"Sadako, do you think these shoes would pair well with this outfit?" I asked as I arranged my hair.
I waited.
"Sadako?"
Still no response.
I let my hands fall from my hair and turned around. She was standing nearby, looking at a blouse with an absent expression.
"Sadako, didn't you hear me?"
"Sorry. I was thinking of something."
She placed her skirt on the bed.
"I see." I glanced at the clock. "Would you like to have breakfast together?"
"No. I'll be getting breakfast with Nakamura."
She bit her lip slightly as she answered.
"Oh. I see."
I looked at the time again.
"Hmm... It's almost time. I should get going."
I began getting dressed.
Sadako said nothing. She sat on the bed, the plaid skirt resting across her hands as she looked down at it.
"That would look lovely with that cream-colored blouse we bought."
She glanced at the blouse, then back at the skirt.
I picked up my purse and slipped the strap over my shoulder before reaching for my cheque book.
I paused.
Might need to visit the bank.
I opened it and checked the amount I had available.
"I'm leaving," I said.
I made my way out of the room.
After picking up my parasol, I opened the front door and waited a moment for Sadako to follow.
She didn't.
I closed it.
Maybe I should have worn a hat.
The stairs were still warm from the morning sun, but the heat hadn't become unpleasant yet. Outside, the sun remained mild, and a fragmented rainbow stretched faintly across the sky. It gave the morning an almost angelic touch.
I glanced back at the apartment before making my way toward the bus stop.
I still had time.
I would go to the bank first, then meet up with Mary.
The bus arrived, and I climbed aboard.
People were already dressed for the festival.
Masks appeared everywhere I looked, some simple and others elaborate enough to catch my attention immediately.
That's pretty.
I looked at a couple seated together. They wore one-sided masks that seemed to fit together as a single design when they sat beside each other.
Two swans.
"That's so adorable."
I turned toward the window.
"I apologize, but I was curious. Why does your mask have a swan and his a goose?"
The question made me turn back.
An older man who had been waiting for the bus with me was speaking to the couple.
"Oh! Haha."
The woman laughed, placing a hand against her cheek.
"He said he wanted to be different."
She placed a hand on the man's shoulder.
He had his eyes closed and said nothing.
"I picked a swan because they mate for life, and he said he would be a goose. With my logic being life partners, he was also on track with a goose, even though it is rather silly."
She poked him lightly on the head.
Several people laughed.
Even the old man.
Goose mate for life?
I looked at the mask again.
The one I had thought was simply beautiful suddenly seemed like something more.
That's exactly what the Halo Festival gets you.
I smiled.
There was always more meaning behind the masks than I initially expected.
After getting off the bus, I made my way to the bank.
Sixty thousand should be enough money. Right?
I adjusted my bag after stepping outside and glanced at my watch.
What time is it?
I checked again.
And I still have time to spare.
I exhaled and climbed onto another bus.
"Wow!"
The exclamation slipped out before I could stop myself.
A man had more than just face paint. His hair seemed to have been dyed as well, with streaks of white, black, and what looked like yellow running through it.
He looked like the sun.
The markings continued down toward his chest, making it seem as though the sun itself were about to burst out of him.
"The Crack of Dawn. You like?"
He was speaking to a little boy who had been staring at him.
The boy nodded with a smile.
His mother gave a small smile as she glanced at the man's appearance.
I looked at him a little longer.
I wonder if I should get face paint instead of the mask I had planned.
The bus continued on until we reached my stop.
I stepped off and immediately spotted Mary waiting nearby.
"Did you wait long?"
"No. Not too long. You look lovely."
She adjusted her hat.
"You too."
Her brown maxi skirt and white top looked really beautiful, and the hat somehow tied the whole outfit together.
I should have worn a hat.
My eyes lingered on her for another moment.
"Were you listening?"
Her voice pulled me back.
"Sorry. What were you saying?"
I looked away.
"We are going to the hospital to get Karly."
She repeated herself while putting on her sunglasses.
"Oh! Okay."
"No. I'd rather not."
Karly turned toward the window.
Ugh.
Maybe we shouldn't have bothered.
I prepared for us to leave, but that clearly wasn't happening.
"Why not? I'm buying you a dress if that is the issue."
I looked at her.
It wasn't even about taking a hint anymore. Couldn't she take no for an answer?
Karly stared at Mary for a moment before sighing.
"I will buy my own dress."
"Awesome."
I wasn't sure whether to laugh or sigh.
We had even resorted to using the fact that Karly couldn't walk as a reason to put her in a wheelchair.
I looked at Mary.
Was it really necessary to tell her that?
Karly just stared at us.
She seemed to be thinking about something.
"Nicholas was kind enough to lend us his car."
With that, we helped Karly into it.
Our first stop was a boutique.
"I'm done."
Karly stood there while Mary and I looked through the clothes.
"A sheath dress, I guess that works."
Mary examined it.
It does?
I glanced at Karly.
She looked like she was about to go to lunch with a business partner, but the navy blue was nice.
I placed the hat I had been looking at back down.
"Black pumps would do nicely."
Mary's comment caught the attendant's attention, and she went to get a pair.
After getting Karly dressed and having her hair arranged, we made our way to the fair to get our masks.
"What are you going to get?" I asked Karly.
"Something simple."
I smiled.
I wondered what she considered simple.
I found out soon enough.
White markings and dots were painted across her face.
That was what she considered simple.
And, honestly, she was correct.
It was simple.
On the other hand, Mary chose a plain white mask. It was rather pretty, but after the incident Sadako had with a mask, I settled for face paint instead.
I chose a flutter of butterflies along the left side of my face.
"Woah."
I looked toward someone nearby.
That person is getting a makeover as an old man.
I smiled at the thought.
"Let's go get lunch," Mary said.
We made our way to the restaurant.
"Hinanjo."
Mary read the name as we approached.
"You also have one in your country as well, right?"
She smiled slightly as we walked inside.
"The names are usually in different languages, but they share the same meaning and that kettle symbol."
She explained it as we sat down.
I remembered seeing it too when I had travelled with Sadako.
"Let's order."
Lunch was rather delicious.
Even inside the restaurant, the festival seemed to follow us.
People entered with bare faces and left masked. Others already wearing masks had elaborate designs added to them while they ate. Everywhere I looked, someone's appearance seemed to change.
After eating, we bought some bread and pastries before getting back into the car.
"There's a play taking place tomorrow. Let's buy tickets."
The idea immediately gave me something to look forward to.
A play sounded nice.
We stopped at the theatre and bought the tickets.
Karly, however, said she would be busy.
She had been quiet for most of the day, seemingly lost in thought.
Eventually, we stopped at the hospital to drop her off.
"Meg, wait for me. Let me talk to Karly for a bit."
I exhaled and looked at them through the window.
Then I settled back into my seat.
My eyes caught the lights in the sky.
The festival was still going.
I looked down at the ticket in my hand.
This was fun.
I sighed.
Mary eventually made her way back to the car.
"Alright, let's get you home."
She climbed into the driver's seat.
I looked down at the ticket once more.
THE LIǍNGLÍNG HALO FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE
18th Opaline, 1902
19:30
Dress Circle
Row C
Seat 17
Admission: 20 yen