I stood in front of my first friend Mai with the burning question...who will I take to the Flower Festival.
"Have you decided who you're taking yet?" Mai said with a faint giggle in her voice.
Little did she know that I was reading through my list of possible dates to the Festival.
Jon was kind and caring, but I was a bit worried that he cared too much about Jacques and the play to notice anything else.
PBG was easy going, but something about the way he looked at me still bothered me.
Satch was mature and really smart, but he seemed hard to get close to… or was I imagining that?
Then there was Shane, who...let's be honest, he hated me, there was no way he'd say yes...but then again he had started to warm up to me.
Paul of Continue?, popped into my head, too, but the last few times I hang around him, he caused major destruction.
Jirard was so caring and friendly, but I wasn't sure he was interested in me in that way.
There was Jared, too, but…
I looked at Mai.
I couldn't do that. Could I?
"Well, I…" I muttered, I still haven't made a decision.
Sure they are all great guys...AMAZING guys at that, but would they want to go to the Flower Festival with me?
I did not know, I was thinking PBG or Jirard...but then again I did reject his offer to the soccer game, and for Jirard I didn't go with him on his extended tour of the school which made him sad.
For Satch I didn't take his book to read on my first day, that and I don't think he'd give me the time of day at the Flower Festival.
As for Paul or Jared...I don't think they'd go with me for not choosing either of them over the poster incident a while ago.
And Shane...yeah probably not.
It was so hard to pick a date...then I realized something.
Maybe I did know who to go to the Festival with.
"I want to go...with you Mai." I said as Mai looked at me with a shocked expression.
"What?! Hana you sure don't you want to be with a guy?" She said turning her normal shade of red.
"Hmm...It doesn't have to be a guy...and I figured I want to spend the Festival with you." I said bluntly not thinking about what I said.
"But If you don't want to I ca-"I muttered until I was hoisted into the air by Mai.
"Oh Hana of course I wanna be with you, I just thought you want to go with one of the guys, but I'm super happy to go with you!" She yelled spinning me around being wary about not knocking me into the furniture.
"St-Stop please I'm dizzzyyyy" I said as Mai laughed loudly and plopped me on the bed.
"Hahahaha I'm sorry." She said with a massive smile.
"Oh god we got to get ready!" Mai said listing off many things she deemed necessary at a million words a second.
I felt like she was going to stay in that state of panic for quite sometime, so I took out Satch's book The Princess Betrothed, and started reading.
The next morning I woke up pretty late, hell super late it's almost noon, I looked around the room but Mai wasn't there...except a sealed envelope and a note with what looked like Mai's handwriting.
"Hey Sleepyhead, congrats on the achievement of sleeping later than I did, anyway I went out to do things we need for the festival so don't freak out about me not being there, oh and a letter came in the mail today, you should probably read that instead of me saying to read it...wow I made this super meta did I anyway but love you -Mai." It read, I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
'That Mai.' I thought as I ripped open the other letter in excitement knowing full well what it was… a letter from dad.
I read the note and almost felt tears stinging my eyes...I really miss him, I grabbed a pen off my counter and began writing a letter back to him.
" Dad, I'm doing really great here. This has been the best change in my life. I have a best friend and even a date to a festival at school. You sacrificed so much to bring me here. I know I hardly gave you any choice with the way things were going. I was spoiled and ungrateful, but you always did whatever was necessary for me. I miss you so much, but thank you. I know this was a huge sacrifice. Please eat well and take care of yourself. Remember, two glasses of water in the morning and one before bed. And have Breakfast! Scrambled eggs are easy to make. Draw a smiley face on them in ketchup, just like i would if I was there. I'll send my love through that, so make sure you do it! I miss you and tell mom happy birthday." I wrote trying not to let my tears drop and stain the page to let him know I was crying while writing this.
I let the emotions boil over, knowing Mai she will barge in at any secon-.
"Honey! I'm HOOOME!" She yelled in a goofy fashion, carrying our Yukatas and a makeup case.
"Oh hey Mai." I said feigning a smile.
I glanced at the time, it read 1:45 PM.
"Come on Hana! We have only a few hours until the Festival starts… we gotta get ready." She said shoving me onto our leather seats.
"What are we doing?" I asked.
"I'm doing your makeup of course." Mai said.
After a few excruciating hours of sitting still and not moving I was told that I was done and could open my eyes now...it barely just hit me that I had my eyes closed for the entire process.
I opened my eyes to see a mirror in front of me...I actually look beautiful.
"So what do you think?" Mai asked.
"I love it thank you." I said as she chuckled.
"Hey Hana you've been staring at yourself for a while you picking up Jared's habit?" Mai teased, I just realized I was staring into a mirror.
"Uh… I b-but." I stuttered as Mai laughed.
"Oh I'm just kidding Hana, you really look cute when you blush." She said which caused me to blush deeper.
"Sh-Shut up." I said as I got out of my seat, I didn't ask for my hair done because that took too long.
Mai on the other hand got her hair in a bun... she's really good at it not leaving any stray hairs sticking out.
When we finished Mai tossed me my Yukata.
"I went out early to get this pressed and dry cleaned, luckily I have a friend who can do it quickly, and cheaply too." she said as I took mine out, it was purple with pink roses all over it… it felt like it was brand new.
I wasted no time in putting it on, when I did Mai put hers on too.
"Wow you look beautiful." Mai said turning a bright shade of red which caused me to blush a bright shade of pink.
"Th-Thanks you too." I said with a smile on my face.
"Well what are we waiting for, let's go to the Festival area." Mai said as I nodded with excitement.
I wasted no time in running out the door.
"Last one there is a rotten egg!" I yelled out before running out the door frame.
"Hey no fair you have shoes." Mai complained as she ran after me...for having heels she blazed ahead of me...but slowed down to taunt me by running backwards.
"What happened to all that rotten egg talk?" She teased sticking out her tongue showing me a playful glint in her eyes.
I took that as a challenge, I rushed up to her and playfully tackled her, which took both her and me by surprise, one for my sudden urge to tackle Mai, and that there was a small incline to where I tackled her, and we rolled down a hill to a bonfire like area.
"Oh Mai I'm so sor-" I said frantically trying to apologize, but Mai started laughing like a maniac.
"Hahaha I didn't think you had it in you." She said getting up and stretching her hand out to hoist me up to my feet.
We then heard deep laughter behind us, we turned to see Satch and Jirard behind us watching the whole endeavour.
"You two sure know how to make an entrance." Satch said.
"You both alright?" Jirard asked.
"Oh yeah we're fine, but Hana though you all should watch out." Mai teased, "A feisty one she is." She said as I blushed.
"Sh-Shut up." I said, she sure knows what buttons to push to get reactions out of me.
"Haha so it was you who caused that tumble, I thought it was Mai." Satch said.
"Normally it would be, but she challenged me to a race, I clearly won by the way." She said.
"Nu uh I clearly was ahead of you at the end, that tackle was all a part of the plan." I said with a confident smile.
"Sure it was." Mai said overinunciating the 'was' part.
"Anyway let's see the booths." I said as Mai nodded.
"Oh yeah we should, see ya Satch and Jirard." Mai waved off and she led me over to the booth area.
When we got there, I was amazed at the sheer number of booths in the area, there were Games booths, Food booths, Origami booths, and Asagao even had it's own booth.
"What do you want to do first?" I asked as Mai was staring at a booth with a giant tank and a bunch of fish.
"Let's play." She said as she was already walking towards the booth.
I smiled and walked over with her.
"Try your luck ladies, 3 tries for 500 yen." The tender said.
Mai paid and got 3 nets handed one to me, she tried to catch one...then failed miserable.
"Grr, one more try." She said as she took the other and failed miserably again.
"Oh well you try Hana." Mai said, I don't know if I can do any better, though I did observe Mai's movements and I think I can do it.
Instead of dipping the paper net into the water, I waited for the fish to swim into my net, I then carefully scooped him up and put him in the tank...leaving Mai dumbfounded.
"Congrats kid." The tender said putting the fish in a little baggie and handing it to me.
"How did you do that Hana?" Mai asked.
"Well I have you to thank." I said flatly.
"For what?" She asked, now it's my turn to tease her.
"For failing so badly I knew what to not do." I said with a smirk as she lightly punched me in the arm.
"Oh haha." She said laughing.
I laughed and felt my stomach rumble...it must have been audible because Mai laughed.
"Hungry?" She asked as I blushed.
"Yeah." I admitted.
"Well there is a great place around here, follow me." Mai asked as I followed behind her like a lost puppy to a place with the great smell of grilled chicken wafting through the air.
"Two please." Mai asked as the chef nodded and started cooking.
A few minutes later two orders of a small cup bucket...thing of rice with five pieces of chickens on sticks were stuck inside the rice.
It didn't take me long to completely devour it...I lost control.
"Woah slow down Hana." Mai teased starting on her second piece of chicken.
"It's not my fault it was delicious." I shot back with a smile.
Mai laughed and checked her watch, "The festival is almost over wanna go to the bonfire area?" Mai asked.
"Let's go." I said as Mai took off running.
"My turn to get a head start." She yelled as she started running.
"Round two I guess." I said as I ran after her.
I caught up with her and hugged her in the back, "Guess I lost." I said as Mai laughed.
"Yup, but to be fair I do play volleyball." Mai said as I let go.
"Oh right I forgot." I said.
"Yeah I can see why we haven't won a championship yet so there is not much buzz about the team." Mai said bluntly.
"Oh...well this year might be different." I said with a smile.
"You are right." Mai said eating her last piece of chicken.
"So when is your first game?" I asked.
"Oh the season started a little while ago actually we are in game 10 right now." Mai said.
"Oh...sorry for not coming to see you play." I said.
"Ehh it's fine, our win loss record is I think 7-2." Mai said, "So we are in the playoffs right now, we just got to win at least 1 more games." Mai added.
"Wow, well I'll try and watch the other games." I said.
"Really? I'd love it if you would, not many people attend our games." Mai admitted rubbing the back of her head.
"Promise, every game I'll come watch." I said as Mai extended her pinky finger.
"Pinky Swear." Mai said with a smirk.
I rolled my eyes at the childish form of a promise but we locked pinky fingers.
With that the festival was over and we went back to our dorm room, once we got there I was too tired to do anything else, I just collapsed on my bed and fell asleep.
