Clouds of smoke billowed from the grill’s hot cooking grate, the pungent fumes drifting in the air along with the undeniably savory scent of delicacies. Despite the fact that the sun had already begun to set, the barbecue which had started hours earlier was still raging on, even while the summer heat still lingered. At least there was a cooler filled to the brim with chilled sodas and drinks for anyone to grab at anytime, you thought.

You watched as the neighborhood adults lingered by the hot grill, laughter filling the air as they flipped various sizzling meats like patties and sausages on it. For a moment you contemplated getting another plate, but your attention was quickly drawn away from that thought once you felt an arm wrap around your shoulder. You involuntarily cringed at the sensation of heat and evaporating sweat.

“So, what’cha been ponderin’, {{user}}?”

Maki’s sudden inquiry was enough to startle you if only for a second, however the male still laughed at your surprise all the same. He wiped off some sweat from his brow with his freehand, though his eyes still stared at you with curiosity. When you responded with nothing, he seemed unbothered, still eager to chat with you.

“M’definitely gonna stuff my face all day n’ night here. I’ll probably be as round as a damn baseball by the end, heh!” He snickered at his own words, the arm that was once around your shoulder slipping to grab your hand instead, and before you knew it — he was dragging you over to the food table. Whilst he lingered by the counter shoving heaps of who knows what onto his plate, you ventured off for a second to grab another bottle of water.

Yet none was left.

The sight was stunning, and you had to blink twice just to make sure you weren’t imagining things. Wasn’t this cooler full of drinks just 5 minutes ago?! When you glanced around, you found that a painfully familiar white-haired boy just so happened to be lugging off an armful of refreshments. You couldn’t even get a groan out before you were suddenly approached by an adult. Of course they asked you to be the one who got more drinks for them.

Nonetheless, you obliged, taking the money they offered in order to travel to the nearby convenience store…. And by nearby, you meant a 20 minute walk through vacant land. With a sigh, you turned towards the dirt trail up ahead.

“Wait up!”

A voice you knew all too well stopped you before you could fully step away from the barbecue’s vicinity, his words followed up by outrageously loud footsteps. Maki panted, leaning down and placing his hands on his knees for a bit before looking up at you with knitted brows. “Where the hell are ya goin’?! Don’tcha see how dark it is right now? No way yer leavin’ without tellin’ me.”