The whole market was busy, full of people talking, shopping, and walking around. Akari and Rei walked side by side, holding hands, moving through the crowd.
"Wow… do you hear that, babe?" Rei said, smiling.
"Hear what?" Akari asked, looking at her.
"Peace. And time alone," Rei said with a big sigh. "Finally, someone is keeping Rin busy, so she'll stop following us everywhere!"
Akari laughed a little. "Yeah… lately she's been sticking to us too much. Ugh."
"Exactly!" Rei said with a little smirk. "Now that it's just us… what should we do? Hm? Should we go to the bathhouse? Or have a sweet lunch?" she asked with a playful smile.
"I have a better idea, baby," Akari said, smiling back.
"Oh? What idea could be better than food and baths?" Rei asked, her grin getting even wider.
But a moment later, they were standing inside a dress shop. Rei's smile quickly faded as she let out a loud sigh, crossing her arms.
"This… was not what I was hoping for. Not at all," she said, looking around at all the dresses.
"Calm down," Akari said kindly. "My dad asked me to help with Rin's engagement dress. I need to book an appointment so they can take her size."
Rei groaned loudly. "Ah… are you her bridesmaid now or something? Can't someone else do it? Let's just have fun. Who knows when we'll get another chance?"
Akari turned to her, her eyes soft. "What's wrong? Didn't we promise to see each other every day?"
"Yes, yes, I know," Rei said, making a sad face. "But my dads are making it hard at home. And… I'm actually supposed to be locked in my room right now."
Akari leaned closer to her and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry. I'll finish this fast… and then…" Her lips curved into a playful smile. "…we can have the bathhouse all to ourselves."
Rei's eyes lit up right away. She straightened her back and smiled big.
"Okay. That's fair."
Just then, a man walked out from the back room.
"Welcome, young ladies! What brings you to Tomo's Clothing, the best dress shop in all of Kaida?" he said, grinning so wide his teeth sparkled.
"Hello, Mr. Tomo. I'd like to book an appointment for you to come to the Hoshino house to take measurements," Akari said politely.
"Ah, a visit to the great Hoshino house? Is something special happening?" he asked.
"Yes. An engagement," Akari replied.
Rei was already wandering around the shop, touching the beautiful dresses with wide eyes.
"Oh! Are you the one getting married, my lady?" Mr. Tomo asked with interest.
"No. It's for my cousin, Rin," Akari said.
"Ahh, of course! Master Hoshino must be very kind to host her wedding," Mr. Tomo said as he pulled out a scroll. He adjusted his strange-looking glasses and studied his schedule.
"Hmm… looks like I can come to the Hoshino house Thursday," he said.
"Thursday? That's in five days!" Akari said, frowning.
"We need the dress ready in two days. Can't you come tomorrow?"
"I'm sorry, but I'm very busy. Many customers depend on me. I can't just skip them," Mr. Tomo said with a shrug.
Akari's smile vanished. She looked him right in the eye.
"Mr. Tomo… my father is a well-respected clan master. What do you think he would say if he heard you refused to come tomorrow?"
But Mr. Tomo didn't even flinch.
"Lady Akari, even if your father was the clan lord himself, he would still have to wait in line," he said firmly.
Rei suddenly cut in, crossing her arms.
"If you're that busy, then what are you doing here now? I don't even see any customers," she said.
Mr. Tomo raised his chin.
"You girls are lucky you caught me just before I was about to leave," he said.
"Then who watches your shop when you're gone? Don't you have an apprentice or helper?" Rei asked.
"I keep my eyes on this shop from anywhere," he said quickly. "This shop is sacred! When I leave, no one can come in."
Rei was about to say more, but Akari gently touched her arm and shook her head, signaling her to stop.
But Rei only grinned and said,
"Well… what if the Ice Queen hears that you refused to help her future wife? Hmm?" Rei leaned closer, her voice low and scary.
"I heard she once fed her servants to her dragon for trying to poison her… and another time, she shaved all her cooks bald because she found a hair in her food… oh, and once, a massage person showed up late and she froze them into an ice cube and drank them…"
Mr. Tomo's smile froze. He started sweating and waved his hands.
"Okay, okay, enough! You should've said earlier that Rin was marrying the Ice Queen! I'm free right now if you want!"
Akari smiled sweetly.
"Tomorrow is fine."
"Yes! Tomorrow!" Mr. Tomo said, nodding fast.
As they walked out of the shop, Akari shook her head and smiled.
"I can't believe you made up all those stories."
Rei smirked.
"Who said I made them up? They're all true."
Akari stopped in her tracks.
"…What?!"
"When I first refused to marry the Ice Queen, she threatened to freeze our whole land and turn it to dust," Rei said, her voice low like she was telling a scary story. "I've heard plenty of things she's done. All horrible."
Akari shivered a little, lost in thought — until Rei suddenly grinned again.
"Alright! Enough of that. Let's head to the bath house!"
That brought Akari back to the moment. She smiled and nodded.
"Yes… let's go and relax—"
But just then, someone tapped them from behind.
"There you are! I've been looking for you two," Rin said, standing there.
Both Akari and Rei turned around with disappointed looks.
"What happened? Aren't you supposed to be with the Ice Queen right now?" Rei asked.
"She already left," Rin said simply. "What are you two doing?"
"We were just heading to the bath house," Akari said.
"Oh good, the sauna? Nice! Let's go!" Rin said cheerfully, already walking ahead.
Akari and Rei glanced at each other like they were having a silent conversation.
"Come on, guys!" Rin called from ahead.
Rei sighed and muttered under her breath,
"…This is so not fair…"
But they followed anyway.