To celebrate Setsubun, I wanted to write a little family fic. It occurs Feb 3. Setsubun is a fun Japanese festival celebrated the day before the first day of spring (on February 3rd). Families celebrate by throwing roasted soybeans outside the door of their house to chase out the oni (naughty ogres or spirits) or, even more fun, throwing roasted soybeans at dad dressed up like an oni! So I must give credit to Chapter 6 of Elma OL Nikki which inspired me to write this chapter.

"Today is Setsubun"

Haru and Elma looks at me.
"What is that, Nai?" Elma asks.

"It is the day before the first day of spring. Families celebrate by throwing soy beans at the doorway to keep the oni out."

Elma looks surprised. "Oni? I see, so they exist in this world too"

"It's kind of a tradition."

I put on an oni mask.

Haru grabs some soy beans from the kitchen and throws them at me.

"Oni Out! Happiness In!" he shouts.

"Don't worry Haru-kun. Mommy will also protect you from the evil oni" Elma also throws some soy beans at me while chanting.

The soy beans hit like bullets because they throw so fast and they have a whole bag!

"Okay guys! The oni is out" They still continue throwing soy beans and chanting.

"I said ENOUGH!" they both grin..

"That was fun" Haru says.

"Now you two will clean up before someone slides and falls on these soybeans"

"Haru, you heard your mom" Elma says.

"You too" I say, handing her the broom.

Elma softly hits her head, winks and sticks her tongue. "Oh silly me"

Meanwhile neither of them notices the twins having their own fun by throwing soybeans on each other and giggling.

Elma hears them. "You two. What if you choke?" she takes away the beans from the them.

"I also made Eho maki Sushi rolls to commemorate"

I give them to Haru and Elma. As they are about to eat it, I say "The catch is that you have to eat the rolls facing the lucky direction- Southwest and you have to swallow it in one bite or you won't get your luck."

No surprise to me as both of them swallow the sushi rolls in one bite with ease.

"YUM!" they both say.

"Guys, get your yukatas ready, because i will be taking you all out for a Setsubun festival tonight!"

"YAY" the exclaim.

'Nai, are you ready?" Elma calls from the other room. She already got herself and the kids dressed.

I was still putting on my yukata.

"Coming. Give me a sec."

"Ok"

I try for fifteen minutes and I still can't get on mine.

Elma comes into the room to see me struggling. I blush.

"Nai, if you were having trouble putting on yours, you could have just asked me. Here, I'll help you."

She helps me bow mine neatly. "You look so very pretty in yours" she says and smooches my lips.

"Thank you. You look quite graceful in yours."

"Is that so?" she says with a slight smile and blush.

"Let's get going, shall we?"

I decided to wear my pink yukata with a sakura pattern. Elma's wearing a celeste blue yukata. Haru is wearing a grey yukata. Elma dressed Yuka in a black yukata with cherry designs and Ryou is dressed in a checkered black and blue. Elma carries Ryou and I hold Yuka.

"Upbeat music and the scent of food stalls..this is surely a wonderful festival" Elma exclaims.

"This is Haru's first festival and the twins so let's have fun!"

"There's so much to do and many food stalls to visit. I will visit them all,"

"Elma, you're pretty fired up for a festival, huh?" I ask.

"Back when dragons were worshipped, I could never walk around during festivals."

"Yakisoba, takoyaki...mmm what do I start with?"

"Let's just pick one already" I say.

"I want to try festival yakisoba" Haru says.

"Yakisoba it is then"

Elma buys yakisoba for Haru and I and cotton candy for the twins.

Yuka's eyes light up at the taste and Ryou munches his cotton candy fastly.

"Mommy Nai, I want to try that" Haru says tugging my yukata.

"The ring toss? I'm not too good with those but I think you will be."

We pay 300 yen for 6 tries. Haru throws the ring but it does not go over the prize. He tries again and no luck.

"Mommy Elma, I have an idea. Lend me your horn. Mine is too small."

"Eh? Ok"

Elma puts the ring on her horn when no one is looking, although they would just assume it's a cosplay. The ring falls perfectly over the prize which is an anime plush toy.

"Go Mommy Elma!" Haru exclaims.

After Elma hands him the toy, he looks a bit saddened.

"Hm? What's wrong?"

"I don't feel like I deserve it because I didn't win it."

Elma clicks her fingers. "I know!" She lifts the little boy up and he tosses the ring over another plushie.

"There, you did it" I tell him. He smiles. When the stall owner gives him the prize, he gives it to Ryou.

"You can have it, Ryou-chan."

"Isn't that sweet?" Elma says. "Let's go to the-"

Haru runs to the gold fishing stall.

"Haru! If you keep running like that, you will annoy people and I don't want you to get lost in this crowd. I know you want to see many things but let's visit one stall at a time. It's about manners" Elma says.

Haru's cheeks redden. "I'm sorry"

I pat his head.

"Hey, let's have some okonomiyaki" I tell them.

This stall is very crowded. It's a miracle the twins haven't cried as yet.

A man pushes his way in front of me and jams Ryouma, causing the baby to start wailing.
Elma puts her hand on his shoulder. He turns around. "That wasn't very nice of you" she tells him.

He smirks. "Stupid lesbian"

As I try comforting a crying Ryou, I see Elma's brows furrow and a dark expression befalls her.

"What did you say jerk?" she asks, cracking her knuckles.

"Elma, calm down" I say.

"No Nai. He clearly disrespected our family. It's time to serve some justice." Elma says with a yandere-type expression. Before I could stop her, her fists swing to fire a punch in the man's stomach. The man falls. This makes everyone turn their attention to us. "OW!"

"You're lucky I don't hit women, you f#$%& bitch!" he exclaims.

"Children, cover your ears. Let's leave this fool alone" Elma says, Yuka still in her arms and Haru walking right beside her.

"Oni" Haru says, looking down at him.

'Elma, you were really cool back there" I say.

"Well I have stopped allowing others to treat me as a doormat. I know when it's right for me to stand up for myself and my family."

We visit some more food stalls and take photos too. Luckily we didn't have another ordeal.

"The fireworks are about to start" I say.

We find a nice grass mound to sit and view them. There's not so many people gathered here.

Elma places her hand over mine. Ryou is now in her lap and Yuka is in mine and Haru is sitting beside us.

"They're so pretty. They're the flowers of the sky" I say.

"Fiowers? Shouldn't honey drop from them now?" Elma says, opening her mouth.

I giggle and place a squid ball on her tongue.

"This is just like when we came to the food festival. Remember, Nai?"

"Yeah. I guess you could call that our first date." I say, remembering the time she invited me to a food festival. I lean in and kiss her lips.

"The festival is about to end" Haru says.

"That's true" I tell him.

"Thanks for treating us so much today. I had lots of fun" Haru says.

"I enjoyed myself as well. Thanks Nai" Elma says.

"You're welcome. I'll take you guys to a summer festival next time."