Necessary Preparations [Iryna & Haruka]

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

Iryna is well aware that she was lucky to be born into wealth. However, unlike the "traditional", influential families she has heard of, her family does not really force her to do any kind of training that are considered "necessary" to succeed her father. In fact, Iryna's father is very supportive of her figure skating career, probably even moreso than her mother (a former skater herself), and constantly ensures that Iryna has the best training possible. While being technically the heiress of her family, she's grown up much more like a normal girl, albeit with more luxury than most. Still, Iryna knows that her behavior has to be worthy of the education she has received.

About Tanabata, Iryna reveals her intentions about the festival to her cousin, in a softer voice than usual:

"I think... we can go out and play. Enjoy ourselves. I'm looking forward to wearing a yukata, since it's a summer festival after all. And... I wanna invite the guys who will be coming with us to Okinawa to join us? Do you think it's okay?"

To Iryna, a festival is such a great occasion to hang out with the boy she has a crush on, and it will not be too awkward if there are more people coming along. Besides, she'd like to know more about that boy's companion, the one who helped Haru-chan out the other day. Furthermore, the pigtailed girl has been rather fond of the story behind that well-known festival. The main characters, Orihime and Hikoboshi are the epitome of star-crossed lovers, separated by divine punishment, and only able to meet once a year. Iryna still remembers crying a little when hearing her grandparents telling that story to her the first time. Maybe it'd be a good topic to talk to that boy about, during the festival. It would not be out of place, and gives her a chance to have a nice long conversation with him. It will be even better if she can watch some celebratory fireworks alongside him. The festival can make a nice prelude to her eventful summer.

[Fuukami Haruka]

Like her cousin Iryna, Haruka had been raised quite modestly, but Shinjirou's side of the family always had seemed a bit more traditional than her uncle's. The first year's parents had supported every endeavor she had taken with stride, but she never strayed too far from interests that she thought would help her get ahead. Perhaps Haruka was a bit more ambitious since she did not have any property or business to inherit, though she might work at her uncle's company as an advisor of some sort so she could gather the finance and resources necessary to invest in her own interests. Of course, it would be lovely to stay close to her family; family was always very important in this clan and she wondered if they had any other cousins or relatives that would join them.

But she lost her train of thought easily. They were talking about Tanabata, yes?

"I think it's nice to wear lighter clothing," she said unsurely, wondering how she could add to the conversation. "I suppose it'd be fine if we invite your friends. I don't see why not." Iryna was a pure girl, but it was a time when she was boy crazy.

In all honesty, the younger girl was a bit worried for her older cousin. Iryna seemed a little... distracted. She had her hobbies and schoolwork and all that but the boy Iryna fancied, as much as Haruka liked him, she could not help but feel like the boy simply was not capable of giving her cousin the time of day. It was this rational thinking and perhaps her cautious inexperience that led the freshwoman down a slippery slide of deciding whether to offer or withdraw her support. It could also be because of her age that she wasn't ready for romance or that she simply wasn't able to invest most of her worries in such dalliances. Crushes were fleeting and it was all the child knew of love. There was very little reward in it for her since it would only distract her from her schoolwork. Nonserious dating that could help her practice for friendships and real courtship seemed to be a nice afterthought, but just that. Haruka loved to dream and she loved ambition all the more for it, but she would rather dream about something that would ensure a secure future, a life without worry. Once she had that, Haruka supposed she could divert her interests to the other sex, but she was not interested in romance so much. Romance was blinding and silly. What mattered was that she found herself a good fit, whether it'd be for her classes or friend groups or family. After all, for love the conditions had to be just right.

[Fuukami I. Iryna]

Iryna cannot help but show a relieved smile on her face after her cousin's apparent approval of her "festival plan". Sometimes, the pigtailed girl wonders if she has been too selfish for dragging the brunette into her impulsive decisions, mostly regarding leisure. Whenever the two girls are together, it's Iryna who gives the ideas, and Haruka will straighten them up. The sisterly bond between them is probably the key to how they have managed to tolerate each other's contrasting personalities and work together, and Iryna feels glad to have somebody she can confide in, both as a family member and a friend.

Speaking of festive clothing, Iryna has no hesitation to reveal her intentions for her traditional-looking cousin:
"Thanks, Haru-chan. We're gonna dress up in the cutest yukata we can get. You will look absolutely lovely in one, and I'll make sure it happens. And... I'll discuss the festival with him later."

While Iryna has "ulterior motives" for attending the festival, Iryna still thinks Tanabata is something to look forward to just to have some fun. The atmosphere, the food stalls, the outfits, and a reason to hang out with friends. Another well-known aspect of this festival is the bamboo branches where you hang the pieces of paper with your wishes on. When she was younger, she made her best effort to write down her wishes in the most beautiful handwriting possible, believing that it would make them easier to come true. Now, being a figure skater aiming for the top, Iryna believes that she has to make her own efforts to fulfil her dreams. Even though she can be unsure whether her efforts really matter at times, Iryna keeps reminding herself that she has to keep going. Some can say she's optimistic, and she will gladly take it as a compliment, as optimism drives passion, and passion is vital to athletes like her. That passion also sparks the pigtailed girl's romantic side, driving her actions to achieve her crush's love, and brought her to this department store, where she shopped for swimming attires that may catch his eye.