Our Tears Makes Us Stronger

OTMUS 1 - The fall of Summer

~Chapter 1: The fall of Summer~

It was a busy morning in the city of Godow. Stands filled the streets as rows of them reached one side of the city to the other. People young and old filled streets, laughter and cheer in their voices. Some stands were selling food and drinks. Others sold hats and masks. And some stands were games to win prizes. Villagers throughout the country came to the city to celebrate the final day of the weeklong festival - the "Unmei Festival".

"Come on, Leif! Hurry up!" said a hooded girl dragging a boy by his hand, her brown cloak swayed like the wind behind her.
"Hey!" he called back, accidentally bumping into a man. "Could you slow down a bit?"

The girl stopped and let Leif catch his breath. He panted wildly, his inexperience in physical activities shone glamorously to the girl. He giggled and held his hand even tighter.

"You need to get out more often," she laughed.

"It's," he panted. "Not... my... fault."

She giggled once more and tugged at his hand. "Come on, I'll slow down for you."

Leif, finally able to breathe normally again looked at her and smiled.

"Don't let go though or I might lose you!"

They stopped by many stalls trying out many different foods. The girl laughed again when Leif tried to shove a whole hotdog in his mouth and almost choked. He ended up laughing as well and prompted her to go with him to try out some of the games. But when they got there, he realised he had spent all his money his father gave him that morning.

The girl pulled out her own wallet and paid for the game. It took a few ring tosses, but he managed to get the girl a small bangle that had patterns of ocean waves.

"Aww," she smiled. "Thanks!"

Leif smiled back and they continued their pursuit of fun and ran amok between the crowds of people waiting to try out the stands as well.

At about midday, they sat together on a bench, both licking away at their ice creams that the girl bought to cool off. They sat quietly, gently taking their sweet time on finishing their ice creams. Leif glanced over at the girl. She took notice and glanced back.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing," he mumbled, taking a lick. "I just thought that we've haven't been together like this in a while."

The girl smiled softly and finished the whole cone. She waited until Leif did the same and grabbed his arm.

"Woah!" he blurted. "What's with the pulling?"

She dragged him through the crowd, pulling intently while Leif lagged behind desperately tried to keep up again.

"Can't you slow down? You're dragging me again!"

"No way!" she laughed, sticking her tongue out as a tease.

"Huh? Why not?" Leif asked, still trying to catch up to the girl. His left leg was scraping across the ground.

"Because there's something I want to show you!" she giggled and started to hum to herself.

Leif smiled with a smile as his friend, through the crowd, dragged him. His hair that was neatly combed to his left was now covering his face, mainly his eyes. He tried using his free hand to comb it back, but kept bumping his elbow against people's noses.

"Sorry!" Leif said as he bumped another man's head.

The girl led him through the crowds and into a path that branched out behind the stands. She finally slowed her pace and began to walk normally. She let go of Leif's hand and clapped her hands together.