Hanabi

Chapter 19: Onsen plans

INFO:

Ryuuteki – means literally “dragon flute” and it’s a transverse flute with 7 holes, made of smoked bamboo and used in music for the Japanese imperial court.

“-tan” – it’s basically baby talk for “-chan”. If an adult uses this suffix when talking to anyone other than a toddler, chances are this person is being extremely sarcastic/making fun of someone in a mean way (I think it’ll be easy to see what is the exact meaning of the use in this chapter lol).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rina sighed and rubbed her temples, feeling guilty for bringing all those negative feelings out of Haruna. The shorter girl looked like a mess, it was easy to see the pain through her eyes.

At the same time that Rina knew it was still wrong to treat every single kitsune in the world in a certain way because of one bad experience, she also knew that particular experience was terrible enough to make anyone think that way. Especially someone as young as Haruna was when all of that happened.

Now she was scared of telling Haruna her story. She was actually scared. Her story about that park and Myogibou wouldn’t make anything better; if anything it had the potential to turn things even worse between her and Haruna. Now more than ever.

But Haruna was still staring at her with that purely demanding expression, and Rina gave that girl her word. She had to explain to her what happened, why exactly she wouldn’t be able to help with that museum theft. More than having given her word, she felt like she owed that to Haruna anyway after making her tell all those things.

- Look, Haruna-san, you probably won’t like me any better after hearing this.

- Just talk, you gave me your word.

Sighing, Rina nodded. She didn’t know exactly how or where to start, but somehow she’d have to manage that.

Right when she was about to speak though, a loud banging on the door resounded through the room. She looked down at Haruna with a frown.

- Are you expecting someone? - the shorter girl shook her head negatively to that question, but Rina didn’t really have the time to further question things.

- Oi, open the door you two! I know you’re there and we need to talk!

Oh, it was definitely Tomoko. Rina felt a little relieved, she really wasn’t feeling too well about everything.

Haruna huffed, forcing herself up and out of the bed, and Rina watched as she dragged herself to the door, opening it with such a weak will that anyone would notice she wasn’t exactly happy about that interruption.

- We really need to talk. - Tomoko said as soon as Haruna opened the door, and took a few steps inside the room - We’re having a meeting now.

- Oh, so you decide to turn my room into a meeting space without even giving me prior notice? What if I was still sleeping, fur ball?

Haruna slammed the door shut, and Tomoko showed her a superior grin.

- But you’re not sleeping. And for your information, just because you made Myogibou swallow his own vague words it doesn’t mean I like you enough to let you talk to me like that.

- Please. - Rina started, and the other two faced her - Don’t start.

- Alright, alright. - Tomoko replied in an irritated way, gesturing her hands - But come on you two, let’s have our meeting. We need to plan things, how we’re going to get Akai.