SCHOOL FESTIVAL: REINA

The festival grounds were buzzing with energy, filled with the sound of excited chatter, clinking game booths, and the occasional victory cheer. Kyoshi had just finished his hour-long hangout with Hana when he noticed a familiar figure at one of the game booths. It was Reina, standing in front of a stack of cans with a determined scowl on her face. She was throwing balls at the cans with such force that it looked like she was channeling all her energy into knocking them down. Despite her efforts, the cans remained stubbornly in place.

Kyoshi couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched her. Reina had always been competitive, but there was something almost comical about the intensity with which she was attacking the poor cans. He walked over to her, calling out, “Hey, Reina! What’s got you so hard on those cans? Did they insult you or something?”

Reina turned her head sharply at the sound of his voice, her eyes fierce like a tiger ready to strike. But when she realized it was Kyoshi, her expression softened, and she sighed in frustration.

"I just can’t win at this stupid game,” she muttered, her voice laced with annoyance. “I’ve tried so many times, but the cans just won’t budge. It’s rigged, I swear."

Kyoshi laughed, stepping up next to her. “Maybe it’s not rigged. Maybe you’re just using too much power. This isn’t a war, Reina, it’s just a game.”

Reina huffed, crossing her arms. “Whatever. I’ll win eventually.”

An idea popped into Kyoshi’s head, and he couldn’t resist the urge to challenge her. “How about we make things a little more interesting? Let’s have a bet. First one to knock down all the cans wins. Loser has to pay for the winner’s food. Deal?”

Reina raised an eyebrow, her competitive spirit flaring back to life. “You’re on. But don’t cry when you lose.”

They both stepped up to the booth, each taking a set of balls. Kyoshi, with a playful grin on his face, went first. He carefully aimed and threw his first ball, knocking over the top can with ease. His second throw was just as precise, sending the remaining cans tumbling to the ground.

“Looks like I win,” Kyoshi said with a smirk, turning to Reina.

Reina stared at the cans in disbelief, her lips pressed into a thin line. “No way. That doesn’t count.”

Kyoshi raised an eyebrow. “How does that not count? I knocked them all down.”

She crossed her arms stubbornly. “We’re going again. Best two out of three.”

Kyoshi could see the fire in her eyes, and he knew there was no way she’d back down now. So, they moved on to another booth, this one involving a ring toss. Kyoshi managed to win again, much to Reina’s frustration. But she wasn’t ready to give up.

"One more," she demanded, dragging him to the next booth.

This went on for a while, each booth presenting a new challenge—darts, shooting water guns, basketball hoops. Kyoshi won most of the games, but Reina’s determination only grew with each loss. It was clear that she wouldn’t be satisfied until she won at least one game. Finally, after what felt like an endless series of booths, they arrived at the last one.

Kyoshi glanced at Reina, who was already gearing up for another round. She was focused, her eyes locked on the target in front of them. He smiled to himself, realizing that if he didn’t let her win this time, they’d be stuck here all day. He respected her competitive spirit, but sometimes it was better to give a little.

With that in mind, Kyoshi purposefully missed his final shot, the ball sailing wide and missing the target completely. Reina’s face lit up as she knocked down her own target, a triumphant grin spreading across her lips.

“Yes! Finally!” she cheered, pumping her fist in the air. “I knew I could do it.”

Kyoshi pretended to look disappointed. “Well, I guess that means I owe you food.”

Reina smirked, clearly proud of herself. “That’s right. And I know exactly what I want.”

They made their way to a nearby food stall, the smell of fried food and sweets filling the air. Reina stopped in front of a booth selling **Tenyencoin**, a popular street food known for its crispy outer shell and gooey cheese filling.

"I want this,” she said, pointing to the menu. “Cheese on the inside, crispy on the outside. It’s the perfect victory snack.”

Kyoshi chuckled. “Alright, alright. One Tenyencoin, coming right up.”

They ordered the food, and as they waited, Kyoshi couldn’t help but tease her a little. “You know, you could’ve just accepted your loss earlier. You didn’t have to make me lose on purpose.”

Reina’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? You lost on purpose?!”

Kyoshi gave her a sheepish grin. “Well… I didn’t want to spend all day here. Plus, I figured you’d like it more if you won at least once.”

Reina blinked, processing his words before her expression softened into something more genuine. “I didn’t need you to let me win, you know. But… thanks.”

Kyoshi shrugged. “Hey, I’m just here to have fun.”

They both laughed as their food arrived. Reina eagerly bit into her Tenyencoin, her eyes lighting up as the cheesy filling oozed out. “This is so good,” she said between bites.

Kyoshi smiled, watching her enjoy her food. The competitiveness that had driven her earlier seemed to melt away, replaced by a warmth that made the moment feel special. It wasn’t often that he got to spend time with Reina like this, just the two of them, without the usual banter or competition getting in the way.

As they finished their food, Reina leaned back against the booth, looking satisfied. “Alright, I’ll admit it. Hanging out with you wasn’t so bad.”

Kyoshi raised an eyebrow. “High praise coming from you.”

She rolled her eyes but smiled. “Don’t get used to it.”

They spent the next few minutes walking around the festival, chatting about random things and teasing each other like old friends. By the time Reina’s competitive edge had worn off, the atmosphere between them felt lighter, more relaxed. It was nice—something Kyoshi hadn’t expected but was grateful for.

Eventually, Reina’s phone buzzed. She glanced at it and sighed. “Looks like my friends are waiting for me. I should go meet up with them.”

Kyoshi nodded. “Yeah, I should probably get back to the café too.”

Reina turned to him with a smirk. “Thanks for the food. And the games. Even if you did let me win.”

Kyoshi laughed. “Anytime.”

As she started to walk away, she paused and looked back at him. “Hey, Kyoshi?”

“Yeah?”

Reina hesitated for a moment before speaking. “I had fun today. So… thanks.”

Kyoshi smiled, giving her a small wave. “Me too. See you around, Reina.”

She waved back before disappearing into the crowd, leaving Kyoshi standing there with a satisfied feeling in his chest. It had been a long, competitive day, but in the end, it was worth it. Spending time with Reina, seeing her smile and laugh, had made it all worthwhile.

With a content sigh, Kyoshi continued his walk through the festival, the memories of the day playing through his mind. He couldn’t help but feel like this was one of those moments he’d look back on fondly—one where friendship and fun had blended together in the perfect way.

The festival was far from over, but for now, Kyoshi felt like he had already won something far more valuable than any game: a connection, a memory, and maybe even a deeper bond with Reina.

Chapter end