Chapter 1: The Toad
"This is actually pretty good Touya. Thanks for making dinner so I could get ready for the concert tonight."
Touya pushed his chair back from the table and smiled at his little sister, "Just remember that you owe me one. Besides, it takes a lot less work to make me beautiful, so it won't take me as long to get ready for the concert."
Sakura slowly looked up from her plate, "W-w-what? You don't even like Kurage. Why would you want to go to their concert?"
"Don't you worry about it little sis. I'm not going there to spy on you. You won't even know I'm there."
Sakura pushed her chair back and began piling their dishes.
Touya watched as she carried the stack over to the sink. "Sakura, I know we agreed that I would try not to baby you so much, but… um… are you sure that wearing that outfit to the concert is such a good idea?"
Sakura stopped mid-stride and looked down at her clothes. "Hooeeeeee?" The shorts and top were shorter than anything she would ever wear outside of the house, not to mention that they were printed with little yellow duckies. Her face reddened as she turned to face her brother. "These are my PAJAMAS TOUYA! Tomoyo is coming over any minute with an outfit she made especially for this concert."
"Oh," this time it was Touya's face that took on a rosy glow. "Sorry," he mumbled. "I was just looking out for you kiddo."
"Whatever," Sakura said over her shoulder as she headed toward her room.
Sakura plopped down on her futon and stretched. She had a good feeling about tonight. Maybe something special would happen. She heard a faint knock from the other room and then the sound of Touya's laughter. Oh no! What sort of get-up did Tomoyo bring for her this time?
Tomoyo squealed as she rounded the corner, "Ooooh, look at how adorable you are all stretched out there like a cat! I brought you the very best outfit ever. I wanted you to look extra special tonight."
Sakura inwardly cringed and peeked at the package under Tomoyo's arm. It didn't look shiny or furry, so that was a good sign. She breathed a barely audible sigh of relief when Tomoyo pulled out an embroidered peasant blouse and some flared velvet bottoms. The colorful flowers on the collar and sleeves looked almost real, and tiny birds and butterflies seemed like they were flying in and out of the vines.
"It's beautiful!" Sakura exclaimed as she rolled off the futon.
"I'm so glad that you like it" said Tomoyo. Now hurry and get dressed so that we can get a good spot."
As the girls headed out the door toward Penguin Park a small toad hopped across their path. He turned to look at them and opened his mouth as if to croak, but nothing came out. The toad gave them a startled look and then bounced off into the bushes.
That's weird, Sakura thought as Tomoyo grabbed her arm and pulled her down the path. Oh well, maybe toads get laryngitis too.