Duran-kun and Kiyo-chan's Omake Theater
(not really starring the Kuga-Fujino family pets this time)
Shizuru Fujino was, in many ways, an extremely traditional young Japanese woman. Of course, she was also an out lesbian, so there were limits to that conservatism, but the point was that she not only embraced but genuinely respected and valued many of the social, artistic, moral, religious, and cultural traditions of her country. Her "elegant Kyoto lady" persona was by no means a mere pose.
Her girlfriend Natsuki, by contrast, was thoroughly a woman of the modern age, steeped in the world of the latest technology and of the cross-cultural influence that it brought.
Thus, it was a bit of a surprise when midway through a department store shopping trip, it was Natsuki who sighed and said, "I know it's kind of inevitable, especially with the Searrs Foundation opening its new industrial and commercial park here in Fuuka Prefecture and bringing international workers to Tsukimori City, but maybe we could take it easy on adopting all these Americanisms?"
Shizuru looked around herself.
"Natsuki does not like Halloween?"
"Not in August."
The racks of plastic pumpkins, shrink-wrapped theme candy, crepe-paper ghost and skeleton wall hangings, artificial spiderwebs, rubber bats to dangle from ceiling fixtures, and two dozen other kinds of decorations, bric-a-brac, and knickknacks made for a fairly persuasive argument. Still, at least half of the art of teasing was in being a contrarian, and the imp of the perverse rose within her to the bait.
"I like to think of it as a way of harmonizing cultural practices. After all, the natural season for ghosts is the summertime in our country, so beginning the Halloween sales now really respects that."
"That did not just come out of your mouth."
"Natsuki should be more tolerant of foreign cultural practices."
"You're just saying that because you want to see me try out this year's Halloween costume two months early."
"Yes, that as well."
Natsuki blinked in surprise.
"You're admitting it? Just like that?"
"Ara, ara, is Natsuki suggesting that I am in any way equivocal about my lecherous intentions towards her?"
"…Okay, you win."
"Yay! Now, I was thinking you could be a mummy this year, so do you think six inches of gauze will be enough for the wrappings or should we get nine just to be safe?"
Natsuki groaned.
"I don't even have the willpower to come up with angry remarks at this point."
"That's what happens when you skip breakfast. I told you that you should have let me make you something before we left."
"Geez, Shizuru, you're such a wife."
"If Natsuki is thinking of me in such terms, then my life's goals are all but achieved."
"Idiot," Natsuki grumbled. Then, perhaps realizing that Shizuru's teasing tone hid deeper truths, she added, "You do know that if I wasn't serious about this, I wouldn't have moved in with you, right?"
"I do love you, Natsuki," Shizuru said with a happy sigh.
"I—" Natsuki began, but whatever sweet nothing she might have been about to attempt was rudely interrupted. Shizuru would have been extremely put out at the witless fool who dared to interrupt Natsuki and doubtless would have concocted several plans, each more dramatic than the last, to exact her summary vengeance on the miscreant were that miscreant not Natsuki herself.
Or at least her stomach, which offered a pointed reminder of the owner's lack of breakfast.
Shizuru supposed that she'd have to console herself with the sight of one of Natsuki's delightfully luminescent blushes, a sight that had grown steadily rarer as Natsuki became more comfortable with interpersonal matters.
"Maybe we should put the shopping on hold and get something to eat?"
"They have a restaurant on the third floor," Shizuru said. "I've eaten here before, and the food is actually quite respectable."
"Works for me," Natsuki agreed. Not only was any place Shizuru approved of guaranteed to be good, but the shorter the walk the less time there would be for further mortifying tummy-rumbles.
With that, they found the nearest elevator and rode up two levels, conveniently disembarking right outside the restaurant. It was just opening, as a waitress was hanging up the sign for the day's lunch specials. The two of them read down the list. After a moment's silence, Shizuru turned to her girlfriend.
"I believe that I am coming around to Natsuki's way of thinking about the holidays."
It would have been one of the rare, glorious occasions when Natsuki had the chance to say to Shizuru, "I told you so," but she was too busy boggling at the listing for sashimi with pumpkin spice wasabi to take advantage of the opportunity.
~X X X~
A/N: You know, I really don't mind too much that every retailer in sight put out their Halloween merchandise and their pumpkin spice everything, were it not for the fact that the one single manufacturer in all of America that is waiting to honor the actual time of the season is the maker of Count Chocula.
