Chapter Text
The previous conversation was quickly forgotten by all three of them when they saw the festival all set up. There were no words to describe how lively and colorful the arrangement was. The setting sun seemed to light up the colorful banners that connected the three houses that belonged to those who organized the entire thing. The smell of food cooking was strong, and for once Obanai was able to enjoy the scent.
“Oh, wow! Your neighbors seem to cool, Obi!” Mitsuri cheered, immediately picking up her pace to get closer to the festivities. She grabbed both Obanai and Giyuu by their hands and practically dragged them behind her, but neither of them complained. She was strong, but her grip on their hands was never harmful, instead full of love and care.
“Yes, they certainly go all out for celebrations…” He responded, recalling the year before. The decorations had been set up in a completely different way, so he was guessing that every activity they had planned would be different. Likely both entertaining for children and adults alike.
“Have they finished setting things up?” Giyuu asked, scanning the scenery as they grew closer to the festival.
“If they haven't, which I’m sure they have, we can assist anywhere they need.” Obanai responded, both he and Giyuu quickly adapting to Mitsuri’s quick pace. “At this point, it would probably just be cleaning up trash from the decor storage.”
“We should probably help them clean up after either way, I’d feel bad if we didn’t!” Mitsuri said, her green eyes lighting up as they finally walked into the actual festival. The trio immediately felt the excitement and energy the festival would bring them. They would make memories they wouldn’t forget for a while, Obanai was sure of it.
“Oh! Hello everyone!” Moriko Shoji said, approaching them. The emerald green yukata she was wearing complimented her black hair, the outfit was a major difference from her regular neutral colored work clothes.
“Hello Moriko. You look beautiful.” Obanai said, bowing his head gently. The women in the three families were some of the only women he trusted with his life, as they had shown him much more hospitality than he would ever deserve. Mitsuri and Giyuu bowed their heads in greeting, Mitsuri smiling at her as Giyuu waved.
“Hello Moriko! I’m Mitsuri! This is Giyuu!” Mitsuri greeted, gently shaking Moriko’s hand. She had an ability to become friends with anyone and everyone that Obanai never understood. Giyuu also shook her hand.
“Welcome, welcome! Obanai has told us a lot about you two.” Moriko said, chuckling gently. Her brown eyes had a teasing glint in them, but luckily Obanai was saved from having to explain anything.
“MR IGURO!!! YOU’RE HERE!!” A child’s voice echoed throughout the yard, and Kimiko Shoji came around the corner with her twin, Tomoko, right behind her. They had just come from the backyard, so they were probably playing while waiting for them to get here.
“Oh, hey Kimiko! And Tomoko!” Obanai said, his voice filled with care but also joy as the 10 year olds came rushing up to him. They wrapped him up in a hug, and Obanai immediately returned it. He heard a small gasp from next to him, and he looked over to see Mitsuri and Giyuu staring at him in awe.
“Aww! Obi!” Mitsuri smiled, shaking his shoulder with one of her hands. “Hi, I’m Mitsuri!” She waved to the twins, and they pulled away from the hug. They exchanged glances, and then looked back at Mitsuri with mischievous grins. They got it from their mom, 100%.
“You’re Mitsuri? The Mitsuri?” Tomoko said, raising an eyebrow at her.
“Yeah, as in-” Kimiko was about to say something, but Obanai quickly shushed her by putting his hand over her mouth. Kimiko giggled, and ran off again with Tomoko. Their matching pink and purple yukatas swayed in the wind as they disappeared from view.
“Oh, sorry about those two. They can be… chaotic.” Moriko said, trying to stop herself from laughing at Obanai’s slight embarrassment.
“They get it from you.” He responded, his tone playful. This was the regular light banter that he had with the Shoji family, and it made him feel comfortable.
“I never knew you had a soft spot for children.” Giyuu spoke up, and the three others there looked at him. Obanai felt his eyes widen slightly and his face heat up as he looked at the ground, but the damage had already been done.
“Yeah, same! That was so cute!” Mitsuri said, turning to Obanai and smiling at him. “Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone! You gotta keep up your bad boy image, right?” She continued, and Obanai could tell she was joking a bit, but that she was serious about not telling anyone. Giyuu nodded in agreement from next to her.
“Uh, thanks.” He mumbled, trying to ignore the light laughter from Moriko and Mitsuri. He cleared his throat. “So, is there anything you guys need help with before we start, or will you guys just call us over when everything is ready?”
“No, we have it all covered! We should be starting very soon, so you guys can just walk around while we wrap things up.” Moriko said, smiling gently at the trio. They all nodded and began walking around the three homes.
The houses were placed in a circle, all facing the center courtyard. There was a good amount of space between the houses, and there were colorful streamers connecting them. In the backyard of one house, the Nakai house, there was cornhole set up as well as a track wrapping around their farm.
The Suko house had tables set up in their backyard, and they could see Aika and Sakura setting up food on the tables. Shuichi was lighting some scented candles nearby, likely keeping bugs and rodents away from the food. The group waved at the three of them, and they waved back.
They then moved back into the middle of the courtyard, where all of the children were hanging out. They were sitting under a large tree that had streamers and lights in its branches, which connected to the decorations that draped over the houses. The decorations were mostly created and set up by the Nakai family, as well as the fireworks that would be set off later.
“Mr Obanai! Hi! Are these your friends?!” Hiroshi Suko said, standing up from his spot and walking over to them. He hugged Obanai before hugging both Mitsuri and Giyuu. “Hi! I’m Hiroshi! I’m 10!” He smiled, showing off a missing front tooth.
“Hi! I’m Mitsuri, and this is Giyuu.” Mitsuri said, smiling at him and then waving at the rest of the children. Obanai noticed that Hachiro Shoji, the older brother of the twins by 7 years, was also there. Probably keeping the kids in check.
“Nice to meet you!” The kids said in unison. It wasn’t shocking considering the fact that they had grown up together.
Time flew by fast as the group talked and waited for someone to announce the start of the festival. Finally, around 20 minutes later, they heard the call.
“Come on everyone! Let’s get this festival started!”