"Sir Harris.."
Ramune called abruptly, her voice cutting through the hum of the lively festival around them.
Harris blinked in surprise for a moment before turning to her. "Hm? What is it?"
"I—" Ramune began, but before she could finish, the crowd around them suddenly thickened, people moving in all directions as the festival activities peaked.
The press of bodies was overwhelming, and in an instant, Ramune and Harris were separated.
---
Harris glanced around, his usual calm demeanor faltering ever so slightly as he realized Ramune was no longer beside him.
His smile turned into a faint grimace as he sighed, muttering under his breath, "Oh, great. I can't believe this... Where did she go?"
He scanned the crowd, trying to spot her distinctive knight uniform amidst the sea of festival-goers, but it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
---
On the other side, Ramune was shoved out of the crowd with a firm jostle. She stumbled slightly, catching herself just in time. For a moment, she looked around in mild confusion, still processing how she had been separated.
Straightening her posture, she scanned the crowd, her sharp eyes catching a glimpse of Harris's figure towering above most of the festival-goers.
There he is..!
Relief washing over her as she raised her hand to call out to him.
But before she could utter a word, Harris turned and moved in the opposite direction, disappearing deeper into the throng of people.
Ramune frowned slightly, determination flashing in her eyes. Without hesitation, she pushed herself back into the crowd. The press of people was almost suffocating, their closeness forcing her to slow down. Despite her usual composure, she found herself struggling to navigate the congested space, her knightly armor and demeanor drawing curious glances.
Her frustration mounted as she weaved through the bustling crowd, the festive atmosphere now feeling more like an obstacle course.
"How do people enjoy this?" she muttered under her breath, her voice laced with quiet annoyance.
But she didn't stop. She was determined to find Harris—and those girls they were following.
---
As Ramune struggled to navigate through the crowd, she encountered all sorts of people along the way.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!"
"Hey, watch it!"
"Dear, are you lost?"
"Ick—a knight?! Why is she here?"
"Shortie, use your eyes, can't you?!"
Her expression remained flat, but the slight twitch in her brow betrayed her irritation. She ignored the comments, pushing forward with stiff determination. The crowd felt suffocating, but she wasn't about to give up now.
This is getting ridiculous... she thought, brushing past yet another person who muttered under their breath. She let out a quiet sigh.
---
Harris, meanwhile, wasn't faring much better. His usually sunny expression was beginning to falter as he continued to scan the crowd.
He spotted a glimmer of silver hair and felt his heart jump, a wave of relief washing over him. Quickly, he moved toward the figure—
But when he reached out, he realized with a sinking feeling that it wasn't her.
His shoulders slumped slightly, but just as he turned around, he caught sight of another flash of silver, disappearing into the crowd. Without thinking, he quickened his pace, weaving through the mass of bodies until—
Grab!
Harris's hand closed around an arm, and when he looked up, there she was.
Ramune froze instantly, her green eyes widening slightly in surprise. Her posture stiffened, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, neither of them saying a word.
"...Sir Harris?" she finally said, her voice quieter than usual, as if unsure of herself.
Before he could respond, someone bumped into Ramune from behind, pushing her forward—straight into him.
Her hands instinctively pressed against his chest to steady herself, but she froze again when she realized how close they were. Her green eyes met his, and for the first time in what felt like forever, a flicker of something—nervousness, maybe—crossed her usually blank face.
Harris blinked, caught completely off guard. "Ah—are you okay?" he asked, his voice softer now.
Ramune immediately straightened herself, taking a small step back as if trying to reclaim her personal space.
"I'm fine," she said curtly, her tone clipped and formal.
Her gaze dropped briefly to where his hand still rested on her arm, and after a pause, she added, "...You can let go now."
"Oh! Right, sorry about that!" Harris quickly released her, his usual grin returning, though it was tinged with a hint of nervousness.
They stood in awkward silence for a moment, the bustling crowd around them almost forgotten. Ramune's expression had returned to its usual neutrality, but there was a subtle stiffness in her posture, and she couldn't quite meet his eyes directly.
"You... wandered off," she muttered after a pause, her voice a little quieter than before.
Harris chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I did. But, hey—I found you, didn't I?"
Ramune glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, her expression softening just the tiniest bit. "Barely," she murmured, brushing a strand of silver hair behind her ear.
For just a moment, neither of them moved. The lively festival seemed distant, leaving only the faint hum of their shared silence—and the awkward warmth that neither of them knew how to address.
---
After what felt like forever, they finally made it out of the suffocating crowd. Though they'd lost track of the group of girls they'd been following, neither seemed too upset. Oh well,there was always time to search for them again later.
Finding a nearby bench, they sat down to catch their breath, the lively festival still buzzing in the background.
For a long while, they remained quiet, the sounds of laughter and distant music filling the air. Then, Ramune finally broke the silence.
"I didn't realize festivals would be this overwhelming," she muttered, her usually stoic expression softened by a faint hint of exhaustion.
Harris chuckled lightly, his ever-present smile warm and reassuring. "Yeah, they can be pretty intense. I guess this is your first time at something like this, isn't it?"
Ramune gave a small nod, her silver hair shifting with the movement.
Harris's smile faltered , replaced by a faint crease of guilt on his brow. "I'm sorry. If I'd known you weren't comfortable in crowds, I should've gone after those girls alone... And now we've lost them." He sighed, leaning back against the bench, the regret evident in his tone.
Ramune turned her head slightly, watching him for a moment before speaking again. "It's fine, Sir Harris. It caught me off guard, but..." Her green eyes met his, steady and calm.
Harris looked back at her, his guilt wavering as he waited for her to continue.
"I promised to walk with you through the village," she said simply, her voice unwavering. "And this time... I've kept that promise."
There was a brief pause, the words lingering in the space between them.
"And," she added quietly, "I enjoyed it. Thank you."
Harris blinked in surprise, his lips parting as if to say something, but before he could respond—
Boom!
Fireworks suddenly erupted in the sky above them, the bright colors illuminating the night. Both of them jolted in surprise, their heads snapping upward in unison.
For a moment, they stared in awe at the vibrant display. Then, Harris let out a soft laugh, and before she knew it, Ramune found herself chuckling too—a rare, fleeting sound that even surprised her.
Even though she hadn't brought back the information they were after, Ramune realized she'd gained something else instead.
Something she didn't quite know how to describe.
But if she had to name it, she might call it—
Memories.
---
Flashback to the walk earlier:
As they had been making their way to the bench, Ramune had spoken in her usual calm, matter-of-fact tone:
"You know... I had a thought to kill everyone in my way so I could find you faster."
Harris froze mid-step, his face turning pale. "W-what?!"
Noticing his reaction, Ramune glanced at him as though confused by his shock. "What? It seemed like the most efficient solution at the time."
Harris visibly shuddered, clutching his chest dramatically as if to calm his racing heart.
I'm so glad I found her sooner...!
"Why do you look like that?" Ramune asked, tilting her head slightly.
"N-no reason! Hahah... Nothing at all!" Harris quickly deflected, his nervous laughter masking his unease.
Ramune blinked, then shrugged. "If you say so."