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Kieran loves festivals. Well, he loves the festival held in Kitakami. He doesn't have much experience with ones outside his homeland. It's easy to assume that they would be the same. A bunch of people celebrating something, coming together and having a nice selection of treats, and even some fun games!
The festival in Paldea is just like he imagined. Just...bigger.
There are more people, more stalls, more things to do. He should have expected this when stepping foot into Uva Academy. The whole city joined in, making this feel more like an important ceremony rather than a school culture festival.
The boy had to follow alongside Juliana, the one who invited him here in the first place. Curiosity about her school had always gnawed at him since they met, so he wasn't about to let this chance slip away.
"Wowzers...there's so much to do. Is it even possible to see everything in one day?"
"If we don't get sidetracked, I think so," Juliana responds with a determined grin. "Don't worry, I have a plan."
Her plan was to start at the bottom of Mesagoza and work their way to the top. It made sense, at least to him. Once they climbed up those stairs, there'd be no going back.
There's plenty to see and do. Perhaps a little too much. Some games are familiar, throwing rings onto bottles or trying to fish for the right Pokemon, while others are completely foreign to him, like imitating a Pokemon Ranger and 'capturing' wooden Pokemon with a Capture Styler.
The amount of food offered was definitely too much for him to handle in one sitting. While he was drawn to the sweets, Juliana insisted on trying the skewers or the paella. Everything was freshly made and hard to resist. Although he couldn't say the same for the candy apples. The ones in Kitakami are fresh, sweeter. Juliana had laughed upon hearing his biased opinion.
"The fireworks are going to begin soon..." Juliana says. The sunny sky was slowly losing its bright colors, shifting into the darker orange until darkness consumed it. "I know a good spot."
Kieran doesn't hesitate to take her hand and follow her. He trusts in her decision to take him to the best spot the city can offer.
They stop in a spot outside the school, a place where the school and city meet. It's quiet compared to the bustling festivities going on around them. No food stalls or games are set here. It reminds him of his home. Sort of. There are more spots he could disappear to whenever the festival got too much, too overwhelming.
"When are they going to start?"
"I think Penny said they'd start once the whole city's lights go on."
As she says that, a nearby light from a building flickers on. It grants them, and the other students looking for an escape, light upon their darkening world. They can easily see more turn on, the city coming to life to fight off the darkness.
On cue, a loud whizzing sound comes from above. Kieran immediately tilts his head up to see a streak in the sky. There's a loud bang that follows as it suddenly explodes into sparkling lights. Another bang goes off with a different color, this one taking the shape of a Pikachu.
Kieran's eyes go wide, his mouth hanging agape. The fireworks here are big, spectacular. Kitakami couldn't use any fireworks like these. They had to be careful with firing them and making sure they didn't cause any damage to the land around them. Sometimes, it was safer to just play with fire sparklers instead.
"These are so...cool!"
It's hard to take his eyes off the night sky that's being colored with various lights and filled with loud booms. He manages to do so for just a moment to look at Juliana.
"Juli-"
His voice gets stuck in his throat once he sees her, his heart skipping a beat.
Juliana is looking up at the fireworks just as he was. The fireworks sparkle behind her, lighting up her face. She seems to have an ethereal glow around her. Each new light dances across her features, making her eyes sparkle a little more, or bringing focus to her lips.
The sound of the fireworks dies down the longer he looks at her. Even the distant chatter seems to become nonexistent. It's as if they're in their own little world together.
Then she looks his way. That bright and gentle smile of hers shines brighter than the fireworks. Her beautiful brown eyes meet his sharp golden ones.
Feelings bubble up inside of him, ones that have been kept locked inside for far too long. At this moment, he can't describe how beautiful she is. How amazing she is.
"I love-"
A very loud bang goes off, and Kieran hurriedly slaps his hands over his mouth. He can feel his cheeks burning from nearly letting that slip.
"What was that?" Juliana asks, tilting her head with a curious and cute look.
"I love the candy apples! I'm going to go get us some more!"
That's probably the worst lie he could ever say, but he needs to say something. Kieran is quick to turn on his heels and dart away from her and back into the crowded streets.
For once, he's glad that no one knows him here. No one would ask him why he's running away like a spooked Furret or why his face is redder than an Applin.
"I can't believe I almost said that..." He mumbles to himself once he's ran far enough. He isn't even sure where he is, hopefully near the (not so sweet) candy apple stall. Kieran takes in a breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He isn't sure he can manage to be around Juliana without fumbling over his words now.
His gaze shifts back from where he ran from. Maybe he should have confessed to her. It's a nice thought to think things would go well, but...it's too scary to think about rejection. He's lost her once and doesn't want to lose her again.