"We’re here," I said stopping right before the yukata store and Ai got off my back.
"Let’s go!" she said and charged into the store with so much enthusiasm. Ah, she is enjoying herself. That’s good.
I looked up at the sky and it was already evening, the festival was going to start soon. I hope nothing bad happens today. Just today, I want only my time with Ai and no other worries. I hope this is not too much to ask for.
"Huh?" I turned around feeling an unknown presence nearby but there was no one there. Ah, just when I asked for some peace but that presence just disappeared. "Maybe just my imagination," I said but I do need to stay on alert. I accepted the challenge from this father person and I think this was a long enough break from all this stuff.
"I should probably tell Natsumi-san about this. It will be stupid of me to keep this all to myself," I said and rubbed my temple. "What a drag."
"What are you thinking about Kazuki-kun?" Haruka said slapping my back bringing me back to my senses. "This is no time to zone out. You have Ai to take care of."
"Huh? Oh, yeah…" I said and walked into the store. I must stay alert; this is no time to stay alert. I should not worry Ai, at least not today.
I walked into the store and Ai already walked out of the changing room after putting on her yukata. Yeah, she looked absolutely stunning in this. I feel so out of her league from time to time but also thank lady luck for making me so lucky to give a girlfriend like her. I honestly couldn’t ask for more.
"How do I look?" she said happily giggling and twirling around with a smile on her face.
"I am at a loss of words," I said with a smile on my face and a little blush made its way to Ai’s face. I raised my hand and caressed her soft cheeks. "You look beautiful Ai."
"Eh?!" The blush on her face grew and now she was a tomato. She hid her face in her hands and looked away and we all just saw this cute reaction of her. Who wouldn’t want to see this reaction? They are so cute and fun to watch.
"Oh my, I have never seen Ai blushing this much, you really are something else Kazuki-kun, to make Ai act like this," Haruka said as she, Asumi, and Sakura were just looking at her and giggling at just how cute she is.
Yep, she is always really cute when she is blushing and is embarrassed it’s as if this was the first time I ever complimented her. Some things never change and it’s good that they don’t. I don’t want Ai to not have these adorable reactions every time. It’s a feast to the eyes honestly. I can watch them all the time and never get bored of them.
"Come here," I said pulling her arms and wrapping my hands around her, and hugging her. She looked surprised but instantly hugged me back as if it was all instinct to her.
"Why is Kazu-kun hugging me?" I asked innocently while cutely looking up at my face.
"Do I really need a reason to hug you? Is that where we have gotten?" I said in a fake sad tone. "Ai doesn’t like hugging me…"
"NOOOOOO!" she said tightening her grip around me already crushing some bones with her superhuman strength. I think this was not that good of an idea. "I LOVE WHEN KAZU-KUN HUGS ME! AND KISSES ME! AND WHEN WE DO OTHER STU- HMMMM!"
Before she could enter the dangerous territory by shouting things out in public, I covered her mouth with my hand quieting her.
"I get it Ai. Now calm down before you say too much," I said quickly with my face completely flushed and heating up. She only nods her head and I let go of her mouth and then she hugs me back and starts sniffing me.
"Hmmmmmm, Kazu-kun’s smell, hehehehe," she said.
I looked at her friends as they saw this all unfold and they were all in awe. It was as if they saw a different side of Ai. Probably not the shy part but this sniffing thing looked new to them and as for me…. I’m used to having this white-haired girl sniffing me on a daily.
"I need to have my smell on Kazu-kun and his smell on mine so everyone know that you belong to me and that I belong to you."
That was her explanation where I did not have any say at all in this and I just agreed to it. Sometimes her requests are really interesting…its more like orders now that I think about it. But do I mind being ordered by her? Not at all.
"Ai, I think you should let go of Kazuki-kun now," Haruka said pulling Ai away but she tightens her grip even more.
"NO!" she like a kid being dragged away from her favorite ride.
"Ai, can you let go now? I need to wear my yukata," I said and a smug appeared on her face.
"I can help you with th- owie."
I flicked my finger against her head looking at her blankly. "Later," I whispered in her ears and made her let go.
Then I left the three and a flustered Ai and headed to the reception. I gave the desk lady my slip and she handed me my yukata. Conveniently, the changing room was just beside it so I headed there. I think I have an idea of how to put on a yukata now that I had Ai…assist me.
I started taking off my clothes and the moment I looked in the mirror my eyes widened in shock. Just what has happened to my body? Before I looked like me with more muscles but now the definition of them was crazy. I don’t remember doing any workout and this all should not be possible. The only normal way for this should be if I worked out like crazy every day, and took care of my diet and it would take about a year or two depending on what I wanted and if I wanted to do it naturally.
"Ethan," I muttered and my eyes widened at the realization. This was probably because of his blood. A vampire’s body is already set to be perfectly fit and aesthetic to not only perform at its best but to also lure its victims. That’s what Ai told me, no wonder her thighs are so perfect.
I started dressing up quickly and put my clothes in the bag in which I got the yukata, I got out and was met with eight eyes peering through me and scanning me.
"Haruka approves."
"Looks good on you."
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"Yes…"
"Hehehe, Kazu-kun looks so handsome," Ai said jumping right in my arms and giggling. "Now it’s time to go to the festival!" she announced happily.
"Yaay," we all cheered with her.
With that, we gave our clothes to the desk lady and walked out of the store. The festival was taking place not that far from here. While I was trying to get Ai to walk in a straight line while pulling me, we were already there.
Our eyes were lit by the view. The lanterns shone brightly in the night sky, the vendors were already at work, the place bustling with people and the entire venue felt like a completely different place. Crazy that this was just a standard ground just some time ago.
The Japanese culture has too many gods, to be a bit more accurate, there are well said to be about eight million gods. The summer festival or Matsuri is held to show thanks to the God of nature, for life and for the growth of the community.
The entire place had a different feel to it. It was warm, and welcoming, and was looking like a perfect place to go and have fun with your loved ones.
"Well then, this is as far we would be in the middle of you love birds," Haruka said patting our backs and grabbing Asumi and Sakura. "We’ll see you later and don’t end up doing something lewd.’’
With that remark, she left and we just saw the three disappear into the crowd. I looked at Ai and the moment our eyes met; she was already latched to me. It’s as if we are just opposite magnets sometimes and really strong magnets at that. She placed her head on my shoulder and we started walking.
There were so many vendors and people making the place full of lots of noise but the moment just made those disappear for me. I couldn’t hear anything, just Ai and the little noises she made while she walked. The entire place started getting white and fading away into nothingness unless it was just the two of us. I loved this moment and I didn’t want this to end at all. All I wanted was to just stay with Ai like this, the entire time.
Right then I felt a little pull on my yukata and looked behind me only to see the old lady from this morning standing behind us in a yukata too. She had a sweet smile on her face while looking at us and we both stopped.
"Oh my, did I interrupt something?" she said looking at the two of us. "I should have just walked on instead of stopping to say hello."
"No ma’am, it’s completely fine," I said to her shaking my head and Ai did the same. We both looked at her little figure and she just smiled at us.
"Now that I think about it, I never asked when Shiba-kun moved in with Tsubaki-san," she said politely but her words pierced through my heart and a shiver ran down my spine.
Wait, we never told her names…
I stepped back a little and Ai did the same. Suddenly we felt something really ominous emerging out of the old lady. Could she be? I reached for my pocket for my keychain which I felt with me all the time as a precaution.
"It’s no use," she said and looked at us with the same expression. "You two will die even before realizing that."
We stopped in our places as if it was an order and couldn’t move. What is this? How strong is this presence? It’s so strong that I felt like the moment I moved, I would be beheaded in the blink of an eye.
"So Kazuki-kun," she said slowly, getting taller, and placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Want to know how Yuna is?" she whispered in my ear.
W-what?
Y-Y-Y-Yu….na?
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