sister?"
Her emerald-green eyes locked onto his. "Oh? Interested in my sister? And what do you mean, 'big?' I'm older than her."
She really sets herself up to be teased.
Caspian brought a hand to his chin, feigning thought. "Hmm, I wonder what I meant…?"
"Your asking for it, Caspian…"
"Asking for wh—"
He cut his response short as they reached the front of the line at the Ferris wheel ticket booth. As he didn't want to be rude and make the attendant nor the long line before him wait.
After climbing the metal platform stairs, he opened the gondola door and gestured for her to step inside. His eyes fixated on her well-proportioned pale thighs that peaked out from under her cream-colored dress. Once she sat, he followed, closing the door behind him. Sitting down, he noticed that Tatsumaki's face was flushed, though her expression let slip a hint of something akin to worry.