Both you and Noan stare quietly at the question mark on the voucher you're holding, utterly confused.
What... exactly does this mean?
Congratulations on drawing our special hidden event!
The question mark means that you're gonna get a random prize, which is the most exciting part of this event.
Could you elaborate on the rules?
This event is called the "Happy Scratch-Off". Participants have to use the prizes they get from their scratch cards as items for their dates today. If you bring back proof of a happy moment from your date, you'll receive a special gift from the organizers themselves.
Wanna give it a try, then?
Feel free to draw yourselves each a date item whenever you're ready.
The two of you draw two scratch cards from the smiling attendant.
Lucky, lucky! This is the best prize we have to offer.
And mine is...
There are no words on the scratch cards Noan is holding but a sad face.
Oh no... looks like your friend here isn't so lucky.
This is a downgrade ticket, which reduces the grade of the prize just drawn.
Meaning...?
The two of you end up walking out of the shop holding a sparkler each.
I'm sorry, Commandant... for screwing up big time.
Feeling sorry for their dramatic plunge from incredible luck to absolute misfortune, the shop attendant gave them two cartoon balloons to help them feel better.
So, about this "proof of a happy moment from our date," any ideas what we might want to do, Commandant?
Okay.
The two of you weave through the bustling crowd, where everyone seems to be rushing toward the fireworks show that's about to begin.
Absorbed in thought, Noan watches the crowd as it moves in the opposite direction.
It's nothing, I just...
I mean, it's a real shame that we can't go to the fireworks show with them, isn't it?
As the smiling crowd makes its way past the two of you, something suddenly catches Noan's eye.
Commandant, I need to go grab something. Could you wait for me by the pool up ahead?
Shortly after, Noan meets you by the pool. Instead of the ballon he was holding before, Noan now holds two things he wasn't carrying before.
Yes, I traded my balloon with a child who agreed to lend us his camera. This other thing here is his bubble machine, which I got as a bonus.
He asked why I wanted to borrow his camera, and he offered me this bubble machine when I told him what we wanted to do.
I told him... that I saw him taking photos of his friend earlier, and that I wanted to capture my own happy moments with this personal I hold dear myself, too.
He told me that he always makes his friends smile with this bubble machine and that he wanted me to keep it for when we take our pictures.
Commandant, you can hold the balloon while I operate the camera and this bubble machine so I can take a happy picture of you for submission.
I don't have the balloon anymore, and it doesn't matter if I'm in it now since I got us into this situation.
It makes me happy, too, when you're happy.
You drag Noan over by the hand and hold the string of your cartoon balloon together.
...That solves it, doesn't it?
Noan glances at you with a chuckle, offering no response.
Well then, as you wish. Let's capture a happy moment of ourselves.
Noan sets up the camera tripod and switches it to timer mode. Colorful bubbles float around the pool, glimmering in the evening lights, while the lit sparklers you and Noan are holding are reminiscent of mini fireworks up above.
3, 2, 1—
Click—after a flash of light, the camera slowly prints out the image it just captured.
How do you like it, Commandant?
Alright. Let's head back and claim our prize, then.
Congratulations to you both on completing the challenge! Now, here is your prize.
Ta-da, here's the fireworks show voucher you got before the downgrade!
Looking at the voucher, the two of you exchange funny glances and shake your heads.
They really know how to do business here, don't they?
True.
The streets grow crowded with the show just around the corner. People are getting excited.
May I have your hand, Commandant?
I want you to be there to bear witness to another moment of happiness with me.
