◯◯◯

◯◯◯

Just when Kiriko is wandering around with no place in mind. She bumps into Emma shopping with her classmates.

"Kiriko-chan!" the sandy-haired and honey-eyed girl wave her hand and call out the dark-haired and purple-eyed one. Kiriko found the owner of the voice, "Emma?" the girl approach her.

"What are you doing alone in here, Kiriko-chan? Are you with Milim-chan?" she asked and Kiriko shook her head.

"Actually, I am with Mikey and Draken a few moments ago but then we parted since they have a plan with Takemitchy..." Kiriko blinked when she noticed Emma's sheepish expression, "Emma." the girl pouted, "You are with Mikey!"

"Yeah?"

"You had a date with Mikey!" she sighed at the conclusion that she just heard.

"Emma, I said I am with Mikey AND Draken," she said again emphasizing the last part. But Emma seems to be an expert for acting like she didn't hear it.

"So you are free now?"

"Kind of. I promised them to attend Toman's meeting in the shrine---" Emma wiggled her eyebrows, "--- stop wiggling your eyebrows."

Kiriko decided to switch the attention, "How about you? What are you doing in here?" she asked even though she already deduced her answer seeing three unknown girls that she left just to say approach her.

Emma seemed to remember as well, "Ah! I was with my classmates. They want to go shopping with me." she said but a hint of annoyance is present in her tone.

"Is there something wrong?" Emma blinked at the girl quite surprised about her question.

"H-How can you say?"

"It's obvious. You are annoyed, Emma." she bluntly responded. Kiriko looked at her in the eyes, "Tell me why." she demanded.

"It's just that... they brought me here because they are obviously hoping to bump with a Toman higher up members. If they are lucky, they might see my brother face to face," she whined while pouting like a little kid complaining to her mother. Kiriko now understands the sullen aura that the girl is emitting since she saw her.

"Then, want to hang out with me?"

"Huh?"

"I am not really good at hanging out but... I can be with you?" She is unsure. It is obvious that Kiriko is not the type of person who will offer to be with you just to hang out. She is more like... the one being dragged around just to get off from her bed and favorite pillow. Emma is elated to hear it, "I--I accept!" she slightly raise her tone, "Let's hang out! Kiriko-chan!"

Kiriko is in complete shock at Emma's immediate response.

"Wait here, Kiriko-chan. I'll just say goodbye to those girls." Kiriko did not have a chance to speak when the honey-eyed girl rush towards the direction where her classmates are. Annoyance is all over the girl's faces as they sent a glare in Kiriko's direction. But they could not maintain their eye contact when they met her purplish eyes. They slightly blushed.

Kiriko is simply wearing white denim shorts and a plain black shirt tucked in a white Leather Platform Chuck Taylor All Star of Converse and a black baseball cap on her head.

Yep, it is simple, and she is killing it.

"They said that they don't mind it! Let's go Kiriko-chan!" Emma then dragged the girl, "Let's explore Shibuya!"

Emma looked at her, "How long have you been in Shibuya, Kiriko-chan?" she asked.

"A year."

"Then, let me tour you around!"

Emma drag her, "This is the busiest street in Shibuya--- Center Gai!" she said to her as she point to the place, "They're a lot of things to do in here... well, mainly to eat hahaha!"

They walk in the Center Gai while Emma excitedly tells the names of each store that they pass by and try out some skewers along the way.

"Next on top-- Yoyogi Park!" the park is packed with people because today is weekend, "The park is actually divided into two sides, the other one for the Festival site and the other one for the Open Side." they walk a few minutes in the park while Emma is telling stories about Toman in Yoyogi Park.

"We have arrived in Mega Donki!" Emma said as they stand in front of a mall, "It only takes five minutes to walk from Shibuya Station and an eight minutes drive from Ikejiri EXIT of Tokyo Route 3 Shibuya Line Metropolitan Expressway."

"You know your stuff."

Emma giggled, "Perks of being a shopaholic and having a bike addict brother. You'll know the way hahaha!"

The two decided to cut their walk trip and go back to the open side of the Yoyogi Park to rest. They sat on the grass and let the wind brush through their hair.

"Ahm... Kiriko-chan."

"Hmm?"

"I've been wanting to ask you... where are you on August 3?"

Kiriko flinched at the sudden question. Now that she remembers it, she broke the promise of attending the festival last August 3.

"Unexpected stuff happened," she answered. Though it is quite true since she did not expect to receive an order of infiltration at that time. Emma hummed in response.

"Chifuyu also said that..." she lowly said then turn her eyes to her, "But how did you know that Draken is with Takemitchy?"

"I asked?"

"Who did you ask?"

"I don't know his name because of the brawl."

"Hmm."

Her lie is flawless, and she is confident.

"Then, why did you pay Draken's bills?" that she did not expect.

Yes, she is the one who paid Draken's hospital bills. But it should have remained in secret. The one who rats her out is the one and only pink-headed friend of hers who somehow slipped her tongue when she is talking with Hina. And Hina being innocent as she can accidentally mention it to Emma who she told Draken and Mikey.

"What do you mean about that?" Is it too late to act like she doesn't know anything?

Emma looked at her with narrowed eyes. This part of her reminds her of Mikey. Kiriko sighed and defeatedly said, "Yes. It was me."

"Why?" Emma asked again going back. Kiriko lay down on the grass as she watches the sun hiding, "I don't really know..." she truthfully answered.

Emma could sense that the answer she gave is true and that she is as well, curious about herself by the action she made. After all, she thinks that she is not that close enough to Toman.

Of course, it is not true.

Mikey already gave the Division Captains and Vice-Captains a brief order to protect the Toman girls consisting of her, Hina, Milim, and Kiriko without their consent. Toman respects girls and they want their girls to be respected and protected as well. This did not reach their ears as it was only mentioned between a meeting of higher-ups. But Emma could see that her brother, is starting to develop an adoration for Kiriko.

Maybe he already had.

Looking at the time Kiriko stood up, "I gotta get ready, it's nearly eight o'clock."

"Eh? That fast?" she whined and pouted. Kiriko chuckled, "Let's hang out again with Milim and Hina. Tour us around more in Shibuya." Emma smiled and agreed, "Sure!"

After that, Kiriko made sure that Emma will get home safely before heading to the Musashi Shrine. She is only walking since she can't really bring her bike outside of the base and for such personal reasons.

The bike she is talking about is the air bike that only Vongola members who earned a title could have. As for her, she got her air bike when she was titled the Cloud's Fairy Reaper by the members. It is like a medal, but useful. However, it is not allowed to be used in normal situations.

"Should I buy a bike?"

She heard an engine getting near her and a motorbike stops just beside her. She looked at the person and then saw her cousin, Chifuyu.

"Ah, it's just you."

"Huh? Where are you heading at this hour?"

"Musashi Shrine," she answered and hopped on his bike.

"Musashi Shrine? But we are having a meeting!--- and why are you on my bike now?!"

She holds Chifuyu's clothes rather than wrapping her arms around his waist, "Your leader told me to go."

"Since when did you follow his orders?" he asked and started the bike.

"I kind of wondering that with myself," she answered.

Chifuyu is tense. Kiriko could feel the tension on Chifuyu's torso.

"Hey---"

"It's about the incident, right." she said and Chifuyu nodded, "Is it dangerous?"

She chuckled, "What do you think?"

"It is." Chifuyu answered seriously, "Draken almost got killed. Now, a gang is trying to crush Toman. Kyo-niisan called me and it is clear that Toman is already involved." from the side mirror from his bike, he looked at the expression that Kiriko is giving. Her eyes are staring at the sky.

She remained like that until they reached the shrine. Chifuyu parked his bike, "Let's go." Kiriko simply followed him with a lot in her mind.

He is correct. Toman is already involved in this matter. But they had no idea about their involvement.

"Kiriko?" she heard Chifuyu calling her. She smiled and continue climbing the stairs as she is thinking what might happen if they somehow discover the secret that she is hiding.

ＨＡＰＰＹ ７Ｋ ＲＥＡＤＳ!

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙏𝙍 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙘 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚. 𝙄 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩'𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 7𝙆 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙤𝙪𝙨. 𝙃𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙮𝙖'𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜! 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝~!

卍