-Chapter 3-

Ayaben proved to be a very good friend. It happened that they bump into each other one fine Tuesday morning in her way to the market. Mafuyu being the super friendly girl tackled him upon recognizing who it was.

Ayaben had to catch his breath and cough a few times before returning the warm welcome by merely patting her head. They were doing fine, chatting with the most incoherent things and stupid cooking seasonings until Ayaben brought this in the conversation…

'So are you going to the Summer Festival?'

'Yeah, I am!' she exclaimed. 'That reminds me of the past festival, I had fun playing with some tough headed guys!' she ended with a grin.

'You kicked their butts?!'

'EHH—NO! I -didn't ?'

'Did you go with friends?'

Mafuyu thought keenly if Sakurada was considered a friend 'Eerr, yes?'

'Did you eat a lot?'

'YES!'

'Did you play catching goldfish?'

'YES!'

'Did you tie your hair in fantastic bun?'

'Yes?!' Huh? Bun, he said? Why would I tie a bun (bread roll) in my hair?

'Did you wear wooden sandals?'

'Ehh?'

'Did you dress yourself in yukata?!'

Mafuyu made a ridiculous gasp and turn to Ayaben who was nodding fervently.

'Listen, Kurosaki. Summer festival for girls is all about—

FRIENDS AND WEARING YUKATAS!' he roared his dialogue punctuated with imaginary lightning in the background.

=O=

Her extra energy was dropped off to half after considering what Ayaben had said. A normal girly-girl would definitely wear something like that during festivals but what she wore in the previous one was a shirt and shorts!

'Oi, feeling down Morse-girl?'

'Banchou!' she cried.

=O=

Mafuyu pulled two yukatas out of the box with a loud sneeze. She had nearly forgotten about the gifts she received from her mother last three summers. One was colored blue with flaming red designs on the edge. She thought she might wear it together with the chain necklace or the dragon wallet to make it cooler. She unfolded the other one and found a light tangerine Japanese dress, bearing patterns of purple and pink floral designs. She wanted to appear super cool but the left sane part of her mind told her to act super shiny girl instead. Half-heartedly she grabbed the latter before pushing off the bolt of her door.

And now she could see herself standing at the front of her next-door neighbor's apartment. She can't help it, he was her last resort.

Though her friend Ayaben was the one who brought the idea of coming again to festivities like this, he can't accompany her because of his cleaning duties being the dorm manager. She bumped into Kyoutaro on her way pass the arcade, he was willing to oblige. She was utterly happy for that. And then he dashed like a wind to the movie house for another Nekomata special show. One thing they missed, they both don't have their phone numbers exchanged! Hayasaka was enjoying himself overseas as well as Ninja. Aki on the other hand had an arranged date at that same day. Going all the way home would be so unwise.

Of course, she wouldn't go without dragging someone. She only has to persuade him, right?

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Tender Thoughts:

You see, I gave my cute Kyon-kyon a cameo role! Aha ha~

I really have weird thoughts. Say, things might get interesting from now on.

Review guys, that's what I need to keep the story going : )