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yumemigaoka2023-07-06 05:20 pm
beautifuldreamermods) wrote in yumemigaoka2023-07-06 05:20 pm
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Event #3: Shooting Star Wishes
YUMEMIGAOKA
As it is every year, Yumemigaoka's annual Tanabata festival is held at the street just outside of the Hikawa Shrine. The street and the shrine itself have been closed off during the day beforehand, save for the volunteers running back and forth in the miserable weather to set things up and decorate every inch of the festival space. And all their efforts do pay off - by the time the festival starts at seven in the evening, the street has been transformed into a lovely spectacle; hanging lanterns twinkle with raindrops and cast a warm glow over the street, paper stars are fluttering gently down from strings strung between lampposts and stalls line the full length of the street with food offerings, festival games and just about everything in between. Unfortunately, the month's poor weather hasn't let up yet so the festivities are a little dampened by persistent drizzle, though it seems like everyone's absolutely determined not to let that ruin the festival atmosphere!
For folks looking for games, they can enjoy:
- ⧖ The most popular stalls, the shooting games! Using a gun loaded with paper bullets (so, you know, mostly harmless) the aim of the game is to get a clean hit on one of the prizes along the back of the booth and knock it down! The prizes are mostly candy, snacks or kids' toys but they're deceptively hard to get a good shot at...
⧖ Goldfish scooping, a summertime classic! Using a scooper with a thin sheet of paper for the net, try your best to catch as many goldfish swimming around the water below. Do well enough and you'll win a prize and you might even be able to take your goldfish home - make sure to take good care of it!
⧖ Senbonbiki is basically pure luck - bundles of prizes, usually candies and small toys, are strung up along the top of the stall and you just have to give the corresponding other end of the string a tug. Whichever bundle of snacks comes down is yours! Of course, if you're particularly unlucky then you might get a dud or penalty prize... but surely nobody's luck is THAT bad, right?
⧖ Ring toss! Throw rings onto targets marked "1" through "10", each worth different amounts depending on where they land. Beat the high score and you'll win a prize! Though do you really want to walk around the whole festival with a giant plushie under your arm all night...?
There's also a ton of options for Japanese street food; some traditional, others more modern takes. There's fried stuff, grilled skewers, rice balls, all manner of delicious noodle dishes and mountains of sweets too; taiyaki, chocolate covered bananas, shaved ice, cotton candy, and just about everything and anything else you'd want to spend an evening stuffing your belly with. And naturally there are plenty of drinks available including freshly squeezed fruit juice and tea and some booze for those who feel like playing with fire.
Aside from the rest of the festivities, the main event is really the hanging of wishes - it is Tanabata, after all. A few tables at the top of bottom of the street have been set up to carefully shelter them from the rain and have a whole rainbow of tanzaku for people to write and hang their wishes on the bamboo trees both in the street and in the shrine down below. You can hang as many wishes as you like, if you're feeling particularly greedy, but...
The festival doesn't really reach its peak until darkness falls and, undeterred by the continued drizzle, the Hikawa Shrine lights up the sky with its famous annual fireworks show - it's always pretty spectacular but perhaps out of spite for the nasty weather, it looks even more fantastic than usual this year.
With the fireworks done, the festival begins wrapping up and it's time to head home. But as you settle into bed for the night and drift off, it becomes apparent that the night's festivities have only just begun...
THE DREAM SPHERE
It's happened almost every night for a week now - when you drift away to sleep, your regular dreams are slowly, gently interrupted by a strangely vivid image, an enormous bamboo tree with a wide canopy of leaves under a dazzling night sky. It's maybe not a surprise, given the upcoming festival, but as the nights go by it just gets more and more intense... until the night of the Tanabata festival itself and suddenly everything changes. As you settle down to sleep for the night, whether you went to the festival or not, the moment you close your eyes and drift off... you find yourself distinctly Somewhere Else.
The dream – and surely, it must be a dream – unfolds as an expansive open field, drenched in the silvery light of a magnificently star-spangled sky above and cut through with a river of flowing water that reflects the sky so clearly, it looks to be filled with stars of its own. A fine, steady rain falls and fills the field with a soft mist and the fragrance of the hundreds of tiny, bell-shaped flowers swaying lazily in the grass. And at the center of the field is a familiar sight – that bamboo tree from your dreams, somehow huger and with branches even more widely spread than before. This time they hang low enough for you to reach out and touch and you'll realize as you draw close that the tree is weighed down with tanzaku strips, all glowing softly as if illuminated from within by the wishes upon them.
It's then that you also realize that you're not alone here. And that you're here at all – in the Dream Sphere. Slipping over to the other side isn't uncommon for Dreamers, but... hold on a second! Aren't some of the people here just regular people too? Whatever this strange dream is doesn't seem to have discriminated between Dreamers and the regular folks – maybe it's thanks to the magic of those two starcrossed lovers but somehow, the lowercase-d dreamers of Yumemigaoka have also crossed into the Dream Sphere tonight! The effect will only last until morning, at which point the dream will unravel, so you might as well enjoy it while you're here. Many of the mundane dreamers will find they're able to move differently in the Dream Sphere, running faster and jumping impossibly high and long distances with nary a scratch to show for it; no magic of their own yet, but at least enough to have a little fun while they're here.
There's a little bit of natural magic at play here in the environment, too. If you approach the tree with a wish in mind, there's no need to write it down; it'll appear in pretty, sparkly ink on an appropriately colored tanzaku strip, already tied to the tree. Or if you go to peer at your reflection in the river, you might see it take on a shape that reflects the wish you're carrying in your heart.
... Except...
What sort of things are you really wishing for? The things you won't admit out loud to anyone, or even to yourself? The deepest wishes right in the darkest part of your heart that you want more than anything? Unfortunately for you, this tree seems to be of a mind to grant wishes and once it's gathered enough of everybody's tanzaku, there's a bright flash of light...
And suddenly everyone's secret wishes have been made manifest... though only in the Dream Sphere, of course. These can be anything from silly wishes to something more serious - the important part is that these secret dreams and wishes have been pulled out of your head and put on display for everyone here to see! How on earth are you going to deal with this gracefully?!
Regardless of what you choose to do, the apparitions only last for an hour or so before fading away and the sky lights up with a beautiful meteor shower that seems to go on forever. You're free to stay and watch the meteor shower and enjoy your last moments in the Dream Sphere for as long as you like but eventually, as you're watching the stars streak down from the sky, the dream around you begins to gradually fade away until you find yourself stirring in your own bed. Though it was an exceptionally busy dream, you find you're well rested and... okay, maybe a little embarrassed after all that.
Nobody will be able to return to that strange field or find the dream to stabilize it but... maybe that's fine. Aren't some things all the more special for only happening once a year?
no subject
The moment Illya initially gets the scarier look thrown her way, it's as if Illya grows a shade paler on the spot. It almost looks like the girl is trying to decide whether she should just run away, even if it might look a little silly after speaking up.. Anything is better than standing here and enduring someone getting mad at her.
Thankfully Miruca's gaze does seem to grow a little less intense. It doesn't fully ease Illya's nerves, since she still looks kind of shy and nervous, but at least she isn't bolting. It's something.
"Um, how-- how many attempts do you think you can still make..?"
You know, before Miruca runs out of money.
Illya still isn't too sure if she can help the other, but getting a good idea of how many tries are left is a good first step, right? Even though things might get pretty high stakes here if it turns out Miruca only has one last attempt remaining..
no subject
"Hmmm...." She digs through her coin purse. "Well, I wanted to get some yakisoba, so if I save enough for that, then maybe seven more tries. I may be forced to leave my little fish friend behind." She really did want to bring one home, though. A fish is a perfect pet for someone without a lot of money, and that definitely described her. "Did you want to try, too? Perhaps taking a short break will let me get my emotions in order." Besides, she HAD been kind of holding up the line with repeated attempts.
no subject
Illya sees a chance when she's being thrown one, and she is - metaphorically - making sure to grab a hold of this one with both hands. Partially since the other sure is looking less scary in this moment, but also because Illya wasn't really sure how she could help here.
Letting Miruca take a break by taking a turn first? She can do that much. So Illya is already stepping up to hand over some money to the owner of the booth, getting ready for her own first attempt.
"Honestly, I'll probably be no good at this.." She lets out a laugh - not fake, but a little awkward all the same, like she's a little flustered. "So maybe you'll feel better about your own attempts after seeing me!"
Talk about putting a positive spin on things, huh.
no subject
"I would honestly prefer to see you succeed. I am not the kind of person who takes any pleasure in watching another fail simply because I have. I actually am very much not fond of people like that, so naturally I will not allow myself to be one. Besides, if you are able to claim victory, perhaps I can learn what I was doing wrong. So, I wish you good luck. I fear I am not very good at cheerleading, but I could attempt if you like." That scary expression is entirely gone now, replaced by a seemingly emotionless look on her face. Its at least better then looking like she was gonna take a bite out of poor Ilya, so yay?
no subject
They're...
...
They are kind words, right? It's a little harder to determine with how little emotion is present in the other's tone, but Illya is pretty sure the intention behind them has to be kind, considering the words themselves. So even though she's still a little awkward - read: shy, mostly - she tries to smile as she stares over at the other before her attempt.
"Ah, well.. if you want to cheer me on, then I'd appreciate it! But if you don't want to, then that's fine too.."
no subject
"Very well. I shall attempt to encourage you, master fisherman. I foresee a future where you have subjugated the vile goldfish menace, the once fierce monster caged within a tiny plastic bag. Its spirit broken, knowing that it will no longer destroy scoops, but is instead destined to live in a tiny glass bowl for the rest of its life. It will, at first, resist its newfound destiny, and swim menacingly in its tiny plastic prison. It will find no escape. Eventually, it will be brought to its new glass home, and will learn to accept its fate." Her very odd cheerleading is brought to an end with a tiny fistpump. Its a very atypical form of encouragement, but she DID say she would no good at it!
no subject
You sure are doing your best.
Even if the cheering seems to confuse Illya more than anything else. She's already sitting there, ready with her scoop, like she's intending on catching the fish while listening to the other's cheer.. except said cheer just makes her freeze up, Illya's eyes slowly growing wider as she turns her head to look at the other.
"W-Wait, why are you making this goldfish sound like a terrifying monster?!"
Illya is just nervous enough of a person to somehow feel like there's more pressure on her to perform this task when she's being told something like this, apparently..
Sometimes my brain dies. I think it is alive now. It might not be.
"Because that goldfish is a bold predator, the slayer of fishing scoops. To underestimate it is to invite defeat upon yourself." She glances at her own stack of torn scoops. "I made the mistake of thinking it would be an easy win. Were it a battle to the death, my fate would be a most sad one." She may be just a little bit melodramatic.
"However, I believe in your ability to claim victory. Where I have failed, I would see you succeed." A moment's pause. "Mostly so I can see how its done, and claim my own victory. But do not fret if you are defeated. I'm pretty sure this game is designed to be hard to actually win. Its how they make money, after all."
oh no!!! please stay alive, brain...
It's so hard to tell the realistic from the dramatic here. At first it still sounds very similar to what the other said just now, making the goldfish sound more like a dragon than just a tiny fish.. but then Miruca actually goes into the reasoning behind the game and how rigged it could be, and then it's suddenly way more realistic..
It leaves Illya just staring in confusion for a moment or two. At least she seems to have simmered down compared to her shock from a moment ago, but the cheer apparently still didn't quite hit its mark.
Though confusion is better than fear, at least. The former doesn't fully paralyze Illya, since the girl moves again after a few moments, her eyebrows knit together into a frown like she's still considering all of this.
"S-So, um.. You're just wishing me good luck, right..?"
Did she manage to get the right idea from all of that? D-Did she?
no subject
"I suppose I may have elected to do so in an odd manner, but yes, that is my intent. I do not wish to simply say 'good luck', because that would be boring and if something is worth doing at all, it should not be done with the minimal amount of effort. It seems, though, that perhaps I simply served to confuse you instead of bolstering your confidence. You may rest assured the goldfish will not leap from the water and devour your finger. They eat little fish food flakes, not human hands. I have not seen even one person attacked by a gold fish. They're little, harmless, and kind of cute. That is why I want one. It will add a little bit of color to my table."
A short pause. "But if I have bothered you too much, I will understand not wanting to play. Don't do it simply because you feel I have pressured you into it. I do not want to see you wasting your money on something you don't really care about. Particularly since I am almost certain its near impossible to actually win."
no subject
Which is why the young girl furiously shakes her head once the other arrives at the end there.
"No way! I'm going to do this for you!" She already made up her mind before, but.. now she definitely wants to win one of these goldfish.
After all, it seems like Miruca really wants one. And that sort of thing only makes Illya more determined, especially since.. yes, the other is right, it's not like a goldfish is really going to attack her here. Even Illya can see that.
"I won't rest until you can take home a goldfish for your table, okay? S-So.. please count on me!"
.. maybe the cheer did, indirectly, work after all. Because the look Illya gives the other is certainly more determined than a few moments ago.
Funny how these things work sometimes.
no subject
"You are unusually kind to someone you just met. I don't believe I could ever do that, myself. It honestly worries me a little. I would not want to see someone take advantage of that sort of attitude." There might just be a person underneath all the weird word choices and odd personality quirks.
"If you are that determined, I won't stand in your way. But I won't mock or belittle you if you are no more successful then I am, either." This conversation has to look very strange from the outside. Two small girls, discussing the fate of a little goldfish as if it something the world itself depended on. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. Probably.
no subject
At least the girl does now seem to turn towards the actual game, having gained some confidence - or rather, mostly determination - from speaking with Miruca. She takes in a deep breath, takes the little scoop, moves it towards the water...
It's there that Illya hesitates for a moment, but it's more because she's thinking. She's only got one shot at this, so she's got to do it right! Especially if the goldfish is supposed to be for Miruca.. She can't let the other down now, even if Miruca is someone she's only just met!
Illya moves the scooping net downwards with another deep breath, closes her eyes, pulls it up..
.. and there's actually a goldfish in it. Illya notices it a moment too late, having to open her eyes first, and then looks incredibly surprised.
"I-- I did it..!"
From the ancient past comes a response
Even she is a little bit surprised when she realizes the girl has actually won. There is no envy on her face when she is outdone in a single attempt.
"It seems your hunt has been successful. I am uncertain what you did differently from me. Perhaps it was the lack of frustration. That little golden fiend has been evading my every attempt to claim it."
Her word choices are as odd as always, but the tone of her voice sounds impressed at least. The emotionless tone from earlier seems to have been discarded. There IS a person in there, even if she seems unpracticed at holding a conversation.
"I never did ask you for your name. Mine is Miruca."
it's fine, i'm just glad you're here! <3
She easily gives her name in turn - leaving the stall owner to bag the goldfish Illya caught for her. She turns towards them, gratefully taking the little bag with a bow of her head, and then staring at the goldfish inside for a moment..
.. before she's already holding out the bag towards the other instead.
"You should take it. You really wanted it, after all." And Illya seemingly has no problem with the idea of giving away her prize, even though she had to work pretty hard for it. The smile she flashes at the other girl is nothing but genuine, made even more obvious by the happy energy in her tone as she moves on to say: "It's nice to meet you..!"
What better way to meet someone than through a goldfish exchange, right.