Kotoha arrived at the Shiba house a few weeks later. She was greeted by kuroko who took her bags. The house seemed bare without the rest of her friends. She walked through the entrance to the main hall.
"Tono?"
"Kotoha?" asked Hikoma as he walked into the room.
"Jii-san!" Exclaimed Kotoha, "It's so great to see you."
"How is life back in Kyoto?"
"It's peaceful, although I miss this place a lot. Where is tono-sama?"
"Tono is in his room."
"His room?"
"He's a little nervous."
"Hikoma!" said Takeru.
Takeru came out, wearing a nice outfit for the gallery.
"I told you, tono, what you have on looks great, you don't need to worry—"
"You look nice, Tono… Very nice. I'll go change into my clothes."
Kotoha walked with the Kuruko to her room.
Jii smiled at Takeru, knowingly.
"She's—"
"Don't!"
"I'm not saying anything. I've known she's had feelings for you for quite some time, but I've noticed the way you look at her too."
"You said you wouldn't say anything."
"Tono, I suggest you act on your feelings instead of hiding them. There is nothing to hide anymore, remember?"
Kotoha came out wearing a beautiful little black dress.
"Ready to go, tono-sama?"
Takeru was amazed at the way Kotoha looked. He never really noticed her in that way. Takeru nodded his head.
"You look beautiful tonight, Kotoha," said Takeru.
"Tono-sama, thank you. You look beautiful too." Kotoha blushed.
They walked to the gallery. Chisato greeted them as soon as they came in.
"Oh, it's you two from Kyoto. Come in."
The walls were draped with pictures of various couples. A younger picture of Chisato and Kouichirou from high school was amongst them. Next to their picture was a picture of a girl with pigtails and a handsome young man wearing the same school uniform as Chisato and Kouichirou were. A couple that looked just like them stood right next to the picture.
"Mou, I look so silly with the pigtails."
"I thought they were silly, too."
The woman wacked the man with her purse.
"I look sophisticated, Shun, with my short hair, right?"
"Uh… yes, of course you do."
The man pulled out his video camera and started filming everyone at the exhibit.
"Shun, Miku, this is Takeru and Kotoha," said Chisato.
"Oh," said Miku, "your picture is so cute. Chisato, where are the little cheesecakes you said you'd have."
"They should be coming out soon."
"After all these years I still wonder, where does she put it all?" asked Kouichirou.
Shun shrugged, as Chisato hit Kouichirou with her purse.
Kotoha and Takeru walked through the posh photo gallery until they finally found their picture. Many people looked at it and commented on it.
"So beautiful."
"I like the light filters."
"I like how they both seem too shy."
"Yeah, they're so afraid to admit it."
"She looks too young for him, don't you think?"
"Maybe as brother or sister."
"I disagree."
The crowd turned around to see the very two people they were talking about right in front of them. Kotoha blushed and left. Takeru ran after her. He went to see Kotoha crouched down in the courtyard of the gallery, near a fountain.
"Kotoha?"
"Tono-sama. I'm sorry."
"Are you okay?"
There were many questions racing in Kotoha's head to ask Takeru. Only one came out.
"Can we go home?"
Takeru thought Kotoha meant her home in Kyoto, and he was afraid Kotoha wanted to go back there.
"To the mansion."
Takeru was relieved.