32. Festival

It was the last day of summer vacation. What better way to celebrate?

I wore again, my short sleeved hoodie, complete with my hairpins and my Void Ring on my left middle finger. On the way out of my room, I spotted a wrist warmer on my desk. A black wristband, with a neon green line across the middle.

I pulled it over my left wrist, covering the birthmark.

I headed down the stairs.

------

Sae and Sui have a friend named Rururi. Rururi was an adorable girl, with chestnut brown curls and doe brown eyes--

I feel like a lolicon.

Anyways, Rururi's mother was unable to bring her to the festival, so she decided to tag along with her best friends, Sae and Sui.

I tied the sash of her canary yellow yukata. It looked absolutely adorable on her, and complimented her hair and-- ah, yes, this was the colour we were missing in this household. We have red, blue, and green. We needed a yellow.

Why can't she come over more often?

I pulled her shoulder-length hair up into a high side ponytail, completed with a yellow schrunchie. When I was done, she turned around happily. "Thank you, Rei-niichan!" she thanked me, a sparkling smile on her face.

I smiled back, "You're welcome, Rururi-chan."

"Rei-chaan!" Sui whined in a crying tone, running to me. She ducked behind me, sniffling. She wore a light blue yukata that was just many shades of adorable. Blue suited her perfectly, even giving her a soft, calming image suited to her personality.

But why was she crying?

"Rei-chaan," came another baby, but this one was an overgrown one called Dad. "Sui won't let me do her hairrr!"

What a waste! The best part about Japanese girls with long, straight black hair was the yukata episode! Girls with long, straight black hair are best in yukatas! The awe-inspiring Yamato Nadeshiko image!

Okay, Drew, stop that. Stop it.

I turned to my little sister. "What's wrong, Sui?" I asked, chuckling slightly.

Sui looked at me nervously, "I don't wanna..." she said softly, "Papa wants to tie my hair up in a bun..." she whined, "I don't like..."

Buns?

Ahh, right. Sui hated to tie her hair up. She hated everything, including ponytails, pigtails, and especially buns. She was only alright with a half-ponytail and low braids after endless begging from Dad.

When I asked, her answer was simply because "She didn't like her nape to feel exposed."

I stood up. "Alright, then!" I say, "Don't worry, I've got a backup plan."

------

"Woahhh!" the girls were all in awe. Their eyes sparkled in adoration and admiration.

I had taken out a box of three hairpieces. I had bought them for today, after all. I showed it to the girls, and they were instantly enchanted.

Silver, with intricate but small designs of flowers-- it was a matching set with three colours, red, blue, and yellow. They were adorable, and expensive.

"Where did you get the money for this, Rei?" Dad gaped, fascinated as well.

"I, in fact, have savings of my own." I chuckle. "Well then, c'mere, Rururi."

"Eh? I can have it?" she was surprised, but definitely excited. I tied her hair up in a bun this time, with the yellow schrunchie, and completed the look with the hairpiece.

The girls couldn't stop admiring it, they went from 'Woah' to 'wow' to 'aaaa' to, well, 'aaaa'.

"Rei-chan, Rei-chan, me too!" Sae said, "Sae wants it too!"

"Alright, alright." I chuckle.

I felt a tug at my wristband. At that, I turn to Sui.

Sui was looking down, a light blush on her face, "Sui.." she started hesitantly, "Sui wants a bun too..." she said softly.

I smile, putting a hand on her head.

"Of course!"

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"A choco banana, please!" Sae, Sui, Rururi, Kyoko and Haru chorused.

This alerted the three manning the stall. They turned around, spotting us quickly.

"Haru! Kyoko-chan!" Tsuna said in surprised. "And Rei-san, and your sisters?"

Takeshi grinned, "Yo!" he greeted.

"Geh. Brats are here." Gokudera frowned at the tiny humans staring at him fascinatingly with exceedingly sparkly eyes.

Still, Gokudera calmly and wordlessly handed the chocolate-dipped bananas to the girls, who handed them to the kids.

"Thanks, Dera-san!" Sae and Rururi thanked loudly, smiling.

"Thank you." Sui was a second later, but I wonder if Gokudera heard it.

Upon taking the food, the girls excused themselves to see the rest of the festival. "Well then, good luck with the stall!" they said.

"Kyoko! Haru! I'm leaving the children with you!" I hollered.

"Alright!" Came Kyoko and Haru's reply.

The children waved at me, following after the older girls excitedly to visit the other stalls. Yeap. Leaving girls with girls is always the better choice. It gives Rei-chan a break.

I sighed, and turned back to Tsuna and gang, chuckling. "So, you guys need help?"

------

"Here you are." Takeshi handed a choco banana to a young girl.

"BUY SOME, DAMMIT!" Gokudera yelled, irritated.

I facepalmed. Why do I even associate with these idiots? It seemed that Tsuna agreed with me, his face pale as he was stuck speechless at the sight.

"Aw, I can't keep watching this." came a feminine voice. A pretty Chinese girl in a yukata-- Adult I-pin.

"Adult I-Pin!" Tsuna was surprised. How many times in a year is Lambo going to fire that Bazooka? "Uh," he honestly complimented her, "That yukata suits you."

At that, the girl chuckle bashfully, "Oh, Sawada-san!" she says, embarrassed. "This is just borrowed form the Landlord's daughter."

"It's a pretty yukata," I chimed in, "You look great."

I-pin blushed a little more. "C'mon, Rei-nii, you flatter me!" she waves her hands frantically, definitely embarrassed by the flatter.

But I didn't miss the little detail. "Hm?" I tilted my head aside, "Do I know you?"

Ninomiya Rei has not met TYL I-pin yet. This realization made them all freeze in their tracks for a moment.

And so, I laughed it off, "Well, I guess my name's pretty well known in town, anyways!" I say dismissively.

Tsuna visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

------

"Sorry, Tsuna, but could I be excused for five minutes?" Takeshi spoke up. Sale were going smoothly and only one box of bananas were left. "I play the ball-throwing games every year, so it wouldn't really feel right if I don't do it this year, too."

At that, I stood up too. "Actually," I say, "I'm itching for the dart games too." I chuckle bashfully, "Sorry, Tsuna, could I leave too?"

"Sure," Tsuna was alright with it, "Everyone's out to see the parade, so there isn't much of a crowd, either."

And so, Takeshi and I left the stall, promising prizes when we returned.

------

The wheel of fortune was spun.

Holding a dart in my hand, I aimed at it for half a second-- My gaze sharpened.

THUCK!

THUCK!

THUCK!

The wheel was stopped, and the three darts landed on--

One landed on an empty space.

Another landed on a minor prize.

The last one landed on--

"WOAH!! He got the Grand Prize in One Try!" a guy from the crowd hollered.

The vendor's mouth was wide and agape. He looked mortified.

I smiled innocently, putting my hands behind my back and mustered my best pure-hearted angel face.

"Mister, can I play one more time?" I asked.

I'm not leaving until I get everything including that gigantic teddy bear.

-------

"Oh, Hibari-senpai."

Accidental encounter with cool-headed Senpai cliche, check.

Hibari paused for a moment, then raised a tonfa. He eyed me, as if waiting for my next words. he was covered in little scratches and bruises, like he'd just gotten over a fight.

I smile. "Senpai, you're here too?" I asked.

Then I noticed his eyes wandering over me. He was eyeing all the little animal toys I had won at the stalls, including the biggest teddy bear I lugged around in a trolley. (The trolley, in fact, was also filled with a myriad of plush toys.)

I made five vendors cry today, by the way.

He raised an eyebrow, deciding not to even ask.

He sighed. "The fireworks are starting," he groaned, "Your herbivore friends are up there." he signaled towards the stairs leading up to the shrine.

Hm? Hibari-senpai's asking me to crowd?

(I hoped with all my might that those words did not slip out of my mouth.)

"Thank you, Hibari-senpai!" I said.

His eyes turned to the toys in my arm again. He seemed, curious about where they come from. I had too many, that they wouldn't even all fit into the trolley.

"Hibari-san," I spoke up hesitantly, "Do you... want one?"

Instantly, his gaze turned into a hostile, abhorring, are you picking a fight? look.

I managed to not flinch, picking out a little rabbit from the midst of toys in my arm. "You can have one, y'know?" I smiled at him.

He sighed. "I don't need it." He said, "Now, leave before I bite you to death."

Pouting, a little disappointed, I bid him a soft bye and turned towards the hill. A plan rising in my head, I turned around again, smirking mischievously.

"Ahh~" I whined, in an exaggeratedly loud volume. "But I have too many toys, really. I guess I'll just leave this rabbit here-" I put it at the pedestal on the side of the staircase, "And hope some child that wants it comes by and takes it."

I climbed up the hill, lugging the trolley through the grass because the wheels couldn't go up staircases.

(When I came back down after the fireworks, the rabbit was gone.)

------

I met up with the girls, who squealed over the toys instantly and begged for some.

I knocked them all on the head and told them to wait until we got home.

We saw Tsuna, Takeshi and Gokudera who were covered in scrapes and dust... well, "Were you guys fighting?" I asked, "How and why?"

Takeshi chuckled, scratching his cheek. "It's a long story." he said, "Oh, but we're completely fine!" he assured me.

"What on Earth is that box of cotton?" Gokudera sweatdropped, seeing the trolley I lugged up.

"Rei-san, so you're the kind that makes vendors cry too..." Tsuna whined under his breath.

"Speaking of that, do you guys want some? They wouldn't fit into my box." I offered.

"Who would want--"

Gokudera was going to start something, but I interrupted him by tossing a kitten plush at him. "You can have the cat, Dera."

And he seemed contented.

When all was satisfied, a huge firework shot up into the sky.

"Wooaah!" the children beamed, "Rei-chan! It started!"

"Tamayaa!!"

Everyone settled down, watching the beautiful, colourful flowers sprout and blossom in the sky. They lasted for only a short, short moment, but their light remained in my eyes for a little longer.

This was, surely, an amazing spot to watch them.

I smiled.

Are you seeing this, Drew? I'm having fun.

And for as long as I live, I'll continue having fun.

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-

The fireworks we saw with everyone that day were very beautiful.