I'm a Phoenix

CHAPTER 4.2 | Takanashi Kiara

"Tonight, I would like to Thank you all for welcoming me and my family back from our 4 day vacation..."

Steven, is currently thanking the Villagers while doing a speech at the same time..
While I'm...
At the backstage..

"Th-This is... Too.. Intense for me..", I muttered.

Yes, it is indeed very nerve wracking for me, because this is the first time I'll be introducing myself to a LOT of people..
Well, it's not like I can recall any memory of me introducing myself to a lot of people before, so I'll say that this is my first time..

And every second, my heart beats faster and I'm shaking even more than before..
Although, it's not cold because I'm wearing a coat, I'm still shaking because of my nervousness..
I'm getting weaker and weaker as time passes by..

"I would like to discuss about the upcoming Sun Festival in the next 2 weeks...", is what I heard from Steven who's still talking about something..

I am not ready for this introduction, and also I couldn't even prepare!
I didn't have the time to make a speech or something! At least give me time!
How did it even come to this?!

*9 hours earlier

Mike and Claire are about to be finished on putting their stuff back, and Steven did some work for my Introductory Event on the Town Hall.
I'm left with Kitty, but it doesn't seem like there's a conversation going on. Although, our eyes always met up, none of us had the courage to strike up a conversation..

"Phew.. We're almost done. Kiara, you can go up to my room and pick your clothes for your upcoming Introduction.", Claire said.

"Eh? Am I really allowed to go upstairs?", I asked.

"Do I have to repeat myself again? I'm already giving you permission.", Claire said with a disappointing face.

"Ah! I'm sorry! I'm going now!", I said and quickly gone upstairs.

"My room is at the right, 2nd door! Beside Kitty's!", Claire shouted as I was going upstairs.

"Okay!", I replied with a shout.

Kitty has her own room? That's amazing!
I wonder what kind of room she has, although I want to take a peek at her room, I might get called a creep for entering without permission..

By the time I found Kitty's room which has her name on the door with cat designs, I immediately got curious.. But, I decided not to enter without her permission!
And continued to go to Claire's room..

Claire's door is just a simple door with her name and... Steven's?
So it's their room? They share the same room?
Well.. I mean.. They are.. Couples...

I tried to imagine Claire and Steven sleeping together, but instead.. I imagined me.. And.. M-M-Mi—!
No! Kiara! Stop! You're not in love! Stop it!
Just go to Claire's room and pick your clothes, that's all..

I opened the door, and I was greeted by a clean room.
Well, she did unpack her clothes here, so I expected that she'd also clean her room.

In her room, there's a bed at the top right, a window beside the bed, a mirror at right side of the window and finally, a cabinet at the right side of the room.

I approached the cabinet's location and opened it, the clothes are neatly arranged and hanged.
There's also two box like bags on the floor inside the cabinet, the left box is red while the right side is pink.
So I'm guessing........
This is where their underwears are?
The red is Steven's and the pink is Claire's..
I was curious and thought about checking it but..
It's better not to check..

I continued to pick the clothes that I'm going to wear.
And somehow, I'm getting picky..
I'm looking for a jacket against the cold but with fashion. Although, I don't know if that even exists..
And, I found it.

I picked it out from the cabinet and gently put and widen it on the bed, and.. It's beautiful.

It's a grey coat with fur at the tip of every hole of the coat.
And I think it's perfect for me..

I tried to put it on, and looked at the mirror..
And..
It's not really good on me.. What's missing?

"It looks like you're getting picky."

I turned around and saw Claire at the door.

"Ah! Claire! I was just um.."

"I know, I know. I did tell you to pick some clothes, but I didn't expect you to pick that one."

Somehow the way she said that one, means it's something special to her..

"That coat is actually what Steven gave me on our 5th anniversary."

"Ah! I'm sorry! I didn't know! I'll return this now.."

"It's okay, It's okay. You can wear it.."

"Eh? Really? But isn't it something important to you?"

"It is, and even now. But, I'm not really wearing it that much, since the one that I'm wearing now is also a gift from him last year."

Ah.. That's why..
Steven is the chief after all, so that explains it..
And also she's wearing a sweater, a stripes sweater..

"I see, then can I really wear this?", I asked.

"Sure, but..."

She stopped saying anything and started to approach where I am.
She looked at me from toe to head and somehow noticed something..

"Your hair, doesn't really match the coat.."

"Really?"

That's why I thought something was off..

"Yeah, although we can't do anything about the color of it.. Why not change its style?"

"Change its style? What style?"

"Ah. Don't worry Kiara, I got you."

She took a chair that's at the corner of the room, and I didn't even notice that chair until now.

"Sit. And I'll take care of the rest.", she said as she puts the chair in front of me.

"O-Okay.."

And then, she began changing my hairstyle..