Hey everybody, it's everyone's favorite absentee author. I'm a college student with limited time on my hands currently. I'm able to post this chapter this week because of its spring break for me. There will be more chapters coming soon. I'm sorry for the wait and thank you for being patient with me.
"Are we really going to your estate on the beach as a host retreat Kyoya?" Maria said grabbing his sleeve during their meeting at the host club one day.
"Yes you're more than welcome to come with us if your family has estate near there," he said with a tactless smile before sipping some tea.
"Maybe we can go swimsuit shopping sometime," she said with a koi smile.
"Our time is up miss I hope you had a good time. If you are in need to go swimsuit shopping the Hikaru and Kaoru may be able to help. Their mother is a fashion designer after all."
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
Before Maria could even blink her phone lit up with text messages.
"Hey, we heard you need help shopping for a bathing suit" Hikaru text to her.
"You work fast. Yea honestly I'm really hopeless when it comes to fashion. Lipstick lesbian chic is my fashion aesthetic" Maria sent back.
Across the room, Maria saw Hikaru and Kaoru look at Hikaru's phone snickering together. She needed to leave sooner rather than later to go shopping with Fuyumi. Maria was hopeless with clothing, at least since she came to Japan; everything is so different in Japan. She arrived back at the estate realizing that Fuyumi was already there impatiently waiting.
"You seem more excited than me about this Fuyumi" Maria said while removing her shoes at the front entrance.
Maria went upstairs and came back down only moments later in a faded t-shirt, blue jeans, and some junky sneakers. Maria had no idea where Fuyumi was taking her but it probably involved walking. They got into a sleek Bentley that belonged to Fuyumi's husband and promptly went to a boutique the next town over. The two young women entered the boutique with the associates looking concerned about Maria. Mostly because she was along with a frequent customer of theirs. Fuyumi paid no attention but Maria picked up on it and tried to ignore it as much as possible.
"Maria, look at this one" Fuyumi said while grabbing Maria by the arm.
Fuyumi showed her a light pink dress that looked like a Barbie would wear to a ball. It had an empire shape to it which made Maria grimace. Fuyumi chuckled a little at Maria's expression.
"Kyoya did say you are quite expressive," Fuyumi said with a bit of a laugh.
"So he does talk about me to you. I always wondered" Maria said with a smile.
The dresses were overwhelming, to say the least. They all looked liked something Fuyumi would wear; these all looked like something you could find on a ball gown Barbie. Maria short and stout in stature wouldn't look right in this. Nothing seemed quite right even after an hour of perusing the store. Maria looked defeated; Fuyumi could see it too.
"Hey don't look so down maybe we can find something somewhere else," Fuyumi said with her usual cheerful smile.
"Maybe we could do something more traditional. I think you'd look beautiful in a kimono" Fuyumi squeaked with joy.
"There is a first time for everything I suppose. Why not, what do have to lose" Maria said with almost no enthusiasm
"Good, we're going somewhere else. I know a place back in town we can go to" Fuyumi squeaked with joy while dragging Maria out of the store.
Fuyumi dragged Maria into another store a while after leaving the other store. It was starting to get dark out Maria wasn't sure how late it was getting but she was hungry. She couldn't skip meals anymore; no matter how busy she was she had to find the time to eat and keep healthy.
"Hey, Fuyumi can we get something to eat after this"Maria managed to squeak out while being dragged along.
"Yea after we find you something for the party. It's the mission for the day then you and I can get dinner, just the two of us. It can be a girls day of sorts and I haven't seen you since the last time I came over for dinner" Fuyumi said with joy.
She was ecstatic that she was gaining a sister even though Maria wasn't married yet. The shop looked rickety but it was cozy. Like someone poured their love into this shop over their lifetime. An older gentleman who was just shorter than Maria came out from the back.
"What can I do for you nice young ladies" the old man huffed out.
"We need a beautiful garment for my sister. She doesn't like pink that's the only exception she has" Fuyumi said in a quick firm tone.
The older gentleman went to the back to grab something. The old man came back moments later with a garment that was elegant as it was long. It was blue throughout with a field of flowers at the bottom with some carelessly floating in the breeze.
"Are you sure this a good idea , Fuyumi. What if I'm the only one wearing something like this" Maria said almost mournfully. As much as it was supposed to be a party of joy, it made her anxious. She never liked to be the center of attention; parties, corporate functions, and things of the sort always forced Maria to put on a demeanor that tired her out. Maria loved the garment, though; blues and earthy tones always looked good on her.
The old man waited patiently before speaking, "What kind of function is this for if you don't mind me intruding".
"Oh it's no trouble, it's for my engagement party in a few months," Maria said trustingly.
"Oh, I see. You'll be fine; my wife was as nervous as you were around this time in her life. If you're that nervous you can try on the garment now to see if you like it" the older gentleman huffed out.
"I mean if its ok, sir," Maria said koily.
The old man nodded and brought Maria into the back where his wife helped her into the garment. Maria came out from the back room with small precise steps for fear of falling. They paired the startling blue kimono with a cream colored obi tied delicately around her waist. It has no obvious patterns on it but this suggestion of a pattern in the fabric itself. Maria put her up into a rough bun with a hair tie she had on her to keep it out of the way of this experience.
"You look perfect" Fuyumi almost said with a whisper.
"Do you really think so" Maria questioned with a squeak.
Fuyumi nodded in agreement. Words could almost ruin this pure moment in time.
"Take a picture and send it Kyoya I want him to see this" Maria managed to squeak out of the pause.
"Why not surprise him" Fuyumi exclaimed in a cheery tone.
"Kyoya, like myself, prefers everything planned out in advance. It gives him unnecessary stress" Maria said plainly.
"Fine" Fuyumi took the picture and promptly sent it to Kyoya.
Fuyumi paid for the kimono while Maria was getting changed back into what Maria describes as 'normal people clothes'.
"You didn't need to pay for that Fuyumi" Maria said to Fuyumi while they were walking out of the store to the car.
"Think of it as a present."
"Fine, then you win. So where to for dinner? I'm really hungry" Maria stated with cheer.
"There is a ramen place nearby that I sometimes sneak away to when my husband isn't around," Fuyumi said while putting a finger over her mouth.
"Cool, I've never had any real ramen before. Just instant ramen when I'm writing a paper last minute for school or working late nights at the shop" Maria stated.
"Working on stuff at the last minute, I got the impression that you were just as studious as Kyoya is," Fuyumi said with a bit of a laugh.
"Nope never have been for a really long time I'm just really good at tinkering and I guess," Maria said as they both got out of the car.
Maria texted Kyoya alerting him to her not coming back for at least another hour. Dinner was quiet only due to both Fuyumi and Maria being incredibly hungry. The car ride back was as giddy and loud as a generic slumber party. Maria never had a semblance of this experience before. Having all male friends will do that. The driver had to tell both of them to pipe down at least once. Maria finally arrived home to the Ootori estate shortly after the rest of the family had dinner. She went promptly up to her room to drop off the garment before finding Kyoya. The door was already open so Maria knocked on the door to announce her presence and proceeded inside.
"Oh good you're home," Kyoya said with a tinge of happiness.
"Yea your sister is a little too high energy for me," Maria said with a bit of a yawn.
"I imagine you had a good time with her from the picture I got earlier from her" Kyoya said.
Maria looked beautiful Kyoya thought. Kyoya realized more and more ever since Maria came into his life his soul felt a little lighter.
"So do you like the kimono your sister bought for me for the party," Maria said hoping to get an answer to use.
She wasn't sure about whether or not she just go out some other time by herself to get a dress suited to the engagement party that would be held at the end of the summer.
"I never thought I would be enticed by a field of flowers. Blue is also a favorite color of mine" Kyoya said while adjusting his glasses with a small smirk.
Maria blushed with joy and confidence. She made up her mind; today wasn't a waste.