The Golden Pear [YA - Featured]

♫~Notes 141~♫

Kagetsu jumped back like a cat, returning the teasing from before. "Better come soon. They are selling hot!" He collected the rest of the poster, dusting them before he dashed into the crowd.

Ueno stiffened, unsure what to do.

"Shall we go?" he asked her. "I know my presence isn't needed anymore, but I've enjoyed your company. If it's alright with you, I would like to finish this tour."

"Ah-That... That's alright."

"There is no need to be so nervous. Please, allow me to be Uncle Yoyo for a bit longer."

Honesty mirrored in his eyes. Icy fingers grasped her heart. She didn't deserve to be happy.

"I didn't start well with your sons," she said without noticing. "I was mean to them."

It was out. Now, Mr. Kamini would scowl at her and shoo her. Who would like a mean girl? For all her evil deeds, she deserved to be abandoned.

A hand patted her hair. "But you didn't finish at the same note, right?"

Her eyes flickered. The tears pushed forward.

"We all make mistakes and poor decisions. I should know, as I made one that ruined the lives of those I should protect and guide. There is nothing I can do to take it back."

She lifted her head, unable to stop her tears.

"But as long as we try to work together. Even the deepest rift can be crossed and become the start of a wonderful relationship, build upon trust and respect."

The crying girl nodded, her heart fluttering with small flames. 'Maybe I can...'

"Now, allow me to call my friend, so you can—"

"Already got it covered," a voice startled her, as she found it familiar.

Turning around, she had seen a taller man with a wide sun hat, its sides looped down under its length with a custom-made frame keeping the front lifted. At one place, it seemed to be nibbled on a bit.

Ueno had to wink as this turned quite bemusing. The over-sized T-shirt with a colorful skull and Spanish words hung around him like a raincoat, but under closer inspection, it transformed into a poncho.

The shorts were hardly visible under it, and the dark and rich pubic hair across his thin legs gave him monkey vibes. But perhaps it was the way he scratched on his leg with the other. On the other leg, it went well with his stubble.

That man came to them, playing in his hands with a big camera. "A captured even that." He didn't need to elaborate on what that was as he lifted his dark eyes with slightly visible rings under them.

"Nihil-kun, what a pleasant surprise. Is there an error in the matrix to see you under the open sky?"

Nihil bristled. "That's your fault! You nagged me for hours about this Fest!" He let his camera hung around his neck. "I knew you would call me eventually, so I rather went at my pace."

A few girls checked him, giggling as they found his unshaven beard sexy. "Crowds!" He shuddered. "Why can't this go digital? Nobody would get molested. No problem with the weather or picking clothes! Just you, a cup of coffee, biscuits, and 8K wall-screen."

Mr. Kamini giggled. "I'm thrilled you have come."

Nihil's expression softened. "I guess even zeroes and ones need fresh air from time to time." He looked around, spotting a crossroad pointing toward the House Of Terror. "I'll go check the next places. See you by the coffee cup." He waved at them, leaving.

"Nihil-kun!" Mr. Kamini called.

The young hacker turned a bit annoyance in his eyes. "What's app?"

"It's just me, or did somebody chewed on your hat?"

Nihil gave him narrowed eyes. "That just means I'm tasty looking."

Mr. Kamini lifted his left eyebrow, not following what Nihil hinted at.

However, he didn't provide any other answer and blended with the crowd despite the odd choice in clothes.

After a few moments, Mr. Kamini asked, "Shall we continue?"

Ueno staggered for a bit. The voice in her mind whispered, "What a pathetic girl you've become." It chuckled. "Who would want your company? Trash! Yes, because you are trash!"

She shook her head, putting up a smile. "Yes, let's continue." The uneasiness still followed her, but she had remembered Kagetsu's words. 'Their father is really... kind man.'

Stopping by two stalls featuring more works of the students and photographs of their past performances, they chatted. Mr. Kamini had noticed the coupons asking about them. They spread a great mood among the visitors, and the returning ones had found something new to discover.

Reaching the Reach For The Stars photo booth, they found out they had arrived during a break. The horses needed to refresh themselves and to let their legs rest too. Rocket walked in the fenced area while Princess nibbled on the grass.

Freya was the first one who spotted them, waving their way. Rigaku was with her, so he lifted his head. At first, the sunrays blinded him a bit, but once the flashing dots retreated, he couldn't believe his eyes.

"Dad"—he coughed, gulping too big piece of bread—"Father!" His voice came out hoarse, and Freya slammed his back to help him spit out his lungs. "Arigatou," he muttered, taking a sip of his melon juice.

"Ri, are you alright?" his father asked, hurrying to see if his son was okay.

"Yeah... Hai, I'm fine," he again corrected himself. "However, what are you doing here? I thought you had meetings to attend."

Mr. Kamini rolled his eyes. "No meeting is more important than one's family!" He tapped the ground with his walking cane. "I don't need to attend all of them. My people know what to do without me."

Ueno behind him gave Rigaku an awkward wave.

"So, this is your stall, I've heard a lot about."

"Heard?" Rigaku repeated, unsure if he had heard him right. "But I haven't..." His eyes trailed to Aiyoku.

Based on his twitchy smile, he was the culprit.

"I maybe ranted about it to our dad... a bit," he peeped. He joined his hands, bowing.

Rigaku eyed him, but a smile played across his face. Why should he be angry? There was nothing wrong with the family visiting the same event. And truth to be told, it made him all fuzzy inside. If only his father didn't wear that old Hawaii shirt. It was embarrassing.

Thinking about his father, he had noticed he was staring at Aiyoku. Following his gaze, his brain needed a few seconds to comprehend why.

"Anyway, Aiyoku, why did you cut your hair so short?" Mr. Kamini asked as Kagetsu returned to join them, finishing with his stack of ads.