Shopping

Slowly, life had become more normal for Kosaki. While this was still far from the Japan she knew and called home. The girl didn't feel any more anxiety that she had when she first arrived. Though what still did fill her with such feelings were the major exams that came up very often in the course.

"Hmm…" Anadama didn't say anything as he tried out her latest creation. The man wrote something down on his clipboard as she waited with dread on his next words. "You pass." He said simply, which let her breath a deep sigh of relief. "I have to say, you're probably the only student I've ever not given full marks one."

"What?" In true Anadama fashion, he had to add in something she didn't need to hear.

"Really, it's because all the students we let in are already prodigies. So this school is more for refinement and mastery." He explained. "With you, we'll say it's a special case." She wished she could say she was like the other students, as she always used to say when she was still in high school.

Yet this time was one of the few times she lagged behind. If only Kosaki could say there was ever a time she was in the lead for something. "Still though, congratulations." He said, walking away.

"Wait." She stopped him. "Are you planning on doing anything later?"

"You shouldn't get it twisted." He knew what she was up to and put a stop to it quickly. "Just because I'm not mean to you, doesn't mean we're friends all of a sudden." Anadama shut her down. "It'd be unprofessional anyway. I am the teacher and you are my student." While he wasn't incorrect, she wasn't sure that his cold attitude fit the job any better either.

"So, I guess I'm just going home then?" She said, which caused him to give her a glare in confusion.

"Isn't Chiffon your friend?" He said. "Maybe you should go be hanging out with someone who actually likes you." While he was right about them having a good relationship. Kosaki couldn't say she was actually friends with the girl. After all, ever since getting here she had spent more time with Anadama than anyone else. Still, he made a good point as she left the academy.

She took out her phone to call up the girl, who would've still been back at the mansion. It made more sense to see if we was willing to head into the city, but as luck would have it, Chiffon already was out in public.

"Well look who finally decided to come to me." She said on the phone. "Look, today's special so you should meet me here." She would give Kosaki the address for her to meet her at. When the girl looked up the spot, it appeared her friend was in a shop mainly meant for selling swimsuits. An odd place to be on a random day, but they did live near the beach so not strange enough for her to question it either.

She got there in no time and slowly walked inside, carefully looking around to try and find Chiffon.

"Hello, do you need any help?" A store employee quickly approached her from the moment she stepped in to offer their services.

"Actually, I'm looking for a friend here." Kosaki nervously responded. Hopefully people around here didn't mind if she entered without an intention of buying anything. "She told me to meet her here."

"Well, the most popular spot's right there." She pointed towards the women's section. "If she's not there, maybe she might be trying on our large selection of cute swimsuits."

"Thank you." Even though she signaled no intent on making a purchase, the person still spoke in trying to sell her something. While it made sense as they were a business, Kosaki could also see a ton of people were filling up the store ready to spend their own money to place their attention to.

Then again, there were a lot of people in this store for some reason. She couldn't be it to be so popular, but the sea of humans gave her a challenge to try and reach the destination where the employee had pointed her towards. Hopefully Chiffon was here to make this discomfort worth it.

"Yoohoo!" A person with a french accent called out. "Kosaki, I'm over here." Somehow with all these people surrounding and towering over her, Chiffon was able to spot her. Thanks to the call out, Kosaki was able to navigate through to find where she wanted to be at. "Good thing you called me today of all days."

"Really? Why?" She asked, looking around wanting to ask about all the people around them. The amount who were all having their own conversations with those around them added difficulty in their own discussion. "What's so special about today?"

"You must've really been freaking out about your exam." She laughed as if the answer were obvious. "It's the fourth of July!"

"Yes, that's the date." Kosaki responded, still unsure of what made it so important. Then, after repeating the words again, her mind began to process the deeper meaning. "Oh, right." She said as the realization hit her. "It's an important day for them."

As someone who had lived in Japan all her life, she had never celebrated the American independence day. Of course, now being in American meant she should get a taste of their culture. "They wear swimsuits to celebrate?" She knew about the fireworks, but this part seemed foreign and odd to her.

"Maybe not everywhere." Chiffon clarified. "But come on, we're in the city of angels. We should totally head down to the beach and have a great time. Plus I bet you didn't pack a bikini when you came here."

"I definitely didn't." She nervously laughed about the situation. Kosaki had no plans on heading to the beach as her studies were considered much more important. Though since her recent exam was a success, there was an opening in her schedule to have fun with such a major holiday. This wasn't just a day of celebration, but a special day for the new world she had little understanding of. Since while Japan and American shared some holidays, this wasn't one of them.

Chiffon took her statement as an excuse to quickly to get to work. Immediately she held up multiple different tops and hung them in front of Kosaki's chest to get an idea of how she might look in them. "Is this really how we should be doing this!?" It got the expected reaction from someone who got concerned about her appearance to the outside world.

"You want to look good, don't you?" Chiffon responded, not slowing down a bit. "Feels like the entire city is going to be there, and I'll have you know that over a million people." Kosaki could've lived not to have to think about it. Not that it would matter since it would be a literal million strangers surrounding her, just like most other public gatherings.

"Americans have… Interesting taste." She commented on one of the tops shown to her, which was of leopard print for whatever reason.

"What about this?" Chiffon showed her a set which designed after the American flag.

"I don't think that fits me…" This back and forth would continue on as Chiffon presented her with various styles, ranging from sparkly bedazzled, cow print, and one that was much too revealing. "Are there any that are a bit more… Quiet?"

"So you want something more conservative?" Chiffon was disappointed in her friend's lack of adventure for swimsuits. "What, you want something boring like this?" She pulled out a simple, teal striped bikini.

"Yes." Kosaki seized her chance and immediately grabbed the first normal out of all she has seen. It also helped that she liked what she saw and believed it to be great for her. "It's my size too, so I don't need to try it out or anything."

"Sheesh, you really want to get out of here." Chiffon was a bit hurt that her friend wasn't as into this activity as she was. "Well, you must really want to hit the beach." So she took it as a positive instead. "I just want to see how these look on me." She held up a few she wanted for herself and most were fairly bombastic. So Kosaki wasn't surprised her friend wanted the same from her.

With Chiffon off to one of the many changing rooms, which had numerous people walking back and forth. Kosaki was left with making a purchase by waiting in the long line with other future beach goers.

As she stood alone, her mind wandered off to what was to come in the future. The two girls were set to have a fun time under the sun at the beach. All topped off after the sun had long set as fireworks would take over as the stars of the night sky.

Yet from the only other party she had been to while here, she knew that this was a night more built for someone like Chiffon and not for someone such as herself. While she knew how to enjoy big parties like the festivals and new years back in Japan. Those were also filled with people she cherished deeply in her heart. If only her friends could be here, but at some point she needed to move on from her high school days now that she had grown to be an adult.

The line moved quickly and soon enough it was her turn to pay for her swimsuit and move on. Chiffon appeared to still be changing, or perhaps she was stuck between two options she simply couldn't make a decision on. Either way, there was still a wait for her as she sat down on one of the benches and hoped she wouldn't be kept waiting.

This allowed her to continue her line of thought, where she'd be with only one person she knew well enough to make a trip to the beach worthwhile. Which led her to think about the only other person she knew well who could make an appearance.

Anadama, for all his aloof nature, could celebrate the holiday. After all, he was the actual American between the three of them and therefore had more reason to celebrate it. Of course she knew better to believe he'd go to the beach to watch some fireworks. A great night for him would be hiding away in the library to go read some books. Maybe even enjoying some sweets instead of dealing with sweat from the hot weather.

There were actually other people she knew who might be celebrating the fourth of July. Chitoge, who should be in New York right now and was also part American. It would be great if she could see her old friend again. After all that time they spent together that she'd cherish forever. That was something worth celebrating.