VIII
Having fun
"Just remember to be back in time, don't make us go out and have to come looking for you. We expect you to be home at six o'clock, is that clear? Also, stay out of trouble and do not use your vectors unless it is an absolute emergency. Also, beware of exposing your horns."
"Yes, Okaa-san," Ryou and to a lesser degree Kyou answered in unison to Mako's explanation on what they could and could not. Still, it wasn't all that bad as with Mei coming along with them, they couldn't really make a more open use of their vectors.
"Also, do not go and spend your entire allowance. Try to use some common sense when you are making a purchase. Now off you go dears and have fun out there. Bye bye." One last comment and they waved each other off as the girls left the inn.
"Be careful!" They could just hear as they started to walk down the main stairs. The mood was bright as they discussed where they would go to first.
"Oh, I am just so looking forward to this," Kyou said as she stretched her arms. "I was so getting bored being stuck in the house the whole time. Damn, I so want to have some fun."
"O-Onee-chan, you shouldn't say that." Ryou was very quick to remark as she pointed towards Mei who, fortunately for them, seemed to be more busy in her conversation with Nana than to pay attention to what Kyou might have said. "Y-You can't just say that with people around. Oka-san and oto-san might get into trouble if people get the wrong idea."
Kyou dismissed that on the spot. "As if bugs would know what I meant. Most are just too dumb anyways for that. Also, can we stop talking about bugs? I want to have some fun, not talk about them instead, alright? Besides, who needs them anyways?"
"But you don't seem to mind their TV shows, do you, Kyou-san!" Out of the blue, Nana came with that remark. "You keep hanging in front of the TV way too much. You're going to be chubby if you keep that up and eat all the bugs' food."
"Shut up! Shut up! Just shut up! Shut up!" Kyou hissed through closed teeth, both of her fists clenched as she dared for Nana to say that again. Promise or no promise, she would lash out if she dared to say that to her again. "I won't let you say that to me again Nana-san! You take those words back right now!"
"It's your own fault Kyou-san! You're being obstinate!" Nana replied, not showing any sign of backing down.
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! NANA-SAN JUST SHUT UP!" Mad with anger, she stomped het feet on the ground as hard as she could. "I don't want to hear that from you!"
"O-O-Onee-chan?! Please don't! Please, no fighting with Nana-onee-san! Please, I beg you!" Ryou started to cry as she grabbed Kyou and wrapped her arms around her sister.
"Nana-chan, you shouldn't fight with your sisters!" Mei also got in between the two of them, doing what she could to help. "Sisters are too important to lose over a petty squabble. Please apologize to your sister, don't ruin this trip by fighting with each other."
Nana and Kyou fell silent as they heard the words addressed to them. Whatever had kept their anger and irritation going just vanished as they looked into the eyes of the girls standing in their way. Then the both of them started to grin at each other before they burst out loud with laughing at each other.
"Oh, it is so quiet with all of them out, I had almost forgotten what it felt like," Yuka commented as she sat herself down in the garden along with Nozomi and Mako. "Anybody want some tea?" Already holding up the cups, she was looking at them.
"I'll just have some green tea if you don't mind," Mako answered as she leaned just slightly back. "You are right in that it is peaceful and quiet. I can't remember the last time I got to be this relaxed. Maybe I should consider in letting Kyou and Ryou go out more often, though I am still worried that they will get into trouble."
Pouring in the hot water Yuka made a remark about what Mako had just said. "If I may say something about that I don't think there is much reason for it, the girls aren't foolish you know."
Holding her cup gently with both hands, Nozomi just listened to what both Yuka and Mako had to say about the matter. Sure, she could fully understand the constant worries that they both had, but even so, wouldn't it be better to let the girls to at least get to enjoy a more normal life. In her modest opinion, it would mean little if the girls were never found out but had to be kept low all the time. There was a difference between being alive and having a life. "I'm sure they will be fine. Mayu-chan and Nana-chan know how to act, right Yuka-san? Also could I get another lump of sugar please?"
Giggling as she heard the questions, Yuka was quick to serve her. "Here you go. I do think Nozomi-chan has a point but let's discuss that some other time. We should enjoy the little bit of rest and tranquility that we have for the moment."
Taking in the smell of the tea, Mako fell silent all of a sudden. She let out a quick nod, but other than that, she didn't say much. Yuka was right in that they should enjoy the tranquility that had settled and Nozomi had made a surprising good point. It all gave her something to think about. "The only thing that keeps worrying me though is that Saeko-chan hasn't gone with them. I take it that she has gone back upstairs to look after her little sister?" Mako asked though she already knew the answer. She had seen her go up the stairs herself.
"She is, though I do think that she was really torn about staying back. I am certain that if Saori-chan wasn't sick that she would have gone with them as well. Possibly that she would have even dragged Saori-chan along. Though I am sure that wouldn't have been such a good idea." By now, Yuka had sat down herself. No, it would not have been so good for Saori to be outside even with the others accompanying her.
"I would prefer not; she is too dangerous to others. Let alone if she were to get a seizure or a panic attack. Besides, with that device on her head, she will attract even more attention than the others. God prevent anybody from being stupid enough to actually try and touch it."
"She would not like that at all," Dai added as he and Kouta stepped outside. "Would you ladies mind if we were to join you?"
"Where is Sei-kun?" Yuka asked as she noticed that he wasn't with them after Mako had dropped him off earlier before she had went outside.
"He is just asleep so we decided to let him rest for the time being." Pointing towards the open rear doors, they could all see the him lying there. "We made sure that we could see him from here so nothing to worry about." Kouta added to Dai's earlier comment.
"My, my, Kouta-kun," Mako teased him. "Aren't you becoming responsible all of a sudden. I think that Yuka-chan might have made a good choice after all." There was a quick wink from her aimed towards Yuka, though it left both her and Kouta very uncomfortable at the moment.
"Honey, stop teasing the two of them. Geez... just look at how red their faces have become all of a sudden thanks to you," Dai said as he noticed it as well. To think Mako had taken such an opportunity to tease the two of them. "You're just awful, you know that?"
She just smiled. "Look who's talking now. A few days ago, you were teaming up with the girls against me. You even called me oka-san or do you not remember that, dear?"
Scratching his neck, Dai was quick to let her know that they were not going to discuss that here or anywhere for that matter. "Let's just drop everything all together and enjoy our rest, okay?"
"Oh! Will you just look at those!" Kyou was shouting and jumping with excitement as she eyed the new pair of boots just standing there in the window. "Aren't they just awesome?!"
"B-But onee-chan they are way too expensive. You won't have anything left of your allowance if you buy them. Remember what oka-san told us!" Ryou mentioned as she got a good look at the price of the boots. They were really expensive and although her sister had been saving her allowance of the last few months, it still meant that Kyou was going to be broke if she were to purchase these. "I think oka-san and oto-san are going to be angry with you if you show up with these, you really shouldn't buy these onee-chan."
Still with her face almost pressed against the window, Kyou was not planning on giving up so easily. Deciding to stay safe, Mayu, Nana and Mei just kept a certain distance between themselves and the twins for the time being.
"I do think Kyou-chan has a point, they look so pretty and she has really nice legs." Mei giggled as she made a step closer towards the window. "Say Kyou-san, why don't you first go inside and see if they fit. For all you know, they might feel really uncomfortable. That way, you would not have to spend your allowance on them."
"Why are you saying that?! It is my decision! It is my allowance! And I have been saving for these for the last three months! I deserve th-!"
"Ah Kyou-san, Mei-san didn't mean it like that," Mayu interrupted her as it seemed she had completely misinterpreted what Mei had actually said or had meant. "That is not what she meant with that, she is actually trying to help you."
"E-EH?!" Her mouth wide open, Kyou just stood there no longer having a clue on what to say next or for that matter to make a retort or even a remark. Why was this person actually helping her. One of her eyes twitching from the shock, she dared to look in the direction of Mei who in return gave her nothing but a kind smile.
"Y-Y-You?! W-Why?!" Garbled the words left her mouth.
Mei giggled at hearing her trying to formulate a question. "Because I agree with you silly. They do look really nice and to a pretty girl with such nice legs like you, they should look really cute!" Mei was starting to get a little red in her face.
"But if you really saved all that allowance then it would be a shame if you were to spend it on those boots and find out that they don't really fit or that they make you feel uncomfortable right?"
"B-But?! I-I?!"
Seeing her like this made the others giggle as well at her expense. Though, finally seeing things their way, Kyou gave up and agreed to what Mei had suggested in the first place. Come to think of it, she had never really actually been to a store by herself or had a chance to try on the clothes she wore.
"S-So how you actually go and try them on? I-I have never actually done that before." Kyou slowly mentioned as she and the others gazed at the store entrance. "Normally oka-san brings us some clothes and lets us pick." She swallowed hard as she noticed from the corner of her eyes that Nana and Mei were starting to push her towards it all the while grinning and giggling as they got closer.
"W-W-Wait! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING?!" Her face was bright red with shame.
They giggled even louder as they heard her cries to stop. Her sudden dismay only seemed to spur them on further.
"STOP! JUST STOP! I DON'T WANT TO! N-NO! NO! NNNNOOOOO!" Planting her feet down, she did what she could to stop herself from being pushed forward, until she just had enough of this. "I SAID STOP!" Her vectors shot out, planting themselves firmly against the wall making it impossible for them to push her in any further. "NOW STOP PUSHING ME!"
The beach was surprisingly solemn for this time of year, Bando looked down at some of the junk that had washed ashore. 'Even in these days, punks just can't keep their trash to themselves.'
Reaching out for the pocket inside his vest, he wondered just how long it had exactly been since he had last set foot here. Damn... he had been gone for a really long time. 'Well at least it is nice and quiet. Fully absent of any weird horned freaks or annoying brats. Perhaps I should stay a little longer and grab some rest or perhaps a decent lunch.'
The cigarette already in his mouth, he lighted it. It had been a non-smoking section in the restaurant earlier. Even though he would have just lighted one just to piss of somebody, he felt more comfortable with enjoying one here.
'Maybe I should have had some back at the restaurant. Bah. What am I talking. The only stuff they had there was junk and crap, I want some real lunch and plenty of it. None of that crappy junk food they serve at too many damned places.'
No, he wanted something solid. Something that would silence his hunger for the time being. Maybe there was still a chance that the old place he used to frequent was still around. If that was so, he would certainly stay there for a while and enjoy some high quality food.
'That reminds me, I still need to pick up my car. If I want to go and have a little chat with that witness, I am going to need to drive all the way up there. Dammit, I hate long drives.' That was a bit less pleasant but he really didn't have any other choice. Not if he wanted to hear it from the girl herself and he had no reason at all to trust the eventual police rapport.
There was a real chance that if somebody in higher places was involved that anything that could lead to them being exposed would be removed. For that matter, the potential risk existed that the whole case could get dropped or buried under red tape.
'That wouldn't surprise me in the least. This is something far bigger than the police departments seem to think. I can't rely on them anyway if I want to learn more, I will need to do it myself. The less people know about it the less risk there will be. Just need to make sure I get to it in time.'
All of that thinking had taken him far longer as the cigarette was already gone. A second one couldn't hurt at this time. The more he thought, the likelier it was going to become that his lunch was going to be one that he would take with him. Dammit, he wasn't looking forward to that at all but if he really wanted to see that girl then he needed to get there as quickly as possible before anybody else would have a chance to silence the witness.
Likely, she would be held with an escort at the hospital but that would be no guarantee for her safety. If the people behind this were serious about silencing the kid then she would be dead soon enough. It was even possible that she was already dead by now. If the wrong person opened their fat mouth, then yeah, that was already something he needed to expect.
Grabbing his phone, he wondered if he should call him. 'Wonder if that bastard would be up for a little ride. It's not like he has anything better to do anyways.' He grinned as he dialed the number and waited for the phone to go over. He was definitely going to ask him politely to come with him, at least he would try that.
Hearing somebody on the other end picking it up, he smiled. "I'm going on a little road trip and you're coming with me you bastard! Don't even think about saying no! I will come to your place! I'll beat you up and drag you along if I have to!" With that, he waited for the reply.
It had taken some time but Kyou was finally starting to calm down enough that they could convince her to go inside with them. Even then, the prospect of this was still, rather surprising to them all, proving to be a somewhat unsettling experience for Kyou.
"O-Onee-chan we are all here alright, you don't have to go in alone…"
Still feeling a little hesitant about actually going in, Kyou looked at them all trying to regain some of her earlier courage. "So we are going inside then, right? Just remember not to try any tricks. I am warning you already."
Mayu sighed. "We won't, I will make sure that they won't try anything when you're inside." Pointing behind her where Nana and Mei were talking with each other, it seemed they too were interested in getting some new clothes as well.
"Now, let's go inside and see if those boots you want really do fit. After that, what do you say we go to a café and get ourselves some refreshments before we go home. We deserve that."
Kyou almost growled. "Alright then. Let's go inside and get this over with. I am telling you that I am not going to leave this shop without those boots."
Following her in, Mayu and Ryou agreed with themselves to do what they could to make this a little less stressful for Kyou. For that matter, Mayu was a bit surprised that Ryou seemed to be a bit more comfortable being in the store despite her more timid personality. "Say Ryou-san, are you alright being in here? Aren't you feeling nervous like your sister?"
She waved with her hand. "A-Ah… A little, yes, but oka-san has taken me shopping before..."
Mayu noticed that while she said it, there was still a certain tone of nervousness to her voice.
"S-Still, that doesn't mean I like being here. I'm actually rather s-scared of somebody finding out about my horns…" By now she was pointing to the hair decorations that she and Kyou had been wearing which hid their horns. "W-W-What if somebody were to find out…?"
"If any bug is stupid enough to touch them, I would break their arms!" Kyou snarled as she heard the concerns of her sister. "Nobody touches my cute little sister and gets away with it!"
Mayu cautioned her almost instantly. "But Kyou-san, you can't just go and do that. You heard what your mother told you. Stay out of trouble and don't use your vectors." She was hinting at all of the other people present in the shop. If any of them were to do anything stupid, there would be too many people present.
"The last thing we want is for the police to get involved. What if they find out about you. I don't want to lose anybody else I care about."
"Fine then…" Kyou sighed as she had gotten sight of the boots standing there. "Besides, let's get what we came here for anyways. Aren't they just adorable?" From this close up, they looked even better but that still did not take away from the hefty price tag attached to them.
"I-I still think they are pretty expensive onee-chan but I guess it is your choice after all…"
She fell silent all of a sudden as she looked at some of the others boots and shoes standing there. "Just please think carefully about it, that is all I ask of you…"
"I know, I know. Can we just please stop with that. Listen, I am going to buy them but I will do what Mei-san told me and try them on first. Sheesh, you all think I am stupid when it comes to money, don't you?"
"A-Ahh, no onee-chan. They are just worried because we haven't been taught all that much on spending and saving. We still don't know how this really works."
Mayu explained it even further. "Ryou-san is right. Nobody thinks you're stupid at all. We all know what you have been through and how much you are behind other people of your age. It isn't your fault and you are trying to catch up, the only thing we ask of you is that you are a bit more cautious with spending and give it some thought."
By now, both Nana and Mei seemed to have finished their little conversation also as they took up their place right next to Mayu and Ryou, listening with great care to what they had to say.
"So, Kyou-chan?" Mei started as she gazed at the pair of boots. "Did you already try them on, I would love to see how they look on you." She started to giggle. "I still think you have the right legs for them." Following that, she gave a quick wink to Nana as well.
Nana clearly felt a little uncomfortable at that remark but she didn't let that be noticed by the others. "Mei-san has a point, go and try them on. After that, I really want to go and visit an ice café or something, I am getting a little hungry."
They nodded in agreement and with that, Kyou grabbed the pair and started to take off the boots she was already wearing.
"You all just wait and see," she gloated, "Wait and see."
Dai had been utterly shocked as he picked up the phone and listened to what sounded to him like the ravings of an utter madman. The others were all looking him, wondering who it could possibly be that was making such a ruckus over the phone.
"Dai-san? Who is that?" Kouta asked as he noticed the sweat running down from Dai's face. Surely it couldn't be that bad, but for some reason, he seemed very concerned.
"It is nice to hear from you too! For god's sake, I am with my family in case you have forgotten."
Already, by the tone he was using, they were starting to get a pretty good idea who it was on the other end of the line. "Do you think it's Bando-san? Why would he be calling anyway?" Surprised and somewhat confused, Yuka asked. She couldn't understand why he, of all people, would call them at a time like this. "What could it be that he wants from Dai-san?"
"Oh hell no. No! Just no! I am not going with you on another road trip! Yes, I have better things to do! It's a called a family weekend, might want to try it for yourself!"
Dai was getting increasingly more agitated the longer the conversation was going on and the others could only guess about the specifics of Bando's demand this time. Though it was pretty clear to them by now that he was planning to go somewhere and poor Dai had been tasked to keep him company.
They wondered who in the end which was going to win. Bando's incorrigible persistence or Dai's stubborn determination. Next big question was for how long they were going to keep up with it before Mako would likely grab the phone and turn it off.
"That man has a nasty habit of ruining somebody's weekend, doesn't he?" In a snarky tone, Mako made that remark, her eyes firmly focused on the phone. "Dai is not going to leave us this weekend. If Bando-san needs him then he can wait."
Kouta nodded as well. "I have to agree, Bando-san has this unfortunate habit of imparting on others and expecting them to do as he wants. I know that he is a friend but the man does need to learn some more manners, he cannot just go and tell Dai-san to get ready on a dime."
"I understand that if what you say is true then speed is of the essence but you cannot expect me to just go along based on just a hunch! Couldn't you have at least gotten something better than just that?! Also, where the hell would we need to go to? ...WHAT?! YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW FAR THAT IS?! I AM NOT GOING GIVE UP MY WEEKEND FOR THAT!" With that Dai finally turned off the phone and ended their little conversation.
"I just can't believe that man. To think he wants to go all the way up there just to confirm a hunch. Oh for god's sake, what has gotten into him?"
"Well Bando-san is Bando-san after all," Yuka laughed. "We should just forget about it and just focus again on having a nice weekend. If not for ourselves then for the girls' sake, right?"
"Agreed," Came the collective reply from the others. "For the girls' sake."
"Now, would anybody else want something to eat, it is going to take some more time before they get back from their shopping trip and even then it will likely take some time before we can eat anyway. Also, I would not be surprised if the girls would do the same."
They all nodded. Just a quick something to eat would be fine and if the girls were going to do it anyway while they were in town then why shouldn't they as well.
"I could use some soup if you have any? My throat is a little dry from trying to reason with Bando-san if you know what I mean."
Yuka stopped. They had soup, but it was actually planned to go along with the dinner. "Well... I wasn't actually planning on it just yet but it might not be so bad to have a little taste to see if the soup has turned out alright."
Kouta got up himself as he was going to help her. No need for Yuka to carry all of it herself. "I'll go with you and help with carrying some of it, should be a good host myself right?'
His question was met with laughter and other joyful remarks to the point that his guests offered as well to help. "No, no. There is no need for you all to get up. Just let Yuka and me do it for you. We did invite you after all, didn't we?"
"Oh, this is rather nice." Ryou mentioned as she sat down. They had decided to stop at a little restaurant on their way home. With just about the shopping they had planned on was finished, there wasn't all that much left for them other than to go home and get ready for the barbeque.
That said, they still had some time left and they wanted to make the most of it. So upon spotting the little restaurant, they had decided to treat themselves to something nice and tasty.
"It really is. I rather like the look of it. Say, is this a more recent addition?" Mei remarked as she couldn't remember this being here before. "It also looks more modern if you ask me."
"Who cares about that anyway," Kyou sighed as she dropped onto the chair. "I just want to get some rest, my feet are killing me I am telling you." Taking off her shoes, she allowed her feet some much needed rest. "Who knew that shopping could be this exhausting?"
"Well, it might have been easier for your feet if you had stopped trying to cram them into those boots and just listened to what the manager told you. They didn't have them in your size." Nana pointed out as she and Mei were the last ones to sit down.
"You just didn't want to listen and went ahead trying to cram your feet into them anyways. You could have actually hurt yourself."
"Nana-onee-san has a point. You should be more careful, onee-chan. Who knew what could have happened when you slipped. If you had landed in the wrong place then you might have gotten hurt."
Kyou wasn't paying all that much attention to what they were saying. She just nodded and uttered a few words underneath her breath but in reality she hadn't really heard what they were saying. So immersed in massaging her own feet that she didn't even seem to notice the waiter standing next to her.
"Is there something the young ladies want to order or would you prefer the menu first?"
"The menu first, please," Mayu informed the man. They really weren't planning on getting anything extensive but a quick look at some of the other food might not be so bad. She was glad that Mei had come along as she seemed to have a pretty good idea on how to help the girls get used to go shopping.
"Kyou-san, stop fiddling with your feet, people are looking at us. They might think you have this weird foot fetish or something." Nana was hinting towards the other people sitting on the terrace and who were by now staring at them and at Kyou in particular.
"She does?" Mei asked with a confused expression on her face. "N-Not that there is anything wrong with that. I mean if Kyou-san has such a fetish then we should all respect that."
Ryou shot up straight. "EEEHHHH?! O-O-ONEE-CHAN?!" And at that point, the whole matter started to spiral out of control as one comment after another was wrongfully interpreted by the others. "O-O-O-ONEE-CHAN, H-H-HOW C-COULD YOU?!"
"SHUT UP! I DON'T HAVE A DAMN FOOT FETISH! MY FEET ARE JUST ACHING AND I AM RUBBING THEM! THAT IS FREAKING ALL!"
"It's okay Kyou-san, we all accept you as you are." With a grin clearly for them all to see on her face, Mei gave her a little tap on her shoulders. "There is nothing for you to be ashamed of. You should be proud that you can be so honest about something so personal and intimate."
"M-MEI-SAN?!" Now it was Nana's turn to cry out as she heard her say that. To think she was even saying such a thing but then as she began to think about it, Nana came to the conclusion that she had no idea what a foot fetish really was. Were there even other kinds of fetishes and what exactly were fetishes? "So what is a foot fetish exactly?"
Her blood was up and so was she as she slammed on the table. "STOP MAKING FUN OF ME! FOR THE LAST TIME I DO NOT HAVE A FOOT FETISHHHH!" she cried out with all of her might, her face bright red though this time it was uncertain if it was because of shame, embarrassment or sheer anger.
By now, they had made quite a scene of themselves and if they had any brief moment of hope that people wouldn't have noticed their little drama, they were quickly dashed as dozens of faces were staring at them and at Kyou in particular.
"MIND YOUR OWN DAMN BUSINESS, YOU BUGS!"
Standing next to his car, Bando was still looking at the cell phone. "So you hung up on me. Not much to do but to go out by myself then. You're going to miss out on all the fun Hirano."
Putting it away, he opened the door and got himself behind the wheel. It was going to be a long ride nonetheless and being by himself, it would likely get pretty quiet as well. Not that that was a bad thing per se, but he certainly would not have minded to have somebody to have some conversation with and try to kill some of the time.
"It's your own loss if the fun starts and you miss it. Damn you for leaving me to go all by myself Hirano. Damn bastard." It was going to take him almost two hours before he would get to the hospital and that was if traffic wasn't going to be a mess. Briefly, he considered in using the trains but declined. "I fucking hate long drives." He sighed as he reached out for another cigarette, might as well treat himself to another one to lighten up the mood.
"No more stalling, time to pay that girl a visit and find out for myself what she has to say." He hoped that she wasn't kept on any sedation, that would make questioning her all the more difficult if she wasn't fully to her senses. He also needed to figure a way to get past the escort who was, without a doubt, attached to her.
"Security had better be competent otherwise your precious witness is likely already dead. Would be a real shame if that had already happened by the time I would get there." Still, for that matter, they would likely stop him from entering. Nobody knew who he was and why he would be there.
Most likely he would need to get past security himself as well if he wanted to speak to her and also have the time he needed to get the answers he was looking for. "You bastards had better not screw things up. Anyways, I am going to get the answers I am looking for one way or another."
Yeah, he was bound to get them, either from the witness or in the case somebody would be stupid enough to try and kill her then he would beat them out of her would be assassin. "You idiots just go ahead and try that, you'll find me waiting for you."
Turning on the radio, he tried to find something to listen to. Much to his chagrin, nearly all of it was just junk. Disgruntled, he turned off the radio as he turned on the ignition and drove off from the parking lot.
Once he got back from this, he promised himself to get some good rest and then later, some coffee. Going over it once more what he wanted from this witness, he turned around towards the exit that would lead him to the main highway. "This had better be worth my time."
Finally, after some time things were finally starting to calm down on the terrace, it had taken some effort from Mayu to explain that it was just a poor misunderstanding on their behalf and that they had been sorry for having made a commotion.
Luckily for them, it was quickly accepted, but it was a strong reminder to her that Kyou really needed to watch that attitude of her's. Breathing out a huge sigh of relief, she went back and sat down back in her chair.
"Mayu-chan, are you alright? You look exhausted. Can I ask what the manager said to you?"
Nana, Mei and Ryou were genuinely concerned about it. It seemed they had been worried there would have been more problems for them but it seemed that with Mayu's explanation of the whole situation, the man had accepted their apology.
"Wow Mayu-chan, I am so impressed by how you have handled this. You really are mature when it comes to dealing with such matters," Mei said as she reached out for her drink. Some of the people who had given them weird looks had luckily left earlier so by now the uncomfortable mood that had hung earlier was almost gone.
"So shall we go and try to enjoy what time we have left anyway? We can still stay here for a little longer, right?"
"Yes," Nana confirmed as she grabbed the parfait she had ordered. "I think we still have around maybe an hour left and we can easily use a bus to get home faster."
"Honestly, I would rather go home to oka-san and the others. I-I don't feel like staying here any longer… Can we please go back to the inn…" Ryou seemed somewhat ashamed of what had happened. "I-I-I don't like it when people stare at me like that… I-I don't feel comfortable with that… S-s-s-so can we please go home…?"
"We will Ryou-san, just give us a moment to finish our drinks and then we will go. It is a shame, but if you don't feel comfortable with it then I won't force you to stay here." Mayu filled her in. To be honest, she also wanted to go back home as well for more or less the same reason.
"Ah, but Mayu, why should we leave? We have plenty of time and besides, most of those people are gone anyways so it is not like they will keep staring," Nana objected.
"My sister wants to leave and that is final! You finish your drinks right now so we can leave!" Kyou was already eyeing them closely. Not a surprise there to hear such a reaction coming from her. "I am done here anyways, these bugs creep me out."
"Nana-chan…" Mei whispered towards her. "What does she mean with bugs? I've been looking but I just can't see any? Is it something else?"
That was a difficult question. How could she say that that was Kyou's way to refer to just about every human being she didn't like or didn't trust and that basically meant just about everybody with the exception of a select few. "Well it's, ehm, complicated. Also, don't ask her about it."
Still confused, but accepting her answer for the time being, Mei leaned back in her own chair. It was still a strange thing to her, but then she had noticed over time that many of the other sisters that Mayu had, had their own rather unique points.
For most of them, it was the rather odd horns. Something that had fascinated her ever since the first time she spotted them. Despite her curiosity spurring her to find out why they possessed them, it was out of respect for Mayu and her family that she didn't ask about it anymore once it became clear that the girls felt unpleasant about them.
"Shame though, I do like this place. It is nice to be able to sit around like this and be outside," Nana sighed as she slightly dropped her head. "I really would have wanted for this to last a little longer. Kyou-san, do you really want to go home so desperately or do you just want to leave just because you feel a little embarrassed? You normally complain so often how you want to go out."
"I do, but I don't like being here anymore. I want to go somewhere else. Besides, some of those bugs are really starting to become rather obnoxious to me. I hate it when they stare at me like that, reminds me too much of those white coated bugs back at that place!"
Mei was puzzled as that didn't make any sense at all. "What place are you talking about? I don't understand. And who are those white coated bugs you mention anyway?"
There was a foul intend to the way that Kyou was now looking at her. "Isn't it obvious what I mean with bugs! And the white coated ones were the biggest of all bugs! I'm glad they're dead!"
"O-O-Onee-chan?!" Ryou cried out. "Y-Y-You c-can't say t-that!"
Kyou was gritting her teeth when they all got called out by somebody else.
"Hey there! What do we have here?!" A group of six–no, seven–older teenagers approached them. Judging by their looks and uniforms, they likely belonged to one of the universities within Kamakura, older than the girls. It didn't take much for them to figure out what these boys actually came for.
"Would you mind if we were to join you?" he asked though they did not even bother to wait for an answer as the group sat next to them.
"We didn't give you an answer bug, and yes, we do mind you sitting here. Go somewhere else," Kyou mumbled with her arms folded across her chest. "Dumb bugs…"
"My apologies, but you are being quite rude to your superiors, we deserve your respect. Now be a good girl and keep us company while we order something to drink."
"We would rather not," Mayu objected. "We don't like your presence. Now, if you will excuse us, we are going home. Come on girls."
It was at that point that one of them started to get a little too unpleasant with Ryou. "Oh my, you're a pretty cute one. Loving that hair of yours. Say, is that your real color or did you dye it?" He chuckled as he ran one of his hands through her hair, getting dangerously close to touching one of her horns. Ryou's face was already red and she whimpered as he did it again.
"Oi bug, you get your stinking hands off my little sister or I will tear them off!" Kyou's face contorted at seeing the guy continue. "I am not going to warn you again bug!" And she placed considerable emphasis on the word bug this time to let him know what she thought of him.
"As your senpai, we deserve more respect. You seem to be rather ignorant of that, you little bitch! Now get on your knees and apologize for your horrible lack of manners!"
"As if I am ever going to get on my knees to a damn accursed bug like you! You are little more than vermin!" Baring her teeth, she hissed at him, the saliva dripping from her mouth.
Her fists clenched, she was fighting back the urge she had to just lash out with her vectors and just turn this guy into a bloody paste smeared all over the ground. She had promised her mother but even with this arrogance, she was finding it difficult to keep to the promise. Biting her lip, she felt them coming out. It would be all so easy to just do it now. But she couldn't, even if she wanted to make them pay, she wanted even more to be thought as a good girl and make her parents proud of her.
"I'll let this one slide you bug. Turn around now and leave and I might just be able to restrain myself and let you leave unscathed. Provided you all get on your knees and beg for forgiveness to my sister now!"
"Oh Yuka-san, this is delicious. I am certain the girls are going to love it," Mako complimented as she took a quick taste of the soup. "There is something you added to it, didn't you? Something that I just can't find the right word for. May I ask what it is?"
Holding up her hand, Yuka was all too keen on keeping that from them. "That is a secret ingredient, don't want to spoil it all for you now. Suffice to say, I got the tip from my mother a few days ago. She had read it in one of her magazines so I decided to try it for today."
"I'm glad you did, this is really good." Other than that, Dai didn't say all that much as he continued to enjoy the soup but Mako had been right. The soup tasted really great and he was certain that the twins would agree with that when they had a chance to try it themselves.
"Speaking of them, shouldn't it be around time that they got back. I mean, we are going to start dinner in about an hour or so. Perhaps we should give them a call to see what is keeping them?" Kouta summed up his thoughts as he gazed at his watch. "They are with Mayu-chan but normally she wouldn't let them get back this late…"
"I think it is pretty normal. They have all been cooked up for too long in the house so it is only natural for them to spend every possible minute out there isn't it?" Nozomi chimed in now as she wanted to have a say in the matter. Surely they must have thought of that as well.
Yuka was the first to agree with her. "Nozomi-chan has a point, let's just grant them the time we promised them. Besides, after this weekend, they will be stuck in the house anyway."
The others, having finished and placed the bowls back on the table, looked at each other before saying a word. Dai went first.
"Well, I guess some extra time won't really matter, I agree with her. Let's let them play outside a little longer. I'd say they have earned that."
Mako objected to it though. "But Dai, we agreed with them on a set time. That is not what we agreed to with them. 'Be home at six o'clock.' You know that as well as I do."
He waved her off. "I do, but I also think that with the girls having behaved rather well since the last time that they do deserve some extra time out. Besides that, we cannot keep them hidden forever. At some point, we will need to learn to let go of them and allow them to go their own ways. Let's put our faith in them. I'm sure they will stay out of trouble."
"AAAAAHHHHH!" Ryou cried out as loudly as was possible for her as the drink got spilled all over her dress. "AUAUAUAUAUAUAUAWAH!" She had just gotten it from her mother and to think that it was already ruined. Holding it in her trembling hands the tears ran down her cheeks as she looekd at the stain. "AUAUAUAUAUAUAUAWAH! AUAUAUAUAUAUAUAWAH!"
"WELL THAT IS YOUR OWN FAULT YOU DAMN BUSU! GET OUT OF MY WAY NOW!" The guy just pushed her to the side. "YOU SLUTS ARE ALL THE SAME! GO SOMEWHERE ELSE BOKE!" he yelled in anger as he waved his arms around.
Kyou was filled with rage at what she saw. "WHAT DID YOU BUGS DARE TO CALL MY SISTER?!" Gritting her teeth it was taking all of her willpower not to lash out at this guy and turn him into a bloody paste where he stood. "HOW DARE YOU TO MAKE MY SISTER CRY?! HOW DARE YOU TO RUIN HER DRESS?! I AM GOING TO MAKE YOU PAY FOR THAT! YOU HEAR ME?! PAY!"
The other guys just laughed as their heard her threats, dismissing it as if it meant nothing to them. "Oi Kameda, just watch yourself, that one seems angry!" They all made fun of them. "Stupid girls shouldn't come to our place, especially when they are freaks like you! You heard me! Freak!"
Kyou was nailed to the ground as she heard that last word. She howled at them in rage, almost frothing at the mouth at this latest insult. Oh, she had certainly heard him alright. "WHAT DID YOU DARE TO CALL US BUG?!"
Author's note: Another chapter for you people to enjoy. Have at it.