After the previous days events, not much was said between most of the residents. Breakfast hadn't been prepared for anyone as Shinobu was still sound asleep from her late night searches. Cooking one's one meals was no major task, but it had become such a daily ritual that now breakfast had to be made by Shinobu. It was fresh in everyone's mind that Shinobu could still be upset about what happened the day before. Leaving her to be was a wise option in everyone's eyes. Even without a proper start in the day, life continued. The day seemed pretty much normal to the tenants with either chores, studying, training, or simply goofing off. Come around the hour of mail time, all others could tell this day was indeed not quite normal. However normal Hinata Sou can get at least. For the time, Mutsume practically skipped through the house in her carefree manner as she brought a watermelon and stack of papers with her.
"Everyone, the mail is here!"
The normalness ended as all the other girls burst through the halls yelling either " giveme giveme giveme, let me have it, or is it food". In the process no one seemed to notice how Mutsume dropped the large fruit on the floor, shattering it into pieces.
"Wow, you're all very excited for the mail today", said the naïve girl.
Seeing people react to receiving mail this way, one would think that a relative was dying, or someone they knew was in the army. Yet there was only one reason why everyone wanted the mail, and that was to know if Keitaro sent another letter. Sure enough, their prayers were answered.
"I have the letter", shouted Kitsune.
With eager excitement and slight victory, the barely sober resident waved the small envelope with Shinobu's name in the air. As Kitsune was about to tear open the letter out of pure impulse, her hand was stopped by Motoko.
"Wait we can't open this right here, what if Shinobu or Haruka catches us?"
"To the Hideout", Sara exclaimed.
Not knowing where the hideout was exactly, the others followed the short blonde to wherever the hideout was. Mustume simply watched in wonder as her tama turtle joined her on her shoulder.
"What a particular bunch of people."
Mutsume's only reply came from the turtle with a, "Myu."
It should have been expected that the so called hideout would be nothing in particular. Afterall, it was dusty, crowded, and drafty. In better terms, it was known as the attic. With a simple lantern for light, all the other girls crowded around the letter as it sat there on the dirty floor. No one was sure what to do at this point. Should they open it? Should they not? If so, who should open it? No longer able to take the pressure anymore, it was Kanako who spoke up.
"I'll do it."
Everyone watched as his the Urashima girl slowly, but carefully unsealed the envelope. It was frustrating, but it had to be done to hide their tracks later on. Once the envelope was removed the letter was unfolded, and Kanako took a breath before she began to read out loud.
"Dear Shinobu, Keitaro here. I hope you're doing okay. I know you're doing great in school, I'm rooting for you. Listen up, I know schools in that region are taking some vacation time off, and I'm gonna be stationed in Tokyo for a while. I was wondering if you wanted to meet up for coffee, my treat. If not, then no big deal, if so I'll be at the "El Guapo" coffee shop on Fenner and Seendra street on Monday. Shall we say ten, ten thirty? No point in getting there too early. Hope to see you there. Your friend, Keitaro."
At that point in time, everyone was in a gasp.
"He's here", Kitsune asked everyone.
"In Tokyo", Motoko inputted.
Su questioned "Meeting Shinobu"
"For coffee", Kanako said quite shocked.
"In Tokyo", was Naru's response to this.
"We already said that dork", Sara said to Naru.
Whatever emotions of relief or thankfulness were now gone. Instead it was replaced with anger, and a bit of frustration.
"That perverted jerk", Naru shouted as she stood up. "he has some nerve coming back to Tokyo after what happened!"
"That evil, half of a man dares to show his face around here", Motoko said enraged "Why if he even gets close to Shinobu I'll..."
"Now hold up there sugar."
Kitsune was able to prevent Motoko from unsheathing her sword any further as she tried to reason with everyone.
"Now I'm not too happy about Keitaro being back either", Kitsune tried to reason. "But we can't let Shinobu find out that we know either. I might have a better idea.
Perhaps reasoning was the wrong word to put Kitsune's intentions. It was more like deception and deviousness.
"Now here's what we're gonna do..."
The others huddled around as they intended to listen to what the female was plotting out with them all.
The details of the day were passed by in relevance. The new day had approached, saying that it was close to the time of meeting Keitaro. Shinobu received the letter mysteriously at her doorstep, never suspecting that it was read before her. As time was passing by, Shinobu looked in her mirror as she brushed out the tangles from her hair. In the corner of her dresser was the small folded letter from her Sempai. His written words seemed to repeat in her head "I'll be at the "El Guapo" coffee shop on Fenner and Seendra street on Monday. Shall we say ten, ten thirty?". She looked to her clock on her wall. It now read nine seventeen. The young girl grabbed her purse, and matching hat that went with her sweater.
Although Haruka wasn't around today, there was still the obstacle of sneaking past the other residents. As quietly and carefully as she could, Shinobu began to tip toe down the flight of stairs. With the place being unnaturally quiet, every step felt as if it sent an enormous shockwave of noise throughout the dorms. One way or another, she managed to make it outside without anyone noticing. Or did she?
"Is she gone", Sarah asked suspiciously
Su answered her with,"Yep, she sure is."
One by one, the others began to emerge from their hiding spots. Su and Sarah were in the closet, Motoko was behind the couch, Kitsune and Naru were around the corner, and Kanako emerged from a large cupboard along with her cat.
"Okay everybody, phase one complete" Kitsune said.
The more sensible Naru asked, "There's different phases?"
"Why yes! The first part was to let Shinobu get away, not the second part comes in play."
"Remind me again what that was", Sara questioned.
"It's easy enough honey, we stalk Shinobu until we find Keitaro."
Inside the heart of the city was a monorail. Inside the heart of the monorail, was a little girl named Shinobu Maehara. Inside the heart of the little girl, there was a steady beat. If an EKG monitor was at present, it would say that she was fine. However, deep down to the emotions of her heart, she was a bit unsteady.
"I'm going to meet Keitaro today. This is it, this is the moment, I've been dreaming about for the last few months. What should I say to him?
Shinobu would have to be awakened from her thoughts as the monorail now approached it's stop.
"Ladies and gentleman", the conductor announced, "We are now arriving at the Tokyo stop. We thank you for riding our transportation. Please watch your step, gather your belongings, and have a nice day."
As the crowd of people used this moment to exit the transportation vehicle, an even smaller crowd moved out as well. Following close by, but not too close, was the "Follow Shinobu Renegade". Or so they called themselves, the name on behalf of Su and Sarah. This could easily be called a felony by any police officer, but it was all another day for the Hinata Sou residents. Shinobu paused a moment in her tracks. Once she did so, all of her stalker friends hid behind a parked vehicle.
"Uh-oh, do you think she noticed us" Naru nervously asked.
"No, she's looking down not behind" Kanako reassured them.
It was an actual surprise that they had not been noticed. Shinobu was a very smart girl, and there was a total of five girls and a cat following her. Kanako was right though, Shinobu was looking down. She was not looking down at the floor however, she was looking upon the letter in her hands. More specifically, she was looking at the directions written down by Keitaro. It looked like the place, but the corner streets were spelled Fener and Seender street. Was this the place, or was it a little bit farther? The coffee shop called "El Guapo" was there, but there was more than one of those in Tokyo. Deciding to take a chance, Shinbou approached the cafe. Not too far behind, the others made sure to keep her in sight.
Kitsune giggled, "Target lock on"
By first looks, everyone was sitting outside to enjoy the fresh air. Shinobu felt so out of place, being the youngest person within the small vicinity. Never the less, the girl scanned the area for the familiar face. There seemed to be no sight of him so far. Then something caught her eye...dark brown hair. It had that same familiar combing, with a head that was about his familiar size. She squeezed the letter a little bit tighter to her chest. Only one thing could describe her shock, "Le Gasp"!
"This is it, it's him! What should I do? Should I approach? No, I'll wait for him to notice me! No, that's no good either! I'm going to do it! I'm going to approach Sempai first! I'm really going to do it!"
The Maehara girl placed her hands on her lap before taking a small bow. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breathe.
"GOOD AFTERNOON SEMPAI!"
Unknowingly to herself, Shinobu screamed her greeting to the top of her lungs, not only for her targeted person to hear, but the entire neighborhood as well.
"I'm sorry, who are you exactly?"
Shinobu opened her eyes. Not only did this person not recognize her, his voice didn't sound anything like Keitaro. Shinobu lifted her head from the bow and realized this person was not Keitaro.
"Awww, oh-noI'msosorry! Ididn'tmeantodisturbyousir! Pleaseforgiveme!I'msosorry! Itwasanaccident! I'msosorry!"
Before Shinobu was through with her very complicated and gibberish apology, her flailing arms accidentally let go of the letter.
"No! Oh-no, please no", Shinobu begged the flying letter.
Shinobu tried desperately to reach for the letter as it took to the air. However, due to her short stature and a high wind, the letter was just out of her reach. She almost felt like crying. She had made a fool of herself, and now her precious written words from a precious person was about to leave her. However, almost as if someone was watching over her and ready to give her a break, a hand seized the note. The hand belonged to someone else, the same person that she now accidentally bumped into due to forward momentum.
"Shinobu?"
The smaller girl's mind was now back on track as she heard her name from a familiar voice. She looked up to the person who saved her letter. He was male, he had brown hair, and a sweet smile on his face. She was on the edge of guessing who it was, yet some things didn't add up. He wasn't wearing glasses, and there was a deep scar that ran across his face.
"Hey, long time no see." said the taller man. "Sorry about the street direction typos, it's been a while since I've visit here."
That was it, that was all the confirmation she needed before embracing him in a tearful hug. Even though they were separate minds, Shinobu and all the other spying Hinata Sou residents whispered one word, "Keitaro".