Huff, huff.
Nicholas Flynn was sprinting at full speed. The howling wind roared continuously past his ears, and the noise and vibrancy of the world seemed to be drawn into the beat of his heart, turning into a chaotic blur that trailed behind him like the protagonist of a Hayao Miyazaki film.
Unfortunately, he didn't have a Totoro by his side.
Car horns, engine noises, and chatter blended into one chaotic symphony. The city was in uproar, traffic at a standstill, taxis stuck in an ocean of vehicles unable to move, transforming the back seats into another form of prison.
So.
Nicholas decided to get out of the cab and rely on his own two feet to make it to Washington Square.
After all… it was just… just four blocks… only four blocks.
Gasping for air, Nicholas felt like his lungs were on fire, a thousand sounds roaring in his ears as his vision went black.
He needed a moment to catch his breath.
Finally, the city stopped spinning, and Nicholas opened his eyes again, pushing forward. Rounding the corner, his destination was in sight.
People. So many people.
His entire view was filled with bodies. "Crowd" wasn't enough to describe the sheer mass before him. It felt like every single person in New York City was converging here, evoking a sense of déjà vu, reminiscent of New Year's Eve.
Since 1907, New York's Times Square New Year's Eve celebration had been one of the grandest and most boisterous festivities, with a million people gathering for the countdown to the new year.
But this—this was something else entirely.
It was just a feeling.
Nicholas could clearly sense people swarming from all directions, as if Washington Square had become a magnet, pulling the Friday night crowd together to witness a miracle.
It was overwhelming. Breathtaking.
Even someone as experienced as Nicholas found himself speechless.
"... It's actually New York!"
"How on earth did Anson pull this off?"
"No way, I didn't see this coming at all."
"I thought this would be like the other cities..."
"You're not alone. Anson caught us all off guard again."
"Who would've thought it'd be NYU? But in hindsight, it makes perfect sense—Frank Abagnale Jr. is a master at this, after all..."
"Washington Square? Seriously? Washington Square of all places?"
"They're saying no tickets, free admission—is that for real?"
"Wow, just when everyone thought the surprises were over, Anson comes out with another one!"
The murmuring, the chattering.
Countless voices wove together like a net, sweeping over Nicholas. Even in the fragmented conversations, he caught the key name:
Anson.
Just as people were saying, Anson had once again shattered expectations and delivered a surprise, masterfully demonstrating the true essence of a flash mob.
And New York? New York went wild.
Nicholas realized something—anything associated with Anson seemed to turn into magic, breaking through all logic and sweeping everyone along with it. It was impossible to keep up, and the surprises just kept coming.
Just moments ago, a new rumor had surfaced—
Hardcore film fans were speculating with absolute certainty that Anson would be in New York tonight, making a surprise appearance at the AMC Theater in Times Square.
It made sense.
If Anson was coming to New York, Times Square was the obvious landmark, the perfect place to conclude the event and stir up a frenzy among fans. This "insider tip" was convincing enough to draw crowds to Times Square.
And so, a wave of people flooded toward Times Square. Not just the AMC Theater—all the nearby cinemas were suddenly fully booked, with every show sold out for the night.
But now?
Everyone was pouring into Washington Square instead, leaving the theaters with empty seats, turning sold-out screenings into ghost towns.
The strange thing was, when these people learned that Washington Square had free entry, no one asked for a refund.
This sparked controversy. Many professionals called it box-office fraud, arguing it was a tactic that harmed true moviegoers by turning the event into a celebrity meet-and-greet frenzy.
Even major outlets like The New Yorker and The New York Times weighed in on the debate.
Opinions were divided. Critics spoke out, while others voiced support.
All of this confirmed one thing: Anson was undeniably a polarizing figure.
It also showed that the hype around Catch Me If You Can remained sky-high.
Even in a big city like New York, even after two weeks of flash mob events, even after the novelty had worn off, this one still defied logic and reached new heights.
At this very moment, Nicholas could feel it in his bones—
Standing in the midst of the massive crowd, he felt like an ant, like dust, like a drop of water, eventually becoming part of the roaring wave of heat.
Ah, ahhh!
Screams, cheers, and shouts surrounded Washington Square entirely.
A Fox News helicopter circled overhead, broadcasting the view from above. It wasn't just Washington Square—the surrounding blocks were completely paralyzed.
The New York Fire Department and traffic police had been dispatched immediately, busy trying to manage the chaos.
And it all revolved around that tiny dot at the center of the stage.
From the sky, it was just a black dot, indistinguishable from the others. But somehow, that dot stood out, like the North Star, effortlessly drawing all eyes toward it.
The chaos was intense, the noise deafening, yet like worshippers before a deity, the crowd calmed at Anson's command—
One moment, the scene was on the verge of spiraling out of control; the next, it was serene. Even magic couldn't explain it, yet it unfolded before their eyes.
Even Anson himself was surprised.
He looked down at his right hand and quipped, "I might need the Sorting Hat to figure out which house I belong in."
Ha.
The crowd burst into laughter.
That was Anson—effortlessly commanding the spotlight and controlling the crowd, like a modern-day Moses parting the sea.
But even Anson had no idea how this was happening.
"So, if I want to part the Red Sea, could someone tell me the spell and hand motions?"
Laughter rippled through the crowd, and miraculously, the people in front actually began clearing a path. Anson, startled, quickly raised his hands to stop them.
"Wait, wait, I don't want to get a call from Area 51 or the FBI when I get home. I swear, I'm innocent."