Chapter 23

After a busy school week alongside working on the game, Golden Week rolled around.

"It arrived in time." Izumi's mom clapped, bringing a large blue box decorated with silver florals into Izumi's room as she read another manga.

"What arrived in time?" Izumi sat up.

"You'll see soon." She set it on her bed next to her and dusted off cardboard pieces from the outside packaging. "Open it." She bounced, unable to hold back her smile.

What could it be? Izumi slowly pulled the lid off and peeked inside. Her eyes widened. "Is this what I think it is?" She pulled out the smooth, soft pink yukata with silver peonies and blue accents. "Wow." She held it up to herself.

"Well, what do you think?"

"It's so cute and elegant at the same time!" Izumi hugged it and spun around. "But what's the occasion?"

"For your trip to the shrine festival, of course. It was a bit last minute to order a new one, but considering your old one might not even fit anymore, I had to go for it!"

"I love it, Mom. Thank you." Izumi hugged her.

"You should try it on."

"But then I won't want to take it off until after the festival."

"As long as you keep it clean, I see no problem with that."

"Hmm..." Izumi nodded. "Okay, then."

A few minutes later, Izumi's mom knocked on the door. "Are you okay in there? I'm eager to see." She held onto her phone, ready to take a picture.

"I definitely don't have this right..." Izumi grumbled.

"Here, let me help you." Her mom came in and fixed her collar, and setting up her obi properly. "There. You look stunning." She held up her phone and took a picture as soon as Izumi looked at her, smiling.

"Oh! Warn me next time!"

"But you always look away or give your awkward smile."

"My practiced smile is way better now," Izumi huffed.

"I still prefer this one."

"But I look..."

"Gorgeous."

"I love the look, but I forgot how hard these are to move in..."

Her mom laughed. "Just relax watching TV until later. You'll be fine. I'll even spoon-feed you if you need me to."

"Mom!"

"What? Wouldn't be the first time." She chuckled and headed back downstairs, staring at the picture.

"I'm not a baby anymore," she mumbled.

"You'll always be my baby," her mom yelled back.

Geez, how'd she hear me?

Izumi stared at the yukata in the mirror again, her hands gliding over the soft material. It better not end up ruined like the last one.

Knock, knock.

That's probably them! Izumi got up from the couch in the living room, her yukata still fully in place and clean.

"I'll get it." Her mom hurried over from the kitchen before Izumi could move. "My, my, don't you boys look handsome?"

Yanagi smiled and straightened the sleeves of his deep blue yukata, as Kuruma pulled at the sleeves of his black yukata.

"Do you mind?" She held up her phone, ready to take a picture.

Mom! Of course she's doing this...

"Of course not." Yanagi wrapped his arm around Kuruma's shoulders and smiled as he gave a peace sign.

She nodded at the picture. "You guys look great."

"And our fair friend?" Yanagi tried to peek around her at Izumi, who was hiding inside the doorway.

Izumi clung to the wall beside the door, her face red. I look good in it... right? There's no reason to hide. She swallowed hard. Nope, not moving yet.

Yanagi exchanged a worried glance with Kuruma.

"Izumi, don't be shy. They're your friends," her mom whispered.

"I know, but..." What if the yukata is too pretty for me?

"Go invite her directly. You know the effect you have on people," Kuruma whispered to Yanagi, who nodded.

"Izu, won't you please join us?" He approached the door and bowed dramatically, swinging one arm to the side. "We require your presence to make tonight fun."

Require? Me? Her heart skipped a beat.

"Go have fun." Her mom patted her on the back. "And I want another picture of all of you."

Yanagi tilted his head to the side, still bowing, to peek at her. "What's wrong, Izu? You look beautiful in your yukata."

"T-thank you. Oh!" she gasped as her mom gave her a light push.

"Come on." Yanagi smiled, holding his hand out to her.

She took it, and he led her over to Kuruma, placing her in the middle as her mom took another picture.

Shiori should really be here for this.

"Thank you." Her mom hugged the phone. "Have a good time." She waved as the three of them headed off.

Kuruma glanced at Izumi. "You look good," he mumbled.

"Hmm?" Izumi looked up at him.

"Nothing." Kuruma coughed, quickly clearing his throat.

Yanagi leaned in close to her. "He said you look good," he whispered.

"Oh!" Her reddened cheeks burned brighter. They both said I look good? This yukata must work wonders. Mom, you're so awesome. Izumi bit her lip, holding back her smile as she tightened her grip on her matching purse.

She resisted the urge to twirl as they walked.

"Hey, where is this shrine, anyway?" Izumi asked. Never even looked it up!

"We have another stop to make before we go there."

"We do?"

"Yes, Shiori's." Yanagi laughed.

"I thought she said she didn't want to go?" This can't be good.

"She'll come."

"Oh?" Why? She hates crowds.

"I know she will." He smiled down at her with a twinkle in his eyes.

"I still don't like the idea of showing up at her house out of nowhere," Kuruma grumbled.

"Is it really out of nowhere? She knows she's invited, and when we're heading there. It'd be weird if Shi didn't expect us to show up."

Is this his way of saying he normally pesters her into things? Poor Shiori... though I want her to come, too.

They walked down a few side streets and stopped in front of a modern, boxy house with charcoal accents and a small garden beside the entrance path.

I was half-expecting it to have something spooky...

Yanagi led them up to the house and rang the doorbell. "Come on, Shiori, I know you're there." When she didn't answer, he rang the doorbell a few more times. "Shi, come out. Izu is here, and we wouldn't want to keep her waiting."

He's using my presence?

The door opened. Shiori, in her regular dark T-shirt and jeans, opened the door, glaring at him. "So you're actually going to drag her there?"

"Drag? She wants to go. Right?" He glanced back at Izumi, who nodded. "See?"

"Whatever." She sighed, rolling her eyes. "Doesn't mean I have to go."

"But wouldn't you prefer to be there if she is? Probably safer that way."

Shiori's eye twitched. "Tch." She looked at Izumi, who waved at her. "How did this happen?" she muttered. "Whatever, but let her sit while I get ready." Shiori pointed at the swing bench sitting out front.

"Deal."

Shiori slammed the door.

"Izu, let's sit on the bench." Yanagi held his hand out to her. "Take a short rest."

"Thanks." She took his hand, and they sat down together.

"If we squish Izu in the middle, I'm sure you could sit down as well."

Kuruma raised an eyebrow and looked at the small space beside Izumi. "I'm fine standing."

"Suit yourself." Yanagi shrugged.

Oh, this isn't fair. She shifted over, closer to Yanagi, and Kuruma held his hand up.

"Thanks, but I'm fine," Kuruma said and pulled out his phone.

"Playing a game?" Izumi asked.

"Working on ours. I put a few things I can work on here, so I can make progress anywhere."

The door opened a few minutes later, with Shiori huffing as she slammed the door shut behind her.

"That was fast..." Yanagi trailed off when he saw her black kimono with purple butterflies on it. "You look amazing."

"Wow, you really do," Izumi agreed, clapping.

"So do you," Shiori mumbled.

"Picture time!" Yanagi grabbed Shiori and Kuruma and dragged them beside Izumi, who managed to stand, and took a picture. "Say festival!"

"Seriously?" Shiori grumbled.

"Yup. Need to remember this day and catch you two in yukatas." Yanagi hummed. "Now that we're all together." He pointed forward. "To the shrine. Izu, if you need a break from walking, just say the word."

"I'm good for now, thanks."

"And if there's any wobble, grab onto Kuruma or myself to stabilize yourself." Yanagi walked beside her, Kuruma right behind.

"I'd be fine with it, too," Shiori said. "I'd rather you not fall again."

My friends are so awesome! I love them! Izumi smiled. "Thank you."