233 Chapter three, 2017, old and new: 3 (2/2)
”That's hilarious!” Noriko said between attacks. ”Kyoko, he's just the best!”
Kyoko only returned a nonplussed look. ”Yukio, should we go ahead. It might be contagious.”
He grinned back at her. ”Honestly, you two, what's going on?”
”Nothing,” Urufu muttered. ”She,” and Noriko felt his hand patting her head, ”told me I had to tell the girls when they look good, and now she's laughing at me because I did just that.”
Kyoko met Noriko's stare and gave her a look that said: 'Give him a break will you?' Noriko pouted back, but the mirth never left her.
”Man, you need to have a talk with Ryu. Dammit, even I could help you.”
”What did I do now?”
”Kyoko, meet Urufu, our resident moron. He spent fifty years learning nothing.”
That was enough to have Kyoko join Noriko in her giggling, and Noriko grinned when she high fived her friend. 'Yeah, this could be a good hatsumode after all.'
Urufu shook his head, but then he offered her his arm. Noriko gratefully accepted it, and together the four of them walked for the stairs to the shrine.
'He's funny,' Noriko thought. So socially inept, and then suddenly the perfect gentleman.
She had to lean on him more than once during the climb. The stairs were wet with the occasional patch of what tried to be snow.
For this occasion Urufu was of more use than Nao, she guessed. Where Nao was a tall, gorgeous boyfriend, Urufu was strangely muscular with perfect control of his body. And he oozed with friendship.
Noriko slipped several times, and every time Urufu just happened to move just enough that he didn't have to grab her to prevent her from falling. He was just there to stabilise her. 'Moron-sama, just how many years did you train that martial arts of yours?'
Ahead of them Yukio helped Kyoko, who was just as insensibly clad in a kimono with the associated idiotic slippers. 'Looks good, but it's really useless clothing.' Then Noriko thought about some of the dresses Kuri had worn during her shoots. 'High heels here, yes that would be a sight. But you'd probably just hover up the stairs anyway. Sometimes I envy you.'
A few minutes later they found themselves between stalls, and ahead of them Noriko saw the shrine. It was strangely desolated considering it being New Year's and all, but she was grateful not having to be pushed around in a crowd. She'd never be tall enough to enjoy crowded places.
”So, what now?”
Noriko had to tilt her head to look at Urufu. ”What do you mean?”
”Do we start with the funny clapping thing, or is there something else to do first?”
Noriko rolled her eyes. 'Funny clapping thing!' Then she burst out laughing again. ”Guys, Urufu wants to know if we should clap our hands first.”
”Urufu, man!”
”What? Yukio, what did she mean with… ah, yes, I guess we could start with the shrine. And, and, yeah, and clap our hands,” Kyoko finished. Then she joined Noriko in her laughter.