Chapter 11 - Okawahara's Party
Shigeru looked at the present she had bought for her parents. "Do you think it's a nice gift?" she asked the maid who's helping her with her hair. The maid nodded. "Do you think Papa and Mama will like this?" she added, placing the plate into the box. "Shigeru-sama, would you like to wear this blue dress or this yellow one?" asked another maid, holding up two dresses. Shigeru looked at them thoughtfully. "I'll go with the yellow one," she replied and the maid placed the yellow off-shoulder chiffon dress on her bed.
Her parents' anniversary party was to be held tonight at the hotel and she was getting ready for it. "You know," she said to the maids, "I'm going to see if I can meet a nice guy tonight." The maids giggled and Shigeru frowned a little before breaking into a laugh. "What's so funny?" asked her mother as she entered her daughter's room. "Oh, nothing," replied her daughter.
"Well, it's about time you change," said her mother, "We have to leave in ten minutes." Shigeru nodded. "I'll be down before the ten minutes is up," said Shigeru as her mother walked towards the door. "Make sure you are down by then," replied her mother, closing the door. Shigeru picked up the dress and hummed along as she slipped it on. "Someday, my prince will come..." she sang as she spun around the room in her dress. The maids smiled at her childlike behaviour.
"Shigeru!" a voice called from the bottom of the stairway. "Oops!" exclaimed Shigeru, as she hadn't realised that the ten minutes was up. She grabbed her heels and put them on as she came down the stairs. "I'm here," she announced and then, stopped in her tracks when she realised that she had forgotten the gift. "I'll be back in a jiffy," she said sheepishly and turned back up the stairs. Okawahara Reiji shook his head.
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Yuki looked in front of the mirror and wondered if she looked all right for the party. After staring at herself for a while, she sighed. "Why am I going to this party?" she muttered, "There's no need for Shigeru to invite me to her parents' anniversary party." She frowned at her simple dress in blue. "Maybe I shouldn't go," she thought. "Yuki?" called her mother, "Kazuya is here."
"Coming," she called and took a last look. "Here goes," sighed Yuki. Kazuya, in a simple black suit, smiled as Yuki appeared in the hall. "You look nice," he complimented. Yuki looked at him uncertainly. "You think so?" she asked. "Well, it is definitely better than the one you wore to Shizuka's party," he assured. Yuki frowned as she remembered the ordeal her sister put her through by making her wear that slinky outfit. "Well, let's get going," said Kazuya, "I'm meeting Sakurako at the entrance." Yuki nodded.
"Kazuya, you look nice in this outfit," said Yuki as the duo make their way to the waiting limousine. "Of course, my taste has changed," he replied proudly, "That outfit I wore to Shizuka's party is definitely a no-go for me now." Yuki gave me a puzzled look. "Never mind," he waved, "We better hurry or Sakurako's going to be unhappy."
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Shigeru stood at the entrance of the grand ballroom with her parents, thanking guests for their well-wishes and gifts. She was starting to show signs of boredom when she spotted Sojiro and Akira. She waved at them frantically. Akira was the first to spot on and whispered to Sojiro, "That monkey is so embarrassing. Doesn't she realised that this is an event for her to behave like a lady?!" Sojiro agreed and both decide to back away.
However, they were too slow to do so as Shigeru had excused herself and pounced on them before they could retreat. "Hello, there," she exclaimed, "I was wondering when the both of you are going to turn up." Sojiro and Akira smiled hesitantly. "Have you seen Sakurako and Kazuya?" she asked, looking around. "Nope," answered the both of them as they tried to struggle free of her hold.
"Shigeru," Sakurako called from behind them. Shigeru turned around and waved frantically. "Over here," she said. Sojiro and Akira frowned as the guests looked on. "It's about time we disappeared," whispered Akira. Sojiro nodded. "Don't you two leave my sight!" hissed Shigeru as she spun around to face the two boys. Both grimaced as Sakurako, Kazuya and Yuki approached the trio.
"Yuki," exclaimed Shigeru, "I'm so glad you could come." Yuki smiled. "Come on," said Shigeru, jostling them like a sheep dog gathering the sheep, "Let me introduce my parents." Sojiro and Akira hesitated. "Shigeru, we've met your parents," said Akira. "May we be excused then?" added Sojiro quickly. Shigeru glared at the two and shook her head. Sojiro and Akira sighed and followed behind the rest silently. As they neared her parents, Shigeru noticed a familiar figure with another couple.
"Here comes my daughter," said Reiji as the trio with their backs previously to the group turned around. Shigeru's eyes widen. "What are you doing here?" interjected a surprised Shigeru. Okawahara Yumiko frowned at her daughter's impoliteness. "Hello, we meet again," greeted Tomoya, "Thanks for having tea with me the last time." Shigeru was speechless. "I'm sorry, Tomoya" interrupted Reiji, "You know my daughter?"
Tomoya nodded. "I've met her on the plane and in school. Just last week, we had tea," he explained. "I see," replied Reiji, "Well, then, there's no need for me to make a formal introduction for the two of you." Looking at his daughter, he said, "But I have to introduce Mr and Mrs Minami to you." A formal introduction was made.
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Rui looked at his watch and wondered what happened to Shizuka, who was supposed to have arrived at the airport fifteen minutes' ago. He looked around and paced the waiting arena of the arrival hall. "Rui," came a familiar voice. He turned to see Shizuka pushing her trolley of luggage towards him. He smiled.
"Did you wait long?" she asked, greeting him with a kiss. Rui nodded and replied, "You should have been here fifteen minutes' ago." Shizuka gave a sheepish smile and took out a package from her bag. "I saw this in there and thought you might like it," she said, handing the small package over. Rui took it and was about to opened it when Shizuka placed her hand on his. "Do it when you're home," she said. Rui shrugged and placed the package away in his pocket.
"There's somewhere we have to go now," said Rui as he took over the trolley, "My parents can't make it for Okawahara's wedding anniversary so we have to represent them." Shizuka nodded as she was now Rui's fiancée and public appearance together was a norm in the society.
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Yuki stood by the buffet table, looking lost as Kazuya and Sakurako had ditched her to go off on their own. "I should never have come," she muttered softly, "If only Tsukushi was here..." She looked at the food on her plate disinterestedly. "Hi," greeted Sojiro. Yuki looked up and her heart quicken as this handsome lad stood in front of her. She muttered a quick "Hi" and turned her back to him.
"The food's not to your taste?" he asked. Yuki shook her head with her back still turned. "You're Makino's friend, right?" asked Sojiro again. Yuki nodded. Sojiro sighed quietly and thought, "This conversation looks set to be a one-sided one..." He tried again. "I can't remember your name," said Sojiro. Yuki muttered softly, "Yuki."
"Isn't it impolite to face or look somewhere else when being spoken to?" he commented. Yuki realised her impoliteness and quickly turned around. "I'm sorry," she apologised. Sojiro shook his head and replied, "It's all right." Yuki heave a sigh of relief that he has not taken offence at her rudeness. "Would you like to dance?" he asked. Yuki looked at the dance floor uncertainly. "Don't worry," assured Sojiro as he extended his hand, "You'll pick it up real fast under my tutelage." Yuki nodded shyly and took his hand.
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"So, where's your wife?" asked Shigeru as Tomoya handed her a glass of wine. "Wife?" replied a bewildered Tomoya, "Am I married to someone I don't even know?" Shigeru gave a confused look. "Isn't Miki yours?" asked Shigeru, puzzled. Tomoya shook his head and wondered what gave Shigeru the impression. "You were on the plane with her? If she's not yours, then where are her parents?" added Shigeru. Tomoya shrugged as he sipped his wine. "How come you're not clarifying?" continued Shigeru with her bombardment, "You could have told me over tea the last time. Why didn't you?"
Tomoya was a little annoyed at this constant questioning and frowned. "You didn't ask over tea the last time," he replied simply and turned to the dance floor. Shigeru flushed red as she remembered the tea they had. Conversation was not geared to his private life but instead, it centred on the people around them and her. It was her who did most of the talking - about the F4 and Tsukushi, how she had never had friends like them, how much she cherish them etc. In all her excitement, she had forgotten to ask about him.
"Sojiro seems to be enjoying himself on the dance floor," commented Tomoya as he watched the couple dancing, "Shall we join him?" Shigeru looked to the direction and hesitated. Without waiting for her reply, Tomoya grabbed her hand and dragged her towards it.
Shigeru looked at the present she had bought for her parents. "Do you think it's a nice gift?" she asked the maid who's helping her with her hair. The maid nodded. "Do you think Papa and Mama will like this?" she added, placing the plate into the box. "Shigeru-sama, would you like to wear this blue dress or this yellow one?" asked another maid, holding up two dresses. Shigeru looked at them thoughtfully. "I'll go with the yellow one," she replied and the maid placed the yellow off-shoulder chiffon dress on her bed.
Her parents' anniversary party was to be held tonight at the hotel and she was getting ready for it. "You know," she said to the maids, "I'm going to see if I can meet a nice guy tonight." The maids giggled and Shigeru frowned a little before breaking into a laugh. "What's so funny?" asked her mother as she entered her daughter's room. "Oh, nothing," replied her daughter.
"Well, it's about time you change," said her mother, "We have to leave in ten minutes." Shigeru nodded. "I'll be down before the ten minutes is up," said Shigeru as her mother walked towards the door. "Make sure you are down by then," replied her mother, closing the door. Shigeru picked up the dress and hummed along as she slipped it on. "Someday, my prince will come..." she sang as she spun around the room in her dress. The maids smiled at her childlike behaviour.
"Shigeru!" a voice called from the bottom of the stairway. "Oops!" exclaimed Shigeru, as she hadn't realised that the ten minutes was up. She grabbed her heels and put them on as she came down the stairs. "I'm here," she announced and then, stopped in her tracks when she realised that she had forgotten the gift. "I'll be back in a jiffy," she said sheepishly and turned back up the stairs. Okawahara Reiji shook his head.
************
Yuki looked in front of the mirror and wondered if she looked all right for the party. After staring at herself for a while, she sighed. "Why am I going to this party?" she muttered, "There's no need for Shigeru to invite me to her parents' anniversary party." She frowned at her simple dress in blue. "Maybe I shouldn't go," she thought. "Yuki?" called her mother, "Kazuya is here."
"Coming," she called and took a last look. "Here goes," sighed Yuki. Kazuya, in a simple black suit, smiled as Yuki appeared in the hall. "You look nice," he complimented. Yuki looked at him uncertainly. "You think so?" she asked. "Well, it is definitely better than the one you wore to Shizuka's party," he assured. Yuki frowned as she remembered the ordeal her sister put her through by making her wear that slinky outfit. "Well, let's get going," said Kazuya, "I'm meeting Sakurako at the entrance." Yuki nodded.
"Kazuya, you look nice in this outfit," said Yuki as the duo make their way to the waiting limousine. "Of course, my taste has changed," he replied proudly, "That outfit I wore to Shizuka's party is definitely a no-go for me now." Yuki gave me a puzzled look. "Never mind," he waved, "We better hurry or Sakurako's going to be unhappy."
************
Shigeru stood at the entrance of the grand ballroom with her parents, thanking guests for their well-wishes and gifts. She was starting to show signs of boredom when she spotted Sojiro and Akira. She waved at them frantically. Akira was the first to spot on and whispered to Sojiro, "That monkey is so embarrassing. Doesn't she realised that this is an event for her to behave like a lady?!" Sojiro agreed and both decide to back away.
However, they were too slow to do so as Shigeru had excused herself and pounced on them before they could retreat. "Hello, there," she exclaimed, "I was wondering when the both of you are going to turn up." Sojiro and Akira smiled hesitantly. "Have you seen Sakurako and Kazuya?" she asked, looking around. "Nope," answered the both of them as they tried to struggle free of her hold.
"Shigeru," Sakurako called from behind them. Shigeru turned around and waved frantically. "Over here," she said. Sojiro and Akira frowned as the guests looked on. "It's about time we disappeared," whispered Akira. Sojiro nodded. "Don't you two leave my sight!" hissed Shigeru as she spun around to face the two boys. Both grimaced as Sakurako, Kazuya and Yuki approached the trio.
"Yuki," exclaimed Shigeru, "I'm so glad you could come." Yuki smiled. "Come on," said Shigeru, jostling them like a sheep dog gathering the sheep, "Let me introduce my parents." Sojiro and Akira hesitated. "Shigeru, we've met your parents," said Akira. "May we be excused then?" added Sojiro quickly. Shigeru glared at the two and shook her head. Sojiro and Akira sighed and followed behind the rest silently. As they neared her parents, Shigeru noticed a familiar figure with another couple.
"Here comes my daughter," said Reiji as the trio with their backs previously to the group turned around. Shigeru's eyes widen. "What are you doing here?" interjected a surprised Shigeru. Okawahara Yumiko frowned at her daughter's impoliteness. "Hello, we meet again," greeted Tomoya, "Thanks for having tea with me the last time." Shigeru was speechless. "I'm sorry, Tomoya" interrupted Reiji, "You know my daughter?"
Tomoya nodded. "I've met her on the plane and in school. Just last week, we had tea," he explained. "I see," replied Reiji, "Well, then, there's no need for me to make a formal introduction for the two of you." Looking at his daughter, he said, "But I have to introduce Mr and Mrs Minami to you." A formal introduction was made.
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Rui looked at his watch and wondered what happened to Shizuka, who was supposed to have arrived at the airport fifteen minutes' ago. He looked around and paced the waiting arena of the arrival hall. "Rui," came a familiar voice. He turned to see Shizuka pushing her trolley of luggage towards him. He smiled.
"Did you wait long?" she asked, greeting him with a kiss. Rui nodded and replied, "You should have been here fifteen minutes' ago." Shizuka gave a sheepish smile and took out a package from her bag. "I saw this in there and thought you might like it," she said, handing the small package over. Rui took it and was about to opened it when Shizuka placed her hand on his. "Do it when you're home," she said. Rui shrugged and placed the package away in his pocket.
"There's somewhere we have to go now," said Rui as he took over the trolley, "My parents can't make it for Okawahara's wedding anniversary so we have to represent them." Shizuka nodded as she was now Rui's fiancée and public appearance together was a norm in the society.
************
Yuki stood by the buffet table, looking lost as Kazuya and Sakurako had ditched her to go off on their own. "I should never have come," she muttered softly, "If only Tsukushi was here..." She looked at the food on her plate disinterestedly. "Hi," greeted Sojiro. Yuki looked up and her heart quicken as this handsome lad stood in front of her. She muttered a quick "Hi" and turned her back to him.
"The food's not to your taste?" he asked. Yuki shook her head with her back still turned. "You're Makino's friend, right?" asked Sojiro again. Yuki nodded. Sojiro sighed quietly and thought, "This conversation looks set to be a one-sided one..." He tried again. "I can't remember your name," said Sojiro. Yuki muttered softly, "Yuki."
"Isn't it impolite to face or look somewhere else when being spoken to?" he commented. Yuki realised her impoliteness and quickly turned around. "I'm sorry," she apologised. Sojiro shook his head and replied, "It's all right." Yuki heave a sigh of relief that he has not taken offence at her rudeness. "Would you like to dance?" he asked. Yuki looked at the dance floor uncertainly. "Don't worry," assured Sojiro as he extended his hand, "You'll pick it up real fast under my tutelage." Yuki nodded shyly and took his hand.
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"So, where's your wife?" asked Shigeru as Tomoya handed her a glass of wine. "Wife?" replied a bewildered Tomoya, "Am I married to someone I don't even know?" Shigeru gave a confused look. "Isn't Miki yours?" asked Shigeru, puzzled. Tomoya shook his head and wondered what gave Shigeru the impression. "You were on the plane with her? If she's not yours, then where are her parents?" added Shigeru. Tomoya shrugged as he sipped his wine. "How come you're not clarifying?" continued Shigeru with her bombardment, "You could have told me over tea the last time. Why didn't you?"
Tomoya was a little annoyed at this constant questioning and frowned. "You didn't ask over tea the last time," he replied simply and turned to the dance floor. Shigeru flushed red as she remembered the tea they had. Conversation was not geared to his private life but instead, it centred on the people around them and her. It was her who did most of the talking - about the F4 and Tsukushi, how she had never had friends like them, how much she cherish them etc. In all her excitement, she had forgotten to ask about him.
"Sojiro seems to be enjoying himself on the dance floor," commented Tomoya as he watched the couple dancing, "Shall we join him?" Shigeru looked to the direction and hesitated. Without waiting for her reply, Tomoya grabbed her hand and dragged her towards it.