Tokyo Love (27 page)

Ai ran her fingers through Kathleen's hair. “You know, Japanese girls spend hours trying to get a good curl in their hair. Here I can just throw up your hair and it looks perfect.” She gave Kathleen a high, messy bun and stuck a few flowers and beads into it.

Kathleen tilted her head. Her curls did make it look fashionably fun and flouncy. It made her feel a little better. “All right.” She turned around, looking at her
obi
again. A thought struck her and she turned to Ai. “Hey, where did you get these? Did you use my money?”

Ai held a finger to her lips, grinning. “No, I just asked for a favor.”

“A favor? From who?”

Ai's grin became wider. “Yuriko, of course.”

“Yuriko?”

“Yes, this week you gave me permission to contact her as needed.”

Kathleen rubbed her forehead. She did actually remember something like that. Probably when she traveled to Yokohama and wasn't sure if she was going to make the long journey across Tokyo alone. She might have said Ai could contact Yuriko if she couldn't reach her. “That was for emergencies only.”

“Emergencies, important cultural events, same thing.” Ai patted Kathleen's shoulders. “Come on, she's probably waiting for us.”

“Wait, Yuriko is coming too?”

Ai rolled her eyes. “Of course!”

As if on cue, the door rang. “Enter!” Kathleen shouted and popped her head out from the bathroom.

Yuriko opened the door, wearing a red
yukata
and black
obi
. She didn't have any hair accessories; her hair was down around her shoulders. It struck Kathleen as a little odd, considering Ai, who usually wore her hair down now had it up, and Yuriko, who usually had hers tied back for work, now wore it down. It didn't make them look any more similar. Yuriko looked older, somehow, more mature. Her hair, long down the lines of her
yukata
, made her seem taller or longer, more elegant and formal than anything Kathleen had seen her wear.

Yuriko glanced at Kathleen. “Ready?”

Kathleen could help but hold out her arms. “Honest answer. Do I look completely ridiculous in this?”

Ai pouted. “I already told you that you look great!”

“You are programmed to.” She looked back to Yuriko. “So?”

Yuriko looked carefully up and down Kathleen's figure. Her eyes were slow, face blank. Kathleen felt her cheeks heat, embarrassed by the scrutiny. When Yuriko met her gaze, her eyes seemed a deeper color, soft and warm.

“You look beautiful.” Her voice sounded deep, just louder than a whisper.

Kathleen tugged at the
obi
, feeling like it was constricting her breathing. “Umm …
ieie
?”

Yuriko smiled. “We'll make a native out of you yet.” She held out her hand. “Well, we better get there before the crowds get too crazy.”

Kathleen had her hand raised, ready to take Yuriko's. Then she stopped, mind blurring to a halt. Why was she taking Yuriko's hand? Wasn't it strange? It was strange. It gave the wrong impression, right? Was she overthinking this?

Ai suddenly pushed past her, taking her hand and Yuriko's in both of hers, tugging them both out of the door. “
Baka
. Come on, you'll
both
make us late.”

Kathleen wasn't sure what she was expecting from a Japanese fireworks show. She imagined something similar to an American Fourth of July display. Like, everyone would be in a big field or parking lot, watching fireworks go off, possibly to music.

She was gravely mistaken when they got off the train.

The station was bursting with people. Many of them were dressed up like Kathleen, Yuriko, and Ai. Others just wore normal summer clothes. The station had many signs and men with glowing batons waving people around or into the line.

“We've got to get on a bus,” Yuriko said, raising her head, trying to see. “I think we line up here.”

It was a massive line, filling up half the station and moving onto the street. Kathleen could see buses constantly arriving, packed to the brim, and still the people kept flooding in.

“Are these normal buses?” Kathleen asked. On nights like this the locals must hate them.

Yuriko shook her head. “No, the city designates them for fireworks only. They'll be running back and forth until the
matsuri
ends.”

“When do the fireworks start?” Kathleen wasn't sure they would ever get out of this line.

“The fireworks go on all night.” Yuriko grinned. “You'll see.”

It actually didn't take long for them to advance in the line. Even with the people, the buses just kept arriving, ready to take more. They managed to get lucky to get on the bus first and were able to snag seats. Kathleen pressed herself against the window, staring out into the city streets. It seemed not everyone took the bus and groups were out on the streets, laughing and waving. It was a humid night and Kathleen wished for one of those cheap paper fans everyone was carrying around.

“What is this festival for?”

Ai, who was sitting next to her, spoke. “The Sumidagawa festival is actually a very old tradition. There is no holiday for it or anything. It's just to celebrate the end of summer.”

“The end of summer? Screw summer and its humidity. I think the only reason I'm not sweating through this
yukata
is become I'm wearing so many layers under it.”

Yuriko suddenly pointed. “Look!”

Kathleen turned around, just glimpsing a flash of fireworks between the tall buildings. Passing another street, she spotted another bright explosion. “Where are they shooting them?”

“On the river. This is our stop. Let's see if we can get a decent spot.”

Kathleen assumed what Yuriko meant by a “decent spot” was not a nice patch of grass or tarp laid out near the edge of the river. Stepping off the bus, even Kathleen could tell that there were too many people for that to be even a remote possibility. The crowds pressed around them and Kathleen reached out, desperate not to lose Ai or Yuriko in the crush.

Strangely enough, they both took her hands, pulling her forward.

Kathleen knew she probably looked like some kid, having two people hold her hands. Yet it felt good. Both of their grips were secure and they led her forward like they had planned it all ahead of time. Well, maybe they had.

Kathleen looked at the people passing, surprised to see many girls with much more flamboyant
yukatas
than hers. A number of foreigners were wearing them too. Kathleen was a little jealous of the male version of the
yukata
, if only because it was much more loosely worn and looked much less stifling in the summer heat.

They walked into a long line of special booths set up. Lanterns trailed across the street, bathing everything in yellow or red light. The food smelled amazing and Kathleen could see smoke rising up behind the booths. A couple walked by with something like a squid on a stick. Kathleen probably would have been more afraid of it, but it looked deliciously greasy and she was pretty hungry.

“What are we getting to eat?” she asked.

Ai answered, “Let's try a selection.
Yakitori
, chicken on a stick.
Takoyaki
, those are octopus balls. Hmm, what else?” She looked to Yuriko.

“I'll want the
ikayaki
. Uh, the grilled squid.”

Kathleen couldn't help but pipe up eagerly. “I want that squid thing.”

Yuriko seemed surprised. “You do?”

“It looks too amazing to pass up.”

“I thought you'd be intimidated by it.”

“I thought I told you that I can be an adventurous eater. I'm just not adventurous enough to come out to a place like this by myself.” She paused. “Or order it by myself for that matter.”

Yuriko smiled fondly. “Okay, well this place is selling and the line doesn't seem too outrageous.” She pointed to a booth just across the street.

Ai dropped Kathleen's hand. “I'll go scout out some places for the rest of the food.”

Kathleen tensed, feeling nervous. “Will you be all right?”

“I'll be just fine.”

“You don't have any problems with this area? Not too much data input?”

“No, your patch is working perfectly.”

“Do you have a way to call me if there is a problem?”

Ai tapped Kathleen's forehead. “I'm practically a walking phone. Don't worry. You won't even notice I'm gone.” Then she slipped away into the crowds.

Kathleen watched her go, blending in too perfectly with her Japanese appearance and
yukata
. Yuriko pulled Kathleen into the line for the booth. Yuriko nudged her shoulder when Kathleen kept trying to look up around the crowds. “Don't worry. All PLCs come with a tracking GPS signal. Standard issue.”

Kathleen sighed. “I guess it doesn't matter if she does anything weird. The beta will probably go live next week and then there will be a couple hundred of those walking around Tokyo.”

“I still can't believe they will release so many at first.”

“It's the personalized nature of the product. The more testers, the better the results. Besides, Mashida is hoping to have thousands rolling out by next year.”

“Tens of thousands, according to the pressure I'm under.”

Kathleen grinned, kind of feeling a little excited. She knew she was kind of in the “calm before the storm” phase of the PLC project. Yet going to beta, even though it was still much earlier than anticipated, was pretty amazing. All those months, years if she included the development before her, were finally coming to fruition. A real product, not just one like Ai, but hundreds all looking and acting differently, while abiding by the same fundamental rules that Kathleen helped lay out.

Of course, with the thousands of people around her, pressing and laughing and talking, it hardly felt like a “calm.” However it was good enough and Kathleen found herself squeezing Yuriko's hand, forgetting she was still holding it.

For a moment, she froze, suddenly afraid that she should probably pull away. It was ridiculous, her need to latch onto something when she was intimidated or excited. She looked to Yuriko, waiting for an expression of surprise, maybe even annoyance.

Yuriko just smiled down at her and gently squeezed her hand back.

Kathleen knew she was in trouble.

Yuriko was ordering and then brandishing a rather succulent looking squid in front of Kathleen's face. Hungry, not caring how it looked, Kathleen just bit into it, tearing off a rubbery piece. The flavor wasn't strong, a little salty and a little smoky from the grill. It was wonderfully chewy and her and Yuriko made quick work of it as they walked down the path.

Fireworks suddenly shot above them and many people paused and clapped. Kathleen could hear a voice over the speakers spread around the festival.

“What are they saying?” Kathleen asked.

“They are announcing who is sponsoring the fireworks. Oh, look!
Taiyaki
!”

Taiyaki
was a fish shaped pastry, filled with a sweet bean paste. It was warm and not too sweet. Kathleen had no idea why it was shaped like a fish. As far as she could tell, all of them were stuffed with only sweet ingredients like chocolate or cream. She and Yuriko shared it. Then they shared a beer. Then a snow cone, which tasted just like any snow cone Kathleen had ever had in America. Eventually they came across a stand selling grilled beef tongue on a stick, which Kathleen had to try. It was wonderfully tender, but a little on the salty side.

They had practically walked down one of the streets of booths, eating their way, barely stopping long enough to see a few fireworks flashing over the river. They also kept their hands clasped the entire time and though Kathleen knew she should pull away, she would see something great, like a booth selling frightening looking masks or a game where you could win a goldfish. Then she would have to pull Yuriko toward it. Or Yuriko would find another traditional
matsuri
food that Kathleen just had to eat. Honestly, Kathleen couldn't get enough of it.

So it just felt right to stay connected, bumping shoulders in the large crowd, leaning close to share the food or to hear each other speak. Kathleen was getting caught up again. She knew she should stop, before she did something stupid.

They walked along the river, still among the crowds. There was less shouting or the sounds of cooking food here. The loudest noise was coming from the fireworks exploding around them. There was no place to stop, not even a bare strip of grass or concrete that wasn't a walking path covered by people sitting on tarps, so they kept walking.

A large firework went off, so bright and loud that Kathleen hesitated, backing slightly into Yuriko. The white sparks filled the sky for a moment, turning the night into a false day. Eventually they faded into the darkness, the remaining pinpricks of light indistinguishable from the city lights across the river.

They came across a large, grassy park, bursting with people sitting. “We'll probably be able to find something here, with just the two of us.” Yuriko pulled Kathleen into the crowd and it was amazing how much more quiet it seemed here in comparison. Everyone was talking in low, intimate tones, whispering over bottles of beer or paper fans.

They weren't able to sit, but there was a spot next to a low wall that they were able to squeeze into. It wasn't large enough for both of them, even with the people beside them politely scooting away. So Yuriko pushed Kathleen forward to lean against the wall. Kathleen was grateful for the small support. She hadn't realized how sore and tired she had gotten from walking around.

Yuriko faced her, head tilted toward the river and the fireworks still going off. The variety of fireworks was incredible to Kathleen, not just large booming ones that filled the sky with neon green and red. There were kinds that scattered across like shimmering waterfalls, or others that sped away in tight spiraling lines.