Disclaimer: It's obvious I don't have Tales of Xillia, because it was properties of Bandai Namco.

Hey everyone! It's been a while since I last updated this story~ Oh and I know that time around this year in 4 season cycle country is very cold (my place is quite cool due to being in rainy season) so writing about Summer Festival is slightly too hot in current climate :D. Anyway, in the last chapter Jun is being unfortunate with his sucky luck but managed to have Mai for the night and Milla with Jude is simply forgotten about Leia who was cast aside by the couple lol. It's been long since I wanted to write that kind of scenario XD. Oh well, there is no need to bore you out in the Author Note so... Rina Aria deliver you the next chapter of Memories From Back Then, Chapter 13 'Fire Flower in the Sky' I hope you enjoy it~

Jude POV

"You sure eat a lot Milla," I commented when I saw Milla bought a grilled-squid after the long list of food that she had bought as we walked around the festival ground. The list of the food that Milla had bought for the night might make a food encyclopedia for festival food.

"You think so? I believe I was just eager to try new thing that's all… come on, try it as well Jude, this is delicious!" Milla replied before she directed her slightly eaten grilled squid to my direction as she prompted me to try as well.

"Well, if you insist…" I replied before taking a bite of her snack. I looked over at Milla who looked like she was waiting for my comment about the grilled-squid. I wasn't a big fan of seafood but I should admit this was good.

"It is good…" I replied as I racked my head on how to comment about the grilled-squid over Milla's expecting eyes.

Milla giggled lightly and then took a bite of it herself. I got flustered the instant the thought that it was an indirect kiss passed my head. Well, considering that I found Milla attractive didn't help at all. Milla is the beauty of the school and she had the brain to boost it as well, there is no way I didn't find myself attracted to her. Especially I just found out that we have an equal standing.

'But, if it was just me who think about it then I am being silly!' I thought to ward away the thought of doing an indirect kiss with Milla.

I (inwardly) looked at the direction of Milla's lips as I watched her eating happily. Her lips are red, like apple and I'm quite sure that it wasn't because of lipstick since Milla never wore one as I observed. It looks soft and glossy as well, I wonder how it feels to… I immediately stopped my train of imagination there. Seriously, Milla is my friend! She just shares her food out of good will so I shouldn't think about another meaning of the gesture! I need to take a deep breath and clear my head. Yes, that's…

"…-ude… Ju…de… Jude!" a shout snapped me back to reality in quite literal meaning and I immediately turned stiff since the force of the voice was something weirdly familiar in my head.

I blinked and blinked once more and blinked few more… and noticed that Milla was looking over my direction with her palms over my face waving up and down. I turned to her direction to find that she no longer had her grilled-squid as it was replaced by a box of takoyaki.

… Wait a minute…

How long I was out for it?!

"Geez, Jude why you are spacing around like that? I called you repeatedly you know," Milla commented with slightly irritated but somewhat playful tone. She smiled lightly to me before she ate one of her takoyaki after she blew over it a little.

"A-ah… n-no I'm sorry… it is just… well… you know, weird…" I tried to think of a reason to respond of Milla's question except saying that I imagined how her lips would taste like if we ever kissed… I mentally head banged myself in the nearest tree for imagining about kissing with Milla.

"What is weird?" Milla asked innocently as she gazed at me with her somewhat sharp yet gentle gaze.

I quickly searched my brain for a normal reason as Milla continue on staring at me since I didn't answer her yet. I looked over to all direction except for her eyes to make up a foolish or somewhat passable reasoning when I instantly babbled, "W-well… y-you know about… well, never going to festival… and all… so… I wonder where you did, err… your study before enrolling here… what I mean by 'here' is Rieze Maxia High… well you know, I was abroad for few years as well… yeah."

Milla looked at me with round eyes as if she was mildly surprised by my stuttering. I gulped and looked to the side of the road, finding the dirt to be more interesting than this predicament. I only stopped when Milla abruptly halted her steps. I still felt flustered because what I said is a big fat lie and because I was thinking about Milla's lips when I stared at her, but I looked up to see Milla's expression nonetheless.

Her brows became slightly closer and her eyes were half-closed as if interrogating me. I gulped since hell hath no wrath of woman fury. Milla turned relaxed once more before she replied with, "I'm used to go to a boarding school. Lots of friends with money to throw around the streets like it were nothing. Well, the sure thing is that there isn't a festival like this around there…"

"But, there is no boarding school here that… eh?" I immediately commented when I noticed about one fact that would answer the reason why I never knew Milla even back in my childhood. Sure, she might come from this town and every child here know every children from their area and from how we go to the same bus stop, Milla should have in my area but I never knew her. That would explain a lot about why I never see her before… before High School.

"It was out of the country so I never go back even during holiday. But if you ask me about foreign country I might know a lot more than usual folks around here," Milla replied with a somewhat distant smile as she walked to my side.

"Was it fun? Your boarding school," I asked naturally since I have nothing to work on. It is also a good chance to learn about Milla.

"They are alright I guess, but I enjoy my time here more than there. Maybe it was the lesson or the company that I have here," Milla explained with a small fleeting smile.

I merely looked at her as we walked, having nothing to say after I asked about her past school. When she was finished with her food and actually had nothing on her hand, I found my hand quickly grab hers. I felt very anxious somewhat when I couldn't feel it post haste.

Milla looked at me and then at our linked hands before looking up again. I merely gripped her hand without saying anything either because I want to know that Milla is here, standing beside me. Up until just now, she felt so distant and I didn't like it at all. I like it better when she is here.

"Jude, is something wrong?" Milla asked with a concerned tone that successfully managed to snap my attention back.

I blinked and faced Milla once more and then looked down to see that I had gripped her hand a little bit too hard maybe despite the fact Milla didn't twist it. I quickly let go of her and with flustered expression responded with, "N-no, there is nothing wrong… yeah, nothing."

Milla tilted her head but I looked away, ashamed of what I did. Maybe it was because of what I instantly thought when I felt her hands on my grip. I was scared of letting her go, for some reason, and I wanted to keep her here no matter what I should do. But at the same time, I'm scared that she would reject this thought.

I could feel Milla still looking at me with questioning look as I desperately looked for a way to change her attention. Some people bypassed us and I heard them saying, "Shing, the firework is going to start!"

"Wait for me, Kohaku!" another replied and when I turned my head to the direction of the pair, I saw a girl with black hair dragging a boy with brown hair.

"What are you seeing, Jude?" Milla asked as she walked to my field of view. If I didn't know for better, I'm sure I would think that I saw her pouting.

"It's nothing, Milla. Anyway, it looked like the firework will start soon. Want to look for a good place to see them?" I replied before trying to make some distraction so Milla would stop to investigate why I suddenly grabbed her hands.

Milla looked at me as if analyzing my face to find anything odd at me. Even I noticed that I acted too weird just now, enough to fish some interrogation. I didn't even understand why I did what I did as well after all!

I inwardly gulped under the piercing gaze that Milla had until she retracted her head and said, "If you say so then I guess it would be for the best… Yes, could you guide me Jude?"

I let out a relieved sigh before saying, "When I ever said 'no'?"

Normal POV

"Are you okay, Jun?" Mai asked with concerned tone as she gave Jun a box of yakisoba that didn't end up landing on his head.

"I guess I am. It's a good thing we managed to find a place without too much crowd," Jun replied as he ate the food that Mai bought him since she think it would be dangerous for Jun to walk around the festival ground anytime soon.

"It's amazing how the fortune turned reality though. Hilda-san is amazing, isn't she?" Mai commented once more as she took a bite of her apple candy.

"I'm just glad it was only for this 24 hour. If I got unlucky anymore than this, it would be… saddening…" Jun replied with a lowered head.

"Are you angry at everyone who laughed?" Mai asked as she studied Jun's expression that become down after feeling about the whole misfortune thing.

Jun looked at Mai who had concerned expression on her face. He put up a smile and with a joking face said, "I don't think everyone had a bad intention about laughing. Well, if I see someone flipped up with trash on his or her head, I would laugh as well. So, I'm not mad! After all Mai, you are here right?"

Mai's face turned red and she took a small bite of her candy as she desperately trying to not blush. After all, she had this flashing thought that their friends did it in purpose so she could spend the time together with Jun. Mai sneak a peek at Jun who ate his food happily before thinking about her feeling towards the hazelnut-haired basketball stars.

She didn't know whether Jun remembered it or not, but at holiday before the Entrance Ceremony, they had met. At that time, she was on a walk in the mall alone without friend because she had none in the first place and the few friends she had enrolled on different area. It was then some weird man trying to pull the string with her.

Of course, she refused outright and thinking to teach them some lesson but they were in big crowd of people, she couldn't just do it recklessly. When they were about to touch her, someone saved her. Mai's heart stirred at that time as the man who saved her take care of the weird man and took her away from them. It was that time that they exchanged their name and she knew that he is Suzaku Jun.

She couldn't describe how happy she is when she knew that they went to the same school. She knew that Leia and Milla noticed her action when it came to Jun as well, and they always tried to help her somewhat. She knew that most likely this time was another scheme of theirs as well.

It was then that they started launching the firework as it illuminated the sky with its beautiful color. Naturally, Jun said, "It started!"

Mai looked up to the sky and smiled when she saw the firework. She didn't hold back and instantly said, "How pretty…"

Jun turned his attention to Mai who smiled at the firework. He knew his face was hot because Mai who smile looked very beautiful right now. He first met Mai in the mall where she was being disturbed by some random hitter. He saw that the girl actually could handle herself pretty well, but he just couldn't help but step up for her defense and drag her out from there.

After that, the image of the girl, Ibara Mai always stayed in his mind even before he knew that they went to the same school. The first time he knew that she even enrolled there was the time when he found her in school infirmary charge when Alvin wasn't there.

Jun then remembered how Jude instantly deduced that he was in love with Mai. Jun was surprised that he knew at all since at first he never tell the guy about her. Jude helped him on it as well, but he felt it was more like torture than actual help. After all, as Jude said, since he is the man, he needs to suck it up and approach the girl.

Jun gazed tenderly at Mai who smiled brightly at the sight of firework. He naturally placed his hand on top of hers as Mai turned to his direction in response. Jun knew that she was looking at him with questioning look and then Jun said, "Let's watch this again next year and the year next as well!"

"Yes, don't forget with everyone okay?" Mai replied while smiling brightly to Jun.

"Yes! But, w-well… I don't want have a bad luck again next year though…" Jun replied before being reminded how hard the path he had took so he could spend the night with Mai.

"I'm going to pray for you as well Jun. I'm sure next year will be even better. Oh yeah, I learn this from my mother…" Mai replied before inching her body closer to Jun.

Jun felt his heart might stop when something soft pressed on his cheek. He was stunned beyond words and felt like his brain process turned into a sudden halt along with his widening eyes. Apparently, only one thought was being processed inside his mind.

Mai is… kissing me.

Mai pulled back from Jun with a light blush graced her face. She looked away from Jun as she explained softly, "It's a charm so bad luck will turn away from you… I think if I do that, next year there will be more fortune for you Jun…"

Jun only nodded albeit his mind was 99% blank. He had a passing thought that today wasn't as bad as the fortune foretold him. After all, despite having 1001 incident, he could sit beside Mai and Mai kissed his cheek. Yep, not a bad night at all.

"Why I ended up helping?" Leia asked out loud to particularly no one as she rested her head on the counter of the makeshift traditional café booth.

"Stop dilly dallying Leia! Here, give this dumplingand green tea to the table number 6!" Boss said with a commanding tone as she gave Leia the order before disappearing to the back.

"Yes!" Leia instantly responded on the immediate command of the war general… wait, wrong era.

Alvin who passed Leia on his way to send order gave Leia an apologetic smile as he said, "Sorry for dragging you on this business Leia. We are short-handed for festival you see…"

"If Boss is short-handed, you should have helped since the start stupid teacher!" Leia shouted in half-mocking half-angry tone as she ran from the counter to get the food before getting to the ordered table, complete with a smile on her face.

That hit Alvin quite hard especially when Boss started shouting again, "You stupid good-for-nothing niece hurry up and get this order to table 3! Hurry up, move, move, move!"

Alvin groaned at the shouting mixed with insult of his Aunt from the counter. He quickly got on his feet and took the order to the designed table. He had no death wish after being dragged forcefully from the festival ground to go back to the stand. He did try to slack off a little bit as well as looking at the condition of his student that, apparently, had gone with their own date save for Leia.

At that time he half-begged Leia to save him from his Aunt tyrannical act. But, his Aunt saw it as a chance of another pair of hands to help and Leia got dragged with him to the stand. Leia actually followed willingly at first since she is that free and her friend unknowingly ditched her behind. She changed her mind when she saw the amount of the customer. His Aunt never told her that her store is very famous and even Leia blanked when his Aunt told her about the store name.

So now, since both couldn't escape from the clutch of Boss, they ran along the guest table and served their order. Leia half-sighed at the amount of guest that she need to tend on her impromptu part-time job. She noticed that a lot of part-timer was running along her as well but she now knew why Boss said they are short-handed. Counting wasn't Leia's forte, it would never be, but even with 10 part-time workers that Boss had hired before, she knew that it still wasn't enough. That was how bad the crowds are.

"Don't worry, I'll pay you properly for this later on Leia. I predict the crowd will dissipate when the firework started so you can still see them at the good spot," Boss said with somewhat reassuring tone that sounded a little bit forced due to not being used to it.

"It's okay really. Here is the order Boss, is there anything I could do?" Leia replied as she gave the order that she just got.

Boss gave her a ghastly smile and pulled out a tray of order to Leia as she said, "You have a lot of things to do here. Now, give that to table 10 and go back here, I will have the order you gave me ready by that time. You are really helpful Leia unlike certain good-for-nothing niece of mine."

Leia laughed nervously as she heard Alvin shouted from somewhere that he isn't a 'good-for-nothing' in which Boss quickly shut him up with a shouting. Leia ran to the table with the order when she heard a loud blast. She instantly looked up to find that the firework had started.

'Beautiful…' she thought as she paused for a little bit to watch the firework from her place.

She was snapped back to reality when Boss called for her. She immediately responded and went back to her job. She could think about the firework after she finished. She just realized that she wasn't as lonely as before with the sudden job offer. She smiled at that and continued working with a smile on her face, something that made Boss smiled lightly at the expression she made.