Yuri Worlds

[71] Fun

It didn’t take long before the others showed up. Miss Okura seemed to lead the pack even though there wasn’t one, just a scattered set of ladies associated with the administration of the shrine who seemed like anonymous and innocuous moms after a PTA meeting.

The old woman had the entire traditional arrangement, from her bag to her clogs. She wore a deep green yukata, which almost seemed to blend in with the looming trees. She gave Misaki a lingering look of scrutiny, but her expression didn’t turn harsh. Yuka wrapped her arms around Misaki protectively, as though she suspected Miss Okura was raring up to strike. Misaki squeezed her back to reassure her that she was fine.

The one woman that Misaki wanted to see most of all was Mari, but stretching on her tiptoes to catch even a hint of the woman’s regular brown locks was fruitless. Surely she was around somewhere. This seemed like the one event that all her vanishings and scarcity were responsible for in the first place. If she wasn’t present at this event, then Misaki had an all-new series of questions to press.

Naoko and Kosame arrived together, holding hands at every possible moment. Kosame’s outfit contained a rich landscape of stark white with a looming expanse of snowy mountains encircling cold, deep blue feathered peaks adorned with shadows of bonsai trees and brilliant, traced flowers. The whole thing appeared surprisingly haunting and artistically magnificent for such simple clothes.

Nearby ladies all wanted to check it out and take photos standing next to her. Naoko wore a no less brilliant, evening-tinted starscape with flickers of a crescent moon and cosmic rabbits curling up amongst the constellations. The girl admitted it was actually a loaner from Maharu since she had neglected to wash anything for the event before leaving.

Ayame briskly scooted by soon after, with a polite glance in their direction, without lingering on anyone in particular. She casually vanished into the undulating turbulence of the increasing crowd, the biggest crowd Misaki had yet seen or even imagined in these parts. The bold, bright splashes from everyone’s outfits washed away the simple gray of the stone beneath them with a human sea.

Ayame’s clothes flared with a deep, distinct burgundy broken by fish pattern cutouts of ivory and blue. Misaki wanted to talk to her and attempt to clear up any misunderstanding that persisted between them, but she felt like she needed to wait and let the still rattled woman come to her when she was ready. She adjusted her hair back over her ears even though the vague wind flipped, scattered, and tussled it moments later.

Bianka showed up next. She changed up her hair with crinkles and curls ironed in and swooped ahead like a colorful, bright hat tipped across the left side of her face. Little bracelets with sparkly pink coloration decorated her hands as she sheepishly made her way over to the group, her eyes darting between her feet and up to see what everyone thought.

Yuka was the boldest champion for Bianka‘s new look. Namiko threw in whistles and claps while everyone else murmured with delight. Bianka appeared overwhelmed by the wave of companionship but didn’t shy away. She held on to her words and meekly stumbled through simple replies. Chika and Nami took her in like a second Franklin and guided her towards all the activities.

Misaki and Yuka hung back from the rest of the chaotically energized group and calmly leaned against one another. They didn’t have to do anything; they had each other, and that was enough. They linked arms and took in the sights, smells, and mood. Misaki fluttered her paper fan as though it were a slow fin slipping through invisible water.

Toys, plushies, and masks adorned several booths laid out in a row. Misaki found herself vacillating between a boyish urge to win or purchase the cutest offerings for the girl on her arm and a girlish sentiment to get and cuddle those things for herself. But before Misaki could establish a manly command, Yuka took the lead and nudged her partner to pick out something nice.

A whirlwind shiver slipped through Misaki as she looked at all the cute things and tried to comprehend that one of them would be for her, without qualification, without sheltering some posturing ego, and without worrying what others saw. They were all girls, and so was she. Cuteness was a virtue, not a shame.

The bloated ball corgi puppies with little curled tails and pouting, angry expressions on the verge of barking looked so lovely. Wiggly, happy shibas, and pink, fluffy salamanders each had their appeal. Practically liquid black cats also caught her eye. Ducks and other fowl as peeled bananas felt more like a trend from her world based on random things Guy liked to show off, but they were no less adorable as artifacts of anime. Penguins, dinosaurs, and happy little bees also warmed her heart. She couldn’t be greedy.

A floppy, long-eared dog with curious coal eyes, radiant sapphire ears, a luscious white coat, and precious flecks of playful obsidian wound up being her choice. The little thing nestled neatly against her chest.

In turn, Misaki resolved to harness all her luck and competitive energy to win at the just-opened colored ring game booth and acquire a happy dog mask for Yuka. She leveled her head at her goal and squeezed the ring tightly in her grip. A few breaths helped with steadying her thoughts and focusing, even though her heart was pounding in her head. Just flinging the ring straight led to an awkward bounce that nearly ricocheted it out of the booth.

Several rounds in, Misaki found herself achingly close to victory yet still barely missing every single time. Scowling at the girl running the booth didn’t help, since it was clear from her demeanor that she wanted Misaki to win too. A little yellow dog eraser was the consolation prize, but Misaki still made sure to buy a mask for Yuka to wear turned to the side of her head.

Yuka admonished her promised partner for going to such trouble over her with a kiss and a cheek poke. The other games weren’t nearly as stressful. They all gathered around to fish for the first round of bouncy water balloons.

To play up the theme, the volunteers working the booth added detailed decorative elements to the balloons, making them look like bouncy salmon, pouty puffer fish, and surprised sturgeons. They had as much fun successfully snagging the balloons as failing to do so, since they bounded around, jiggled, wiggled, and sometimes popped. Those that survived made great yo-yos.

Moving from fake fish to real ones, Misaki and Yuka opted not to play. Bianka regretted her hairstyle choice as it hindered her binocular vision. Still, she was able to bounce a pair of surprised, darting goldfish out of the water on her tissue-thin net. Chika slammed into the water too fast, but Namiko was more careful and split her catch with Chika. As they were finishing up, Misaki spotted Maharu in full shrine maiden garb.

She looked a little tense, separate from the ambling crowds. The white kimono-like top with flowing sleeves was absolutely pristine and ivory pure, with a high-waisted bright red skirt dipped so low that it almost brushed across the ground. Misaki called out to her.

It didn’t take Maharu long to glance over with surprise, followed by a calm smile. She pranced gracefully and beamed over her friends. All the girls had something to say about her clothes, but Maharu didn’t care about any of that. She just had one thing on her mind, and she wanted to shout from the heavens and declare it to all.

“I won! I did it! I actually won!”

The details swiftly spilled out. It was the jewel game from earlier. One last match with a group of helpers and some younger girls for good luck before her performance. It was a legit, hard-fought match, and even the youngest girls had cunning counters.

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Maharu had no real expectations that this would turn out differently than any other game she played, and she dutifully prepared to be the one to put all the parts away at the end. But when she was declared the winner, the reality of what just happened refused to connect.

She demanded a recount of the points and briefly came off as incensed, expecting they were playing a joke on her. However, it was real. Somehow, despite everything and despite her still not having good strategies, she managed to clear a win by four points.

Maharu reenacted the moment with the same blank shock crossing her face again. Then came the tears. Not a flow of sadness nor an upwelling of joy. Relief was tangible and renewing. She cried so hard, without words or explanation.

The rest of the girls started freaking out, not sure what they had done wrong. Maharu gave them an adamant round of bracing, spinning, and almost pile-driving hugs. In reflection and recount, heaving waves of emotion hit the blue-haired girl. She trembled without any way to stop her arms from shaking. She was lost in muttered sounds and blank wordlessness.

"I never thought it would happen. It’s so small. It’s so silly to make such a big deal out of it. But I can breathe. I can feel as though something achingly heavy has been released. You all or anyone else could’ve just given me a win, played for fun, or whatever. That wasn’t what mattered. I let it go, and victory followed me. I feel as free as the air on the most loving breeze, and I’m so happy to share my joy with all of you in just a few minutes. Once I have a whole load of victory candy!"

No one had any complaints about that, especially Yuka, who practically commandeered the nearby booths so that Maharu could have her proper treats. Showing copious restraint, Maharu scarfed down only a modest amount of sugar and candy as a booster before resolving that she would get the rest when she was finished with the dance. It wasn’t long before a frantic girl, also in a shrine maiden outfit, spotted Maharu.

She plaintively whimpered, hopped, and waved above her head to get her attention. It took Maharu a few seconds to realize she was there. Working together, everyone helped Maharu get back to where she was supposed to be to prepare for the ceremony.

A quiet sort of relief washed over Misaki at these events. Everything lately with Maharu had made her tense and uncertain, since the girl shared the dark, broken history of her life. She tried her best to help with their encounter in the old hotel. Then she struggled to come up with something for her somber disposition at the resort. That one just resolved itself. And then, with her friend Yasha suddenly going away, Misaki privately fretted that her mood might take another negative turn.

As she said herself, this was such a minor and meaningless little moment in a game. But it represented something to her. Freedom from a sense of doom and dire bad luck. Maybe not a solution, but at least a positive sign to guide her this evening. Misaki couldn’t wait to see Maharu dance. Glancing around, she paused and turned back to notice something was wrong with Haruka.

The elder sister clung to the rattling support pole for the nearby booth as though it were a vital lifeline, barely keeping her afloat. Yuka noticed her sister’s problem immediately after Misaki and dashed over to make sure she was alright. Tears streamed out as her lids wrestled between a tight clench and a narrow, hesitant slit.

Misaki had never seen the girl cry; she never imagined she might, and from Yuka’s stunned presence beside her, she could only imagine this was a rare happenstance for her family too. The Sasaki moms came as swiftly as they could, but only clinging redness remained by the time they arrived, and Haruka refused to explain what was going on. She started to say that she had something in her eye but didn’t finish the thought. Simply saying that she needed to lie down for a minute was sufficient.

Several girls helped her stand a little straighter as she cleared her throat and made her way away from the main path and toward the main temple. They weren’t far from where Misaki had received her strange warning.

It was presumptuous to conclude she’d actually encountered some supernatural prognostication that meant anything. But weirder things had happened lately, and it didn’t necessarily have to be metaphysical or magical thinking if the company was messing with them. Make them think they’re going crazy or worse.

Misaki wanted to comfort Haruka, but she was already too far away. She suspected that the older sister would’ve turned down her effort. Haruka took care of things herself, even though she had asked Misaki to look out for her sister. Because she was in great danger. They were all in great danger.

She told her that as almost one of the first things they said to one another. Assuming Misaki wasn’t losing her mind or witnessing weirdness under the control of that wristband. Even with it gone, she didn’t feel like she could be totally sure of everything going on around her. Except when it came to Yuka.

Every time she’d been lost or mired in uncertainty, Yuka was there to both ground her and lift her up. Once Haruka was away and looking alright after that incident, Yuka immediately returned her attention to Misaki. She could clearly see the pensive, wandering concern on her face. Yuka squeezed her gently and kissed her on the cheek. It would be okay.

They played a few more games once the pop-gun booth was up. The deepening aroma of food smelled amazing, and there were so many things that Misaki wanted to partake in. But she just sampled small bites of what others generously shared. Being with a group made all the difference when wandering around the festival.

Back home, Franklin would sometimes venture out to the square at the center of town, which had a park dedicated to the local sister city. Live summer music and vendors would circle around it with overpriced dried fruit and nuts, stir fry, tacos, honey, and a variety of other things.

The first time he went with Guy and Dwight, he stayed for the entire evening instead of wandering around for thirty minutes and then walking back home. He wanted to hug and squeeze them in overwhelming gratitude for how much his friends had changed and saved his life.

And she wanted to do even more than that. She wanted to embrace everyone and let them know how much they meant, even if it were just tiny little moments of friendship, kindness, or even just listening to the silly things that often came out of her mouth. That was a little too much. They would probably worry that she was dying or something worse.

Still, she almost faced the reaper or something like it and remained on the right side. Why not be grateful? Why not stop giving a crap about how things seem and just show what you feel? Screw it. She wrapped up her little sister in a ginormous hug, followed by cheerful Namiko, and then the rest of them.

Kosame responded similarly to the bathhouse, as though Misaki was a very cute, sexy girl totally not on her level who decided to grace her with her beauty. In contrast, Bianka showed calm relief. Naoko issued little puffs of confusion and comfort.

And the Sasaki moms, who had wandered off and needed to be hunted down, responded as they always did, while checking to make sure that Misaki didn’t have a fever or any other symptoms of delirium.

And the most exuberant, unmistakable expression of love and appreciation had to be reserved for Yuka. Even though her lady love gladly accepted the embrace and the sentiment, she still had plenty of questions and concerns about that sudden, strange display. Misaki answered it simply by saying she was so grateful to everyone for everything. Time quietly passed with teasing, games, and sumptuous little snacks.