Stars in that City

First

Arc One: ACES and JOKERS

The city was really lively...

Traffic in the district is heavier than usual...

Crowds walking in the sidewalk, seemingly walking in the same direction, it was as if they are going to the same destination...

It was afternoon that cloudy day, it was neither hot nor cold...

Smiles were evident in their faces, smiles and laughs...

During this time of the year, the city holds a week-long festival that celebrates the summer...

Indeed, it is a time of happiness and ecstasy...

Different events were planned: the foods, the games, and the most awaited fireworks display at the last night...

This event is only one of the signature festivals celebrated in the city... The Summer Festival.

***

The giggles, laughter, cozy conversations, the soft breeze of the wind, the wind chimes, the smell of flavorful foods, and the lively music of the bands performing filled the once empty Oval, a large oblong-shaped area of green grassland located atop a hill sitting beside a calm river where the Summer Festival's most anticipated fireworks display are held. Apparently, its location is easy to be found and is accessible to all visitors.

"This is," The 19-year-old boy's eyes gleamed with wonder with a slight hint of nervousness and fear, "Crestfall City..."

He walked inside the Oval, bringing only his lonely self and a blue shoulder bag, moving along the dense crowd. His dark bluish hair wasn't long but it was soft and aromatic. His eyes was always filled with wonder and innocence but it's also clear that his eyes shows nervousness every time he took a look at any stalls, and even on other people. This boy, Kai Fulgear, is obviously not from this city...

Time passed for everyone so fast, but no one cared about time... This day is the last day of the Summer Festival and everyone who're in the place only cared about having fun while it lasted. Crowds of people also started to flock along the river bank near the Oval, preparing to watch the elegant fireworks display, signaling the end of the festival, by the river. But for someone who doesn't know about the fireworks display, like Kai, and those few who prefer to stay at the stalls to eat or play, stayed at their places. Then, the countdown for the fire flowers started, everyone waited for this moment and chorused with the counting... "10!"

"9!" The young boy, Kai, shivered as the temperature -- as he felt -- suddenly dropped... It was unexplainable for him, was it this cold earlier? Are the nights in this city this cold? A faint fog started to touch his feet... No one was seemed to be bothered by this, except for Kai... Was it because they were used to this? Or was it because they were too focused to see the fireworks dancing in the starry sky?

"8!" This is not normal, Kai was troubled, the uneasiness he felt, the night's chilling breeze, and the fog creeping up into his legs added up and made him colder than before. He decided to find a stall that sells hot coffee, Is there even someone that sells hot coffee in here?

"7!"

"6!"

"5!"

"4!" He never found any stall that sells what he wanted... He could still see the white, though faint, fog that enveloped the green grass.

"3!"

"2!"

"1!" This is bad. He thought, Where am I?