Galacchio stared in complete disbelief at the results of their round one group. Wilder was right, he made it through. Not only that, but he had won by a landslide.

"Atta boy! I told ye people'll love ye!" Wilder quickly appeared behind his friend and gave them a pat on the back, laughing.

"A-Ah! Wilder! Don't scare me like that." Galacchio adjusted his hat after jumping in surprise.

"I can't help it, just look at dat! Ye did it partner! What? Can I not come over to congratulate my best friend?"

"I guess not, still, keep it down a bit..."

"Fine...." Wilder fiddled with his whip, wrapping it back up after it had came undone. "How was it buddy? I still didn't see ya around much these past few days."

"It was terrifying! I don't know how I won when I avoided anyone I saw..."

"What! Still not trying to meet anybody? What about yer opponent? Didja not talk to em'?"

"...No, I...got too nervous..." Galacchio rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, looking down ashamed.

Wilder quickly put a hand on his forehead and sighed. "What am I going to do with you, boy..."

"Hey!-"

"No heys, Galacchio! You gotta at least congratulate your opponent!" Wilder interrupted.

"Fine...I'll go find them later."

"We'll find then later buddy, I don't trust ya to actually go and do it."

"W-Who do you take me for, Wilder! I-I'm not just going to flake out on that!" Galacchio stomped his foot in flustered frustration, Wilder could learn to be a bit less blunt now and then.

"Buddy, yer so flakey that I could touch yer cloak and 'ave it crumble."

"Says the one with the whip that's falling apart!"

"No way! It's just a style thing!"

"As if! I-I've seen straws more durable than that!"

"Whatever, wizzrobe!

"Alright, McCree!"

Both of them devolved into a fit of giggles, throwing a few more playful jabs at each other before turning back to the results of Galacchio's group.

"Still...I don't understand why I made it through, I wasn't even going to be here originally." Galacchio stared at nothing in particular.

"That don't matter! You won in the end, first round's always the biggest hurdle!" Wilder winced as he said that, knowing it was one he couldn't overcome himself.

"Well...it was really because of you." Galacchio turned back to Wilder.

"Ah! What did I tell ya 'bout selling yerself short!"

"But really, Wilder! You're the one who invited me in the first place, you're the one who's been running around telling people about how awesome I am, you're the one keeping me here..." Galacchio shushed Wilder before he could retort. "Wilder, thank you, I thought I'd be done for already."

Wilder just tipped his hat, smiling. "Aw, shucks. Someone had to do it, partner, it ain't a problem."

"No one had to it, Wilder, you just did it anyways. That's what I want to thank you for."

"Seriously buddy, I didn't even think twice."

Galacchio laughed, a genuine, tender smile on his face. "I think that's one of the few times your impulsiveness worked out."

"Never doubt me partner! This here gut o' mine never leads me wrong!"

"Except that one time when you threw yourself into the-"

"HEY HEy hey! We don't talk 'bout dat right?"

"Ahaha! You might not, but it's my favourite story to tell!"

"Well I ain't going around tellin' everyone bout the time you fell asleep during-"

"W-W-Wait! Ok, I see your point now." Galacchio rushed to interrupt what Wilder was about to say, their flustered reaction getting Wilder to chuckle.

"Or what about the time when visiting your momma when you-"

"W-Wilder! Save it for when we're gonna face each other, alright?" Galacchio stumbled, unaware that what they said wouldn't ever happen as Wilder looked down.

"Yeah...about that, buddy. You ain't seen the results o' the other groups, have ya?"

Galacchio tilted his head, he didn't really think to check. After all, the only person he was really rooting for was Wilder, and there was no way he'd lose with the amount of charisma he has. He was the one who got Galacchio his win after all. "No? I mean, you won by a landslide right?"

"Well...buddy, the thing is-"

"I mean, I got through Round One by a lot, there's no way you didn't completely dominate it-"

"Galacchio, listen to me...I don't know what to tell you-"

"You're funny, really nice, everybody you meet loves you. You make people smile, you just ooze charisma, there's just no way you'd lose and I'd win."

Galacchio started talking over Wilder, he did not want to believe it. He understood what Wilder was trying to say, but he just couldn't believe it. He needed Wilder to still be in the running, he needed Wilder to keep fighting for the both of them, he needed to believe that Wilder was going to the next round with him.

"Galacchio, I lost."

Everything came crashing down like a ton of bricks, for the both of them.

"W-W-What?"

"I'm out buddy, lost Round One."

"You mean...I'm...there's..." Galacchio suddenly brought Wilder into a hug, and Wilder dropped his whip is surprise. "I'm so sorry, I should've helped you as much as you helped me."

"Hey...partner, it's ok..." Wilder tried to convince Galacchio, but it was clear he was downtrodden from his defeat.

"It's not ok! I should've done something. I know how much you were looking forward to this!"

"It's not dat big a deal...really...I'm fine."

"Wilder, I can tell you're not..."

"But what am I supposed to do 'bout it? 'M out o' the runnin'! Das it, bar's closed, git out!" Wilder was angry, he lost by the smallest percent, just a few more could have made the difference, but now he's done. Truth be told, he'd been angry since he first found out, even when he came over to congratulate Galacchio on his win, he was angry.

"Wilder...they aren't throwing you out...you can still have fun, right? Isn't that what you came for? Not t-to win...but to have fun."

After lashing out, Wilder quickly calmed himself down. Galacchio was right, just because he lost, that doesn't mean he's done with this.

"Well...I guess I'll be a part of yer entourage den! Yer still in, so that practically counts fer both o' us, right?"

"Wilder...I didn't mean it like that...I just mean you could keep running around and talking to people like you usually do."

"Well, too bad! I'm now team Galacchio's number one fan!"

Galacchio sighed and face palmed. Wilder's ability to rebound from a bad mood was astounding to him. "You really...really don't have to do that!"

"Too bad! M' already making banners!"

"Wilder!"

"I can see it now, you walkin' in to the finals, people following behind ya with flags, banners and other such things!"

"Oh please god no...I don't think I could handle that."

"Welp! Ye better learn! Cause now I'm gonna do everything in my power to make dat happen!"

"I don't know about this, Wilder. There's so many people here, and they're so strong too." Galacchio shivered, sticking close to the only person he knows here.

"Aw! It's not all bad. Everyone I've met had been nice, so far." Wilder adjusted his hat as he pat Galacchio on the back. It had been too long since the both of them did anything substantial together, though he didn't expect a tournament of this caliber to be the thing that brought them back together again.

"Yeah, I guess you're right..." Galacchio wasn't too comfortable with the idea of leaving his home for long, staying somewhere else overnight never went well due to his curse.

"Have ye even talked to anyone yet? I keep seeing ya mope around like a sad sack o' potatoes."

"H-Hey! You know I don't like big events like this. I only joined because I knew you were signing up."

"That's whatcha said last time I took ya down to the rodeo back home! You're warming up to this type o' thing, I know it." Wilder gave a playful jab to Galacchio's side, who in return bonked them on the head lightly with his wand.

"Whatever...who have you even talked to then?"

"Well..." Wilder hesitated as he tried to recall who he's even seen before. "I think a few of the organizers, and there was this one guy in green and red, they were all pretty cool though."

"That's not even that many! You can't get on my case about this then!" Galacchio grumbled as Wilder just laughed, they both missed this sort of banter.

"Well if you keep moping around, you won't ever catch up to me! Let loose partner! It's safe here." Wilder put a hand around Galacchio in a side hug, both of them now giggling a bit, even if Galacchio is just matching Wilder's infectious energy.

"I mean I can try, it's not like I'll be around for long though. The first round has already started right? I doubt I'm making it through..." Galacchio turned away from Wilder, about to zone out and let the time pass, but Wilder gripped his cloak and continued talking.

"What! Yer crazy, partner! You got a great chance 'ere."

"Nobody knows who we are, Wilder! You know how much popularity plays into this stuff."

"And? Ye look freakin' dashing! As much as ye like to deny it, you stand out. In a good way! Voters'll love that!"

Galacchio couldn't help but go a bit wide eyed, and blush just a bit. Wilder sure was blunt, probably not even aware of the implications of what he said.

"Yer awesome too!" Wilder continued. "Get to know ya, and ye can be the most hilarious guy ever!"

Wilder beamed, even though he was just stating what he thought was obvious, it was a nice confidence booster for Galacchio.

"Thanks, Wilder. I think you'll do good too, you always know what to say to people. I don't think you'll have trouble convincing people to vote for you."

Wilder swirled his whip around. "I know that already! It's good to hear dat coming from you though!"

Galacchio frowned from the lack of reaction. "You're full of yourself, you know that?"

"Well! Ye gotta be proud o' who you are! I bet ye'd be unstoppable with a bit more self confidence."

"...Where would I be without you, Wilder?"

"Well for starters, not here, haha!"

The two friends broke into a giggling fit once again, enjoying each other's company.

"I'll help introduce ya to some people, maybe there's someone here who could help ye out with your...you know...insomnia."

"It's a curse, you can say it how it is."

"It still feels wrong though, even after all this time. It's touchy ya know?"

"Forget that...I'll just meet people for the sake of meeting them. Though, I hope you'll be there to help."

"Why wouldn't I? We'll rock this thing, I just know it!"

Both friends nodded to each other. With Galacchio's resolve strengthened and Wilder's worry for his buddy gone, they both agreed to take the tournament head on. No matter the outcome, they were going to have some fun...

"...Wait, Wilder?"

"Hmm, what's up?"

"What if we have to face each other?"

"...Then I'll kick your butt!"

"What? No way, you're the one person I'd never lose to!"