synflux | 🎉 TANABATA FESTIVAL 🎊

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🎉 TANABATA FESTIVAL 🎊

WHO: Everyone in Neo Tokyo
WHAT: Tanabata festival! 🎉
WHERE: In the centre of the park
WHEN: 17/07 onwards
WARNINGS: N/A

NEO TOKYO TANABATA

aka operation festival funtime

As the middle of July opens, the streets outside of Neo Tokyo seem to get decorated almost overnight. Colourful origami banners hang from the trees, a mixture of tanzaku, kamigoromo, orizuru and toami.

For anyone who has been to the Sendai region in the midst of the Summer months, the decorations will look almost endearingly familiar; it's time for tanabata!

▶ 001. OPERATION: FESTIVAL FUNTIME.

The savvier of people might notice a particularly bright shock of pink hair running around in the early hours of the morning, taking part in setting up the decorations and putting together a basic layout of tables with tablecloths and various goods and prizes. Each decoration is hand made, and if you look closely you might see little golden traces throughout, giving a clue to who helped made these ones. There's something infectious about his enthusiasm and the delight, even as he gets a little more tired as the day goes on - there's nothing stopping him. Eventually, his section of the festival is set up; there are various stands, some for making decorations (bamboo branches with ornaments, more paper ornaments, origami, and various other cute and traditional arts and crafts), some space for you to take a break and have a fruity and always non-alcoholic drink and an area with a handsome backdrop for the taking of photos.

He's not alone, though!

Raidou's looking livelier than he has than in the last few weeks. He's helping the festival in an organizational capacity, while Yuji handles most other things. He sets up the stands, moves and directs supplies to the right place, picks out spots for decorations, and makes sure both vendors and visitors have everything they need. If you stop to ask him a question or ask for direction, you get a quick, polite answer before he flits off to the next task.

Once things are running smoothly, you'll find him working at one of the food booths, where he's frying up takoyaki and taiyaki. Raidou couldn't be more in his element - serving up fresh food and treats to the Outsiders and the community. You might even get your food handed to you from him with a smile.

At night, the festival is lit up with fireworks and sparklers throughout, lighting up the sky with explosions of little joy and happiness.

Throughout the festival, you can also get a free bento, delivered to you by a cute looking rabbit. The bentos come in many designs, cute, adorable or precious!

▶ 002. A DREAM IS A WISH.

One of the most exciting aspects of tanabata remains the wish-making. In the set-up for the festival, there are little posters left around near one particular booth (manned by local cryptid Choso) to explain the story of the festival and the meaning that it holds. Alongside it are an almost ridiculous amount of paper strips in various colours, left with some pens and calligraphy brushes for people to pick up and use. A big sign next to it declares the following:

Make a wish! If it's a good one, it might come true!
The directions are clear: write your wish on a strip of paper and hang it on one of the bamboo decorations. The harder you wish, the more likely it is to come true - and there are some prompts for the kind of wishes people could make, just in case you're strapped for ideas:

Academic or work successes
Prosperity or good health
Care and love for family and friends
Success in love or platonic relationships
Fulfilment of a personal goal or ambition

You might notice Yuji watching as you're tying your wishes up... Don't worry about that!

If you require further assistance in your wish-making (or even if you don't at all) Choso seems more than happy to lend a helping hand. When he isn't cutting up paper strips and sorting them out into strangely-organized piles (paper thickness instead of size or colour), he's preparing the calligraphy ink via manual inkstone grinding or offering an absurdly wide variety of coloured (and scented) markers for your convenience.

The strips of wishes can be as decorative or simple as you like, so don't stress about your artistic genius!

( ooc note: If you would like Yuji to take a shot at making your wish come true, please respond to this comment! There will be some RNG "granted wishes" that you can use in your top level and keep as a fond memory, but please note there is only one "granted wish" per character. )

▶ 003. AS THE POETS SAY.

In the centre of the festival, in the midst of a park with vibrant flowers, is a table where Yuji sits for a few hours at a time between breaks. He seems to be practically vibrating out of his seat, and when approached he launches into an explanation of this particular game:

THE SOULMATE GAME!

The aim of the game is simple: you are given a ribbon at random with a number on it. Your mission? Find the person with the matching ribbon within a time limit of an hour and win a special prize. Don't worry though... If you lose, there's a prize for not quite making it within the limit. The festival is meant to be a celebration, after all, and Yuji doesn't want anyone to miss out.

Here's the problem: Yuji isn't making it easy for people to find their soulmate. He's not left a boundary for how far you can go (in case you were tempted to hide...) nor has he done anything to make the festival less distracting. This area is set up with your traditional festival games, such as (fake) goldfish scooping, ring toss and some chairs and tables set out for food and conversation.

To make it worse? Sometimes, Yuji might pop up and give you a hint to go in a particular direction, only for it to be a total red herring. This is definitely fun, isn't it? Who doesn't love a good chase? The problem is...

Will you find your soulmate in time...?

( ooc note: If you would like to win (or lose) at the soulmate game, please respond to this comment! Go ahead and OOCly decide who your character gets paired with and whether or not you win or lose - there are different prizes for each. You can play the soulmate game as many times as you want ICly, but you will only get one prize roll per character! )

▶ 004. TINY FRAGMENTS THAT REMAIN.

NOTE: THIS PROMPT WILL REFER TO THINGS THAT ARE SPOILERS FOR JUJUTSU KAISEN CHAPTER 264 ( refering to Yuji's powers and how he uses them in a fight ).
Here's the thing: Yuji wants everyone to have fun. His dream is that people are able to find some joy and peace in the midst of the darkness of the last few weeks, and so he sinks into something that is familiar to him - cursed energy, and his domain expansion. In the early hours of the second day of his festival, you might catch him making a hand sign before a ripple of powers hits, collecting around the area of the festival like a literal bubble. Anyone on the edge of the bubble will see it like a flickering, semi-transparent void, but there's nothing to worry about... Right?

The power of Yuji's domain expansion is simple enough, in theory: it transports into the memories, digs into the heart of what people want to show. His intention is to share the tanabata of his childhood with the people of Neo Tokyo and spark some joy for the Outsiders who have been through so much. He wants to show them something sweet and nostalgic, but he doesn't quite anticipate the side effect.

Outsiders who end up stepping into Yuji's domain will find themselves able to come face-to-face with their childhood selves, and enjoy the festival together. If they're together with another Outsider, those childhood versions of themselves (shaped in the way they remember themselves rather than how they actually looked!) are visible and shared, like an extension of their thoughts come to life.

It's still tanabata, but this particular part of the festival is influenced by what Yuji remembers from his youth, and Outsiders can find themselves seeing and being able to take part in various activities:

Crayfish catching (try and get the biggest or rarest one!)
Archery (can you beat your friends and get the bullseye?)
Horse riding (and you might hear Yuji commenting on how big their faces are)
Parades (are you going to join in?)
And anything else you can dream up! It's your character's childhood too, right...?

As soon as Yuji realises his mistake (at the end of the day, lost in his own memories) he brings down the domain, but it might be too late for some Outsiders who have come face to face with their more adorable versions. Whoops.

EVENT BREAKDOWN (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. OPERATION: FESTIVAL FUNTIME: The festival is being set up by Yuji and Raidou, with support from other Outsiders to make decorations. Food and other entertainment is on offer for anyone who attends, but all drinks are non-alcoholic.

2. A DREAM IS A WISH: Outsiders are given the chance to take part in the tanabata tradition of wish making. They can decorate paper with their wish and hang it up in the hope it will come true. Yuji will be granting one wish per outsider.

3. AS THE POETS SAY: The "Soulmate Game" has characters being randomly assigned numbers and tasked with finding their matching pair to win a prize. They have an hour to find their partner and, win or lose, there is a prize for taking part.

4. TINY FRAGMENTS THAT REMAIN: Yuji uses his domain expansion to bring Sendai tanabata to life, that has the accidental side effect of allowing Outsiders to meet and see their childhood selves. It also allows them to visit Sendai itself and take part in some other minigames that are not tanabata related if they want.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Little Ratio ignores him, at first. He doesn't even acknowledge Kakavasha's presence and continues reading the book like no one disrupted him.

... ]

A textbook.

[ It's got graphs and numbers and strange symbols all over—not that Kakavasha could read it, but even if he could, all he would understand is that it's some sort of math textbook. ]

I thought all books are textbooks. Why's that one so special? And if it's a text book why does it have so many pictures?

( He's just going to sit himself right down next to Veritas, if it's all the same to him. It's a better angle to look at the book from, anyway. )

[ Veritas immediately scooches away from Kakavasha, shifting the book away and glaring at the other kid. ]

I never said it was special. And these aren't pictures, they're graphs. This is a calculus textbook, stupid.

( Scooooooots closer again. You can glare at him all you want, but he is just going to flash him a wide smile before trying to take a look at the book again. )

Calculus? ( He frowns again at the pictures, and the writing and numbers as if they're going to suddenly make sense to him. When they don't he sighs, flopping back into the grass with his arms spread wide. ) I might be stupid but you're boring. Why are you reading when there's a lot of really cool things to see?

[ Sensing an inevitable chase if he scoots over again, Veritas stays put this time and lets Kakavasha attempt to read the textbook. When the other boy gives up and flops over, he makes a small noise of vindication and returns to reading the book. ]

I don't care if I'm boring. Go away. You're too loud.

I'm not too loud, I'm Kakavasha. ( Does he laugh at his own joke? Yes, yes he does. But because this strange kid seems very serious about being quiet, he does manage not to say anything for approximately three whole minutes. Studying the other boy, he decides on a new plan of action. ) Do you still want me to go away? We can play a card game -- if you win, I'll leave. If I win, you have to come with me!

[ Three whole minutes of silence before the other boy has to open his mouth and yap. This is why he doesn't like other kids. They're too... Noisy and full of energy and they never want to learn anything.

Normally they leave him alone when he tells them he doesn't want to play, so that's what he decides to do. ]

I don't want to play. Just go away. Find someone else who wants to play with you.

( He doesn’t want to play? Kakavasha blinks up at him slowly, undaunted. He’s decided that he’s going to become friends with this other boy, even if it’s the last thing he does! )

There’s other things we can do, silly! Like catch these wiggly clawed things in the creek, or there’s a place where you can shoot arrows. I bet I can shoot an apple right off your head, too.

That sounds boring.

[ Veritas clutches at his book and shifts it so it's blocking his view of Kakavasha. ]

Go away.

If it sounds boring then tell me what’s so exciting about your ‘textbook’. I can’t read though, so you’re going to have to explain it really good, okay?

( Maybe if he listens long enough the other kid will let him take him to shoot arrows after! Kakavasha pushes himself back up into a sitting position, tugging on the book so the other kid will lower it. )

Big Sis says I have a lot of potential, so I bet I can learn quickly!

( He has no idea what he’s getting into. )

[ Veritas's expression scrunches up and he grabs Kakavasha's hand to pull it off the textbook. ]

If you can't read then you're too stupid to understand anything in this book. I don't wanna explain it to you.

( Fine, Kakavasha will let go of his stupid book, but he is going to aim a swift kick at Veritas’ leg. He knows he shouldn’t get into fights, he knows that big Sis will be disappointed in him, but he’s not going to take that lying down! )

I’m not stupid! We’re not allowed to have schools but I know plenty of things you don’t—

Owww!!

[ Veritas drops his book and grips his shin, before standing up and shoving the other boy backwards. ]

You're stupid and mean and a big bully! Don't you know that no means no?? You don't need to go to a school to get that, unless you're really really stupid!! Stupid idiot!!!

( Kakavasha falls back on the ground with a small “oof” before he scrambles back to his feet. Even if this other kid is younger, he’s still taller, and Kakavasha runs at him, arms going around Veritas’ waist to try and pull him to the ground with him. )

Don’t call me stupid! You started it, calling me names when I wanted to be friends but now I don’t want to be friends anymore. Not with someone who’s as mean as you! You’re boring— I bet your book is as boring as you are!

[ Veritas tries to push him off, but being so young and a complete bookworm, he lacks the muscles his older self has. ]

I never wanted to be friends in the first place! You would've found me boring after an hour and left anyway, so there's no point in trying!

[ He shoves his hands into Kakavasha's face and pushes really hard. ]

Let go!!!

[ Unfortunately, Kakavasha eventually ends up succeeding and dragging Veritas down with him. Now on the floor, Veritas twists to kick Kakavasha in the leg. ]

Hah!

You don’t know that! You don’t know me!

( Kakavasha yelps when Veritas kicks him, though he thinks he should be congratulated on the fact he doesn’t bite the other boy’s hand when it’s in his face. )

If you got your nose out of your stupid book— I bet you don’t even remember my name!

( One of his hands finds Veritas’s indigo hair and he fists his fingers in it, tugging. )

Why would I care to remember your name? It's not like I'm gonna talk to you ever again!

[ But he does remember. Kakavasha. Annoying and loud and won't take no for an answer. He yelps when Kakavasha takes a tuft of hair and pulls, so he reaches out to grab scraggly blond hair and yanks as hard as he can. ]

I'll make sure you never come back!

Oh yeah? Just for that I’ll come back every time— ow!

( Kakavasha winces, tears welling up in his eyes at the sharp pain — but he’s not going to be outdone by some mean kid. He shoves his hands at Veritas’ face, trying to grab an ear or his nose or something—

Which is approximately when Aventurine finally manages to find his younger self, having been drawn by the loud voices. He sighs, relieved, but then he realizes what’s going on — and he’s rushing forward to get himself between the fighting boys, hauling Kakavasha up off the dirt. )

There you are, Kakavasha. What has big Sis told you about fighting, hmm? Now why don’t you apologize to—

( He turns slightly, to look at the other kid, and then his mouth drops open slightly. )

Ratio?

[ Now that an adult has appeared and Kakavasha has been pulled off him, Veritas is left with the ache of their fight and the shame of being caught fighting with another kid.

He grips his shirt tightly and keeps his head down, trying in vain to hold back his sniffles. In the end, he bursts into tears and starts sobbing, though he tries his best to muffle his cries by turning around and hunching over. ]

( Oh. Aventurine looks at Kakavasha, who seems to be okay and at least slightly chastened for the moment. Squeezing his younger self’s hand, Aventurine turns to Veritas and gently takes his shoulders and pulls him into an awkward hug.

Kakavasha, deciding to follow his older self’s lead, attempts to hug Veritas. Even if he doesn’t particularly understand why. )

It’s alright, Veritas. ( Says Aventurine. ) Kakavasha here just thought you could use a friend.

[ Veritas pushes feebly at Aventurine, trying to squirm out of his grasp as he cries. He manages to squeeze out words in between each heave. ]

I don't... want a friend! I want... I want everyone to leave me alone!!

Edited 2025-07-18 07:57 (UTC)

( Aventurine hopes that, should he and Ratio ever have children, that they're going to turn out more like Kakavasha than Veritas. Which isn't to say he doesn't understand small Veritas, he's just less good with crying children about problems that come from being super smart.

Aventurine does let him go, but Kakavasha doesn't, instead opting to hold his wrist instead. )

That's not very fair to other people. ( Aventurine points out, still kneeling in the dirt in his fancy clothes. One of his hands goes to ruffle the head of Kakavasha -- he still has no small amount of fondness for his younger self. ) Kakavasha here might not be as smart as you, but you're not giving him a chance. How are you supposed to help people to improve if you don't give them a chance first, huh?

[ Little Veritas is a product of his environment, just as Kakavasha is. And he was born in a sheltered environment where he got almost everything he wanted, being the darling prodigy that people pinned their expectations on.

Veritas tries to shake off Kakavasha, stepping backward and retreating from the strange pair who won't stop bothering him. He doesn't like this adult who only seems to care about Kakavasha and not about Veritas at all. ]

W-why do I have to help him improve? Why do I have to be fair to other people when they aren't fair to me? You don't even care about me!

I don't care about you?

( Aventurine sounds a little shocked -- it's normal for kids to be unreasonable, sure, but that's the last thing he expects from Veritas, tiny or not. Still, he recovers with a laugh, and pulls off the necklace Ratio had made and given him. The one that stores pictures and videos of their time here: he doesn't know how else to convince a scared child that he's not going to do anything he doesn't want to, not really. )

Here. It stores pictures and videos -- I know you'll figure out how to work it. Just don't take it apart, okay? It's special to me. But I do care about you, Veritas.

( And then, with a look at Kakavasha, he stops trying to hold the younger Veritas' hand with a frown. But his younger self isn't done either, blinking up at Veritas with his big ol' eyes. )

I guess you don't have to be fair. But it's not like you've given me a chance to see if I'm gonna be fair or not!

( Veritas called him stupid first, after all. )

[ Little Veritas doesn't know Aventurine at all, so how can he expect Aventurine to care? He eyes the necklace being handed to him for a moment before warily taking it, and when Aventurine says Veritas can figure it out on his own, he finally lights up. Like his adult self, little Veritas likes to be presented with challenges that don't involve people.

Kakavasha is being kind of annoying though. ]

I don't need to give you a chance 'cause you already blew it. You didn't go away when I told you go away.

[ That's all he needs to know to know that Kakavasha won't listen to him when he wants the other to listen.

So he ignores Kakavasha and starts trying to figure out how this necklace that is clearly some sort of device works. If it's well made it will be easy to operate. ]

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