Bai Ying barely managed to escape the fortune-telling booth, shaking off the unsettling feeling that Aiura's words had left behind. He couldn't help but glance over his shoulder, half-expecting Saiki to be gone already. But to his surprise, Saiki was still following him, looking as indifferent as ever.
He raised a brow, slowing his pace to let Saiki catch up. "You don't have to follow me, you know."
Saiki didn't respond, but he also didn't stop walking beside him. Bai Ying couldn't help but smile at that.
The school festival was still in full swing, the sounds of laughter and chatter filling the air as students moved between booths and performances. Bai Ying let himself relax, the tension from the fortune-telling fading as he matched Saiki's pace.
"So," Bai Ying said, aiming for casual, "do you actually enjoy festivals, or are you just here because of, you know, circumstances?"
Saiki gave him a flat look that spoke volumes. Bai Ying snorted.
"Right. Forced into it." He looked around, spotting a shooting game stall nearby. An idea sparked in his mind, and he nudged Saiki's shoulder. "Hey, wanna test your aim? I bet I can win something cool."
Saiki didn't seem particularly interested, but he also didn't walk away, which Bai Ying took as a yes. Grinning, he approached the stall and handed over the required tickets. The game was simple—hit three targets with a toy gun to win a prize.
He aimed the gun, squinting one eye for effect. "Piece of cake," he murmured, pulling the trigger. The shot missed entirely. Bai Ying stared at the target, unimpressed.
He could feel Saiki's judgmental stare from behind him. Huffing, Bai Ying straightened and tried again, missing by an even wider margin.
He turned to Saiki, pointing an accusatory finger. "This gun's rigged. I swear."
Saiki's eyes narrowed slightly, and Bai Ying got the distinct impression that he was holding back a sigh. Without a word, Saiki reached out, adjusting Bai Ying's grip on the gun with a light touch that sent a shiver up his spine. Bai Ying blinked, momentarily thrown off by how close Saiki was standing.
"There," Saiki said simply.
Bai Ying swallowed, trying to ignore the warmth creeping up his neck. He focused back on the game, aimed carefully, and—hit the target dead center.
"Yes!" He couldn't help the triumphant grin as the stall owner handed him a small stuffed toy shaped like a pink alien with green antennas. It was kind of ugly but cute in a weird way. Bai Ying glanced between the toy and Saiki, a slow smirk forming.
He held the toy out to Saiki. "Hey, it kinda looks like you. You can have it—a token for putting up with me."
Saiki hesitated, eyes narrowing suspiciously. Bai Ying just pushed the toy into his hands, ignoring the little thrill that ran through him when Saiki accepted it.
"You're welcome," Bai Ying said, overly cheerful, and Saiki gave him a look that clearly said, You're an idiot.
Bai Ying just laughed.
As they moved on from the shooting game, Bai Ying couldn't help but glance at Saiki, who still held the pink alien toy rather awkwardly. It looked oddly fitting in his hands, even if Saiki seemed mildly annoyed by it.
"Looks good on you," Bai Ying teased.
Saiki gave him a side-eye glare, but Bai Ying just grinned wider. They continued walking through the festival grounds, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement. Bai Ying let the sounds and colors wash over him, enjoying the energy of it all.
After a while, his curiosity got the better of him. "Hey," he started, keeping his tone casual, "your brother's kind of... intense. Is he always like that?"
Saiki hesitated, looking forward with an almost imperceptible frown. Bai Ying waited patiently, not pushing.
Finally, Saiki answered with a brief nod.
Bai Ying hummed thoughtfully. "I guess that's just how siblings are. I mean, I wouldn't know, but it seemed like he was really protective of you."
Saiki shot him a look that clearly conveyed his thoughts: More like possessive.
Bai Ying couldn't help but laugh at that. "He did seem kind of controlling," he admitted. "But he also mentioned something about your parents? What's the deal with that?"
Saiki's expression flattened, and Bai Ying immediately regretted asking. But before he could backtrack, Saiki actually answered—silently, with a gesture that said it all: They adore him.
"Oh," Bai Ying said, eyebrows rising. "Guess that makes sense. He's the genius prodigy, right? Must be hard being compared to that all the time."
Saiki gave a minute shrug, as if it didn't bother him at all, but Bai Ying could sense the underlying annoyance. He wasn't sure how he knew—it was just a gut feeling, like he'd gotten better at reading Saiki's subtle cues.
Bai Ying smirked and nudged Saiki with his elbow. "Well, for what it's worth, I think you're pretty amazing too. You've got this whole quiet, mysterious thing going on. Way cooler than some genius show-off."
Saiki didn't react outwardly, but Bai Ying swore he saw the tiniest twitch at the corner of his mouth.
Before Bai Ying could comment on it, someone shouted his name from a nearby food stall. He turned to see Kaidou waving at them, balancing two plates of yakisoba and nearly dropping one.
"Makoto! Saiki! Over here!" Kaidou called.
Bai Ying glanced at Saiki, who looked vaguely exasperated, and then back at Kaidou. He shrugged and made his way over, Saiki reluctantly trailing behind.
When they reached the stall, Kaidou set one of the plates down and gestured grandly. "Behold! The Ultimate Warrior's Yakisoba! Guaranteed to grant energy for any battle!"
Bai Ying raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
Kaidou nodded with the utmost seriousness. "It's packed with secret ingredients known only to the chef. I managed to snag some before the crowds devoured it all!"
Aren appeared beside them, looking both amused and resigned. "I wouldn't take anything he says seriously. He's been hyping up everything he sees today."
Bai Ying snorted. "Sounds about right."
He took a bite of the yakisoba, pleasantly surprised by how good it actually was. Saiki didn't touch his plate, just glanced at it with mild disinterest. Bai Ying shot him a knowing look.
"What, too much warrior spirit for you?" he teased.
Saiki just gave him a deadpan stare in response.
Kaidou seemed oblivious to the teasing and continued his ramble about how the yakisoba was crafted with "battle energy." Aren just sighed, clearly used to his nonsense by now.
Bai Ying felt a flicker of contentment as he looked at the group. Somehow, this chaotic mix of personalities felt almost natural to him now. He glanced at Saiki again, catching the way the other seemed more relaxed despite his usual neutral expression.
After finishing the yakisoba—and half of Saiki's since the psychic clearly wasn't interested—Bai Ying stretched his arms above his head. The festival atmosphere was still going strong, with music, chatter, and the occasional cheer from game booths. Kaidou had rushed off, declaring he needed to "investigate suspicious activity," while Aren followed reluctantly to make sure he didn't get himself in trouble.
That left Bai Ying and Saiki alone once again. Bai Ying didn't mind; actually, he kind of preferred it. With the others gone, it felt more relaxed—and he didn't have to worry about Kaidou's weird theories or Aren accidentally dragging them into a fight.
"Wanna check out the ring toss?" Bai Ying suggested, nodding toward a stall with colorful rings and towering prize shelves.
Saiki gave a barely noticeable shrug, which Bai Ying took as a yes. They walked over, and Bai Ying paid for a set of rings, inspecting the setup carefully. The prizes ranged from keychains to plushies, and at the very top sat a particularly ridiculous oversized frog.
Bai Ying picked up a ring and tossed it with precision, only for it to bounce off the bottle's neck and fall to the ground. He frowned, trying again with the same result. After the third failed attempt, he glanced at Saiki, who looked unimpressed.
"What? It's rigged," Bai Ying muttered.
Saiki raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
"Oh, you think you can do better?" Bai Ying challenged, holding out a ring.
Saiki didn't bother answering and took the ring. Without even aiming properly, he flicked his wrist, and the ring landed perfectly around one of the harder-to-reach bottles. The stall owner's jaw dropped, and Bai Ying gaped.
"Show-off," he muttered, but there was no real heat behind it.
Saiki just shrugged again, looking vaguely bored. Bai Ying snorted and tossed his last ring, managing to snag one of the smaller bottles. The stall owner gave him a consolatory keychain of a tiny octopus, which Bai Ying held up triumphantly.
They moved on to the next game—a balloon dart throw. Bai Ying picked up a dart and eyed the setup, calculating the angle.
"You should try this one," he told Saiki.
Saiki gave him a look that clearly said, Why would I bother?
Bai Ying just laughed. "C'mon, what if you win another cute prize? Maybe you'll get something to match that pink alien."
Saiki didn't look amused, but he did pick up a dart and, without any effort, popped three balloons in a row. The stall owner handed him a small stuffed bear, and Bai Ying couldn't help but grin.
"See? You're a natural at this stuff."
Saiki gave him a flat stare, but Bai Ying just grinned back. "Don't look at me like that. You're the one winning cute prizes."
They moved on to a different part of the festival, where a group of students was performing a dance routine. Bai Ying stopped to watch, and Saiki hesitated before joining him. The performers moved in sync, their energy contagious. Bai Ying found himself smiling without realizing it.
Then he glanced at Saiki, who was still holding the stuffed bear, looking as impassive as ever. Bai Ying nudged him lightly with his elbow.
"Having fun yet?"
Saiki didn't respond, but Bai Ying caught the tiniest flicker of something like contentment in his expression. He didn't push it, just watched the performance with a sense of quiet satisfaction.
It was kind of nice, being here with Saiki, without the usual chaos or interruptions. Bai Ying couldn't help but wonder how long this calm would last—but for now, he decided to just enjoy it.
The dance routine ended with a burst of applause, and the performers bowed before dispersing into the crowd. Bai Ying stretched his arms over his head, glancing at Saiki. The pink-haired psychic still held the stuffed bear awkwardly, as if unsure whether to ditch it or keep it. Bai Ying found it oddly endearing.
"Hungry again?" he asked, noticing a food stall advertising taiyaki nearby.
Saiki just gave him a side-eye, clearly questioning how anyone could still be hungry after the yakisoba. Bai Ying shrugged nonchalantly. "What? Festivals are for eating. Besides, that one has red bean filling. You like that stuff, right?"
There was a moment of silence before Saiki gave the barest hint of a nod. Bai Ying's lips twitched into a grin. He wasn't sure why, but seeing Saiki actually show interest in something—even if it was just food—made him feel strangely triumphant.
As they made their way to the stall, Bai Ying took in the bustling atmosphere around them. The air was thick with the scent of fried dough and grilled meat, and the colorful lanterns overhead bathed the area in a warm glow. It felt almost surreal—like stepping into some kind of dreamscape.
After buying a couple of taiyaki, Bai Ying handed one to Saiki, who accepted it without a word. He watched as Saiki took a bite, his expression not changing much, but Bai Ying could tell he was enjoying it.
"You know," Bai Ying started, trying to sound casual, "you seem more relaxed tonight."
Saiki shot him a glance, clearly unamused by the observation. Bai Ying just grinned. "I'm serious. Usually, you're on edge—like you're waiting for something to go wrong."
"Something usually does," Saiki muttered under his breath.
Bai Ying huffed a laugh. "Fair point. But hey, at least tonight's been pretty chill, right? No disasters, no weirdos—"
Just as he spoke, a loud crash echoed from one of the nearby stalls, followed by someone shouting about a fire hazard. Bai Ying winced. "I take it back. I jinxed it."
Saiki gave him a look that screamed I told you so, but he didn't say anything, just continued eating his taiyaki. Bai Ying couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head.
Once they finished eating, they wandered through the stalls without much of a destination in mind. Bai Ying found himself sneaking glances at Saiki more often than he'd like to admit. There was something strangely comfortable about just walking around together—even if Saiki looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.
At one point, they passed a shooting gallery game, where kids were eagerly lining up to knock over plastic bottles with cork guns. Bai Ying's eyes lit up, and he nudged Saiki's shoulder.
"Bet I could win you another cute prize," he teased.
Saiki raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
"Oh, come on. I've got decent aim," Bai Ying insisted. "I'll win something good this time."
He paid for a round and picked up the cork gun, lining up his shot. To his annoyance, the first two shots went wide, missing the bottles completely. The third hit but didn't knock the bottle over, and Bai Ying let out a frustrated noise.
The stall owner just chuckled, clearly used to people struggling with the game. Bai Ying gave him a mock glare before stepping back. "Fine. You try it, Mr. Perfect Aim."
Saiki just gave him a flat look before taking the gun. With a casual flick of his wrist, he fired three shots in quick succession—all of them hitting the bottles dead center and sending them toppling over. The stall owner whistled, clearly impressed.
Bai Ying pouted. "You just can't help being good at everything, huh?"
Saiki ignored him, eyeing the prizes lined up on the shelves. Finally, he pointed to a small keychain shaped like a coffee jelly cup, and the stall owner handed it over.
Bai Ying couldn't help but snicker. "Of course you'd pick that."
Saiki didn't dignify that with a response, just tucking the keychain into his pocket. Bai Ying found himself smiling despite himself, his chest feeling oddly light.
They moved on again, falling into a comfortable silence. Bai Ying wondered if it was always this easy to just be around Saiki—or if he'd just never noticed it before. Either way, he wasn't complaining.
The night air had grown cooler as the sun finally set, and the sky above was a fading canvas of pinks and oranges. The sounds of the festival continued around them—laughter, music, the occasional shout—but it felt as though the world had quieted just for the two of them.
Bai Ying glanced over at Saiki, who was still holding the stuffed bear with his usual disinterest. The image made Bai Ying's lips twitch upward.
"You know," Bai Ying began, his voice quieter than usual, "I think the bear looks kind of cute on you."
Saiki gave him a side-eyed look but didn't respond. It was a typical Saiki move—staying silent but somehow communicating a response with his eyes. Bai Ying felt the urge to nudge him, but he held back, unsure of why he was suddenly feeling this strange warmth in his chest.
It was then that they passed by another stall, this time one with a large display of plush toys. Most were the typical fairground prizes: giant pandas, bunnies, and bears in various shades of pastel. But one toy caught Bai Ying's eye—a bright blue alien with oversized eyes and a silly smile. The alien was sitting by itself on a high shelf, far away from the other stuffed toys.
"Look at that," Bai Ying said, pointing to it. "That one's kind of cute."
Saiki followed his gaze, his eyes lingering on the blue alien for a moment before moving on.
The stall owner, noticing their interest, suddenly perked up. "Ah, you like that one? I'll give you a good deal if you want it. It's one of our limited edition items. Not many people notice it, but it's a real gem."
Bai Ying hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Saiki, who didn't seem particularly invested in the conversation. He was about to turn away when he saw the faintest tilt of Saiki's head, a hint of curiosity hidden beneath his usual indifferent exterior.
With a sigh, Bai Ying pulled out his wallet and handed the owner the necessary money for the alien toy. The man handed it over with a bright grin.
Saiki's eyes flicked to the toy in Bai Ying's hands as they made their way away from the stall.
Bai Ying placed the blue alien next to the pink alien stuffed toy Saiki was holding.
"They look like a weird couple," he commented, holding them side by side.
"I figured you'd want something to remember the night by," Bai Ying said, grinning as he held out the plushie. "It's a little silly, but maybe you'll like it."
To his surprise, Saiki actually took the toy from him, their fingers brushing briefly in the process. The touch was fleeting, but it sent a jolt through Bai Ying's chest. He didn't let it show, though his heart skipped a beat as Saiki cradled the alien like it was just another thing to deal with.
Bai Ying smirked, leaning in just a bit. "also something to remind you of me," he teased, winking. "I'll just have to get one of you for myself next time."
Saiki didn't respond. Instead, he gave Bai Ying a short, almost imperceptible nod, still holding the blue alien carefully.
They reached the exit of the festival grounds, where the lights were dimming and the crowd was beginning to thin. It was almost time to part ways, and Bai Ying felt a bit reluctant to leave. The night had been unexpectedly pleasant, and Saiki's quiet presence had turned out to be more enjoyable than he had imagined.
Bai Ying stood still for a moment, his hand resting on the strap of his bag. He looked at Saiki, who was still holding the alien toy in one arm, his expression unreadable. Despite the lack of words, there was something about the quiet between them that felt different—more comfortable than it had been in the past.
"Thanks for today," Bai Ying said, his voice soft. "It was… fun."
Saiki glanced at him, his lips twitching into something that almost resembled a smile, though it was more subtle than anything he'd done before.
Without a word, he extended the pink alien stuffed toy to Bai Ying.
"You can keep it," Saiki said, his voice as flat as usual but somehow warmer than before.
Bai Ying stared at the stuffed alien for a moment, then back at Saiki. For a split second, their gazes locked, and Bai Ying couldn't help the fluttering sensation in his chest. He smiled a little, his fingers brushing against Saiki's as he took the toy.
"Thanks," he said, a little more quietly than before.
They stood there for a moment longer, the cool night air settling between them, the sounds of the festival fading into the background. There was no need for more words—just the unspoken understanding that hung in the space between them. It was a new kind of silence, one that didn't feel awkward or forced, but easy, almost natural.
Finally, Bai Ying turned to leave, the pink alien clutched in his hands. Saiki followed a step behind, but as they reached the exit, Bai Ying glanced back at him one last time.
"Good night, Saiki," he said softly.
"Good night," Saiki replied, his voice just as quiet, though there was something almost like warmth behind it.
And with that, they parted ways for the night, each of them carrying with them the quiet, lingering connection that had begun to form between them—a connection that neither of them had quite expected, but both of them secretly hoped would continue to grow.