Chapter Text
"Is this really traditional festival garb here?" Sora turned in the mirror a couple times, trying to get a look at this...yukata thing from all angles. It was tight...restrictive...the large sash across her midsection made it harder to twist her body. At least the colors were beautiful...they made it look as if Sora was draped in a piece of the night sky. "Didn't you say there were games at these festivals? I don't know what sort of games you can play in such restrictive clothing..."
Mashiro smiled and made one last adjustment to the obi. "Our summer festivals are much less...active than yours up in Skyland, Sora." Mashiro took her friend by the shoulders, turning Sora to face her own reflection head-on. "Japanese festivals are about, like...tradition, peace, social gathering, that kind of thing." Mashiro's hands moved from Sora's shoulders to her friend's hair and began fiddling with it, trying to get a "perfect" style for Sora's first summer festival. "Don't you like it?"
"Well, I do...it's very pretty. It's just not what I'm used to..." Sora absentmindedly mused to herself as Mashiro tended to her unruly blue mop. "You take this kind of thing pretty seriously, don't you, Mashiro?"
"Mm! Summer festivals are my favorite time of year." Mashiro silently gave up, letting Sora's hair fall loosely around her shoulders before taking a step back. "They've always seemed so magical to me...the fireflies, the people coming and going, the light from the paper lanterns...and not to mention the fireworks! It really feels like a proper send-off to summertime." Mashiro clapped her hands. "I think you're all ready to go, Sora! Ah, but don't forget your setta. It's dangerous to walk around the shrine grounds barefoot!"
"Yeah, yeah." Sora idly twirled a lock of hair around her finger and tugged on it while perusing her reflection some more. "...Hey, Mashiro?"
The other girl stopped and turned back to face Sora. "Hm? Something wrong?"
"No, not really...I'm mostly just curious." Sora tugged the lock of hair again, seemingly unaware she was doing it. "...I've heard some of our classmates talking about dates and boyfriends and girlfriends and stuff like that...but I'm not sure I really understand what all that means. I know you read romance novels...can you explain it?"
Mashiro blinked, then crossed her arms and tilted her head to one side, eyes trailing off towards one side in thought. "Well...I've never really been a part of those sorts of things myself. Books can only give you so much perspective. I know it has to do with people liking each other a lot, as more than just friends, but..." She sighed, then shook her head. "...Sorry, Sora. I can't really explain it more than that."
For a few moments, Sora was silent, mulling over what she'd been told. "Why's everyone talking about it now all of a sudden, then? What's that got to do with summer festivals?"
"Oh, I can explain that. For a lot of people, going with someone to a summer festival is a big deal...like, sharing the experience brings you closer or something. Even if you're just friends, that kind of thing can feel really nice~" Mashiro clasped her hands and smiles. "Ah, you can go ahead without me, Sora...I need to help Ageha get dressed after she's done helping Tsubasa. We'll meet you there!"
"Hm? Oh, yeah. See you there, Mashiro..." Sora trailed off, checking her reflection for a few more seconds before slipping on her setta and starting off towards the shrine.
An experience that brings you closer, huh?
"So that's what summer festivals are like here, then..." Tsubasa mused, tilting his head to one side. "In Skyland, they--" His words were cut short by a yelp of surprise when Ageha tugged on his cheek.
"Hold still, won't ya? I'm tryin' to pin those bangs of yours back..." She grumbled around a half-dozen bobby pins, which soon joined their comrades in attempting to get Tsubasa's thick hair out of his eyes. "You've got some stubborn hair..."
A light blush colored the boy's cheeks. "I can do that myself, you know. And why are you so dead-set on it, anyway? My hair is fine as it is, Ageha."
"No, no, your usual won't do at all~" Ageha leaned in closer, carefully adjusting the positions of a few of the bobby pins. "A summer festival is a special occasion~ It's a magical time where boys and girls really see each other for the first time, and start thinking about them as more than just classmates or what have you!" Ageha snapped her fingers, pointing triumphantly at her handiwork. "It's done! Not too bad, if I do say so myself~"
"What are you talking about...? You've been reading too many of those books with Mashiro..." Tsubasa huffed, then took a look in the mirror. For all of his griping, he was genuinely impressed by Ageha's work. Despite having so much trouble pinning his bangs back, she'd managed to incorporate some style of her own to it, concealing many of the pins with small, carefully woven braids, giving it a much more seamless look. "...You're right, though. It does look really nice..."
"Right, right~? You can thank me later, though, I gotta help Mashi-ron get dressed, too~ Ah, don't forget your setta!" Ageha packed up her little kit of hair accessories and returned it to her backpack. "The wind's been pretty rough recently, so there might be some sharp sticks on the ground, y'know?"
Always onto the next thing...she's a lot to handle. Does her brain ever stop firing on all cylinders? "Wait a moment, Ageha."
The older girl stopped her packing mid-motion and turned to face Tsubasa. "What's up?"
"...Earlier, what did you mean by 'really see each other for the first time'? I don't really get that."
Ageha blinked, then smiled and stood up straight. "Ah, that? Well, it's a bit difficult to explain, y'know? It's like..." She put a finger to her chin, rocking her head side to side for a few moments in thought before returning her gaze to his. "It's like waking up one day and seeing a boring white wall suddenly splashed with loads of color! You can't help but look at it, 'cause it's new and beautiful, right?"
Tsubasa took a moment to mull her words over. A boring white wall suddenly splashed with color. A really simple sentiment...and it made sense. Your eyes would naturally be drawn to that...the same old thing, but suddenly different. "How does that happen with...people? And what do you mean by 'more than--'"
"A-tatata!" Ageha quickly covered the boy's mouth. "No more questions for now~ Mashi-ron is waiting on me, 'kay~? We can talk later if you're still interested~" With that, Ageha shouldered her backpack and headed for the door. "Ah, go on ahead without us~ Mashi-ron and I will meet you there, okay? Ciao~!" Before he could answer, she'd left the room, leaving the door wide open behind her, as if inviting him to follow.
He didn't, though. not just yet. He slipped on his setta and just sat there for a moment, pondering this new insight he'd gotten. Humans...their psychology was interesting. Something simple like this was enough to cause such a stir in their minds? He found it a bit...odd, but so was Ageha and he liked her just fine.
As he collected his wallet and headed out, Tsubasa wondered if he'd ever fully understand this new paint on an old wall concept.
Probably not. It wasn't like he was human, after all.