It was 3AM in the morning. Kaede eased out of bed and gazed towards the window. The flash of lightning woke her, as well as a revelation. Eyes wide, she put on her robe and walking out of the room. Folding her arms, she grimaced down at the picture of her sister.
‘Neesan was right about Oogami-kun from the beginning. Even after all those warnings about chasing rabbits, he has never changed. He hasn’t learned anything from what he’s gone through these past years! I mean, even if he's leaving, it doesn't mean he could go for another round of scoring points with women! All that sweet talk, it's no wonder he's still single! That player just wanted to put his hands on me! And I'm married - to his best friend!! How dare he!!'
Clenching her fists, she thought about the many methods of punishment to give him in the morning. But her angry plans were put on hold when she heard singing in the air. “UMI WA EEEEEE NAAAA~! AAAAA~! Mmm… Zzzz…zzz…”
Diving face first, Kaede wearily stared towards the room. ‘Neesan, what is with all the men in my life…?’ she sighed, finally deciding to go back to sleep.
* * * * * * * * *
Yuri, Tsubaki, and Tsubomi arrived at the business office early in the morning to get a jump on the paperwork before their leader would arrive and nag them. As they put away their coats and settled in, they began chatting about the latest rumor.
"MOU! I can't believe Oogami-san proposed to Sakura-san!" Yuri exclaimed, papers flying everywhere, "And I wasn't even there!! Kyaaa, so not fair!!"
Tsubaki nodded her head in agreement. "According to Kouran-tachi, Sakura-san turned him down. What a shocking event!"
Yuri pounded her fists on the table. "AND I MISSED IT!! This is all Kasumi-san's fault! She needs to relax about the work around here! I can't stay in such a stressful environment and miss out on good scandal!!"
"Soeba," Tsubomi noted, tapping her chin, "I wonder where Kasumi-san went last night. And isn't it odd that she slept in? She's usually here at dawn. Demo, she didn't even knock on my door this morning.”
”M-Masaka...” Tsubaki uttered, “Do you think that... she had a DATE?!?"
Yuri and Tsubomi stopped and stared at her. " DE-TO?!!"
"Ara ara, who had a date??" Kaede asked, stepping through the office doors and shaking her umbrella. "Ohayou gozaimasu, Minna!"
Right behind her, Kasumi just arrived, completely soaked from the rain shower that had started outside. Her head down, she let out a long sigh and walked over to her desk. "Ohayou...Minna..."
"Ohayou~!" chimed her friends. They all looked her over, wondering if their predictions were true. 'Demo, it's so unlikely... Kasumi-san... sonna baka na!'
Kasumi walked over, her mind lost in the memory of the night before...
(Kasumi's flashback)
Last night, Kasumi and and her companion hurried from the taxi, stopping at the apartment. "Ano ne, do you want to come inside?"
"Iya, I think I should go." he replied, wiping his glasses and shaking the water from his long hair, "I had a fun time tonight with you, Kasumi-chan."
"Onegai," she whispered, putting her hand on his cheek. They stopped and stared into each other's eyes, "Kotone-san."
Kotone went red. "Dame desu... honto ni... watashi... watashi wa... HOMO desu."
(end of flashback)
Back in the business office, Kasumi snapped the pencil she was holding in half. All of her friends stared at her in surprise as she dropped her head down on the desk. "DOUSHITE?! DOUSHITE?!"
Before Tsubaki and Tsubomi could ask about what was going on, Yuri leapt at Kaede and exclaimed, “NE! Oogami-san proposed to Sakura-san last night!!”
”NAN DESETTE?!” Kaede gasped with the same shocked face as everyone else when they found out. “Oogami-kun?! Usou da!”
“Honto ni!! It’s the latest uwasa! Tell everyone you meet! I’m sure this is the biggest thing since Sumire-san was caught cross-dressing in public!”
Kaede didn’t hear a word Yuri was hollering as she sat down at the table and stared off into space. “How could he propose marriage?? I mean he was flirting with me just last night. Could he have been serious??”
”NANI?! That player can’t possibly be serious to propose marriage!” Tsubaki replied, her friends nodding their heads in the background, “After all we know he’s capable… and to flirt with a married woman – that’s unforgivable! Good for Sakura-san for turning him down!”
A drone face that matched Kasumi’s entered the room. All eyes moved to the rookie ticket boy who collapsed face first onto the table. “D-Doushita no, Kurisu-kun??” Tsubomi asked, as they gathered around him, “So early in the morning to see you in a daze. I bet Sumire-sama isn’t even awake yet…”
”Iie, chigaimasu,” Kurisu sighed, “I just learned today that Jiru-san will be transferred away, alongside with Oogami-san. Where they’re going – I don’t know… and I know I cannot follow. (sniff sniff…)”
All eyes now turned to Jiru who was busy unpacking her morning snacks on the table. “Hmm… Oh, I don’t know what the assignment is either. Demo, looks like it’ll be two days from now.” She held up her bowl full of goodies. “Kurisu-chan, minna-san~! Anyone hungry??”
As everyone dug in, Yuri was in bliss. “Aah! The plot thickens! What a great morning to be welcomed with all this great scandal!! Sure beats working…” She paused to check on Kasumi to see if she was really planning to spend the day looking like a zombie. “Ne! Let’s go get more information!!” she said, dragging Tsubomi and Tsubaki along, “Yatta wa!!! Uwasa uwasa uwasa~!”
Kaede watched them go and then stared at the depressed Kasumi and Kurisu, sitting in front of a pile of untouched papers and the munching Jiru. ‘I don’t know what Kasumi-kun’s upset about, but Kurisu-kun’s information just gave me an inkling of what Oogami-kun is thinking… If I’m right…’ She clenched her fists, fire burning in her eyes, ‘NO MERCY!!!’
* * * * * * * * *
Upstairs, Oogami stood in front of his mirror, fixing his necktie. As he was practicing a smile, he heard the windows burst open and a loud noise. "TOH!!" exclaimed Kayama, making his usual entrance, "YOOO OOGAMI~!"
Oogami dropped his head and sighed, "Mainichi, mainichi..." He then turned around. "Chotto matte! Kayama, aren't you injured? What are you doing, climbing on the side of the buildings?!"
Kayama, with his crutches, hopped over and plopped in the chair, "Maa maa maa! You shouldn't underestimate the Taichou of the Tsukigumi!" He then started playing some notes on his guitar. “Naa Oogamiii~! My sweet Kaede asked me to talk to you about something…”
”Eeh? About what??”
“She wouldn’t tell me.” Kayama replied, smiling cutely. Both him and Oogami sweat-beaded; Kaede usually used these types of confusing conventions, but they somehow managed to work. “My darling said I should figure it out, but I don’t know where to start. Still, as your best friend, you should let me know what’s going on with you.”
Oogami shrugged. “Well, to start… I asked Sakura-kun to marry me last night.” Kayama’s eyes bugged out at these words. Oogami then added, “She turned me down.” Kayama put on a face full of sympathy and patted his shoulder. Oogami then replied, “Still I won’t let it get me down. I’ve got two days left to get engaged and married.”
”EEEH?!” Kayama snagged him over by the necktie, “MAA MAA MAA! You can’t be serious, Oogami!!!”
”I am determined to stay in Teito.” Oogami said, opening his drawer and flipping through his collection bromides, “This time I’m taking your advice, Kayama. It’s a long shot, but it’s my last hope and I think I can make it if you help me.”
Kayama looked lost for words. He knew Kaede would kill him if she found out. He knew that this idea had a slim probability of working, but he also knew that his best friend deserved as much as anyone to be happy. Maybe this was his chance…
“Uwaah, how do you talk me into these things…?” he sighed, as they sat down on the bed and started to look over the possible brides to be, “Ii na, ii na! Ganbare, Oogami!”
* * * * * * * * *
Meanwhile, the girls had met in the cafeteria for breakfast, still discussing the events that had taken place last night. “The nerve of that guy!” Orihime exclaimed, “Leave it to Japanese men to ruin a good relationship! Nippon no otouko ga BAKA de~su!”
Sakura smiled uneasily as the girl started cursing in Italian. “O-Orihime-san, it wasn’t a big deal. I didn’t feel offended by this gesture and I think Oogami-san probably got over it by now.”
“Ara, ara…” Sumire waved her fan in the air to get everyone’s attention, “Tell me, Sakura-san, why DID you turn him down? You might never get this opportunity like ever again… a simple girl, as yourself deserves a simple life of domestic servitude. After all, where do you think your second rate acting job will get you? Nee~?”
”Uresai…” Sakura grumbled, glaring at her.
“Oi oi!” Kanna cut in, shoving Sumire aside and going to fill up her plate with another helping. “I admit I was surprised Taichou would even suggest a thing! What was he thinking?! Sakura can’t possibly get married! Nope, nope – NEVER!”
”And why not?” Maria asked, Sakura and everyone else looking curious. Kanna just stopped eating and stared back at them, not realizing what they wanted to know. “Ka-n-na,” Maria tried again, “Why do you think that Sakura shouldn’t get married??”
”Atai…mmm… Ata…mrp…” Kanna said in between munches. She finally finished chewing and washed it down with a glass of cold water. “Aa, I feel none of us should get married; that way, we can all hang out together like this – fight together, play on the stage together. This is heaven, if you ask me. I know it’s asking a lot, but I like it… I don’t want it to change yet.”
“Watashi mo,” Maria sighed, taking a seat next to her friend and going to fill up her own platter. “Demo, changes will happen whether we like it or not. And I think Taichou was the first to show this want for change. I still feel like he’s got a reason behind it though…”
“Nee, nee!” Coquelicot popped up at the table, looking side to side, “Where’s Erica?? Doesn’t she know it’s breakfast? We’re supposed to go out today and get our souvenirs shopping finished. After all, we leave in two days.”
Everyone turned towards Sumire for answers. “Erica-san stayed behind in the room; she’s starting to pack,” she said nonchalantly, “She’s a bit on the down side, but other than that she’d be all right to go shopping with you.”
”It’s raining heavily outside though,” Hanabi noted, watching the continued fall on the windows, “Maybe we should cancel it all together. I mean, we have enough souvenirs as is and this is one of the few days we have left. Ano, shall we spend it here?”
”Why not?” Glycine said with a shrug, “Something interesting might happen and there’s always some drama unfolding here. Besides, I’ve got to start packing too.”
’Sou desu ne…’ Sakura thought, ‘The Paris Kagekidan are leaving… Two days doesn’t seem like a lot of time…’ She turned to look towards Sumire, who was sipping her tea quietly. ‘We’re going to say goodbye soon to our friends…’
“Sumimasen…” A male voice had interrupted their breakfast. All eyes turned to Takeshi who stood by the hallway in a drenched suit. “Sorry to interrupt your breakfast, but I… Boku …”
”HMP!” Orihime tossed aside her napkin and angrily stood to face him. “You ARE interrupting us! Go awa~y! I don’t want to talk to you, Takeshi-sa~n!”
”Jitsu wa… I came to see Sakura.” he replied as he continued to shake from the ‘warm greeting’ he just received. He tipped his hat and turned towards his blinking friend from childhood. “Sakura, if you have a moment?”
”H-Hai…”
”What was that all about??” Kouran asked, wiping her glasses as the two left. She too got up from her seat and headed for the door. “Well… I’m finished here. Better go back to work in the hangar! Tell me when you guys feel like playing cards later. I think this rain is going to go on for a long while!”
But as Kouran headed down the stairs, she ran into Oogami. “Kouran…” he uttered, taking her hand and kneeling on the floor. “Will you marry me??”
”EEEEEH?!?”
* * * * * * * * *
Sumire was on her way back to her room, when she passed the library. Retracing her steps, she peered in the door. (‘What’s going on??’) Oogami was kneeling on the floor, holding onto Maria’s hand. “Maria Tachibana… will you be my bride??”
“EEEEEH!?” Maria looked very confused. “Taichou, this is very sudden and yet sweet of you to ask… but I don’t see any reason behind it. Why don’t you ask someone you want to marry??”
”I do… I want to marry you, Maria.”
Maria seemed too smart for this and pried her hand away. “Taichou, I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but I think you better stop it before you get hurt. Shitsureishimasu.”
Sumire quickly hid while Maria passed her. Oogami came after Maria, but when he saw Sumire he skidded to a stop. “Sumire-kun,” he uttered, sliding down onto one knee. Before he could say anymore, she slapped him across the face. “UWAH!”
“Chuu’i! Do you take me for a fool?!” she snapped, hovering over him angrily, “To ask ME, Kanzaki Sumire – TOP STAR of Teito – less than two minutes from when you asked another woman?! That’s so unromantic!” She then turned to leave, but leaned over and whispered, “Ara, but if you’re trying to make Sakura-san jealous for turning you down I’ll help you get a date.”
”Iya… that’s not what I’m trying to do… I’m just trying to get engaged.”
Sumire gave him a look that told him she thought he was crazy, and then went on her way. Once in her room, she noticed that Erica hadn’t moved from the place that she had left her. “Aa Sumire-san…”
”Erica-san, what are you doing? Haven’t you finished packing yet??”
“I can’t. I feel sad when I start… I don’t like feeling sad at all.” Erica replied, trying to force a smile, “Demo, I will get packed in time. The Lord will give me the strength to.”
The sound of a stomach growling startled them both. Sumire crossed her arms and noted, “Or maybe you’ll get the strength once you go eat something. Your breakfast is waiting downstairs – unless that beast-woman Kanna-san ate it.”
”Aa… sumimasen… I’ll go right away,” Erica said. She stopped at the door, going to turn towards Sumire. “Ano… before I forget… I wanted to thank you, Sumire-san… for being a good friend and roommate… soshite…” She dug into her pocket and took out a small wooden crucifix. “I know you’re not Christian, but here… I want you to have this to remember me by.”
Sumire took the gift without a word, staring down at it in the palm of her hand.
“Jaa… I’ll be right back to finish packing when I’m done eating!” Erica cheerfully said, before going to stumble out the door. “Oh – to – to - waaaaaah!!” She had tripped on her skirt and gone a couple of hops down the hall before falling forward. Lucky for her, she was caught. “O-Oogami-san?!”
“Erica-kun,” Oogami uttered, as he breathlessly held her in his arms, “Marry me…”
”Hm??” Erica blinked her eyes. “Okay.”
”HONTO?!?!”
Erica smiled innocently. “Mary the mother of Jesus is always watching you, Oogami-san. You mustn’t fear anything; she will guide you when you need her. That’s what I learned at the monastery and through prayer…”
And she would’ve gone on if Glycine and Lobelia hadn’t showed up. “Would you knock it off already!!” Glycine exclaimed, “We’re not in Bible Study!!”
“Taichou, forget it.” Lobelia said, prying Oogami away from Erica and dragging her off, “You asked us two already and the answer was NO. And it’s NO for Erica too. She’s going to become a nun and there’s nothing you can do about.”
”DEMO!!” Oogami desperately called after them, “You don’t understand! It’s my only hope! I’ve just got to get married right away!! MATTE YO!!” The girls just hurried up and got out of there. ‘Sonna…’ Oogami sighed, falling to his knees, ‘Every girl I’ve asked won’t accept me thus far… I’m running out of options!’
* * * * * * * * *
Meanwhile, in the manager's office. Yoneda continued to pour sake while Kaede typed up a memo for him. “Yare yare…” the old guy sighed into his glass, “I might as well tell you now, Kaede-kun… Oogami is being transferred away.”
”I know, Shihainin. It’s on short notice too. We should tell everyone, don’t you think?”
”Sou yo! Let’s throw a going-away party. After all, he’s leaving the same time as the Paris Kagekidan… *hiccup* …” He suddenly gagged and spat out his drink. "OI!! NAN DAI YO?!?”
Kaede blinked and lifted her head from her typing to see that the Baragumi had magically appeared in the room. “W-What are you doing here? And, what are you wearing!?"
The lights went cabaret red for a moment as the trio leapt up and did their favorite SUPER poses, wearing pansy-colored leotards. "SHORI no POZU, KIME!" After the flashy display that lasted less than a minute, everything then went back to normal.
"It's our new uniforms." Kotone noted, "We've modeled them after the original Hanagumi costumes. What do you think??" Yoneda and Kaede just sighed and wiped the sweat bead off their faces. “Aa! You’re speechless! I’m glad you liked them! Now, onto business… Kiku-chan, take it from here!”
”Aa, the report…” Kikunojou stepped forward, taking a memo from his pocket, “Ano… it seems that Oogami-san has been going around the Teigeki – asking females on sight to marry him. It’s a very strange incident…”
”NANIII?!” Yoneda went into a drunken rage. “Ano yarou! What the hell is he thinking??! He better stay away from my daughters before I chase him down and…!!!”
‘This just gets stranger and stranger…’ Kaede thought, knocking Yoneda out with a bottle to the head. As he fell ‘asleep’ onto his desk, she then turned to the other three. “Ne, do you know why Oogami-kun is doing this??”
”I don’t know, but who cares!” Yokohiko cried, folding his hands together, “Kyaaaa! To be engaged to Ichirou-chan would be a dream for me!! Aaaah~! I wonder where we’ll go on our honeymoon…!”
“Dame yo, Yoko-chan!" Kotone scolded, "First things first, we must stop Oogami-taichou from getting in trouble! Let’s go hide behind the shadows and stalk him all day like we always do!”
"RYOKAI!" replied his cadets. With the lights and music going off again, the Butai of Love and Justice leapt out the window and disappeared.
Kaede blinked - her mind on standby after experiencing first hand a very strange phenomenon. ‘NANI YO??!’
* * * * * * * * *
‘It’s no good…’ Oogami thought as he walked through the halls aimlessly, ‘I’ll never find someone who would marry me… Doesn’t anyone want me to stay in Teito? It’s like they don’t care at all! I feel disowned…’ He then came around the corner and saw someone up ahead. “Yaa, Coquelicot!!”
“Ichirou??” The girl turned around and smiled at him. “Just the person I was looking for! Do you want to go shopping with me today? I know it’s raining, but it’s really important…”
Oogami had a brilliant idea. “Sure, I’ll go with you, Coquelicot! That is, if you’d marry me.” The logic was simple; according to Kayama, all he had to do was get engaged. They didn’t have to ask who – or how old she was. “Well, how about??” he asked, holding out his hand.
“Hmm… first of all, I have to ask about your credentials and your annual income.” Coquelicot replied, “If I get married, I want to at least have some financial security – not to mention a house that would be payable and large enough for my animals. How much does a ticket-boy make anyways??”
”J-Jaa…” Oogami stammered, sidestepping the income question, “I haven’t really thought about that stuff. Demo, Coquelicot, wouldn’t you also want to marry for love as well??”
”Love,” she repeated, “If this is a marriage proposal of love – which I hope you are attempting – it’s just got to be done right. First off, you didn’t kneel. Second, you don’t even have a ring. Third, it sounded like a bribe to me.”
”I-I've been kneeling all day so I got sloppy. And I’ll get a ring soon - on my next paycheck! Soshite... this isn’t a bribe!”
”Sure, whatever you say, Ichirou…” Coquelicot replied, walking off and leaving him behind.
Oogami tearfully leaned his head against the door. ‘Gaaaah! Even Coquelicot! I give up!’ But then Kayama and his happy song kept coming back to him: “Oogamii~! You mustn’t quit~! Fight on~! Fight oh~!” Oogami crumbled to the floor in despair. ‘Easy for you to say… You’ve already got a wife… I might as well start packing…’
* * * * * * * * *
Meanwhile downstairs in the lobby, Sakura was on her way out. She paused to see Sumire and Erica talking in the deserted cafeteria. ‘Aa, let me see if they need anything for me to pick up…’
“Ano…” Sumire looked strangely timid as she slowly reached into sleeve and took out her fluffy purple fan. “I want you to have this… to remember me by…”
“Your lucky fan?!” Sakura blurted out. She quickly covered her mouth, but it was too late. They had already caught her. Very embarrassed, Sakura waved her hands. “Iie, bezuni! I was just passing by!”
Erica blinked at the fan and handed it back to her. “Sumire-san, I can’t accept this. It’s very important to you.”
”Nan desu no? You’re refusing it?” Sumire snapped, “Hmp! Aren’t you picky! Fine, don’t take it! I changed my mind! Hurry up and pack your things out of my room - I can’t wait for you to go anyways! Shitsureishimasu!” She then stormed off, fluttering her fluffy fan.
“Sumire-san…” Erica uttered, feeling very bewildered over what happened. She sat back down at the table and started to pour cream into her tea, “I don’t understand. I thought you’d miss me when I went – but you can’t wait for me to go…?”
”Erica-san,” Sakura sat down at the table and patted her shoulder, “Sumire-san really will miss you. I think it’s hard for her to say goodbye because you two have gotten really close. That’s how she is.”
”I hope you’re right…” Erica said, trying to smile, “I won’t forget about you or Sumire-san when I leave here. You two were really wonderful to me and I wish that we could be friends for a long time!”
“Of course! I won't forget you either, Erica-san! D-Demo…” Sakura quickly stopped her from overfilling the cup with cream. “Ehehe, don’t get carried away.”
”Of course! Um, would you like to help me pack, Sakura-san??”
”Sumimasen, I already have plans this afternoon,” she replied, getting up from the table, “I have to go meet Takeshi-kun. I promised we’d have lunch together. Honto ni gomen nasai.”
As Sakura left, Erica noticed Orihime and Hanabi standing by the stairs. “I don’t care anyways!” Orihime pouted, crossing her arms as she sniffed back a tear, “I’ve had enough of Japanese guys! He can go back to Sendai if he wants! He can even take Sakura-san with him - I don’t care!”
”Orihime-san…” Hanabi uttered, she and Erica not sure what to say. Just then there was the sound of thunder and the lights flicker. A scream was heard outside. “N-Nani?! What happened?!”
“That was Sakura-san’s voice!” Erica gasped, rushing out the doors with the other two girls close behind. In the street, Sakura was kneeling down, clutching her head. “Are you all right??” Erica asked, going up to her and putting her hands on her shoulder, “Aaa…??!”
”Takeshi-kun…” Sakura tearfully uttered, “Somebody, help him… please…!”
“Takeshi-san!” Orihime gasped, her face turning pale. The man was laying on the sidewalk a couple feet away, unconscious.
Hanabi was the first to get into action. “I-I’ll go call for help!” she said as the others slowly recovered. “I’ll be back as soon as I can!”
While Erica went to check on Takeshi’s lifeless body, Orihime picked up his hat and slid down to her knees staring in shock. ‘S-Sonna… Takeshi-san…’ All of them getting soaked in the rain, a single umbrella blew away in the wind.
* * * * * * * * *
“We have called this very important meeting,” Maria said, later that night. It was up in the attic and after curfew. She took a look around the room, taking roll of who was there. “But where are Airisu, Sakura, and Sumire?”
”The cactus woman said she didn’t want to come,” Kanna explained, “She was in a bad mood again. It wasn’t my fault though.”
“Airisu felt sleepy and went to bed early,” Reni noted.
“Sakura-san is at the hospital.” Hanabi added.
”D-Doushite?” Coquelicot asked, “Did she get sick?”
“Iie, Takeshi-san got struck by lightning today. I heard it’s the second time, but it looked really painful. Sakura-san will stay there over night and come back in the morning.” Next to her, Hanabi noticed Orihime’s saddened face. ‘Are…?’
“Taihen ya…” Kouran sighed, “I hope the guy gets better soon.”
”Sou desu ne,” Erica noted, “I’m going to pray really hard for him!”
“Tonikaku,” Maria said, “We’re here his meeting to discuss Taichou. Apparently, he’s been asking people left and right to marry him.”
“Who would want to marry him anyways?” Glycine noted, "According to the Uwasa-network, he was flirting with Kaede-san just last night. Can we think he’s actually serious?”
"Honto ni!" Hanabi blurted out, "We all know that Chuui-san is such a PLAYER! What good marrying him will be - he'll just have a bunch of affairs!! You can't trust Japanese men at all!” Everyone stopped and stared at her in surprise. Hanabi covered her blushing face. “Go… Gomen nasai… I-I’ve been hanging around Orihime-san too much…”
“Daijoubu ya!” Kouran replied, “Oogami-han will come to his senses and realize that no one would be naive enough to take up his offer. Sou da naa??”
While nodding heads circled around the room, Reni frowned and stared towards the floor. ‘Everyone but Airisu…’
(Reni’s flashback)
Earlier that evening, Reni and Airisu were gazing out the large windows of the terrace, "Ne ne, Reni, Airisu has been thinking..."
"About what, Airisu??" Reni asked, looking over at the pensive French girl.
"Since Airisu has breasts now, Airisu is really a beautiful woman, ne?? Airisu would make a pretty bride, ne??"
"B-b-b-b-bride??!" Reni gagged, unable to breath for a moment. Coughing, she crumbled to the floor, her face blue.
Airisu crossed her arms trying to ignore a reaction she found insulting. "Regardless of what Reni thinks, Airisu would be a pretty bride... which means Airisu should marry Onii-chan!" She then cheerfully skipped down the hall, humming the wedding march.
"Chotto matte, Airisu! You can't marry Taichou...!" Reni gasped, as she ran after the girl. She frantically caught up to her, ready to confess, " Boku... boku wa...!!"
Airisu opened Oogami’s door. "Hora, O – ni – i – chaaan ~!" She stopped to see that no one was in the room. "Onii-chan inai. Mou… next time!" Reni finally caught her breath and then fell over with relief.
(End of flashback)
Back in the attic, everyone was putting heads together on what to do with this situation. “We’ve got to stop that guy,” Lobelia noted, “Randomly proposing to girls is bad, but hitting on nuns and underage girls is really, really bad!
“Sou yo!” Kanna said, “I say we retaliate with full force! Like we always do!” She then put her arm around the speechless Maria. “Don’t you agree, Maria??”
”H-Hai…” Maria stammered, her face all red. Getting a hold of herself, Maria cleared her throat and lifted a fist. “Saa, minna are you ready for battle?!”
”OH!” everyone chimed.
”Kouran, you know what to do!”
”Yossha!” Kouran chimed as she pulled on a cord. Down came the old replica doll from the past battles. It looked pretty worn, but they had to sew it back together after Sakura had sliced it in half with her sword.
“W-What the heck is that thing supposed to be??” Lobelia stammered, scratching her head, “Ma-masaka…!”
“It looks like Ichirou,” Coquelicot noted, “Kind of deformed though…”
Maria turned to the Paris Kagekidan. “Go ahead and give it a go. We’re all Hanagumi.”
”Check this out!” Glycine said, lifting up her axe as Hanabi took out her crossbow and Lobelia her chains. The three of them attack at the same time, Coquelicot blasting it with a surge of power from her hand. The dolls swung about wildly, threads and limbs falling everywhere.
They all then turned to Erica, who stood just watching it swing back and forth. “Oh! Right!” she said, realizing it was her turn. She simply walked over to it and took out some holy water, going to give the doll the sign of the cross.
Everyone just face-faulted and fell into a big pile on the floor. “Uuuugggg…”
Oblivious to it all, Erica rubbed her chin and uttered, “Maa… I wonder where is Oogami-san anyways.”
* * * * * * * * *
Downstairs in the kitchen, Oogami sat at the counter with a bottle of wine. He and Kasumi were pouring each other glass after glass. “Jaa… Kasumi-san…” he uttered, nudging her shoulder, “You’ve been in this weird daze all day. What’s the matter?”
”I will never love again. All I better do is work, work, work…”
”Eeh?” Oogami felt confused, but he quickly shrugged it off. “Anyways, what am I going to do? Tomorrow is all I have before I leave. Where am I going to find a bride?”
Suddenly strange music started to play in the air. A blast of pink smoke exploded in the center of the room, and when it cleared ‘guess who’ showed up. “The butai of love and justice are here to assist you!!”
“Oh no… The Baragumi…” Oogami sighed, covering his face. Through his fingers, he noticed something. “Eh? Only two?? Where’s Kiku-chan?”
”We heard you were in trouble, Ichirou-chan,” Yokohiko said, fondling his cheek, “And we thought you might need some help from us.”
”Sou yo!” Kotone said, as the pink lights started circulating around the room and a sparkling globe (disco ball?) lowered down from the ceiling. “Oogami-tachou… we bring you – YOUR BRIDE!”
There was another explosion of pink smoke and out came the blushing bride. “A… Ano…”
“UWAH!” Oogami gasped, falling off his chair. Lying on the floor, he stared up at Kikunojou in a long white bridal gown and viel. He had to admit he looked pretty cute, but he quickly shook that thought out of his head. “Sorry, it’s not going to work…”
Before the Baragumi could object, they stopped to hear the loud noise of glass breaking. Apparently Kasumi had wakened from her stupor. "BASTARDS!!"
"Kyaaa!” Yoko gasped, grabbing onto Kikunojou as they dodged the flying empty bottles, "W-What did atashi-tachi do?! Dame yo!!”
Kasumi ignored the pleas and angrily continued on her warpath. "Kotone-san, you played me like a fool!! Don't think you and your ‘fangirls’ can get away with it!!”
"Chotto chotto!" Kotone stammered, as she started to chase them around the kitchen, "Kasumi-chan, I can explain…!”
‘And I thought I had problems… what a bunch of weirdoes…’ Oogami thought as he escaped the kitchen and went out into the garden for fresh air. ‘Aah… such a peaceful night in Teito. I don’t want this to go away… I want to hold it close to my heart…’
“Forever?”
Startled by this voice, he turned around and searched through the dark trees for who said it. “Kaede-san, is that you…?” he asked, recognizing her voice. But he could’ve sworn she had gone home earlier with Kayama. “Hah?” He caught sight of a woman in kimono standing in the moonlight. “Ma… saka…”
“Oogami-kun,” a smiling Ayame said as she walked up to him, “Are you giving up? Don’t you love the Hanagumi anymore? Are you going to just leave them??”
”Iya… I-I mean… of course I love the Hanagumi! With all my heart, Ayame-san! Just like you did… I want to be with them for the rest of my days.”
”Sou… then you know what you have to do.”
”And what’s that, Ayame-san??”
Ayame just grinned, her eyes sparkling with delight as she reached over and tapped him on the forehead. “Shikari nasai, Taichou-san!”
"H-Hai...!" Oogami stammered, gazing into her lovely face – soft samba music in the background. Everything suddenly went fuzzy, and then he blanked out.
* * * * * * * * *
Oogami felt the sun’s rays on his face. He was lying just on a bench in the garden, Shiro on his stomach licking his face. “Fuuuaa… it’s morning? What happened with Ayame-san…?”
”Ara, you tell me,” replied a voice. Kaede was sitting on the other end of the bench, with her arms crossed. “Ohayou, Oogami-kun.”
“O-Ohayou… Kaede-san…” he stammered, blushing and sitting up. “Jaa… how long have you been here? Eheheh…”
”I’ll be the one to ask the questions,” she said sternly. With her eyes slanting at him, she leaned over and gave him a full examination. Not only did she confirm that he had been drinking all night, but she breathed the sent of perfume around him. “Oogami-kun, are you serious? Going around asking anyone to marry you! Is this how you want to spend your final days in Teito – playing around?!”
“Sumimasen… I wasn’t playing. I was desperate.” he replied, “I know it was wrong to be so random, but it seemed like the only way to stay in Teito was to get married. Yet nobody would accept me, so I was ready to give in and start packing. But then, Ayame-san came to me in a dream and told me that if I really care about something, I can’t ever give it up. So, I’m not going to give up.”
”After all this time… you still think about my sister…” Kaede sighed, shaking her head and starting to get up.
“Sou desu ne.” Oogami replied, as he stopped her with a hand to her shoulder. “I wish that Ayame-san was here to console me like she always did.”
Kaede took one look at him and then removed his hand, putting it down on the bench with hers on top. “She can’t be… Neesan is a memory now. You can't hold memories. You can't live on memories.”
“Kaede-san…” The two of them stared into each other’s face. Oogami searched for the right words, but ended going bright red. “Iya… I-It's nothing!" he blurted out, laughing as he foolishly rubbed his head.
“Jaa… I’ve got some work to do,” Kaede said, getting up from the bench, “You better get started packing. After all you leave tomorrow.”
”Hai…” he sighed. After she had gone, Oogami turned to Shiro for answers. “Will you find me a bride??” Shiro just barked and leapt down, going to run inside. “Oi! Matte!!” When he got inside, he ran into someone. “Aa, Sumire-kun!”
”Sumimasen, Chuu’i. I was looking for Erica-san this morning. Did you see her??”
“Iya, I haven’t…” he started to say. But then he spotted her walking down the hall. “Aa! Over there!” The two of them went after her and saw that she had gone into the lobby. Sumire suddenly snagged him over and hid behind a pillar. ‘Nan dai yo, Sumire-kun?!’ Oogami thought as she had him in a headlock and covered his mouth, ‘Uug, can't... breathe…’
“On your way to the hospital, Sakura-san?” Erica said, facing the other girl, “I’ll say a prayer for Takeshi-san. I hope he does get better.”
”Arigatou gozaimasu, Erica-san.” Sakura replied. She then lifted up a bag. “Actually, I asked you down here because I had something to give you…”
”Eh? A gift for me?”
”NAN DESUTTE!!” Sumire released the gagging Oogami and stormed over. “Sakura-san! What is the meaning of this?! What makes you think you can just give Erica-san gifts, when she refuses mine! Why you little…!”
”SO CUTE!!” Erica exclaimed. All eyes turned towards Erica who had opened her gift and was holding a doll wearing a purple kimono and had brown hair. “It looks just like you!!” she said, holding it up next to Sumire, “Kyaa, the resemblance!”
”Ma~a…” Sumired eyed it over. “It does look somewhat accurate – but not as good as the original. Still, the stitch work is nice…”
Sakura cheerfully nodded her head. “I worked on it last night in the waiting room. I wanted you two to make up before you separated – because you’re going to be good friends for a long time. Distance will never change that.”
”Thank you, Sakura-san!” Erica said with a bright smile waving the doll, “We’ll make this mascot of our monastery – she’s so CUTE!”
Sumire’s eyes went slant. “C-CHOTTO…!!”
’I’m leaving tomorrow as well…’ Oogami thought with a sad look on his face, ‘I’m going to have to tell everyone sooner or later. But, the distance is so hard. I don’t want to be separated again…’
“Oogami-san,” Sakura stood next to him, looking up at him with a smile, “Are you busy right now? Would you like to come with me to see Takeshi-kun?”
Oogami blinked at her. Slowly, he returned the smile. ”Sure, I’ll go with you…”
* * * * * * * * *
“Arigatou for coming…” Takeshi weakly said, lying in his hospital ward, “I’m so glad… Kaminari-sama didn’t take your navel… eheh…” He started to laugh, but it really hurt, “Itai, itai…”
”Dame desu, Takeshi-kun!” Sakura said as she poured him a glass of water, “Everyone is hoping you’ll get better soon. Demo… I’m just really sorry this happened to you.”
”Sou da yo…” he sighed, leaning his head back, “I guess Medical School is out of the question…”
”Until you get better,” Oogami replied, “Just because you can’t now – doesn’t mean you can’t ‘ever’. Hold on to your dream – don’t give up, Takeshi.”
Both Sakura and Takeshi stared at him, then smiled. “Arigatou,” Takeshi replied, “I only hope that I wouldn’t have to go through this alone. I feel guilty taking up Sakura’s time, demo… I have no one to…”
The sound of the door opening cut him off. Orihime stood there with a bouquet of roses and a solemn face. “Takeshi-san… watashi…”
”Orihime-san…”
The two of them tearfully smiled at each other. Orihime rushed over and took his hands. “Gomen desu… datte… Anata ga suki desu!”
While the couple exchanged loving glances, Sakura tugged on Oogami’s sleeve. “We should leave them alone,” she said, pulling him out of the room. “Oogami-san…”
”What is it, Sakura-kun??”
“Let’s go back to the Teigeki. Today is the last day for the Paris Hanagumi and I want to spend as much with them before they go.”
“Sou desu ne…” he uttered, lowering his head, ‘Today is my last day too…’
* * * * * * * * *
As they walked back, Oogami lagged behind a little. Sakura could sense something was the matter, as he slowed down and she had to stop to have the umbrella catch up to her. “Oogami-san, doushitan desu ka? You don’t seem very cheerful today.”
”I don’t… a lot of emotions are going through my head today.” he explained, “Among them, I really feel bad about proposing marriage. Please forgive me.”
“Daijoubu desu!” she laughed, patting his arm, “I’m flattered you’d even ask me. Demo, I can’t even begin to think about it. Oogami-san, please let’s just enjoy our lives the way it is now.”
”Hai…” he uttered, as he realized that they were just outside the Teigeki. ‘How could we enjoy it the way it is if I’m leaving once again?’ He reached over and took her hand. ‘I have to keep trying… I don’t want to become a memory… I want to keep making memories with the people I care about… I want this special feeling to last…’
Before he could open his mouth to try proposing again, Kayama came hopping over to them on his crutches. “YO Oogami~! Oh, Sakura-kun mo!!”
”Nan dai yo??” Oogami uttered, very annoyed to be interrupted as Kayama crowded with them under the umbrella, “What do you want???”
”Maa maa, Kaede told me to find you right away, Oogami. Count Hanakoji is here and he wants to talk to you.”
Oogami ran up the steps ahead of them and went through the lobby to Yoneda’s office. ‘Why is Hanakoji here?? Masaka…!’ He entered the room and bowed his head. “Shitsureishimasu!”
”Oogami,” Hanakoji noted, as he sat across from Yoneda at his desk with Kaede behind him, “Good, we can start the meeting.”
”This is about your transfer,” Yoneda explained, “We’ve finally determined what you and Jiru’s assignment will be.”
Oogami noticed that Jiru was also in the room, sitting down a giant onigiri in her hands. He took the seat next to her, worrying about the decision. “Jaa… do you want some??” she asked, waving the onigiri in his face. He shook his head, then went to watch her try to shove the whole thing in her mouth. (‘N-N-Nani yo... Jiru no yatsu...’)
“This is what we decided,” Kaede said, handing them papers, “I hope you like the ideas.”
”GAH?!” Jiru started chocking on rice as she read over the contents, “Otome Gakuen??!”
”H-Honto??” Oogami gasped, “You’re no sending us out of the country??!”
Hanakoji shook his head. “We’ve found some other officers who are happy for these positions. Soshite, sfter hearing the report from Kaede-kun about your behavior, Oogami, I decided that you shouldn’t be put in further troubling situations.”
”Sou…” he uttered, now not quite sure if this was punishment or a good thing. He lit up a smile towards Kaede whose intervention had kept him from a big transfer. “Arigatou!”
“Yoshi!” Yoneda said, pouring some sake in celebration, “The two of you will continue to be stationed here to work as ticket-clippers and assisting staff – also, fighter when battles start up again. But when in the off season, you will work part-time teaching some courses at the Otome Gakuen.”
Jiru looked ill. “D-Demo… Otome Gakuen…???”
”Are?? Jiru-kun, weren’t you the top of your class??” Oogami asked.
“That was Jiru’s cover,” Hanakoji noted, “When she was stationed here undercover, we put down that she was a graduate of the Otome Gakuen as a reference.”
“I had to take a single course as background…” Jiru explained, “Which I failed. Ehehe, singing and dancing is out of my department… Demo, I’ll keep doing my best and maybe this time I’ll get better!”
“Sou ne…” Oogami uttered, feeling good about the change of situation. He then noticed that Kaede had slipped out of the room. After getting himself excused, he left the office and caught up to her. “Kaede-san, arigatou. You really saved me.”
“I didn’t really do anything.” she replied, turning around to him as he walked over, “Demo… yokkata da yo. You don’t have to worry about becoming a memory, Oogami-kun.”
”Sou desu ne!” he said, his smile beaming, “The best thing of all is that I get to keep making new memories with everyone! I’m so happy!!” He then lunged at her for a hug, but she stopped him with a good slap across the face. "UWAH!" Oogami stumbled a step backwards, "Kaede-san, itai yo!"
Fire burned in Kaede’s eyes. "I'm onto your nasty game! How dare you re-route your feelings towards my sister to me! I trusted you! I thought we were good friends, but you have taken advantage of this relationship!" she snapped, readying a fist.
"Heeeh? What’s going on?" Kayama interrupted, as he looked back and forth at the teary-eyed Oogami and the raging Kaede. He just leaned on his crutches and started playing his guitar. “I heard the wonderful news that you’re staying, Oogami~! Yapadii, I feel a song coming up! Aaaa~!”
“SOKO MADE YO!”
Oogami turned to see all of the girls glaring in his direction, a very eerie feeling in the air. “Oogami-san…” Sakura uttered, eyes slanted as she stepped forward, “What’s this about you proposing randomly to all the girls in the Teigeki??”
“Aa… e-to… sore wa…” Oogami stammered as they started to surround him. Erica suddenly walked up to him and splashed holy water in his face. “EEH?!”
“Holy Spirit,” she said, holding her hands together, “Please remove these demons that have possessed Brother Oogami-san… He didn’t understand the consequences of his sin. Please allow him the Lord’s forgiveness and not deny him entrance into Heaven on the account of being a player…. Amen.”
“MOU!” Airisu grumbled, sparks generating around her, “Onii-chaaan!! You’re not supposed to be floating! You’re engaged to Airisu!!”
“Taichou,” Reni said, lifting her lance, “You can’t be engaged to Airisu – I won’t let you!”
”Oogami-san,” Hanabi sighed, holding up the dead-looking doll, “You need to be less careless with women… We’re going to punish you now.”
“OHOHOHO!” Sumire waved her fluffy fan in amusement, “Chuu’i, you’re in for it! Minna-san, attack!!”
“UWAAAAAH!!!”
“KONO PLAYER YO!!!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The curtain of memory falls to the stage
The lights grow dim
The night goes on
Let’s stay here and sing together
In the morning, we will part
But…
This will not be goodbye
Through rain or shine
Peace or more battles
This feeling will go on forever
Like the song we sing tonight
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
