233 Chapter three, 2017, old and new: 3 (1/2)

When she found out that Nao spent hatsumode in Kyoto, Noriko gave up on having him for herself during winter break. While she still thought it grossly unfair, she also accepted there were times when life just played dirty.

A full two days later than she originally planned she dressed up to visit a smaller shrine close to their home. Ryu had gone with Ai-chan a day earlier, and if it hadn't been for their parents being adamant about going with old friends, Noriko would have tagged along as well.

Now she stood waiting for Kyoko and Yukio, who missed out on their chance two days earlier. Apparently they arrived too late to one of the most important of the shrines in Tokyo, and had to leave before they even managed to get inside the compound.

By Noriko's side Urufu weighed from foot to foot. She forced him to tag along when Nao mailed her the reason why he was in Kyoto.

'Because you're not spending a week in Kyoto with Kuri and leaving me alone in Tokyo!' So Urufu had to do. Which would have been a lot more fun just a few months earlier.

While she still was fond of him almost all remnants of romantic interest had vanished long ago. 'Almost,' but Noriko suspected that a small part of a first love stayed for life.

”You haven't said anything,” Noriko muttered.

”About what?”

'He really is dense.' ”About me.”

An expression of incomprehension spread over Urufu's face, but he must have spent enough time together with Kuri to at least get the basics. ”Sorry,” he said. ”You look fantastic. That kimono really suits you.”

To make up for his clumsiness at least he almost never lied about things like that. If he said she looked fantastic, then he meant it. That made Noriko smile a little.

”Really think so?” she asked to prolong the sweet feeling a little more.

”Yeah, really think so. I just feel uncomfortable giving you a compliment like that. With boyfriend and girlfriend and all that, you know.”

'You really are sweet aren't you?' Noriko looked at Urufu. 'I guess you were never the player after all,' she thought. But she didn't know. He'd been married for longer than she had lived. There was nothing saying he hadn't been a player before that.

”Noriko, over there!”

She looked up and in the direction Urufu pointed.

”Yukio, Kyoko!” Noriko called when she saw the friends Urufu had spotted first.

Kyoko waved back, and after she elbowed her boyfriend, so did he.

Urufu fidgeted, and Noriko couldn't help giggling in anticipation of what was coming.

”Kyoko, you look great,” he said when they were within earshot.

She did, but that didn't prevent Noriko from bursting into laughter.

”Man, what's with that? Stick to your own girl!” Yukio said. ”And what's with her,” he continued and pointed at Noriko, who by now laughed so hard her stomach hurt.