Chapter 6: Festival Preparations
While visiting the Dreaded Den, Kieran invites Juliana to a celebratory event.
"Watch your head." Kieran gave Juliana a heads up going inside the Dreaded Den.
Inside the den, Juliana looked around. "So this is what it looks like on the inside…" She was a little sad seeing nothing but rock.
Kieran nodded with the same sad mood. "Yep. See how dark it is in here? And cramped. Even the floor's all rough and uneven. Living all alone in a place like this would get pretty miserable, don't you think?"
"Yeah, I bet…" Juliana agreed.
"Poor ogre…" Kieran sympathetically said, "We have plenty of room at our house. I would've totally let it stay with us…"
Juliana gave Kieran a compassionate smile. "You're a sweet kid, Kieran."
Kieran sheepishly shook his head. "N-no, I'm not! I've just… always liked the stories about the ogre, that's all. B-but if the ogre really did show up to stay at our place, the whole town would freak."
Since the ogre wasn't home, the two teens decided to leave the cave. "Whoa, no way… The sun's already gone down?" Kieran noticed. "I guess we'll have to save the last signboard for tomorrow…" Then he remembered something. "Oh! I almost forgot!"
"What is it?" Juliana asked.
"Today's the first day of the Festival of Masks," Kieran explained. "It's this big event where everyone puts on masks and runs around celebrating," He looked down all shy, "I mean, it's not like you've gotta go or anything, but if you wanted to…y'know…check it out…well, it'd be fun."
"Let's go together! It sounds like a lot of fun" Juliana said, accepting the invitation.
Kieran smiled. "Y-yeah! Why not! It'd be great to go together. There's just a few things we'd have to get ready first, so we should swing by my house before we go."
"Where do you live?"
"In the northwest corner of the village. It's…um…let's see. I could maybe draw a map…"
"Or we could use my Rotom-phone. It has a map in it. You can put your address in it." Juliana suggested, pulling out her phone with the Sprigatito case.
"Oh. Yeah, I could give it a try…" Kieran tapped a few buttons and Rotom beeped as it now had Kieran's address inside. He was amazed. "Wowzers! It sure is handy having a map that shows you everything right there on your phone…"
"Right?!"
"I'm gonna ask if I can get a Rotom-phone someday too!" Kieran said with hope.
"You totally should!" Juliana encouraged him.
"C'mon," Kieran motioned Juliana to follow him. "We should get to my house."
"Let's go then!" said Juliana.
And with that, Juliana and Kieran climbed down the mountain back down to Kitakami Hall. They walked down Reveler's road and made it back to Mossui town. Once they healed their Pokémon at the Pokémon center, Kieran led Juliana back to his house. An elderly man was waiting at the entrance. "Hi Grandpa! I'm home!" Kieran greeted the man.
"Welcome home, Kieran," his grandfather greeted back and smiled. He noticed Juliana in his presence. "I see you brought a guest with you."
Kieran introduced his field trip partner. "Oh yeah, um… This is Juliana… She's part of the same school trip as me and Sis."
"It's nice to meet you." Juliana greeted him cheerfully, albeit a little nervous meeting Kieran's family.
"You as well. Call me Yukito," He introduced himself and turned to his grandson, "So this is a new friend of yours, eh, Kieran?"
"I sure am!" Juliana answered happily.
"What?!" Kieran was taken aback by her response. "R-really?! We're friends?" Juliana nodded and smiled warmly at him, making him giddy inside. "F-friends…I feel all tingly and funny hearing that… Ehehe…"
"Thank you for befriending our Kieran here, Juliana." Yukito expressed gratitude.
"Oh? Kieran has a new friend?" An elderly woman approached behind Yukito.
"Hi Grandma," Kieran said hello, "Y…Yeah, this is Juliana," He turned to Juliana next and introduced her, "Juliana, this is my Grandma Hideko."
"Well, fancy that! A friend of Kieran's! We're delighted to meet you, Juliana." said Hideko, smiling warmly.
"It's nice to meet you too." Juliana replied.
Yukito looked up and noticed the sun going down. "Oh, my, is it really already sundown?"
"Goodness me, I'd nearly forgotten," Hideko added, "The Festival of Masks starts tonight, doesn't it?"
"Kieran mentioned that to me," said Juliana, "He also invited me to come."
"How wonderful!" Hideko said with delight, "I'll get out some jinbei for you both so you can go to the festival all gussied up."
"Hear that?" Kieran asked, thrilled. "We get to dress up in jinbei! Yay!"
"But don't go running off just yet. We have to do your hair too! Grandpa will help you get ready, Kieran. Juliana, why don't you come with me, dear?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Juliana answered.
10 minutes later, Juliana came out of Kieran's house wearing a green jinbei outfit with faces of the Loyal Three, wooden sandals on her feet, and her hair styled up in a Kitakami side ponytail. She also had a white Kitakami bag and wore it like her backpack.
Kieran was wearing a white jinbei outfit with his yellow bag, and wooden sandals. He looked at Juliana and he blushed upon her beautiful appearance. Luckily for him, the red in his face was somewhat hidden behind his hair. Whoa…she looks incredible… He thought and felt enchanted by her appearance.
"How do I look?" Juliana asked.
"Y-You…You look really nice." Kieran stuttered a bit
Juliana warmly smiled at the compliment. "Thanks Kieran. So do you!"
Phew! Close one…, Kieran was relieved he didn't say anything that might have freaked her out and smiled back. "Thanks Juliana."
"That outfit suits you mighty fine, Juliana. Just as I thought it would!" Hideko complimented.
"Goodness, it's like I've gained another granddaughter! Hoho!" Yukito lightened the mood with a little laugh.
Hideko approached Juliana. "I imagine a stylish young lady like yourself could make good use of this too, Juliana," she handed Juliana a teal style card, "This card should open up all sorts of new hairstyles and looks for you in those big-city shops and salons."
"Thank you Ms. Hideko!" Juliana thanked her.
"No need for formalities. Just Hideko is fine."
"Hey Gran!" Carmine called, coming out to the front yard in her blue jinbei outfit and wooden sandals. "Do you know where my–?" She was surprised to see an unexpected but familiar guest standing in front of her home. "Juliana?! What're YOU doing here?! And why are you dressed up in jinbei?!"
"I invited Juliana to go to the Festival of Masks with me. I-I brought her back home so Grandma can help her get ready." Kieran explained.
"Oh, really? Is that so…" Carmine asked in a teasing tone.
"What's it matter anyway?! What're YOU doin' back here?!" Kieran asked with strong annoyance.
"Oh, right," Carmine remembered, "Gran, I couldn't find my mask for the festival. Do you know where they are?"
"They should be in the shed. I put them there after last year's festival." Hideko answered.
"It shouldn't be locked, so you three can go look around and see what you can find." Yukito added.
"All right! To the shed! Last one there is a rotten Exeggcute!" Carmine eagerly dashed to her family's shed and left the other two in the dust.
"Wait–Sis! You're such a cheater!" Kieran called her out and ran to the shed too.
Yukito sighed in exasperation. "Please forgive those two, Juliana. They can be a bit rambunctious. Especially Carmine."
"It's alright," Juliana replied, "I'm happy I met Kieran though. He's really sweet and kind." Juliana went off to join the siblings. "Hi guys." She greeted them.
Carmine jumped scared. She wasn't too pleased at all. "Tch! Just rolling up like you own the place. What's with you acting like a Diglett and coming out of nowhere?!"
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." Juliana apologized with a look of remorse.
"Well, it looks like there are only two masks in the shed." Carmine said, not feeling bad in the very least. "Too bad, right? There's nothing I can do 'bout it! First come, first served after all. Guess you'll have to do without a mask."
"Seriously Sis?!" Kieran was not pleased at all with his sister's attitude towards his new friend.
"It's OK, Kieran." Juliana assured him.
Carmine had another sneaky smile on her face. "How about instead of a mask, I give you a battle, festival style!"
Kieran was even more annoyed and angry at Carmine. "You've got to be kidding me! Why do you always do this?!"
Carmine peevishly glared at him, causing him to flinch. "Hush Kiki! You should know better than to speak to me like that!" Carmine calmed down and turned to Juliana. "Now get in position!"
Here we go again…, Juliana thought, feeling exasperated. Nonetheless, she was ready and smiled with determination. "You're on!"
Note: There goes Carmine challenging people... On the upside, how sweet of Kieran to invite Juliana to the festival!
Juliana's Pokémon on hand: Meowscarada (F), Sewaddle (F), Cutiefly (Shiny, F), Lucario (M), Espeon (F), Gabite (F)
Juliana's ride Pokémon: Koraidon
Pokémon in Juliana's boxes: Dachsbun (F), Lycanroc (Midday Form, F)
Find out how Juliana does against Carmine in Chapter 7!