Kyaru believed that as the very first stall of the competition, she absolutely had to place well for good luck, so she chose to bring Jhin over to the goldfish-scooping stall—this was a game she was practically guaranteed to win.
After showing their student IDs to the stall owner, the dorm number "404" was printed on the small blackboard beside the stall—a special device used to prevent cheating and to keep score.
Kyaru rolled up her sleeves and picked up the little scooping net covered with a thin layer of paper. She stared intently at the goldfish swimming leisurely in the water, and the instant one swam beneath the net, her eyes lit up. She cut the net into the water at a forty-five-degree angle, and the net traced a semicircle along the bottom, sweeping the goldfish up and into the basin.
"Very skilled technique."
"Hmph hmph, of course. Don't you dare underestimate my skills!" Kyaru tilted her head up proudly, at the same time shooting a glance at her competitors. Most of them tossed their torn paper nets aside in frustration and chose to leave in search of the next stall.
Seeing that everyone was moving in pairs of two, with no one splitting up to earn more medals, Jhin grew a bit curious. "So a team can't split up to play the stalls separately?"
"Of course not." Kyaru answered him matter-of-factly, deftly scooping up another goldfish with her right hand. "I don't know the reason, but it's always been two people acting together, and the scoreboard can only be active at one stall at a time."
"Looks like my idea of going off to clear the stalls solo is out the window."
"You actually thought about that?"
"I figured it'd be more efficient."
"Fair enough, but too bad—that method just won't work." Kyaru gave him a playful wink. "You just stand off to the side and watch me perform."
Jhin raised an eyebrow and replied teasingly, "Watching a pretty girl scoop goldfish—I'd be more than happy to."
Because of that line, Kyaru made one of her rare blunders, cutting the net into the water before the goldfish had even reached the target spot and coming up empty. She glared at him, flustered and furious. "Don't go saying weird things out of nowhere—you're throwing off my game!"
Jhin raised both hands in surrender. "My bad, my bad. Carry on."
Ten goldfish were quickly scooped up by Kyaru, and she successfully earned first place along with ten medals. The moment the stall owner produced them, the medals turned into a golden streak of light and flew into their student IDs. On the back of the otherwise unremarkable cards, a medal design now appeared, with the words "X10" printed beside it.
"Off to a lucky start!" Kyaru held up her student ID and shook it smugly, then turned to ask Jhin, "So what are you good at?"
"Hmm..." His gaze swept across the surroundings, and then he pointed at a stall not far off bearing the image of a long rifle. "Let's give that one a try."
"An air rifle? You picked something high-difficulty right out of the gate... You got this?"
Jhin said uncertainly, "I... should? Maybe?"
"Why is that a question?" Kyaru was left speechless. "How about we switch to a different stall?"
"No need, this one's fine."
"Ugh~ I really hope you can at least win a single medal and not waste our time."
She was supposed to be fighting for first place, so why on earth was she trusting this guy whose memories weren't even complete?
Kyaru figured she wasn't the kind of shallow girl who only cared about looks, either. In the end, she could only chalk it up to this being an expression of trusting one's partner.
After showing their student IDs, Jhin had just gripped the air rifle when he heard the whispers of the people around them.
"Hey, isn't that Kyaru, the one who's always going on about becoming the champion of the Blue Sea Feast?"
"So hilarious. She's a kid who got abandoned by a mermaid, and yet she still spends all day dreaming these pipe dreams."
"And look at that partner of hers—actually picking a high-difficulty stall like the air rifle. Don't tell me he's a fellow daydreamer just like her?"
"Hahaha, the two of them make quite the pair."
Was Kyaru really this famous around the school?
Jhin didn't form a bad impression of Kyaru just from other people's one-sided words. Seeing her deliberately turn her head aside, standing in the corner silently enduring the ridicule and mockery—refusing even to move a single step because she wanted to wait for him to finish his challenge, that stubborn look of hers—he sighed and walked over to her side.
Hearing his footsteps, Kyaru turned to look at him. "You... you're done already? That fast... I really should've listened to you and switched stalls after all. Let's go find—hey, what are you doing!?"
Jhin forcibly pulled her over to the shooting position and shoved the air rifle into her hands. "You do it."
"Don't be ridiculous, I don't even know how." She shook her little head. The laughter around them sounded even more grating now. "If you're not confident, we should just leave."
"Hold the rifle steady." Jhin wrapped her into his embrace, took hold of both her hands, and arranged them into a proper shooting stance. Lowering his head, he spoke into her ear, "Follow my movements and pull the trigger."
"Huh? Huh?" Kyaru's brain simply couldn't process the current situation. She let him guide her through pulling the trigger, one shot after another. More than whether or not she was hitting the target, the masculine scent surrounding her and her burning-hot cheeks were what preoccupied her.
He... he really does have feelings for me, doesn't he!?
No, no, my face is so hot, my brain's going to get fried!!
Ugh... how dare he just hug a girl in his arms like this—he's way too bold. If it were any other girl, she'd have slapped him across the face by now. It's... it's only because I think of him as a partner that I haven't hit him.
"Whoa, kid, your aim's not bad at all. Here's the first-place medal."
"Thanks." Jhin took the air rifle from Kyaru's hands and set it on the table. The medal flew into their student ID, and the number on the back changed to "X20." He cast a disdainful glance at the people who'd been standing around earlier making snide remarks. "Shutting your dog mouths should've been the first lesson you lot learned."
The students infuriated by that line were just about to argue with him, but the moment they saw the boundless killing intent pouring out of those sky-blue eyes, they instantly cowered in place like frightened quails, not daring to talk back.
Jhin patted the still-dazed Kyaru. "Hey, we're heading to the next stall. If you're not going to pick, then I will."
"Ah... mm, you... you pick." She still hadn't managed to digest what had just happened, and like a dumbstruck bird she nodded, letting Jhin pull her along.
By the time Kyaru's mind cleared up again, Jhin was standing atop the arena with a greatsword slung over his shoulder, one foot pressing down on the school's renowned Kendo Club captain.
He let out a cold snort through his nose while pressing down harder with his foot. The Kendo Club captain immediately let out a scream like a pig being slaughtered. "Aaah!!! I'm sorry, I shouldn't have talked about you that way. I was blind and foolish! You're a magnanimous person, please let me go!"
"Hmm? Wasn't the Blue Sea Feast supposed to be a two-person team, if I recall? Aren't you forgetting someone?"
"Aaah!! Don't—don't press so hard, my back's about to snap!"
"Apologize!"
"Kyaru... I'm sorry!"
"Hmph. Get lost." Jhin kicked him off the arena with one foot, then turned his head toward Kyaru. The coldness on his face melted away like the first snow, revealing a warm, heartening smile. "See? Now we've got forty medals."
It was the first time Kyaru ever learned that a heart could beat this fast.
____
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