maturi

I was in my room, using mixi when my mother walked in.

“Mai,” she started. I turned around and faced her.

“What is the matter, mom?” I asked.

“The local shrine is holding a summer festival tonight,” she put her hands together, with a warm smile on her bright cheery face. “I think we should all go there tonight.”

“…Why?” I responded nonchalently.

My mother advanced towards me with a slightly annoyed look. Hands resting on her hips, she said, “You shouldn’t be sitting in front of the computer all day. Going outside for some fresh air is a good idea.”

I pushed my spectacles up my nose. “Alright,” I conceded, “though I doubt there’s anything interesting.”

—

The stone stairway was ridiculously high. I haven’t been to this shrine since the obligatory New Year visit half a year ago, so I was panting when I finally reached the top. Bending over, I rested my hands on my thigh, and struggled to catch my breath.

“Mom, do tell me again,” I gasped for air between words, “why do I have to wear this?”

“Aw, come on!” She said, petting my head, “it’s traditional to wear a yukata to events like this!”

My mother was wearing a dark blue yukata with flower patterns while mine was yellow and … had goldfish on it.

I’m sure I look pretty silly. Why did we have to rent it in the first place?

There was a sizable crowd shifting around in the area, most of them wearing the same kind of clothes. I suppose people do like to come to these kinds of events.

I whipped out my cellphone, and started writing a email to Saki.

“I’m at the summer festival right now, mom forced me to go. Aaah, I’m going to be so bored..”

Pressing the “Send” button, I looked at the evening sky, which had been streaked red with the setting sun in the distance. The tall buildings in the distance stuck out in a dark silhouette.

As I walked down the booths with my mom, I looked around. Cotton candy. Carnival games. Hot food.

Just as I expected, nothing seems particularly interesting. Candy; I’ve outgrown them. Same goes with the games. The food seems pretty normal.

Just then, my mom pulled me aside, almost causing me to crash into some people. After apologizing hastily, I turned to my mom, who was euphoric as usual.

“Look here!” She pointed to the trays of water lying on the ground at the booth.

“Remember this? It’s the goldfish scooping booth.”

Yeah, I sure do remember. When I was seven, I tried it and broke the scoop on the first try. The shopkeeper gave me two goldfish out of pity or whatever. They died in a week.

“Don’t be such a wet blanket,” my mom made a face at me, and turned to the shopkeeper, “Two scoops please.”

She paid up, took the two scoops and handed one to me. She then started to play.

I stood there blankly, with the scoop in my hand.

Well, I suppose I can give it a try. After all, that thing was eight years ago.

I squatted down in front of a tray of water, bowl in one hand, scoop in the other. The goldfish, upon seeing my shadow, darted around in the water.

I slowly dipped the scoop into the water. With my bowl ready, I waited for a fish to come near.

There was one! My chance!

I quickly moved the scoop across the water.

…nope.

I stared at the paper-devoid loop in my hand. How do other people manage to get fish with this gimmicky thing anyway?

Someone squatted down beside me, and handed me another scoop, albeit wet. I turned around and looked. It was my mom.

“Mai, the first thing is that you shouldn’t move the scoop too quickly in the water. It’ll break.”

She put the scoop in my hand and curled my fingers around the handle. Holding the scoop together, we slowly put it into the water.

I watched as she moved the scoop (along with my arm) to the bottom left corner of the tray. Just coincidentally, a goldfish was hiding there.

“Hya~” my mother called out as she transferred the fish into the bowl.

Wow. I never knew my mom was that great in games like this.

Next, she stood behind me and let me try one on my own.

Dip.

The water swirled as the fish darted around.

Slowly..

The scoop was slowly brought to a corner.

“Hya~” I imitated the sound my mom made, while scooping up a pretty golden thing into the bowl.

…At this point, the scoop gave way and tore.

“It’s alright,” my mom said cheerfully, “you’ve managed to get one goldfish!”

“But there are only two..” I mumbled softly.

Still grinning, my mom held up multiple bags of water with goldfish swimming inside.

—

After the goldfish scooping, my mom gave me some money to spend and we parted ways for a while. Walking down the aisle with some sweet viscous candy on a stick in my hand, a bag of water in the other, my heart seemed to have lightened up.

Just then, my phone vibrated. Putting the candy into my mouth, I took out my cellphone and flipped it open. It was Saki.

“Wow, you’re at the festival too? Sorry, I was too indulged to see your email >ω<;;

Where are you now? I’ll come and find you~”

Chewing on the candy, I wrote a reply and sent it. Then, I sat down on a bench next to a ramune booth and waited.

Soon after, I could see Saki coming towards me in the crowd.

“Hey!” I waved, trying to catch her attention.

She noticed my waving, and quickly weaved through the crowd.

“Good evening~” Saki cheered.

“Good evening.” I returned the greeting.

“Hmm, you look quite good in a yukata, you know,” Saki said, looking at my attire.

“You think so?” I asked in disbelief.

“Yeah!”

“Your green dotted yukata isn’t bad either,” I remarked.

“Really?” Saki exclaimed, “I was thinking it looks too plain!”

We did a small laugh, and started walking.

“So,” Saki asked, “did you find anything interesting?”

“Not really,” I replied, “most stalls were selling food.”

At this moment I found a rare trash bin at the side of the road. I took what was left of the stick candy and threw it in.

“Well, I found this booth selling hairbands and whatnot.” Saki said, pointing to the general direction of the location.

“Let’s go!” She said, pulling my arm.

—

With new hairbands in our hair, we continued walking, contented.

We passed by the goldfish scooping booth earlier on. I stopped.

“Mai, what’s wrong?” Saki asked.

“That child there looks like she can’t get any fish. I’ll go help her.”

“Haha, you’re helpful, as always.” Saki smiled.

Walking towards the little girl of around five to six years old, I squatted next to her and asked, “Do you want onee-chan to help you?”

She nodded and passed me the scoop slowly.

As I scooped up goldfish after goldfish, I took a few glances at the child, who was wide-eyed with glee.

“Here you go,” I said, passing her the bowl.

As I stood up and walked back to Saki, fireworks were launched.

“Aren’t they beautiful, those fireworks,” Saki said.

“Yeah,” I agreed, looking towards the sky.

I guess, using the computer all day can’t beat hanging around with actual friends after all.

The fireworks lit the sky like star clusters.

---

This is actually a note to myself to stop be on the computer less. It has a purpose and stuff!

Okay, I lied. This is entirely randomed out.