The rhythmic, intricate drumming of the taiko drums pulsed through the hot, electric late-July air.  Crowds of people dressed in breezy summer clothing, traditional dress and modern attire alike, were gathered around the large colorful tower.  They fanned themselves with colorful uchiwas and ate the cooling treats sold in lively carts.  People cheerfully danced to the music in the street.  It was the neighborhood’s Obon festival, a Buddhist tradition honoring ancestors.  That day, Rina was spending time with the Ohnos; she couldn’t stay long but be it a whole day or an hour, Satoshi wanted to see her.  The place was so crowded that they could walk around without disguises and no one noticed.

The Ohno family and Rina troupe passed by a kingyo-sukui booth – goldfish scooping, the traditional summer festival game.  Shallow basins of water filled with flitting, shiny orange fish sat underneath the lights.  It cost only 100 yen to play.  Youko really wanted to play (she was finally old enough to try it herself), but she wanted her fishing oji-chan to show her how first.

He got a small paper scooper and crouched at the water with an intent look.  They looked over his shoulder.  The children around stared at the adult as he carefully dipped the net in – but the fish were already startled and zoomed away from his hand.  Every time he tried to get one, it would slip out.  After a few attempts, his paper scoop broke.  He couldn’t believe his rotten luck; his round face glowered.

“Eh?  The tsuribaka can’t play kingyo-sukui?” his sister Mina exclaimed teasingly.

“Gomen ne, Youko-chan…” Satoshi muttered in embarrassment.  Everyone laughed in good humor.

But then when his niece gave it a shot, she did surprisingly well.  As if sensing the child’s willpower,three fish easily plopped onto her net and into the plastic bag to bring home.  The little girl was elated.  Everyone clapped and praised her skill.  Then, she insisted that Rina onee-chan have a go at it, since she’d never played it before either.

The water was cold and a little gross as she dipped the net in the basin.  But as she gently fished around, the goldfish were easily scooped up.  Till her net finally broke, she’d caught five.  She thought it was pretty impressive for her first time.

“I think I should try these skills out for real, ne!” she beamed, holding out her full bag of shiny orange fish to admire.  The creatures swam around, blinking deftly, fins waving delicately.

Satoshi’s face lit up.  “You mean it?”

She nodded, and he hugged her tightly.  She would go fishing again with him!

They neared the center of the throng, and there stood the tall tower streamed with colorful ribbons and paper lanterns and tinsel.  This was the source of the music and where people congregated and danced in circles around the edifice.  The drums were performing a song that sounded like an exciting thunderstorm with its rumbling and cascading sounds.  Ohno took Rina’s hand and pulled her into the procession.

“What do I do, Ohno-kun?!” she squealed with merriment as she tried to keep up with the line.

“Just follow everyone else, it doesn’t matter!” he cried back, as he waved his arms like the obaa-san in front of him.  Of course he picked the moves up right away like the Johnny’s king that he was.

Rina mirrored the claps and bouncy movements and flourishes, and soon she had it!  Once again, he helped her find her step, the instinct that she used to have.  They easily moved in unison with everyone.  Satoshi and she laughed as they went around, feeling a little silly but having so much fun.  When the song ended, they returned to their group – Ohno Hiroto and Saya were smiling to themselves as they watched the young couple; they reminded them of themselves when they were young.

She looked at her phone to check the time.  “Ma, I wish I could stay longer – I had so much fun – but I have an appointment I need to go to.” Rina said regretfully.  “Thank you all for taking me along with you.”

“Wait, before you leave, there—“  The father gently pushed Rina to stand closer to his son.  The man raised a camera.  “Say cheese~!” and it flashed.  “Ii ne~  Look at that, okaa-san.”  He showed his wife the picture on the screen.  Satoshi and Rina were both sweaty and slightly disheveled, but their smiles were very bright as they held each others’ waists.  Both were a bit embarrassed, but they really did have so few pictures of each other because of secrecy…

“What a good looking couple~!” Saya teased. 

Rina left and the Ohno family continued to explore the festival.  Satoshi felt like grabbing a snack, so he got in line for some yakisoba.  There was a smartly, professionally dressed woman in front of him.  Her tight black bun turned left and right as she looked around and waited to make her order.  Eventually her head turned to observe behind her, and she was shocked to recognize the man behind her.

“Ohno-kun!” she exclaimed.  “Is that you?”

His eyes widened – this was going to be awkward.  “S-Sae-chan… domo.”  This was his first love from fifth grade, who he’d been too scared to confess his love to.  Her friends had certainly told her about him mentioning her on national TV numerous times.  He had bumped into her in Setagaya about five years ago but hadn’t seen or talked to her since.

“Hisashiburi, ne.”

“Nn.”

“How are things going?  I don’t pay attention to those things myself but I – hear that Arashi is very successful.”  She would never admit that as she saw his debut ten years ago, she’d regretted not knowing him better when they were kids.  By now, she could have been married to a celebrity!  Even if he wasn’t her type, her friends would certainly be impressed…

“Very busy.” he nodded.  “And you?  You look well.”

Indeed she was still very pretty, although she looked stiff in the suit which she was wearing despite the weather.  It made her a bit out of place amidst the other lively, casual festival goers.  Her spiky stilettos made her an inch or two taller than him.  Even her voice was confident and articulate.  She was the epitome of a modern powerwoman.

“I’ve been extremely busy.  This is the first evening I’ve had off in weeks!” 

“Ah, sou?  No time to relax?” 

“No, definitely not.  But it’s been worth it.  Our latest project was received enthusiastically…  Ma, since the deal was finished things have let up for the moment.  I just got out of the office, and thought I’d stop by for a little while before heading home.”

After a moment of silence, “Ahno,” Satoshi cleared his throat uncomfortably.  “Where do you work again?”

“I’m the assistant director of the Fujita Metro Advertisement Agency.  I was just promoted a few months ago.  We handle all the bigger projects around Setagaya and Kita.” she said crisply.

“Oh, subarashi!  Omedetou gozaimasu.”  He was glad for Sae-chan’s hard work paying off and her success.  It was what she’d always wanted to grow up to be, he supposed, although he remembered there had been a time when she’d loved nothing more than take care of the class pets.  Her taught hair and perfectly pressed clothes were not how he remembered her at ten years old.

If Satoshi hadn’t gotten involved with Johnny’s Entertainment, his father probably would have pushed him in the same route as Sae-chan.  His AU KDDI commercials had been true – he would have stayed in school, gone to university and gotten into stocks or some sort of cut-throat business, perhaps even risen to the top ranks.  He couldn’t possibly imagine having such a stern life, being the laid-back person he was now.  Even though his path had been rough and against social norms, he wouldn’t have had it any other way as it had turned out.

Sae-chan and Satoshi chatted for a little longer, but both found that they didn’t have much in common anymore, only a vague and slightly embarrassing bond from the past.  His world now of glitz, fame, art, fishing and haphazard creativity was too different from her hard-driven, ambitious one.  They parted with well wishes, but knew that the past was well passed.

This was exactly Ohno’s idea of summer.  The bright, cheerfully sun shining down, the sparkling waves all around them, and no sight of land for miles – it was just them and the ocean.  Ohno lounged in the plastic chair comfortably, flip-flopped feet propped up on the side of the boat.  His metal fishing rod was cast over the railing; the line was slack without any biting fish yet.

The door to the ship’s cabin opened, and Rina stepped out onto the dock dressed in Ohno’s extra fishing gear.  She waddled in the rubber thigh-high boots, and the lifejacket looked like a football player’s shoulder pads on her.  He had even let her borrow his favorite old trucker hat which fell over her eyes.  Ohno stuck his fishing rod in place and went over to her.

“Kawaii, ne~” he grinned.  “It suits you!”

“Hah, thanks…” Rina muttered sarcastically.  She had to keep tugging the too-large boots up her legs.  Even though it had been a miserable ordeal the first time he’d brought her fishing, she promised to give it another go.

Like before, he patiently showed her how to hook the bait, tie the line, and cast.  The rod made a clean whooshing sound as the end of the string plopped into the water.  They sat back down on the side of the boat, waiting for a tug.

“Ah, I almost forgot—“  Rina reached into her pocket and produced a bright plastic bottle labeled Waterproof Athletic Sunscreen UVA/UVB SPF 70.  She squirted out a handful of the white cream and started to rub it all over his face.

“Ahh!  Chotto!-“  he spluttered.  “I don’t want it~.  It stinks!”

“Baka, I don’t care if you sweat sunscreen for days!” Rina said fiercely.  “You are NOT getting skin cancer.  End of story.”

Ohno immediately stopped squirming at this assertion.  “Ii daro…” he murmured.  He docilely let her continue slathering the stuff over the rest of him.  She made sure to get his ears and even his eyebrows.  She even applied it to his arms and legs for him, making his heart beat quickly.

Eventually Takashi Katsuo-san (Ohno’s fishing buddy who was now married – his wife let him fish as much as he wanted) came out to join them.  The wheel could be left unattended now that the boat was in a steady spot.  The three sat there in the calm, waiting.  Every once in awhile someone would make a simple comment or observation, but other than that they were silent.  It was the type of day to enjoy simply. 

After a few hours, they each caught a fair amount of fish.  Ohno caught the most, but Rina managed to get one good sized salmon.  The three ate a tuna sashimi style, which was delicious – Rina had never eaten anything so fresh.  Then, Katsuo-san went to put the rest of their catches in a chill box and make a call to his wife (for although he was allowed to go fishing as much as he wanted, he was obligated to check in with her every few hours.)

Ohno and Rina were left there on the deck.  By that time, the boat had drifted near the coast – they could see land.  A beach, white waves rolling on the shore and a line of thick trees beyond that.  Ohno gazed out at the island and the vastness of the calm, sparkling champagne water around.  The sun was then beginning its descent and reflected in his deep eyes, turning them a caramel color.  “Do you have anything to do for the rest of the night?”

“No, why?”

A mischievous smile came to his face.  “I’m not going to let you go home~”

“Eh?” Rina laughed.  What in the world did he mean?

“I want to show you that place there.” he said, pointing straight at the shore… 

Hey everyone, sorry that the next chapter is taking so long!  I haven't had a lot of time to write lately - college is getting pretty busy.  Thanks for being patient!

I wish I could have released a chapter for Sho's birthday... he's 28 now!  Still as cool as ever ^_^  I'm excited to start the Sho fanfic when this Ohno one is done!

 

Isn't Ohno so cute with that whipped cream on his nose? haha
 

Here's a bit of a preview of Chapter 33:

Like before, he patiently showed her how to hook the bait, tie the line, and cast.  The rod made a clean whooshing sound as the end of the string plopped into the water.  They sat back down on the side of the boat, waiting for a tug.

“Ah, I almost forgot—“  Rina reached into her pocket and produced a bright plastic bottle labeled Waterproof Athletic Sunscreen UVA/UVB SPF 70.  She squirted out a handful of the white cream and started to rub it all over his face.

“Ahh!  Chotto!-“  he spluttered.  “I don’t want it~.  It stinks!” .........