Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Fireworks
A month after Toriko helped Hansuki to hide from the fairies.
"It's kind of cold today", she said as she takes a sip of her tea.
"It sure is", he replied as he placed a plate of steamed potatoes on the table and sat next to it.
"There will be a festival tonight, I wonder if you like to come," he said as he smiled slightly.
"Festival? what's a festival?", she asked with a squint.
"You haven't attended a festival yet?"
"We don't have that in our world, the first time you saw me? that was the first time that I left our world", she said.
"so I guess you would like to come", he smirked as he glanced at her.
"So what's a festival?" she asked suddenly looking up at his face with curiosity.
"you'll know when we got there." he smiled. "but you'll need a yukata, just stay here". He stood up, entered his room, and picked up a pouch with money. He went outside and looked back at her." stay here okay I'll be quick", he said as he grinned and walked away.
" Uhm, okay", she muttered to herself then stood up. She wandered around the small house and she could hear the chirping of the birds and the rushing of waters as the cold air touches her skin.
Several minutes after Toriko returned carrying a paper bag. "I'm home, come and see this," he gladly said while taking off his footwear and entered the house. Hanasuki reached toward him and pointed at the paper bag" Is that the yu-ka-ta?", she asked looking puzzled and being curious.
"yes", he replied with a smile "try to fit it", handling the paper bag to her. She reached for it and entered her room. Toriko followed her and waited next to her door leaning against the wall.
A moment after, the door opened and Hanasuki stepped out wearing the light-shaded pink with small pink and purple sakura pattern and a purple ribbon that fits across her thin waist.
"did I wear it correctly?", she asked glancing at her clothes left and right. id never wore like this before.", and looked up at him.
He paused for a moment and was mesmerized by her as he moved her hair behind her ear. He looked away " Uhm..." and looked back again to her. " it fits you, you look very cute." he said as his eyes met hers. her face turned red after hearing those words.
Toriko pulled out a pink and silver butterfly hairpin and pined the hair that was falling down her face up. "that looks better" he smiled.
" can I change now?" she requested. - still blushing.
" oh, sure" you're going to wear that tonight okay?". He said with a smile.
Hanasuki just nods her head and entered her room once again and changed her clothes. She went back outside wearing a white dress that reaches her knees with laces on the end of her long sleeves.
Several hours passed and the sun had already set. Hanasuki was taking a bath. She sighed " it's been a month.", she thought. " I hope there will be no fairies at the festival."
She stepped out of the tub and covered herself with a towel, headed back to her room, and closed her door. she was starring at the yukata. " this is beautiful", she muttered to herself.
She heard a knocking sound from the door. " Hanasuki are you ready?"
"Just a moment.", she replied as she grabbed her clothes and wore them.
Toriko waited outside and pulled a photo from his pocket and was starring at it. " I miss you mom." he thought. he put back the photo as his brown hair fell to his eyes and combed it with his fingers.
Minutes after Hanasuki stepped out of her room wearing the yukata. Her average long black hair was braided with some hair falling on both sides of her face wearing the butterfly hairpin.
"shall we go?", he asked and smiled slightly looking at her.
She nodded her head agreeing and hummed. They both left the house, together they walked a gloomy forest. Hanasuki was anxious about what if they'll encounter the fairies. She held a small part of Toriko's sleeves being afraid to get lost.
After several minutes of walking, they can slightly hear the music from the town meters away. Hanasuki got excited.
" that music, is that the festival?", she asked looking so excited as she looked up at his face.
"yes we're almost there", he replied with a slight smile.
After several minutes of walking, they reached the town filled with lights and happy people, stalls are everywhere, children are playing with a broad smile on their faces as the music filled the air. Hanasuki was fascinated.
"Wahhhhh," her eyes shone like the stars looking so amazed about what she's sighting. She took a few steps towards and rotated her head a bit and looked back at Toriko " so this is a festival..." she said as her almond eyes shone. She took steps towards him "... so this is the human world". as she looked him in the eyes. She giggled and spun around facing the town entrance as they entered.
Toriko was smiling looking satisfied as he was watching her being so happy and amused. He took steps towards her and grabbed her hand. It paused Hanasuki's smiling for a while as she looked down at her hand and looked up to his face and smiled.
Together they walked around the town holding hands and seeing different people. Hanasuki was very excited about what she's seeing. While walking, they saw a stall selling pouches and fans. Hanasuki's eyes twinkled as she saw the colorful designs of the pouches and fans. She released his hand and ran towards the stall and googled at the items looking so amused.
" Would you like to try some young lady?" asked the old woman - the seller.
Hanasuki looked at the old woman and grin " can I?", she asked with excitement.
Toriko followed her to the stall and reached his hand to her left shoulder and patted it. She looked back at him still smiling. She never stopped smiling and being amused since they entered the town.
The old woman handed a maroon-colored pouch embroidered fish design around it with pieces of beads attached to its strings and a round pink fan with calligraphy saying" freedom"
"Wahhh, these are so pretty!" Hansuki exclaimed with amazement on her face as she received them. She was staring at the items as her eyes shone.
" How much?", Toriko asked the old woman while he's taking out his wallet.
"250 for the pouch and 100 for the fan," the old woman said with a smile on her face as her wrinkles showed up on her eyes and cheeks. Toriko reached out and handed the exact amount she said and paid the items.
"thank you.", the old woman waved at both of them as they left the stall. Hanasuki held up high her pouch and fan and staring at them with a grin on her face looking so happy about what she had.
" You seem so happy huh". he said as lay hos right palm on her left shoulder while they were walking.
"I think this is the happiest day of my life," she said as she looked at him and her eyes shone looking si pure.
She tied her pouch on her wrist with its beady string and held her fan on the other hand.
The night was getting deep. Without any words, Toriko grabbed her hand and they ran through the streets and passed several stalls. They entered a narrow stair and reached a grassy platform with fences and benches - but no people.
Hanasuki was breathing rapidly. "why did you just pull me up here?"; she complained bending her body and hands on her knees. After a moment she finally stood up straight.
" Just look behind you", Toriko said and pointing straight behind her.
She ran toward the fences next to a shallow pit and gaggled at the view.
" so beautiful, I 'v never seen like this before!" she said while looking at the view as the cold wind swayed her hair and her eyes were shining with a broad smile on her face looking so happy.
Toriko was staring at her. He was glamorized. Hanasuki delightfully staring at the view and appreciating it. Moments after the sky gleamed brightly and loud bangs were heard. She suddenly flinched, covered her ears, and close her eyes.
Toriko looked at her and touched her both hands. He slightly lifts her hand away from her ear and pushed his face towards her. "It's okay, it won't hurt you, open your eyes." He whispered.
So Hansuki slowly opened her eyes and slowly put down her hands as she saw the beauty of the lights that make her eyes shone bright.
" It's FIREWORKS.", he said in a loud voice, loud enough for her to hear him.
She glanced at him grinning. Toriko slowly held her hand and their fingers interlocked. Together they watched the fireworks until it ended.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone