ஜ۞ஜ

ஜ۞ஜ

*𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐯*

"The Fighting Festival elimination round will now begin!" Hearing the loud, squeaky voice of the floating being (Y/n) raised her gaze to view him from her apple, her ordinary (E/c) eyes instantly catching the floating being's own stare. Both of them stared at each other acutely, intensely. Neither of them looked away or even sought to as sparks seemed to travel between them, their faces monotone and indecipherable.

Breaking away from the staring contest (Y/n) stared back down at her plump apple, already done with speculating why the floating creature was sporting an oversized helmet. Perhaps it was because he was bald? Or had a terrible hair day? Either both (Y/n) could only relate to the latter, I mean; how could she ever be bald?

Noticing that the mysterious female wasn't looking at him anymore made him jerk out of his blank stupor and made him promptly grasp where he was and what he had to do.

Coughing in his fist-formed hand, the floating creature put back his trademark smile, his miniature arms outstretching once more. Now floating higher, this captured the attention of everybody circling the round battle grounds.

"Fighters, step into the ring!" Love Helm instructed aloud, his enthusiastic voice exciting everyone in the crowd as all the aspirant participants strode into the now cramped ring.

"That little punk..."

Watching as Meliodas hopped on top of the platform (Y/n) glanced down at the floor to see that it was merely a few inches high, making her finally realize how tiny and frail-looking Meliodas seemed. 'Wonder what his skincare routine must be. I mean, that guy looks like a nine-year-old.' (Y/n) considered absentmindedly as she continued gawking at the ground only for the tender push of King to snatch her out of her trance.

"Come on, human! You're making me regret coming here in the first place already!" King huffed in discontent, preferring to stay by the side of the giantess as a regretful look crossed his features. Peering over her shoulder to look at the male (Y/n) swiftly approached him from behind and set him in a headlock, nudging his hair, making some strands of hair stand up.

"Loosen up, Fake Fairy, we're fighting after all, so this should be a proper way to blow off some steam. With you and your giant tittie kink." (Y/n) whispered the last part in his ear and dashed away, treading onto the platform with a basic expression on her face as she shoved her hands inside her front pockets.

Staring blankly at the departing figure of the female King's face suddenly flared up in a rich red as incoherent words stumbled out of his mouth, along with his eyebrows becoming furrowed. Pointing at the retreating female with a quivering figure, King suddenly floated on top of the platform as well, but not before screening his crimson face with his hands.

'Stupid girl!' Heaving in annoyance King cooled down his blushing face, struggling to get his thoughts out of thinking of when (Y/n) whispered in his ear, her warm breath against his exposed skin blowing lightly as her firm arms were encased around his neck, her hand in his hair. Both of them being so close to each other, touching. It was almost like they were a couple—

"Hey, listen. Don't get too chummy with (Y/n), you already got someone you like so don't go lookin' for anotha' girl." The voice of Ban was heard behind him, his voice low and malicious as his crimson eyes blazed dangerously down at the short fairy. Shuddering at the threat, King gulped, pissed-off by what Ban stated about him getting "too chummy" with someone. Though he was also irritated by how Ban was possessive of (Y/n) after what Elaine said the other day to him.

"I should say the same thing to you too, Ban." King spat out, his grasp on his green leopard-print pillow tight. Smirking in delight as he realized he received a reaction out from the other Sin, Ban jammed his hands inside his pockets and wandered away, but not before giving in his last words.

"How can you, when your own sister said for me to take (Y/n), to permanently be happy? That since I failed her, that I shouldn't fail her, too. Your own sister obliged me to get another woman, so why such a pouty face, piss boy?" Laughing at the end Ban walked away, his direction headed towards (Y/n) who was caught chatting with Meliodas and disputing over which one was better: yaoi or seinen?

"Bro, you're fucking blind! What's better than two men getting it on!"

"Um, probably you and me getting it on-"

"Shut your tiny ass before I make you." Slapping his hand on top of Meliodas' face, Ban stood behind Meliodas as a menacing grin appeared on his face, his flaring red eyes peering down at Meliodas with millions of warnings concealed under them.

"Point made; yaoi is better." (Y/n) suddenly commented as she gestured at the two, the promise that Ban made to Meliodas never fleeing her mind. Taking a minute to process what the fuck the kinky female just mentioned, King's face erupted in a rosy glowing intensity as his eyes swelled out comically, suddenly choking on his own spit.

Staring wide-eyed at the overpowered female, both Ban and Meliodas slowly looked over to how intimately pressed Ban was to his ass, causing him to calmly look back over Ban's stunned face. Both of their eyes and mouth opened wide.

"Y'all need a room, you horny fuckers."

˜"*°•.˜"*°• ---- •°*"˜.•°*"˜

Fireworks burst in the dead of light as the competitors of this year's Fighting Festival all showed off their muscles and strength, all of them trying to impress and warn off the other competitors.

"It's the Vaizel Festival Elimination Round! The referee will be yours truly; Love Helm!" Love Helm vociferously declared, making everyone in the area look at him, his peculiar build astonishing no one.

"The rules of this round are simple to the extreme! Knock your opponent out of the ring!"

"Throw them out; okay!"

"Push them out; okay!"

"Punch them into the air; also okay!"

"If it's barehanded; it's okay!"

"The eight contestants still standing will move onto the finals! Without further ado—let the Elimination Round begin!" Love Helm proclaimed, lifting his small arms into the air as everyone let out a battle cry accompanying his statement.

˜"*°•.˜"*°• ---- •°*"˜.•°*"˜

(Y/n) was kicked out.

After her fist almost met with her opponent, the man already had five fractured ribs from the pressure of the wind that her first caused, requiring the referee to kick her out of the Fighting Festival—though he only kicked her out of the competing part.

So, while the males were busy fighting—or dodging—(Y/n) was able to slip out of the massive group and flee without reporting it to anyone. Now she was wandering down the less clustered, but still packed, streets of Vaizel.

Glancing around at everything that they had in sale (Y/n) eyes met with a bag of sugar cookies. The bag was transparent as she saw they were apple-shaped. Lighting up in excitement (Y/n) ran over to the vendor, causing a sand storm to pursue her, but promptly faded as she was now standing in front of the stall.

"Cookie apples! Cookie apples!" (Y/n) silently recited to herself as her eyes lit up in delight, her eyes strained on the apple-shaped cookies too much that she wasn't able to regard the old woman who stayed behind the stall with a single crate held by both of her hands.

Hearing a woman softly chuckle (Y/n) curiously glanced up and blinked owlishly, the friendly old lady looking slightly familiar. "Like what you see? Well, you can have one dearie. I already sold a ton today and you look dreadfully skinny." Handing (Y/n) a bag occupied with the sugar cookies (Y/n) peeked down at it, her hands cradling it.

Looking back up at the old lady (Y/n) looked at her as a small smile spread on her face. "Mom?" (Y/n) said in a questioning form, inclining her head to the side as she brought her body closer to the stall in order to get a stronger aspect of the elderly woman.

The old woman smelled of freshly baked goods with her pure white hair secured in a solid bun, which could only be observed at the rear of her head. The woman's eyes were a warm brown as an ever enduring smile rested on her maturing—but still full of life—skin. The woman's height was in the medium range with her stature being plump, but it still showed like time has been helpful for this pleasant lady.

Laughing gently behind her hand, the old lady shook her head, her eyes crinkling as a twinkle lit her eyes. "I'm afraid not, dearie. I never had a daughter of my own, you see. It seems you mistook me for someone else." The old lady denied her claim as she set down the crate on top of a miniature chair, her attention still concentrated on the recent arrival.

Glancing down at the clear bag of sugar cookies (Y/n) looked dispirited. "Oh... pardon me, I have thought you for someone else. Please, take this back, I haven't earned the right for anything crafted by your heavenly hands." (Y/n) respectfully declined as she sought to hand back the bag of sugar cookies only for the elderly lady to decline and instead encased her hands around (Y/n) outstretched ones, compressing it gingerly.

"It's yours now, keep it. A present from me to you. You seem to have a lot of burdens rested on your shoulder; more than you should have at such a young age, too. I'm sure you don't deserve any of them, but I guess time has a mysterious way of doing actions to people." The aged lady chuckled quietly to herself, a melancholy glint in her eyes showing making (Y/n) dip her head in concern.

Letting go of the mysterious girl's hands, the aged lady stepped away as she sent a last smile to (Y/n). "Well, I suppose this is where we part ways. May the moon and sun watch over your life and guide you to unending happiness." Bending down her head, the elderly lady stepped away only to stop short as the image of (Y/n) appeared in front of her, the crate now in her hands.

"Please, allow me to help you. It's the least I can do for the sugar cookies." (Y/n) granted the old lady her finest smile imaginable, which kinda worked. Giggling at the peculiar smile that (Y/n) was doing, the old lady nodded her head, agreeing.

"If you wish to, dearie. Come along, that's the last cart I need to put inside my home." The elderly lady revealed as (Y/n) simply nodded as they trudged away from the stall and further inside the outlying parts of the village.

"Now, I think it's only just if you tell me why you thought of me as your mother."

(ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴅᴀʏ/ɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴍʏ ʟᴏᴠᴇꜱ!)