Christine

I was standing in the crowd, looking around for Kinnosuke, when I caught sight of him approaching with Kotoko. They seemed to be arguing about something, based on the way their arms were waving around.

When Kinnosuke saw me he broke off and headed my way; I suppose my hair colour does stand out some. To my surprise, Kotoko did not go stand next to Naoki, watching under a large tree with some fellow medical students, but joined her mother-in-law near the stage.

"Yo, Chris!" Kinnosuke greeted me. "I sure hope we trounce those nurses. Kotoko was talking smack about my oden, after scarfing down all those free helpings we gave her!"

"I'm sure you will be victorious," I assured him. "After all, we had to close early because our customers were so plentiful."

"Yeah, well, I hope that didn't get us any downvotes." He put on a glum face.

"Don't be silly, Kinnosuke!" I took hold of his arm and shook it. "Positive thinking!"

He gave me a crooked grin. "Right."

Squawk! The loudspeaker made us all cover our ears, then the master of ceremonies gave a rather rambling speech about the traditions of Tonan University in general and about the Fall Festival in particular. The audience began to murmur and shuffle at the length of his monologue until he finally got the message. "And now, what you've all been waiting for!"

I held hands with Kinnosuke when the Nursing Café came in third, and then the Anime Club took second place. "Please, please, please!" I closed my eyes and whispered.

"And the winner in our booth category...Kin-chan's Oden Stand!"

"You did it! Kinnosuke! You did it!"

A wide grin split his face. "We did it, Chris!" He looked as if he was about to say something else, then the announcer called out, "Kinnosuke, quit canoodling and come up to the stage!"

What lousy timing! At any rate, Kinnosuke was presented an oversize check for ¥500,000 as prize. "And do you have plans for all that money?"

My love appeared to be at a loss for words. "Plans…?"

The MC gave the audience a slow, exaggerated wink. "Maybe a wedding fund…?"

"Oh!" My face blushed. As if…! I wish people wouldn't tease Kinnosuke so much. It just makes him backpedal.

Sure enough, he started waving his finger and stuttering. "Hey! Wh-what're you talkin' about? We-wedding plans, indeed!"

"Ah, well," the host shrugged. "If you won't cooperate and entertain us, let us proceed to the next portion of our program. All right, folks! Here is the main attraction! The announcement of Mr. and Miss Tonan!"

Oh, yes, Kotoko had been eager to be named Miss Tonan. Of course, technically, she was a Mrs., but anyway…

"This year we decided to make it equal for both genders and had voting for Mr. Tonan instead of just letting Miss Tonan be the sole judge. So now, we're going to make an exception and have gentlemen first instead of ladies. And our Mr. Tonan for this year is...Irie Naoki!"

I glanced over to where he was standing. He jerked as if he had stuck a finger in a light socket, and the expression on his face was none too pleased. I wondered if it would have been any better if the tradition had not been changed and he had been named by his loving wife.

No matter, he didn't have a choice. He made his way to the stage, pushed forward by his jeering comrades. I managed to locate Kotoko. She and Mrs. Irie-san were holding onto each other in excitement. Well, I was glad for her. She would get to share the stage with her husband again.

"Well, our Mr. Tonan doesn't look too happy," the announcer laughed, "but I'm sure he's just waiting for his counterpart to arrive before showing a little joy. And this year we're adding an extra 'something' to this shindig. The lucky winners must share a passionate kiss onstage!" After the cheers and wolf whistles died down, he continued, "So, without any further ado, the Miss Tonan for this year is...drum roll, please...Christine Robins from the cafeteria, who could also be seen at our winning booth today! Chris, please come forward."


Kinnosuke

I was so startled that I almost dropped that big fake check poster. Chris!? Chris was selected Miss Tonan?! Of course, she was pretty and all, but winning meant that a lot of men had voted for her. And that jackass with the microphone was saying that some of the comments were 'she looks cute in her kimono' and 'she is the angel of the school's cafeteria'! What lecherous perverts had written those things?! As my eyes darted from here to there, trying to spy the most likely suspects, I saw Kotoko, half-fainted in Mrs. Irie's arms.

Irie! I turned to him with a snarl. He was looking straight at me, bored as usual, with one of his damned raised eyebrow expressions, as if to ask, 'What do you expect me to do about it?' When his eyes dropped to the ground, I followed their direction and saw Chris, being urged to the steps, with people patting her on the back in congratulation. Those mongrels! They had the nerve to touch her—!

She finally made it up there, her face all blushing, and they put a crown on her head. "Now, Chris-san, any words about how you feel?" the announcer asked, putting his microphone in front of her.

"Thank you much desse!" She bowed to him and the audience then turned to Irie. "Yo, Naoki!" She gave him a wave.

"Yo," he said back.

"And now, folks, let's make this coronation complete—it's time for the king and queen to share a great big kiss!"

Time seemed to freeze. Chris looked at Irie then at me. Then she turned around to the loudmouth in charge. "What are you talking about nen? Naoki is Kotoko's husband. I can't do something like that."

Whew! That made me realize that I had been holding my breath. But that announcer didn't give up. "Yes, everyone knows that, but those are the rules." He turned to Irie. "So, Irie, are you going to complain as well?"

The jerk glanced over at me then shrugged. "I don't mind." Ack! What is the world coming to?

That MC started hooting and hollering. "Oho! Irie is willing to do it. I guess it proves that the celebrated genius is still a man!"

Chris pointed at the bastard. "Naoki, are you sure you're all right dekka? You know Kotoko is down there watching."

"It's the rules," he said flatly before putting his hands on her shoulders. "It's not every day there's a chance like this, so why not?"

My body moved faster than my brain in this case. Before I knew it I had pushed him away from her and made a wild swing at his smirking face. "Irie, you—!"

Naturally he had seen this coming and leaned away. My forward motion didn't stop, and I ended up on my knees in front of everyone. Chris leaned down to help me up. "Oh, Kinnosuke!"

I ignored her and rounded on Irie again. "You've got to be kidding me, Irie!" I shouted. "First Kotoko and now Chris?! This stops now!" I stood between them with arms spread. "Chris is mine!"

The crowd erupted in cheers and whistles. I swayed on my feet, realizing what I had just done.

Irie pulled the gaudy plastic crown off his head and thumped it onto mine. "You said it, Kinnosuke. Congratulations."

"What—?" I stared at his smug face. "You mean, you didn't intend to—? Did you plan this?"

The genius snorted. "This charade, you mean? Hardly. But I had no fear that I would have to go through with the kiss. If it hadn't been you, she"—he jerked a thumb at the crowd—"would have stopped it." I looked that direction and saw Kotoko, frozen in mid-stride, halfway up the steps. "Now that I'm finished here, let me go take care of that situation," he sighed as he walked away.

I slowly turned around. Chris stood there with tears on her face. That cheap crown on her head truly made her look like a queen. "Kinnosuke? You love me?" she asked.

I took a deep breath. "Th-that's right!" I yelled. "Got a problem with that?!"

Before I knew it she had me in a death grip and was laying one hell of a kiss on me. I didn't care who was watching by then, so I hugged her tighter and kissed her back. When I came up for air, I saw Kotoko and Irie doing much the same. For the first time since never, it didn't mean a thing to me.