[N x Reader] Insertion Point

Chapter 4 - Festivals and Forests

  Just how the hell had you gotten yourself into this mess again? Oh right, you were repaying medical bills. Still, as the many impatient customers began crowding around the takoyaki stand you were supposed to be manning, you found yourself in a slight panic. 'You'll be a natural' he said. Natural my foot. Sure the batter was pre-mixed and all you really had to do was put the batter and a piece of diced octopus in the pan and turn it, but turning it was easier said than done. Somehow, most of your takoyaki were either burnt on one side or not quite done and dropped off the skewer.

    The crowd started to seem more like an angry mob as your clumsy efforts to provide food took longer than they expected. Many kids left only to come back with their parents who started harassing you for wasting their time. Apologizing while still trying to make proper food slowed the process even further. On the verge of crying, you found yourself being gently guided out of the way as a new face began cooking the takoyaki in a completely professional way. With tears of gratitude in your eyes, you quietly thanked the red haired man who seemed intent on teaching you more than taking over. It took him mere moments to serve the awaiting people, leaving a small break in the madness.

    "You were doing fine, you just hadn't gotten the hang of timing 'em yet." His enthusiastic tone erupted from his boastful smirk. The man seemed a little older than you but you couldn't really guess by how much. You also noticed that he was wearing what seemed to be a waiter's outfit. "Here, try it again. Now that you don't have all that pressure, I'm sure you'll be fine."

    Great, someone else with confidence in your abilities. Of course he had just saved your bacon. (Is it me or are guys suddenly appearing like fairies to solve all your problems these days?) So you gave another shot to the accursed takoyaki, using the edge of the batter ball to determine when you should flip them. You still slightly struggled with that part, but it was going a lot better and suddenly you had a set of mostly acceptable takoyaki that you had made yourself. Or they would be had you remembered to put the octopus in them.

    A deep sigh erupted from your lips as the man couldn't help but laugh. "See you're doing better already. Don't give up!"

    It was at this moment that another man with similar attire appeared, his hair a deep blue covering half his face. "Chili, what in the heck are you doing? You were supposed to be back at our festival a half hour ago!"

    "Oh hey Cress I was just helping... what was your name again?" It appeared that it was then that the man, Chili, realized he didn't know who you were.

    Before you could reply, his companion grabbed him by the arm and dragged him off, muttering something about never trusting hotheads. Shrugging it off as people were beginning to return to your booth again, you focused your efforts and successfully supplied takoyaki. Proud of your accomplishment, you couldn't wait to show of to Cheren, or N. That was you wanted to do, but as time wore on it didn't seem they would check up on you or anything. Slightly pouting, you thought it was rather reckless to leave a newbie to their own devices for so long. At long last, the customers stopped coming and everyone seemed to be gathering around the arena.

    Curious and more than a little bored, you headed over there yourself. Looking through the masses of people, you spotted others with happi on and swam your way towards them. One of the others noticed your struggle and convinced some of the bystanders to let you through. Nodding in gratitude, you looked at your fellow festival workers. Most seemed like older students mixed with a few notable community members, Nurse Joy among them. You asked the boy who had helped you, "What's up with the mob? Are we doing a dance or something?"

    He shook his head. "Close but not quite, it's fireworks."

    Ah, so that would explain the small barrier near the edge of the arena with a few people and pokemon gathered within. They seemed very animated with their preparations but as fun as fireworks were, you really didn't care. You saw some every year and sure they were pretty, but there wasn't anything more to them and you were tired from having stood all day. Deciding that if you were gonna be here, you were at least going to find somewhere to sit you waved at the boy and went back into the sea of people much to the boy's confusion.