Let The Festival Begin

Just as I had anticipated, my remaining days in the island flew by. Me and Hana went on more dates and dives, and deepened our bond even more. 

Although, Hana was reluctant to talk about what comes after for us, and she seemed to be lost in thought more than once after I prompted a talk like that.

Despite that, we were still acting as lovey dovey as ever.

But all good things have to come to an end.

And thus, tomorrow, I had to take the evening ferry back home…

But! Before that, we had the summer festival in Ryusejima to look forward to, tonight!

The summer festival was the biggest summer event in the island, held in the town park, and around the shrine up the hill. Countless tourists came here just to experience the event, and the magnificent fireworks in the end.

Today, Hana hadn’t come down to the café to keep me company during my shift, but thankfully I didn’t get bored in the least. In fact, I didn’t have the time to.

Tourists filtered in, one after another in the morning in great numbers, and soon I had my hands full with work.

I don’t know if I’ve seen so many customers at the café at once… Even the inside area was full, let alone the terrace, so I had to summon the devil herself to help!

Thankfully, when lunch time came round, they dispersed just as quickly as they came, leaving me exhausted.

After a thorough clean-up of both serving areas, I made my way to Hana’s house.

I rang the bell, and Chinatsu opened the door not too long after.

“Onii-sama?” She tilted her head at an angle, surprised to see me.

“Hey, Chinatsu-chan! Is Hana still sleeping by any chance?” I ask, thinking I’m probably on the money with that guess, but the little girl just shakes her head.

”Negative. Dear sister is having an English lesson with Ms. Yui upstairs.”

“English lesson?” I ask, clearly confused. I immediately recall Hana’s English books on her bookcase

Having an English lesson in the middle of summer? She must be really passionate about it.

I make a mental note of asking her about it later.

“Hasn’t she told you?”

“Nope.” I reply, and turn away walking back to the café. “Thanks, Chinatsu-chan!” I wave at her over my shoulder.

…

When Yukio is finally out of sight the little girl sighs in exasperation. “Hana, you idiot…” She voices before closing the door behind her.

Well since Hana isn’t available, I guess I just have to make due with a walk. ALONE.

I’m cool with that… Totally cool!

Okay yeah, I wish she was here with me… But what can I do?

“Where you going?” My grandma stops me before I walk off on my quest for something interesting.

“No clue. Just a walk.” I shrug at her per usual.

“Then why don’t you visit Aoi’s… your mom’s grave? I’m guessing you haven’t been there once since you came here…”

That simple phrase made me flinch, like an arrow pierced my chest.

I haven’t been to my mom’s grave since I came here… My mom’s grave…

Actually I didn’t even know WHERE it was.

My mother…

She died due to an illness, when I was 9, right here in this island, or that’s what father told me, anyway. She was a local of course, and everybody knew her. But apart from that, nor did I remember, or knew anything else about her, apart from the memory fragments I’ve collected. I thought I was too young to remember, but was that natural? Honestly, why hasn’t anyone talked to me about her? Are they avoiding the topic because it’s… painful?

I shook those thoughts away, and instead of questioning it, nodded.

“Yeah, I’ll pay mom a visit.”

After getting directions on how I should get there, I wave my grandma goodbye and turn back to the road.

With a goal in mind, I stuff my hands in my pockets, and start walking down the all too familiar road towards town,

The graveyard was on the hill of the park, next to the shrine.

Will mom be mad, that I haven’t come see her in so long?

Somehow, I felt ashamed that I neglected such an important thing.

“Uff… The heat isn’t helping either…” It was the middle of the summer. The heat was enough to make your back break into a sweat without doing anything.

Somehow I wanted to turn back around, neglect my duties, and spend the whole day basking underneath the cool breeze of the A/C.

“Oye!” As I was lost in thought, a familiar voice brought me back to reality.

“Hey, man.” I greeted Daichi, who was surrounded by an army of cardboard boxes.

“Haha, just in time! The hero of the hour!” He smiled as he looked at me.

Uh oh…

“Sorry man, I’ve got places to… BE?!” “Here and… here!” Before I could flee, he handed me two heavy-ass boxes, that almost dragged my whole body to the ground, like an anchor.

“What… the… fuck?!” I winced under their weight.

“Come on, we’re hauling these over to Iruka!” He pointed down the street, towards Hana’s family shop. Then, effortlessly, he tossed a box over his shoulder, put another under his arm, and took the last box in his remaining arm and made for the shop.

Damn this gorilla!

I gritted my teeth and cussed at Daichi inside my head, before I steeled my resolve and followed behind him.

“Yuriko-san! We’re here!” Daichi called as we entered the shop, and felt the soothing sensation of the air conditioning hitting our faces.

Yep, that’s what I’m talking about…

“Dai-chan?”

Dai-chan?

The woman that had called him, was none other than Hana’s mom, Izumi Yuriko. She was a little taller than Hana, and had the exact same face and hair color as her, albeit hers looked more mature. Another difference was her eyes, which were pure brown.

I had met her during my first days in the island, although I hadn’t talked to her much up until I started dating her daughter. From what I’ve seen, she is a really kind-hearted and laid-back person. Apparently, she was really happy about the fact that me and Hana had started dating. Her father on the other hand, was quite skeptical, but soon gave in to his beloved daughter’s demands.

“Hello, Yuriko-san.” I greeted her with a small smile, having been freed by the weight of those stupid boxes.

“Yukio-kun! Welcome!” She then looked at me and smiled back, before she noticed the boxes I was carrying.

“Oh, Daichi! Did you make him carry all that?!”

“Hehe, we MEN need to show we’re capable!” He replied, clearly proud of himself, showing off his biceps all the while.

You could carry them by car you know, Mr. Capable…

“Never mind… Could you bring them down back, Dai-chan?” Yuriko-san pointed over her shoulder with her thumb.

“Roger!”

He voiced, and soon got to work.

“How are you, Yukio-kun? Ready to go back to Tokyo, tomorrow?” She asked me, taking a seat behind the counter of the shop.

“Uff, I don’t know. It feels like I’ve been here for quite a while, so leaving seems… surreal?”

“Haha, I know what you mean. You can always come back, though, right?”

“Yeah, you’re right. And I will. For sure.” I smiled back at her naturally, and that was when Daichi interrupted.

“Hehe, look who I found!”

Daichi walked back up front, this time with a familiar face with him.

“Yo, Yukio-kun!” The familiar face in question was none other than Hiro, the shop’s employee.

During my time here, I had gotten fairly acquainted with him, since me and Hana frequented this place. He provided some really useful info on the diving gear, despite some unnecessary cheesy jokes here and there.

“Hey, Hiro.” I waved back.

“Where’s your girlfriend, man?”

“Uh, she’s at home…” I look over to Yuriko-san, expecting her to continue.

“She’s got English class with Ms. Yui. But she’ll be let free, soon enough!” Sure enough, she gives a reply, before throwing a wink my way.

Man, even Hana’s mom is teasing us now.

“Oh, that reminds me! Here, Yuriko-san.” Daichi hands over a set of polarized photographs to his aunt.

“What are those?” She seems rather perplexed as she takes the photographs in her hands.

“Oh, are these the photos we took at Umi No Kuchi?” I ask, noticing the blue of the ocean, a grey figure and Hana’s smiling face.

“Exactly!” Daichi nods.

“Woah…” Both Hiro and Yuriko-san exclaim, looking at the photographs.

Indeed, a girl as beautiful as Hana, cuddling a dolphin with a smile, was rather the sight.

“Anyway, let’s go Yukio!” Daichi tapped my shoulder, as he made for the exit.

I nod, and turn to wave at Yuriko-san and Hiro, but I stop when I notice the woman’s solemn expression.

She seemed lost in her thoughts, and something told me they weren’t all that pleasant.

“Maybe… we should reconsider our decision…?” She muttered to herself.

…

“Anyway, we’re off. See you later, Yuriko-san, Hiro.” I wave the two of them goodbye, and walk back behind Daichi.

As I’m outside the shop, her words replay on a loop in my mind.

What did she mean by that?

I had fled the scene without questioning it. But I mean, how could I? It’s not nice to shove your nose in other people’s business.

But still, I was curious…

“Hey, how come Hana’s having English lessons?” I ask Daichi, who whips his head around to look at me.

“Oh, that? Well, you know.” He simply shrugs.

“Wow, thanks man.”

“Heyy! You two!” Just as I was about to rip Daichi a new one, Hana came skipping down the road.

“Speak of the devil, hehe!” Daichi elbowed me in the side, with his usual laugh.

After a fed-up kind of sigh, I walk towards Hana closing the distance between us.

“BEAR HUG!” She then proceeds to shout the name of her special move, jumping to my arms like some heroine straight out of a drama.

“Woah there!” I catch her just in time.

“Jeez, I’m unavailable for an hour and you run off having fun without me? No fair!”

I can see Hana is in an extra cute mood today.

“Well, now we can pick up where I left off. How was the lesson?”

“Oh, the lesson? Did Chinatsu tell you about it?” She looked rather taken aback as she asked.

“Well, yeah. But not much. What’s it about anyway?” I pose the burning question, before she takes my hand and starts walking.

“Oh, just English!" Her lips curled into an unnatural smile, as she tried to brush the subject off.

"Just English?" I give her a wry smile.

"Yep, what's wrong with that?" She shrugged, and looked back at her cousin.

“We gotta go, so see you later Daichi!” Having successfully brushed off the subject, she turns to wave at Daichi, and proceeds to drag me down the road behind her.

“Yeah, see you later, dude.” I waved back as well.

“And I thought we would have some bromance time…” Daichi sniffled, as soon as the couple were out of sight.

"What was that all about?" I muttered, looking over at my girlfriend. 

She didn't respond. Instead, her brows were furrowed in thought.

There she goes off again...

"Hana! Earth to Hana!" 

"Woah! What happened? What's wrong?" After prompted, Hana finally shook her head and looked at me. 

"You were spacing out. Again." I state, after a sigh.

"If something's wrong-"

"Nope, nothing's wrong! Let's go!" Cutting me off quickly and proffesionaly, she continued to lead me by the hand.

Brushed off... again. 

After I decided to let the matter to rest, me and Hana proceeded to spend the rest of our day, around town, and at some point we even helped set up some things for the festival. 

It was yet another, usual day in Ryusejima.

Between Daichi’s demands, and Hana’s situation, I had long forgotten about visiting my mom, so I made a mental note of visiting during the festival. The graveyard was next to the shrine anyway, so the detour wouldn’t be all that troublesome.

Before we even knew it, daytime had come and went, and the sun gave way to a magnificent full moon.

It was finally time for the festival.

Wearing the same outfit I had worn at my first date with Hana, I double checked myself in front of the mirror, just to be sure.

“Come on, go already.” My grandma voiced, as she turned the sign of the café over, reading “Closed”.

“I know, I know…” I hastily fixed my hair in place before I walked out.

“Hey, Yukio.”

As I was already at the door, I stopped and turned towards grandma, who had called out to me, quite unexpectedly.

“Have fun with Hana-chan.” She sent me off with that, and turned to descend up the staircase.

“Uhm, thanks?” I shrugged and laughed a little to myself, before going out the café with hasty steps.

Talk about a surprise.

Hana wasn’t anywhere to be seen yet, so I quickly realized it was my time to wait for her.

I stood there, waiting outside Hana’s front door, for a good 5 minutes before she and Chinatsu emerged from within.

The sight that greeted me, was nothing sort of spectacular.

Hana… in a Yukata?!

(Yukata = Traditional Japanese clothing usually worn over bare skin instead of an under-kimono. It was originally a bath robe or evening robe, but it has recently become a popular fashion that is worn on festivals.)

I had heard girls wear yukatas in festivals, but I’ve never since a girl I know wear one before… Let alone, my own girlfriend!

Now, I was excited for the festival, for a whole new reason.

“H-Hey!” Hana stuttered as she greeted me, standing at her doorstep, wearing her cute royal blue yukata, with small goldfish patterns. She had her hair up in a bun, and wore the regular geta to complete the attire.

(Geta = Old fashioned Japanese wooden footwear. In recent years, it has become popular to wear them to festivals paired with yukata.)

“Hello, Onii-sama.” Then Chinatsu followed, wearing her one pink little yukata.

“Wow, I’m the chaperon of two lovely ladies tonight!” I bow down, bending on my knee.

“Idiot…” Hana muttered with a giggle, as she walked over to me and looped her arm through mine.

“You look… stunning.” I try to sound sincere as I look at Hana, but can’t help the blush that creeps up on my face.

Hana though, is unable to respond, as her face turns beet red in an instant.

You would think that I’d have gotten used to that by now, but frankly, I haven’t. Hana was just that cute.

“What about me, Onii-sama?” I hadn’t noticed Chinatsu, who was tugging at the hem of my shirt.

“You’re rocking that yukata, Chinatsu-chan! Really cute!” I give her a thumbs and a smile in response, and now, I have two girls with flushed faces to look after, as we walk down the road.

Hana’s arm is looped through my left, and Chinatsu’s hand is enveloped on my right.

This road that we’ve walked down from, a merely thousand times, glowed underneath the orange lanterns, leading us to the town park, where the big event is held.

As we approached the festival grounds, more and more people appeared. Girls in yukata, excited tourists, and shop keepers running around frantically to set up the last of their stalls.

The whole park was lined with various stalls, from goldfish net fishing, shooting ranges with water guns, food stalls selling candied apples, takoyaki and many more delicacies, as well as the standard souvenir stalls lined with various goods. All those stalls sat on two straight lines, opposite from one another. The rest of the park was decorated with those same orange lanterns that guided us here, wrapping the whole event in that soft yellow veil.

“Where are the others?” I mutter, looking for Emi and Daichi.

“Over there!” Hana nudged me, as she pointed towards the start of the stall line.

Sure enough, there stood Emi, in her own orange yukata, and Daichi who was walking up to her, apparently just arriving…

“Hey g-“ Just as Hana is about to greet them, I put a hand over her mouth.

“Shh, let’s observe.” I voice sneakily, as I turn to Chinatsu, who nods in understanding.

These two seemed odd from the start… Have they been dating right under our noses…?

“Watson. It’s time to learn the truth.” I turn to Hana removing my hand over her mouth,

After she gives me a firm nod, we blend into the crowd and observe the two, shuffling closer so we can eavesdrop.

“Where are the others?” Emi asked.

“I don’t know, but they’re always late.”

“Yeah… Which means, we have… time.” Emi voiced with a smirk.

Time?! Was I right on the money with that guess?!

“We do have time…” Daichi looked over to Emi, flashing a grin himself.

“What’s going on?!” Hana whispered so loudly, she was practically shouting in lower case.

“Never have I witnessed Daichi act so seductively…” Chinatsu voiced, peaking from my side.

Seductively? Where did she learn that word?

“So… let’s go.” Emi’s smirk widened.

It’s happening!

“Let’s go eat all we can!!’

“Yay!”

The two of them turned around, and headed for a nearby stall.

“Eat?! I thought you guys were about to kiss or something?!” I shout out in disappointment, blowing our cover.

“You were there the whole time?!” Daichi was the first to act surprised.

“Ugh, now we don’t have time to eat…” Emi voiced her discontent instead.

Were we somehow hindering their gluttony habits? I couldn’t help but wonder…

“Emi! I thought you were up to something naughty with Daichi!” Hana quickly walked over to her friend.

“Naughty?! With that big oaf?! No way, no way! Hahaha!’ She just laughed in response, before Hana joined in too.

“R.I.P. Daichi.” Chinatsu said offering her prayers.

“Yeah, R.I.P. man…”

“I have been turned down before I even asked…” Daichi just sniffled, having his pride as a man deeply wounded.

And thus, with our lousy group united, the summer festival was officially under way.