Being affirmed, Mai smiled as expected, but very quickly she awkwardly touched her hair. The hairstyle she had spent a long time on was meant to match those hair accessories, but now on her whole head of elaborate hair ornaments, only the one given by Aiden remained. She felt like she had to redo her hair.
But if she did that, it would take a long time again. She didn't want Aiden to keep waiting, and today was Tanbata, time shouldn't be wasted on hair.
'Forget it, it's fine just like this. Anyway… I don't look bad, and my hairstyle doesn't look ugly.'
Not being too entangled over it, Mai then said to Aiden, "Aiden, let's set off."
"Then where's our first stop?" Aiden asked. Tanbata in Japan was a bit different from Tanbata back home, so he wasn't very clear how it was celebrated.
"The first stop, of course, is shopping."
Yuri raised her hand.
"Tokyo will be very lively today, let's go to the city center first and stroll around. We can also watch performances.
"At noon we can find a traditional restaurant to eat at, and then go to a shrine to pray for blessings.
"But, Sister Mai, have you already chosen which shrine to go to?"
As she said this, Yuri's gaze turned toward Mai.
"I've chosen." Mai nodded, her face showing excitement. "I heard that near the city there's a shrine that only opens on holidays, I want to go there…"
"Wait… Mai, what's the name of that shrine you're talking about?" Mai's words made Aiden's heart suddenly tighten.
'A shrine that only opened on holidays, in the whole of Tokyo, wasn't there just that one?'
"I think it's called Yata Shrine. I heard it's very large, and even in Tokyo, this city where land is so scarce, it occupies an entire mountain… um, Aiden, what's wrong with you?"
Halfway through speaking, Mai noticed beads of sweat actually seeping out on Aiden's forehead, and curiously asked.
"Nothing." Aiden wiped away the cold sweat from his forehead. He felt like the sky was collapsing.
'No, with so many shrines in Tokyo not chosen, you just had to pick Yata Shrine, Mai, what were you thinking?'
Aiden really wanted to ask her that, but if he did, it would definitely make her suspicious, and then how would he explain himself?
Although with Mai's personality she might not say much, seeing the anticipation in her eyes, Aiden could only sigh inwardly, thinking that since even Mai knew of that shrine, there would definitely be many people going there to pray.
Maybe they wouldn't be noticed by the Kagura sisters.
Thinking of this, Aiden couldn't help but pray in his heart to the Goddess of Fortune.
'You've looked after me so many times, this time you'll still favor me, right? My Lady Goddess.'
'If you don't speak, I'll take it as agreement.'
Talking to himself inside, Aiden forcibly calmed his heart down.
'But… would it really be like that?'
In truth, Aiden still had no confidence, but for now, that was the only option.
And while Aiden said it was nothing, the shifting, unsettled look on his face made Mai curious, wanting to keep asking. But beside them, Yuri impatiently grabbed Aiden's arm and pulled him up from the ground.
"Onii-chan, let's hurry and set off, otherwise the road will get jammed soon."
Tokyo's traffic pressure was already big, and today was Tanbata. If they didn't leave early, the whole morning might get stuck on the road.
Mai also thought of this point, so she immediately dropped the idea of asking, and hugging Aiden's other arm, started dragging him outside. She didn't want to waste precious holiday time on the road.
"Aiden, let's hurry and go."
Just like that, the three left the dojo and came to where Aiden had parked.
Aiden took out the car keys, just unlocked the car, when he saw Mai push aside Yuri, who was about to sit in the front passenger seat, and sat down there as if it was her rightful place.
Yuri stomped her foot angrily, but didn't say anything, puffing her cheeks as she opened the rear door.
Once Mai fastened her seatbelt and Yuri sat properly, Aiden started the engine.
With the roaring sound of the GTR's powerful engine, the flashy sports car sped toward the city center.
———
Even though it was still morning, Tokyo's traffic was already, just like Yuri said, beginning to clog up. But Aiden's driving skills were on par with top racing drivers, weaving in and out of the endless flow of cars, and very quickly they arrived in one of Tokyo's more bustling districts, Chiyoda District, Akihabara.
After all, the three of them were young people, naturally they should go where there were more young people.
In the '80s and '90s, Akihabara had become one of the places with the most young people in Tokyo because of the rise of otaku culture.
But it wasn't only about otaku culture, this was also a fairly prosperous commercial district.
Actually, according to Aiden's thinking, the first stop should have been Ginza or other shopping areas. Anyway, with his financial strength, no matter how expensive, he could afford it.
But since Mai and Yuri had lived through days of scraping by, they both felt it wasn't necessary.
He had no choice, so Aiden could only come to Akihabara.
Still, he was also quite curious about Akihabara, the holy land of otaku, so he didn't object.
Because it was a festival, parking spaces in Akihabara were hard to find. Aiden circled the streets several times, annoyed, before finding a spot. And for this spot, he nearly got into a shouting match with another driver who wanted to snatch it.
Even people with the best tempers change once they're behind the wheel, especially when fighting over parking spaces. That it didn't turn into a fight was already good enough.
After getting out of the car, Aiden raised his middle finger at the car that had no choice but to drive off and look for another space. Then he noticed Mai and Yuri standing together, staring at him in surprise.
Hurriedly putting down his middle finger, Aiden cleared his throat and said, "Let's go shopping."
Seeing him pretend like nothing happened, Mai and Yuri both covered their mouths, laughing. They hadn't expected the always gentle, calm-faced Aiden would also lose his temper sometimes. Luckily, he didn't get angry at them.
"Then let's go."
Following Yuri's excited voice, the three chose a direction and started walking that way.
And since it was shopping, the three naturally walked side by side. But not long after, Aiden felt a soft little hand on his left side brushing against the back of his hand from time to time.
Of course this couldn't be an accidental touch. Because the other women passing by in yukatas either had their hands folded in front of their waists, looking demure, or were carrying things in both hands, walking lightly.
And this time, neither Mai nor Yuri had brought bags, and they hadn't bought anything yet. So without even thinking, Aiden knew what the situation was.
Still, although taking the initiative would certainly close the distance between them, Aiden really wanted to see how long Mai could endure. So he pretended not to notice, even sometimes crossing his arms or putting his hands behind his back.
"Aiden, can't your hand behave a little?" Beside him, Mai thought gloomily, after several failed attempts to touch Aiden's hand.
She just wanted to hold his hand, that was all.
But ever since Aiden started making those movements, Mai's face had been full of frustration. She had worked so hard to muster her courage, after all, they were in such a public place. But Aiden not only "didn't notice," his hands were also restlessly moving away.
Yet she didn't dare say it outright, so she could only tilt her head slightly, using her peripheral vision to watch Aiden's hand movements, hoping his hand would quickly return to being still.
Her whole attention was on his hand, and she didn't notice Aiden was also sneaking glances at her, with a sly smile on his face.
But very quickly, that smile disappeared.
Because the three were walking side by side, and the sidewalk was crowded, people coming and going almost bumped into Yuri.
And not wanting to get separated, after sidestepping and brushing shoulders with a passerby, Yuri suddenly hugged Aiden's arm next to her.
And she clung tightly, practically half her body hanging onto his arm.
At the same time, Aiden felt his arm sinking into a soft place. The little white rabbits on the girl's chest, right in front of Mai, looked a bit squeezed and strained, but in reality they weren't small at all.
At that moment, Mai also noticed Yuri's action. Instinctively she wanted to scold her, but with so many passersby on the street, she felt too embarrassed to open her mouth.
'So hateful. I shouldn't have let her move in. Always calling him Onii-chan, but without the slightest bit of a younger-sister's restraint. What's next, is she going to start calling him darling?'
Mai thought angrily in her heart. Then, gritting her teeth, she suddenly grabbed Aiden's other arm, which he was helplessly scratching his head with, and forcibly pressed it into her own chest.
Aiden immediately sucked in a cold breath.
Though separated by a layer of clothing, compared to ordinary kimono, yukata were clearly thinner. So the instant his arm was hugged into her chest, Aiden could distinctly feel that ultimate softness.
It felt like his whole arm had sunk in. And the sensation was completely different from Yuri's.
Even at that moment, Aiden still had time for his thoughts to wander.
Seeing the shocked expression on his face, a tiny smugness showed on Mai's face. Her figure was absolutely not something Yuri could compare to, this was a crushing victory.
But… wasn't she being a little too wanton, acting like this?
Mai thought, her cheeks burning red. Although when training Aiden she had often had physical contact with him, and often took advantage of that under the pretext of "guiding," this was the first time she had taken the initiative for such intimate contact, and in such a bold way.
Thinking this, Mai held Aiden's arm even tighter, making it sink deeper still.
'Amazing, amazing!'
'Mai, her reputation was well-deserved!'
Her ability absolutely lived up to the title of childhood goddess.
Aiden took deep breaths. He wasn't a virgin, but the title of childhood goddess had extra weight in his heart.
After all, what guy who had ever played King of Fighters at the arcade hadn't fantasized about Mai? She was absolutely the first fantasy for most men in their childhood.
So even though among all of Aiden's women, Mai wasn't the best in body or looks, she still made his heart race.
Then he glanced at Yuri hugging his other arm, and sighed in his heart, 'Girl, you've lost too completely.'
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