Crossover Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Sarcasm ❯ Matsuri ( Chapter 8 )

Babysitting Sable for Yui’s family vacation meant her dog was chasing my cat around. The cat did not like this, but she hadn’t clawed the nose of the dog, choosing to leap out of reach and insolently nap instead, taunting the dog. I wonder if there’s a metaphor there? Eventually Yui returned and picked up her dog, asking me on a date to the Obon festival and fireworks here in Chiba City. It was to be held at the park where there was still some sea without shipyards on it.

We met at a nearby station and I complimented her traditional clothes. I’d considered my usual summer garb briefly but went with proper traditional clothes instead. If she was asking me on a date I should give her appropriate consideration in my own appearance. She looked good in a Yukata and obi. I still look like a Yakuza. I do wonder what my father did for a living before meeting mother and settling down. They’d both gone to Kaihin and ended up Henches for black companies that worked them too hard. They were so proud when I got into Soubu. A son making good. I might be a middle manager some day. And they didn’t even realize that is a special hell. That’s how bad their lives are.

We took the train to the festival site. I protected Yui from casual gropers. We joined the heavy throng that left the station, many in traditional clothes like ours, and walked slowly between stalls. My sister had asked for a few food items so I picked up several things as we went. A girl from our school called out to Yui. I briefly considered fading back to buy some stuff, but instead I stood there, looking at them chatter.

“Oh, are you on a date, Yui?” teased one of the girls. She reminded me of the brats that pestered Rumi. I stepped forward.

“Yes,” I answered for her. “We’re on a date.” I took her hand, bowed slightly and withdrew with her before the bitches could make any cutting remarks and hurt her feelings. Yui is a nice girl. She might not be right for me, but she didn’t deserve any scars for associating with me either. I bought two caramel apples and gave one to Yui to distract her. She thanked me.

“The fireworks will be soon. I know a place we can go to see them better,” she suggested, leading me towards some stairs. We climbed and I heard my name called. I looked around, then spotted Haruno waving to us behind a decorative barrier.

“Ohh? Care to join me in the VIP seats?” she offered. We accepted, relieved to be off our feet. These sandals cut into your feet if their straps aren’t adjusted exactly right.

“So, on a date? Cheating on Yukino already? She’ll be heartbroken when I tell her,” the woman teased. Yui blushed, but gripped my hand tighter.

“She’ll have to step up her game if she wants to date me and not just snipe insults in the clubroom every day. Yui worked up the nerve to ask me out. Yukino just glares a lot,” I told her sister. “She’s never expressed any interest in me that way. Are you projecting, maybe?”

“Oho! A direct response! Maybe you are wasted on my sister after all. Careful Gahama, I may want this man for myself,” she laughed. Yui gripped me tighter.

We watched the fireworks then, cheering in the traditional way, and Haruno didn’t poke any more fun at us. I protected Yui on the train and walked her home. She seemed to like this and didn’t feel the need to fill in with unnecessary words or talking. At her gate she looked at me, with a lot of feelings in her eyes and quickly kissed me on the lips. She tasted of apples. She blushed and retreated to her home.

I walked home with sore feet and soaked in the bath. Komachi was glad for the festival junk food. I have blisters on top of my feet. This will hurt for days. I pondered an essay, but eventually opted for bed.