Chapter 7

"Today is the birthday party of your riding club, isn't it?" Cathrin asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Yes, the riding club gets 80 years old!" replied Yuma euphorically. He had been looking forward to it all these weeks. This year we were allowed to ride together with torches in our hands, which was quite difficult when you did tricks with the horses.

"Are you performing something?" asked Cathrin curiously. I was surprised that she asked, she was never interested in our club. Surprisingly, Yuma and I don't talk about it that much at school.

Yuma nodded affirmatively to Cat's question. We explained to her how the evening would go. After the performance, children and young people are also welcome to ride the horses, as we naturally, also want to advertise our club. Yuma and I wanted to get some sweets and go for a walk in the forest. It was wonderful to go for a walk in the moonlight, Yuma and I did that relatively often.

Cat stood up and announced, "Then I'll come with you!"

Yuma and I blinked at her in surprise. Neither he nor I expected that. So far, she has never been there, but all the better. I smiled at her, but then said, "You'll have to put on a yukata!"

Cat sat down again and said she didn't have one, then Yuma replied nonchalantly, "Don't worry Cat, you're about Kuro's size, aren't you?"

Cat and I looked at each other, then at Yuma.

"Do you have a kink in the optics?" asked Cat, horrified.

"Yuma, did you take a look at us? I'm much smaller..." I replied irritated. Yuma started laughing nervously so as not to have to answer us.

I turned to Cat and said that my mother would have to have another one that fits her. So she wouldn't have to worry.

Cat thanked me, we discussed going to me right after school.

"Yuma, do you want to join us?" I asked him.

"No, I'm sorry, I have to go home today." He replied regretfully.

Jokingly, I asked him, "Huh? So you have a home!"

Yuma looked at me deeply hurt " Kuro... do you really think I'm homeless?" He sighed and quickly changed the subject. "Speaking of which, who's the red-haired boy you're talking to so much right now?" asked Yuma suspiciously.

"He's from the 10th grade..." Cat thought, then she said with a wink, "So as old as you."

"You mean Akito? Yes, he is from class 10 b and is also 16. Yuki and his little sister always do something together, that's why we became friends. Why do you ask?"

"I'm just asking," Cathrin replies "You just look so cute together." she added with a grin.

"W-What? We're just friends, now don't make anything weird out of it..." I complained embarrassed "and his friends are totally afraid of you Yuma!" I said to change the subject and pointed reproachfully at him.

"O-Oh really, which ones?" he asked, pressed. He avoided all my eyes and looked around in the air.

I described the size and hair color of the boys, but he couldn't do much with that. When I then described eye color and overall the face in more detail, it was back to him.

"Ahhh, those are the little guys who tried to blackmail me." he laughed, raised an eyebrow and asked suspiciously, "They remember that?"

Cat and I looked at him in horror. "What did you do?" asked Cat, a little nervous.

He clears his throat briefly and replies, "Um, just a slap in the face?"

Cat looked at him penetratingly.

Yuma held his hands in front of him and grumbled, "Don't look at me like that, Cat!..." he crossed his arms and kept talking, "Well... I have... Maybe everyone got one?" he replied and leaned back in the chair to stare at the ceiling, "And maybe it was a bit harder than it should?"

I giggled briefly and looked at Yuma, "How did they manage to make you angry?"

Yuma laughed bashfully, "They wanted Cat's number. And because we're always together, they thought they could have them if they gave me money."

"You can see how loyal you are," Cat said in a joyful voice and smiled mildly.

In the end, I survived this dreary morning. Cat and I went to my house to give the kimono to her

When we arrived Cat apologized to my mother for just coming along unannounced and asked if she could wear her second kimono. My mother allowed it. After we ate, Cat tried on the kimono, thanked my mother and went home. My mother didn't think it was great that Cat was there. She hates it when I bring someone unannounced, but sometimes it has to be spontaneous. At 6 o'clock I picked up Yuki. Akito was quite surprised to see me in a kimono. I told him that I'm part of the riding club and that I'm going with Yuki tonight.

Then he asked me if I could take Akaya with me as well because she would like to learn how to ride a horse. Actually, the two wanted to go there later, because Akito had to do something first. Of course, it was no problem for me, so we quickly made our way to the festival.

Akaya, Yuki and I walked to the changing rooms of the riding club. There I helped the two to put on their kimonos. Akaya wore a white wool kimono embroidered with red spider lilies. These were emphasized by golden cloud patterns. The kimono was made for Akaya. Yuki, on the other hand, wore a dark blue kimono embroidered with white hydrangeas and black butterflies.

.After I was done with the two, I put on my make-up. Then I brought Yuki to the riding instructor in the riding hall and made my way to the horses. I still had to get Yuma and his horse ready.

When I came out of the riding hall, it was already 7 o'clock. The sky dawned a glowing red. The last ray of sunshine slowly disappeared behind the horizon. I entered the riding arena where Yuma was already waiting for me.

I teasingly asked him, „Hey, you did manage to be on time today?"

„Why, yes, of course! I've made up my mind to be there earlier than you today." He answered in a proud tone while making himself tall.

We both started laughing. I had to paint our horses while Yuma did his makeup.

I painted my horse first. I looked at my work, the horse was now wearing a painted velvet blanket. Yuma's horse was painted in armor. I managed to paint the first side relatively quickly and was just beginning to paint the other side when I saw someone coming around the corner.

„Pff, if that isn't our nerd." An overly annoying voice announced.