AN: So then this is continuing on from the current side story left off.
These chapters are significantly easier to write as I can somewhat 'Free write' to get to a certain position at the end of the chapter. I'd like to call it rough work as I don't particularly plan these side story chapters in full like I do with the main story. It's a little rougher round the edges but it allows for some more creativity in the process.
It may also give me some inspiration on writing out the main story though. So it can stop taking almost a year per chapter which is what a lot of the people who enjoy the main story actually want.
Either way, on with this story. To get this out in around 3 weeks isn't easy but hey I wouldn't be doing this side story if I can get the main one out this fast. This one I just couldn't really stop writing with this one but either way enjoy.
I do not own H.O.T.D or any of its characters. Well apart from the OC's, they're mine.
That evening after school.
James went and picked up a Yukata that he rented for the weekend.
Saeko already went ahead back to the house after school as she had everything she needed at home. So James was left to the task of getting his yukata on his own.
James eventually picked out the yukata he liked. One that was plain black with white fabric underneath the arms and legs but when he tried it on it stuck to his body a bit once he got it on properly. He remembered the shop assistant telling him he was looked very handsome in it.
As he was walked along, he took out the receipt for the purchase and noticed it had a number of the back of it.
'Typical. I wasn't even trying and I get her number and what is it with the Japanese and their obsession with walking around in basically a dressing gown anyway. I should have brought my formal suit with me if I knew I would be doing this kind of thing.' James thought as he cursed his lack of foresight.
The young man arrived at the house and entered to find no Saeko waiting for him. Assuming she was still getting ready for the evening festivities he went to his own room. On the way though he bumped into the only other occupant in the house going to her room.
Saeko was still wearing her usual school uniform with her hair wrapped up in a towel. Her uniform however had her front buttons undone revealing her purple lace bra which was showing a lot of cleavage the young man in front of her.
James raised his eyebrow before breaking the somewhat awkward silence between the two of them.
"I take it purple is your favourite colour then, Saeko-san?" James joked.
Saeko quickly moved her hand to move the fabric to cover herself and whilst supporting a slight blush at being caught is this awkward moment.
"For your information James-san. It is." Saeko quickly spoke out as she headed to her room.
James looked at where she went and stood there for a moment. He processed what just happened between the two of them.
'Just who was she trying to impress anyway. She already has a body to die for anyway. If she wanted to beat Saya that badly like in some Japanese harem anime. She should just come out and say it.' James thought as he also chuckled at the thought before making his way you his room to get ready for the festival.
An hour later
It was almost time for the festival to begin and even though Saeko had more time to get ready. James was the only one who was ready and was sat in the front living room waiting for Saya to arrive.
'I know women take forever to get ready for these kinds of events but it's not like we are meeting the Emperor or any government officials tonight.' James thought as he was starting to get a little impatient.
"Sorry to keep you waiting James-san." A voice came from the doorway causing the young man to look up.
Saeko was standing there in a floral navy blue kimono with matching fabric to tie the outfit together. She kept her fair untied but it became obvious that she had conditioned it so that it flows down her back supporting the whole look as a whole.
'Damn, give her a real sword and that would complete the whole traditional samurai look for her.' James thought as he took in the sight in front of him.
"How do I look?" Saeko moved her legs a bit to which the kimono allowed for one of her legs to slip out revealing her long silky legs.
"Beautiful. But you already knew that." James commented.
Saeko entered the room to check the young man's outfit herself.
"Well you don't scrub up too badly yourself." Saeko examined him carefully making note of certain tight areas where some of James' more bodily features were more on show.
James was wearing the Yukata he rented out earlier. Fortunately whilst the outfit itself was tighter around the chest and legs, they were quite baggy in the arms which allowed James to keep his hidden blade 'hidden' from prying eyes. The blade itself he kept with him for protection purposes.
"Can I ask you something James-san?" Saeko asked after she did a lap around the young man.
"Why the both of us? You could have chosen either one of us to take with you." Saeko added.
"I don't want to ruin any potential friendships I've made since I got here. Besides the both of you could learn from each other." James replied hoping she take that and left it at that.
'No kidding. If I had made a choice this early then I would have been screwed in the long run and even if I could choose I can't as I'm still bound by our rules regarding intimate relations whilst out on so called 'missions'.' James thought.
Saeko pondered for a moment to process what he just said. She didn't know whether to take that as a good thing or a bad thing.
'At least he hasn't ruled out the possibility.' Saeko thought to herself.
"Fine but you're making this up to me later." The girl in question leant back and turned back to the window.
The act was just in time a what looked like a stretch limo pulled up outside the Busujima residence. The two occupants of the house went to the front door and left the house together. As they were walking down the path towards the gate they saw Saya waiting outside the rear door of the link.
'Why am I not surprised that she went for that colour?' came the similar thoughts of the two walking towards the limo.
Saya went predictably for a light pink kimono to match her hair like Saeko's but with a darker pink almost borderline red fabric to tie it together. Her twin tails hair was reduced to just one hair tie for the back of her hair but it allowed for the usual hair to flow over her forehead and sides.
In a display of competition Saeko grabbed James' arm with her own to walk arm in arm with the young man. The said young man did not mind in fact he didn't even flinch at such a move. Saya on the other hand noticed the display and pouted in slight jealousy.
"I have to say Takagi-san. You look exceptionally beautiful tonight. The hair you have now is a much better look." James commented as the two finally reach the pinkette.
Saeko gave a quick look over the younger girl in question. Making a quick analysis of her so called competition. The said girl was not focused on the swordswoman but on the comments the young man said to her.
"It's not like I dressed this way for you." Saya tried to keep herself composed but it was clear to the two in front of her that she was lying through her teeth.
"Keep telling yourself that, Takagi-san." James chuckled which caused Saeko to giggle herself.
"J-just get in the car." Saya stormed off to the other side to get in that way, hiding the fact that she went red in the face.
James and Saeko started to laugh at the poor girls embarrassment before getting in themselves.
Inside the limo enroute to the festival
"Isn't this going to draw attention to us Takagi-san?" James looked around the limo.
The car itself was catered for discretion but for luxury at the same time. Then again a blacked out limo with black leather everywhere isn't exactly discreet in the modern age. This gave the young man two different conclusions.
'Either daddy's loaded or extremely powerful in politics. Knowing little genius personality though. I'm assuming both.' James concluded.
"Well daddy is at a social gathering tonight and took the estate car. I've agreed with our driver for the night to park not too far from the festival so we can walk in without drawing too many unwanted eyes." Saya explained.
At this point the window to the front seats opened to reveal a man in his early forties.
"Evening all. I agreed with the Takagi-sama to park up in a parking area about two hundred yards away from the main entrance. Names Matsudo by the way but just call me Mac." greeted the driver known as Mac.
Both James and Saeko introduced themselves to the driver which was met with a smile and a thumbs up from the older man.
"Where will you be whilst we are away at the event Mac-san?" Saeko spoke up.
"There's a tea and ramen stand not too far from there from what I heard is the tastiest in the area. Takagi-sama has my number in case anything happens though." Mac told the other occupants of the car which was met with nods.
The rest of the trip comprised of Saeko and Saya moving the subject to their schoolwork to which the two males in the limo tuned out in their thoughts.
'Wonder how's the folks back home are dealing with the clean-up operation. Bet that's one massive headache having to deal with all those U.N. delegates.' James went through his mind to what he was originally meant to do in the country before that was stopped before it got out of hand even for him.
The limo eventually after a short drive arrived at its destination to which the three exited out of the limo through their nearest respective door. As the three said their goodbyes to Matsudo until later, the man called James for a little private chat. The young man told the girls to carry on without him and he will catch them up at the festival entrance.
"Carter-san was it?" Mac asked the young man in question.
James nodded in response wondering just what was this about.
"Now then Takagi-sama's mother got curious into who she was going with as this was a couples event and since there is three of you. I wanted to know for her sake what your stance is with those two." Mac explained.
"Ah. So since I currently live in Busujima-san's residence she asked me first but Takagi-san also asked me later that day but since I did not want to disappoint them by rejecting one of them. We decided to come as friends. Besides whilst their feelings for me are not confirmed yet. I don't have any interest in pursuing either of them yet as I don't want to destroy any friendships I have built since coming into the country." James explained back whilst not revealing the family ruling preventing intimate relationships until after the second mission has been assigned.
Mac took in the young man's words and processed them in his mind for a minute. Eventually he responded…
"Fine I'll place Takagi-sama in your care for tonight. If she does feel something for you though. Please don't string her along like you see in our manga books." Mac replied.
"They're safe with me, Mac-san. Enjoy your evening." James bowed to the older man before turning to catch up with the two girls who had went ahead without him.
Mac on the other hand kept his eye on the boy as went out of sight.
'The boy is an interesting one. I just hope that Takagi-sama can find the happiness in that boy. Even if he rejects her.' the thought went through before finally shaking his head and turning to find that ramen stall he craved for.
The trio headed for the entrance to the festival and after some awkward looks from the woman operating the turnstile along with the slight whispers and a bribe from James. The trio entered the festival with little trouble.
They looked around at all of the different stalls seeing what games are available to play but the girls insisted they go to the prize stall first to see what they wanted to come away with.
'I hope this isn't like the ones back home where we will be here all night just to get a pencil sharpener or something.' James though as he was being lead by the two girls in front of him.
Whilst James thought he was lead around. Onlookers saw him almost dragged instead. This is because the two girls were competing in getting to the right stall first. Whilst the boy in the matter had no trouble keeping up as he was not wearing the training weights that night, he felt the girls holding his arm in case he would sneak off. Like he would have ran off in the first place.
The trio reached the correct stall which house the apparent prizes that the festival was holding.
"I'll let the two of you pick something to get by the end of the night. I'll be over here as it's a little crowded." James commented as the stall was attract a lot of other groups and couples doing the same thing.
The two girls nodded in response and James went out of the crowd but went to a nearby bench to sit on that was within view of the prize stall. The prizes themselves were based like normal festival or arcade prizes were they were based on a ticket system obtained by playing the games at the stalls around the event. James observed some of the more closer games to see if what some of the games were.
It was then he noticed some of the students from Fujimi school walking around as well. A lot of them he recognised from the athletics club as he remembered some of the faces that he had to personally deal with since first day there. He watched as they all had dates to the event as they walked around as one large group. He even noticed one Yuuki Miku walking by. She was apparently in a daze being dragged around by what was the captain of the athletics club. Her kimono was not done up properly and her hair was in a state as well.
'Looks like someone had a little bit of fun before coming here.' James thought as the girls found him.
"We've found what we wanted James-san. Come and see." Saeko approached and grabbed his arm. Saya frowned at the act before speaking up herself.
"Come and see what I want you to win." Saya grabbed the other arm as the two girls pulled the young man back to the prize stall.
"I thought we were doing this as friends?" James questioned.
Saya then got up to his ear and whispered…
"We need to act like two girls vying for your affections or else we'll get kicked out. So play along." Saya whispered in a soft manner that was slightly out of her usual character.
Saeko leaned up as well copy the pinkette.
"Play along James-kun. We had a talk and we agreed to do this only for tonight. So show us a good time." Saeko playfully and almost seductively whispered in his other ear.
"You're doing that on purpose. Aren't you?" James raised his eyebrow to the swordswoman noticing the change in the honorific.
"I'll do that and a lot more tonight." Saeko licked her lips in apparent hunger.
Saya on the side of the young man was going quite red at how she interpreted that last exchange.
"W-we said nothing about 'THAT'." Saya stammered out trying to keep a straight face which was clearly not working.
Saeko giggled at the response from the pinkette.
"Aww so cute, Saya-chan clearly isn't ready to be make you a real man James-kun. Something I am more than willing to do for you." Saeko teased as she and Saya glared at each other.
'So a night of pretending to be a male anime protagonist. Right then.' James thought in his head before pulling both girls out of their glaring contest by pulling their arms.
"So then Saeko-chan? Saya-chan? What would like me to win for you then? Something behind the counter? Maybe my heart?..."James spoke to both girls before pulling them both in so they can hear him whisper.
"...or maybe me for the night?" James whispered in a deep seductive voice.
Both girls were completely taken by surprise from that sudden change of character from the young man that they both went red and started to touch their index fingers together in an all embarrassed look.
"Oh that's priceless. The looks on your faces." James nearly roared with laughter at the sight before him.
The two girls looked at each other clearly thinking the same thing. They both grabbed an arm and using their free arm pointed at a specific prize on the middle shelf.
"That one!" was what both girls said. Then turned to each other and glared since they both wanted the same thing.
James eyed the prize that the girls wanted. It was a pendant shaped with a pink coloured stone shaped like Cupid's bow and arrow. The description underneath it was difficult to read with all of the people around but it read…
'A prize to give to your beloved one whether it'd be a hidden crush to your lover. Wearing this pendant will increase the chances of your crush or date making your love dreams come true. Results guaranteed.'
James wanted to facepalm at the fact that despite what the sign says that that was an absolute lie but he did not want to disappoint his so called 'dates' for the evening.
"Fine by the end of the evening that prize will be yours." James turned to both girls who had stopped glaring at each other and smiled in response.
The trio walked back to the entrance to the festival knowing that since the prize stall was at the very back of the venue. They would have to go back to it at some point.
Each game was one taken from most fairground and theme park minigames around the world. All of whom are slightly rigged so that the right result would not happen all of time forcing players to pay out more to eventually win.
Not for James however, whilst watching the games earlier caught on to the more obvious rigs and worked around them for more consistent results. Usually this meant he won in 1 or 2 occasions and since he was buying for two, he'd win again on the next attempt. The stall game vendors who handle each game noticed his tricks since they know how to win themselves. They grimaced in case anyone was watching the young man play and gave him the tickets to shoo him away quicker.
The girls on the other hand thought James was winning on pure skill as whilst they know that each game was somewhat rigged in favour of the host, they failed to notice James' apparent tricks to beat each game.
It wasn't long before the trio had enough tickets to get two pendants and they had not done the last game yet as they were just walking past on the way to the prize stall.
"Step right up gentleman and show off your skills to your better half. Our shooting range is sure to have you looking like a real man tonight." the announcer for the game called out to passers by.
The trio looked at the stall's general direction.
'Shooting gallery - Come and show off for your partner's love.'
'One of those huh? Wouldn't have thought that would be here as it's a couple's event.' James thought.
"So then James-san. Want to 'show off' how much of a man you are?" Saeko smirked playfully hoping to tease the young man.
"I don't see why not. Been a while anyway." James agreed and stepped forwards towards the gallery.
"You can shoot one of those things?" Saya asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well when you are apart of a high class noble British family. Taking part in social events which involves shooting live rifles is somewhat frequent back home." James explained with a smile on his face.
The two girls looked at him dumbfounded at the revelation of another thing the young man could do.
'Smart, strong, can fight and can shoot. What can't he do?' Saya's eyebrow was twitching as she was thinking that.
'As expected. Makes me wonder if he is lying about having no training in the sword if he can fight and shoot.' Saeko thought whilst a smirk grew on her face.
"Why don't I just show you both instead?" James shrugged his shoulders knowing that he's have to prove himself to the both of them.
The trio arrived at the gallery and the attendant noticed them and came over.
"Oh, looks like someone's getting lucky tonight. Two beautiful young girls? Make everybody in this event jealous of you by excelling not only with the ladies but with this as well." The attendant brandished what looked like a rifle from under the counter and handed it to the young man.
James inspected it carefully to take mental notes of the rifles capabilities.
'Doesn't feel that weighty. Carries ammunition and I don't see any paint anywhere so it would have to be a makeshift bolt action airsoft rifle. Can't tell the range and effectiveness until I shoot with it. Might as well give it a bash.' James combed the rifle in his hand.
"So then, wanna play young man?" the attendant asked.
James looked back at the girls who were eyeing him carefully. The young man chuckled at their watching eyes before turning back to the attendant.
"Sure." James nodded much to the attendants delight.
"Wonderful. Now let me explain the rules. You have twenty shots in that rifle to hit the ten targets that appear. There are bonus points for accuracy and how quickly you do it too. Be careful not to hit any friendlies in the gallery as well or else we will have to deduct points for that.' the attendant explained to which the young man nodded in understanding.
The attendant went over to the lever to bring up the targets. He looked over at the young man to receive confirmation that he was ready to start to which the young man give the attendant the thumbs up.
'Game start'
The lever dropped and three round targets ten metres down the range. James took aim at the one to the left of him.
'Pop'
A small noise came from the rifle as the small pellet shot out and hit the target. After which James moved to the next target and did the same thing and again with the next one. Three more targets then appeared twenty metres away and were moving forwards and backwards. James took aim and corrected for distance and fired three more rounds and made hits on all three targets. The next three were moving in all directions. Forwards, backwards, up, down and diagonals to the point where the targets were very erratic in their movement.
'Better miss a couple here. Don't wanna look too good or I'm gonna get questioned later.' James thought as he position himself for the next target.
James took aim at the target to the left moving in a diagonal direction to the right rear of the range. Taking the shot it skimmed the top of the target but it didn't register as hit. Acting a little annoyed by his apparent miss he took aim once more the same target and hit it with the next shot. Moving to the next target which was moving up and down whilst moving forwards and backwards, he anticipated the angle he need to hit the target which the next shot hit it square in the middle. The last target was moving in the opposite to the first one. Like the first target when James fired it skimmed the top again to which he fired again and hit it perfectly.
The last target popped up but another one showed as well. It seemed the other 'target' was a picture of a woman with the correct target behind it.
'Simulating a hostage situation. Interesting but too easy.' thought James as he took aim.
Hitting the target was easy as judged the range and effective angle perfectly to hit the target without hitting the hostage in front of it.
'Game end'
"Wow. The best I've seen so far. In fact the best since we've started these games. A new record of ten hits, two misses and no penalties. All in just over 50 seconds. I don't think that will be beaten on either range." The attendant updated the leaderboard after the young man gave his name.
The girls watched the leaderboard update and celebrated in their minds as the young man turned to look at them from afar. The two smiled at him in return before turning to the other range.
James looked at the other range as something caught his eye. The other occupant was roughly the same height, older, slender but well built woman with purple hair and slight tanned skin. She wore a standard floral kimono which want well with her skin and hair but from the way the woman was expressing herself at the minute with the rifle in her arms that it screamed that she did not belong in one.
James observed her stance to the way she fired. The experience was there that was for sure as she was completely calm to the point that it looked natural to her. She exhaled as she shot the last target down and her game ended.
The attendant at the woman's range came over to the board and looked at the other attendant and then to James.
"Sorry kid. She beat you. Ten hits, no misses, no penalties but in over a minute. Accuracy over speed." The attendant replaced the young man's name with the woman's name.
' huh?' James raised an eyebrow and looked at the woman in question.
The said woman looked at the young man with a smug grin on her face. She also winked at the young man to solidify the teasing. James on the other was having none of it.
"Go again? Loser buys the drinks?" James called out the apparent older woman across from him.
The said woman laughed at those words before smiling in response.
"Well seeing as it's the only exciting thing going at the minute. Why not?" the one named Minami responses as she retook her place as the range.
James took himself back to his range and readied up by checking his rifle before aiming back down the range after giving the attendant manning his station the thumbs up. A small smile crept on his face.
'Let's show what a Carter is really capable of.' James thought.
'Game start'
A minute later
"You can't just do that!" the one named Minami stormed up to the young man.
"Do what exactly?" James shrugged off whilst holding his rifle.
"You can't just shoot through a civilian to hit your target!" the woman raised her voice as she kept a few metres distance between them.
"She has a flesh wound. She'll live." James coldly brushed off.
The game started and ended in thirty seconds for James. Each target hit in the centre on the first shot. The last target however, hid itself behind the friendly target more than the first time so rather than waiting for it to become easier to hit, James just shot and the pellet went straight through what would be the left shoulder of the friendly and into the centre of the target.
He then stood there and watched the woman take another twenty seconds to complete her game. Even though he got the friendly target. James had done it quickly enough to beat the woman's score regardless of the points deduction.
"Still, if that were real that person would have been needlessly injured." The woman argued.
"and that just pisses you off doesn't it." James pointed out.
"Yeah it does." The woman agreed putting her hand on the trigger despite not aiming with it.
"You wanna shoot me don't you?" James asked in a non serious tone.
"You have no idea." The woman played off.
"Well do it then." James dared the woman whilst copying the woman's hand movements with the rifle.
"Think I won't, cause I will." the woman fired back.
"Good I'll shoot you right back." James called out himself as a crowd started to form.
"Okay on three." The woman aimed the rifle at the young man.
"That's enough you two." The attendant barked as they attempted to intervene without actually getting in front of either of them.
"One. Safety's off." James called out once more as he took aim as well.
"Two. Mine was never on." The woman fired back as she copied the young man's movements.
"James/Carter-kun stop!" the two girls watching the situation unfold cried out losing all character of what they were portraying as that night.
"Three!"
'POP'
AN: Well that's it for me. Next chapter for this will be out soon before I turn back to the main story but until then as usual rate, review, comment.
Of course any constructive feedback is appreciated.