"Dimas!" Lilee shouts from on top of the hill. She sounds annoyed.
Dimas is sitting at their usual spot, the area behind the hills outside of Onaq. He's just spent the last hour contemplating his current predicament.
"Why did you run off by yourself? It sort of defeats the purpose of having a team!" Lilee stands in front of Dimas.
He feels like a child being scolded by an adult. Further fueling his own annoyance. Dimas takes a deep breath and says nothing.
"Well…" Lilee's tone returns to her usual cheery one. "Did you get anything?" By the way she was looking at him, she might've already known the answer.
"No." Dimas tugs at the dark blue cloth tied around his wrist. "I was thinking of going back when the streets were empty. That's assuming there's enough jobs to go around." He thinks for a second. "Would stealing someone's job disqualify me?"
Lilee shakes her head. "We're not going to steal from other teams."
"Why not?"
"Because it's wrong!"
"Who cares?"
Lilee sits beside Dimas and wraps her arm around his shoulder. "We don't need to steal. We just need to keep our heads held high and everything will be fine."
Dimas is lost in his thoughts, too busy to notice Lilee's arm.
"Oh! Guess who I saw when I was looking for you?"
"Hmm." While he may not be paying attention, Dimas acknowledges that he heard the question.
"Nicole! We started talking about the tournament, she wanted to congratulate us and had a surprise for us but she had to go somewhere. I told her she'd probably be able to find us here."
Dimas, done with thinking, heard only half of what Lilee said. Including the part where she mentioned Nicole's surprise.
"I hate surprises." Dimas imagines the surprise is probably going to be something stupid and useless.
"That's a shame." Nicole walks down from on top of the hill. "Here I was thinking it was a good surprise." In her hand is a rainbow-colored fish scale.
The duo stare in astonishment, both have their mouths agape.
It's at this time that Dimas realizes Lilee's arm around his shoulders and how close the two were sitting. Had any passersby been able to see them, they would assume the two were having an intimate moment.
Dimas stands up quickly and puts some space between Lilee and himself before turning his attention back to Nicole. "How did you get that?"
"I asked for it." Nicole pulls out a piece of paper, a job post with a red border. "This is the job I posted asking for help with cow thieves and it was picked for the tournament. I took the liberty of grabbing it during the task ceremony. After bumping into Lilee, I went to ask for this fish scale."
Nicole holds it out for Dimas to take but he doesn't make a move. He quietly stares at the fish scale.
"You didn't have to do that." Dimas says.
Nicole and Lilee tilt their heads in confusion.
"What d'ya mean?" Nicole asks.
"Our deal was a night in your farm, dinner, and supplies. Which we already got." Dimas says.
[Why is she doing this? What can she possibly gain?]
Nicole turns to Lilee. "You'll take it, right?"
"Of course, thanks Nicole!" Lilee takes the scale and hugs Nicole.
"Imma head back to town, see you two later." Nicole takes her leave.
"She was being grateful." Lilee says once the duo are alone.
"Pfft." Dimas doesn't believe it.
"Then why else would she do this? She didn't ask us for anything."
"If she's not asking for anything then she's probably an idiot."
Lilee sighs. She wonders why Dimas has a hard time trusting the kindness of others and it's unlikely he would share the answer.
"If you want we can probably trade this fish scale for a job from one of the other teams. I'm sure we can find some takers." Lilee says.
Dimas tugs at the cloth around his wrist. "No… Might as well take advantage of the situation."
The duo made their way back to the stadium once the streets were empty save for some scattered competitors still in search of a job. Among them was the team that had sent Dimas to a nonexistent job board. Dimas flashes them the fish scale alongside a spite-filled sneer.
"Do you think the judges will accept it this soon?" Lilee asks as the duo enter the stadium.
"I don't see why not." Dimas rolls the fish scale across his fingers.
The stadium which was full of life not long ago now sat empty and lifeless. At the center of the field is a table occupied by Mr. Hall and the woman in purple. The moonlight barely separates the judges from the shadows. The entire scene had an ominous ambience which quickly went away as soon as the woman in purple spoke.
"Hi! Are you here to turn in your task?"
"Yes ma'am!" Lilee reciprocates the woman's cheery attitude. Any worries she may have had were gone. "We have our rainbow scale and are ready for the next phase!"
"That's great! And amazing!" The woman in purple clasps her hands together and begins to cry. "It makes me happy to see teams so enthusiastic to compete in our humble tournament!"
Mr. Hall offers her a handkerchief, she takes it and begins dabbing her tears.
Their peppy exchange disgusts Dimas.
Mr. Hall holds out his hand waiting for the fish scale. "Please excuse Ms. Ster, her passion knows no bounds."
Dimas hands over the fish scale. "Mister?" he blurts out of confusion.
[But didn't he just say 'her passion'?]
"Yes?" Ms. Ster responds.
Lilee is also confused. "Wait… Is it Mister or Miss?"
"Whichever one you prefer."
"Wouldn't it be your choice?" Lilee becomes even more confused.
"In that case, you can call me Melissa!" Ms. Ster gives Lilee a huge smile.
"O-Okay." Lilee says.
[This conversation is stupid.]
Dimas sees Mr. Hall studying the rainbow-colored fish scale. "Is there a problem?"
Mr. Hall looks up from the fish scale. "No problem at all. Ms. Nicole explained the entire situation earlier. I'm merely checking it as a formality." He stands up. "Let me be the first to commend you for reaching the next phase of the tournament."