Hana's Elves

Hana leaned back in her chair, her eyes searching the eyes of the four women at the table for reactions. Her own expressions were hidden by the dark sunglasses she wore to keep her raging hangover at least partially at bay. Once Ranko knew the truth, there had been no point in trying to hide it from the others.Yui spoke first. "So, we're in trouble, and our solution is to throw a party?"Ranko nodded. "Something like that, yeah. We get the word out on the college campuses, and I think we can put a pretty big dent in it, anyway."Mei shrugged in exasperation. "But Christmas is less than two weeks away. How do you think we're going to pull this off?"Ranko cocked her head in Mei's direction. "Together.""Well, I bet we could do a couple of special themed cocktails to get people ordering more drinks. I've been wanting to experiment with some stuff for a while."Ranko clapped her hands once. "Yes! Yui, that's a great idea! We'll need to make sure we have plenty of Christmas songs loaded up, too."Hana nudged Ranko's arm, reclaiming her attention. "One problem we're glossing over, missy. Most Christmas songs are in English, remember?"The redhead shrugged. "I'll just make the sounds; I don't even have to know what they mean."The proprietress shook her head. "That's not going to work. You won't know what to choreograph or emphasize. Besides, if you're going to make me accept your help, I'm going to make you accept mine. We're going to help you learn it."Ranko rolled her eyes with a smirk. "Christmas hardly seems like the right time to go back to school, but if you think it'll help, I'll try." She turned to the blue-haired girl to her right. "Any ideas on how we can decorate this place on the cheap?"Mei rubbed her chin for a moment thoughtfully before answering. "Didn't Ayako say her mother-in-law loved Christmas when we met at the wedding, mama? And with them in Florida for the winter, I bet all their decorations are just sitting in an attic somewhere. Maybe we could borrow them?"Izumi clapped her younger sister on the shoulder. "Great thinking, Mei! Wanna give Aya a call later?"Mei nodded. "I could do some Christmas desserts or something, too, I guess."Izumi gave her a bright grin and a thumbs-up, and then turned her gaze back to the starlet of their little show. "Speaking of getting things decorated…""Hmm?" Ranko didn't know where this was going, but she wasn't sure she was going to like it.Izumi grinned at her. "This isn't just folks coming to a bar and hearing some karaoke. If we pack this place, they'll be here to see you. We've got to have you looking the part."Yui chuckled. "You've been trying to dress that poor girl up since the day you met her, Izzi. She's not a Barbie doll." Turning her gaze to Ranko, she nodded. "That said, this time I think she's got a point, Ran-chan."Ranko groaned, lowering her head. "Alright, alright, you win this time."Izumi clapped her hands excitedly. "A true fashion emergency! I've been training my whole life for this!"Ranko chuckled. "Think you could use some of that energy to spread the word around the college?"Izumi turned the little pink notebook she'd been writing in to show Ranko that it was already filling up with ideas of places where the show could be promoted. "I got this, hon."Hana looked around at her girls, managing a smile. "It seems like everyone has a job except me."Yui grinned, putting her arm around Hana's shoulder. "Oh, I'm sure we'll find a use for you yet, old lady."Hana gave her a "you've gotta be kidding me" glance over the rims of her sunglasses with a smile, but then took off her sunglasses so everyone could see the sincerity in her eyes as she spoke."I am so proud of you all."Yui stood, leaning over Hana's chair to hug her around the shoulders. "Well, good thing all of us had someone in our lives who taught us how to pick ourselves up when we get knocked down and fight for what's important to us."Hana smiled up at her, and the other three girls stood to join them in a short group hug.Yui let go first, clapping her hands loudly, cringing when she noticed Hana recoiling from the sound. "What are you all standing around for? We've got work to do!" The wayward sisters scattered to attend to their tasks."Don't forget, girls, we still have to open tonight, too. Let's make sure everything's ready." From four different corners of the room, the response came in unison: "Yes, mama!"Ranko started heading for the kitchen, but Izumi playfully grabbed her ponytail and gave it a gentle tug. "Where do you think you're going?"The redhead shrugged. "I was gonna help prep the kitchen."Izumi smiled mischievously. "Okay, good idea. I'll head to the mall by myself, and you can just wear whatever I pick out for you."Ranko gulped. "Uh, mama, Izzi and I are going out for a while."Izumi smiled. "I thought you might say something like that. Let's go!"