Noriko threw a
worried look at her phone. Urufu didn't answer calls over the radio
and this was the third call he failed to pick up.
We're on stage
in a few minutes. What are you doing?
“Nothing?”
Kuri asked? Behind the stage it was almost possible to talk, if
shouting counted as talking.
Noriko shook her
head.
“Damn! He knew
I was up to something.”
Up to
something? “What did you plan?” Noriko asked her friend.
“Pissing on a
tree,” Kuri answered. “Ulf being the tree.”
Noriko shook her
head again. The connotation was lost on her.
“You know, like
a dog marking territory?” Kuri tried again.
“You planned to
pee on Urufu?”
That stopped Kuri
in her tracks. She slapped her hands to her face, but she soon
removed them and shot Noriko a very twisted and very knowing grin.
“No, I don't think he's into that.”
A sudden visual
flashed through Noriko's mind, and this time it was her turn to fly
both hands to her face. “I didn't… I mean…,” she stammered.
While it was
clear Kuri hadn't heard a word Noriko still saw teasing understanding
glimmer in her eyes. When Kuri threw her head back and guffawed
Noriko knew Kuri had seen exactly what flashed though her mind
moments earlier.
“You have a
surprisingly dirty mind,” Kuri shouted when she was done laughing.
“But no,” she continued and turned serious all of a sudden, “I
planned to show the world we belong together.”
Kuri made her
last preparations for the show, and Noriko listened to the
school-band guitarist reaching the crescendo that marked the end of
their participation.
They couldn't
have prepared all that well, because the sound was out of tune, a
little like the sound of wailing sirens mixing into the music.
With a thunderous
rumble from drums and electric guitars the show finished and all band
members bowed to their cheering audience.
The gym hall fell
eerily silent despite the music sound technicians poured out of the
speakers while everyone prepared the fashion show.
Urufu, where
are you? If he didn't arrive within a couple of minutes Kuri
needed to change the schedule. Nao couldn't stand in for Urufu. He
was too tall for that. Anyone else?
“I'll bloody
kill him,” Kuri muttered from the hangers closest to them both.
“Nao-kun, come here!”
Nao-kun.
She's calling her senior Nao-kun. Noriko grinned at Nao who
came rushing obediently. Guess that's Kuri for you.
“Nao-kun, can
you run a double with these?” Kuri asked and fingered two sets of
clothes.
Nao looked at
them and nodded. “Why?”
“Ulf's not
here. I'm tall enough to show off his costumes as a fun gimmick.”
You're not
serious!
“I'd love to
see that, if Noriko allows,” Nao said. He flashed her a smile that
for once had Noriko's heart skip a beat.
I think you're
reaching your goal, Nao. She looked at him and revelled in the
warmth that spread though her body. I'm really falling in love
with you.
“Yukio, Kyoko,
prepare for stage. Let's get this show running!”
Kuri's words
reached her through a daze. A few seconds more. Noriko let her
eyes linger on Nao. Yes, I definitely am.
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