Once again, spoilers lurk beyond this point, especially in the story-specific sections. You've been warned.
On 'Festival Night'
- A yukata is a summer cotton kimono, somewhat reminiscent of a dressing
gown. For festivals, the yukata is worn either with a decorative obi (an
elaborate belt) or with a simpler wide sash like Taka wears. In the game,
both Kana and Yumi are shown wearing yukata at the festival.
- In Japan, young adults often live with their parents until they finish
university. This makes it difficult to get privacy for more intimate moments.
Hence, the existence of love hotels (referred to as 'motels' in the game).
These provide rooms you can hire by the hour or overnight, with a shower,
a bed, a TV and usually a karaoke system.
- Takoyaki is a popular Japanese snack. It's basically a crispy ball of
batter, soft on the inside, with a filling of octopus pieces and green onion.
Each piece is bite-size. Takoyaki is usually served with takoyaki sauce
or mayonnaise.
- Yakisoba is stir-fried egg noodles – also very popular at Japanese
festivals and parties.
- To save space, Japanese futons (mattresses, essentially) are usually put
away during the day, especially in cramped quarters like Kana's apartment.
At night, they're laid out on the floor.
- Just as a side note (and this has nothing to do with the story, Japanese
culture or anything, really), I love it whenever Kana calls Taka
a dirty boy in the game. It's so gorgeously cute. So I had to do it here.
=)
- Suggested CD tracks:
'I Can't Live Without Her' for the opening telephone conversation.
'Fanciful Jump' from when Arisa appears until Kana teases Taka.
'For You' (vocal version) as Taka and Kana wander the festival and watch the fireworks.
And 'Thank You' for the return to Kana's apartment.
This story was a definite change of pace in my KLS fanfic writing – perhaps even an oddity. Originally called 'First Date', it was supposed to be a sort of trial-by-fire for Taka and Kana, testing their newfound determination to be a couple, even in public. Instead, I found myself enjoying their date so much that any deep emotional context was pretty much thrown out the window.
Still, I love their telephone conversation at the start, and Kana's underwear banter suggests that she might be a little more worldly now (after her initial relationship with Taka), while still remaining sweet and idealistic about love. Of course, flirting with Taka is one thing – I doubt she'd be anywhere near as brazen with anyone else. That's the beauty of their relationship to me.
I've never actually had takoyaki, and I'm sure that some people will think it sounds absolutely disgusting, but I'm sure that Taka and Kana enjoyed it. It's traditional fare at Japanese festivals, apparently.
Then, of course, there was the fireworks scene. I couldn't keep away from the emotions for very long, even for a 'light' story. I guess that's what Taka and Kana are really all about, in the end.