Way smaller chapter! It's kind of a transitional chapter! This time, they're simply walking from the restaurant to the festival! Next Chapter is all about the festival as their exploration of it will begins! When will they get to to the amusement park? Who knows!

After another meeting with Mendō, the two of them find themselves arguing (as always!). Mostly Ataru focused chapter, as his mind tries to explain and wrap around the fact girl-hunting changed ever since the Oni girl arrived.

Ataru and Lum were once again walking hand in hand. Lum was still a bit behind. The street had a few people; it wasn't crowded yet. Although the unlucky was doing his best to hide the hand-holding, he clearly adapted his pace to hers. Lum enjoyed being able to walk with him without Ataru leaving at the first sight of a pretty girl or simply escaping her. It would be easy in this environment, with lots of shops selling masks and other costumes for the upcoming festival. He could make the perfect disguise. Somehow, this didn't even register with him. Only hoping they wouldn't have to spend money at the festival, the thought of giving money to HIS family made him choke. Speaking of the devil, the heir appeared behind the couple in a fancy car.

"Miss Lum, what a surprise! I thought you were already in there!" Mendō completely ignored Ataru, who instinctively pushed Lum away and let go of her hand, much to her dismay.

"Oh, Shūtarō, as you can see, we were on our way!" They continued to walk, Lum increased her pace, indicating to Ataru with a small poke on his shoulder that they had to go faster to try and get away from him. She wasn't pleased to see him, ruining the somewhat romantic moment she was having.

"If you so desire, I'd be happy to deposit both of you at the entrance and guide you through..."

"It's fine." Lum quickly retorted. "We like walking together. Alone, as a couple!" She grinned.

Ataru was uncharacteristically silent. If he dared to say anything, Mendō could try to slash him or something. He usually doesn't mind a bit of chaos and wouldn't miss the chance to mess with the heir, but today wasn't the day, not when he already had something else planned. Lum was handling it perfectly anyway as he actually listened to her. Amused by Lum's failed attempt to have Shūtarō go away.

"We don't plan on staying for long anyway!" She added, increasing her pace even more and getting closer to Ataru, Purposefully not looking at him or his car. The crowd wasn't dense enough yet to get lost in it sadly.

"Oh, and if I may ask, where do you plan on going afterw-" Still not letting him finish, Ataru finally decided to act. He knew where that was going

"The Aquarium." he stated. "We're going to the Aquarium. Our plan was to throw beans at the Octopuses!" He laughed, unable to resist annoying him afer all. This made Lum's eyebrow rise, curious about his reasons. But she trusted her 'husband' and gave him a complicit smirk.

"Moroboshi... don't you dare lie to-" He was ready to stop the car and draw his sword "Darling's right!" Lum interjected.

"Miss Lum..."

"Maybe not the bean-throwing part, but Darling's taking me to the Aquarium!" she said in excitement, her hand still searching for Ataru's.

"I see, I was planning on going there myself to check on the health of their octopi. What a fun coincidence, isn't it?" He giggled to himself.

Lum understood what Ataru did earlier; he really was clever — or knew Mendō too well. —

"That's funny." Lum embarrassingly answered, not sure what to add.

"I suppose I'll see you there, Miss Lum." He bowed with respect. "As for you, Moroboshi, we'll be sure to check for beans at the entrance." He glared at his rival. He ordered the driver to go, waving goodbye to Lum. She didn't bother waving back, acting as if she didn't see him, focusing on Ataru. They both exhaled a sigh once Mendō was out of view.

"What a pain." Ataru grunted, swiftly grabbing back Lum's hand in the process, hiding it behind his back. No wonder she couldn't find it.

"I hope he won't bother us again today!" she giggled, also grabbing his hand. "That was a clever lie."

"He's way too predictable." he smirked.

"Look who's talking! You're predictable too, Ataru!" she smirked, leaning toward him.

"So what?" A bit annoyed being compared to Mendō, he tried to get back at her, searching for something. "At least I'm consistent!" He argued

"What? Are you saying I'm not?" Lum pouted playfully, it wasn't convincing as she was still smiling.

"Exactly! What's it with you calling me 'darling' again randomly?" He frowned, making the question sounds way more important than it should. It's been bothering him for a little while. He took the first opportunity he got to ask about it.

"Oh? You noticed? I know you'd miss being called 'darling'," she teased. He flustered instantly, his frown disappearing as he looked away. She continued, "But I'd rather not let the others know about all of this play." Finger on her chin, she added, "Me not being home and all, they'd get on our back if they heard me call you Ataru." She sighed, imagining Megane and the Stormtroopers rushing into their home to ask for explanations, thinking she had left Ataru or worst.

Ataru instanly starred back at her, looking his eyes a bit widened. "You're surprisingly aware. I'm surprised," He said, also imagining how Megane or Mendō would react and what they'd do to him.

"Like you're not aware of that too!." She countered with a knowing smile, clenching her hand a bit and moving it around, making him realize that he was on the same level as her.

"Don't mix things up, stupid. It's the only way for you to keep up!" He clenched back, not about to let go but clearly flustered.

"Why let go when people are too close then?"

"I'd rather not give them the wrong idea, that's all."

"Wrong idea? Which is...?" She challenged him, encouraging him to go to the end of his reasoning. Well aware he wasn't sure himself of what he was saying.

"That I'm not on the market anymore!" He grinned, losing all sense of seriousness in his voice and adding a little giggle to it. He knew well where his reasoning was going after all.

"Darling!" She yelled, stopping dead in her tracks.

"I'm joking! I'm joking! I'm joking," He yelled back, feeling a jolt of electricity in his hand. "Calm down, Lum!" He was clenching her hand even harder and petting it with his other one, trying to calm her down. His tone had some sincerity to it. which surprised Lum.

Lum decided not to insist too much. She knew her darling; there was no way he'd be this sincere. "Mmph." She pouted, turning her head away and closing her eyes. "Let's just go." She decided to still act a bit upset as a form of revenge, walking a bit faster and speaking less. Ataru didn't seem to mind as she was matching his pace way better and wasn't saying any embarrassing stuff; he had some peace.

Ataru kept silent most of the way too. He lied to her; he obviously doesn't want girls to think he's out of the picture. But why didn't it feel like it? It IS the truth. If he was too close to Lum, girl-hunting would become even more difficult. He can't let the strange way he felt get the better of him. Although Ataru was certain he wanted to be free, not only of the Oni's clutch but in general, free from the chains of monogamy and to girl-hunt as long as his youth lasts. At least that's what he convinced himself. When he apologized to her, there was a hint of sincerity in his words. He felt it. A seed of doubt was forming deep inside him. Were his days on the market ending sooner than he thought they would? Was it because of Lum? Was her presence alone making him reconsider his life choices or at least his future?

Surprisingly, Ataru didn't react much. Lum glared at him as the girls passed, but he didn't even give them a look, his stoic face unmoving. To Lum, it seemed he was focusing, trying not to look at them, for Lum's sake. Of course, the truth was that Ataru was just thinking and literally didn't notice them. But this sight made Lum's upset act fall as she felt Ataru's hand quiver. For the Oni, it was proof of how embarassed he was and of how much he tried to behave for her sake. He was like a knight, fighting the dragon that are his urge to gitlrl-hunt, for the sole prupose of saving the princess, to have the chance to keep Lum close to his side. Darling's trying so hard... Ataru's mind clearly wasn't thinking of things as romantic. Lum probably knew that too, but she didn't care. The thought made her happy. She loudly sighed to get his , she pointed at a mother with her daughter, both wearing kimonos close to the entrance of the festival.

"If only I knew, I could have worn a cute one too!" Lum said, with genuine disappointment in her voice.

"We're not staying for long, It would have been a waste anyway." Ataru explained in a normal tone, not really getting her comment.

"It's a waste I can't wear it now still. We don't go to festivals oftens!" She teased him, hinting that maybe they should dates more often.

"You don't need me to go to one! Just fly there!" He yelled, purposefully ignoring the romantic connotation.

"Sure I do! Why would I bother spending hours preparing myself to look good if you're not here?" She took a small pose with her free hand.

"...I...As -as I said, it's a waste of time then!" He looked away from her.

"What do you mean by that?" She could interpret his sentence in a muliple of way, some really pleasing ones.

What did HE meant? He almost coughed when he said that. His mind gave him this sentence, but he himself couldn't interpret it. Was it a waste for her to try to look good for him? Because he didn't care? No, he was doing it best to not look at her for too long already... Maybe it was simply a waste to try so hard when she always looked good? Even after waking up she looked good. This is what made hanging out with her so hard, whoever you were, walking next to Lum people would notice you. Well, whataver, not like It's my choice anyway.

"Just wear it next time!" he shrugged with his free hand.

"Oh, so you're planning our next date already? I knew it would be at a festival!" she playfully added, a slight smile cracking her fake serious expression.

"Shut up, you know what I meant!" He mumbled, not wanting to raise his voice.

"Don't worry, Ataru, I'll be sure to have it ready next time," she smiled, ignoring everything else he was saying.

"Whatever, I'd rather focus on right now," He said, pointing at the entrance a few meters away.