331 Chapter five, 2017, defeat: 10 (1/2)

Kyoko wondered why Noriko and Urufu were late, and she was on the verge of asking when the doorbell chimed again and they came inside.

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The ancient air conditioning unit coughed asthmatically in a futile protest when hot and humid air welled in, and most of those present agreed with apathetic nods. In a few weeks everyone should be used to summer temperatures, but right now most looked like they longed for the wetness of just a handful of days ago.

Those not overcome by apathy shared two tables with a quintet of surprise guests. A surprise to everyone but Urufu, Kyoko suspected.

She glanced at the tables where two Tokyoites, who had spent enough time in Sweden to share inside jokes with two girls and a boy who were most definitely not Japanese, made an attempt to translate questions and answers from all parties. After a while most seemed to agree English was a good enough compromise, to the dismay of the first year club members.

Urufu barked something in Swedish, and all five guests turned their faces in surprise. One of them, a girl short enough to have to tip toe even in Japan, grinned and responded with a big grin on her face after she delivered her answering words.

”What was that about?” Kyoko heard Noriko say from the position beside Urufu she monopolised whenever she had the chance.

”He said that Santa Claus wondered if there were any nice kids here, and Jenny told him he'd better grow a beard first,” the female of the two Japanese born guests said.

Japanese born, because her entire outfit was distinctly western, showing way more skin than was proper for someone with the looks of a classic Japanese beauty. She might look Japanese, but Kyoko knew she had spent enough years in that strange country of Urufu's to be anything but. She was also the former student council president of that Swedish high school, or chairman of the students' union as she preferred to call it.

”Where's your club chairman?” she said.

”And you are?” Urufu answered.

Kyoko looked at the two of them, then at Noriko, who's lips turned into a disapproving smirk, and then back at Urufu again.

”Rika. I'm Rika Uchida.”

'Uchida Rika? She even uses the western style for her own name. Rika-sempai I guess.'

”Ulf Hammargren, pleased to meet you. Christina's working today, so I'm afraid you'll have to do with me as club representative.”

Rika-sempai shrugged, just the way Urufu and Kuri used to. ”I don't care. Just thought it was polite to ask for her.”

'And that was just about as far from polite as you could be.'

Urufu grinned and grabbed a chair. As he sat down Noriko took one for herself and sat down beside him.

Kyoko noticed Rika-sempai's amused smile. ”Girlfriend?” She said.

”No,” Urufu said.