The Small Parade

[Ram]

The woman chuckled at him for calling it genius. Foods like this were common staples at fairs but his genuine impression of the meal got Emi to wonder which will be his favorite by the end of this assignment. Based on the announcements was there a light festival and the foods and shopping plus rides. Can't forget about the rides. Emi tried to keep count of all the things to do while the exact number of her budget began to steadily blur with each compromise while more people gradually came up to the okonomiyaki stand for their orders.

The two were happy to explore and enjoy the fair as visitors intended to do yet the locals gave tired smiles. Higher impressions and building up new projects every year yet, somehow, the numbers never met the Mayor's desire. Other than moving away did the villagers tried their best to meet the new plans whether the budget was returned or no. Grumbles from the sailors coming in for an early meal can be overheard in the growing line before their all-night shift began. Mention of the noise driving away the fish and their usual night fishing duties were pulled away from them to maintain the festival grounds. Based on what that was worded out to be, many townsfolk were all hands-on deck to make the festival active and little time for themselves in the coming months of preparation. Emi stuffed her mouth with a juicy morsel and looked at the men in line innocently to their plights. The quiet stare she gave them were met with a dismissive wave so the woman returned to eating their dinner.

"I honestly wanna see what more food there is," she admitted despite near half her share of the okonomiyaki was gone by this point. "Then see about what crafts and stage plays." Local stage plays tend to have their own story or two. Often times an origin story for the festival is tied in alongside talent performances. "Since the announcement said there were crafts, that'd be unique to make up your own souvenir. Getting a few shots of that would make for a selling point."

[Ashken]

Aito realized he was taking a little too much time with the food, as much as he wanted to take forever and enjoy every bite, they did have other things to do. Other people came and went a few tourists could be easily identified by their pamphlets as they seem to be using it as a way to track the many events. Though there seem to be a few locals that seem to be getting tired of all the work that this was turning too and how it was affecting their real work. Aito slowed down as he took a gulp of his water trying to overhear the grumbles, but not being very subtle in the process. It did make him wonder how many people were participating on these events, this was a small village, where they getting outside help? Or was this something where the entire village had to chip in. 

As they waved in a dismissive manner, he realizes Emi had also overheard some of their convo lowering his gaze he tried to focus on the food before it hit the other extreme of getting cold instead of hot, if he had to be honest with himself, he didn't particularly care for cold food. 

"I honestly wanna see what more food there is,"

He stopped and bit his lip trying to hide his smile, to say he was food motivated was an understatement, "I'll buy the next food" he stated before taking another bite, it would only be fair if he chipped in if they were going to explore and smelling the air he could tell there was a lot more food to try and enjoy. 

"Then see about what crafts and stage plays."

He nodded in agreement, wondering what kind of plays they might have, some traditional tale told all across Japan, or something regional? He could not think if he had heard of any legends locally. "Hopefully they don't have a problem from us taking some pictures of everything" he had realized most were using their cellphones if they took a quick pick, making a full camera stand out more. 

"Since the announcement said there were crafts, that'd be unique to make up your own souvenir. Getting a few shots of that would make for a selling point."

"True", he had focused on the play and the food, but crafts could be a great way to make a memory and keep something... and as impactful as food could be as a highlight of an event, eventually he would eat it, there was no way he would let it go to waste. Taking out the pamphlet he leafed over it to see if he could see what kind of craft they had...

"Goldfish fishing... Shogi tournament... Shaved ice nice! Mmm... Airguns... Go tournament... Yakisoba..." he mumbled as he tried to find crafts, excitement on his voice every time he encountered some sort of food item " Ah... Crafts, Paper fans, lanterns, be a yokai for a day make your own festival masks" happy to have identified some of the things, but somewhat upset at how disorganized the pamphlet was, no wonder some people seem to just be going with the flow, "Not the most organized pamphlet... wish it told us where stuff was located" he shrugged, maybe that was part of the experience exploring the festival grounds and bumping into things that were not even planning to find. 

[Ram]

"Oh?~" Emi smirked and waved her little cutting spatula in a teasing manner. "Don't go spending too much.~" As much as she chided about spending, equally guilty of the same problem, Emi had no issues munching away at the food. The shared portions becoming unbalanced with Aito slowing down as it cooled. The woman motioned at the pieces he wasn't feeling hungry for to mime if he wanted any of that still before helping herself. As long as the food wasn't a soggy mess were there little complaints. They two were oddly similar in their dining mannerisms that the large meal was still split 50-50 in the end.  Chugging down the last of her water, Emi got up and stretched for the road ahead. "Alright. Since I covered this one and it was my first choice, I'll leave it to ya to pick the next meal we're sharing," she declared as the fairest approach. Any concerns about cameras being out and about were nonexistent as she held up the strand of the company lanyard. "Don't be silly. We're supposed to be," Emi laughed and waved at the okonomiyaki chefs as thanks for the meal as the two departed. 

Leaving the food stand and roaming the streets of food and merriment had their share of the crowd flow moving along. Some folks wore yukata for the occasion that it was a shame the two of them came with what clothes they had on their backs. Maybe another time. The woman's head turned every which way at the attractions on where to go next. Each one as distracting as the next but had some random layout to it. Food and carnival games in-between with signs pointing to stage areas but not on what would be playing next. Beyond the seasonal change was there little indication that there was a local legend around or even a mascot. Her eyes caught Aito pulling out a pamphlet of activities and a smile formed at how well prepared he was. Moving close to look over his shoulder to read along did she too caught on with the random layout. "Huh. So it wasn't just me," she mused that for once she caught on to something the new rookie was quick to assess. "Maybe it's just so to accommodate for the venue. Wandering around and discovering. Not at all against that." For all they knew that this was a design choice but weirdly concerning that there wasn't any real theme. Wasn't this supposed to be a celebration for the spring in their region? As strange as that is did Emi ignored it for something else that was odd in her ears.

"What's that one part mean? Being a youkai for a day? Is that a dress up thing?" Emi pointed at the one part the stood out to her. Usually, festivals would advertise being a princess or prince for the kids when there was importance to the local legend or donning rental kimono. "Let's go check that out. I don't see this commonly advertised. Oh, hey, excuse me!" Emi darted away to talk to a vendor selling grilled corn. "Hey Mister, do you know where the youkai for a day is at?" The grilled corn vendor looked startled at first and had to think it over. "Your best guess is down the road miss. I believe it's near the lanterns. If you do happen there, I suggest making a lantern yourself. We've spent days making our own. Visitors are welcome to add to the collection for the big ceremony launch." 

After the chat did Emi returned and pointed down the road like an eager child with her camera. "He says its thata way. Ready?" Leading away down the road would the two pass by several vendors along the way. Enticed to shop and eat and spend that hefty travel allowance. Along the way would Aito and Emi notice how much of the tourists milled about and followed the street with passing interests of a window shopper who'd stop by at stalls then move on. Some stalls were vacant of any visitors at all despite their best decorations and displays. It was clear when the vendors minded their phones more than the passing crowd to make any attempt to flag them down. "When would tonight be over?" One teen watching a stall for decorated seashells bemoaned in the blue light glow of their phone. Upon one stage area the two passed by was a small reenactment for the 'Ox heard and the Weaver girl' but the season wasn't Tanabata for it with the next play card about the Crab and the Monkey. Another kid's fairy tale but no theme to the festival. A small audience was in attendance with people drifting to look and leave. "Say, Aito, does that pamphlet of yours say any famous shows or artists performing?" Emi wondered if there was a big name among the stages while on their search for the lantern stand and youkai-a-day. 

[Ashken]

"Oh?~ Don't go spending too much.~"

He raised his eyebrow at her reaction to him offering to pay for the next meal, although he was aware money didn't grow on tree's he still had not fully grasped how much effort it could take to have money, one of the flaws of his mother insisting to shelter him from everything. "We should be fine" he was not planning to empty the account, but Emi made him realized that earlier his mind wandered on all the things he could eat and buy, and if he had any intention of leaving with money left he might want to pace himself. 

"You can have the rest" he told her with a smile, she had paid after all, and he had told her earlier he could snack, not turn into Kirby, as much as a part of him wanted to try every delicious thing available... Okay maybe not the natto, more than once he was offered it, because it was good for him and he could never get past the texture and look. He took a few more bites even after saying she was good to go for the rest while focusing his thoughts on their next destination, he wondered if the yakisoba he had read about earlier was worth them hunting down for it. 

 "Alright. Since I covered this one and it was my first choice, I'll leave it to ya to pick the next meal we're sharing,"

He gave Emi a thumbs up, as he stood up and stretched, the festival was lively, but he still felt some of the heaviness from his unintended nap, the backside of his jacket bulged slightly as his wings tried to join him on his stretch. She was right, they were supposed to be taking pictures it was their job, and well even if they moved around like tourist most will still take pictures to keep memories. It was probably the part of him that was inexperienced in the job that felt uncomfortable, he tried to push those thoughts aside as he realized Emi was getting ready to move. He followed closely as to not let the crowds separate them, 

"Huh. So it wasn't just me,"

He shook his head in disappointment, whoever was organizing these events, needed help organizing, it felt more like some just tried to cram every space with something, if there was a rhyme or reason, he could not see it and sure he didn't have a lot of experience with festivals, but he would think being able to actually find things, would be a boon. Though Emi had a point, maybe wandering and discovering new things by accident was the point, feed that sense of adventure, at any corner one could bump into a game or play, some other celebration. 

"What's that one part mean? Being a youkai for a day? Is that a dress up thing?"

Having changed strategies to reading the bolded parts of the pamphlet he reversed course and looked up the Yokai for a day, "Uhm, there not very clear answer, " he told her, before reading the blurb out loud, "Have fun stepping into the shoes of living legends, take your celebrations to the next stage, by experiencing a day as a Yokai"  that was all cool and all, but was it costumes? Face paint, participate on a play or one or the parade? He scratched his head as he tried to think, but Emi took initiative, asking a local vendor, he shook his head as honestly that was probably the best choice, they probably know where things are and if they don't, they probably know someone who has the answer. Before he could join her Emi had already run back with information. 

"He says its thata way. Ready?"

He raised his camera, excited to discover what secrets this festival was holding "I'm ready", he took a number of pictures as they walked past the many stalls, trying to capture a little of everything, from kids running around with their new prices, to food stalls and others dressed in more traditional faire, though it was also evident that not everyone was enjoying their best life, and he could see some of the flaws of having so many things to do, some of the festival goers were starting to become more picky of what activities they stopped at, which lead to some stalls to be mostly abandoned, other than the few vendors milling around.  

"When would tonight be over?"

The grumble caught his attention, turning around he saw a teen who seem to be attending the stall, the blue light of his phone washing over him, for a moment Aito blinked his face looking a little blue due to the light of the phone made sense, but for a moment there he could have sworn the skin on the teens hands were also shifting colors, not that it would be completely strange, he got dragged to that academy filled with people with powers, and he grew wings when his powers came to be. He shook his head and upped his pace he was not trying to get lost or separated from Emi. 

"Say, Aito, does that pamphlet of yours say any famous shows or artists performing?" 

"Let me check," he said as he pulled out the pamphlet, "Can we stop for a second" he asked, as he was struggling to keep up while reading, "Oh," nodded for a moment, "This things is so packed with stuff, I missed it earlier" he told Emi, "Apparently they had filmed some shows a while back, and both the Suit actor and protagonist for a Sentai show where going to headline a show" he frowned as he tried to read the name of the show, but it seem he had gotten some of the okonomiyaki on the pamphlet earlier, "I can't read the show name" he said defeated.

A tall lanky gentleman who looked like he would fit better as the ringmaster of a circus approached the two, "You look a little lost there" he smile a toothy smile, as he pointed at the pamphlet "I might be able to help," before Aito could say anything, the man put a hand on his shoulder, "Your all skin and bones," he shook his head dramatically, "We must fix this," he started to push Aito forward, "You too, young lady," he gestured at Emi, "There too much food, for you all to be walking around hungry, come, come" Aito could barely put any resistance, as the man was persistent, "I hope you both like steamed buns"

Aito was able to turn his head to give Emi a look, clearly, he was confused and did not know if to try to get away or to stay, if they didn't resist, they would find themselves sitting at separate tables, another bewildered tourist too having been volunteered to come to this spot, a small crowd forming on the stage as they quickly announced that this would be a steam bun eating competition before anyone could try to change their mind and escape. 

[Ram]

"Right right." Emi slowed down to give Aito a moment to read the pamphlet over. Apparently, some suit actors were supposed to be here. Some big tokusatsu names or someone headlining the current show broadcasting right now. Emi couldn't think of any particular names in mind but assumed that much as why else would an actor like that be around? Unless this place happens to be their hometown then yeah, she could envision that. She took this time to take some shots of the ground stalls surrounding them and the people passing by. There was no end to what decorations were up as the people passed by with families and couples staying close to one another. Wonder what time it was now? She went to fish for her phone when a tall gentleman approached the two.

"Just a bit," Emi laughed to play along as the pair were mostly skin and bones underneath their heavy gear the two lugged around. Emi could only imagine what was hidden under Aito's coat as the man coaxed them to follow towards some tables. Emi went on in to see what this was about as, whatever this event was, was clearly in dire need of some volunteers. Not wanting to pass up a firsthand experience, Emi was about rocking in her seat at her table. Before her was a small crowd forming of curious onlookers. "Wonder what kind of steam buns he was talking about," Emi wondered aloud when looking at the fellow table guests. Aito had his own and looked so nervous that Emi gave him a wave and a little V-sign in hopes that he'd relax a bit. "He said steam buns so what could go wrong here?" She called over as some other table guests were stretching or getting their hair tied back with some headbands. Emi considered doing the same but wanted to wait for the full discloser of what's to happen.