The prize wheel booth looked harmless.
Bright colors. A big spinning wheel with chunky numbers. A volunteer in a cheerful vest calling out rules like it was a carnival. Above the booth, lanterns hung in a neat line, small and warm, swaying slightly in the breeze.
But the second clue made it feel like a mission.
"Where the wheel decides, the number will guide. Find the prize wheel and count the lanterns above."
NC stopped a few feet away and looked up, eyes narrowing with practical focus.
"Okay," NC said. "Everyone count. Quietly. No chaos."
JP immediately raised his hand like he was in class. "I count with passion."
NC didn't look at him. "Count with silence."
JP mouthed the word silence dramatically.
Kitty tilted her head back and counted under her breath, lips barely moving. XH watched her eyes track along the lantern line, steady and sharp. Kitty looked like she was doing an anatomy practical, except the structures were lanterns instead of arteries.
TZ counted too, expression calm. Cherry stared up like she was waiting to catch the lanterns lying to her. Jihye filmed the lanterns and whispered numbers into her phone, then stopped filming and counted again properly. Anna simply counted, no expression, like this was normal.
XH counted last, slower, making sure he wasn't copying anyone's pace.
Eight.
He got eight.
Kitty lowered her gaze first. NC looked at her.
"How many," NC asked.
Kitty said quietly, "Eight."
NC nodded. "TZ."
TZ replied, "Eight."
NC looked at Cherry.
Cherry sighed like she was being forced to admit the truth. "Eight."
JP smiled wide. "Eight. But I would like to say nine for drama."
NC pointed at him. "Don't."
JP held his hands up. "Fine. Eight."
NC nodded once like a judge. "We go."
The volunteer at the prize wheel booth smiled brightly as they approached.
"Want to spin," the volunteer asked.
JP answered instantly. "Yes."
Cherry answered at the same time. "No."
JP grinned at Cherry. "We can do both."
The volunteer pointed to a small table. "Treasure hunt clue, right. Lantern count."
NC said politely, "Eight."
The volunteer's smile widened. "Correct."
She pulled out a stamp pad and a second stamp, this one shaped like a small lantern outline with an embassy seal beneath.
"Stamp your maps," the volunteer said.
NC stamped first, careful and neat. Anna stamped next, perfect alignment. Jihye stamped with a flourish like she was signing her name on history.
Cherry stamped and inspected the ink like she didn't trust anything that looked fun.
Kitty stamped slowly, then held the stamp pad out to XH without looking like she was offering anything special. It was the same small habit from the pavilion.
XH stamped his map and handed it back.
Their fingers brushed lightly.
Again.
Small, accidental, unavoidable.
JP saw it and made a loud choking noise.
Kitty's head snapped toward him. "JP."
JP grinned. "I am dying of romance."
TZ elbowed him.
JP hissed. "Stop assaulting me."
The volunteer pretended not to hear.
"Second stamp done," NC said. She folded her map carefully and looked at the clue card again. "We keep moving."
JP leaned toward the prize wheel, eyes shining. "But also, wheel."
Cherry sighed. "You're a child."
JP nodded proudly. "Yes."
NC paused for half a second, then said, "Two spins each. Then we move."
Cherry opened her mouth to argue, then closed it. Even she knew NC was giving a compromise. That was NC's secret skill. She controlled the group without making anyone feel controlled.
JP slapped two tokens down like he was in a casino.
"First spin," JP announced. "For destiny."
He spun the wheel hard.
The wheel clicked loudly, numbers flashing past. People around them cheered for their own turns, the sound blending into a festival hum.
The wheel slowed.
It landed on "Small Prize."
JP stared like he had been betrayed by fate.
Cherry laughed once, sharp and satisfied.
The volunteer handed JP a tiny plastic keychain shaped like a flag.
JP held it up, deadpan. "Diplomatic keychain."
TZ smiled slightly.
"Told you."
JP clutched it to his chest dramatically. "It will be my inheritance."
Kitty spun next.
She spun with calm control, not too hard, not too soft. The wheel clicked, slowed, landed on "Medium Prize."
The volunteer handed her a small plush duck wearing a tiny scarf.
Kitty stared at it for a second like she didn't know what to do with cuteness.
Jihye squealed. "It's so you."
Kitty muttered, "It's not."
But her mouth softened slightly.
XH watched Kitty hold the plush duck awkwardly and felt something warm in his chest. It was stupid. It was harmless. It was a moment where Kitty looked like a normal young person instead of a crowned symbol.
Cherry spun next and landed on "No Prize."
Cherry stared at the wheel like it had insulted her family.
JP leaned in and whispered, "The wheel fears you."
Cherry snapped, "Shut up."
Then Cherry spun again without waiting for permission and landed on "Small Prize."
The volunteer handed her a sticker pack with embassy logos.
Cherry looked at it like it was trash, then tucked it into her bag anyway.
TZ spun and landed on "Medium Prize."
The volunteer handed him a small basketball keychain.
TZ held it up and nodded. "This is acceptable."
JP pointed at him. "You are emotionally stable."
TZ shrugged. "I try."
Jihye spun, landed on "Big Prize," and screamed.
People turned.
NC sighed. "Jihye."
Jihye laughed, cheeks bright. The volunteer handed her a small gift bag with a fancy pen and a notebook stamped with a gold embassy seal.
Jihye held it like it was treasure for real.
"This is going on my desk forever," Jihye whispered.
Anna spun last. "Small Prize."
She received a simple magnet.
Anna smiled very slightly.
That tiny smile made XH realize something. This group had been so tense for so long that even a magnet could feel like joy.
NC clapped once softly. "Okay. We move."
JP pointed at the surrounding game booths. "Which one first."
The game zone spread out in front of them like a mini city. Booths lined a wide lawn. Volunteers called out rules. A dunk tank sat near the center with a metal ladder and a seat above a water pool. A basketball shootout booth stood near the edge with racks of balls. Skee ball lanes were set up under a tent. Ring toss tables, milk bottle toss, balloon darts, a high striker that looked like it wanted to humiliate people.
Kitty held her plush duck like she didn't know where to put it. XH noticed and wordlessly took his backpack off one shoulder, opening it slightly.
Kitty blinked at him.
"You can put it in here," XH said quietly.
Kitty's cheeks warmed. "It's not yours."
XH replied, calm, "I have space."
Kitty hesitated, then slid the plush duck into his bag carefully like she was entrusting him with something fragile.
JP noticed and gasped theatrically. "He is carrying her duck."
Kitty snapped, "It's not romantic."
JP grinned. "It's extremely romantic."
TZ muttered, "It's a duck."
Cherry rolled her eyes. "You're all ridiculous."
But Cherry's mouth twitched like she was fighting a smile.
NC pointed toward the balloon darts booth. "We should do clue three first. While we're still focused."
JP made a face. "I want skee ball."
NC looked at him. "Clue first."
JP sighed dramatically. "Fine."
They moved through the crowd.
XH walked beside Kitty again. Kitty's gaze moved over the booths, quick and sharp. XH noticed she kept scanning for the next clue marker more than she was looking at prizes.
"You like this," XH said quietly.
Kitty blinked. "Like what."
"This," XH said, gesturing slightly at the map, the crowd, the movement. "The hunt."
Kitty hesitated. "I like having something to do."
XH understood that.
Doing something was easier than feeling something.
They found a booth with a small flag marker taped beneath the table edge, matching the clue style from before. Kitty spotted it first, of course.
"There," Kitty said softly.
NC leaned in. "What does it say."
Kitty lifted the envelope, opened it, and pulled out a card.
"Clue Three," Kitty read.
"Where hands climb and courage slips, listen for the bell that laughs. Find the ladder that punishes pride."
JP stared. "That's Jacob's ladder."
TZ nodded. "The rope ladder."
Cherry groaned. "Absolutely not."
Jihye laughed. "Absolutely yes."
NC smiled slightly. "Okay. Jacob's ladder."
They turned toward the rope ladder booth, which stood tall and annoying near the far side of the lawn. A volunteer stood by a tall ladder structure with swinging rungs. People climbed and fell and laughed and screamed.
JP pointed. "I will conquer it."
TZ muttered, "You will fall."
JP grinned. "Then I will fall with honor."
As they walked, the embassy festival atmosphere wrapped around them. Music played softly. People cheered. Someone in a suit laughed too loud at a joke. Someone's kid ran by holding a balloon.
XH felt his chest loosen again. Not fully. But enough. He could almost forget Campus-2 for a second.
Almost.
His phone buzzed.
He didn't want to look.
He looked anyway.
The grade platform. A small update.
A new percentage for a module he hadn't even thought about today.
Overall: 81% unchanged. Standing: 11 / 137 unchanged.
The platform was like a mosquito. Always buzzing near your ear.
XH locked the phone again and shoved it deeper into his pocket.
Kitty noticed his glance.
Kitty's voice was quiet. "Don't do that here."
XH blinked. "Do what."
Kitty replied, soft but firm, "Let numbers follow you everywhere."
XH's throat tightened.
He nodded. "Okay."
Kitty looked away quickly like she hadn't meant to sound like she cared.
JP turned around and saw their closeness again.
He pointed at them. "They're whispering."
TZ groaned. "JP."
JP smiled. "I'm just observing."
Cherry snapped, "Observe something else."
JP gestured widely at the festival. "I'm observing everything."
They reached the Jacob's ladder booth.
The volunteer smiled brightly. "Want to try."
JP stepped forward immediately. "Yes."
Cherry muttered, "No."
NC said, "One attempt each. Then clue."
The volunteer handed JP a ticket and pointed to the ladder.
JP grabbed the first rung confidently, pulled himself up, tried to climb like he was in a gym.
He made it three rungs.
Then slipped.
He fell down, legs flailing, landing awkwardly on the padded mat.
The volunteer laughed politely. The crowd laughed.
JP sat up, hair messy, pride destroyed.
TZ clapped slowly. "Conquered."
JP glared. "Shut up."
Kitty tried next.
She climbed carefully, controlled. She made it four rungs, then her foot slipped slightly. She caught herself, then slipped anyway and landed with a laugh that surprised even her.
XH watched Kitty laugh and felt his chest warm again.
Jihye screamed while climbing, made it two rungs, then fell dramatically like she was in a drama. Anna climbed quietly and made it five rungs, surprising everyone. Cherry climbed and refused to scream, made it three rungs, slipped, landed, and glared at the ladder like it was her enemy.
TZ climbed last and made it six rungs, the farthest.
JP pointed at him. "You have hidden talent."
TZ shrugged. "I'm just stubborn."
The volunteer clapped. "Good effort. Now the clue."
NC pointed at the booth's side post where a small stamp station was taped behind a sign. It was hidden well. Most people wouldn't notice.
Kitty spotted it anyway.
"That's the stamp," Kitty said.
They collected the third stamp. The volunteer handed them a small card with the next instruction for clue four.
NC read it aloud.
"Final clue: Where water waits above laughter, aim for the seat and earn the storm. Find the dunk tank and earn the last seal."
JP's eyes lit up. "Dunk tank."
TZ muttered, "Of course."
Cherry looked irritated. "We're going to get wet."
NC shook her head. "Not all of us."
Jihye grinned. "I want to see JP fall into water."
JP pointed at her. "I want to see you fall into water."
Kitty looked toward the dunk tank, then glanced up at the sky.
Clouds were gathering thicker now.
The light had changed slightly, softer, heavier.
The air smelled like it might rain, even though the forecast had probably said nothing.
Kitty didn't say anything. She just kept walking with the group.
As they crossed the lawn, they passed the basketball shootout booth.
XH paused without meaning to.
A row of basketballs sat in racks. The hoop looked close enough to feel easy, but he knew those booths were always rigged in small ways to mess with your confidence.
TZ noticed XH's pause. "You want to shoot."
XH hesitated. "Maybe later."
Kitty looked at the booth too, then at XH's face. "You should."
XH blinked. "Why."
Kitty shrugged lightly. "Because you're good at things. Sometimes you forget."
The words were simple, but they landed deep.
XH felt his throat tighten.
JP leaned in from behind. "Kitty is motivating him."
Kitty snapped, "JP."
JP grinned. "Okay. Okay."
NC glanced at the schedule board and said, "We have time. We can do a quick game before dunk tank."
Cherry rolled her eyes, but didn't argue.
They lined up at the basketball shootout booth.
The volunteer smiled. "Three shots per token. Prize if you make two."
JP whispered, "Rigged."
TZ whispered back, "Everything is rigged."
JP stepped up first, because of course.
He took the first ball, shot it with confidence, missed badly.
He took the second ball, missed again.
He took the third ball, panicked, shot too hard, it bounced off the rim and flew back.
JP stared at the hoop like it had betrayed him.
Cherry laughed quietly. "You're terrible."
JP pointed at her. "Try."
Cherry stepped up, face composed, shot the ball, missed by a little. She shot again, missed. Third shot, missed.
Cherry stared at the hoop and muttered something under her breath that made NC cough like she was trying not to laugh.
TZ stepped up next. He shot once, made it. He shot again, made it.
The volunteer blinked. "Nice."
TZ shrugged, calm. "It's a hoop."
Kitty looked impressed despite herself.
Jihye clapped. Anna smiled faintly again.
Then XH stepped up.
He hadn't intended to. He just found himself there.
He held the ball in his hands. The ball felt familiar. The hoop looked simple. The crowd noise faded slightly.
He took a breath.
He shot.
Swish.
The ball went clean through.
Kitty made a small sound without meaning to. A sharp inhale, then a soft laugh.
JP leaned forward like he was watching a final match. "Oh."
XH took the second ball, shot again.
Swish.
Two in a row.
The volunteer's eyes widened. "You win."
XH took the third ball, hesitated, then shot again.
It bounced off the rim and missed.
JP pointed immediately. "He's human."
TZ muttered, "Two is enough."
Kitty clapped softly, then stopped herself like she realized she had done it too openly.
XH looked at her.
Kitty's cheeks warmed. She looked away quickly.
The volunteer handed XH a small prize ticket.
XH didn't even look at it. He turned and handed it to Kitty.
Kitty blinked, surprised. "Why."
XH said quietly, "Because you found the clues."
Kitty's throat tightened slightly. She took the ticket, fingers brushing his again.
JP made another choking noise.
Kitty snapped, "JP."
JP raised his hands. "I'm silent."
But his grin said everything.
They continued toward the dunk tank.
The booth looked more dramatic up close. A seat above a tank of water. A target board nearby. A volunteer explaining rules to a group of students. People laughed when someone fell in. It was harmless humiliation.
The fourth stamp waited there.
The final seal.
Kitty glanced up at the sky again.
The clouds were thick now. The air felt charged. The wind picked up slightly and made the flags flutter harder.
A tiny rumble of thunder rolled far away.
JP looked up and frowned. "Is it going to rain."
TZ shrugged. "It always rains when we're about to do something stupid."
JP pointed at him. "Stop saying that like you're a narrator."
NC looked at the dunk tank and said, "We get the last stamp. Then we can slow down."
XH stood beside Kitty, shoulders almost touching, not quite.
Kitty's voice was quiet. "You shot well."
XH replied quietly, "You found the clues."
Kitty's mouth softened slightly. "We're a team."
The words slipped out before she could control them.
Kitty froze, cheeks warming.
XH felt his chest tighten.
He didn't answer quickly enough.
JP walked past behind them and whispered, "Team."
Kitty glared at JP, but she didn't take the words back.
XH swallowed and said softly, "Yeah."
Just that.
Yeah.
Kitty's cheeks stayed warm.
The group stepped closer to the dunk tank booth, the last clue in their hands, laughter around them, wind picking up, thunder far away.
The embassy day was still fun.
But something in the air was shifting.
Not a storm yet.
Just the feeling that the sky was watching them, waiting for the right moment to pour.
And the last stamp waited above the water, ready to turn this harmless treasure hunt into a memory they would carry.