Tanabata Matsuri
(Star Festival)

 
“Hao aah yu?”
 
If we practiced more we wouldn’t have to go over pronunciation, again.  I thought to myself as I sat tapping the eraser of my pencil on the desk and gazing out the first story window.  Just outside the class next door, class 3-C, was in the middle of gym class.  The girls were in the middle of the track; the area which also doubled as a soccer, baseball, football, and softball field and was now a volley ball court, while the guys ran around the track.  Living in Japan which was only an island, and the most densely populated one at that, schools in the large cities like this one were lucky to have fields at all.  Newer schools have gotten into the practice of placing their fields and pools on the roof.  This school is old and doesn’t even have a pool, just the one field next to the small gym/auditorium.
 
“It isu a naisu day.”
 
How much longer till school is out? I wondered as I shifted my gaze to the open English book in front of me.  I could feel a small bead of sweat trickle down the side of my face.  I would much rather be outside playing volleyball than sitting here suffocating in this blanket of humidity.  The class had the windows open for most of the day; a nice cool breeze had made its way into the room with the salty smell of the sea riding its back.  Our current teacher thought we were falling asleep and made us shut the windows.  We weren’t sleeping, only dozing a bit.  Now nobody was dozing anymore, now they were numb as if the heat and humidity was seeping all the knowledge from their heads leaving only a dull glaze across their eyes.
 
“Hatsumi, Hatsumi… OI!” I suddenly realized I had spaced out, my mind suddenly a victim of the brain sucking heat.  “Hatsumi, class is over.  He’s letting us go early,” My friend who sat two desks over was standing over me with her hands on her hips.  “If you keep this up there’s no way you’ll pass the entrance exams to high school, let alone Mizuki High.”  I looked around the room and there was no longer anyone standing before the class over exaggerating basic pronunciations and students were wandering around the room.  Some, it seemed, had raced to the windows and were now hanging out of them.  Some of the boys had even jumped out of the windows and were leaning on the side of the building watching the girls play volleyball.  I looked down at the watch that hung on the side of my brown leather bag with a few other key chains and charms for good luck, good health, wisdom, and luck on exams times five.  That is I have five of them and probably a dozen more at home.  Papa’s been bringing one home every few days or so since I told him I was going to try to get into Mizuki Private High School.  I’m not sure if he thinks I need help or if he’s just being overly concerned.  Either way he’s just trying to help.  My watch was another present from him.  I don’t wear it because the band is just a little too big and it’s not very pretty.  Papa doesn’t do much shopping, only if he has to, that is.  He doesn’t have a wife, like most people, to do that kind of stuff for him, so I’m usually the one that picks out his suits for work.  His wife, my mother, ran out on us when I was still little.  She claimed that she just wasn’t ready for children.  Papa said she even tried to convince him to put me up for adoption, but he wouldn’t.  He’s from a big family and he’s always dreamed of having one just like it. So, she left one day, just out of the blue.  Didn’t tell him or anything, the divorce papers showed up in the mail one day a few years later.  She apparently was going to get married so she had to tie up the loose ends.  They even took her name off my birth certificate.  As far as I’m concerned I never had a mother.  Just me and Papa and that’s all that really matters.  But, back to the watch, he gave it to me wrapped very nicely in a pretty orange paper.  It was apparent that it was wrapped at the department store, but I didn’t mention it to him.  He could tell that I didn’t really like it, and he offered to take it back but I wouldn’t let him.  I need some proof when I tell my friends that he can’t shop for himself.  I can just imagine him shopping for the watch.  He’d be in the nearby department store leaning over the glass case rubbing the back of his head with his right hand while creating fresh fingerprints on the clean glass with his left as he tried to choose between several different styles.  The clerk tried to help him out, but his indecisiveness hinders her attempts.  The clerk would have surly been drawing him towards the more expensive silver or gold watches, maybe Gucci or Fossil.  However once he found out their prices he’d quickly make his way to the cheaper end of the display case.  He would have said he was looking for a sturdy watch because he knows I don’t keep an eye on my stuff during Judo practices and things tend to get smashed as people are thrown about.  Finally being limited to five or six watches he goes for the one that’s not quite the cheapest but not the most expensive.  That of course isn’t the prettiest one either.  With a yellow face surrounded by pink with a blue band it’s no wonder he bought it on sale.
 
The bargain bin watch read 2:30, our teacher let us out a half our early.  I wasn’t supposed to meet up with Akita until 3:30.  He was going to head straight for my house after school.
 
“Are you going to the festival tonight with Akita?” My friend asked as I packed my school bag and walked with her out of the room and into the hall.
 
“Our fathers are going to be busy with something at the shrine so we’re going to meet them there,” I explained as we walked down the hall and slipped out of our slippers and into our street shoes.
 
“My father is away at a meeting.  He said he would try to make it back in time for the fireworks, but I’m not going to raise my hopes or anything.  My mother is going to wait for him at home, while my brothers and me head on to the festival,” She explained as we walked out into the cool air and bright sun.  I looked up at the cloudless sky and hoped it would remain so the rest of the night.  It would be sad if we couldn’t se the two stars meet tonight of all nights.
 
“I’m going to head to Mizuki and see if I can catch Akita as he’s leaving,” I announced suddenly as I took off running out of the school gate.
 
“Say hi for me!” My friend yelled after me before I disappeared around the corner.  Akita and I have been best friends since before we were even in school.  Our fathers had worked together one time on a project and became good friends.  They’d bring us to each other’s houses when they needed to get extra work done and Akita and I would play together with no quarrel.  Akita had lost his mother as she gave birth to a still born.  He barely remembers her, but treasures what memories he does have.  He doesn’t understand why I have such disdain for my own mother, but we usually just take it as our opinions and don’t get into that argument.  Our fathers like to help out at the shrine during festivals when they can.  Papa says it makes him feel good to help out since he’s usually too busy to make regular visits.  But once they are through with their work in the shrine we meet up for a small dinner and then Akita and I go off on our own to meet up with our friends while our fathers try to pick up women, only to get embarrassed when they find out they’re married or have boyfriends.  Our fathers don’t seem to realize sometimes that we really aren’t family and what happens in public can be quite embarrassing.  Akita is especially annoyed by this, mainly because of this one time a few years ago when Papa had asked him to take me out for my birthday so he could get together a surprise for me at home.  He really didn’t want to because it looked as if we were on a date, but his father had somehow convinced him to do it anyways.  I lost count how many of our friends from school we had to tell that we were only friends.  I mean really, me and Akita girlfriend and boyfriend.  I just can’t see that, maybe I just know him too well. I first met Achika Honda at this time; she’s in Akita’s class at school.  She was trying to flirt with Akita and knocked me out of the way, only I tripped and about fell into the busy street.  I truly thought I was going to get hit, but just as it should have happened I was suddenly in a warm embrace.  When I opened my eyes, Michio Sanada was looking back asking if I was okay.  I was stunned to say the least, but not by the near accident.  This was also the first time I had met Michio, he was also one of Akita’s classmates from school and like all the others thought that we were on a date.  Akita was especially stern with him in telling him that we were only friends and that our fathers were friends, but that didn’t stop Michio from ragging on Akita for the next couple of weeks.  Since then they’ve become really good friends.
 
Akita’s become a lot more easygoing about hanging around with me since then, more like how I’d expect a brother to act.  Especially since I’m not the most expressive person out there, and I can’t stand being the main attraction in any situation.  Akita takes it as his job to trick me into doing things that I normally wouldn’t do on my own.
 
The last time was at this one small shrine a year ago this past spring.  It was celebrating its annual festival, and Akita had volunteered to help out with the festivities knowing it would look good on his records.  He convinced me to come and see him and to keep him company during his shift early in the afternoon.  I arrived at the shrine just after one.  It was crowded already with families, priests, and it looked as if officials from the government were making official visits.  I heard the people around me trying to guess who the officials were and I heard some passing rumors that the Prime Minister and the Emperor were going to show up as well, but of course they were just rumors.  People were offering food and money to the deity that was enshrined there.  Paper lanterns had been strung up between buildings and along the walls, except the main shrine building, ready to light up the area once night had come.  Fire crackers were popping and whistling in a far off corner and food stands had just been set up around the street entrance selling everything from noodles to octopi on a stick.  I followed a small family to the main shrine and waited in line for my turn.  I approached the shrine and saw Akita off on the side wearing his white kimono and light blue hakama or split skirt (you know the same thing samurai wear).  I walked up to the main shrine building and grabbed the thick red and white rope, which was so thick I could barley wrap my hand all the way around it.  Using all my strength I shook the rope as hard as I could clanking the bells at the top and awaking the deity, though as much as the bells have been rung and all the fireworks going off I doubt the deity was doing much sleeping.  I tossed 50,000 yen into the collection box and then clapped my hands firmly twice and bowed.  As I was walking away from the shrine Akita pulled me from the path.  I followed him to a less crowded part of the shrines’ complex.
 
“I saw you as you made an offering.  I told one of the priests I knew you and he wanted me to thank you for the offering.  He was surprised a student would offer so much,” Akita announced as we walked down a small path.
 
“Papa gave it to me,” I explained as we sat down on the bench that was away from all the commotion, “It looks like the festival is going to be a success.”
 
“Yea, they’ve already collected much more than they expected for this time of the day.  It’s going to be crazy when the night falls and the main events start up.”
 
“Akita,” I looked at him square in his soft brown eyes,” I know you didn’t drag me out here just to keep you company.  You knew Papa and I had planned to come tonight.”
 
“And he’s still coming right?” Akita had asked me, he had a playful smile on his lips and the light in his eyes seemed to dance, but that may have just been the leaves of a nearby tree blocking the light of the sun.  I didn’t answer him and after a moment Akita jumped up and dusted off the back of his hakama.
 
“It’s about time.” He then grabbed my hand and pulled me from the bench and down a nearby path.  After stumbling a few steps I found my footing and was forced to follow.  Soon I was pulled into the crowd of the festival and found it hard to keep from bumping into the people as I was pulled along.  Akita suddenly stopped and I ran into his back.  The area we had stopped in was even more crowded than the rest of the shrine.  I lifted myself to my toes and looked over Akita’s shoulder.  In a small clearing surrounded by cherry trees in full bloom were laid out several padded mats. I then noticed the fighters lined up on the other side of where we stood.  They wore the traditional gi associated with Judo and they all had very high level belts around their waists.
 
“They’re having a Judo match?” I questioned excitedly.  I had been learning Judo from Papa and my grandmother since I could remember, so it was always fun to watch the masters at work.
 
“They’re from the top ranked judo school in the city.”
 
“When are they going to start?” I had asked, and then regretted it when Akita turned around and had that same mysterious grin on his face.
 
“They’re waiting for you,” I remember a flash in my eyes before Akita pulled me forward yet again, only later did I find out Papa had taken a picture of my expression.  In one swift moment Akita had pushed me forward, his toes on the heels of my loafers keeping them on the ground so I’d walk out of them and onto the mat.
 
“Akita? What are you doing?” I turned and fumed at him.  I could feel my face burning.
 
“Put this on so you won’t tear you’re shirt,” One of the members of the Judo school had walked up behind me.  I turned around and looked at him but his belt caught my eye.  He was at the highest level anyone could wish to achieve and probably the head of the school.  Carefully, as if the jacket was made of thorns, I took it from him and slipped it over my shirt, tying it with a white belt he had also provided.  I had then realized why Papa had criticized all the outfits I had tried on.  He was in on this plan and I knew he was also out in the crowd somewhere.  I reached into the pockets of my shorts and fished out a band to pull my waist length black hair back with as I walked into the middle of the mat.  I looked at my opponent; it was the same person who had handed me the gi.  We bowed to each other and approached.
 
The match lasted only a few seconds.  I landed on my back and watched the clouds pass over the blue of the sky.
 
“You have a lot of skill.  You truly are a member of the Shu family,” my opponent offered his hand and helped me to stand, “At least one member of each generation of your family has been a member of our school.” I looked at the man before me in shock.  I knew Papa’s Mama had taught him as he had taught me, but I never even imagined that they were connected to such a famous school. “Your father was well on his way to being the head of the school…” the man trailed off as he looked off into the crowd, I followed his gaze and found my father standing at the edge of the mat grinning.  Father told me later he had quit the school after mother left us.  He had always planned to teach me judo, but he said that he had decided not to tell me about the school so I wouldn’t get a big head or my hopes up. “Hatsumi, like your father and his mother before him, you have proven to have the skill needed to become part of our school.  Would you join us?” I don’t think he really had to worry about it.  I still don’t think I’m that good, but Papa seems to think that I’ll eventually be heading to the championships one of these days.
 
Since then I‘ve been practicing at the school everyday after normal school. Everyday that is, except today because today is the Star Festival.  It is the celebration of two lovers who lived on either side of the Milky Way.  They had met and had become deeply in love to the point that they had forgotten about their daily duties, one of which was to weave the cloth that was used to make the clothes of the Gods.  To keep the two lovers at their duties they were forbidden to see each other except for once a year.  This festival was all about being with those you loved, and wishes coming true.  Since I’m too young to have a boyfriend, as far as Papa was concerned, that meant being with family.  Since neither of our fathers had wives (and were too busy for girlfriends) and really no family close to visit with on the small holidays and festival days, our two small families would usually spend them together.   No clubs were to meet today and schools like the judo school I now attend usually didn’t meet either, unless they were to participate in some part of the festival.  Our school wasn’t scheduled for any such event so I was free to go on my own and have fun.
 
Looking back down at the watch on my bag I saw that I still had some time before Akita’s school let out, but I didn’t want to take any chances, so I picked up my pace.  The sun was warm and the breeze would occasionally find its way through the maze of concrete walls which gave privacy to the houses which they surrounded.
 
Continuing on my way down the small street that would have been categorized as an alley anywhere else in the world, the red brick clock tower that marked the main entrance to the school caught my eye.  Following the endless maze I caught sight of a bit of red that stood out against all the gray.  Around the corner of the red wall was the gate at the front of the school.  The school building itself is all red brick like the wall that surrounded it.  There is a small gate made wide enough for just the normal person to pass through while a much larger gate existed next to it that could accommodate cars and other large vehicles, or a mass of students as they arrived and left the school from day to day.  Between the two gates is a small guard shack where a security guard kept watch for late students and those that would attempt to skip.  The small gate was locked and the security guard was opening the large gate in preparation for the bell.  I approached the older man who wouldn’t have been able to catch anyone if they had tried to skip, and helped him push the steel gate open.  He thanked me and I asked if I could wait inside the gate for Akita, only I just told him he was my brother because he seemed to be the kind that tended to be a bit strict with girls and boys meeting each other and things like that.  I thanked him and walked over to the large Dogwood tree that stood in the school’s yard.  Like the school the tree wasn’t natural to its surroundings.  The school was build in the late Meiji era or the early 1900’s and was originally a government building.  After the destruction of the war it was one of the few buildings that had survived.  It was then turned into a school and the dogwood tree, which was one of several that had traveled over the Pacific from America, was planted here and the school was named after it.
 
I leaned against the cool bark and looked up into the tree’s many branches. Deep within velvet folds of green I could just make out a small nest.  I wondered if there was a resident still there or if neighborhood kids had climbed up and scared it away.  The clock rang three and I was brought back to the ground with the cool bark in my back.  I watched as the students began to flow from the doors.  The boy wore their white shirts, some with the first few buttons undone and black pants.  The girls were wearing their white blouses, minus their cream colored cardigans which had been put up for the summer and black knee length skirts.  Some of the girls, trying to get the attention of some of the boys, rolled up the top of their skirts to make them shorter! I suddenly felt self conscious in my own sailor style uniform complete with the large red bow in the front.  I scanned the students who were making their way out of the building and saw the one person that I was not in the mood to deal with.  Leaning against the stairs which led down from the front doors was Achika Honda.  She was making it her life to make Akita her boyfriend, and Akita didn’t seem to want anything to do with it.  I scooted around the side of the tree so she wouldn’t see me standing there and watched as she pulled Akita from the mass of students and led him away from the others.  I saw Michio follow him to back him up if needed.
 
“What do you want now?” Akita asked as I watched her latch onto his arm and snuggled into her catch.
 
“I was just wondering when you were planning on attending the festival tonight.  I thought that maybe you and I could go together,” Achika replied in her high sweet sing song of a voice.
 
“Sorry Achika, I’ll be going with Hatsumi and our fathers.”
 
“Hatsumi Shu?! That brute!? She’s not even cute, Akita-chan.” I heard her exclaim her voice dropping in disgust.
 
“You know that’s not true, Achika.  You’re just afraid of her because she could easily throw you across this yard,” Michio spoke up.
 
“Like I said, she’s a brute. Not a real woman like I am,” Achika snipped.
 
“The only difference between you and Hatsumi is the fact that you have to act all cute, poof out your breasts, and thrust yourself onto guys just to get noticed.”
 
“Akita-chan doesn’t think that way, do you?” Achika asked squeezing Akita’s arm.
 
“Quit using chan when you say my name!”  I peeked out from behind the tree too see what was going on.  Michio noticed me and we locked eyes.  I knew my cheeks were quickly turning bright red; they always do when he looks at me.  I tried to hide it as I nodded to him, and started to make a long trek along the wall. “Look, Achika.  You’re nice looking and all, but I’m not interested in a relationship right now.  I want to concentrate on my studies.”
 
“What and I don’t?”
 
“It’s not like it’s a huge secret.  You are making the lowest grades in the class after all,” Michio chirped in.
 
“I didn’t ask for your opinion! If you keep hanging around girls like that Shu, you’ll never have a chance with girls like me!”
 
“If that’s my choice I’ll choose Hatsumi in an instant,” Michio replied calmly.  I froze when I heard Michio’s response.  Was there some chance that Michio could possibly like me? What am I thinking, there are plenty of girls his own age, why would he want someone two years younger then he was.
 
“Listen to me.  If you know what’s good for you…”
 
“You’ll back off now,” I stated rather loudly regaining my senses.  She spun around to face me her eyes wide in shock.
 
“How long have you been here!?”
 
“Long enough.”
 
“Why you!” Achika threatened here hands clenched so tightly at her sides they were shaking.
 
“Is something going on here?” The guard asked as he made his way over to us.  I looked over at Akita and Michio and we looked at Achika whose face was quickly turning a deep shade of red.
 
“No, Sir nothing at all.” Achika spat as she firmly placed her nose in the air and walked off.
 
“Well, you kids better get going, you don’t want to be late for that festival,” the guard warned as he shoed us out of the gate.  We walked down to the end of the block and then paused for a moment before we went our separate ways.
 
“Akita, hurry up. You know Papa will start to worry if we’re late!” I tugged at Akita’s arm as I tried not to let Michio see my blushing face.
 
“Hey, Akita, I’ll see you tonight, right?” Michio asked his face suddenly a light shade of pink.
 
“Right, just like we discussed at lunch,” Akita waved as he and I crossed the street.
 
“What did you discuss at lunch?” I asked looking over at him.
 
“Which kimono are you going to wear tonight?” Akita asked ignoring my question.
 
“Akita, what are you planning this time?!” I asked as I quickened my pace so I could get ahead of him and force him to stop.  Akita just lifted his arms up behind his head and looked me straight in the eyes.
 
“I think you should wear the purple one.  Purple looks good on you,” He replied as he stepped around me and continued down the street.
 
“AKITA!” I yelled in frustration knowing this only meant that he had something else planned for me. Akita took off running and I followed as we disappeared into the concrete maze.