Keji's POV

I went back home to see matsu nee chan and toshii I arrived at matsu and toshii's home

Matsu hugged me"Keji your back! I Hope you stay this time"

"...Yeah about that I'm just visiting" I said nervously scratching my head

Just when matsu was going to yell at me toshii placed an arm around her shoulder

"Now now matsu it's my turn to say hello to keji don't you think?" toshii said

Matsu let me go and toshii hugged me

"Keji I'm glad you're back maybe you can help me with the land while you stay here?" toshii asked

"Yeah no problem right yumekichi?"

"Kee kee"

"Anyways you must be hungry knowing you came all this way I'll prepare some food" matsu said

"I'm starving" I said

"Well keji you and I are going to have to pick some vegetable from the garden for the meal tonight you came just in time it's the sakura festival" toshii said putting an arm around my shoulder

"Sakura festival? it's already here?"

"Yep we have recently gotten fireworks from the merchants and matsu and most of the women are making the food" toshii said

"Yeah we should go to the garden and get those vegetables for matsu before she thinks we're doing something and comes for us" he said

Me and toshii went to the vegetable garden

Meanwhile with matsu...

I was in the kitchen preparing the meat for the festival and for the meal for keji and toshii

"Matsu chan!" "matsu chan"

"Huh? oh saya chan you're early what bring you here?" I asked

"Mother wanted me to help you with the preparations for the meal for the festival" she said

"Do you mind me asking how old are you saya?" I asked

"I'm 19" saya answered

"Oh and you aren't married yet?" I asked

"Nope I want to travel the country go to different places getting married means I have to stay at home, cook, clean and make babies and I'm not ready do that matsu chan" she said

"Well I'm married to toshii and I don't stay at home cook and clean well I do those things but when he goes to war I go with him I would never leave my husband" I said

"Yeah I know that matsu chan"

"Anyways If you still want to help then start cutting those eggplants" I said

"Okay!"

Saya stood across from me and started cutting the eggplant

"Saya I'm going to get some spices I'll be back keep cutting the eggplants" I said

"Alright"
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Keji's POV

"Matsu we're back!" I said going into the kitchen with a basket of vegetables

"Eh?"

I say a beautiful young girl with reddish hair and strawberry pink eyes

"Ah your looking for matsu chan?" she asked

I shook my head "Yes I am do you know where she is?"

"She went to get some spices she'll be back" the girl said

"What's your name?" I asked the girl

"It's saya and yours?"

"Keji, keji maeda" I answered

"Saya I'm back! oh I see you've met keji how wonderful keji did you bring the vegetables?" matsu asked

"Yes matsu"

"Good now we have all the ingredients for the meal for the Sakura festival" matsu said

"Oh boy I can't wait" keji said excited

Matsu laughed "Oh keji"
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Time skip at the Sakura festival....

Saya's POV

"Wow it looks amazing it certainly beats last years decoration!" I exclaimed

Toshii placed a hand on my shoulder "Yep the villagers have really gone out this year"

"Matsu where do you want me to put this food?" I asked holding the basket

"Oh give that to toshii you go and have fun alright" matsu said

I gave my basket to toshii and looked around there were many games and food all around I saw one of my friends signal me to come over to their group

I was walking when suddenly I felt something fall on my clothes

"Eh?!"

It was a large pot of bean paste

I looked over from the corner of my eye everyone was laughing at me my tears filled with tears not only form the spicy bean paste on my eyes but from embarrassment

I ran away

"Saya chan!!" Matsu exclaimed
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Matsu's POV

Saya The poor girl she had a pot of bean paste dumped over her probably a prank from the village boys they're so rude!!

I saw keji eating some dumplings over at a stand

"Hello matsu nee chan" he said with his mouth full

I looked at him in disgust, he quickly swallowed the food

"Keji go look for saya the village boys played a prank on the poor thing make sure she's okay" I worried

"Alright matsu nee chan c'mon yumekichi" keji said

"Kee kee"
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Saya's POV

I was at the Sakura tree up the hill away from the village I had gotten rid of most of the bean paste on my clothes

"So here's where you are" a voice said

I looked behind me to see no other than keji

"What are you doing here?" I asked

"Matsu was worried about you so she sent me to find you" keji said

"Thanks...it'll be hard to leave matsu"

"What do you mean leave?" Keji asked

"I'm planning on leaving the village and traveling the country" I said

"Wow I travel all the time it's really fun" keji said

"Huh? You travel!?"

"Eh yeah I do I go to different places all over the country all the time" keji said

"Take me with you!!" I exclaimed rather desperate

"Huh?!"

"I mean like doesn't it get lonely to travel alone? I mean I can cook like matsu chan so I can helpful" I said

"Well it gets dangerous and if you got hurt then matsu nee chan would kill me"

"I can take care of myself don't worry toshii sama taught me how to fight so I can defend myself c'mon please?"

"Uh fine....I guess"

I sprang up and hugged him "thank you thank you so much keji you won't regret anything I promise"

"Uh...saya you're getting some bean paste on my clothes" keji said nervously

I let him go "sorry I got most of it off of me"

Suddenly *BOOM BOOM*

Fireworks lit the sky colors everywhere it looked like a rainbow of colors splashing all over the night sky

"Wow so pretty" I said

"Cmon saya lets go" keji asked

"Go where?"

"We're leaving to echigo tonight"

"You won't stay till the festival is over wont that upset matsu?" I asked

"No I don't think so matsu will understand also we have to leave tonight or else we won't make it to echigo by tomorrow afternoon" keji explained

"Echigo where the war God lives?" I asked

Keji nodded"In reality you might think he's a bit scary but he's a good guy right yumekichi?"

His cute small monkey came out from his shirt and smiled happily "kee kee"

"See yumekichi agrees so what do you say?"

Keji extended his hand towards me

I smaller and grabbed his hand "Hai!!"