Duran-kun and Kiyo-chan's Omake Theater
(featuring the Kuga-Fujino family pets)
"Coming to these Fuuka Academy festivals must bring back a lot of memories for you," Natsuki remarked. She and Shizuru walked next to one another, while Duran was out front, Kiyohime sitting on his back, clearing the way through the throng of students, families, and visitors from the town.
"Not really," Shizuru remarked.
"Huh? But you were the student council president. For this kind of big event, not even you could weasel out of working hard. You must have been doing stuff from dawn to bedtime."
"But that is exactly it. I spent my time supervising affairs, managing my subordinates, meeting with the school's financial backers, dealing with crises, and otherwise working. Even the tea ceremonies I conducted were part of important business meetings. Whereas now I am free to wander the stalls, see what the students have done, play the games, eat festival food that will probably go straight to my hips, and best of all get to show off my cute high-school girlfriend in her yukata."
"Geez, Shizuru, you sound like you're some pervy, middle-aged businessman when you say stuff like that."
"Oh? But I think Natsuki is very cute in her yukata."
"…I can't win."
Shizuru handed her a skewer of grilled squid.
"A reward for a lesson well- learned," she said.
"You are the only person I know that looks cute while smirking."
"Well, I think that Mai must think Reito is cute when he smirks."
"Yeah, as often as he does it, she must like something about it or she'd have ditched his smarmy butt months ago. I guess it must be love that does it."
There was a sudden indrawn breath from Shizuru's direction, and Natsuki turned her head to see an almost stunned expression on her girlfriend's face.
"Yes, I love you, and I probably ought to say it more often."
"I love you too, Natsuki," Shizuru responded, and leaned over to give Natsuki a quick peck on the lips. More than one startled murmur came from the crowd, but Kiyohime directed a sharp hissing in their general direction and the murmurers shut up.
"So, since you're in such a festive mood, how about we try out one of those games you've been talking about?"
"Does Natsuki want to scoop out a goldfish?"
"I was thinking more along the lines of that one." She pointed to a brightly painted tent where a row of customers were lined up, firing off corks from popguns at a variety of targets. Shizuru chuckled.
"I think that would suit Natsuki, yes." She hooked her arm through Natsuki's and they strolled over to the shooting gallery.
"Ah, Natsuki and Kaichou-san!" Takumi Tokiha greeted them cheerily as they walked up. The redheaded boy was manning the cash till, while his girlfriend Akira was in charge of setting targets back up and fetching prizes. "Would you like to give it a try?"
"Sure; here you go." She handed over her yen and accepted the toy rifle.
"You get three shots. If you knock over a target, you win the matching prize."
"And the bigger targets are for bigger prizes, since they're heavier and harder to knock over?"
"Uh-huh."
Studying the painted depictions of werewolves, dragons, kappa, tengu, and other mythological monsters (including a one-legged crow, which she figured had to be Gennai's contribution), she picked out her mark. "These are really good-looking; you can tell that this is the Art Club's booth."
"Thanks! Akira will be happy to hear it; she drew a lot of them."
"It's almost a shame to put a cork in such work, but…"
She took careful aim at her chosen target, a dark gray jorogumo. It was one of the larger ones, and she knew that it would be tricky to take down. While easier to hit than the small targets, it wouldn't go over with just one shot; the hits had to be precise to first unbalance, then topple it. What was more, Natsuki didn't know the qualities of the toy gun and how accurate it would be. Still, at least a few mental calculations told her where she needed to strike and in what order, so she lined up the first shot and fired fast, three quick shots so the second would hit in the same place as the first and the third connect in the right place to knock it down.
"Hah! Take that, Nao!" she crowed as the spider-woman went toppling over.
"Nao?" Takumi asked.
"Natsuki was using motivational visualization, perhaps?" Shizuru quipped.
"If it works, it works."
"And you did win. Akira, number six, please?"
"Got it."
Akira brought over a giant purple sheep plushie.
"The spoils of victory," Shizuru said. "What will Natsuki do with her sheep?"
"I think I'll give it to Kiyohime. She can use it as a nap pillow, since her old one's getting a little ragged. It's soft, it's the right color, and if she's having trouble falling asleep she can count it."
Several heads nuzzled her hip in thanks. The happy hisses were cut off, though, when Duran hopped up to put his front paws on the counter and Kiyohime tumbled off his back. Wagging, Duran directed a big doggy grin at Takumi, who stroked him between the ears.
"Hey, boy. What do you want?"
"I think he wants to try, too," Shizuru deduced. Duran woofed once in agreement.
"Oh, I'm sorry. This game isn't really meant for dogs."
With a loud ratcheting sound, Duran chambered fresh cartridges into the rifles that ran along his sides.
"Sorry, boy," Natsuki said, "but they kind of require you to use their weapons. Shooting off live ammo at the fair isn't really approved."
Duran let out a whimper.
"But hey, why don't we go talk to Midori? The History Club is in charge of the fireworks this year; she's always looking for more explosions, so maybe she'll let you help out with a few Flash Cartridges."