Sebastian watched her, his gaze softening. He smiled. "Yeah… it's my favourite as well."
Sukiro sighed, frustrated. "These games are so rigged, man."
Weston laid back, his hands behind his head. "Or you just suck? Ever thought of that?"
Sukiro rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, like that could be true."
Weston pointed into the distance. "Yooo, there's my family!"
"Come on, Weston!" his mother yelled, waving at him.
"That's my cue, Sukiro!" Weston walked away slowly. "You wanna come along?"
"It's my family and my girlfriend!" Weston said as he offered his hand, a bright smile on his face.
Sukiro let out a small smirk. "No, go ahead and enjoy yourself."
Weston smiled. "See you soon, Sukiro!" he said walking away to his family
Sukiro turned back, walking slowly. "Yeah, see you soon..."
He wandered toward a small bench nearby, each step heavy.
his mind racing with thoughts. A sad smile washed over his face.
He quietly wished for a family. A father, a mother, siblings... He sat down quietly, watching the crowd smile and laugh.
BANG!
Sebastian turned toward Sapphire. "Sapphire..." he said, his tone calm, slow serious.
Sapphire turned back, her emerald eyes shining as beautifully as the stars. Her face was innocent as a baby.
Sebastian mustered up his courage. "There's somethi-ng I have to tell yo-u..." His voice almost broke, his face lowered.
Sapphire's eyes widened. The candy she had been eating paused in midair.
"I..." Sebastian said slowly, his voice almost impossible to hear.
Her heart skipped a beat pausing at the moment, waiting.
In this moment, everything paused for her. The once-loud crowd was now silent as a funeral. The lanterns seemed frozen in the sky. His face was red as a tomato, his eyes warm as honey.
"I wan—" He gasped for air as his voice cracked.
Sapphire held her breath. Her grip around the candy stick tightened.
"I wanna..."
"I wanna..."
BANG!
In a quick burst, Sebastian muttered something, his face flushed deep crimson.
Sapphire looked at him, confused, blushing. "Wha-?"
Christian screamed from below the hill, pointing to the sky. "Guys!!! Look!"
Sebastian and Sapphire looked up toward the sound.
A glitter of colours red, blue, green, purple, pink, gold, silver exploded in the sky, raining down like stardust.
Sapphire whispered, "It's the mana blasts..."
Sebastian gazed at the sky, eyes reflecting the colours. "Yeah... it's the mana blasts."
Sapphire quietly watched him, his brown eyes more beautiful than the mana blasts, she let out a small smile
"What have you guys been up to?!" Christian grunted, climbing the hill.
Sebastian took a few steps to help her up, but suddenly, he sensed danger behind him.
"Let me have the honours this time," a terrifying smile stretched across her lips. "Sebastian."
Sebastian's face turned pale as he felt her hand on his shoulder, a terrifying aura stopped him.
Sapphire extended her hand. "Here, Christian. Take my hand."
Christian smiled. She grabbed her hand, and Sapphire pulled her up. "Thank you, Miss Sapphire."
"No need for the honorifics now," she smiled. "Call me Sapphire."
Christian's eyes shimmered with surprise. "Okay, if you say so... Sapphire."
"Is that Sirius and Klaus over there?" Sebastian pointed in the distant.
Sapphire squinted, nodded. "Yeah, it looks like it's them."
"Gu-ys!! We're com-ng!!" Sirius yelled, stumbling like the undead.
DUMP!
Sirius fell to the ground, his face red from all the beer he had drunk.
Klaus sighed. "Well, well, that's what happens when you try to beat me at a drinking competition." klaus let out a proud smile.
"Come on, get up, Sirius! We don't have time. The mana blasts are going to start soon! They released the first one as a sign!"
"Ya-yu-pik me u-p," Sirius muttered, face flat on the ground.
Klaus grunted. "Man! What a drag you are!"
He slowly picked up Sirius and dragged him up the hill.
Sapphire and Christian chuckled, watching them.
"I wonder where Elijah is?" Sebastian asked.
"He was with me, but he said he had somewhere to go. I thought he would be with you guys," Christian replied, puzzled.
Sapphire pondered. "And we haven't seen Sukiro, either."
Sebastian tilted his head in confusion. "I wonder what those two are up to."
"Probably nothing good," Sapphire chuckled.
BANG!
Sukiro heard the loud bang in the distance. His eyes drifted up to the sky. The reflections from the mana blasts gleamed in his green eyes, wide with awe. A beautiful view. Yet he was all alone.
"What are you doing here?" A firm voice called out—familiar.
His eyes peered into the shadows.
"This really isn't one of the greatest places to watch them."
Sukiro's eyes focused, he squinted.
"Elijah." he saif
"It's weird for you to be here," Elijah muttered.
Sukiro turned, gazing at the trees. "It's peaceful here. Quiet. No one to disturb me."
Elijah sulked, hand behind his neck. "Yeah, whatever.
"But this is not the peace you should be chasing."
"I think I'm quite fine here," Sukiro replied.
Elijah turned around. "Come on. The show is about to begin any moment now."
"Follow me," he said in a calm tone.
Sukiro grunted, annoyed, but got up from his seat. He followed Elijah.
They walked in silence through the crowds, people, stalls.
They walked with no words said. People laughing, dancing, singing
BANG!
BANG!
The mana blasts began to bloom in the sky.
They arrived just in time.
Climbing the hill slowly, they could hear the mana blasts echoing above.
Elijah reached the top first, fixing his clothes.
Sukiro finally reached a little bit later. Elijah offered him a hand.
Sukiro sighed and took it.
As he stood atop the hill, he saw them.
Sebastian, Sapphire, Klaus, Sirius—even Christian.
The sky above exploded in bursts of golden, silver, red, blue, green, yellow, and purple flames. The lights fused and danced upon them. Lanterns floated in the distance.
They all turned around, hearing the sound of footsteps.
Everyone smiled at Sukiro. Klaus and Sirius with half-drunken grins.
Sapphire with her gentle glow. Sebastian with the proud smile of a father.
Sukiro's eyes widened. They shimmered.
He realized what he had. Maybe not blood. Not by name. Not by tradition.
But this...this was his family.
Idiotically dysfunctional. Often drunk. Occasionally insane and very overpowered
But real.
A genuine smile slowly appeared on his face.
As he walked over to them
Step by step
Home.