you return like autumn, and i fall every time. - 𝙛𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮
╔══════ ≪ °❈° ≫ ══════╗
𝟐𝟏. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐢 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲.
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Airi didn't know exactly where to look at, everything was just beyond spectacular in her eyes.
She watched in complete awe, as the Oiran took slow yet elegant footsteps with the parade, her figure the brightest and most colorful of them all. The face of the Oiran was different from that of geisha or any other woman marching with her. Her hair was heavily waxed, wearing upwards of eight large kanzashi, a hair ornament Hikari had explained to her which usually consisted of silver and gold gemstones.
Airi was fascinated to see how tall the Oiran's kimono shoes were, observing how she slid each foot of hers to the front, followed by the other foot in such sophistication. Two manservants had their hands out to assist her.
As she squinted her eyes as an attempt to get a better view, she noticed how her kimono was also layer after layer of heavily decorated silk brocade, featuring a padded hem. The specific kimono she wore had vibrant colors of dragons and butterflies, woven and embroidered in heavy golden threads. Its fabric sparkled adoringly under the yellow lanterns hung above the streets, further enhancing the woman's beauty and prestige.
Alongside the Oiran were a few younger girls, called cronies, dressed in the beautiful kimonos, featuring magnificent quality and authentic silk, but its pattern lighter than the main attraction. To the front of the parade, a group of men dressed as guards and envoys, with their cat shaped masks and darker colored kimono's, patterned in various animals like dragons and snakes. They danced and marched to the melody of different traditional instruments, professionally played by the geisha behind them.
Though Shoto was equally enthralled by the festival presented in front of them, he was better in masking away his emotions. The usual unfazed expression of his maintained even as the Oiran passes by him. From his peripheral vision, he could see how the girl beside him took a few steps forward as an attempt to get a better view, to which Haruto immediately stopped her by holding his arm out, warning the girl it wasn't respectful and pleasant to the eyes.
Airi muttered out her apologies, giggling in response. When the Oiran finally passed by her, there comes the group of geisha with its instruments, and four men performers with their kimonos and cat masks. Accompanied by the loud sounds of the drums and gongs, the four men danced in pairs to the rhythm of the music, their bodies spinning around each other as they tapped their feet to the music. In their hands were sticks with long ribbons attached. When they twisted and turned, the ribbon lingered through the air with such precision and elegance, Airi was starting to get dizzy just by how quick they spun their bodies.
