67 New Year 1 (2/2)

”It's okay, I can let you sleep for a while. If we go back to the estate I'll wake up you.”

”I'm heavy...are you sure?”

”It's okay, trust me.”

With difficulty face, Hikari finally lands on my back. I carry her while she leans on my shoulder. I couldn't see her expression. But I could her breathing.

I felt something tingling my body, something soft. Was her body this soft?

What? What am I thinking?! Wake up Akira! She's your sister! She's 12 years old!

I focused my self on one of the fortune-telling stalls. I ask her, ”Do you want to try O-mikuji[1]?”

Hikari put her head in my right shoulder, our cheeks touch each other. She nod.

I take one of the pieces paper from Miko[2] and I open it,

'Great blessing'

'You will gain more fortune in the future. Your friendship will deepen and your love life soon will be realized in the near future.'

I looked at Hikari's fortune, 'Middle blessing' she looks happy with the result, but I didn't see the words inside. So we both got our blessing. Hm? Why it's sound ambiguous?

Anyway, we went to the nearby shop to warm ourselves. A lot of people doing the same to come.

Hikari's sleeping on my thigh. As I began to chat with the people who sheltering the same as us, I brushed her hair like a brushing a small animal. I think she enjoys it.

Not so far from us, I saw a familiar person.

I was stunned by her beauty. She wore a sky blue kimono and butterfly pin. She let few of her hairs draped on her shoulder. She was walking in our direction without noticing us yet. I called her, ”Laura-san!”

Laura Makoto turned her head looking at me startled. She waved her hand to our direction then walks to our side and slightly bowing, ”Ah! Akira-kun! Happy new year!”

”Happy new year! You are alone Laura-san?”

She averted my gaze and embarrassingly nod, ”I was actually making a plan with Stevan. But it turns out he was still in China. So I went here alone. So sad, how can a beautiful woman like me here being alone in a day like this?”

I laughed at her pitiful statement. I asked her again, ”What about your family?”

”They went to my grandparent hometown. I turn them down because at that time I was still busy with my doctoral dissertation. You two are here alone?” She looked at Hikari who suddenly wake up and hugging my arm with her ferocious eyes, glaring at Laura-san.

What's wrong with her?

I answered, ”No. But now, yes. We separated from the others. I'm going to wait here until they come back. What about you Laura-san?”

”I was planning to go home. But when I saw you. I was glad. I think I'll wait here a little longer.”

PIIIT! PIIIIT! BOOM! BOOM!

”Ah! Look! Look! The fireworks starting!” she said with hype smile. She's like a child.

I looked at this older woman beside me with difficulty. She showed her childish side with me. She looked at the fireworks with awe expression.

”Beautiful~,” she said.

I glimpse the fireworks above me, but my eyes following her figure. I couldn't take my eyes off her.

I cover my face with my hand trying to hide my weird expression.

Hikari who was focusing her sight to the fireworks suddenly looked at me and tugging my arm. She was asking me what's wrong?

Well, I don't even know what's wrong with me as well. Please don't ask me Hikari.

Can I say that Laura-san simply looks beautiful when she said she was glad about meeting me? And what's with her smile?

I smiled weirdly.

[1] Random fortunes that are written on strips of paper

[2] Shrine maiden