"Besides, you really need to meet a man."
This comment was greeted with a glare.
"Do not give me that look, lady! You know it's true. It is time that you get a proper date, find a potential suitor. And do not give me that line that no boy is good enough in this lame town. We both know there is a certain Mayor's son who catches your eye."
Cremia laughed, clasping her hands against her heavy bosom as Anju's face grew a bright crimson color.
"I knew it! I simply knew it. And I happen to know for a fact that he will be there too. This would be perfect, Anju. Simply perfect, I can even introduce you. I know him because of his mum."
Anju finally found her voice; her friend was always a whirlwind of excitement. Fingers tangled in her shoulder length red hair as she spoke.
"That is all good and well, but why would he even want to know me? I am just the inn girl. What do I have to offer to the Mayor's son, anyways? And how would you even know who he is in the crowed. Everyone is going to be wearing masks."
She knew she was grasping at excuses, but she didn't know if she could handle a rejection by the only boy who had ever caught her eye.
Anju could even remember the first time they had met when they were both much younger.
Her father's hand was warm as he held her tightly as they watched the movers carry their belongings off the carriage that had brought them to Clock Town. Mother had complained the whole journey, but Anju had been delighted by it. Sitting in the back of the carriage on a box of dishes she got to watch the world through the opening in the fabric.
To the north she could even see the peaks of the snowy mountains, Snowhead, her father had said they were called. Anju had squealed with delight and cuddled her rag doll close to her chest. Someday, she promised herself, daddy, rag doll and herself were going to go see those snowy mountains. She had never seen snow. Mother said she wasn't missing much.
Mother had not stopped complaining since the moment they had begun their journey, and she most certainly had not stopped when they finally arrived at their destination. The building was too small, the town had a strange smell and they had left their cuccos behind.
But Father had just smiled. This was his dream, and he was making it a reality. A reality, he promised that would make Anju's future a lot brighter.
The Mayor himself had come to greet the newest additions to Clock Town; the scrawny man stood talking to her parents when she noticed him.
Standing just behind his father was an even scrawnier little boy. His purple hair fell messily around his thin face as he stared at her intently. One hand held the tails of his father's coat; while the other rubbed a pendant that he wore around his neck.
She had thought the pendant was beautiful, but was too timid to say anything. Instead, Anju continued to cling tightly to her father's hand and remind quiet.
Unfortunately, Kafei seemed to have the same idea and neither of them spoke a word to each other that day.
She was pulled out of her distant memories by Cremia's thin fingers snapping inches away from her nose. "Hey, earth to Anju! Are you even listening to me? Kafei is super easy to find at the dance, he always wears a Keaton mask. And trust me, if he doesn't like you, his loss."
She opened her mouth to say more but the sound of footsteps approaching the door caused both girls to stop and stare wide eyed at the door. The ranch girl pushed herself off the desk and caught her friend's hand in her own.
"Guess it's time to fly. Please don't be scared, I'll keep you safe. Meet me at the West gate, the guard there won't ask any questions." And with that, she spun around on the toe of her boots and hurried back up the stairs she had originated from.
The sound of the door to the balcony clicking shut came just moments before the main door to the inn swung open.
Anju sucked in a deep breath and tried to push down the growing hope that was forming inside her.
"Hello Mo…" she began to greet before she noticed who had walked through the Stock Pot Inn's door. Her face reddened as she pressed the palm of her hand against her mouth in embarrassment.
"I am so SO sorry. I wasn't expecting anyone, but my mother at this time of night." She began to stumble over her words as she watched her guest move closer to the desk.
He held up a hand that silenced her quickly before dropping it back down to rub the pendent he still wore around his neck. Although, he had learned to tame his shock of purple hair over the years, Kafei seemed almost unchanged, besides a bit taller.
The visitor offered her a tight smile. "I will assume then that your mother is not in?" His left eyebrow rose.
Anju shook her head, afraid to speak and say something embarrassing.
"A pity; Madam Aroma sent me to speak to her concerning her debts to the bank. Will you please tell her that I called on her? If she has questions, she knows where to find my mother." He finished curtly and turned away.
As soon as he was out the door, she let out a large sigh of relief. Dropping her head into her lap, Anju shuddered at the potential future for her family. The debt they owed to the bank was quite a hefty sum, she knew that. She also knew that there was no way her family was going to pay it off anytime soon. Even with the business the Carnival brought in, it would never be enough.
Not only faced with the fear of her family falling even deeper into debt, she had the fact that the debt collector was no other then the boy she had a secret crush on.