Sonic pushed the fruits of his years of stealth training to their limit, flickering from one shadow to the next as he trailed Caspian and Tatsumaki.
You continue to surprise me!
Had he anticipated that Caspian would subconsciously hide behind Tatsumaki from his angle whenever he prepared to launch a kunai? No. But this only fueled his determination further. To overcome such survival instincts was something he must do.
Several hours had passed since he began shadowing them. Whenever he hid behind a tent, stand, or booth, passersby either didn't notice him or simply didn't care. Even if they did, so what? It probably wasn't their first time seeing a man in skin-tight clothing, and it definitely wouldn't be their last.
As he observed them, Sonic noted how terrible Caspian was at the festival games and how often the pair ended up at the candied apple stand. From this, he learned that the 'Tornado of Terror's' manners were nonexistent — something that left him utterly disgusted. She devoured everything like a feral animal, using only her Esper abilities instead of her hands (aside from that strange incident at the takoyaki stand). To Sonic, her behavior was a stark reminder that being a hero wasn't a life worth pursuing.
You fools!
Sonic's moment finally arrived as the pair stepped into one of the Ferris wheel's gondolas.
After a moment, Caspian and Tatsumaki's gondola started moving, ascending to the highest point of the ride. Suddenly, the entire Ferris wheel came to a complete halt, as if an invisible hand had clamped down and frozen it in place.
A trap? With how cautious Caspian has been from the start, I cannot afford to be careless. There's also a strong breeze passing through. I will wait a few more moments.
¤ ¤ ¤
Since losing her bet to Caspian, Tatsumaki couldn't quiet her racing thoughts. She was certain he would make some perverted request. Part of her felt a strange excitement, while another part panicked.
Would he find her attractive naked? She had always been self-conscious about her small breasts, and it didn't help that at the takoyaki stand, she had caught his eyes wandering over that cosplaying woman, Mosquito Girl, and her bouncing udders. Tatsumaki also couldn't shake the feeling that that woman had deliberately flaunted herself in front of her Caspian.
But then she wondered if she was being too paranoid, too jealous. She wanted to scream. Falling in love and finding herself in a relationship had never been part of her plan. It was the last thing she had ever expected. How was she supposed to act? She needed to tell him things were moving too fast, that she wasn't ready for anything sexual. Would he be upset? Would it ruin everything? All these additional worries swirled in her mind, leaving her more distressed than ever.
Tatsumaki had believed she had hidden her emotions well, but the moment they were seated facing each other in the Ferris wheel's gondola, she felt as though her thoughts had spilled out onto her face for him to see.
In nervous silence, they climbed higher into the air, the gondola creaking and swaying with each movement. Her eyes drifted to the forests stretching out toward the horizon. She couldn't bring herself to look at him directly, afraid her inner worries might spill out.
But as the seconds ticked by, she noticed from the corner of her eye that he was watching her with a kind smile. She knew she had to speak her mind.
As they reached the highest point of the ride, Tatsumaki clenched her hand, freezing the Ferris wheel in place. Panicked cries erupted from the other gondolas and the crowd below.
She looked straight at him and said, "I have something I need to say."
"Me too." Caspian's eyes flicked to the onlooking people down below for a moment before returning to her. "It's time for you to grant that request you owe me."
Wait! No… Tatsumaki's heartbeat quickened.
¤ ¤ ¤
I've waited long enough.
Sonic reached down and pulled out a four-bladed shuriken with curved, hooked edges. One of the dark metal blades bore an engraved marking etched along its length. At the center was a small circular hub with a keyring dangling from it.
Sonic stepped out of the shadows. "Have a taste of my new weapon!" With a perfectly honed motion, he yanked the keyring and launched the shuriken at Caspian and Tatsumaki's immobile gondola. "'Smokescreen Shuriken!'"
The shuriken rocketed forward, smoke trailing behind it, before embedding itself into the metal frame of the gondola just below the window. Instantly, a massive cloud of smoke erupted, completely obscuring Caspian and Tatsumaki from view.
Panicked cries rang out as people scrambled to flee, shouting for help.
"First, I rob you of your sight…" Sonic gripped the hilt of the ninjato strapped to his back. "Then I'll deliver the finishing blow!"
His body shot forward. All he had to do was close the distance to the Ferris wheel, launch himself into the air, and pierce through the window to strike the unsuspecting Caspian.
But as he burst through the sound barrier, pressing his foot down to launch himself upward, he felt his traction on the ground give way. In that that fraction of a second, Sonic realized his grave miscalculation.
His eyes shot downward to the trap beneath his foot.
When did he place that leaf there?!
There was no time to react. Sonic's body surged upward, the loss of traction sending him lurching forward as he launched into the air. The result? An uncontrollable somersault at supersonic speed. "Curse you, Caspia—" His voice faded as he soared over the Ferris wheel, hurtling an unknown distance away.
His defeat on this day would heavily influence his training over the coming week.
¤ ¤ ¤
That was Sonic's voice… To think you would grant me this favor. Looks like I owe you one.
Caspian peered out at the dense, obscuring smoke. Not a wisp of it seeped into the gondola, nor did the structure shake from the powerful rush of wind that had blasted overhead. This, of course, was thanks to Tatsumaki's power, which now enveloped the entire Ferris wheel.
"How dare a monster attack at this moment," Tatsumaki muttered, floating out of her seat toward the door, enraged.
"It's alright," Caspian said, grabbing her hand.
"What are you doing? I need to deal with this monster."
Caspian shook his head. "There is no monster. I promise."
"Even if I believe you, how do you explain what just happened?"
"That's my… friend Sonic. He's a bit eccentric, but don't worry, he's a great guy."
Tatsumaki furrowed her brows. "You sure know a lot of 'great guys.' There's also that Boros fellow. Why are these 'great guys' such hazards to the public? Oh, and I bet this Sonic also wants to fight you with everything he's got."
"Hm? There's someone right in front of me who enjoyed fighting me with everything she had," Caspian teased, pulling her closer. She didn't resist, floating above his lap and settling into a seated position, her legs stretching out over his thighs.
"Everything I had? Don't get ahead of yourself, Caspian. I only gave you a taste of my true power."
Caspian grinned. "How about you give me a taste of something else? It's time for me to make my request now that we're free from the crowd's prying eyes and any furthers interruptions."
Tatsumaki broke eye contact, clearly struggling with something before she stammered, "I-I'm sorry… I'm not ready for… sex."
"Sex?!" Caspian cried out.
Her temper flared again. "Shut it!"
"Whoops. You just surprised me. Is that the kind of request you thought I would make? I wonder what else runs through that perverted little mind of yours."
Tatsumaki looked like she was about to explode. "You! You're the one who's been insinuating things with all those looks you've been giving me all day! And what was that comment about 'taste?'"
"Doubtful."
Tatsumaki leaned in, her face close to his. "Truthful."
Caspian brought his hand up, running it through her silken hair. "I'll show you the request I've wanted you to grant me all day."
Tatsumaki's eyes widened as his face drew closer to hers. Slowly, she closed her eyes, her small frame trembling.
Caspian's lips met hers in a tender kiss — not one of lust, but of love and understanding.
Seconds ticked by. Tatsumaki's body ceased floating, and she settled onto his lap, her arms wrapping around him.
Having eaten several candied apples earlier, he could taste a hint of their sweetness mingling with the scent of her green apple perfume. The combination was spellbinding, and he became so lost in the moment that he barely noticed when she pulled away.
She looked up at him, her delicate, pouty lips swollen. "Is that really what you wanted?"
"Yes," he replied, his hand still running through her emerald-green curls. "Never feel rushed or pressured, okay? I'm not going anywhere."
Tatsumaki stared at him, her eyes beginning to glisten.
"None of that today, you hear?" His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close.
Pressed against his chest, she remained silent, content, and happy.
And so, the two stayed like that until the smoke cloud faded away.