KOF Extras

The Kishiwada Danjiri Festival

Hey guys! Don't worry, I'm not discontinuing the holiday chapter in The Bahamas. I'm just pausing because well, I was planning to write a chapter for the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival in Kishiwada, Osaka that takes place on the 18th and 19th September. I'll resume the holiday chapter after this. So yeah, let's get into the chapter.

Iori called the entire team of BOF to Sundeer Cafe for a meeting.
"What's this for?" Kyo asked as soon as the waiter left after taking their order.
"There's a new event for us to play," Iori smirked.
Everyone started getting excited.
"What event is it?" Terry asked eagerly. "Is it around here? Or is it somewhere else?"
"Osaka," Iori informed. "Kishiwada, Osaka."
"Osaka?" Everyone murmured.
"What's going on in Osaka?" K' asked, leaning forward.
"The Kishiwada Danijiri Matsuri," Iori grinned. "It's one of the biggest festivals in Japan!"
"No way!" Kyo said in surprise. "Yagami, how on earth do you even get these gigs? It's like you're plucking them from trees!"
Iori frowned at him. "It's because I actually spend my free time looking for opportunities instead of wasting it to loiter around on my bike."
"He's got a point," Athena chuckled. She turned back to Iori. "So, it's this Saturday, right?"
"Yep," Iori nodded. "And Sunday. We'll be collaborating with a hayashi group."
K' suddenly waved to get Iori's attention.
"What is it?" Iori asked. The waiter arrived and handed them their food and coffees.
K' waited for the excited waiter to leave before turning back to Iori. "What's a Danijiri? And more importantly, what's a hayashi?"
"Oh great, I forgot you're not Japanese," Kyo rolled his eyes. He earned himself a few glares from K' and Terry. Iori started laughing.
"Kyo, just be happy that Dash is helping us with the DJ parts," Iori pointed out. He turned back to K' and smirked. "A Danjiri is a festival celebrated to pray for good autumn bounty every year. And hayashi is the traditional Japanese orchestra, like the ones you see in Kabuki and festivals."
"Aso..." K' said, much to their amusement. "How is the festival celebrated?"
"A group of people pulling the danjiri cart along the street, and eventually stopping at the Garden of Eight Battle Formations, which is basically the Kishiwada Castle rebuilt into a garden museum, to perform a religious ceremony there."
"That's nice," K' nodded. "But does it need a DJ?"
"Of course, Dash," Athena smiled. "Even if it doesn't, you can still watch in the Matsuri, right?"
"Yeah, we can watch from the harbour," Kyo added. "They set up seats there every year."
K' grinned. "Will there be food?"
"Lots," Iori smirked. "Takoyaki, okonomiyaki, grilled squid, you name it. You can find it in the streets a few hours before they start pulling the Danijiri."
"Great, so Kriz would definitely come," K' smirked. "As we know, wherever there is food, there is Krizalid."
"Wherever there is beef jerky, there is you," Terry chuckled. K' glared at him.
"Wherever there is fast food, there is you," K' countered with a frown.
"And wherever there is meat, there is Niisan," Aiko quickly said, nudging her brother to avoid a fight.
"Wherever there is fish, there is Kyo," Iori added with a smirk.
"Uhh... wherever there is ice cream, there's Kula," Kyo said, earning a kick from someone. "Ouch! Who did that?"
"Whenever there is Kyo, there is annoyance," K' scowled.
"He still hates me?" Kyo asked in surprise. "Yo! You still hate me?"
"Sometimes," K' said before taking a sip of his cold coffee. "When is this festival again?"
"This Saturday and Sunday," Iori said. "Right before Respect For The Aged Day."
"So are we playing on Saturday or Sunday?" Terry asked.
"Sunday," Iori informed. "During the night parade."
They all looked forward to the festival.
"So... when are we going?" K' asked.
Everyone looked at him in surprise.
"You're the transport agent here, buddy," Iori pointed out. "You're the one who should say."
K' was kinda taken aback by that. "Uh... Friday?"
"Great!" Terry said. "Good thing I haven't unpacked yet."
K' looked at him in surprise. "There's still five days till we're going."
"That's okay, I'll just use these clothes till then," Terry smirked.
"Eww..." K' grimaced.
"I'm kidding..." Terry finally said, a little disappointed that his joke didn't work. "I already unpacked."
K' nodded and occupied himself with eating his beans with beef jerky.