Soul for a Girlfriend?

Chapter 298 - Love Birds

Saishi and Gaisen were walking through the cold streets, heading towards the festival ground.

 "It's so cold… my hands are freezing." Saishi said in a shivering tone. Gaisen nudged him with his elbow and wiggled his eyebrows, "That's why I haven't taken my hand out of my pockets."

"Yeah, it seems like a blanket would've been better for you." He suggested and this bought a radiance in Gaisen's eyes.

He looked at Saishi with an eager smile, exposing his shivering teeth and enthused, "Trust me! If it was allowed, I would be roaming around with a blanket on my body!"

"That… would be one interesting view." Saishi found himself at a loss for words at his friend's preposterous desires.

The sound of their footsteps on the freshly laid snow was becoming lighter. As the noise coming from the festival grounds was starting to ring in their ears. They were almost near the area now.

Saishi was looking around like a curious kid. His eyes wandered through people, as he wasn't used to being in such a boisterous environment. Lines and lines of people walking around, bumping into each other even though they were still not at the main festive grounds.

The smiling faces and carefree giggles of the children playing caught Saishi's attention. He casually averted his eyes, paying no heed to them but a slight smile formed in Gaisen's lips who was observing him thoroughly.

Even though Saishi might have a cold and blunt idea of himself in his mind, Gaisen was friends with him for a long time. And in these few years of observation, he learned the skill to read the pages of a blank book.

Saishi was a blank book. Pages with nothing written in them, yet having so much to convey.

 "Is this always so crowded during this time?" Saishi asked, and Gaisen replied in a low tone, "Usually it's even more than this."

"Really?" His eyes widened momentarily.

For an introvert who loved to spend festivals in his room, wrapped up in a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate and some video games, this was rather unfamiliar for him. And trying to blend in with the flow proved to be more difficult than he expected.

"Yes, it's still early and the fireworks haven't started yet. Maybe that's why there aren't many people around." Gaisen explained but Saishi still seemed to be stuck on something.

"Many people? Bruh this is like a horde of people!" He exclaimed and Gaisen retorted while chuckling, "For you!"

Between this silly exchange and goofing around, they reached their rendezvous spot.

"There they are…" Saishi mumbled, staring into the distance. He could see the silhouette of Ts?men and Kizhashi standing near the entrance.

Their eyes were illuminated by the tiny bulb hanging down the entrance gates. Beyond that a few flight stairs, people climbing down with various sorts of merchandise and foods in their hands.

They proceeded to climb the stairs. Gaisen and Saishi got a vague idea what were the things available inside. They smiled at each other, and it was obvious that both of them were on the same train of thoughts.

And that was to eat.

Gaisen's only intention of coming to the festival was to stuff the exotic fast food and somehow he convinced Saishi in his plan as well. Saishi wasn't that much of a foodie but he never said no to food.

Reina noticed the sluggish figure of Gaisen and Saishi approaching. Reina sighed and gestured to Kizhashi. Her eyes followed Reina's gaze but she couldn't quite make out the figure of the boys. 

She was standing in front of a light and her shadow was casted all upon the staircase that they were climbing. For them, Kizhashi was just a dark silhouette and for her, they weren't even visible.

Kizhashi noticed them and her cheeks puffed up. Resting her arm on her waist, she asked in her usual over-energetic voice. "Where have you guys been?!" 

"My legs froze on the way and Saishi dragged me here." Gaisen averted his eyes sideways and laughed nervously.

Kizhashi rolled her eyes at his silly comment. Ts?men and Seryoku looked towards the left out boys and a smile formed on their faces. It was a look of superiority, that their squad was finally completed.

Ts?men looked at Saishi's plain expression and chuckled, "Wait… why can I imagine that happening?"

"You guys definitely have an odd image of me." Saishi didn't even try to defend himself and watching him give in so easily, others burst out in a peal of laughter.

"You two are late." Saki said nervously.

She was wearing a light coloured kimono with a floral pattern near the sleeves. To compliment it, she used a dark blue coloured obishime. Her chocolate coloured hair was tied up in a side bun.

Gaisen was at awe for a few moments before replying with a smile, "Well it's better to be late than never."

"Keeping that aside, you're looking great, Saki." Gaisen spoke his mouth but Saki was startled, "Really?"

"Nah, I'm lying…" Gaisen replied sarcastically. Saki smiled slightly and explained herself, "I mean I wasn't expecting a compliment from you."

Saki and Gaisen never really interacted with each other. Neither in school or outside it. For him to put a few words of appreciation about her appearance was indeed unexpected for her.

She felt happy that someone actually commented on her looks that she put a few thoughts into while preparing. And her delighted expression was way too obvious as she wore a soft smile and her hazel eyes were staring at Gaisen.

"Well, you definitely look a lot different from your appearance in school." Gaisen said without thinking much Saki used this opportunity to tease him, "You mean I look weird in school?"

"Wait, I didn't mean it that way…" Gaisen immediately lifted his palm to defend himself but Saki burst out chuckling.

Ts?men who was watching the whole interaction unfold before him for some moment now finally decided to intervene. He commented in a stiff tone to tease them, "Yeah ok, love birds. You'll talk once we're there."

His comments made them very much aware of each other.

Their cheeks turned slightly red and it was very prominent. They glared at him and yelled in unison, "Hey! We aren't love birds!"

"Perfectly in sync… noice.." Ts?men chuckled, followed by everyone staring at them suspiciously as they smiled nervously and started walking away from each other.