Chapter 11 - Romance and Fun
Morning soon came on Wumpa Island, and a certain family along with their guests, who were camping, had risen early. All, except two specific bandicoots.
Crash and Megumi were still asleep in the tent. They had both stayed up late stargazing together, so they were the last to go to sleep.
The scientist bandicoot soon began to move until slowly waking up. As she regained full consciousness, Megumi blinked slowly and looked around the tent until she noticed Crash sleeping on her right in another sleeping bag.
Megumi smiled with a slight blush as she remembered the long awaited moment she had with him yesterday. The fact that Crash confessed that he felt the same way about her was quite a surprise, not to mention the passionate kiss they shared together. Also, seeing the hero sleep so happily and peacefully was something that melted her heart.
"How cute" she thought.
Being very careful to not wake him up, Megumi leaned in and gave Crash a tender kiss on his forehead. However, the bandicoot hero managed to perceive the touch of his friend, which caused him to move and slowly open his eyes.
"Oh… sorry Crash" Megumi apologized in a sorry tone. "Did I wake you up?"
"Hi, Megumi" Crash smiled at his friend and slowly sat up until he yawned and stretched. "It seems so… but it doesn't matter. Seeing your cute face is the best way to start the day."
Megumi couldn't help but laugh at Crash's words. Since when was he so flattering?
"Where are the others?" The bandicoot hero looked around the tent, noticing that it was only the two of them.
"It seems they got up before us" Megumi replied, who adopted a slight blush on her face. "It wouldn't surprise me, considering we went to bed later."
"Oh… right" Crash also blushed and looked his friend to her eyes, remembering what happened between them yesterday. "Last night was… pretty good, huh?"
"It was incredible" Megumi gently caressed the hero's cheek. "I can't wait for our date tonight."
"Me neither" Crash felt how his heart was delighted with the touch of his friend and he smiled.
Both bandicoots brought their faces closer to share another kiss, but they were interrupted by Ami, who peeked through the entrance of the store and called them. "Hey, lovebirds" she said in a mocking tone. "The breakfast is ready."
"Ami…" Megumi complained. "You interrupted the moment."
"Save the corny for later" Ami rolled her eyes. "If you don't come out now, we'll eat everything. You decide."
After Ami left the tent, Crash and Megumi looked at each other with blank expressions.
"I see romance is not her strong suit, right?" Crash laughed as he scratched his head.
"You said it…" Megumi sighed, but her expression softened. "However, that won't be a problem for us. Although she doesn't believe in these things, she respects those who do so."
"Good to know…" Crash said with a little relief. "Anyway… should we go to have breakfast?"
"Okay" Megumi nodded and went to the exit of the store, but then she looked back at the hero with a seductive look. "I'm starving ... but I'm not just talking about food."
As Megumi left the tent, Crash blushed at what she said, but not wanting to dig too deep, he decided to leave as well before the others ate everything.
Outside, they both saw the others sitting around the remains of yesterday's campfire, eating a few sandwiches and Wumpa fruit juices that they had made as breakfast for today.
When Coco spotted Crash and Megumi, she smirked. "Look who have woken up: Mr. and Mrs. Bandicoot."
"Coco!" Crash complained while blushing with embarrassment.
"Come on, Crash…" Isabella laughed. "Why so defensive? We all saw what you two were doing."
"Girls… stop" Megumi blushed with a frown as she and Crash grabbed their breakfast from some small boxes, and sat together with the others. "It was just a kiss, nothing more."
"Ohh, come on. We saw how he stuck his tongue at you" Liz crossed her arms with a mocking smile as the blush from her two friends grew more intense. "We obviously want details. Are you already in a relationship or something?"
Crash and Megumi put their embarrassment aside and looked at each other with a confused expression. It's true that yesterday's moment was quite loving between the two, but they never spoke about officially starting a relationship. However, Megumi remembered that Crash had asked her to go out with her today at the fair, so she had an idea.
"Something tells me they haven't talked about it…" Ami sighed.
"Well… the truth…" Crash tried to find an explanation, but nothing came to mind.
"We haven't" Megumi smiled and put her hand on Crash's shoulder, indicating that she would take over. "However, he asked me to go out to the fair together today. If things go well… we will obviously talk about it."
"I see" Aku Aku said. "And good idea Crash. I'm sure you guys will have a lot of fun at the fair."
"Yes… of course. Just for the fair" Liz said with a mischievous smile. "Hopefully, there are only kisses and don't go further."
"Liz!" Isabella scolded her friend. "Don't talk about those things in front of Coco!"
"Huh?" Coco reacted with confusion. "Isabella, I know exactly what sex is. I'm already older."
"Woah, woah! Are you already talking about that?!" Ami stopped them. "It's just their first date, for crying out loud!"
The girls soon started arguing with each other, but nothing could be understood as they were all talking at the same time. Only Crash, Megumi, Aku Aku and the pets were expectant about what was happening.
"I imagine this must be embarrassing for you two…" said an embarrassed Aku Aku to the other two bandicoots.
"Here between us… I'd rather they argue over nonsense than embarrass us with it" Crash smiled nervously, but then calmed down as he looked at Megumi. "I just want to go home quickly to rest and replenish my strength for tonight."
"We're on the same boat" Megumi said as she playfully touched the tip of Crash's nose, making him laugh.
Soon 8 at night arrived. The bandicoots had been back home since some hours ago and they were getting ready to go to the fair, but there were two of them who were quite nervous.
The fair wasn't only going to be one of the many outings that the Bandicoot family had scheduled with their guests, but it was also Crash and Megumi's first date, so they both wanted to be as presentable to impress each other with the help of their respective family and friends.
Crash was in his room looking at himself in the mirror, while Coco was sitting on his bed looking at him expectantly, having Aku Aku floating beside her doing the same. The bandicoot hero was wearing his normal clothes, but he also had a yellow T-shirt and his trademark biker jacket with a C on the back, as well as wearing a cologne his sister had given him a couple of months ago.
Coco could tell her brother had an uncertain look as he checked his breath with one hand. "Are you okay, big brother?" she smiled sympathetically.
"More or less…" Crash scratched his head nervously. "The last time I had a date was months ago. I don't know if I can do this…"
"Hey…" Coco walked over to her brother and put a hand on his back. "You'll do fine. Megumi loves you for who you are. If you act naturally, there will be no problem."
"I hope so…" Crash said with some uncertainty and frowned.
"Crash, listen" Aku Aku tried to reassure his adopted son. "I know your breakup with Tawna was very hard and you don't want to go through the same thing again, but as Isabella told you, nothing guarantees that the same thing will happen with Megumi. You have to be brave and face your fears if you want to be with her."
"Yeah, but…" Crash tried to think of an excuse, but was interrupted.
"Hey, don't back down now!" Coco spoke in a firm tone as she helped Crash adjust his jacket, but then she softened. "You have waited for this moment, and I am not going to let you throw it away because you have fear about something bad that I'm sure will never happen. Now… get ready, get out there, and give her all your love, okay?"
"Coco…" Crash complained about her sister's words while blushing with embarrassment.
"I'm kidding, big brother" Coco laughed. "You just go out there and do your best, okay?"
Crash smiled at the support of his family and his fears and shame dissipated. He also wondered if Megumi was as nervous as he was.
Meanwhile, in another room, Megumi had just taken a bath, so she was only wearing a bathrobe. However, the girls were also in the room, as she needed their advice.
After Megumi unsuccessfully checked what clothes to wear from her suitcases, Isabella showed her one of the bags of clothes she had brought from her first day in Wumpa City, which she had bought for the blue-haired bandicoot herself.
After seeing the clothes inside the bag, Megumi blushed a little. "They're pretty… Isabella" she said in an unsure tone. "But don't you think they show too much?"
"Like Liz's old clothes? I doubt that" the Italian bandicoot laughed.
"Hey…" the brunette bandicoot complained.
"You know that's true" Isabella reassured her brunette friend. "But yes, I think this outfit will suit for the occasion"
Megumi knew that Isabella was a connoisseur of good clothes, so she smiled in confidence. "Okay, I'll wear it. I just hope Crash likes it."
At the same time, Liz spotted a certain bottle of perfume on one of the dressers in the room, reaching a mysterious smile. "Well, in case he doesn't like it… we always have a Plan B" she said as she approached the bottle and showed it to the others.
"My Eau De 'Coot perfume?" Megumi asked. "Don't you think it will be too much?"
"Not at all" the brunette bandicoot smiled as she denied with her finger and handed the bottle to her friend. "If you want to be more attractive to Crash, I suppose you want to add an extra, right?"
"It's a time bomb, Liz" Ami warned. "You know that Crash loves Wumpa fruit more than any other food. What if he gets uncontrolled and gets too loving?"
Megumi blushed at the emphasis her green-haired friend made on those last words.
"If he does, you can obviously separate them, Ami" Isabella said. "But I don't think Crash will go any further without Megumi's consent. He's not like that."
"According to you, but I don't trust it" Ami crossed her arms with a look of mistrust, but got surprised to see her blue-haired friend looking tantalizingly at the perfume bottle. "Megumi? You're not thinking what I think you are thinking, are you?"
Megumi didn't reply, as she was deep in thought regarding the perfume. On the one hand, she didn't want to force things with Crash, but on the other hand, the curiosity to know how affectionate the bandicoot hero could be was invading her.
Also, she trusted Crash, and was sure that he wouldn't do anything to harm her, so she happily dabbed some of the perfume on her neck without hesitation.
"Oh, boy…" Isabella was surprised at her friend's action.
"As you wish…" Ami sighed in frustration. "But if something happens, don't say I didn't warn you all."
"You worry too much" Liz rolled her gaze at Ami's attitude, but then she looked at her blue-haired friend and winked at her. "And you Megumi… put on those clothes and have a good time. Your boy is waiting for you."
"Thank you, Liz" Megumi smiled with a slight blush on her face. "I'll do it."
After Crash finished organizing and dressing, he and Coco went along with Aku Aku to the main room to wait for the others.
"Girls, we're ready! We are waiting for you!" Coco called them.
"One minute!" Liz said from the room.
Taking advantage of the fact that the girls would take a moment, Coco decided to speak with her adoptive father. "Will you be fine by yourself here, Aku?" she asked.
"It's not the first time I've taken care of Polar and the others, Coco" Aku Aku smiled. "I may not have arms or legs, but my powers will be of great help. Do not worry."
"Besides, you know our little ones are always good" Crash said as he stroked Polar and Baby T.
"Okay" Coco smiled as she stroked Pura. She knew Crash was right, as all three pets are usually well behaved.
Soon, everyone's attention turned to the hallway where the rooms were, as they heard the footsteps of the girls approaching. When they reached the room, Crash was shocked to see Megumi.
The blue-haired bandicoot had put on a slightly cropped black blouse, with bare shoulders, short sleeves and a white star in the middle with a cute smiling face, under which there were letters that said KAWAII. She also wore white shorts, a brown belt, and matching colored heeled sandals. And lastly, she had put blue makeup on her lips and eyes.
Crash was speechless, a reaction that did not go unnoticed by Megumi, who blushed about it.
"Hi, Crash" she said shyly, also noting the bandicoot hero's clothes. "You look very handsome."
"And you're beautiful…" Crash said in a loving tone.
Both bandicoots looked at each other shyly for a few moments, until Isabella interrupted them. "Well… while the lovebirds look at each other with the eyes of a slaughtered lamb, the night is going to go away" she joked. "I guess we're ready now, so let's get going."
"Yes" Ami said, putting one of her hands on Crash's shoulder. "However, I'd like to speak with Crash alone first."
"Wait, what?" Crash asked with confusion as Ami led him to the hall of the rooms to avoid being overheard.
"Actually, me too, but with Megumi" Coco said, guiding the also confused blue-haired bandicoot out of the house.
Both Aku, Isabella, Liz and the pets were left confused by these actions, but decided to wait patiently, since they assumed that perhaps Coco and Ami had a reason for it.
After Coco and Megumi left the house, and Ami went with Crash to the hall of the rooms, both groups began their respective talks.
"Well… Megumi" Coco said with a smile, "your first date with Crash, huh?" You must be anxious.
"A little nervous, but it will be worth it" Megumi smiled with a slight blush on her face.
"I guess you two will have a lot of fun" Ami smiled. "Knowing you two, you will be the ones who get the most out of this trip to the fair."
"That's why I chose this" Crash raised a thumb up. "Megumi is a cheerful girl who likes to have fun with her friends, so this was a good idea for sure."
"I'm glad to hear that" Ami said.
"I would like nothing more than to see you two together" Coco winked at her friend.
"Thank you, Coco" Megumi was happy to hear the words of the little bandicoot. "I would like nothing more than that."
"However… I want to give you some advice" Coco said, taking on a serious tone.
"Advice?" Crash asked, confused at the change in attitude from the green-haired bandicoot. "About what?"
"You see, Crash…" Ami approached the bandicoot hero with a calm that was a bit intimidating, despite not radiating any emotion. "It's about Megumi."
"You know that Crash is very important to me, right Megumi?" Coco said. "And that's why I don't want anything bad to happen to him."
"And that also implies her feelings" Ami said. "I hate seeing her sad or getting hurt. In fact, on a few occasions, I had to intimidate Cortex to not treat her so badly."
"So listen to my warning" Coco gave Megumi an intimidating look. "If you want to be with him, that's fine with me."
"But I'll be watching you two" Ami said in a threatening tone. "Because if you break her heart…"
"...you'll have to deal with me" both Coco and Ami said in a threatening tone to their respective possible victims. "Understood?"
"U-understood…!" Crash and Megumi said immediately because of fear.
Meanwhile in the room, Aku Aku was talking to the other two girls as they waited for Crash and the others.
"How close is the fair from here?" Liz asked.
"Like half a distance from the city" Aku Aku replied. "Ten minutes from here, on a beach pier"
"A pier a bit far from the city?" Isabella raised an eyebrow in doubt. "That makes no sense."
"It was a project of the rich families of the island" the mask said. "The city's beach could sometimes be too crowded, so they put another one, closer to nature to give a more pleasant touch.
After Aku Aku finished explaining, the four bandicoots who had spoken privately re-entered the main room. Both the talking mask, Isabella and Liz noticed that Coco and Ami were calm, but Crash and Megumi were a bit nervous.
"Anyway… we're ready" Ami smiled calmly. "We'd better get going before it gets too late."
"I agree" Coco said. "Anyway, Aku, you know what to do. Let's go, girls."
"Umm… okay?" said Isabella, surprised by the attitude of the four bandicoots previously mentioned.
"Take care, guys" Aku Aku said with a kind smile as the bandicoots left the house. "Don't forget to put the headlights on the karts."
As everyone was leaving, Crash bumped into Megumi at the entrance. They both looked at each other for a few moments and laughed with an uncomfortable expression, since the threats from Coco and Ami had intimidated them a bit.
"A-after you… Heh… heh, heh" Crash smiled nervously and gave Megumi space so she could go out first.
"Thank you…" she also smiled nervously and left quickly, followed by the bandicoot hero from behind, who closed the door.
Aku Aku knew immediately what happened and sighed. "They should have been a bit more tactful with their talks" he rolled his eyes.
After successfully placing the headlights on the karts, all the bandicoots were traveling through the jungle to get to the fair. However, not all of them were in their corresponding kart, since Crash and Megumi left theirs at home to go together in the Crikey and be able to chat.
"Woah…" Crash exclaimed in surprise as he drove. "So, Coco gave you the same talk that Ami gave me?"
"It seems so" Megumi laughed shyly. "It's understandable, because they care about us, but I don't see why so much scaremongering" she shrugged. "I mean… you and I know each other very well, we like to spend time together and now we are going to have a formal date to see if we can make an official relationship."
Crash blushed upon hearing that last part, but decided to act naturally.
"But hey…" Megumi looked at the bandicoot hero with a reassuring smile. "You know you have full confidence with me, Crash. If you feel pressured, remember that we can have a good time without being romantic."
"I know" Crash smiled at his friend's support. "Why do you think I started having feelings for you? Not only because I can have a good time with you, but because of the constant support you have given me, in addition that I can be myself with you."
"Aww… thanks Crash" Megumi caressed her friend's cheek a sign of affection. "I hope we have a good time at the fair."
"Well, get ready, partner" Crash smiled confidently as he pointed out what looked like a kind of trail of light behind some trees, as well as some colorful light bulbs that were becoming more and more visible. "We are getting closer."
After a minute passing a few trees, the bandicoots finally arrived at the fair.
After leaving their karts in a parking lot, the bandicoots were surprised to see the surroundings when they reached the entrance: From game booths, candy and fast food stores, to amusement rides such as a roller coaster, a Ferris wheel, a carousel, a track of bumper cars, a pirate ship in the shape of a pendulum… among many others. And the most remarkable thing is that each amusement ride referred to the adventures that Crash has had throughout his life.
When Coco turned to see Crash and Megumi, she couldn't help but laugh when she saw that they both had eyes with huge pupils, as if they were two children at Christmas looking at the perfect toy. But soon the faces of the two bandicoots returned to normal and they looked at each other with wide smiles full of emotion.
"The best… night… OF ALL!" both Crash and Megumi said in unison and ran off to see which amusement ride they were getting on first.
"Hey! Where are you two going?!" Coco tried to get their attention, but they couldn't hear her because of all the noise on the fair.
"Come on Coco, calm down" Isabella smiled as she rested her hand on her friend's shoulder. "Let them have fun. After all, they will need more privacy for their date."
"True" Liz said as she looked at some amusement ride or minigame that was of her interest, and she could notice one that consisted of hitting a button with a hammer. "Ami, that one with the hammer might interest you."
"Actually, yes" Ami rubbed her chin with a finger. "I think we could split into two groups. I'll go with Liz, okay?"
"Great idea! On that way, I can spend more time with Coco" Isabella exclaimed happily and looked at the little blonde bandicoot.
"Well, it's done then" Coco smiled. "When I have to go home, I'll look up for you 15 minutes early before leaving, okay?"
"Alright" Ami nodded. "Let's separate."
While Coco and Isabella left for the pirate ship, Ami and Liz went to the hammer game.
As for Crash and Megumi, they decided to get on the roller coaster first, as they had a lot of adrenaline built up, and they wanted to let it out.
Interestingly, the roller coaster was called Rings of Power and had Crash's blue biplane painted on the attraction's sign, in addition to having what appeared to be huge neon green rings installed on the stage.
Crash and Megumi sat together in the front carriage while the other people filled the rest.
"Nervous?" Crash asked.
"Not at all" Megumi laughed. "It's not the first time I get on one of these amusement rides."
"Well, let's see how it goes" Crash smiled confidently as the safety bars adjusted automatically. "I heard it reaches a speed of 200 kilometers per hour."
"Well… it should not be a problem for someone who has been in a biplane of the same speed, am I right?" Megumi laughed.
The talk between the two ended when the wagons began to move. They first traveled over a straight slope that led to a peak of about 120 meters where the first ring was located, at the beginning of the descent.
When they reached the top, both Crash and Megumi tightly held hands while grinning widely at what was coming.
After passing the first ring, and with the shouts of excitement from the bandicoots and the other occupants, the wagons began to dive down the huge slope, gaining the speed that Crash had said, but it didn't end there. Spirals, twists and turns, one after another, even sometimes upside down, the two bandicoots quickly traversed the path, which had more rings, in which they had placed magnetic accelerators so that the wagons kept going fast.
Crash and Megumi didn't stop holding each other's hands, as they screamed in excitement and raised the other hands that were still free. They were enjoying the moment, but what motivated them the most was that they could do it in each other's company.
After going through the last ring, they felt the cars begin to slow down as they reached the station.
Both bandicoots had funny euphoric faces and their eyes were almost blank as they stopped and got off the carriages, shaking a bit from the release of adrenaline.
"W-woah…" Crash said in a shaky but cheerful voice.
"I know…" Megumi said, who began to smile widely until she screamed. "IT HAS BEEN THE BEST ROLLER COASTER I HAVE CLIMBED IN ALL MY LIFE!"
Crash was surprised to see that his friend was still hungry for more fun. He knew this night wouldn't be boring at all.
"Well, I hope you still have energy, because we have just started!" Crash said happily as he grabbed Megumi by her hand and led her to visit more amusement rides.
And Crash was right, as they rode every amusement ride they could. From the bumper cart track called Hog Ride, painted like the karts used by lab assistants at that time, and the pendulum-shaped pirate ship called Ski Crazed, with an appearance similar to the ships that gave problems to Coco with her jet ski at the time.
However, not all were amusement rides, since they also enjoyed their time in the game booths, especially one that consisted of dunking a basketball in a basket, from which Crash managed to win a white teddy bear that gave to Megumi, who kissed the hero for the cute gesture, leaving a few marks of her blue lipstick on his face.
After feeling that both were exhausted, the two decided to relax for a moment riding on the Ferris wheel, called Rock It, whose capsules were shaped like an asteroid, but with a viewpoint so that its occupants could look outside. The capsule they were both in was moving slowly along with the others, and Crash was calm enjoying the little moment of peace, while Megumi was by his side watching the fair happily from the little gazebo with the teddy bear in hand.
"Woah…" Megumi exclaimed in surprise and turned to look at her companion. "To be honest Crash, I never expected the island to have so many things. I thought it would be a quiet island, if somewhat boring."
"Well… that's how it was, even N. Sanity Island, where I used to live" Crash smiled as he shrugged. "But of course, everyone knew that Wumpa Island was my current home, so that attracted a lot of tourists."
"Well, you're practically a celebrity since you defeated Nitros Oxide" Megumi giggled as she approached the bandicoot hero and leaned her head on his shoulder, making him blush. "In addition, this island has its charm with all the landscapes and places that we have seen."
"You're right…" Crash said. "And if you think about it, thanks to all these things, there are more people to meet. Making new friends feels great."
"Yes…" said Megumi, whose smile narrowed a little. "That way sometimes you don't feel so… mmh…" she hesitated to finish her sentence, but not wanting to ruin the date with her own problems, she decided not to say anything else.
However, Crash noticed that Megumi had a somewhat sad look, so he immediately guessed what she was referring to.
"Don't you feel so… alone?" Crash asked.
"Well… yeah" Megumi admitted. "Don't get me wrong, I like that Ami and I live in the same city, as she is a friend to have a good time with, almost like a sister, but when I was younger and evolved animals were considered abominations… I felt quite lonely. I couldn't get close to anyone, because they always thought I was going to eat them or whatever other nonsense they came up with. Some even laughed at my condition of being different, but… that hurt a lot."
Crash frowned, feeling empathy for his friend. He knew what it was like to feel lonely, especially when he was held captive in a cell in Cortex Castle after being created, or when Tawna broke up with him. However, he couldn't even imagine what it was like to feel that experience for several years, as in the case of Megumi, and possibly Isabella and the others.
Wanting to cheer Megumi up, Crash gave her a tender kiss on the head and whispered in a soothing tone. "I promise you that with us, you will never feel alone again, neither you… nor the others. We are a family."
Megumi was surprised by those words and looked at Crash, who was giving her a reassuring smile.
"Thanks Crash" Megumi smiled as she blushed, and decided to lean her head back onto the bandicoot hero's shoulder, closing her eyes as she let herself be carried away by the moment. "I'm glad to have met you."
"So do I…" Crash replied as he wrapped his arm around Megumi's waist and snuggled up next to her, letting the Ferris wheel do its job until they had to get off the amusement ride.
While Crash and Megumi shared some intimacy, there was a group of three anthropomorphic animals who were also enjoying the fair, and they had not conveniently crossed paths with the pair yet. Two of the individuals were Hasty and Pasadena, but the other was a black-haired panda, with the same height as Coco and wearing green and red Asian clothing. Her name was Yaya Panda, and she had managed to join the Nitro Squad thanks to passing all the tests imposed by Tawna.
The little panda was eager to get on another amusement ride and was jumping in excitement around her two new friends.
"Which one are we going to now guys?!" Yaya asked cheerfully. "The roller coaster, the pirate ship, to a playhouse…?!"
"Calm down, sugarcube" Pasadena laughed at the panda's hyperactivity. "The night is too long, so we have no hurry."
"Yes… let's stop for a while, please" Hasty smiled nervously. He was beginning to feel drained.
"Too much for the best aviator in the world?" Pasadena scoffed. "I thought you liked strong emotions."
"Only when I'm in control…" Hasty frowned.
"Whatever you say, bud…" Pasadena rolled her gaze while smiling, but after entering the area of the game booths, he observed what seemed like a conflict between the shopkeeper of one of them and two blonde bandicoots.
"What do you mean I didn't hit him?!" Coco asked angrily.
"Sorry, girl." The shopkeeper, a brown-haired twenty years old man, was unfazed by the little bandicoot's complaints. "If you didn't knock down all three bottles, you failed."
"I saw clearly how I hit them right in the middle!" Coco complained. "Are you trying to rip me off, or are those bottles stuck together?!"
"Get over it, girl" The shopkeeper smiled cynically. "Better luck next time."
"Hey…" Isabella was upset by the treatment her friend was receiving. "My friend is smarter than you think, and if she says this game is rigged, then it's true, so you better confess if you don't want me to make a fuss."
"Oh, how scary…" the shopkeeper said sarcastically. "Hey grandma, some of us are working, so if you're not going to pay for a shot, move on."
"Grandma…?! You motherf-…!" Isabella prepared to slap the shopkeeper, but was stopped by Coco, and someone else intervened.
"One shot, please" said Yaya, who had interposed a bill between Isabella and the shopkeeper.
The human pretended to genuinely smile, seeing her as another possible victim of his scam. "As you wish, girl" he received the bill and handed the panda a ball. "Here you have."
After the panda received the ball, she got into position as she began to stretch and warm her arms, staring at the bottles arranged in a pyramid shape.
"Fool…" the shopkeeper thought as he smiled maliciously. "This is easy money."
However, to the surprise of everyone present, the panda threw the ball with such force that it not only knocked over the bottles, but also broke them into pieces, some of them falling close to the feet of Pasadena, who decided to pick the objects up.
"Woah…!" Coco exclaimed with surprise.
"W-what?!" The shopkeeper was dumbfounded. His cheating method had been destroyed.
"Well, well. I won" Yaya smiled proudly and pointed to a green jelly-shaped teddy with a cute face. "I think I'll take that award."
The shopkeeper remained still with a surprised expression for a few seconds, but then reacted and reluctantly agreed.
"Hey, this has glue!" Pasadena said after checking the remains of the bottles. "This game was rigged."
After the possum racer's statement, they all shot an intimidating look at the shopkeeper, who gulped in fear.
"I suppose someone owes me an award." Coco smirked.
"None of that…" The shopkeeper refused, but then the panda grabbed him tightly by his shirt and pulled him in to look into his eyes with a threatening expression.
"Listen to me… you phony" Yaya spoke in a low but intimidating tone. "You better stop scamming more people and give that girl what she deserves if you don't want to go home to your mommy with a smashed face."
"Not to mention we can go to your boss and report you with the evidence we have" Hasty warned. "I don't think he'll like to know that his own employees are giving his own fair a bad image, right pal?"
The shopkeeper, due to fear and resignation about the proofs, especially Yaya's intimidating look, had no choice but to accept.
A few minutes later, the group of the five evolved animals were chatting happily after the swindling shopkeeper gave them the prizes that correspond to them. Unlike Yaya, who chose a green jelly with a smiling face, Coco chose a white unicorn with purple mane and horn.
"Thanks for uncovering that swindler" Coco said happily as she hugged the stuffed animal. "I love my award."
"No need" Yaya raised her thumb up. "You seem like a nice girl, and I couldn't let that asshole have his way."
"I see you also feel the need to help others" The little bandicoot offered her hand to greet the panda. "My name is Coco Bandicoot."
"Wait… Are you Coco?!" the panda was surprised until he jumped for joy and gave her new friend a shake of hands. "Oh, my God! I'm a big fan of you and your brother! My name is Yaya Panda!"
Coco was surprised by Yaya's greeting, but she could see that the panda girl had no malice, so she smiled. "The pleasure is mine" she laughed.
"I see you two have liked each other" Isabella laughed and looked at the possum and the moose. "Your friend is a sweetie, guys."
"Well, to be honest, we've just met recently" Pasadena replied with a chuckle. "By the way… your face looks familiar."
"My name is Isabella" the Italian bandicoot began to speak proudly. "Perhaps you know me from television or the team known as the Nitro Squad, considering that you probably already know my former leader."
"It's true!" Passadena remembered who Isabella was and smiled. "You're one of the original five racers of the Nitro Squad! Nice to meet you, my name is Pasadena O'Possum, and this big-nosed guy here is Hasty."
"Big-nosed? Look who's talking…" Hasty rolled his eyes, provoking a giggle from the possum.
"And as you can see, we get along pretty well" Pasadena teased. "And speakin' of the Nitro Squad, we're on it now along with Yaya, but I still don't understand why you and three other girls quit."
"Two words: Pinstripe Potoroo" Isabella answered with discomfort. "That guy has a very bad reputation after all the things he has done, so we didn't want to have anything to do with him."
"I know him…" Hasty said, trying to contain her anger. "He treated me in an egocentric way. I honestly don't know what Miss Tawna saw in that jerk."
"Money, it's the only thing those two are thinking…" Coco grumbled.
"Coco…" Isabella scolded her in a low tone, but then looked back at the others. "Excuse my friend. Her brother and Tawna had a problem. In fact, that reason also influenced our resignation, since her brother is a very dear friend of ours."
"Don't worry…" Pasadena said in an understanding tone, but then became curious. "And speaking of which, Coco's brother is Crash Bandicoot, right?"
"Yes, why do you ask?" Coco raised an eyebrow.
"Uh-oh…" Isabella soon remembered that Pasadena tried to flirt with Crash yesterday.
"You see…" Pasadena blushed and put her hands on her own cheeks while daydreaming. "It's that I would like to meet him. And I know that I sound very darin', but I have liked him a lot since I knew who he was and what he do. Then I was wondering if you, who are his sister, could you introduce me more fully to him. Please…" she said shyly.
Coco and Isabella looked at each other with an awkward silence. They could see that Pasadena was really interested to meet Crash, but she didn't know that he was on a date with Megumi right now.
"Umm… Pasadena, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but Crash…" Coco tried to warn the possum of the situation, but was interrupted.
"Ohhh, there he is!" Pasadena said, pointing at what appeared to be a back-turned bandicoot, the same size as Crash, but wearing a cowboy costume. "I'm gonna say hello."
When Coco and Isabella looked at said bandicoot, even though his back was turned, they could tell he wasn't Crash, since he had not come in a cowboy costume, and more importantly, his ears were not that big.
"Oh, boy…" Coco said in a low voice, remembering who was the only bandicoot similar to her brother, but with bigger ears.
"Hi Crash!" Passadena greeted the unknown bandicoot, and looked shyly away while blushing. "I don't know if you remember me, but we met yesterday, and I was wonderin' if you accepted my offer to take me around town. I would love it…"
To the possum's disappointment, when she looked back at the bandicoot, he turned around, revealing his big eyebrows and teeth. It was Fake Crash, who looked confused at a dumbfounded Pasadena, but after seeing how attractive she was, he started giggling at being flattered.
Coco and Isabella winced at the embarrassing situation, but Hasty and Yaya laughed loudly, earning an angry face from Pasadena.
However, the opossum put her rage aside when Fake Crash approached her and shot her a seductive look, as well as emphasizing with her eyebrows.
"Uhh… heh heh…" Pasadena laughed nervously as she tried to get out of the situation. "I-I'm sorry boy. I thought you were another person. It wasn't my intention."
"Huh?" Fake Crash was confused by the girl's change of attitude.
Fortunately for Pasadena, just at that precise moment, Hasty's phone rang. The moose was surprised to see that the call came from Von Clutch himself, so he grabbed the embarrassed racer by her shoulder so they could speak to their boss alone.
"Please excuse us, Yaya, ladies and… stranger" Hasty said. "This call is important. See you on another occasion."
"Uhh, bye… I guess" Yaya raised an eyebrow as she watched as her two teammates hurried to the exit of the fair. "What are they up to?"
"I have no idea" Isabella said. "But if you want, you can join us."
"Really?! Great!" Yaya yelled enthusiastically. "And please, tell me more about the team I'm on! How was the Nitro Squad formed?!"
"With pleasure" Isabella smiled as she started walking with the two girls. "Well, it all started when Tawna, your current leader…"
As the two blonde bandicoots and the panda girl left the place, Fake Crash continued to remain with an open mouth at what had just happened. He was also surprised that the possum called him Crash, but then his moose friend treated him like a stranger.
"Stranger?!" Fake Crash thought to himself. "But… I'm Crash! Even that girl called me by my name! Everybody knows me!"
"Hey, it's Crash!" Said some children approaching to Fake Crash from behind. "Let's ask him for an autograph!"
Fake Crash was flattered that those kids wanted an autograph from him, so he turned to look at them… only to get the same result as with Pasadena.
"Uhh, guys?" said one of the kids. "I think Crash has gotten a little careless."
"Is not him. Let's go" said a girl with an embarrassed smile. "Sorry sir."
Fake Crash was confused again, but his suspicions were resolved by listening to one of the children:
"Have you forgotten who he is? It is similar to the original Crash, but with some larger facial body parts. He's Fake Crash."
That penultimate word mentioned by the boy rumbled like an echo in the head of Fake Crash, whose jaw literally dropped to the ground. Surprisingly, it was the first time he had heard that nickname.
"F-FAKE?!" He thought to himself, still unable to believe it. "So… who's the bastard who calls himself the real one?!"
The bandicoot with the huge eyebrows, ears and teeth heard happy laughter near him and looked around, coming to notice Crash walking happily with Megumi as they ate some ice cream cones. Fake Crash didn't take long to realize that this other bandicoot similar to him was the cause of everything, since he's also called "Crash", although he never gave it importance, until now.
Fake Crash glared at his original self and kicked a trash can, only to end up hurting his foot and jumping a few times in pain. After holding his foot until the discomfort disappeared, he looked back at the pair of bandicoots until he noticed Megumi.
Fake Crash got impressed by the beauty of the blue-haired bandicoot. Her tender smile, her slim body and her purple eyes was something that captured Fake Crash's interest in detail, even going so far as to blush and giggle as he looked at her.
While Crash and Megumi were chatting, Fake Crash wondered what a cute girl as her was doing dating an "impostor" of him, so he began to follow them stealthily, passing between bushes and shops to avoid being seen and being able to hear them, in addition to trying to find the perfect occasion to confront the one who supposedly calls himself "the original Crash".
"So you don't remember anything about your other life before being evolved by Cortex?" Megumi asked.
"Nothing at all" Crash shrugged. "The last thing I remember was waking up on a gurney inside his lab and then he started testing on me with boxes before I ran away. In fact, I didn't even know that I had a sister, until Coco also escaped the castle on her own and reunited with me and Tawna."
"I see" Megumi said in surprise. "So you were created at an older age than us."
Crash soon stopped for a moment and remembered an important detail: He didn't know who had created the girls.
"Now that you mention that, I have a little doubt, Megumi" Crash rubbed his chin in confusion. "I know you grew up in Tokyo, but I don't know what your creation was like. Can I know? Only if you want to tell me, of course."
Fake Crash managed to hear the part where it was mentioned that Megumi was from Tokyo, a place where he was even more popular than his "original self", as well as remembering that he had a breakup with his last girlfriend, Tawna.
All these details, plus the sudden interest in the blue-haired bandicoot, made Fake Crash grin maliciously and have an idea: If he could defeat Crash in a duel and make Megumi stay with him instead, everyone would believe that he was the real Crash, because according to him, only the real one had a girlfriend.
"No problem, Crash. I'll gladly tell you." Megumi smiled gently. "According to what the caretaker of the orphanage where I grew up told me, I was created together with Ami and the others in a laboratory, just like you, Tawna and Coco, but we were evolved when we were just babies."
"Just babies?! Crash asked in surprise. "But then how did you end up in the homes where you grew up?"
"There were infiltrators among the collaborators of our creator, and they were against animal experiments, so they rescued us and sent us to different parts of the world, because at that time, as I already told you, we were considered abominations, and even they could do experiments with us. According to the information they told our caretakers, our creator's name was… Amberley or something like that."
"Woah…" Crash couldn't believe what he had just heard and kept walking, not seeing that another bandicoot was going to block his path. "And I thought that Cortex was the one who started the animal experiment thing. I mean, I know that he, Brio and the others are not the only scientists in the world, but…"
Before Crash continued, he sensed that someone had blocked his path, and both he and Megumi were shocked when they saw that it was Fake Crash, who had a defiant look.
"Uh… hello?" Crash greeted him strangely.
"You and I have to settle this, impostor" said Fake Crash with some trouble speaking, due to his huge teeth. Almost pronouncing an s like an f.
"What the…?!" Crash exclaimed with surprise.
"He can talk?!" Megumi asked.
"I was always able to talk" Fake Crash crossed his arms, "I just never felt like… until now, due to circumstances."
"Circumstances?" Crash raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm sick of people saying I'm an impostor of yours, and I think it's time to settle this" said Fake Crash as he took off one of his gloves and slapped Crash with it.
"Hey!" Crash complained about the action and walked away from Fake Crash. "Why did you do that?!"
"Uhh, Crash…" Megumi widened her eyes, as she knew right away what that slap meant. "I think he challenged you to a duel."
"A duel?"
"Exactly" Fake Crash said as he took out a yoyo from one of her pockets. "And it will be a duel of yoyos. I understand that only the real Crash can play it perfectly, so prove yourself with a bet."
"What kind of bet, other me?" Crash asked, unsure what his opponent intended.
"If you win, I'll immediately recognize you as the real Crash" Fake Crash soon spotted Megumi, and smirked. "But if I win… your girl will go out with me."
"What?!" Crash was angered by what Fake Crash demanded. "No! Keep dreaming, pal! I'm not betting Megumi! She's not an object!"
"What's the matter? Scared?" Fake Crash said in a mocking tone and began to imitate a chicken, making fun of Crash.
Megumi soon noticed Crash's annoyance on his face and felt sorry for him. She was proud that he respected her, but she didn't like seeing him in a bad mood after what happened with Tawna, especially now that they wanted to start a relationship together. Also, she suspected that if they just left, Fake Crash would be behind bothering them all the time. However, Megumi's face lit up with an idea, remembering the exact words of Fake Crash bet.
"We accept the bet" she said smilingly.
"What?!" both Crash reacted at the same time.
"I said we accept the bet" Megumi repeated. "But first, let me go get some audience. I'm sure this make things more interesting."
"Megumi, what are you…? Crash tried to protest, but the blue-haired bandicoot put a finger to his mouth to shut him up and leaned closer to whisper on his ear.
"Don't worry, I have a plan" Megumi said in a low voice. "Even if you lose, I know a method to get out of the bet and that our date is not harmed."
"But how?" Crash whispered.
"You'll know, unless you win and everything is as if nothing had happened" Megumi winked at him. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing."
"What are you two talking about?" Fake Crash asked with slight suspicion.
"N-nothing…" Megumi responded quickly with fright. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
After the blue-haired bandicoot left, Fake Crash kept wondering what they were talking about, but decided to downplay it, as he remembered that she had accepted the bet, which filled him with some pride.
"Well, well" Fake Crash said in a mocking tone and pointed to himself. "It seems your future ex-girlfriend wants some of this exotic Japanese dish."
"Excuse me?" Crash looked at him confused.
"Ohh, come on" Fake Crash kept boasting. "It's obvious that she and I are made for each other. She is Japanese and an idiot, just like me, plus I'm more popular than you there."
"She's not an idiot! She's smarter than you think!" Crash said in an annoyed tone. "Also, yesterday she confessed to me that she is in love with me, just like I am with her."
"Don't be ridiculous" Fake Crash scoffed. "She's in love with the real Crash. In other words, me. Or why do you think she accepted the bet?"
Crash tried to think of a suitable response, but nothing came to mind, not to mention he didn't want to say that Megumi had a plan in case they lost.
"See?" Fake Crash shrugged mockingly and walked away while they waited for Megumi. "You are not worthy of being the real Crash. Maybe that's why your old girlfriend left you."
Crash was upset by that last comment, but decided to ignore it. He didn't want his date with Megumi to end in violence, plus it wasn't worth getting his hands dirty from a past relationship. After waiting almost five minutes, both Crash spotted Megumi approaching along with Coco and the other girls, as well as a panda girl Crash had never seen before.
"Hey, big brother!" Coco said as she approached Crash along with the others. "Megumi explained to us what was happening and we came to give you support."
Fake Crash was surprised to see Coco and the other girls, but soon saw it as another opportunity to show off.
"Are you Crash Bandicoot?!" the panda asked with eyes full of amazement. "Oh, my God! I'm Yaya Panda, a big fan of yours! I heard you kicked the ass of that alien named Oxide!"
"Uhh… thanks, I guess" Crash laughed nervously at the panda's hyperactive attitude.
"Hey!" Fake Crash got upset and caught the attention of the others. "I am Crash Bandicoot, not him, and I'm gonna prove it!
"So… it's true!" Isabella was surprised along with the others. "He can speak!"
"Ami, did you know that?" Liz asked.
"No, he always babbled like our Crash usually did previously!" Ami said, surprised. "Not to mention that his signs were confusing…"
"Well, now I will be your Crash" Fake Crash said with pride.
Crash could tell that his "other self" was determined to continue when he watched him do a few laps with the yo-yo as a warm-up. Normally, he wouldn't mind losing, since he only participates in competitions for fun, but now his relationship with Megumi was on the line, which filled him with some fear, something that didn't go unnoticed by her.
"Hey… Crash" Megumi said in a sweet tone and leaned down to caress Crash's face and whisper so Fake Crash wouldn't hear her. "You'll do fine. I trust you. And if you lose, don't worry. Remember I have a plan."
To show him that everything would work out in the end, whatever the result, Megumi gave Crash a tender kiss on the cheek, which even annoyed Fake Crash.
Crash was in a trance in love for a few moments, but then he acquired a determined and defiant attitude, getting to take out his yoyo as well. "I'll have no mercy, so be prepared" he smiled confidently.
"Enjoy that last kiss while you can" Fake Crash said, slightly annoyed. "The next ones will be all mine."
"Less talk and more action!" Coco said in a firm tone as she stood between the two rivals. "I will be the referee. I guess you both know the different tricks with the yoyo, don't you? Well, the rules are simple. Whoever can do all the tricks that I indicate perfectly, wins. A single failure will mean defeat. Was I clear?"
"Sounds good for me" Crash said.
"Same here" Fake Crash said.
"Well then" Coco said. "Take your positions."
While both Crash were engaged in a duel of yoyos, Pasadena and Hasty were in the parking lot of the fair talking with Von Clutch via video call.
"Are you sure, V. C.?" Pasadena asked.
"Ja. Zat's what ze detectives I hired told me" the cyborg replied from the phone. "Pinstripe has not only bribed ze Nitro Squad investors to withdraw zeir support, but he zreatened to send zem to sleep with the fishes if zey didn't do what he said."
"Aside from corruption, extortion…" Hasty sighed. "But it is very strange. Pinstripe doesn't have that much money, not even his former boss Cortex, who knows how to fend for himself in terms of his machinery of world domination."
"Zat's where I'm coming, Hasty" Von Clutch said. "Apparently, based on the information we've gazered, Pinstripe has an accomplice with high riches."
"An accomplice?!" Pasadena asked in surprise. "But who?"
"I zink it would be better to discuss it elsewhere. Go to a more private place so we can talk quietly. Even ze fairs have ears."
"Very good, boss. I'll get back to you when we arrive. Over" Hasty said before hanging up the call.
"Wait, what about Yaya?" Pasadena asked.
"I'm writing to her" Hasty tapped the phone's screen for a moment before turning it off. "I told her you ate something bad, and I'm taking you home."
"Couldn't you tell her something less embarrassing?" Pasadena frowned.
"Well…" Hasty shrugged mockingly. "I didn't like how you made fun on my nose at all, so we're at peace."
Pasadena covered his face in annoyance, but decided to downplay it. They didn't want to leave their boss waiting, so they both got into their respective karts and left the place.
Back with the others, Yaya made a disgusted face when she looked at Hasty's message on her phone, but then she put it away to focus again on the yoyo duel, which was going fairly evenly.
Both Crash and Fake Crash performed perfectly the tricks that Coco indicated. From basic movements such as the sleeper, consisting of slowly raising and lowering the yo-yo, to advanced ones such as the atomic bomb, taking time to bend the rope in a triangle with the fingers.
"Alright" Coco said. "This is the last trick left. I want you to do a Mach 5."
Just when Crash heard that name, he gulped in fear. He knew the trick, but had not practiced it well.
"Come on, Crash! You can do it!" Isabella encouraged him.
"Yes, show that dentex who the real Crash is!" Liz said.
"Start!" Coco ordered.
Both opponents tried to perform the trick, consisting of turning the Yoyo string clockwise with the help of their fingers.
Fake Crash performed the trick perfectly, albeit with some difficulty, but even though Crash tried to repeat the move, the nerves of what would happen if he lost the bet, plus the fact he hadn't practiced much, made him confused and tangled his hands with the yoyo, resulting in defeat.
"No…" Crash said with resignation.
Everyone was shocked, except for Fake Crash, who started jumping for joy and doing his characteristic dance.
"Ohh yeah! I won!" Fake Crash bragged as he danced his peculiar dance. "Now I am the real Crash! They said it was impossible!"
"I can't believe I lost…" Crash said as he lowered his head with a defeated expression, but then he felt Megumi touch his back and looked at her.
"Don't worry… I have everything figured out" Megumi said in a comforting tone. "Wait for me in that chair. I will be back soon."
"Hey, babe!" Fake Crash flirtatiously caught Megumi's attention. "Leave that loser and come with me. Remember that was part of the deal."
"One minute…" Megumi said, trying to hide her discomfort, but before she left, she whispered something to Crash's ear. "I'll be back in… 5 minutes."
Crash looked strangely at Megumi as she walked away. He didn't know what the blue-haired bandicoot had in mind, but that didn't help keep him from feeling uncomfortable, as he then watched as she left with Fake Crash.
As both bandicoots walked away, Fake Crash turned to sneer at Crash as he wrapped his right arm around Megumi and used his left hand to spray his mouth with a mint sprite, indicating that he planned to kiss her.
Crash couldn't help but feel his stomach turn at the sight of that humiliation, so he sat on the chair indicated by Megumi while trying to calm down.
The other girls noticed Crash's mood, and approached him to try to cheer him up.
"Crash, hey…" Coco said in a soft tone as she sat next to him and stroked his back. "Don't worry. Megumi told us that she had a plan. She will be back in a few minutes."
"But how?" Crash said still with some doubt. "She haven't even told me what she have planned."
"Let me give you a hint" Liz smiled at the bandicoot hero. "Have you seen where exactly those two go?"
Crash looked back at where Megumi was heading with Fake Crash, and noticed that she was directing him to the exit of the fair.
"And here's another clue" Isabella said. "That other Crash said that Megumi would have to go out with him, BUT… he didn't say it would be on a date precisely."
Crash tried to process every detail of the information that his friends had given him, but unfortunately, overthinking was not his strong suit. "I don't get it" he scratched his head in embarrassment.
"You're right in what you say: he's a bit slow to pick up clues" Yaya whispered to Coco, making her laugh.
"Guys, we better let Megumi explain to Crash when she gets back in a couple of minutes, okay?" Ami said.
They all nodded and gave Crash a confident smile, leaving him even more confused.
"See you later, but I promise you everything will be fine" Coco said as she got up to leave her brother alone. "Megumi loves you, so trust her, like she does with you."
And with a last thumbs up to her brother, Coco headed back to the amusement rides with the other girls.
"I just hope I'm not wrong, or I'll never forgive Megumi… or myself…" Coco thought with some concern.
"Hey, Coco. What is this all about?" Yaya asked, confused.
"The less you know, the better" Coco smiled nervously, not wanting to talk about her brother's private life.
Meanwhile, Megumi was walking along with Fake Crash to where she planned to go.
In an attempt to impress the Japanese scientist, the bandicoot similar to the hero combed his hair with his hand and checked his breath while giving a seductive look at his companion. Fake Crash didn't think twice and pursed his lips, albeit with some difficulty due to his huge teeth, waiting for Megumi to kiss him. But suddenly, she stopped.
"Well, here we are!" Megumi said in an introductory tone, causing Fake Crash to open his eyes and noticing that they were out of the fair.
"Huh…?" Fake Crash said with a confused face.
"Well, I had fun, but I have to go back with my date. See you later!" Megumi gave Fake Crash a friendly pat on the back and went back into the fair.
"Hey!" Fake Crash caught her attention, as if he wanted an explanation. "Where are you going?!"
"What's the matter? A deal is a deal." Megumi smiled, feigning innocence. "The bet was that if you beat Crash, I would go out with you. And well, I just went out with you from the fair. I have paid my debt."
It didn't take long for Fake Crash to learn that Megumi tricked him with a legal gap, causing him to look at her with an annoyed expression.
"You tricked me…" he said in an accusing tone.
"You should have thought the bet in clearer terms" Megumi shrugged.
"You're being unfair" Fake Crash complained. "Even if I'm ugly, I'm not that bad. Why do you famous people have to be so superficial?"
"Hey…" Megumi was annoyed by that last comment, but she avoided losing her composure. "Be careful with what you say. I don't care about physical beauty; I'm not superficial, but that doesn't mean I have to be a conformist."
"What do you mean by that?!" Fake Crash asked, feeling offended.
"I would explain it to you without problems, but my date is waiting for me" Megumi said. "And believe me, I plan to go further with him, so don't insist. I don't even know you well enough, and from what little I've just seen of you… you're not worth it."
As he saw the blue-haired bandicoot walking away, Fake Crash glared at her. At that moment, he thought of perhaps taking revenge on her for having rejected him. He could make her pay for the humiliation from a few moments ago. However, Fake Crash thought that was too much work, so he felt lazy and left the place.
"Ugh… women. Who understands them?" he thought.
Meanwhile, inside the fair, Crash was sitting playing with his fingers with an expression of uncertainty. He was afraid that his "other self" would try to outdo Megumi, or in the worst case scenario, in the end she decides to be with that other bandicoot, but soon his thoughts dissipated when he noticed said blue-haired bandicoot approaching with two cotton candies.
"Hello, stranger" she said with a tender smile. "I bought these two cottons, and I was wondering if you would like to join me. I can't eat all this by myself."
"Uhh, sure…" Crash replied with confusion, but considering that she kept her word, he decided to accept the cotton. "By the way, where is the other me? Didn't we have a deal with him for beating me?"
"It's done" Megumi winked her eye.
"But… it was only like five minutes" Crash said, confused. "Wasn't the deal that you would go on a date with him?"
"A date? Who talked about a date?" Megumi teased, feigning innocence. "The deal was that I had to go out with him. Well that's what I did. I went out from the fair with him."
Crash tried to understand what Megumi was saying, taking into account the emphasis she was putting on the term "going out", in addition to what Coco and the others said earlier. But after thinking about it for half a minute, the hero managed to understand and was surprised.
"Did you trick him?!" said Crash, who couldn't contain his laughter.
"I wouldn't call it tricking, but fulfilling the bet in another way" Megumi also laughed.
"Well, well" Crash smiled, intrigued by his friend's cunning. "You turned out to be a little rascal."
"Blame Liz. She was my example in this kind of situations" Megumi laughed along with the bandicoot hero, but she soon noticed that he was looking slightly at the ground, as if he felt guilty about something. "What's wrong, Crash?"
"No, no. It's nothing" Crash smiled shyly. "It's just… I feel ashamed."
"Why?" Megumi asked as she took a bite of her cotton candy.
"A part of me made me think you would prefer to go with him" Crash said. "I let myself be filled with misconceptions by what the other me said. He said he's more popular in your country, and you have a dumb personality like him, and that is why, according to him, you two make a perfect couple. Also, he kept saying that he's better Crash than me, to the point of saying that maybe that's why Tawna broke up with me."
"He said those things?!" Megumi asked, incredulous at what Crash had just said.
Crash didn't say anything, as he felt guilty and thought that perhaps Megumi would be angry with him for not trusting her, but then he felt her caressing his face.
"Crash… look at me" Megumi used her hand to direct Crash's face and make him look her to her eyes. "Do you want to know why I fell in love with you? Because you're not someone selfish, and as I said before, you are always willing to help others, even those who are not even your family and friends. You are someone who always does what is right without hesitation; a real charm of a person. And about that other Crash… as I see, he only thinks of himself. He has no empathy for anyone or has sense of justice, so I would have to be very stupid as he says, and a conformist to look for someone like him."
Crash could see that Megumi had a point, but saw that it did not end there.
"And about we having Japan in common… yes, it may be true, but… Is that it?" Megumi said as she made signs with her hands, without dropping her cotton candy, as if trying to make Crash visualize something. "Let's take a hypothetical example: There are Isabella and Pinstripe, two people with Italian roots. By the logic of Fake Crash, those two would make a good match just because they're both Italian, but let me ask you, Crash, do you think they would make a good match?"
Crash didn't need to think ten seconds to give his answer. "Of course not!" he laughed. "Isabella is a sweet girl and a great friend of mine, while that potoroo is an egocentric psychopath who would blow your head if you get in his way."
"Now you see?" Megumi smiled and touched her own nose a few times with her finger. "I may not be superficial, and I may be a bit clumsy sometimes… but I'm not stupid."
"I see that. If you were, you wouldn't be as slippery as you were earlier" Crash joked.
They both laughed at the bandicoot hero's joke. After the uncomfortable moments that they had to go through a while ago, it wasn't bad to laugh to vent healthily.
"I'm so sorry for the inconveniences" Crash said a little sadly. "The date didn't go as I planned."
"Don't worry" Megumi smiled gently and patted the bandicoot hero on the cheek. "The date has been… interesting, but I wouldn't change this night for anything while it's with you."
"Really?" Crash was encouraged by that comment.
"Yes" Megumi rested her hand on the hero's back. "Come on… whether we are in a relationship or just friends, being with you always makes me very happy, because I love you."
"I'm glad you said that" Crash smiled. "Because that means I can already ask you the big question."
"Big question?" Megumi asked with confusion.
"Megumi…" Crash used his still free hand to grab Megumi's and looked into her eyes as they both shared a slight blush on their faces. "Would you like to be my girlfriend?"
The scientist bandicoot smiled shyly at Crash's proposal, but didn't think twice and brought her face close to the hero's.
"Does this answer your question, Crash?" Megumi said in a sweet tone and closed her eyes as she pressed her lips against the bandicoot hero's mouth, confirming that she accepted.
Crash was surprised by the kiss, but it felt so good that he slowly closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around his now-girlfriend, as they both got carried away by their first official moment as a couple.
It was already 2 in the morning, and Crash was coming home with Megumi in the Crikey, but they were alone, since Coco and the others had returned a couple of hours before. The little blonde bandicoot had to get up early to continue her work with the UN, and the others wanted the two lovers to have some intimacy with the date. As for Yaya, being now a member of the Nitro Squad, she would be staying in the private rooms of the circuit along with Pasadena and Hasty, courtesy of Tawna.
After traveling through the jungle in the dark, but accompanied by the full moon that helped to illuminate the way along with the headlights of the kart, the bandicoot hero and his companion arrived at the house.
"Home sweet home" Crash said happily as they both got out of the kart, but after walking to the entrance with Megumi, they both stopped to look at each other. "I guess we'll tell the others in the morning. They must be asleep."
"Yes… Ami will surely kill me if I wake her up" Megumi laughed, but then knelt to be at Crash's level and caressed his face while gazing lovingly into his eyes. "Thanks for the date… Crashy."
Crash smiled at the nickname and didn't hesitate to hug his girlfriend, who decided to do the same. However, when the bandicoot hero laid his face on Megumi's shoulder, he soon began to smell a rather familiar scent coming from her neck. It was the scent of Wumpa fruit, but it was different this time, as if it were an aphrodisiac that even penetrated his five senses, and making him crave more of that sweet nectar.
Due to the intensity of the fragrance, Crash not only felt the urge to kiss, but to taste Megumi's neck, but on the other hand, he wanted to maintain his composure and not go overboard with her, so he started to shake, trying to resist his impulses.
"Crash… control yourself!" he thought to himself in panic. "I know she's your girlfriend now, but don't go overboard with her! That's wrong!"
Megumi felt her boyfriend tremble, and soon remembered Ami's warnings about her "Eau De 'Coot" perfume, noting that Crash could lose control of his actions. However, she trusted him, plus they were now officially in a relationship, so there would be times when they would become more intimate.
"Crash… stay calm" Megumi whispered in his ear with a low and loving tone, as well as stroking his back to relax him. "I know what you want to do, and I have no problem. Remember that you're now my boyfriend, so you have certain… privileges."
Crash was shocked at that statement, plus his resistance was giving way. The more fragrance he smelled from Megumi's neck, the more he wanted her. However, the situation reached its climax when she kissed him on the cheek and whispered to give her consent:
"Go ahead…"
Now, with the permission of his girlfriend, and his instincts invaded by lust, Crash closed his eyes and began to kiss Megumi's neck. But he not only used his lips, but also his tongue.
"Mmh…" Megumi blushed and moaned with pleasure, as well as raising her head a little so that her neck was more accessible.
Crash hugged Megumi tightly as he continued to kiss her neck. From bottom to top, even from the shoulders, the hero didn't stop to demonstrate his desire and passion for scientist bandicoot. The sweet and addictive fragrance of the perfume had plunged him into a trance from which he never wanted to wake up, and he couldn't think of anything other than feeling the touch of his beloved girl between his lips and tongue, in addition to the addictive nectar of his favorite fruit that accompanied her.
But Crash wasn't the only one enjoying the situation. Because the neck was normally sensitive, Megumi didn't stop feeling pleasure as her boyfriend kissed and licked it. Her face was completely red, and the pleasure expanded so that she even felt a tingling in her back.
"Crash…" Megumi said while moaning softly and closing her eyes, letting herself be carried away by the ecstasy of the moment.
Minutes passed and Crash continued to express his desire for Megumi, but soon the hero's impulses gave way to his desire for sleep, so he decided to move away a little to be able to breathe, but not before giving a last kiss to Megumi's neck, noticing that he left it a bit wet with all those kisses and licks, plus the blue-haired bandicoot's face completely red with pleasure.
They both stared at each other. Their eyes not only gave off desire for each other, but also love and affection.
"I liked it" Megumi said affectionately as she stroked Crash's cheek.
"I don't know what happened to me…" Crash laughed with slight embarrassment. "I started to smell a delicious aroma when I hugged you and ... I lost control."
"It was my Eau De 'Coot perfume" Megumi confessed. "I knew you loved Wumpa fruit, so that's why I put it on."
"Oh…" Crash blushed. "I see."
Megumi didn't think twice, and gave Crash a tender kiss on the lips, indicating that everything was fine between them.
"I love you" she said in a loving and sincere tone.
"I love you too…" Crash said shyly, moved by his girlfriend's words.
Megumi smiled and caressed Crash's cheek with her hand, but she then stood up.
"Well…" she said with a slight yawn. "We'd better go to sleep, I'm very tired."
"Me too" said Crash, who couldn't help but stretch out from exhaustion and used his key to open the door carefully.
When both bandicoots entered the house, they noticed the three pets sleeping deeply in the main room, so they walked slowly into the hallway to the bedrooms to not wake them up.
When they reached the door of Crash's room, the two bandicoots looked at each other again before saying goodbye.
"Sleep well, Crash" Megumi patted his head. "A long day awaits us tomorrow."
"Considering we're together now, I honestly can't wait" Crash chuckled softly.
"Me neither" the blue-haired bandicoot leaned in for a moment, and kissed Crash on the lips before heading to her room with Ami. "Goodnight, Crashy."
"Goodnight… Meggy" Crash said with a slight blush as he entered his room.
Megumi was surprised at the diminutive Crash had given her, but then she smiled as she made her way to her room. It seemed tender, and she felt that it showed Crash's affection for her.
Crash's room - 2:15 a.m.
When Crash entered his room, he was quite surprised to see who was in his bed. It was Coco, who had fallen asleep reading a book, wearing her pajamas and having the night lamp on.
Crash smiled when he saw how cute his sister looked, so he decided to sleep somewhere else to not wake her up. However, he tripped over one of his dressers, accidentally throwing some objects on the floor and making noise.
"Dammit…!" Crash complained in a low voice.
"Uhh? What?" Coco woke up slowly because of the noise, until she regained her five senses and noticed her brother picking up the objects that had fallen. "Crash? What happened?"
"N-nothing" Crash laughed with slight embarrassment. "You were sleeping so happy in my bed that I didn't want to wake you up, but… you know me pretty well."
"Oh…" Coco shared the same attitude with her brother. "Sorry, I just wanted to know how your date with Megumi went. How it ended?"
Just when Crash finished rearranging his belongings on the dresser, he smiled with a touch of love at his sister's question and sat down with her on the bed. "It was amazing…" he said, as if he were daydreaming. "Coco… I swear I have never felt so good. She is cute, sweet, funny and she cares a lot about me. I definitely love her so much."
"Aww, I'm glad to hear that big brother" Coco smiled and adopted a more curious attitude. "So… are you together now?"
"Yeah…" Crash replied. "After she came back from tricking my other me to get rid of the bet, we talked a bit and she told me how much she enjoyed being with me, as well as how much she loved me, so I asked her the big question… and she accepted."
Coco was so happy for her brother that she put her right arm around him. "Aww, come here, you rascal!" she said as she playfully scratched Crash's head with her left hand, making him laugh.
"Hey, stop it!" Crash said with a laugh. "You're messing me up."
Coco continued to scratch Crash's head until he just managed to free himself.
"This isn't gonna end like this!" Crash said with a wicked smile. "Come here!"
Crash started tickling Coco with his hands, making her laugh, but at the same time, she tried to make an effort to not make too much noise.
"Crash, stop it, ha ha ha!" Coco said with a laugh, pushing Crash away with a smile. "I don't want to wake up others."
"Heh… you're right" said Crash, who gave a slight yawn from exhaustion. "I'm going to get ready for sleep, if you don't mind."
"Don't worry, I was going to my room anyway." Coco gave Crash a friendly pat on the back and went to the bedroom door, but before opening it, she looked back at her brother with a smile. "I'm glad you're back, Crash. I missed that side of you."
"Huh?" Crash was confused by that statement. "What do you mean, Coco?"
"You're again the cheerful and friendly bandicoot that you used to be. I hope things get better from now on for you and Megumi" Coco opened the door and looked at her brother as she left. "Goodnight."
"Rest well, sis" Crash smiled as Coco closed the door and was thoughtful for a moment. Now that he and Megumi were together, who knows what the future will hold from now on. However, the fatigue he had prevented him from investigating further into the matter, so he went to change his clothes to be able to go to sleep.
Guest room (Ami & Megumi) - 2:15 a.m.
Around the same time that Crash had entered his room, Megumi opened the door of the one she shared with Ami and entered carefully, not realizing that her friend was still awake.
After closing the door and leaning her back against it, Megumi was with a blank expression for a few moments, but then she started to smile widely and moaned in excitement as she clenched her fists, as if she wanted to scream with joy, and slowly slid down against the door to sit on the floor.
After calming down a bit, Megumi looked at the ceiling, as if she was daydreaming. Now that she and Crash were finally together, she couldn't help but imagine what their relationship will be like from now on, as well as thinking about all the things she could do with him.
"Look who decided to show up. Heh heh" Ami said from the bed as she acquired a sitting position, surprising the blue-haired bandicoot. "How was your date?"
Megumi smiled seeing that Ami was not angry with her for possibly waking her up, so she happily replied. "It was very good" Megumi said with a loving sigh. "I've never had such a good time, Ami. If I wasn't so tired, I would be filling Crash with kisses right now."
"Woah…" Ami was surprised by that statement and then put her hand on one ear, pretending to hear something. "Are those wedding bells what I'm hearing?"
"Ami…" Megumi complained, but without losing her smile. "Don't say nonsense. We have just started a romantic relationship."
"I know, I know" Ami laughed as she got up to where her friend was and sat next to her. "You know very well that I don't believe in those things, but if you believe, I don't care as long as it makes you happy."
"Thank you, Ami" Megumi was happy for her friend's support.
"But anyway, tell more details" Ami wrapped her arm around Megumi. "Did he kiss you? Has he treated you well?"
"We obviously kissed, a few times" Megumi laughed with a slight blush on her face. "But yes, everything was consensual, even… when my perfume had some kind of effect on him."
"I see that. Look at your neck" Ami said as she pointed to the wet areas of Megumi's neck, which made the blue-haired bandicoot blush even more. "I'm surprised you have such a daring side, heh heh."
"Well, I…" Megumi was so embarrassed that she didn't know how to respond.
"I'm just kidding" Ami laughed. "As long as he respects you, I won't have a problem. I'm happy for both of you."
"Thank you, Ami" Megumi felt touched. "It means a lot."
"No problem" Ami gave her friend a friendly fist bump. "Now let's go to sleep. You will need to rest if you want to start your relationship with energy."
"You're right." Megumi gave a little yawn and got up. "But first, I'm going to remove my makeup. Tonight I'll sleep like a log."
Ami smiled as she watched her friend walk to the bathroom and close the door. She also couldn't help but laugh when she heard Megumi sing happily, albeit low, from within.
The green-haired bandicoot could tell that her friend was really happy, so she wondered if one day, perhaps, she might experience that same feeling with someone, despite her negative initials regarding love.
These thoughts reminded her the conversation with Aku Aku a few days ago, regarding meeting someone special.
"Perhaps the old man is right. Maybe it's not nonsense after all" Ami thought to herself. "Although… I'm not in a rush to find someone either."
And with that last thought, Ami returned to her bed to sleep. She needed to rest, although not as much as her friend. She knew that Megumi had a few long days ahead, now that she and the boy of her dreams were finally together.
Author's Notes: I apologize to any Fake Crash fans who were offended by this chapter. I don't hate the character, but his ship with Megumi… I don't like it at all, and I wanted to express my opinion about it. ^^ '
Anyway, I hope you liked the chapter. See ya!