"Nazumi-sensei!"
The bell for lunch had just rang. Sae and I were walking up to Nazumi-sensei's desk. He looks up at us from his papers and smiles.
"What is it?" He asks.
"We wanted to discuss the festival." Sae says. "Kasumi-chan and I have some good ideas."
"Well," I almost laugh. "Sae came up with most everything. I only had one idea."
"I'd like to hear them." Nazumi-sensei smiles. "Why don't you grab your lunches quick and meet me back in here so we can talk."
"Hai!"
Sae and I go back to our seats to grab our bento lunches out of our bags. My seat was right next to the window, so while I was there, I glanced out onto the grounds. My eyes were automatically attracted to the mass of black that was Satoshi-kun. Sae comes over by me and looks over my shoulder. She laughs to herself.
"Sae," I whisper. "There's a girl running toward him. She looks a lot like…"
Sae giggles louder. "Naoko! The little Kitsune."
"What could she be talking to him about?" I ask.
"Maybe she's making a date."
"That's not Naoko." I say.
"Is something wrong, girls?" Nazumi-sensei asks from the front of the room.
Sae and I take our lunches and pull up chairs next to his desk. Sae opens hers right away and starts to pop rice into her mouth. I couldn't concentrate on lunch. I still was worried about Naoko and Satoshi. I didn't know why. It was stupid to. Naoko is her own woman and she likes Satoshi, so why not go after him?
"Kasumi-chan?" Sae asks.
"Nani?"
Sae laughs a little. "You just spilled some of your chanpon into your lap."
I look down at my skirt and sure enough…my noodles were there. "Oh, my goodness."
Nazumi-sensei hands me a napkin. "Anyways, what were your ideas?"
"I wanted a some type of musical. Maybe a play or a talent show. We could also have a market where all the students bring in something to sell." Sae says.
"What was your idea, Kasumi-san?" Nazumi-sensei asks.
"I liked it myself, of course," I say. "But the problem was that not all the students will be able to be part of it."
"Why is that?" He asks.
"You didn't even tell me this idea, Kasumi-chan!" Sae whines.
"Well," I say quietly. "We could have a Pokemon Battle Tournament. I bet the students who don't have Pokemon could have just as much fun being spectators."
"That's actually a good idea, Kasumi-san." Nazumi-sensei says. "I would even like to participate."
"You have a Pokemon, Nazumi-sensei?" Sae sits up higher in her chair.
"Yes, I do."
"What is it?" I ask.
"I actually have three." Nazumi-sensei smiles. "Wanrikii, Metamon, and Bariyaado."
"Sugoi." Sae says.
"Do you have any, Sae-san?" He asks.
"No, I don't." Sae replies. "Kasumi-chan? You don't have any, do you?"
"Actually, I do." I say. "I just never told you. I thought you'd think it was stupid."
"I think they're cool!" Sae coos. "Show me after school, okay? Which ones do you have?"
"Hitodemon, Hanekko, Tosakinto, Madatsubomi, Kodakku, and Kameiru." I count off on my fingers. "I can only have six at a time. I have more in a safety deposit box."
"Sugoi!" Sae squeals again. "I'm jealous, Kasumi-chan."
I just laugh a little bit and go back to my chanpon.
"I like your idea, Kasumi-san." Says Nazumi-sensei. "Why don't we go through with the tournament for the festival and Sae-san can have a little stand for snacks. Ask a few people in class to make some. Mochi, for example, and things like that."
"We will." Sae smiles.
I follow her out of the classroom holding my lunch in one hand, chopsticks in the other. We go onto the grounds and sit under a Sakura tree. I look around and notice Naoko walking towards us. I tap Sae with my shoulder and she looks over the rim of her bento box. She taps her chest a few times so her gomoku chaahan could go down her throat. Naoko arrives and sits across from us and looks down at her lap.
"Where were you earlier, Naoko-chan?" I ask.
"Promise not to laugh?"
Sae and I nod.
"I went to go talk to Satoshi-kun." She says. "I wanted to get closer to him, so I asked him if he could help me study sometime."
"What did he say?" Sae asks.
"He told me that I was probably smarter than him and it would be of no use to me." Naoko replies. "Watashi no baka!" She cries into her hands.
"You're not an idiot, Naoko-chan." I reach out and pat her knee.
"I can't forgive him." Naoko goes on.
"For turning down a study date?" Sae questions.
"No, not that." Naoko shakes her head and puts her hands back down in her lap. "He told me that woman are supposed to strong in the mind and in nothing else. Men are supposed to the opposite, he said."
That made my blood boil. It also gave me an idea. "Naoko-chan. I know how to get him back."
"How?" She asks.
"For our festival, we're having a Pokemon Battle Tournament." I smile. "I can give you a Pokemon to train until we have the tournament and you can show Satoshi-kun who's stronger at that."
"Pokemon Battle?" Naoko says uneasily.
"Daijobu!" Sae sings. "Kasumi-chan has strong Pokemon you could use. I want to get Satoshi-kun back for what he said to you too."
"Arigatou, Kasumi-chan, Sae-chan." Naoko grins.
"If you don't have plans today after school, I can give you a few lessons then." I say. "Which Pokemon do you want? Or don't you know the types?"
"I've heard of them." Naoko nods. "But, doesn't it depend on what type of Pokemon Satoshi-kun has?"
"Sou, ne?" I lean against the tree trunk to think. I straighten back up. "I'll go talk to Satoshi-kun this afternoon. I'll tell him to go into the tournament. I'll just have to weasel what types of Pokemon he has out of him."
Sae giggles. "Kasumi-chan! Now you're the Kitsune!"
"Who was the Kitsune before?" Naoko asks.
Sae and I look at each other and laugh nervously.
The rest of the school day went by fast. The next thing I knew, I was running down the street towards the black form of Satoshi. I catch up finally and tap him on the shoulder. He turns around, a little surprised, but doesn't say anything. He then starts to walk away again.
"Matte, Satoshi-kun!" I call after him. "I just want to talk."
"Then talk." He says.
"For our festival coming up, we're having a Pokemon Battle Tournament." I reply. "Would you like to sign up?"
"Pokemon Battle?" He asks.
"Yes." I nod. "Don't you have any Pokemon?"
"You're joking, right?" Satoshi almost laughs. "Of course I have Pokemon. Strong ones."
I smile. "Sugoi. Which ones, may I ask?"
"I have quite a few." He responds.
"What ones do you tend to use the most?" I ask.
He looks up at the sky and tries to think. I look up at him and I could almost see his eyes out of the corner of his sunglasses. For some reason, my heart began to beat faster. The mysterious Satoshi.
"I use Gousu a lot." He finally says. "But I still have Pikachuu, Karakara, Eifi, Derubiru, and Rafureshia."
"Rafureshia?" I choke. "I wouldn't think you'd have a Rafureshia." I giggle.
"Shut up." Satoshi snarls. "I'll sign up for your stupid tournament. There better be good competition."
"There sure is." I say. "You have to beat me."
Satoshi turns his sunglasses on me and I feel my heart race again.
"Uh," I say nervously. "Matta ashita."
I run down the street, not looking back at him. I know now what types of Pokemon Satoshi uses. Now, I just needed to call up Sae-chan and Naoko-chan so they could come over and practice. I knew the perfect Pokemon for Naoko. Konpan.