In the evening...
'Ano, excuse me, can I come in?' I called out softly to Gōjun, as I opened the door of the room slowly and hesitantly. 'Shunsui has asked me to come and see if you need help with anything!'
I had spent the whole day at the reddish-brown-haired young man's place and we were now preparing to leave for the party.
As my eyes traveled across of the room and finally fell onto Gōjun, my cheeks took a shade of red. He was standing in front of the mirror, with the buttons of his shirt undone. He was trying to tie his shirt up, but seemed to be struggling with it.
'Ah, it's good that you're here! These new shirts and their buttons, I tell you!' he exhaled in annoyment, plumping himself down onto the edge of the bed behind him. 'Help me tie my shirt!'
Eh?
I flushed deeper.
'Come on, hurry up!' he pressed. 'Shunsui has sent you to help me, right? Tie my shirt for me!'
I hesitated for a second, before, I made my way shyly up to him, and getting down onto my knees on the floor in between his legs, I started to tie the buttons of his shirt for him.
'Why haven't you worn your dress yet?'
'I'm going to get dressed after this,' I whispered, without looking up, feeling way too shy to look at him in the eyes.
'It's the woman whom Shunsui has called earlier who did your hair and make-up? It's pretty!'
'Th-Thanks,' I stammered, flushing even harder.
'Eh? Why are you blushing so hard? Is it me who is having this effect on you?' he asked, suddenly, with a cocky smile, tipping my chin up with one of his hands, while he placed his other hand over mine on his chest. 'Could it be that you've really fallen for me?'
My eyes went wide at him, and I jumped backward, blushing madly now; my heart fluttering in my chest. 'Wha-Wha-What are you saying? I'm going to get dressed!' And on these words, I sprang to my feet and rushed out of the door, while he giggled to himself.
What a devil!
A few minutes later, I had worn my dress and, timidly, I made my way to the living room to meet up with the boys. They were both ready to leave by this moment. I hesitated to show myself to them; it was the very first time that I was wearing such a dress and I wondered how it suited me.
'I'm ready. We can leave whenever you want,' I announced in a soft murmur, keeping my eyes down on the floor and squirming in embarrassment.
'Hime,' Shunsui said, in a small gasp at my sight, and automatically, I looked up at his face, stiffening.
Oh no! That's not a good sign! It doesn't suit me!
'Kawaii! he exclaimed, unexpectedly, and closing the distance between us in a jump, he sent his arms around my shoulders and pulled me against his side to rest his head over mine in endearment.
I sighed in relief.
'Oi,' he called at Gōjun, then, unhappily, 'Would it kill you to compliment her on her looks?'
'I've already complimented her earlier on her hair and make-up,' the latter asserted. 'Now to compliment her on her dress as well, would be a little too much. It's going to give her airs!'
I cringed. He's mean!
'You're unbelievable! But well, that's alright, for you're going to catch yourself with her very quickly; it's you who is going to drive her to the party!' declared the reddish-brown-haired young man with a large smile, and without giving any warning, he gave me a large push, such that I stumbled forward and bumped into Gōjun's chest. The latter caught me by my shoulders and steadied me. Instantly, I looked up at his face and blushed.
Ah! Why did Shunsui push me?!
'You're taking your own car?' Gōjun asked, and the reddish-brown-haired young man replied in the positive.
This, led me to discover that Shunsui owned a sport car that he kept in his garage and that he took out only on special occasions. He found driving around in a sport car way too kitsch, and so did Gōjun, who also owned a sport car, a black Lamborghini, that was at the present moment, parked in front of the gate of the house.
Shunsui left in his own car for the party, and Gōjun and I followed him closely from behind up to the mansion.
When we arrived there, my eyes instantly fell onto Natsui who was waiting for us outside of the gate, onto the street.
'Natsui!' I called, running up to her, cheerfully.
She looked so pretty in the purple dress!
I complimented her about it, and she thanked me, before telling me in a squirm, 'I feel so intimidated to go inside!'
'So, do I!' I admitted, squirming nervously too.
'There's no need!' Shunsui declared, abruptly, putting his hand down onto my head and smiling tenderly.
And for some reason, I felt more relaxed and returned his smile.
***
Hiyori Miyatsu felt her blood make a rapid turn in her body when her eyes fell onto the two girls who were accompanying Shunsui Shigeizumi and Gōjun Shoran.
What are they doing here?! she asked herself, gritting her teeth together. What is SHE doing here?!
She leered at the ginger-haired girl for a minute, before her eyes shifted onto the food carriage standing next to her in the entrance hall, a twisted smile coming to her lips. Reaching out for the porcelain container of sugar, she picked it up and poured its whole content into her drink, before she crossed the entrance hall, checked behind her to ensure that no one was watching her, only to empty her glass on the floor.
Oh, Natsui Mizoroge! It's going to be fun!
When she heard the boys' footfalls getting closer, together with those of the two girls, she hurried away to hide behind a wall to watch the spectacle.
***
I remembered the first time that I had been here. That day also, there was a party at the mansion. I had come to deliver some wagashi on Ojii-san's instructions. And that's when I met Shunsui for the first time.
As I thought about the incident in the kitchen just before the hold-up, my cheeks reddened, and immediately, I tried to think of something else.
But then, suddenly, I realized that I was having difficulty to walk. I had a strange sensation on my legs whenever my dress would touch my skin, as if, the fabric was gluing itself to my limbs and preventing me from walking normally.
'What's wrong?' Gōjun inquired, turning around to look at me.
We had all came to a stop now.
'I don't know,' I replied, equally bewildered. 'I'm having difficulty to walk.'
Closing the small distance between us, he crouched down to grope at the lower part my dress.
'It's sticky. So, are your legs,' he said, and we were all puzzled. How did this happen?
As he stood up again, unexpectedly, he sent one of his arms around my waist and picked me up to make me sit on the table right on my left.
I blushed.
'Somebody must have dropped something liquid and sugary down, and you walked right into it,' Shunsui told me, as he took a glance at the path we had taken.
No! It's not possible! It got imbibed into the fabric of my dress and has coated my legs! I could wash my legs, but how about the dress?
'What do we do now?' Gōjun asked the reddish-brown-haired young man, and the latter replied in dismay, 'I think we don't have another choice; she'll have to go back home and get changed!'
'There's no need for that!' declared a kind, familiar, feminine voice, in all of a sudden.
Tsubasa-sama!
We all looked at the blonde woman as she came towards us. She was wearing a beautiful gown which was golden in color; the color gold flattering her looks all the more.
'I have a number of gowns in my closet that should suit her!' she informed us, with a gentle smile on her face.
I panicked. 'But- But I can't accept!'
'Why not?' she asked me. 'I promise you that they are all very clean!'
Eh?!
'That's- That's not the problem!' I assured her, and lowering my eyes, I mumbled to myself in a squirm, 'I don't consider myself worthy to wear one of your dresses.'
I found her just so impressive! She was like the sun! She radiated, and inspired respect.
'What can I hear?!' she uttered, in an unhappy tone, and after having exchanged a look with Shunsui, she pulled at one of my cheeks, while she closed her eyes and warned me, with a frightening smile, 'That was the last time that I'm hearing you say something like this, okay?!'
I flinched. She-She can be terrifying!
'Hai!' I could only answer, and her smile returned to normal.
'Good!' she declared, petting my head affectionately, and on this, she began to make her way towards the staircase, which lined the side wall, asking us to follow her upstairs to her room.
Shunsui tagged along with her, while I looked at my legs wondering how I was going to do to climb the stairs or even walk.
But then, once again, against all expectations, Gōjun picked me up in his arms to carry me. I clung at his shirt in a reflex, and looked up at his face, astounded.
'Gōjun,' I breathed, blushing hard.
'Don't say anything! Just keep your mouth shut!' he stated, staring straight ahead, and I nodded, my cheeks still red.
***
'I can't believe that it's Kirigakure who walked into it!' Hiyori Miyatsu grumbled to herself, irritated, as she turned her back onto the five retreating figures. 'But well,' she, then, sniggered, 'it doesn't matter. That b**** deserved it just as much!'
She heard her mother calling out to her at that moment, and looking down the hallway, she saw the woman arriving into this direction.
'Ah, there you are!' the woman called, excitedly, when Hiyori showed herself up to her. 'Where have you been for so long, my darling? I was looking for you! Come on! Come on! I want to present you to a few acquaintances!'
'Yes, let's go!' Hiyori readily agreed, tagging along with her, a self-satisfied smile lingering on her lips.
***
A few minutes later…
'I can't wear this!'
'Will you please come out and let us judge by ourselves?' muttered Shunsui from the other side of the door, his tone irritated now.
'I can't!' I stated, frantically, as I looked down at the gown Tsubasa-sama had given me to wear.
It was a red dress, which was not only incredibly short, but which showed too much of my skin, including my bust.
'I've had enough!' stated Gōjun, in frustration. 'Listen! Either you come out on your own, or we'll break the door down!'
I flinched. Eh?!
'That won't be necessary!' Tsubasa-sama called out to him, and the moment I looked at her face, I instantly knew from the devilish smile on her lips what she intended to do.
'No!' I started to cry out, but it was too late. She had already unlocked the door and yanking it wide open, she shoved me out of the changing room into her bedroom. I stumbled once on the way and looked up immediately to see the boys' reaction; my face tomato red.
At my sight, they both jumped backward, their eyes going wide at me, their mouth hanging open, their noses starting to bleed. On her side, Natsui's face turned bright red.
I thought I would faint.
'Wah! She cannot wear this!' the boys cried out together, and taking their coats off rapidly, they covered me with the clothings from both sides without losing a second, their breathing coming out into pants, their faces equally red.
Tsubasa-sama laughed her head off at their reaction. She was now leaning against the door-frame of the changing room, her expression filled with amusement. 'Oh, if you had seen your faces! It was so funny to watch!' she said to the boys, and all color drained out of my face.
No! Did she-
'I can't believe it! You did it intentionally?!' Shunsui exclaimed at her, peeved. 'It's not funny at all!'
'Oh, please!' she giggled, caressing his cheek affectionately with her hand. 'Where's your sense of humor gone?'
I stared at the floor, mortified. She- She's really got a strange kind of humor!
'Now, come on, dear! I'm going to give you something more… decent to wear!' she told me, taking me by my hand, still chuckling to herself.
'Ha-Hai!' I replied, uncertainly.
She, too, is somewhat of a devil!
***
A short while later…
'Ah, so you are Hiyori Miyatsu?' one of the three women exclaimed when their eyes fell onto the dark-haired girl. 'Your mother hasn't stopped talking about you! And indeed, you're very pretty!'
'Yes, she is, isn't she?' Mrs Miyatsu stated with pride. 'And she has beautiful eyes, hasn't she? Everyone compliments her about them. Oh, by the way, did I tell you what happened the other day at the hospital?'
The three women made a movement of the head to say no.
'Well, we went to the hospital to visit one of her friends and you won't believe me, but a young doctor started to flirt with her!'
'Really?' The three women looked amazed.
'Yes! And I even thought that he was going to propose her in marriage. But before he could ask her her number or anything, I told her to reject him outright, because of the age difference. She still has a lot of time ahead of her! However, this has convinced me that she's sure to secure herself a nice husband when the time comes! I have no doubt about it! She attracts many powerful a man!'
The three women grinned appreciatively.
'Oh, speaking of your daughter, I've heard that your niece is studying at the same high school as her!' declared one of them, suddenly, and both Hiyori and her mother were discomfited.
'Yes-Yes, uh, that's right,' replied Mrs Miyatsu, and clearing her throat, she hurried up to point out, with a wave of the hand and a scornful smile, 'But it's only thanks to a scholarship. Can you imagine my older sister sending any one of her children to such a prestigious school by her own means?! The fact is that she has made a really bad marriage. Not only did she marry an abusive man, but one without any fortune, only to end up today struggling to make ends meet in a small, crappy, rented apartment, with two children to take care all alone. Not to forget that her son has taken after his father. I really pity her. And I pity Natsui. Even if my niece secures herself a seat at a prestigious university, she doesn't have the same pedigree as my Hiyori! Pedigree matters whether it is about obtaining a high-position job or a good marriage proposal!'
But, the three women weren't listening to her anymore. They were staring past Hiyori and her at a certain ginger-haired girl who had made her appearance.
'Isn't that your niece over there?' they asked together, in surprise, and Mrs Miyatsu turned as white as a sheet as she turned around to look at the person they were referring to, only to see that it was, indeed, none other than Natsui. On her side, Hiyori simply clenched her teeth as she stared at the floor.
'Ah! She's as pretty as her cousin, isn't she?!' the three women said to one another, and Mrs Miyatsu smiled awkwardly, trying her best to hide her revulsion at the sight of the ginger-haired girl. She, then, noticed the look that a certain reddish-brown-haired young man was casting into her direction.
'That little brat, I tell you! Why is giving me that look?!' she grumbled to herself when, out of the blue, a familiar voice came behind her, asking, 'Is it me or you were looking at my son and speaking ill?'
Instantly, the woman flung around and broke into cold sweat when she saw Tsubasa Shigeizumi, the host of the party, holding herself there.
'Ha-ha, not at all! I was not talking about him! But someone else!' Mrs Miyatsu giggled, nervously.
'So, it's not Shunsui that you were calling brat, ne?' Tsubasa said, with a large smile, though her eyes were terrifying. 'Well then, I'm reassured! Please enjoy the party!'
'Yes,' Hiyori and her mother replied, together, in a forceful manner.
***
'My aunt!' said Natsui, suddenly, and I followed her eyes across of the hall onto Hiyori Miyatsu and the woman who was standing right next to the dark-haired girl.
I was aghast at the sight of the latter, and I guessed that the woman who was with her was the girl's mother. But as it was a business party, I guessed that it was normal to find the Miyatsu present.
Tsubasa-sama was speaking to them and I had no idea what she told them but their expressions changed and they skipped away rapidly, as if, wanting to avoid the blonde woman's company.
Natsui and I looked at each other to smile sheepishly. I guessed that I was not the only person to find Tsubasa-sama impressionable.
'Is it okay for you with Hiyori being present?' I asked Natsui, anxiously, fearing that she might feel uncomfortable with the dark-haired girl around, given the recent incidents.
'Yes, don't worry!' she replied, with a genuine smile. 'Nothing can ruin this evening for me!'
'That's great!' I replied, happily, and closing my eyes and clapping my hands once together, I exclaimed, 'Let's attack the banquet then!'
Shunsui giggled, and together with Gōjun, he led us to the banquet table where Natsui and I were left spell-bound at the sight of the delicious-looking desserts available there, most of which we had never seen or ever tasted in our life before.
'Yatta! They all look delicious!' Natsui and I exclaimed together, water coming to our mouths.
'These are European deserts,' Shunsui informed us, straightening his tie and putting on a raucous voice, pretending as if he was there only to serve us. 'I would advise you to start with the chocolate éclair. They're always excellent!' And on this note, he picked up four plates and served each one of us, as well as himself, the said-dessert.
The reddish-brown-haired young man, Natsui and I, opened our mouths wide to bite into the éclairs, and we almost cried with joy at the taste of it, while Gōjun shook his head at us, giving us a cynical look, as he bit into his.
Soon, a group of girls accosted Shunsui to drag him away to dance with them. They were bickering with one another as to who would dance with him for the night, but as could be expected of Shunsui, he had a solution to this problem, which was none other than he would dance with each one of them in turn.
I shook my head at him, my expression cynical. I've never seen such a big flirt in my life!
Natsui, too, was approached by a young man who asked her to dance with him. I was in full admiration in front her. I didn't know that she could dance, especially, ballroom dances. I clasped my hands in front of myself, watching her in amazement for a minute as she moved away with the young man, before I looked at Gōjun to give him a cheery smile.
'Don't go thinking that I'm going to invite you to dance! It's really not my type of thing!' he muttered, grumpily, under his breath, and I cringed.
'Eh?' I uttered, in a jitter. 'B-But I could never think about dancing!'
Not with my two left feet! I thought to myself, the very idea traumatizing me.
'I'm sure to humiliate myself!'
Turning around to the banquet table immediately, I served myself another dessert. When I looked at Gōjun again after a minute, I found him observing me with a strange look.
'Do you want me to serve you something?' I whispered.
'No, thanks!' he replied. 'Maybe, later.'
'Okay,' I told him with a nod, only for my eyes to begin to shine as they returned onto the dessert I had just served myself. It was the last one remaining of its kind and it resembled no less that an artwork!
As I had been about to pick it up from my plate to bite into it, suddenly, I noticed that the little boy who had run up to us just a few seconds earlier, was staring at my plate.
I looked at him for a minute, then at the dessert in my plate.
'Do you want it?' I asked him, softly, and crouching down, I picked the dessert up and placed it into his own empty plate, after which he hurried away to eat it.
I smiled after him.
'That's what we call a Puit D'amour,' Gōjun stated, without looking at me, putting on a casual tone. 'It is composed of a fondant pie crest and succulent cream, with fruits on top, such as the kiwi, blackcurrant, peach, etc. In other words, a pure delicacy!'
Oh, what a demon! With the descriptions he's giving me, he's making me salivate!
'Excuse me,' a voice called, abruptly, and it was accompanied by a small tap on my shoulder.
I turned around to see a young man holding himself there behind me and smiling.
He was clothed in a pale grey suit, measured average height, was slender, and had dishevelled, brown hair.
'I have not stopped watching you since a while now. Would you like to dance with me?' he asked, holding his hand out to me.
Eh?
I was filled with surprise.
I had been about to refuse and explain to him that I have two left feet when, unexpectedly, Gōjun intervened, telling him that I had already accepted to dance with him.
Taking hold of one of my hands then, while he got rid of the plate in my possession, he dragged me away with him to the middle of the hall, where several other people were engaged in dancing, including Shunsui and Natsui.
'Gōjun,' I started, both puzzled and panicked, but he cut me off by sending his arm around my waist and pulling me slightly up such that my feet were now resting over his shoes.
'See, you're dancing!' he told me, and I lowered my eyes and blushed hard. He was holding me tightly against him and gliding effortlessly across of the dance floor, as though I weighted nothing.
'I thought that dancing is not your type of thing!' I murmured.
'It's still true. But I know that guy very well. He's a real pervert. He wouldn't have let go of the matter until you'd have accepted to dance with him. Now just keep your mouth shut and enjoy the dance, will'ya?'
I nodded, blushing shyly.
***
After the party was over, it was decided by Shunsui that he would drop Natsui at her house, while Gōjun would drop me home.
'I'm sorry for the trouble!' I said to the latter, rubbing my sleepy eyes and yawning. It was extremely late at night and all the guests had either left or were just leaving.
'Now, come on! Let's go before you fall asleep right here in the middle of the pathway!' he muttered, without looking at me, scratching the back of his head with his one of his hands and opening the passenger door of his car for me with the other.
'Thank you,' I whispered, and once I was seated in the car with the door closed, I rested my head against the window, trying my best not to let my eyes close.
It was only a matter of a few minutes before I would be home and in my bed.
***
'Well, I think we've reached!' Gōjun declared, as he pulled over onto the side of the road and stared out of the windshield at the small apartment atop of the wagashi shop. 'We're at the address you've given to me.'
When he didn't obtain any response from the dark-haired girl, he looked at her face. She still had her head rested against the window, but her eyes were now closed.
I can't believe it! Did she fall asleep?
'Oi!' he said, waving his hand in front of her face, but still, he didn't obtain any response from the girl.
She has really fallen asleep!
'Oi!' he called a little louder, and had been about to shake her out of her sleep, but then he stopped himself. She was sleeping so peacefully that he couldn't bring himself to wake her up.
'I really can't believe this!' he exhaled to himself, and resting his forehead against the wheel in annoyment, he watched the sleeping girl with narrowed eyes.
For sure, she's gonna have to wake up at some point or another to check if they have arrived yet!
Thank you for reading!