Seaside Haven, a resort city where the ocean, forests, and light rail blend together, still preserved a rich tapestry of traditional culture. In the heart of Red Maple Park, nestled near Green Hill to the east and the open Sea Haven to the south, a crowd had gathered, buzzing with excitement. A large banner stretched between two towering oaks, catching the attention of passersby.
A young girl wove her way into the crowd. As soon as her eyes caught the bold words "Bug Battle Tournament" on the banner, a loud cheer erupted.
"Jason wins again!"
"Wasn't it him last year too?"
"That's right, and he won every match!"
In the center of the gathering, under the bewildered gaze of a burly, bald man, a boy of about sixteen or seventeen stood up, grinning.
"Good match," he said with a casual nod.
Bug battling was a traditional pastime for locals here. In the northern regions, they called it "cricket fighting." Today, at Seaside Haven's annual Bug Battle Tournament, Jason, the rising star, had once again bested a group of experienced veterans, earning the title of Bug King.
And this wasn't his first championship.
"You little rascal!" The bald man scratched his head in frustration, staring at Jason. Ever since Jason had joined the tournament, he hadn't lost a single match. How could a teenager have more experience with bug battles than these seasoned competitors?
"Just lucky, I guess," Jason chuckled.
But suddenly, he felt someone's piercing gaze and shivered. "Sorry, folks, I need to leave!" he said, quickly gathering his prized champion insect and squeezing through the crowd to head for the exit.
Before he could get far, a young woman stepped in his path, taking a shortcut to catch him. She was tall, with a pretty face framed by a dark brown ponytail. Her arms were crossed, and her expression was far from friendly.
"So you skipped school just to join this bug battle? Why didn't you answer my calls?" Lily asked, her arms crossed.
"I was focused on the match. Phone on silent," Jason shrugged, unfazed.
"You know you're about to start your senior year, right?" Lily rubbed her temples in exasperation.
"Fine, fine. I'll catch up on the classes tomorrow," Jason said, conceding.
Lily's gaze shifted to the jar in Jason's hand. "So, first place again, huh? Not bad. This city's famous for bug battles, you know. A lot of the guys here have decades of experience, but I heard you trounced them all."
Jason smirked. "Sometimes it's not about experience—it's all about talent."
"I'm not complimenting you!" Lily snapped. "I'm telling you to focus on your studies. Finish your exams first, then you can get into all the bug battles you want."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Jason waved her off. "Anyway, bug battles aren't challenging anymore. I'm over it."
"Over it? So what's next, big game hunting?" Jason grinned, thinking out loud. His family had a history of hunters, so maybe he had inherited a knack for it, too.
Hunting nowadays was mostly about managing wildlife populations, preserving natural resources, and keeping ecosystems in balance. But for Jason, it was just an excuse to give his overly energetic pet a chance to release its boundless energy.
"Is this just about training your husky?" Lily raised an eyebrow. "It's no hunting dog."
Jason shrugged. "I can teach it. It loves a good chase. Keeping it cooped up isn't healthy, anyway. But, of course, getting a hunting permit is a whole other challenge."
"I hope you're joking," Lily said, eyeing him skeptically.
Jason tried to brush off the topic, sensing her suspicion. "Oh look, rain's coming," he said suddenly, trying to change the subject.
"Huh?" Lily looked at the clear sky with confusion. Not a cloud in sight.
"Weather report said so," Jason said, waving her along as he walked out of the park.
'Actually, it was just the buzzing insects that gave him the hint…'
Not long after, dark clouds indeed began to gather over Seaside Haven, and a heavy rain seemed imminent. Jason and Lily ducked into a nearby café, partly to escape the impending rain and partly for a bite to eat.
"I'm heading off to college in River City the day after tomorrow. Why don't you come stay at my place for the year? With senior exams around the corner, you shouldn't be living on takeout all the time. My parents already agreed," Lily offered as she sipped her tea.
"I can handle things myself. But thank them for the offer," Jason replied, raising his tea cup.
"Not them—thank your godparents!"
"Alright, alright—thank my godparents," Jason laughed. He and Lily had been friends since they were kids. Her family had taken him in after he lost his own parents, and they'd grown up together. Once he was old enough to be independent, he'd moved out, living off the inheritance his parents had left him.
Lily sighed. "I give up on convincing you. Just promise you'll get through this year. I'll be waiting for you in River City next year, and who knows? I might even introduce you to a senior who can keep you out of trouble."
"Get me into college first, then we'll talk," Jason said with a grin.
Despite being a decent student, he knew the final exams wouldn't be a breeze. The upcoming year was critical.
"Beastmaster, perhaps?" Lily guessed.
"What?" Jason looked up, startled.
"Oh, nothing," Lily said, eyes on her phone. "I just found this post and thought you might find it interesting."
Jason's phone chimed as Lily sent him the link. He clicked it, reading the title: "Do You Believe in the Supernatural?"
Huh.
Jason raised an eyebrow, intrigued.