Chapter 3

Tanabata Festival

July 7, 2009…there was going to be a powerful shadow appearing that night. Minato was planning on going back to the dorm right after school so he could prepare for it. Although, it was stupid of him to study the night before the battle, so now he was tired and about to fall asleep in Ms. Toriumi's class.

Okay, scratch that. The moment Minato laid his head on his desk and shut his eyes, he was already Sleep's spell, and entering his dream world.

(- -)

July 7, 2006, Friday
Naganaki Shrine
Evening

Minako ran ahead of her brother and climbed the steps by herself to the Naganaki Shrine. Tonight was the Tanabata Festival, the only time of the year that Altair and Vega reunite. Minako loved the Tanabata festival since she could dress up in a yukata and almost make her older brother pay for anything she wanted. It didn't matter if she gave him the death penalty or not. Minato loved his little sister, but maybe he spoiled her too much.

This year, Yukari and Junpei were tagging along with the Arisato kids.

"Come on, brother! Let's go try out all of the games and eat all the food! Look! Yakisoba! Choco bananas! Apple candy! Oh, the yoyo water balloon game! Let's go try that, Brother! That and the shooting game!" Minako said excitedly and pointing to each booth. She grabbed his hand and dragged him to the nearest booth, which was the booth for the yoyo water balloons.

Junpei laughed and said, "Calm down, Mina-tan! We have all night to hit up all the booths!"

Yukari gently tugged at the sleeve of Minako's yukata. "By the way, Minako-chan, your yukata is very cute!" It was a purple yukata, decorated with light purple butterflies and a yellow obi belt. Her hair was still in ponytails, but tied with a purple ribbon this time.

Minako smiled brightly. "Thank you! Yukari-san, you look so pretty in yours!" She answered. She turned to her brother and asked, "Hey, Brother! Doesn't Yukari-san look so pretty?" She was wearing a pink yukata with light pink flowers and a yellow obi belt. In her hair was a pink, Nadeshiko flower, and her cheeks looked more full than usual, like she had just stepped out of the bath.

The boy glanced up at Junpei to see him smirking, and then at Yukari who was smiling at him.

"Yeah, she does." He answered, much to his chagrin.

Yukari took Minako's hand and joined with her at trying to scoop up a water balloon. Junpei slyly elbowed Minato and winked.

"Hehehehe, you sly dog! You're already putting the moves on Yuka-tan!" Junpei replied with a grin.

"What are you talking about? All I did was compliment her."

"SUUURE. That's all you did."

Minato ran his fingers through his hair. "Argh, shut up, Junpei."

After a few minutes, Minato heard his little sister grumble with frustration.

"Why can't I get one?" She asked with disappointment.

"You're too hyper, little sister." Minato commented gently. He took the hook from her hand and slowly lowered it into the pool of water. He tugged it, guiding it along the water and hooking one of the water balloons. He lifted it and dangled it in front of his little sister. She smiled at the balloon, then at her brother.

"Thank you…"

Afterwards, the four left the booth, touring around Naganaki Shrine. They stopped to buy some snacks, and at Minako and Yukari's insistence, takoyaki. Junpei and Minako had their own, and to Yukari's persistence that she couldn't finish it all, Minato shared one with her.

They then stopped at the offertory box in front of the shrine. They all deposited some money inside, with Junpei putting in the most, and prayed. ("Dear Buddha, help me get a good grade on the next test." He prayed.)

"Oh wow! Bamboo boats!" The youngest Arisato child claimed. She pointed at the people placing their wishes on these boats and sending them down the river.

"Do you want to make a wish?" Minato asked.

The girl nodded vigorously.

The four all wrote their wishes on the small paper before sending them afloat on bamboo boats. They all watched them drift away as Minako began to softly sing, "Sasa no ha sara-sara, nokiba ni yureru, ohoshi-sama kira-kira, kin gin sunago."

The night ended with couple of fortunes and exploding fireworks high the sky.

(- -)

Ms. Toriumi took her book and smacked Minato on the head with it. His head jolted up from his desk and he yelled out, "I wasn't sleeping!"

The whole class burst into laughter, and the boy's face reddened.

"Mr. Arisato, I don't permit sleeping in my class." The teacher replied sternly. "You will have to translate all of page twenty-nine and hand it in to me tomorrow morning."

"Yes, sensei."

"Honestly! You ought to drink some coffee before classes." Ms. Toriumi grumbled as she went back to her podium.

Yukari turned around and whispered, "Hey Minato, are you sure you're going to fine for the mission tonight?"

"We can't have our leader passing out on us." Junpei added in a low voice.

"I'll be fine." He insisted.

After all, the small nap would do him good.

I apologize for the delay of this story and its shortness. Hopefully, the next one will be longer. I have learned that the song that Minako sings in Japanese is a traditional song that is sung at the festival, so that was a nice addition. Thank you for reading!