"Despite being a small village, the place is packed." Yasuhara and the others stood right outside the gates of the village. The whole place itself was designed for the festival, different stalls lined up with their own extravagant designs with bright lanterns and string of lights hanged above them to show the way.
"It sure looks nice." John genuinely watched as children, couples, friends and old-folk walked around with wide smiles on their faces, mostly youngsters. Some of them wore familiar faces as they are people that Yasuhara and Madoka interviewed.
"It looks suffocating. Let's leave, these are for children." Masako lifts the sleeve of her kimono to cover her lips, her eyes judging the groups of people walking around. Yet despite her commentary, her eyes glimmered in excitement.
"Oh, come on Masako-chan! It's a festival~" Mai cheers beside the medium, her outfit oddly resembled Masako's as the high school student wanted to get into the festival spirit.
"Oh my, festivals in Japan sure looks beautiful~!" Madoka smiles as she looks around. Lin and Naru behind her remained quiet, the air around them already wanting to leave.
Besides the boys— only Madoka, Ayako and Akemi remained wearing civilian clothing as they are a different size compared to the two high school student.
Akemi freshly cleaned with her outfit: A dark brown mini top dress, that tightened over her waist before letting loose below with the mini blouse dress reaching just a few inches above her thigh. The sleeves long and loose with the ends designed with intricate needle work of white threads. Akemi made sure to wear skinny blue jeans under the blouse-dress and her high ankle brown leather boots that warmed up her feet. Never forgetting her round-rimmed glasses, her golden threads opted to stay loose and hanging smoothly waved behind her with a face mask, covering half her face.
"So this is a Spring Festival!" Akemi's whole body brightened and glowed— her eyes shimmering at the sight of everything bright. Wrapping her arms around Ayako's free ones, she nudged the miko. "Ne~ ne~ Ayako-chan, let's try the food stalls around here!"
"It says here that a fireworks display is scheduled on midnight..." Bou-san says as he managed to take ahold one of the flyers that the stalls have.
Then an old married couple paused beside them.
"Oh my! You two were the ones who interviewed the neighborhood!" The whole group turned to the old lady. Yasuhara smiling and the one who replied, as the elderly couple pointed at him and Madoka, who gave a civil smile.
"Yes, our employer told us of the festival! We hoped to stay long enough to have some sightseeing."
The old man beside her let out a light chuckle, "Well, ain't that nice timing! Surely you all have heard of the story?"
"Story?" The group tilted their head at the elderly couple.
Clicking their lips the elder woman widely smiles at them. "All of you look so dashing, it's impossible that you didn't hear of it before coming here? Surely all of you are coupled up!"
"Eh?" The group except for Akemi and Naru reacted. The other to busy gushing over everything and the latter, too busy judging over everything.
"Today so happens to be the date of a famous love story around the village and additionally a full moon! It is believed that couples who go to the infamous hundred steps before midnight and lighting a lantern with their wish by the full moon will have their wish granted." Madoka and Ayako let out an awe at the story.
"Other one is when they have the same wish, they be together forever." Madoka and Mai perked, their eyes set on Naru who didn't bother listening and having a book open for him to read. The light from the festival bright for him to read perfectly.
The elder man adds in: "This does not only work on couples but friends and families!" Yet his words went from the other ear as both Mai and Masako conjured up plans on getting Naru to climb those hundred steps and lighting a lantern.
Yasuhara smiles gratefully at the two elders as they decided to leave the group alone after a while of talking, "Thank you! Have a wonderful time!"
"So, what's the plan?"
"Surely we'll have to leave before midni—" Bou-san was cut off by two high school students.
"No!"
"Let's stay here till 12:01!" The group looked at Mai adn Masako with confused gazes, Madoka chuckling as she already figured their reason.
Bou-san clasps his hands, as his words were only to simmer down the gloomy air around Naru and Lin— the two forced to join. "Well, it's decided! We'll all have fun till 11 so we can watch the fireworks after taking the infamous hundred steps climb! What do you say Akemi—? Akemi?"
They all looked around, not seeing Akemi or Ayako around. "Where did she go?—"
"We can watch what?" Bou-san and the others jumped in surprise when Akemi popped out of nowhere. Her eyes fully bright and arms already filled with dozens of food. Ayako behind her looking tired but even she couldn't refuse Akemi's nudging. Despite the tiredness that would come, having Akemi as a partner is rewarding— the curious fun of the heiress and never-ending excitement she has makes the whole experience unique and different.
Naru didn't bother lifting his eyes away from his book, not even flinching when Akemi stood next to him.
"Eh—? Are those...?" Bou-san felt a bead of sweat fall down his forehead. 'Just how did she get all of those so quick?'
At the mention of the bags hanging on their arms, Akemi started handing them different things. "Ayako and I looked around the stalls nearby and they happen to be selling these! I've never tried them before~"
Akemi handed Bou-san some takoyaki; Masako and Mai some candy apple; Madoka a crepe; Yasuhara and John some squids and okonomiyaki. Akemi made sure to give Lin some Yakitori and dango for him to try while Akemi handed Naru a few taiyaki, or choco banana but he didn't bother taking one.
Though that didn't discourage the girl as she gave a few more baby castella, kakigori, candied fruits, jaga bata, karaage, Yakisoba and a few more that she managed to buy in such a short time.
"These were all I managed to buy," Akemi pouted— feeling dismayed on the amount she bought. "But I hope it's all to your liking! We are making memories after all~!" Akemi beamed towards them and the crew froze.
'She... She's a different experience all together...' They all thought.
Akemi then perked, her head tilting to a direction with another batch of excitement. Small hops were made as she looked ahead, "Ara! Let's try going there!" Reaching out blindly beside her, she managed to get John.
The group watched as Akemi dragged the equally happy priest with her.
"They... They disappeared..." Mai muttered under her breath as they watched Akemi and John fully disappearing from the crowd.
Hesitantly, Bou-san lets out a chuckle— glancing to the side already seeing Ayako sitting down to catch her breath but a content smile plastered itself on her lips. Fully amused. "Is she always like this?"
Ayako looked at them with a sly smirk. "You'll see when it's your turn."
And they did see.
Akemi would pop up out of nowhere around them and out of excitement would drag somebody with her. Each of her return she carries a lot of food and rewards, and when they don't see anything around her arms— it would instead be an interesting story that she carries back.
"Oh! I see a goldfish scooping!" Mai gushed, her eyes brightening in equal excitement as Akemi's. The whole SPR group following along.
"Good day, Miss and Sirs! Wanna try catching some goldfish?" The man on the stall smiled, gesturing over the lowered tank filled with bountiful gold fish with different colors.
Bou-san turns towards the young girls: Mai, Masako and Akemi already bending to sit down and watch the fishes swim. "Want to try it?"
Mai glances with bright eyes. "Can we?!"
Bou-san chuckles at the sight and faces the man over the stall. Handing a few yens, for all of them to try.
Ayako, Akemi and Lin where the ones who declined scooping goldfish from the very beginning. Mai, Masako and John were the first to get their nets ripping without getting any— while the ones left were Naru, Yasuhara and Bou-san as they first opted to watch the first three before trying.
"Man, you guys suck at this!" Bou-san laughs as the first three ruined their turn.
With a devilish grin, Yasuhara looks towards Naru and Bou-san. "Shibuya-san— Bou-san~ wanna up the stakes a bit?"
Bou-san blinked, intrigued as well as the others. "Up the stakes? What do you have planned?"
While Naru declined immediately, with a passive expression. "I don't gamble when the stakes don't look upon my favor; It's a waste of effort."
Mai pouted as the others listened behind them, Akemi subtlety nodding in agreement. 'That's right! One should play a winning game...'
Mai still took her stance, her brow lifted in question. "Mouh! That's boring, how are you living your life?"
"By simply breathing."
Mai felt her brow twitched, her knuckles clicking as she lifted it up clenched. Already planning Naru's grave. "Why you—!"
Yasuhara was quick to deflect the upcoming conflict though as he spoke. "We up the stakes by determining who catches the most gold fish. The one with the least amount of goldfish gets to buy us snacks!"
The others behind them let out a cheer. Bou-san giving off a determined expression, pushing up his sleeves. "It's on! I'll show you all, my most amazing technique!"
Swiping down the tank, Bou-san immediately flips up a goldfish in the air. "Fish Swirl!"
The SPR group gaped at the sight with blank stares of surprise, Mai and Ayako with a hoarse voice yells out: "Is that even okay?!"
"Don't launch them into the air, you idiot monk!"
Masako furrows her brows, they all waited as the fish slowly fell down from its throw. "But... The fish seems to like it?"
Madoka elegantly smiled as she and John nodded. "The fish seems to be full of life."
And all accepted the events with a dozen claps when it landed right over Bou-san's cup.
"Woah!"
"Bou-san: 1"
"Fufufu~ Did you see that, Naru-bou? Yasuhara-kun? That was my greatest technique! They don't call me Gold Scooper for nothing!" Bou-san gloated, a spark leaving his eyes. Proud of himself.
Yet Bou-san's celebration was cut short when a dark chuckle rang beside them, making the others turn their attention towards Yasuhara; whose eyes hid over the glint of his glasses. Pushing them up with the tip of his finger to reveal his tenacity to win. "Is that your so called technique? Behold! This delicate fish scoop!"
With a quick hand, Yasuhara easily guides the fish up to his cup. "Gold dig!"
"Yasuhara: 1"
Another bountiful claps and cheers rang out and all turned towards a quiet Naru. "What is wrong with those two...?" Mai clapped with a heavy hand. Surprised at the crazy actions.
With a sigh, Naru moves closer to the tank as the applause subsided. "I reckon it's my turn—"
SPLISH—!
"?!"
The whole crew glanced at his cup to see a goldfish already happily swimming inside.
"What the—?!"
SPLISH—!
SPLISH—!
SPLISH—!
Naru was about to make his move but it turned out something went through his paper net once more, ripping it out. So like a trained dolphin, each goldfish took turns on jumping over his open net one by one and landing on Naru's cup; easily catching 7.
"What... Just happened?" Yasuhara stuttered while Bou-san glared at the young boy.
"Stop ruining the game!" The monk chides, "Even the fish likes your good looks?!" 'Who are you?! Prince Charming?!'
Naru gave out a chagrined look. Even he was fazed over what just happened. "That... that wasn't my intention, but..."
Akemi gave out a sharp conclusion. "As expected of the Wonderful Wizard of the SPR! His magic is too great for the common world to explain."
The group watched with a flabbergasted expression, Madoka and Lin even turning to chastise Naru, thinking he was using his abilities but at the sight of the young boy's expression— they have concluded none of it was his doing.
No one was doing anything.
"D-did those fishes just— Uwah! Not you guys too!" Bou-san paled at the sight of even his fish joining the bunch on Naru's cup.
Naru wins!
"What a formidable foe!" Bou-san slouched, letting Yasuhara pat his back as they were the ones to carry the burden of buying them snacks on such long lines. 'How did Akemi accomplish such feats?'
A few more hours passed by with the group waiting for Yasuhara and Bou-san to come back from their quest to buy them food. With the time nearing Eleven, the place was getting packed with other people from the village. The seniors and elders already joining in.
'They sure are taking so long...' Ayako frowned as she crosses her arms, looking around for the top of Yasuhara and Bou-san's heads. "Mattaku! Are they even ordering right now?"
Akemi turns to her friend with a bright smile, "Ayako can we—"
"No." Akemi pouts and went back to sulking.
All the while that occurs, Mai and Masako were busy debating over who will take Naru to the hundred steps; the debate particularly starting when Mai took notice of Masako's scheming conversation on trying to fool Naru into going with the high school medium.
"No! I'll be taking Naru!"
"Naru prefers my presence over yours."
"Ehh? Then why does he still call you with honorifics?"
Masako flinched at the jab from Mai, the two girls bickering from the start over who gets to hang out with Naru. Whenever one tries, the other either intercedes, interrupts or joins. It was a huge annoyance when they were trying to get him to notice them,
"You are just looking for ways to spite me! How childish of you."
Mai gapes in disbelief. "I'm childish?!"
"We're back!" Yasuhara, who was already holding a few things on his arms, gave out a wry chuckle when Mai and Masako continued to bicker over Naru. "Well aren't you two a funny bunch? What do you say about it, Shibuya-san?— oh?" Yasuhara and the two girls blinked when Naru's presence was not with them.
"Eh? Akemi?" Ayako called out when she too noticed the lack of nudging from the heiress.
Before their journey towards the hundred steps, Madoka and Lin already left the others, preferring to walk around together and let the other youngsters to climb up the hundred steps instead.
So far, both Naru and her are out of sight. "Don't tell me those two-?!"
And midnight was closing in.
"Naru, look at this one!" Akemi reached out her hand— holding the edge of Naru's coat and pulling him to a stall. Happiness plastered all over her face, as they stopped. Akemi was pouting when Ayako told her 'no' and so planned on taking someone else, pulling someone aside quickly— she didn't know Naru was the one she pulled.
All this time she didn't try pulling Naru aside to come with her, already feeling bad that he had to push his anti-social self aside and force himself to a place filled with people and not his work. Instead, the heiress opted on cherishing each second of his mercy decision on letting the group join the festival.
"What's that?" She asks as she and Naru stood in front of a stall. Yet when Naru himself didn't call her out as she unknowingly dragged him— it made Akemi think that he might not be all that against.
"Why hello there, beautiful lady! 100 yen for a string of luck! Pull any string here and get a prize!" The man inside the stall greets, fully aware of his rigged system.
Naru frowned, already pulling Akemi away as the heiress continued to whine before the stall owner even finished explaining his rules. "But Naru!"
"Don't be an idiot, anyone with eyes could see his strings weren't even attached." Naru scolds the woman but Akemi kept pouting.
"But..."
Seeing her dismayed expression, Naru sighs and drags her back.
Akemi gaped at him but he remained quiet and pulled out a hundred yen and glancing at Akemi, trying to convey a hidden message that Akemi fully understood. "Go ahead."
Akemi brightened like a child, intertwining their fingers— and with her other hand, she first took a deep breath in. Picking a string, she pulled.
ZIP—!
"Gwak!" The owner gaped.
Naru smirked.
Akemi cheered, turning to ask Naru. "Uwah~! What did I got?!"
Naru took the prize before the seller could reason himself. "A polaroid camera." He says, taking it out and clicking the shutter button. 'It's an actual camera.' Naru thought as he saw Akemi's beaming face in the gallery.
"You could keep it~" Akemi smiles, her beaming face a total copy cat of the photo in the gallery. A flowery scent of happiness floating around her,
Reaching out her hand, Akemi once again tugs the end of his sleeve and dragging him somewhere else.
"You used your PK, didn't you?" The light tone crystal clear on her voice as she rhetorically asked without looking back at him. The message he so tried to convey, fully translated towards Akemi by his aura. She couldn't help but laugh. 'At times like this, I'm reminded that even Naru has a sly side~'
It's intense at times between us, heartbreaking at others
"Are you accusing me of cheating for you?" Naru slyly retorts back. His words making Akemi laugh as though the heiress herself didn't use her abilities on lucky draws and other stalls such as the guess on which cup the ball is hiding later on.
Unaware that event by the rigged stall gained some attention. No.
She already was gaining attention the moment she waltzed inside the festival stalls.
"She looks familiar..."
"Hey, doesn't she look like the famous-"
"Look! You don't think she's the famous model, right?" Whispers and mutters spread around them. Naru frown when he heard a few planning on capturing every moment and soon a few started following them with glances.
Though it confused him even more when Akemi stopped walking. Her hold on his sleeve loosening ever so slightly yet not letting go.
"We're being followed, aren't we?" Akemi glanced around despite never seeing. Turning to face Naru with a saddened smile and was about to speak but soon the paused situation between them became a speedy turn of events as Akemi grasped Naru's hand tightly and sprinted.
"Hurry!" Akemi cheers as she ran, turning on every stall whenever she can.
Before she could apologize for being an inconvenience, especially when Naru himself hates attention and whispers— Naru this time was the one to drag her away by pulling her close to him and hiding behind a stall. "Gwah— ?! Na- Naru?!"
With his warm hands holding tight of her cold fingers— Naru held Akemi close, their breathing in sync despite the constant raise and drops due to their panting.
Akemi was about to ask Naru but the boy merely shushed her before Akemi realized what was happening as a few dozen of whispers and pointing passed them by. "I think they went here?"
"I tell you, she looks exactly as the heiress!"
"The person she was with was a total hottie too!"
"Think we can get both their numbers?"
Naru and Akemi kept quiet, turning their backs on them and feigned their interest over a few fans displayed by the stall.
A few minutes passed by, until Naru started dragging Akemi once more, though now a more calm walk instead of the hasty sprint Akemi had done; hiding over places they could hide to loose watchers.
It wasn't until Naru saw a familiar stall did he stop dragging her around.
"Hm? Naru?" Akemi blinked in confusion, her brows cutely furrowed as she waited for what Naru was going to do next.
You're the only one I hope this reaches.
"This please."
Akemi was lost. She didn't knwo where they stopped nor why, so when she felt something press on her face did she finally knew what he was doing.
"A mask?" Not the mask she was wearing, but a full on mask that covers a person's whole face. Akemi lifts up her fingers, caressing the outer design in hopes to gain knowledge over the appearance that Naru chose. She felt the long puckered plastic right over her mouth, already able to identify what the mask looked like as she caressed it once more. 'This- this is!'
"Wear it." Naru's hand remained on the mask— not letting Akemi pull it away from her face.
"But—!"
"I thought you said you would do anything I want?" A hint of amusement passed through his tone as he let go of her mask. The sight that greeted him, greatly funny.
Thick brows raised with huge round eyes— highly different tanned skin compared to her pale egg whites— a flat nose with few hair strands coming out of its nostrils along with puckered lips greeted him.
"Pfft—!"
"No fair! What's funny?!" Hearing him control his laughs made Akemi scoff though deep in her chest, she was relieved; glad to knowing he was having fun but she couldn't help but be in disbelief as he found it over by embarrassing her. 'She surely was wearing an ugly mask for him to laugh that way!'
"No way! You're laughing!" Her words made him chuckle further. Akemi pouts, taking out what she felt is a Kitsune mask but Naru shook his head.
I feel so strongly about you
"No, this one suits you better!" He teased and Akemi further felt the amusement and laugh over his aura.
"No fair, you get to wear one to!"
I promise you all eternity, never letting go of your hand in my grip
Leading her hands towards the displayed masks, she picked the one of a woman with pale skin close to a ghost's, eyes disappearing from its elegant smile; placing it over Naru's face. A huge contrast over his person,
I bet you my feelings for you won't change
A snicker coming out of her lips as she imagined what he looked like.
and I'll say the exact same thing when we're on the brink of eternity
"Having fun?" She heard him ask, she nods without saying a word— her wide smile covered by her mask— tugging his hand to try a different stall.
But it won't be enough. Instead of tears, I'll be filled with joy
She wished she could see his laugh. 'If this is all a dream, don't wake me up.'
And just give you a hug since I won't be able to find the right words for it
"I wonder where the others are..." Akemi hummed as her mask is lifted up enough for her mouth to easily eat the Strawberry shaved ice she and Naru bought after playing so much games.
They tried the gun shooting stalls, Akemi managed to clean every one of them and Naru learned of the competitiveness of the heiress. Naru opted to do a few darts, yoyo fishing or ball shooting, he too cleaned the stall, Akemi managing to ignite the same competitiveness on him — even getting her a huge stuff toy of a penguin with the help of her spiritual energy and PK when they figured that was rigged to stay stuck on the cabinet.
She teased on having it named "Nollie" but Naru swiftly disagreed, making the heiress laugh as he threatened on leaving her here by herself when she mentioned it.
"They must be taking the hundred steps by now." Naru answers, scooping a few of his blue shaved ice for him to eat. The two sitting on a bench side by side, hidden from the view of others as they all try to get above the hundred steps.
"Want to go meet them there?" Akemi innocently asks but Naru dismissed the idea.
"You want to carry all of this?" He pointed over the dozen of prizes they won at the stalls along with the food Akemi bought as she wanted to try all of it.
With a sheepish smile, Akemi realized their predicament and so agreed to remain sitting where they are.
They were quiet for a while, a comfortable quiet— but Akemi wanted to make memories out of it— especially when Naru accidentally drops a scoop of his Hawaii Blue shaved ice.
"Three-second rule!" Akemi teases, letting out a laugh when she felt Naru's distaste glare her over.
Scoffing he says: "I'm not doing that."
Akemi cheekily smiles, watching Naru going back to scooping a few of his hawaii blue. "Ne ne Naru~! can you stick out your tongue?"
Naru frowns but seeing Akemi's smile he does, just sticking out his tongue a bit. Hesitant.
Akemi snickers, scooching closer to him and sticking out her pink colored tongue. The polaroid camera she won stuck out and snapping the moment. Akemi took a snap of both of their colored tongues sticking out and places it back to her side.
"For keep sake!"
And just like that. Midnight came by and a flash of light painted the sky as different colored fireworks exploded in the dark atmosphere. Sputtering and artificially spectacular.
"No fair! I didn't even get to drag Naru over the hundred steps!" Mai and Masako slumped as they stood waiting at the top of the hundred steps with a few more couples and teenagers waltzing around, waiting for midnight to finish.
Their whole aura embodied the word 'discouraged.' though they lit lanterns with the others, their main goal was to have the same wish as Naru— yet the boy wasn't even there with them!
"The fireworks sure are pretty!" John and the others watched the display with genuine interest.
While somewhere in the middle of the stalls, Madoka and Lin sat on their designated table, both content in silence as they too, saw the same display.
Akemi contently smiles as she glances up. "It must look so beautiful..."
Naru takes a deep breath before letting it go. "Nothing I haven't seen before. They are just explosive chemicals; big but otherwise unimpressive. You're not missing out much." And went to finish his shaved ice before he stood and picked up Akemi's cup and his to a trash bin nearby.
Akemi gave out a smile at his comfort. "Want to light the lanterns?"
Akemi had Naru buy them both a lantern, even though they haven't gone up the hundred steps— she still hoped the hundred steps they both had done around the stalls could provide the same results.
"You believe the stories?" Naru asked once he sat back, pertaining about the lanterns and wishes.
Akemi lightly shrugs, "It's just lighting a lantern, what could you lose?"
Naru was quick to respond. "2500 yen."
Akemi lightly nudges him with her elbow, Naru added. "5000 yen to be exact."
"Mouh~! Then they must be really good lanterns!" Naru smirked but nevertheless wrote his wish and lit his lantern. Akemi following suit.
Both wishing for a miracle.
──●◎●── The End ──●◎●──
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Just kidding! ahahaha~
Chiisana Koi No Uta (Yui Aragaki) is the song used and inspired this chapter! Hope you guys like my Christmas present! Merry Christmas!
And if you guys celebrate December differently, then I hope you guys still appreciate this gift! HAHAHA