Festival Bonds: Corrin and Takumi

Chapter 1: A Different Point of View

It was truly a sight to behold, to say the least. Corrin and Takumi could only look around at their surroundings in amazement; the sight of Windmire on this particular night was unlike anything they had ever seen since any time they had visited. All around them, the two could see that there were various kinds of festive lights and banners surrounding the houses along with different stalls set up across the town as far as the eye could see. Needless to say, it almost felt like the town didn't look quite the same as anyone would remember it. "Wow… it all looks so amazing…" Corrin could only whisper, slowly turning his head to look around the sights in awe. Takumi simply nodded as he was feeling at a loss of words at the sights around him for a few brief moments, before he turned his head to Corrin.

"I'll say… I don't think I've ever seen Nohr look this lively before. Or at least, not while I've ever seen it." Takumi commented. As Corrin turned his glance to the archer in surprise as he was wondering what he meant by that, it didn't take for Takumi to show a smile of amusement as he continued. "It almost feels hard to believe what this was all organised in the same country that you grew up in."

Corrin stared in surprise for a few moments before he crossed his arms with an expression of minor annoyance showing on his face. "Takumi, I thought we agreed that you weren't going to make comments like that again…" Corrin sighed, shaking his head in dismay at his brother's statement; for how close they had become over the time they had spent together, Corrin had assumed that Takumi would be able to grow out of that phase by now. However, it still seemed that this wasn't the case just yet. Takumi initially stared in puzzlement for a few moments as he started to wonder what Corrin meant, but it didn't take very long for him to catch his words. He then quickly shook his head in response.

"No, no, I didn't mean it like that. I was just saying… it feels so different seeing the place this lively. Wouldn't you think so too?" Takumi asked, figuring that it would be best to correct himself so Corrin knew that he didn't mean any harm by what he was saying. Corrin's expression of annoyance seemed to fade at this statement before he nodded in understanding as he uncrossed his arms.

"Hmm… when you put it like that, I know what you mean. I don't think Nohr has ever been this lively before in a long time, so yeah, it is quite a change from how I remember it." Corrin agreed. He then showed a bright smile as he continued. "But then again, I guess that can be considered a good thing. This is a side of Nohr that neither of us have ever seen before, so we should make the most of it!" This suggestion seemed to work well for Takumi, as he showed a big smile in return before he nodded in agreement.

"I guess that sounds like a plan to me! So where do you think we should start?" Takumi asked. Corrin lifted his head up as he started to have a look around at the city to figure out where would be a good place for the two of them to begin their tour of the festival, before he spotted a couple of stalls just nearby. So with this in mind, he turned his head back to Takumi and pointed in the direction for them to go off in.

"I think over there might be a good place to start. Come on, follow me!" Corrin stated, gesturing with his hand for Takumi to follow him. So without a moment to spare, the two set off to begin their sightseeing of the wonders of the festival taking place around them.

Needless to say, the sights of the festival were truly something amazing. Even with the minor nuisance of having Faceless swarming around to ruin the fun, there was still so much for the two to see and check out for themselves. There were all kinds of armouries, food stalls, performances and even a special clothing display for a few special guests who got to see it for themselves. As things were starting to calm down a bit, Corrin and Takumi were taking a bit of time to relax near the fountain in the centre of the city after their busy day together. After a few moments of silence passed between them, Corrin let out a content sigh before turning his head to Takumi. "Ah… what a night this has been, huh?" Corrin asked, showing a bright smile as he had enjoyed this whole night. Takumi turned his glance to his brother and showed a big smile in return before nodding in agreement.

"Tell me about it… I didn't think the sightseeing would ever end. There was just so much to see and do around here! I think it's safe for me to say that I'll be looking forward to the next time this festival rolls around." Takumi commented. Corrin let out a laugh of amusement upon hearing that Takumi had enjoyed himself before he nodded in agreement with that statement.

"Yeah… so will I." Corrin agreed. Silence then filled the air between the two for a few moments as they were seeming to be simply enjoying the atmosphere of the festival around them; it seemed that it would still be going on for a while longer. However, the silence was quickly broken as Corrin turned his head to Takumi. "Hey, Takumi? There's actually something I just suddenly realised." Corrin said.

Takumi showed an expression of surprise at this statement before turning his head to Corrin. "Yeah? And what's that, Corrin?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he wanted to know what it was that Corrin had to say. Corrin fell silent for a few moments as he turned his glance down to think about how to properly word this, before he looked back up at Takumi once he felt that he was ready.

"I've actually been thinking about this during our sightseeing and I wanted to know… if we had come here at any earlier time, would you have enjoyed it as much as you did tonight?" Corrin asked. Takumi showed an expression of surprise at this question and he turned his head down to think it over; it was true that he had enjoyed being at the festival on this night, but how would he have responded if they had come earlier, during a time where he wasn't feeling as certain about the changes in Nohr as he was now? It was something that he almost didn't want to think about, but now that it had been brought to this attention, it almost felt like something he couldn't ignore. After a few seconds passed for him to think it over, he turned his head back to Corrin to give his reply.

"Now that you mention it… I hadn't really thought about it before. I guess… I would have been judgmental about this festival without getting to see what it's really about. This is a time for us to be thankful for the friendships we've made, and I probably would have not been too thrilled about being in it just because it was here in Nohr. So more than likely, I would have just refused. But now, when I've had so much time to get to know everyone here in Nohr and what they're really like, I guess it's really helped me open my eyes to the fact that both of our countries aren't as different as we once thought, and we can work together to make both Hoshido and Nohr stronger nations in the long run, as well as the peace we have now." Takumi felt a bright smile slowly show on his face as he was saying all of this, his mind casting over to the times where all of their team members of both nations managed to take the time to get to know each other and see different sides of each other that they knew about, and it was thanks of this that they were on such strong terms with each other as they were now. Corrin simply showed a big smile as he was listening to this before he nodded in understanding.

"I see. So then… with all that said, what are you most thankful for?" Corrin asked. He was then met with a surprise as Takumi reached up and placed an arm around him, before pulling him over so he was sitting just close to him. Corrin felt an expression of surprise show on his face upon seeing this, before turning his head to Takumi to see the big smile he was showing before he gave his reply.

"That I took the chance to accept you and see you for who you are, Corrin. I know I didn't act the most welcoming to you when you first arrived, and I was really hesitant and reluctant to accept you as part of our family, but now… I feel really glad I managed to do that. And that you managed to stick by me even with my initial hostility towards you. So…" Takumi quickly felt his smile grow brighter from gratitude before he finished. "Thank you so much for all of that, Corrin. I feel so honoured to call you my brother."

Corrin could only stare in amazement for a few moments before he slowly showed a bright smile and nodded in agreement. "So do I, Takumi. So do I."

The two then turned their attention back to the sights of the festival, simply enjoying each other's company and the feeling of not only being able to have a such fun time together, but also express their gratitude over having gotten to know each other even with their early struggles, because they helped them get to where they were now, and where they would always continue to be.