Summer: Festival, part 1

"Kotoko-chan!" Mrs. Irie called out as Kotoko placed her folded Donny's apron in a bag with the rest of her uniform. "Why are you always working? It's summer break. You're supposed to be having fun! Let me call Onii-chan and have him take you on a date."

"Mrs. Irie," Kotoko replied patiently, "Irie-kun is not going to go out with me. And I enjoy working. I'm earning money so I can have my own fun."

"That's right, Kotoko-chan!" she realized. "I forgot that Onii-chan sees you every day at Donny's. With all that time together, it won't be long before he comes to his senses and realizes what he feels for you. Remember to smile at him, and maybe put on a little more makeup. I read an article about how to attract…"

Kotoko started humming to herself to drown out the annoying whine of Mrs. Irie's voice. Bless her heart, she loved her, but she just wouldn't quit! Now that Irie-kun was back from the country, his mother was on her case 24/7.

It was too bad that the absence hadn't improved his personality. Every day it seemed like he would make an age insult such as "Still baby-sitting, Kotoko?" or "How's the kouhai dating scene working out for you?" or "Rob the cradle much?" Gee! Taketo-kun was only one year younger than she was! She was half-tempted to quit her job but she wanted to wait until she had another lined up first. Of course, Oto-san would take her on in an instant, but then she'd have to deal with Kin-chan every day. With Mrs. Irie bugging her at home, she didn't need the same thing at work.

As Kotoko bent in the foyer to put on her shoes, she looked up the stairway. Yuuki-kun was leaning against the wall around the corner of the landing, out of sight of his mother. He opened and closed his hand to mimic his mother's constant stream of words. Kotoko choked back a laugh and waved goodbye to him.

She sighed as she walked to the station. Her hours at Donny's weren't really that long. Taketo-kun came to see her home each evening, and they often strolled around for an hour or so, sometimes taking in a movie or snack. It wasn't worth the hassle of getting Mrs. Irie all hot and bothered to have him pick her up for a date. She was so lucky that Taketo-kun was understanding about the situation, but she did wish that her extended family would wish her well.

"Aren't you going to speak to me?"

Kotoko started. "Irie-kun!" She gaped at him, standing in the middle of the path. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm coming to visit my family, or is that not allowed?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Goodness sakes, of course it is! And I wish you wouldn't make your mother ask so many times," she scolded. "She really misses you, you know."

"Yeah," Naoki sighed and looked over her shoulder. "But she has this idea of how I can please her that I really don't want to live up to…"

"Then don't," she retorted tartly. "You're almost twenty years old, so tell her how you feel. At least if you can make her understand—really understand—the pressure would be off me."

"What do you mean?" he sneered. "I've always said that I didn't want my love life decided by my mother."

"Yes, you did," she agreed. "Except when you were provoked to say the opposite, and don't deny that you've done that! Just often enough to give her—and me—hope."

"Do you still have hope, Kotoko?" he asked.

"Not in you," she answered shortly."And I'm going to be late to work if I don't hurry. Now go home and give your mother a hug and kiss."

"Wouldn't you rather I kissed you?" Naoki taunted.

"Not particularly. Besides we're going in opposite directions, aren't we?" She stomped off.

"Literally and figuratively," he muttered, then shrugged and continued to the house. "I'm home!" he called upon entering.

"Onii-chan!" Yuuki called, heading toward him before giving way to his stampeding mother.

"Oniiiii-chaaan!" Mrs. Irie enveloped him in a smothering hug. "Why don't you come to see us more often?"

"Well, I only got back in town a week ago," he explained as he disentangled her arms.

"And Kotoko-chan just left! She had to go to work! You know, she misses you too!" His mother was laying it on thick, all right. He pitied his brother—and Kotoko—for having to put up with her all the time.

"I saw her outside and spoke to her a few minutes ago. And it's not as if we don't work at the same place."

"But they schedule her so late! If only you two could get off at a reasonable hour and have some time together," she pouted.

He rolled his eyes. "Ma, are you ever going to stop this? And Kotoko hardly ever works late. She usually gets off at seven."

"Really!? But she doesn't come back until after dark! Do you think she has another job?" asked his mother querulously.

"No, Mom, for the forty-seventh time, she has a boyfriend!" chimed in Yuuki. "She's just tired of you giving her so much grief about Onii-chan that she doesn't tell you when she sees him."

"And how do you know that, young man?" His mother turned on him with a scowl. "I don't think Kotoko-chan would sneak around and deceive me like that!"

"Have it your way," Yuuki shrugged. "Nice to see you, Onii-chan," he greeted his brother. "Are you staying for dinner?"

"I suppose so. I'll probably leave right after, since I want to visit the library as it's open late tonight."

"Study, study, study!" His mother complained. "No wonder Kotoko is dating someone else. You're so boring! Say!" She put a finger beside her mouth dramatically. "Why don't you invite her on a fun outing? The summer festival is next week…"

"Here you go again, Ma," her older son complained.


"You don't have to worry, Onii-chan," Yuuki informed him as they waited in his room while their mother prepared dinner. "Kotoko already has plans to go to the festival with Taketo-san. Take that!" he said as his fingers flew across the video game controller.

"So Taketo has visited the house?" His brother asked nonchalantly as he manipulated his own player in the game.

"Yeah, a couple times. Mom acted so weird the last time that Kotoko swelled up and got red in the face. She hasn't brought him back since." After another flurry of video action, he added, "He seems like he's all right."

"Yes, he is. Well, I'm out." Naoki set down the controller and rested his head against the wall while he stared in the distance—at nothing.