Chapter 13:
My Crazy American Father
Sara 2108 July 28, 2046
“Okay, that should do it,” Alice-senpai says as we finish setting up the telescope. “How’s the mochi coming?” she asks, turning to Iori-chan and Kano-chan.
“It’s ready now,” Iori-chan says as she looks over the pot.
“I didn’t know you could cook Mochi. I always thought it was something you ate cold.” Kano-chan says.
“Usually it is, but it’s better warm on a night like this,” Iori-chan says
“How do you know so much about Mochi Suki-san?” Kano-chan asks
“Kano-chan, I told you. You don’t have to be so formal during club activities.” Alice-senpai says. “I’m the club president, and I say we’re all on a first-name basis, ok?”
“Yes, my apologies Pa- err, I mean Alice-Senpai,” Kano says, correcting herself.
“You’re so stiff, Kano-chan, you have to loosen up sometimes. But to answer your question. My family owns a Japanese sweets business, but it was my pop-pop’s favorite, so my mom and I would make it for him a lot,” Iori-chan says as she dishes out the mochi. We all take our plates and dig into the warm rice cakes. As we do, Alice-senpai takes out the small bottle of maple syrup she keeps in her pocket and pours some on her mochi. “Mhm, Iori-chan, I don’t understand how you can make such good mochi and still be single,” she says.
“Oh, come on, Alice-senpai, it’s not that great,” Iori says
“Oh yes, it is. I’m almost glad Mirakun isn’t here; otherwise, you might just steal him away from me.” Alice-senpai says as she eats her mochi.
“Steal him away? President, are you and the vice president dating?” Kano-chan asks. Alice-san stops chewing and suddenly starts choking on her mochi.
“Alice-senpai, are you ok?” Iori-chan asks, patting her on the back.
“COUGH COUGH...I’m fine...COUGH COUGH… She just * gasps* caught me off guard, is all.” Alice-senpai says as she catches her breath.
“I guess you are,” Kano-chan says once Alice-senpai finishes her coughing fit.
“Heehee, you caught me. We were hoping to hide it for a while longer, but I knew I’d say something to spill the beans sooner or later,” she says. She tries to employ her goofy smile to hide her blushing, but I can see how red her cheeks are even in the dim light.
“I thought something was up,” I say. “I noticed the looks you kept giving each other. I knew there was something there.”
“Ohh, I want all the details.” Iori-chan says, “Who confessed? When did it happen? How long were you crushing on each other? How far have you gone?” she says, pelting Alice-senpai with a barrage of questions
“He asked me out on Monday. He was planning on doing it during the comet a while ago, but then the typhoon hit. So then he planned on doing it during the meteor shower, but he had some family emergency, so he couldn’t be here. So he decided to do it after Kano-chan and Sara-chan left.” she says with her trademark goofy grin.
"I thought it was strange. The vice president had an intense look in his eyes that day. I thought it was because I’d offended him in some way. I’m glad to hear I was mistaken,” Kano-chan says in her normal serious tone.
“Ahh no, it had nothing to do with you, Kano-chan. You may still be new, but we love having you in the club. Don’t we, everybody?” Alice-senpai says
“Yeah,” Iori-chan says. “I tried the shampoo you suggested, and my hair has gotten so much silkier in just a few days.”
“Those pineapple buns you brought the other day were super yummy,” I say.
“You’re all very kind. I’m fortunate to have been able to join the same club as you three.” Kano says.
“Ahh, you’re so sweet, Kano-chan, and with how pretty you are, I’m sure the boys are just fawning over you. It’s so unfair.” Iori-chan says
“You seem pretty eager to talk about love tonight, Iori-chan. Is there perhaps someone on your mind?” Alice-senpai says
“Wah? No, I-” Iori-chan starts to say, her cheeks glowing bright red.
“Aha got you, now spill the beans,” Alice-senpai says as she tickles Iori’s side.
“Ahh hahaha, Alice-senpai, stop it hahaha, that’s my weak spot no fair,” Iori-chan says laughing.
“You have to talk, or else I won’t stop,” Alice-senpai says as she mercilessly attacks Iori-chan’s sides.
“Ok, ok, I’ll talk,” she says. After catching her breath, she begins to share. “I don’t really have anyone I like right now, but I’d be open to the idea of having a boyfriend. My parents say I should focus on my studies, but my gram-gram says that I should follow my heart because that’s what led her to my pop-pop.”
“It is important to listen to one’s parents,” Kano-chan says
“I agree more with your gram-gram,” Alice-senpai says. “I know that if I didn’t listen to my heart that I’d never be able to live it down. That’s why I’m going to put everything I have into my relationship with Mirakun.” Alice-senpai says as she puts her fist in the air.
“Yeah, I’ll be rooting for you!” Iori-chan says
“Yes, I also wish to see you two succeed,” Kano-chan says. Alice-senpai smiles and then looks at Kano-chan.
“What about you, Kano-chan? You’ve only been here a week, but you’ve made quite the impression on the boys already. Have any caught your eye?” she asks.
“No. My parents have forbidden any sort of dating for me. They’re hesitant even to let me have male friends.” she says calmly.
“What? That’s crazy?” Alice-senpai says. “That’s way too strict. Don’t you have any feelings about it?”
“I know my parents have my best interests in mind. They only want what’s best for me, so I will trust their judgment.”
“But don’t you feel at all restricted by that? It must be suffocating,” Iori-chan says.
“They allow me enough freedom. They did let me join this club even though it had a boy after all. Though I’m sure that they’ll be much calmer when I inform them that the boy is already in a relationship with the president.”
“But what if you find the boy you like? I remember a manga I read once. The girl had strict parents, but then she went to a fireworks festival, and the boy confessed to her there as they watched the show.” Iori-chan holds her blushing cheeks as she speaks. “If someone were to do that for me, I’d just melt.”
“I'd most certainly turn him down if a boy tried something like that for me,” Kano-chan says coldly.
“What? Why? Wouldn’t it be so romantic?” Iori-chan says
“It isn’t a matter of romantic or not. It’s simply the matter of things. My parents would never allow me to date a boy they haven’t met. So if he’s making some grand gesture to try and gain my favor, it would be clear to me that he doesn’t know the true me well enough. So no matter how grand the gesture I’d have to turn him down, the grander the gesture, the harsher the rejection would have to be. I know it seems cruel, and the one time I had to do it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but it had to be done.” Kano-chan says
“Isn’t there a fireworks festival going on next weekend? We should all go as a club!” Alice-senpai says, changing the subject excitedly. “I’ve always wanted to go to one but didn’t have anyone to go with.”
“You’ve never been to a fireworks festival?” I ask
“Nope, Though I’ve heard a lot about them from manga and anime, so I have an idea of how they are. The girls dress up in yukatas. There’s games, food, and sometimes dances. Do you go to them a lot, Sara-chan?”
“Well, of course. My uncle Sam loves fireworks. He always volunteers to set them up for festivals.”
“You have an uncle named Sam?” Alice-senpai asks
“Well, he’s not really my uncle, he’s Tobias-kun’s father, but he’s also best friends with my father, so Sora and I grew up calling him uncle Sam,” I answer.
“It must be nice having those two as brothers,” Iori-chan says. “I’m an only child, so I’ve always had to do things on my own. I remember one time I had to stay late to school for extra tutoring, and I swear some creepy older guy was following me. Luckily I was near a police station, but I bet those two would’ve been waiting for you at the front gate like they always do after club. You three always go home together, right?”
“Yeah, We live right next door to each other, so we’ve always gone to and from school together. Even if one of us has class duty and needs to go early, all three of us go together. Even tonight, they told me to tell them when the meteor shower was over so they could come and pick me up.”
“Wow, they both sound so sweet. I feel bad for any guy that hurts you. I bet all you’d need to do is snap your fingers, and those two will be right there beside you.” Iori-chan says
“Yeah, they are pretty amazing... Except when they fight. Then I have to be the one to break it up. Especially when we were little, they’d fight and bicker all the time. I remember one of the worst ones they had. We were about six, and Tobias and Sora fought over who got a blue action figure.” I giggle, thinking back to those times. “Hahaha, they didn’t talk to each other for about a week after that, but then they saw this older kid kick my sandcastle at the park and made up after fighting that kid.”
“Oh, Tobias-kun said that? Hey, wasn’t he the one who went to see the Comet of New Love with? Has anything happened with him since then?” Alice-senpai asks mischievously. My face begins to turn red, and my ears start to burn as she mentions that. “What !? No! Nothing happened!” I say
“I detect lying,” Alice-senpai says. “And liars get tickled,” she says as she lunges at me.
“NOOO!” I cry.
“Hey, wasn’t there a reason to come out here, or are we just going to gossip?” Kano-chan asks as Alice-senpai tickles me.
“Hehe, I’m sure we’ll get to that eventually,” Iori-chan says. We, in fact, did not get to it.
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