The invitation to a kabuki show should come as no surprise since the Shinkengers have disbanded and Ryuunosuke is back.
Syuusuke knew that Yumiko's relief was palpable when they got the news that Ryuunosuke has completed his duty as a Shinkenger and will be coming to Tokyo for a performance. While not close to his cousin as Yumiko was, Syuusuke had a degree of respect for Ryuunosuke for the devotion he has for his mission and Kabuki.
At one time early in his life, he didn't have any sort of enthusiasm for anything, not even the tennis he played. But that all changed. It's been years since his match with Shiraishi and he woke up his tennis. Yet, what he learned and experience from it, he kept in his heart. He now had a better understanding of Ryuunosuke's passion for Kabuki and being a Samurai, and of Yuuta's determination to surpass him.
It is also because of his newfound passion for the sport he played that he made a vow to one day stand by Tezuka's side again as an equal. That dream isn't far off. Just a little more and he will graduate from high school. He already got offers to join the Japanese National Team but decided to put off accepting them to complete his studies, something his parents and sister insisted.
"Yuuta will be back then. He can come along." Yumiko said after observing the dates.
"Hm, that's good." Syuusuke smiled easily. He always had an interest in Kabuki and the art itself was unique. Though Yuuta was not as interested in kabuki, he was sure his younger brother would love the chance to catch up with their older cousin.
The auditorium where the kabuki show will be held was packed when the Fuji siblings arrived. Syuusuke was glad. It meant that the practice was still popular amongst the people of Japan.
"Let's see..." Yumiko scanned the auditorium and soon found the area reserved for the VIP. "Come on."
She led them over to the VIP section and flashed Ryuunosuke's tickets to the person in charge and they were let in.
"Did Ryuu-san mention what role he's taking in this play?" Syuusuke asked his sister.
"No, he just said that it's a surprise."
"Maybe he doesn't need you to know so that you won't embarrass him later." Yuuta muttered under his breath. He didn't really want to come but Yumiko and Syuusuke ganged up on him and made him. He and Ryuunosuke were not very close since he seldom visited them. Though, Ryuunosuke was fond of his family, that's for sure.
Another girl around his age slipped into the VIP section toting a cloth bag around her shoulders and some boxes in her hands. Everything about her screamed country bumpkin as she nearly tripped over Syuusuke's foot.
"Ah, I'm so sorry!" The girl bowed in apology.
"It's fine. Are you alright?" Syuusuke smiled at her and helped her gather the boxes she dropped.
"Yes, thank you for your help." The girl bowed as she accepted the boxes. When she got a good look of Syuusuke's face, she jumped in alarm. "Ryuu-san!? Why are you here? I thought you were performing today?"
The Fuji siblings exchanged looks and Syuusuke smiled back at the girl with an understanding look from his now open eyes. "You misunderstand. I am Fuji Syuusuke, Ryuu-san's cousin."
The girl immediately turned red and she bowed again in apology. "I'm sorry! You and Ryuu-san just look so alike."
"It's fine, we get that a lot." Yumiko assured her. She gestured for the girl to sit down next to her. "You must be one of Ryuu-chan's friend from the special kendo school."
"What-?! Ah, yes I am." The girl nodded vigorously when she caught on what Yumiko was saying. "I'm Hanaori Kotoha."
"Fuji Yumiko, and these are my brothers, Syuusuke and Yuuta."
Yuuta gave Kotoha a polite nod while Syuusuke gave her a friendly wave.
Kotoha smiled and handed Yumiko one of her boxes. "Here, these are souvenirs from Kyoto."
"Oh, but we can't…"
"It's fine. Most of Ryuu-san and my friends suddenly could not make it. So you might as well have them." Kotoha insisted.
"You seem quiet young for someone who was on Ryuu-san's team." Yuuta eyed her critically.
"Yuuta!" Yumiko lightly chaffed him.
"It's fine." Kotoha shook her head. "My older sister was supposed to be the one on the team but she was too sick to join. So I had to take her place."
Suddenly, Yuuta felt bad for asking Kotoha that. And Syuusuke's eyes were open and sharp, scanning the girl intently. But the only thing he found was the shrewd, burdened yet relieved eyes amidst the girl's simple, gentle face.
"Oh, I'm very sorry to hear that." Yumiko said sincerely. "Is your sister alright?"
"She's recovered from her illness a long time ago, but her body was very weak by the time we got the summons. But recently she's regaining strength. Now, she is able to go trekking in the bamboo forest behind our home."
The Fuji siblings visibly relaxed at that. Yumiko smiled sincerely at the younger girl. "That's good to hear."
"Yo!"
"Chiaki! I thought you weren't coming!" Kotoha said as she hugged her best friend who plopped down beside her.
Chiaki returned the gesture and gave a small aggrieved sigh. "Ryuunosuke won't stop bombarding my phone with calls and messages until I agreed to come."
"You and Ryuu-chan must be close for him to want you here." Yumiko remarked with a small smile.
Chiaki jumped, having noticed the Fuji siblings for the first time but had to do a double take when he spotted Syuusuke. "What…?"
"They are Ryuu-san's cousins. That's why Syuusuke-san looks like him." Kotoha explained, beaming. "Yumiko-san is the one who sent him all those gift baskets and Syuusuke-san and Yuuta-san are the ones who play tennis."
This time, it's the siblings' turn to blink at the young girl. "You managed to guess it?" Syuusuke gave her a wry smile.
"It's pretty obvious when you told me you are his cousin." Kotoha smiled kindly.
"So Chiaki-kun, you are from the special kendo school as well?" Yumiko asked the young man.
Chiaki looked puzzled over what Yumiko said and glanced at Kotoha who whispered something to him making him go 'oh' in understanding. He grimaced and turned aside, mouthing, 'special kendo school?'
"Well, we aren't supposed to talk about it openly." Syuusuke said smoothly to Chiaki's unspoken question.
Chiaki was about to retort that when he spotted Yuuta staring at Kotoha too long. When Yuuta realized that Chiaki was glaring at him, he quickly turned away. This did not go unnoticed by Syuusuke either who smiled and whispered to his brother.
"You like her?"
Yuuta's face turned an interesting shade of red as he glared at his brother. "No!"
"Oh?" This time, Yumiko joined in and gave Yuuta a deadpanned look.
"Really! Stop looking at me like that!"
Oblivious to the siblings' antics, Kotoha chatted with Chiaki, catching up on the months' missed after they went their separate ways.
"Heh, I can't believe you accidentally made a glitter bomb like that." Chiaki marveled at one of Kotoha's stories of her new high school and friends.
Kotoha blushed and lightly punched his arm. "It was not intentional! Besides, it's not as bad as the time you tried to prank Ryuunosuke and Tono-sama with that onion bomb."
Chiaki shuddered at the memory of the prank. On paper it seemed like a good idea...until Takeru got positively boiling mad and tied him down to listen to Jii recite the Shiba chronicles all night. That was not an experience he wanted to repeat so onions were listed in his personal banned prank items.
"I have to ask, what kind of Samurai Ryuu-san is?" Syuusuke suddenly asked the two samurai sitting with them, Yuuta's supposed crush on Kotoha temporarily forgotten to the younger brother's relief.
"He's annoying." Chiaki immediately said.
"Chiaki." Kotoha hit his arm and gave him a meaningful look. Chiaki stubbornly remained silent but eventually caved under his friend's pressure. "But a good samurai once you get past all the tono worship." He added with a mumble.
"Tono worship?"
"Ryuu-san is extremely respectful to Tono-sama but it can be overwhelming in the beginning. But over time, we got used to it. And don't let Chiaki fool you. The two of them became close friends by the time we finished our battles." Kotoha explained, making Chiaki sputter indignantly.
"That sounds very much like him." Yumiko managed a smile. "Ojisan always held a strict standard of etiquette with him. He would only loosen up when he was spending time with us."
Syuusuke gazed at Chiaki and realized that yes, he looked like the type of person who can become close friends with Ryuunosuke. It reminded him of his own pair in Seigaku. He smiled, thinking that it was a good thing for Ryuunosuke to create amazing bonds with his fellow samurai. Whenever he spent time with their family when they were younger, he always seemed lonely and cherished those visits.
The stage then went dark and the group quieted down. The show was about to start.
"Do you see Ryuu-chan?" Yumiko scanned the stage for said water Samurai. But with the actors in their get up and makeup caked over their faces, it was impossible to recognize their cousin.
"Ah, I see him." Chiaki pointed at an actor playing the female lead. Kotoha followed his finger and nodded in agreement. Yuuta had to rub his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
"Ryuu-san is playing a female role? Are you sure?"
"We've seen Ryuu-san practice his onnagata at the manor. It's him." Kotoha confirmed. Chiaki muttered something under his breath but Syuusuke and Yumiko caught something along the lines of 'becoming a bride again' and 'saving hostages'. The corners of the former's lips twitched upwards. Sounds like the Shinkengers had some interesting moments besides fighting the Gedoushuu.
He turned to his brother with a playful look. "Maybe you should ask Ryuu-san to teach you kabuki. You would look good playing the female role."
The indignant squawk from Yuuta garnered glares in their direction and he shrank into his seat. Chiaki threw him a sympathetic look.
The performance went on as though nothing had happened. Syuusuke found himself enjoying it a lot. Yumiko and Kotoha also appreciated the performance. Yuuta forced himself to look interested but gave up ten minutes in. As much as he wanted to support his cousin, tennis was more fun and he would rather watch his brother play with Kirihara again than sit through another Kabuki performance.
Chiaki was a bit like Yuuta where he showed no interest in the show. But when Ryuunosuke was on the stage, he would straighten up and pay better attention. Syuusuke smirked slightly behind his mask. Intriguing.
"That was a good performance!"
Ryuunosuke nearly jumped at the voice and spun around with a wide grin. "Kotoha! You're here!"
"I wouldn't miss it, Ryuu-san." She hugged him. "Chiaki and your cousins are waiting outside. Do you want to join us for dinner?"
"That Chiaki, he did come." Ryuunosuke sighed affectionately for the green samurai. He then registered that his cousins were also here and he grinned. "Yumiko and the others are here too? That's great! I'm going to tell my father I'm going off first then join you guys."
Kotoha giggled at her friend's customary enthusiasm. "Alright. We'll wait for you at the main entrance."
Once she went back to join the others, Ryuunosuke got the makeup off and was out of his costume in record time. As soon as he got permission from his father to be excused, he was out in a flash.
"Yumiko-san! Syuu! Yuuta!" Ryuunosuke hugged each of his cousins when he saw them.
"Ryuu-chan!" Yumiko's smile brightened and she eyed him up down. "You look well. We really enjoyed your performance."
"We couldn't recognize you initially but your friends did." Syuusuke inputted.
"Oh." Ryuunosuke pulled away with a small grin and turned to Chiaki who rolled his eyes.
"Your onnagata was so obvious. And you were subconsciously incorporating your swordplay movements in some parts."
"You noticed?" Ryuunosuke blinked in surprise. "I didn't realize it until my father told me afterwards."
Kotoha had a secret smile and clapped her hands. "We haven't decided on where to have dinner. Any suggestions?"
"I have a friend whose family runs a sushi restaurant nearby. We can go there and eat then go to the carnival in town." Syuusuke suggested.
"Ah, you mean Kawamura-san's place. That's great. I haven't had their sushi in a long time."
"Great! Let's go. I'm starving. I haven't had anything to eat since noon!" Ryuunosuke slung his arms around Chiaki's shoulders and dragged him behind Syuusuke who led them to the restaurant.
"Oi!" Chiaki tried to shrug him off to no avail. "Don't pull me like that!"
"Don't pretend that you're not enjoying it!"
Syuusuke glanced back with an amused smile at his cousin and friend's banter and turned to Kotoha. "This is very normal for them, isn't it?"
"Yup." Kotoha grinned. "Chiaki and Ryuu-san have a camaraderie where they feel very comfortable arguing with each other. And ever since the Mochi glue incident, they've developed a deeper bond."
"I see." Syuusuke smiled lightly. He will have to ask Kotoha to tell him more about the Mochi glue thing later. It might be a fun story to hear. "So are they…"
"They are best of friends and I admire the bond they have." Kotoha said firmly. "I know that it might seem like there might be more but trust me, it's just the way their friendship works. It's no different when people think that Chiaki and I are a couple just because we are best friends."
Syuusuke chuckled, though it was hidden behind his hand. Kotoha might be right. He then turned to Yuuta and caught him staring at Kotoha again. The corners of his lips twitched up. His brother was not being subtle at all. And it was cute that he was crushing on the younger girl.
Kotoha had a charm and energy that Syuusuke admired despite her young age. Despite fighting the Gedoushuu, she still had an innocence to her that he knew Chiaki, Ryuunosuke, and the rest of their team tried to protect. So naturally, Yuuta would like her too.
But, the bantering behind them stopped and Syuusuke glanced at them. Chiaki and Ryuunosuke noticed Yuuta's staring and were now whispering in hushed tones. Chiaki looked like he wanted to confront Yuuta but Ryuunosuke was holding him back. But at the same time, his cousin looked torn between letting Chiaki do what he wants and protecting Yuuta.
Inwardly, Syuusuke sighed. Yuuta won't be having it easy if he wants to chase Kotoha. He can understand Chiaki and Ryuunosuke's protectiveness of Kotoha but he too wanted to protect his brother. He won't interfere unless they do something to his brother. Until then, he will watch his brother pine for the youngest Shinkenger.