The next day, the market was already alive with noise from vendors and people strolling around. In the middle of the market, a familiar table and chair were already set up.
Leonard had arrived earlier than everyone else. He had a huge smile on his face as he readied himself for the day.
'I'm already ready to earn back what I lost yesterday,' he muttered to himself.
When people saw him, they were surprised to see how early he arrived there. And, just as Leonard promised, he handed out a single silver coin to the first five people who lined up in front of his table.
Because of it, the reactions from the crowd were immediate.
"Over here!" one man shouted, dragging his friend along.
"Wait, he's giving out coins again?" A woman hurried over, clutching her basket.
"Line up, quick!"
In minutes, the small line in front of Leonard's stall became longer. The crowd talked with excitement. Whispers of yesterday's winnings buzz between them.
Compared to Leonard's first day in that location, he could now easily say that he has twice as many customers. Maybe even more.
Just like the past days, Anika stood beside him. Her arms were crossed, though there was a huge smile on her face. She was all ready to greet the people on the line.
The game started soon after. Leonard shook the dice cup in his hand with a huge smile. He clasped his hands out loud and shouted to gather everyone's attention.
"Hello there, my friends! It's me again! Don't be shy! Maybe today's your lucky day!"
The crowd leaned forward, coins clinking as they hit the table. Anika clapped her hands together, her cheerful tone cutting through the chatter.
"Come on, everyone! Who's feeling lucky today?!"
"Me!"
"Us!"
"We'll win again!"
"Ha! Today is my lucky day, guys!"
"Watch me dominate the game today!"
People muttered out loud as a reaction. Some even shouted, stomped their feet, and clapped their hands.
Leonard laughed out loud and motioned for everyone to calm down for a moment.
"Alright, alright, I understand. We'll start now, so you can earn a lot!" he muttered out loud, which earned more reactions from people.
Just like that, their regular session of work began. They asked for the people's choice, took their money, and rolled the dice. Every time the dice were revealed, some would groan at their loss, while others would grin widely like children when they won.
And it didn't stop there. The line kept moving as more and more people joined in. Leonard's voice never faltered even once. It was smooth and playful, while Anika hyped up the crowd at his side, teasing the losers and congratulating the winners.
The air was filled with excitement.
By afternoon, the sun was at its peak in the sky. It was hot, but no one seemed to care. Leonard's stall had become a small spectacle in the middle of the market that people couldn't help but point out even from a distance.
It was then, at the edge of the crowd, that Gareth appeared.
He stood at the side of a fruit stall, leaning on his crutch. His jaw tensed as his eyes flicked toward the long line stretching in front of Leonard's table. His brow furrowed, disbelief was written all over his face.
"What the hell?" Gareth muttered under his breath. He had expected some pathetic setup with maybe a few desperate players.
But this?
There were dozens of people. Cheering. Laughing. Willingly giving their coins to Leonard.
Leonard spotted him instantly. His grin widened, and without a second thought, he raised his voice over the crowd.
"Gareth!"
The man froze on the spot, his shoulders stiffening. His first instinct was to turn around, to hide before anyone noticed. His grip tightened around his crutch, shame flickering across his face.
He didn't want people staring at him… at his limp, his weakness.
But Leonard didn't let him retreat.
"Wait for me for a moment, guys!"
Leaving the table for a moment, Leonard jogged through the crowd and came right up to him, that same grin on his face never fading.
"You came!" Leonard said brightly, as if he had expected nothing less.
Gareth shifted uncomfortably.
"I… shouldn't be here. Look at me. I'll just embarrass you."
However, Leonard just tilted his head, studying him for a moment. Then he laughed softly.
"Embarrass me? Don't be stupid. You're exactly who I want with us. Come on. Follow me Gareth,"
Before Gareth could respond, the crowd behind them erupted into cheers again.
"Join us!"
"Come on, don't be shy!"
"Yeah, sit with our man, Leonard!"
"Our Leonard here is a good man!"
"You can do it, Man!"
"We're waiting for you!"
The voices from the crowd grew louder, one after another. Some clapped, others whistled, and soon it felt like the entire market was looking their way.
Gareth's face flushed. His first instinct was to escape before he drowned in all the attention. He gripped his crutch tighter, his heart hammering.
"I… I don't belong there," he muttered, almost to himself.
But Leonard only patted his shoulder.
"Stop overthinking. Look at them."
Gareth hesitated, forcing himself to glance at the crowd. To his surprise, no one was mocking him. Not a single sneer, not even a whisper of pity.
Instead, there were smiles, encouragement, and hands waving him over as if ready to welcome him in the crowd.
"They're cheering for you," Leonard said gently. "Not against you."
Gareth swallowed hard, his throat tight. He didn't remember the last time he had been welcomed like this. Slowly, the tension in his shoulders began to ease. His grip on his crutch loosened.
"Fine," he muttered under his breath, though the corner of his lips twitched as if resisting a smile. "Only today cause I don't have any choice."
"That's the spirit!" Leonard said, stepping back toward the table.
With each step Gareth took, the cheers grew louder.
"Come on, Gareth!"
"Don't be shy, we're all waiting!"
"Now we can continue again!"
By the time he reached the table, Gareth's earlier shame had disappeared. For the first time in a long while, he didn't feel like a burden. Instead, he felt… included.
Leonard clapped his hands together, beaming.
"Now then! With our friend Gareth here, today's game is going to be even better!"
The crowd roared in agreement. Gareth sat down at the chair behind the table. He was a little stiff at first, but when he saw Anika's bright smile and Leonard's encuraging nod, his lips finally curved upward.
"A-alright… w-what am I supposed to do here?"