A/N: Hihi everyone! Thank you so much for the reviews! They make me smile, dance, and sing, all at the same time! Pearlgirl710 inspired this chapter! It was basically her idea, so kudos to her!! Thanks a bunch PG710 and Love ya! ENJOY EVERYONE! (Smiles)
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
That next week of school had gone by very smoothly. It was Saturday and everyone was at Yuzuyu's house. Shouta had done well at his track meet that Friday so everyone thought they should celebrate. Shouta's mother and father sat at the table with Yuzuyu's aunt and uncle. They talked amongst themselves as Yuzuyu, Marika, Shouta, and Ken chatted in the living room.
"I swear Shouta, that guy didn't even know what happened! He was SO CONFUSED! You just came out of the blue like some random gust of wind! You were amazing!" Ken exclaimed. He was definitely still excited from Shouta's win and he couldn't bring himself to stop talking about it. It was difficult to make out his words with how fast he was talking.
"Hahaha, thanks Ken." Shouta said, grateful that his best friend enjoyed his running so much. He couldn't wipe the smile that was on his face.
"Ken, you act like you've never seen him run before." Marika said.
"Well this time was different. He was a totally different person. Don't you think so Yuzu?" Ken asked still excited.
"Yeah, I think its because his mom was there. He wanted to show her what he was made of. Right?" Shouta blushed. He knew for a fact Yuzuyu would know why he did so well. He didn't think she was going to make him admit though. He blushed.
"Well, I guess…"
"Yeah, that was exactly it." Yuzuyu said with a smile.
"Wow, then she needs to come to every one of your track meets. You're like a lightning bolt out there Shouta." Ken said. Shouta blushed. He would never get used to being praised by the people he loved. It was different when strangers did it. They had no meaning to him, but his family and friends; they are a completely different story. He cares what they think. Shouta thanked Ken once again with a smile. He thought back on the race and he remembered his mother cheering for him for the very first time.
(Flashback)
"GO! SHOUTA! GO! YOU CAN DO IT! COME ON!" Mrs. Hanasaki yelled.
"YEAH!! GO SHOUTA!!" Yuzuyu yelled with his mom. Shouta could hear the two most important women cheering for him. He was in second place and almost to the finish line. Once he heard his mom cheer for him for the first time in his entire life he sped up. He ran like his life depended on it and ran right past his opponent and through the finish line. His opponent was shocked. He was so sure of his victory, he staggered when he saw Shouta run right past him and there was nothing he could do. Mrs. Hanasaki jumped and clapped for her son. She never knew how talented he was when it came to running. She wondered for the first time what else he was good at.
"Yuzuyu?" Mrs. Hanasaki said in a low voice. Yuzuyu had been jumping up and down and clapping with Marika before she heard Mrs. Hanasaki call her name.
"Yes Hanasaki-san?"
"What else is Shouta good at? I-I don't know…" Yuzuyu looked at his mother and smiled gently. She was so happy that his mother was finally taking interest in his life; that her insecurities were slowly becoming just faint memories of the past.
"Well, he's talented in lots of things. And he's very smart. He's at the top of our class. He's plays basketball very well, and he likes tennis too. He also likes playing the piano when he has free time in school. He's taking a liking to painting as well. But right now he's thinking about learning how to play the saxophone. But of course his all around favorite thing to do is run." She smiled and watched Shouta being tackled by his teammates for helping them win the race.
"Oh? I'd really like to see him do all those things. I didn't know my son had so many talents." She spoke in an awed voice. She looked as if she was completely blessed that such a talented boy was born from her. Though she was a little bit sad that she waited so long to realize these things about her son
"Hanasaki-san you should tell him that. I'm sure he'd love to show you all the things he can do." Yuzuyu said with a giant smile on her face. Mrs. Hanasaki gave her a warm smile. She really truly liked Yuzuyu.
"You think so?"
"Of course I do!" She exclaimed with an even bigger smile on her face. Shouta could see his mother smiling at Yuzuyu from where he was on the track. He couldn't help but smile the biggest smile ever.
(End Flashback)
"So what's on the agenda for today you guys?" Ken asked.
"Actually that's a good question. My mom said that we were coming over here to celebrate and then going somewhere else with everyone else. I don't know where though." Shouta answered.
"Oh? Now I'm curious as to what we're doing." Yuzuyu said. Once she said that doorbell rang. Yuzuyu stood up confused as to who was at the door. When she opened the door it was Marika's mother.
"Mom? What are you doing here?" Marika asked peeking around the doorway completely puzzled. "And you're wearing a kimono? What the occasion?" Marika asked looking at her mother in a dark pink kimono with a pattern of light pink cherry blossoms all over it. Her butterfly obi (A/N: The bow the women wear around their kimono) was a very bright yellow with gold designs on it and her long dark purple hair flowed freely as the light breezed passed. She came into the house with a smile on her face.
"I was invited by Katakura-san and her husband."
"Invited to what?" Marika asked.
"The Takayama Festival." She smiled. (A/N: See end A/N for explanation)
"We're going to The Takayama Festival really??" Marika said excitedly.
"YAY! Auntie! Why didn't you tell me we were going? I thought we weren't going to make it this year!" Yuzuyu said as she ran toward her aunt.
"I wanted it to be a surprise." Mrs. Katakura said as she smiled. Marika's mother put her hand over her mouth with an apologetic expression.
"Forgive me, I didn't know it was a surprise."
"Oh that's perfectly alright. In any case we should all get ready now shouldn't we?" Yuzuyu jumped and smiled and headed up to her room faster than a speeding bullet.
"I brought your kimono with me Marika so you can go upstairs and change with Yuzuyu." Marika's mother handed her a bag with her stuff in it. Marika thanked her and bolted up the stairs after Yuzuyu.
"Wow, they are really excited." Shouta said.
"Yeah they are." Ken agreed. "We've been to this festival before, I wonder why this year is such a huge deal?" Ken asked confused. He was excited for the festival as well but his best girl friend and his other best girl friend/girlfriend had enough excitement for everyone combined.
"Hmm…I wonder…" Shouta said just as confused as he was. Shouta's mother and father came into the living room. Marika's mother smirked knowing the exact reason why the girls were so excited. Young love; it was really the sweetest thing to watch grow. She could see all of them getting married just like she did to her first love.
"Come on Shouta, let's go home and change and we'll be back ok." She said with a smile. She's been smiling a lot lately and it made him happy every time.
"Ok." Shouta stood up. "See you when I get back Ken." He said. Ken stood up.
"I have to get home myself. So, see ya."
"Ken dear, we'll give you a ride if you'd like?" Mrs. Hanasaki said.
"Oh, ok. Thanks." Ken said as he walked out with Shouta and his mother and father.
Oxoxoxoxoxoxo
Yuzuyu came out the bathroom in her light pink kimono. It had blooming red flowers on it. She held her red butterfly obi out to Marika so she could help her put it on. Yuzuyu's hair was pinned up with a light pink flower hair comb to the side of her head. She left her bang hanging out. She also had on pink sandals.
"Aw Yuzuyu you look so cute! Shouta's gonna faint when he sees you in this." Marika praised. She tightened the obi and Yuzuyu turned around.
"Not before Ken faints from seeing you in yours." Marika was wearing a dark purple kimono with lavender cherry blossoms all over it and a lavender butterfly obi. It was the same one as her mother's just purple. She loved looking like her mother. Even when she was little she would walk around the house in her mother's high heel shoes and make-up. Her hair was pinned up with a purple hair comb toward the back with her bangs also hanging. Her sandals were lavender.
"Heehee, you think so?"
"I know so." Yuzuyu smiled.
"Thank you." Marika said grateful to the compliment. "Isn't this exciting?" Marika asked.
"It is. This'll be the first time Shouta sees me in a kimono and it'll be our first festival together. I'm so happy."
"Yeah, even though Ken has seen me in a kimono, he's never seen this one. Plus this'll be our first festival as a couple." Marika blushed.
"Today is going to be an amazing day."
"Yeah, I can't wait." Marika agreed.
Oxoxoxoxoxoxo
Yuzuyu and Marika went downstairs with smiles on their faces. When Mr. And Mrs. Katakura and Marika's mother saw them all conversation stopped.
"Well, would you look at them?" Mr. Katakura said in an awed voice. His niece looked so beautiful and Marika was just as lovely.
"Marika, Yuzuyu, you both look so beautiful." Mrs. Katakura complimented.
"Like princesses." Marika's mother said with a smile.
"Thank you." Yuzuyu and Marika spoke at the same time.
"Wait till the boys see this. They're not gonna know what hit 'em." Mr. Katakura chimed. After about ten minutes the doorbell rang. Marika's mother stood up.
"Let me get it. Girls go stand right there so when they come inside the living room they can be shocked at how utterly gorgeous you look." Marika's mother motioned them away further in the living room and walked to the door with a smirk on her face.
"Aw, boys, don't you look handsome." She smiled and pulled both their cheeks. She let go and Shouta rubbed his face. Shouta was wearing a blue kimono with gold dragons on it and a dark blue obi sash.
"Mom…that hurt…" Ken said as he rubbed his cheek. Ken was wearing a black kimono with red dragons on it and his obi sash was red.
"I'm sorry dear, you just look so cute." Marika's mother answered. She loved Ken like her own son already so when she found out him and Marika were going out she couldn't help but be ecstatic. If she wanted anyone to be her son-in-law, she wanted it to be Ken, plus he already called her "mom" for knowing her for so many years. There was no one else who could handle Marika's tenacity and attitude but him. So she would definitely make that wedding happen even if it killed her. Shouta and Ken thanked her and walked in. Shouta's mother and father walked in after in their kimonos.
"Have Yuzu and Marika come downstairs yet?" Shouta asked Marika's mother politely.
"Oh you know girls. They just take forever and ever to get ready." Marika's mother answered with a smile.
"Oh I know mom, Marika was like that last year for our 8th grade prom. She had me waiting for an hour. Makes me wonder what she's doing." Ken laughed and walked to the living room. Someone clearing their throat interrupted his laughter. He looked at Marika and his jaw dropped, eyes bugging out of his head. Time seemed to stop immediately, as if no one else was there but him and Marika.
"I resent that Ken. You did not wait an hour." Marika said with her arms folded. Ken blinked trying to come up with some type of reply. Some type of something to say; but he was lost for words as was Shouta. Shouta's eyes were wide and he blinked more than usual. He shook his head too trying to clear it to no avail. They couldn't believe their eyes. Was it really possible for two girls that they've known forever to look any more gorgeous than normal? Shouta shook his head and finally walked over to Yuzuyu who was blushing uncontrollably. He took her hand and kissed it softly. Yuzuyu blushed even more; she could feel steam coming out of her ears.
"You look utterly amazing Yuzuyu Sakashita." He said in his prince-like voice.
"Thank you Shouta." She smiled an embarrassed smile. Why did he have to be so princely? Ken walked over to Marika and he smiled a breathtaking smile at her. He tilted her chin upward, and moved a piece of her bang out her face gently, so he could see her beautiful purple eyes.
"Marika…I-I'm at a lose for words…I can barely form a complete and let alone coherent sentence with you standing here like this…breathtaking…" He stared into Marika's eyes. He felt his heart beat incredibly fast as he stared. Something was happening but he couldn't understand what. Why was his heart beating so fast all of a sudden? Then it hit him like a ton of bricks.
Love.
He loved Marika so much he felt his heart wanting to burst right out of his chest. He could stare into her eyes forever and it would never be enough.
"Thank you Ken. You look very handsome yourself." She replied. Everything else seemed to go away to Marika. All there was was Ken. She realized that, he is all that ever will be. She never wanted to leave his side. Were these feelings supposed to be this strong at such a young age? She didn't know. She didn't want to think that this was some silly teenage romance. She wanted to believe that this would last forever and that this was where she belonged. She wanted to belong in Ken's arms; she seemed to fit so perfectly there now. She smiled and threw all her doubts away. That fact, that small little fact that she belonged with Ken and no one else right now was all she needed. Someone cleared their throat again and both boys snapped out of their dazes.
"I don't mean to interrupt this lovely display, but we should get going now kids." Shouta's father said. The boys blushed after realizing it wasn't just them in the house with Yuzuyu and Marika.
"Uh…um…right. Shall we go my lady?" Shouta asked as he held out his arm to Yuzuyu.
"We shall." Yuzuyu replied while taking his arm. They walked out the door first and headed to Mr. Katakura's van.
"You know, sometimes, I think he tries to make me look bad." Ken said.
"Me too son…me too. And he's my kid; my own son is showing me up. It's sad really. " Marika and Mrs. Hanasaki laughed at Mr. Hanasaki.
"Shouta is just a natural born prince that's all. Being a gentlemen comes natural to him." Mrs. Hanasaki said.
"Yeah, and others have to work at it. That's not bad though." Marika said linking her arm with Ken's. Mr. And Mrs. Hanasaki walked outside to the van as well. "It's what I like about you."
"You like that I'm not all prince-like? What girl likes that? Aren't you all raised to want a "prince charming" of your own?"
"Yeah, but I was raised around 'Ken-chan' so I never wanted a "price charming" just 'Ken-chan'. Princes are overrated. Besides, I'm a princess, I like being the only royalty in this relationship." Marika smiled and kissed him on the cheek. Ken blushed at his old nickname and laughed at Marika's attitude. She was confident about herself, not an insecure bone in her body.
"Well then, your 'Ken-chan' shall stay your 'Ken-chan.'" He kissed her cheek.
"Good. That's all I want."
"It's all I got." Marika giggled and Ken smiled. They walked out to the van with everyone else except Mrs. Katakura who was getting last minute things.
Oxoxoxoxoxoxo
When they arrived into the parking lot they got out of the van. Mrs. Katakura was anxious to eat some of the wonderful food they prepared every year at the festival.
"Everyone! Before we get started I want a picture." Everyone agreed and then got into a group for the photo. All the adults stood behind their kin. The foursome held the hands of their significant other with a happy smile.
"Ready? On three say cheese; one…two…three!" Everyone smiled and even bigger smile and Mrs. Katakura snapped the picture on her digital camera.
"Ok, now I want a picture of Yuzuyu, Shouta, Marika, and Ken." The adults moved out of the picture.
"Ok now, don't just hold hands. Come on, give the camera a little something more." Mrs. Katakura said in a playful tone. The foursome blushed but complied. Shouta wrapped one arm around Yuzuyu's waist and Ken pulled Marika closer to him with his arm comfortably around her shoulder.
"Good. Now say cheese!"
"Cheese!" Everyone smiled and another bright flash blinded their eyes.
"Okay everyone. We'll meet back here at eight o'clock after the fireworks alright?" Mrs. Katakura said.
"Okay." Everyone agreed and headed toward the festival.
Oxoxoxoxoxoxo
"So Yuzu, what's the first thing you want to do?" Shouta asked as they walked through the crowd of people holding hands. Marika and Ken were walking with them.
"Hmm, I don't know. There's so much we can do and we have so much time." Yuzuyu said. She couldn't make up her mind on what to do first.
"Ken, Ken, I want a fish. Can we go get one?" Marika poked out her lip and Ken smiled.
"What is this?? Marika asking for something? This is a special occasion." Ken said in a smart tone.
"Aw shut up Ken and get me a fish."
"That's more like it. What a faker. Hahaha." Ken laughed and Marika huffed. She hit him and then grabbed his arm.
"Guys we'll see you during the fireworks ok." Marika said to Yuzuyu and Shouta.
"Ok Marika, see you guys later." Marika and Ken walked off to where the fish were and Shouta and Yuzuyu still walked straight.
"I know Shouta! Can you win me a plushie?" Yuzuyu asked excitedly.
"Sure. Sounds like fun. But then that means you have to win me something too." Shouta said as he began to walk.
"Sure that sounds fair." They walked over to the game where you have to knock off the three cans in order to win a big plushie. You got three chances to knock them all down. The guy who worked in the stand greeted them.
"Well well how are you today? Come to play?" The young man asked Yuzuyu. He wore a green kimono and he had shoulder length brunette hair and blue eyes. He had to be about nineteen.
"We're fine. How are you?" Yuzuyu asked with a polite smile thinking nothing of it when the guy only acknowledged her.
"I'm fine now." He winked at Yuzuyu and Shouta automatically grabbed her hand.
"So, I would like to win a prize for a my girlfriend now. If that's alright with you." Shouta said with a sly smirk on his face. No one was going to blatantly flirt with Yuzuyu while he stood there. Not now not ever. He didn't care if it was the guy's job or not. The guy laughed and looked Shouta in the eye.
"That's perfectly alright with me." The guy handed Shouta the ball. Shouta thought to himself. 'I don't believe this guy! Is he serious right now? We just got here and he's already trying to ruin my perfect day with Yuzuyu.'
"Yay!" Yuzuyu said. She was a little bit confused but thought nothing of it again. The young man handed Shouta the ball and Shouta took the first shot and missed.
"Oh, darn. You missed. Here, try again." The guy said condescendingly handing Shouta another ball. Shouta threw it again and missed for the second time.
"Well would you look at that? You can't even seem to knock one down. I'm pretty sure I could do so much better." Shouta looked at him and the guy looked at Yuzuyu. Shouta's eye twitched a little bit.
"Um, excuse me, but could you maybe not talk. Shouta can't concentrate." Yuzuyu said as politely. The guy was shocked. He looked like someone who's never been turned down before, not even when the girl had a boyfriend. He was probably the type of guy who got whatever he wanted and who ever he wanted. He was probably never turned down before he could turn on the charm full force.
"Oh…sorry." Was all he said. Shouta laughed loudly and threw the ball knocking all three of the cans down.
"YAY!! Shouta you did it!!" Yuzuyu jumped and clapped. Shouta smirked at the guy and then turned to Yuzuyu.
"Which one would you like my princess?" Shouta asked. Yuzuyu blushed and pointed to a giant pink plush kitten.
"That one my dear prince." She said with a smile. The guy reluctantly handed Shouta the kitten to give to Yuzuyu.
"Thank you Shouta!" She kissed him on the cheek. "Now lets go win you something." She said as she pulled Shouta's hand to walk. Shouta turned around and smirked at the guy who was watching them walk away. The guy felt cold for some reason. He was completely ignored by a pretty girl probably for the first time.
Oxoxoxoxoxoxo
"Well Marika, now that you got your fish, what do you want to do next?"
"Hmm, let's go play another game and then eat. I'm hungry." Marika said.
"Okay." Ken agreed. Marika looked over toward the games and she saw a crowd of guys all around one game. She was curious so her and Ken pushed threw the crowd toward the game.
The game was you had to shoot five stacked bottles down in order to get a prize. You only got two chances. The woman that greeted them had enormous breasts and they showed teasingly through her kimono. She also had long blonde hair and green eyes.
Two guys were in the middle of playing but both of them failed at knocking down the bottles. They were too preoccupied by the woman's bosom to aim correctly. Marika looked disgusted and turned around.
"Hey! Hey you! Young man, why don't you try your hand and see if you can beat the odds?" She asked in a seductive voice. Ken looked scared automatically because Marika's hand tensed up around his.
"No thanks." Ken said, he turned around ready to walk away and the woman called out to him again.
"Aw! Why not?! Come on! I bet you can do it! Tell your girlfriend to calm down its just a game!" The blonde woman said. Marika instantly turned around and pushed through the gawking men.
"How about I try your little game?" Marika said.
"Sure, little girl." Marika twitched.
"I'm not a little girl."
"Of course you're not." The woman turned her attention to Ken. "Hey handsome, how are you today?" Marika was shocked. Ken didn't know what to do. He didn't know whether to say he was fine or if not to answer at all.
"Hey." Marika said. "How about you stop trying to flirt with my boyfriend and we play this game hmm?" Marika said pulling the sleeves of her kimono up.
"Okay little girl."
"Stop calling me little. How about we make this interesting. If I win, you close up your damn kimono, and if I lose, I'll give you my boyfriend's number." Ken gasped. Was Marika insane?!
"Marika what are you doing?" Ken asked a little panicky.
"Well well, aren't we confident?" The woman asked.
"Not at all, there's no confidence here." She said; her reply laced with sarcasm.
"Fine. Here's the gun. Shoot the bottles down and you win. You've got two chances." The woman handed Marika the gun.
"Thanks." Marika aimed with one eye shut and then opened them both. She shot but the rubber bullet went straight into the woman's forehead instead of towards the bottles.
"Oops. Sorry about that." Marika said seeming apologetic. 'That's for flirting with Ken.' She thought. You could tell that humiliated the woman.
Ken chuckled a little bit. And then cleared his throat when the angry woman looked at him.
"You little brat." The woman said with a red dot on her forehead.
"Don't I have another shot? Can I get this over with please?" Marika smirked. The woman growled and handed her another rubber bullet. Marika aimed seriously now and shot the rubber bullet into the center and knocked all the bottles down.
"NO!" The woman yelled.
"Well, how about you cover yourself up. Have some respect for yourself." Marika said. "Oh and can you give me that lion right there please." Marika asked as she pointed toward her prize. The woman huffed and puffed while she gave Marika the lion.
"Thank you." Marika handed Ken the lion. "Here, I won this for you."
"Oh, thanks Marika." Marika grabbed Ken's hand and walked out of the crowd. The woman closed up her kimono and the men awed.
"Sorry fellas, a loss is a loss." She said.
As they walked Ken was quiet. He couldn't tell if Marika was angry or not. Then she started giggling and the giggle turned to hysterical laughter. Ken started to laugh with her.
"Oh my goodness. I couldn't believe how bold she was! It was completely out of this world!" She laughed some more.
"I love how you shot her right in the forehead. You know that was humiliating."
"I know. I didn't want to be that mean but she started it."
"You were amazing." Ken kissed her forehead.
"Well thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed that." Marika smiled. Then her smiled disappeared. "She didn't have an effect on you right?"
"Of course not."
"Good. I'm glad. All those drooling guys made me sick."
"I know. But for some reason, I don't seem to pay attention to anything anymore except for you. You're the only thing that holds my attention Marika." Ken said lovingly. Marika blushed and looked up at Ken. She smiled and kissed him on the lips.
"The same thing goes for me. Maybe we're sick or something?" Marika said.
"If I'm sick than I don't want to get better…" Ken said.
"Haha, me neither." Marika agreed.
Oxoxoxoxoxoxo
"Thank you for winning me this Yuzu. Its cute." Shouta said looking at the small brown plush dog with a black spot surrounding one eye. Yuzuyu frowned and looked away.
"I wish I could have gotten you something bigger. I feel unaccomplished." She said. Shouta pulled her close and kissed her cheek.
"You're so cute its ridiculous." She looked at him and he smiled. "I like this dog because you won it for me. It could've been a key chain and I still would've been happy."
"Aww Shouta! I love you!" She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek. "You are the sweetest boyfriend a girl could ever ask for." She finished. Shouta chuckled.
"I love you too Yuzu." They heard people around them going "Aw!" and cooing after seeing such a display of pure young love.
"Well, I think we've drawn a bit of attention to ourselves."
"I think we did too. Maybe we should go eat before people start coming up to us." Yuzuyu and Shouta hurried along to the nearest food place they could find.
Oxoxoxoxoxoxo
"Shinji dearest?" Mrs. Hanasaki said.
"Yeah?" He answered while taking a sip of his tea and looking at the blooming cherry blossoms.
"When do the fireworks start?" She asked.
"I think in about an hour." He replied and took another sip.
"Oh. Okay."
"Are you alright? Do you want to leave now or something?" He asked. They were sitting against a tree like many other couples, completely relaxed.
"No no, I'm fine. It's just, I'm so comfortable here I didn't really want to move anytime soon." Mrs. Hanasaki said blushing slightly.
"Oh. Kakoe, if you don't want to leave we don't have to. The fireworks are the same every year anyway. Besides, I'm comfortable too." He said wrapping his arm around Mrs. Hanasaki and pulling her closer to lean on his chest.
"Thank you Shinji." She closed her eyes and smiled. "I wonder what I did to deserve such an amazing family. There's no way you and Shouta should belong to me." She said tracing small circles with her finger on Mr. Hanasaki's kimono.
"You shouldn't do that to yourself honey. I mean honestly, what has anyone done to deserve anyone? I think it's best if we all just consider ourselves lucky. I mean I could say the same thing too. What did I do to deserve you and Shouta? Who's going to have the answer? No one on this earth I'm sure of that." Mr. Hanasaki said as he rubbed Mrs. Hanasaki's back. She smiled at how laid back her husband had become over the years. Shouta must have rubbed off on him.
"You're right. I'm sorry."
"There's no need to apologize. You're not the only person in this world that questions good things." He said. He tilted Mrs. Hanasaki's chin up and smiled softly at her. A tear slid down Mrs. Hanasaki cheek.
"K-Kakoe! What's wrong why are you crying?! What did I say?!" Mr. Hanasaki panicked and some of the people around them stared.
"No no, it's just, I love you so much and I feel like I've wasted so much time being angry…I…" She cried into his chest.
"Kakoe…" He stroked her hair that fell loosely around her shoulders. "It doesn't matter. Shouta and I aren't going anywhere. Don't cry love. You should be happy that we're sitting here happily relaxed and not sad at home like we used to be." Mrs. Hanasaki looked up and rubbed her eyes. Mr. Hanasaki wiped a stray tear from her cheek.
"You know, that Yuzuyu is one heck of a young lady. I'm curious to see who else's lives she can change the way she did ours. I mean Shouta has this twinkle in his eyes and this certain pep to his step. You can tell when he's thinking about her too. It amazes me how much he loves her." Mr. Hanasaki said with a smile.
"Love? You really think they're in love at such a young age?" Mrs. Hanasaki asked.
"Isn't it obvious though? The kids around us are not like most teenagers. They don't think like regular teenagers, haven't you noticed? Yuzuyu speaks with so much wisdom way beyond her years. Her friend Marika is the same way." He looked up to the sky thoughtfully. He continued with a smile. "I'm just glad Shouta was able to find a girl like that. You can tell she appreciates everything that she has. Not an ungrateful thought in her mind I'm sure." Mrs. Hanasaki nodded her head.
"You're right Shinji. She makes me happy from the bottom of my heart. If I were to have a daughter, I would want her to be like Yuzuyu. Cheerful and always happy."
"So would I Kakoe. Which is exactly why we need to start wedding arrangements now. Shouta isn't going to go out with anyone else. I can feel it. There's no way he's letting her go." Mrs. Hanasaki laughed.
"Maybe we should let them graduate high school first dear."
"High school shmigh school." He replied with a wave of his hand. Mrs. Hanasaki laughed once more.
Oxoxoxoxoxoxo
"I think we should make our way over to the where the fireworks are going to be Ken. Are you full?" Marika asked looking at Ken. He was sitting on a stool right next to her at a ramen shop.
"Yeah, let's go." They paid for their food, thanked the chef for their meal and left.
"Today has gone by too fast."
"Yeah, time flies when you're having fun." Ken agreed. He grabbed Marika's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Marika smiled at him and then she heard her name being called.
"Over here!" Yuzuyu yelled from the side of Marika. A few dozen people were in front of them so Yuzuyu and Shouta had to wait for an opening. When they found one they ran through it to Marika and Ken.
"Hey guys." Yuzuyu said with a giant grin.
"Hey." Marika and Ken said in unison.
"Aw Yuzu look at your kitten! I love it!" Marika cheered. Yuzuyu smiled.
"Thanks! Shouta won it for me. I like you gold fish too Marika. It's adorable."
"Thank you. Ken caught it for me after about twenty minutes. People were getting so impatient, but Ken just had to get the fish I asked for. I was willing to settle but he wasn't. It was a pride thing I'm positive." She said and looked at Ken who huffed.
"Oh yeah says the girl who shot a woman in the forehead with a rubber bullet."
"What?" Yuzuyu and Shouta asked, also in unison. They both had equally confused looks on their faces.
"No, you know that wasn't my fault Ken." Marika protested.
"So you didn't shoot a woman with a rubber bullet?" Yuzuyu asked.
"Well I did, but she deserved it!"
"What did she do?" Shouta asked.
"She was flirting with Ken and I was right there and I mean right next to him and she's saying things like "Hey handsome" and all this other mess. Are you kidding me? I had to do something!" Marika said trying to defend her herself. "If you ask me, justice was served to that woman and I hoped she learned a lesson or two about flirting with a taken man, hmph." She folded her arms and Yuzuyu started to laugh.
"That's hilarious Marika! I can't believe you shot her in the head! Ha!" Yuzuyu laughed more.
"I know how you feel Marika. This guy was trying to flirt with Yuzuyu while I was standing right there as well. It made me pretty angry. I wish I could've had a gun with some rubber bullets." Yuzuyu stopped laughing and looked at Shouta with a confused expression.
"Wait, he was flirting?"
"You honestly didn't realize?" Shouta asked. Ken chuckled.
"That's Yuzu for you. She's got a one-track mind when it comes to you Shouta." Ken said in knowing tone. Yuzuyu blushed.
"I guess I do. I feel kinda bad now…" She put her finger to her cheek and scratched it a little.
"Don't. He was a jerk anyway." Shouta said. Yuzuyu giggled and nodded.
"Okay."
"So have you guys had anything to eat?" Marika asked.
"Yup. We're ready for some fireworks. How about you two?" Yuzuyu replied.
"We ate too." Marika answered.
"Well then how about we go find good spots to watch." Ken suggested.
"YAY! FIREWORKS!" Yuzuyu threw her hands up to the setting sky. Darkness would make the fireworks look perfect today.
Oxoxoxoxoxoxo
When they got to the field where the fireworks would be held there were many people there already. It was very crowded so staying together was quite a task. They were able to accomplish it though. They heard an announcement that the fireworks were going to start in five minutes. Shouta looked around to see if he could see his mom and dad. He couldn't seem to see them anywhere.
"Something wrong?" Yuzuyu asked.
"Just looking for my parents. But they probably skipped out on these fireworks."
"Why would they do that?"
"Well my mom was never the one for fireworks and stuff. She doesn't have anything against it; she would just rather not be close to them like this. My dad just doesn't care." Shouta smiled. He hoped his mom and dad were enjoying their time together.
"I'm sure they're enjoying themselves." Yuzuyu said. Shouta wrapped his arms around Yuzuyu's waist and rested his head on her shoulder.
"Yeah. I'm sure they are."
"Oh boy they're about to start." Marika said excitedly.
"Aw Marika, I forgot how much you liked fireworks." Ken said looking at Marika. She blushed.
"Well, I don't know what it is about them that I love so much." Marika said.
"Probably the colors. That's what I love." Yuzuyu said.
"Hmm, maybe it is the colors."
"You seem younger when you're excited like this. Its cute." Ken said pulling Marika closer to him. Her face became the color of an apple.
"Ken…please…don't call me cute."
"Okay."
"Wait! What I mean to say is…um…uh…thank you." Ken laughed a little.
"You're welcome Marika." They heard another announcement that the fireworks would start in one minute.
"Isn't this wonderful guys? This is our first time as couples at this festival. It makes me all giddy and happy." Yuzuyu said.
"It is wonderful." Shouta kissed Yuzuyu's cheek. After that kiss they heard one firework go off and shoot up into the sky like rocket. It bursted into red sparks in the shape of a bowl of ramen.
"That's a new one!" Marika cheered.
Someone came onto the speaker.
"HELLO EVERYONE! WE HOPED YOU ENJOYED THE SECOND DAY OF THE TAKAYAMA FESTIVAL! HERE'S A PARTING GIFT AND COME BACK TOMORROW!"
More fireworks were let off simultaneously exploding into different colors: blue, green, red, yellow, orange, and purple. The foursome watched in awe and smiles. Shouta kissed Yuzuyu's hand and smiled at her. Marika looked up at Ken and couldn't think of a more perfect time to say those famous words.
The words that she's been dying to use.
"Ken." He looked down at her.
"Yeah?" He answered nervously. This moment seemed so perfect to him.
"Um," She looked down to brace herself and then looked back up. "I love you." Ken smiled the biggest smile you could imagine and kissed Marika's lips passionately.
"I love you too Marika." They smiled at each other. Yuzuyu clapped quietly happy that her best friends finally confessed their love for each other.
'Today was so prefect. Life can't get any better than this.' She thought with a smile.
Oxoxoxoxoxoxo
Once the fireworks were over they met back up with their family at the entrance and headed toward Mr. Hanasaki's van. They talked about their day on the way home. Marika was glad to see her mother had had a good time by herself. She knew how sad she could get when her mother thought about her father. Once they arrived everyone thanked Mrs. Katakura for inviting them along and went on home. Once Yuzuyu kissed Shouta good-bye she came inside and closed the door with a sigh.
"I love him…" She took off her sandals and walked into the living room.
"Yuzuyu dear can you check the answering machine?!" Mrs. Katakura called to Yuzuyu from upstairs.
"Okay! I will!" Yuzuyu called back. Yuzuyu went over to the phone and pushed the button to hear the voicemail. There was one message for Reiko that she listened through and then there was another voicemail from Kippei.
"HEY YUZU-CHAN! I'll be coming over tomorrow okay! Be ready to go out to eat!" There was a pause. "And um we need to talk too but don't worry ok!" She heard the beep of the message ending and stood there for a minute.
Kippei was coming over to talk. She couldn't help but worry a little bit.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Wow so this has to be the longest chapter I've written in my whole fanfiction career but I didn't want to cut it into two chapters so forgive me if this was just a really long boring chapter.
Ok so the Takayama festival is a real spring festival that happens every year, at least that's what they told me on google. Of course I made up the events and games but the festival itself is real, just in case you were wondering.
