"I Love You" A Ninja Assassin Love Story

Chapter 14- Soji

*Calista's POV*

After leaving Kinshiro I knew exactly who I was going to tell first. As I thought that I walked around looking for him, and when I just thought about running to find him.

"Oh, Soji!" I saw the back of his head and called out to him. He turned around and then smiled at me. "Hey, Calista. What's up? You look happier than usual."
"I was just talking with Kinshiro, and we both agreed that we would all go to the hot springs for a vacation."

His eyes opened wide "really? I don't think we all went on a trip together before..."
"No? Not even just a little ways out of Edo?"
"No. Not that I recall."
"Huh... Well, there's a first for everything right?"
"Yeah, when are we leaving?"
"Two weeks from now." I said and held up two fingers happily.

"Well, I guess it's not all that sudden if two weeks. I'm sure we will all be ready in time. What did the others say?"
"Uh..." I stood there at a lose, looking for words. "What?" He asked confused.

H-how am I suppose to tell him I wanted to tell him first!? That's a little embarrassing... "I-I didn't just run around trying to find you or anything like that!"
"... Huh?" He seemed to look more confused as I spoke. I sighed. "Actually, I wanted to tell you first. So... I haven't told anyone else yet."

As I said that his eyes popped open wider and his cheeks gradually grew red. He then smiled kindly and said "wanna go tell everyone else together, then?" I nodded happily but them stopped realizing something. "Wait, don't you have patrol?"
"No, I actually just finished. Let's go."

We walked around and told everyone about the trip and they all seemed pretty excited about it. Unlike me who was restlessly thinking about it.

Soji and I found ourselves walking around a bit talking a little more about it. When he mentioned going into the hot springs-

"Oh, that's right! I need a bathing suit!" I said and started looking around. "Calista, there is a festival tonight. I'm sure they will be selling bathing suits then. Want to go there instead? I'm sure they have better quality ones."

"Are you going, Soji?"
"Oh, yeah. I was curious so I'll be going."
"Wanna go together?" I asked smiling. He too smiled and said "Sure. That'll be fun."

Like we planned-
We both arrived at the festival together and began to look around for a swimsuit. Even though we were looking for that, I was entranced by so many different things.

I've never been to a festival like this before. As I was looking at things-

"Soji?" I looked over but Soji was no where to be found. We must have been separated by the crowd.

I started to walk a little farther and there was a split in the road. "What way could he have gone?" I looked around but I couldn't see him. Someone bumped into me and I fell backwards. People then stepped on my hands and tripped over my feet like I wasn't even there.

This is just like back then... Back when I asked for food and money on the side of the street but they stepped on me like they couldn't see me. No one was there for me back then... Tears filled my eyes as people continued to step on my hands.

It hurt but I didn't say a thing. Someone stopped in front of me and I looked up to see Soji. He held out a hand to me and started to blush red. He helped me back up and all I could do was appologize.

"Sorry."
"Sorry? Heh... Why are you apologizing? I'm just glad nothing bad happened to you. Now, then..." Soji held out his hand with his crimson red cheeks. "Let's hold hand so we don't get separated again."

We walked down, hand in hand, and finally found a stall with bathing suits. "I think this one is nice, it suits you too." Soji said and held out a blue bikini. I smiled and said "I think it's cute! Let's get that then!" I said and reached for my purse but Soji stopped me.

"I'm buying." He took out his money and paid before I could say no. I pouted at him "no fair, Soji..."
"You need to learn to accept a gift from others. Let's check out some other stuff while we are here."

We walked around the festival but I realized I had been missing something important.