Matsuri returned home, kicking her shoes off at the door only to shuffle and flop on the couch face first, exhausted. All the extra study she was doing the past week was making the girl rather tired and regretful for even asking Mei. Not that Mei was a bad teacher, just strict. Even though she had studied under her before, this time it seemed much more tiring.
Later that night, the rascal began to get up to her old ways, sending explicit photos to men in order to earn some Christmas money. The girl was smart however, still vying to send pictures of random girls she found on the internet. She'd never show anyone her body like that... 'well...' she thought to herself, maybe some people. A smirk formed on her face and soon after it was near midnight.
It wasn't long before a new day was upon the girl as she made her way back to school and pulled through the day. Come lunch time, Matsuri lay her head on the lunch table as Harumi and Yuzu spoke, stopping to look at her.
"What's wrong Matsuri?" The blonde girl asked her friend only to be met with a small grunt. Yuzu and Harumi looked at one another, slightly concerned before turning their attention back to Matsuri. "Matsuri!" Yuzu exclaimed as the girl slowly rose up, her eyes looking similar to a panda.
"Are you alright Matsuri? You don't look good." The larger chested girl said as she looked at the drained underclassman. Harumi and Matsuri always had a bit more of a rocky relationship. The former finding the other too hard to trust and unpredictable. While it was true, it was clear she was truly devoted to Yuzu and would only do things to aid the girl she viewed as an older sister. "Yeah, I'm ok..." she murmured between eye rubs. "... just kinda tired."
"Sounds like you need a day out to enjoy yourself instead of focusing on the upcoming exam. How about Saturday? "How about the three of us, and I can see if Mei, Nene and Himeko want to come too!" Yuzu sounded rather excited, after all, she really enjoyed shopping. There was little better than shopping with her best friends and her lover as well. Nodding in agreement, Harumi looked on as Matsuri rubbed the sleep from her eyes still before letting out a "Yes" mid yawn.
The rest of the week dragged on for the pink haired girl, even if there were just two days left. But soon it was the weekend and Matsuri could sleep in late. The clock passed by the early morning and soon arrived at noon, when she would awaken and quickly dress herself, hurrying out the door to meet her friends.
All four girls arrived outside the entrance of the train station. Mei with Yuzu in tow were the first to arrive, as if one would expect any less, followed by Harumi and then Matsuri, Nene was nowhere to be seen.
Matsuri wore some casual clothes, consisting of a black skirt and tight black leggings, along with a slightly baggy black parka and woolen hat. Her white headphones sat idly on her neck. Yuzu herself was adorned with a thick green winter jacket along with a yellow plaid scarf and some jeans, much similar to her sister Mei, who only differed in color and make up. Lastly, Harumin wore a thick navy tweed jacket, along with jeans and a large black handbag.
As they waited, and waited,the small vibration of a phone broke the silence, as Yuzu checked, frowning and giving a small sigh.
"She's not coming. She's feeling a little sick and says 'sorry' for making us wait." The blonde announced to the group, which was met with the disgruntled groans, before they all began to stroll for the shopping mall. Yuzu and Harumi took the front, leading the way as the experts in all things shopping, followed behind by Matsuri and Mei, who were a bit more outcast in terms of such things.
The first stop was a clothing store. As the group of girls walked into the brightly lit store, fine clothes dotted the eye-line. From gorgeous jackets, to beautiful dresses and shoes, as well as everything in between. As it was in the dead center of winter, most of the clothing was heavier, but still very fashionable. Matsuri rolled her eyes as she looked about; She was definitely more of a hoodie girl, one that preferred something more casual and comfortable over tight-fitting and restrictive. Meandering behind and nodding, the girl tried to hide her displeasure of the store from the others, before after what felt like a small eternity, they left, a whole two bags more than what they entered with.
Next, the girls wandered into the fray of a gift shop. Although these sort of stores were marketed more at tourists, it would most-certainly have some things to purchase for the upcoming event. Due to the nature of the store, the girls split up, in order to hide any potential gifts they were purchasing for the other. The pink haired girl stepped sullenly through a narrow aisle. She was still rather tired and a little off from the previous store. It was then that she passed by the end of the aisle where she saw an additional counter, one that can be used to obtain a more personal touch.
The group met back outside about half an hour later, pleased that they all seem to have gotten some use from that store. "Alright, I wonder where we should go next." The blonde Aihara girl said as she strolled alongside her sister, guiding the group. Answering her own question, Yuzu halted and looked at a poster before speaking. "What about a movie? I heard this one here is really good!" The girl spoke with glee as Harumi put her hand on her hips. "Is this another romantic movie Yuzucchi?" she spoke with a small sigh, as if she had come to expect such things from her friend.
"Oh come on, it'll be fun. What do you say?" Yuzu practically spoke like a child, trying to convince her parents to see a movie or buy a new toy. The other three looked at each other before admitting defeat. After all, it was supposed to be a fun and relaxing day, so a cheesy movie would fit right into that.
Inside the dark theater, as the movie's romantic heat began to flare up, Yuzu leaned her head on Mei's shoulder before stealing a kiss from the reserved girl under the cover of the darkness. Meanwhile, Matsuri and Harumi whispered to each other, making small jokes and jabs at the movie and it's generic plot-line. The two were just shy of hurling popcorn at the screen. The pair went to rest their arms on the seat divider, bumping each other as they did before their eyes locked. It was as if it too was ripped from that movie, but alas, the romance doesn't exactly work that way, instead leading to the two giggling at themselves.
Matsuri's mood had been lifted along with her energy from the day of relaxation and fun with the group. As they lamented to the train station they had met up at just hours before, the clouds above began to darken and reign in, a cool sharp breeze blew against the girls' face as they stood outside under the small roof, where other passengers debated if they should call a taxi before the rain began to fall.
"Well, I really enjoyed today Yuzzuchi." the perky girl said as she gave her friend a smile. "Of course, thank you both for coming!" The message was addressed to the non-Aihara girls as a huge grin was plastered on the gyaru's face. It was then the girls exchanged their pleasantries and began to split, the lovers going one way and the others another.
Little was said between Harumi and Matsuri on their meander towards their respective houses. As they reached but a few blocks away from Matsuri's apartment, a small trickle of water began to pitter down against the concrete slabs of pavement beneath the girls. Soon, the sky erupted in a thick mist of water as the clouds burst, releasing their stored rain upon the cityscape. The crack of thunder rang out from the distance as the two picked up their pace. "Come on, into my place." The underclassmen yelled as the torrent from the downpour made all words not shouted inaudible.
Entering from the lobby, the pair kicked their shoes off at the entrance, walking in like drenched rats. Matsuri sauntered to the bathroom, taking some towels and returning to her acquaintance. "Here, you should try to dry yourself off a little." The resident said as she tossed her guest the white fluffy linen before she removed her sopping hat and began to dry her hair with another towel. Harumi nodded before she took her phone out and began to make a call.
"Hi, yeah I got caught in that bad storm, I was wondering if I could get a ride home..." the girl spoke in a semi hushed tone. Judging by her mannerisms, Matsuri guessed Harumi was on the phone with her older sister. "... I don't know, I'm at Matsuri's apartment right now..." the smaller stature girl eavesdropped slightly as she removed her wet coat. "... ugh... I mean... I don't want to... ok.. Ok... I'll text you..." and with that, the call was heard ending.
"So is someone coming to get you?" the curious underclassman asked before her pairwise turned to address her. "No, the road to my home is already flooded and the bridge is closed off. The only way home is walking." Maybe Harumi thought too little of the mischievous girl. She began to mentally prepare herself to go back out in the torrential downfall, before being taken aback at Matsuri's words. "You can stay here tonight. If you get sick, I'll have to listen to Yuzu...