"Did you hear?" squealed Sammie as she entered the bridge. "There's going to be a festival in New Macross in a few weeks."
"Ooo, what kind of festival," said Vanessa as she monitored her radar.
"I'm not sure, what kinda, I just heard about it from the assistant in the mayor's office. All she said was that it was going to be held in the Japantown area."
Lisa perked up when she heard what Sammie and Vanessa was talking about. "Are you sure Sammie?" asked Lisa. Vanessa and Sammie looked at each other, usually Lisa just ignored whatever the two of them gossiped about. Sammie smiled, happy to see Lisa participating in the discussion and not her usual stern self. "Yes, she said it was going to be in mid July and that we would need to dress up, but I wasn't sure what kinda dress she meant," said Sammie.
"Ah! Did she say it was a Bon festival or Obon festival?" questioned Lisa.
"Oh you're right she did! How did you know Lisa? Did you already hear about the festival?" asked Sammie.
"No, it's just that would be the right time for that type of festival, it's a Japanese festival to honor one's ancestors," said Lisa. "Even though the festival sounds somber, they are quite fun, lots of food to eat, games to play, dancing and usually a fireworks show at the end."
"Sounds like so much fun Lisa, we should all go together." said Vanessa and Sammy. Lisa smiled, "I think that is a great idea girls, and I am sure Claudia and Kim would want to go as well." The women spent of the rest of the day monitoring their stations and planning their outing to the festival. The spirits on the bridge of the SFD-2 were high that day as they bridge team looked forward to the festival to give them a break from the constant work and duty that the constant reconstruction called for.
The next week, the girls asked Lisa to join them for a shopping spree. "We are going to see if we can get one of those yukatas you mentioned Lisa after work, do you want to join us?"said Sammie
"Oh yes, I would love to!" said Lisa, "Thank you so much for asking."
The four ladies left work that day and headed towards Japantown in New Macross. The day was hot as they headed towards the Japantown center and they could see many new buildings and parks being constructed for the survivors of Dolza's Rain. While major metropolitan areas were all but destroyed in the attack there were areas that were left untouched and many small towns escaped unscathed. It did not stop the trickle of refugees coming to Macross even though the RDF and charity organizations in each region worked together to ensure that those remaining in those areas had food and shelter.
Lisa, Kim, Sammy and Vanessa passed the wooden gates that denoted the entrance to the Japanese District. The residents of the area were busy preparing for the festival. Construction workers were making portable wooden booths that would house the food, games and vendors that sold trinkets during the festival. Other workers on ladders hung large paper lanterns from the light posts. There was an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement.
"I can't wait, for Saturday to come,"said Sammie. "I hope we can find something cute to wear."
The women walked down the sidewalk, looking into all the shops and pointed out all the cute things that they saw. They saw a ramen shop as well that displayed these beautiful bowls of different ramen and other Japanese delicacies, they all looked at one another and said, "Let's go there for dinner."
They finally found the kimono shop that they were looking for and entered the shop and was greeted with a small bow by the older woman shopkeeper. "Youkoso irasshai mashita ! Ah, such pretty ladies, you must be here to buy yukata for the festival on Saturday. Ne?... Ah Misa-chan is that you?"
"Hai – Saito-san, Ogenki desuka? " Lisa greeted the shopkeeper with a bow and said, "It's been a long time, I'm sorry I have not come to see you earlier."
Mrs. Saito came up and gave Lisa a hug, "Eh, Misa-chan, no worries, we all know that you have been very busy and you did so much for us when we were living on the ship."
Sammy, Vanessa and Kim looked at each other, they didn't know that Lisa was familiar with the shop owner and was surprised to hear Lisa and Mrs. Saito continue their conversation in fluent Japanese. After a few moments, Lisa turned to her friends. "Girls, I'd like you to meet Mrs. Saito," said Lisa, with a smile. "She'll help you pick out just the right yukata for Saturday."
The trio who had been looking at the various fabrics laid out while Lisa and Mrs. Saito were chatting rushed forward to point out their favorites. Two hours later the three woman had their completed their purchases. The trio were thrilled with the beautiful colorful yukatas that they purchased as well as the little drawstring bags to use as a purse that matched their yukatas. "Lisa, didn't you buy anything," said Kim as they left the shop heading to the ramen shop they saw earlier. "Oh I already have a couple of yukatas, and don't need to buy another one, but I did buy some cute hair accessories!" replied Lisa waving a small brightly wrapped package.
After the ladies sat down at the ramen shop and ordered their meals, the conversation turned from their newly purchase yukata's and accessories to Lisa. "Where did you learn to speak Japanese so well, was it after you got to Macross Island?" asked Sammie.
Lisa smiled, "No, there wouldn't have been enough time, I actually lived in Japan for a bit when I was younger and stayed until I went to boarding school at 12. I loved living there and had a really hard time leaving when I had to go away to school. I came back as often as I could. I stayed with a host family one year, who was the cousin of Mrs. Saito. I became very close to them and when I was transferred to Macross Island, they introduced me to Mrs. Saito. I would visit her and her family when I had time off. I was so happy to hear that they got safely on the ship when the SDF-1 folded near Pluto. The Saito's are very dear to me and consider them as family. The shop you see today is tiny compared to the shop the family owned in Japan, they were known for the most beautiful kimonos worn by some of the most famous of the Gion geiko or geishas. Luckily all was not lost in Dolza's attack. The Saito's had a huge underground storage facility to store some of the older kimonos and were able to also use it as a bunker during the attack and sheltered many of their neighbors and family when the Zentraedi fleet started to appear in our atmosphere. They are still in Japan, but managed to ship some inventory to Mrs. Saito to sell for the Obon festival as it wouldn't be the same without the traditional clothing."
"I can't wait to wear mine," said Kim dreamily, as she imagined herself in the yukata meeting a handsome man at the festival.
"Well, it's going to take some practice to get dressed in them and tie the obi around,"said Vanessa practically
"We'll all help one another and Mrs. Saito has a friend that works in the mess hall that she said would be willing to help us get into our outfits if you have trouble," soothed Lisa. "It's been a while since I wore one but I am sure it will come back to me."